War

THE LOOMING TOWER PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS Abu Hafs al-Masri: Former Egyptian policeman and member of al-Jihad who was one of al-Qaeda?s military commanders. One of bin Laden?s closest advisors. Killed in American air strike in Nov. 2001. Abu Hajer al-Iraqi: Former Iraqi military officer who joined the jihad in Afghanistan and was a close advisor of bin Laden?s in Sudan. Head of al-Qaeda fatwa committee and rendered 2 opinions that justified violence against US forces and killing innocent people. Currently in US prison. Abu Jandal: bin Laden?s chief bodyguard in Afghanistan. Became a source for the FBI, and currently is free and living in Yemen.

THE LOOMING TOWER AL-QAEDA AND THE ROAD TO 9/11 CH. 7 RETURN OF THE HERO The Muttawa Government subsidized religious vigilantes Their goal was to stamp out sinfulness and heresy They were officially known as ?representatives of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice? They became the models for the Taliban in Afghanistan The Hero bin Laden assumed the role of the hero who could voice a longing for change and provide a focus for the rage of the young people. He offered a conventional, Muslim Brothers critique of the plight of the Arab World: The West, particularly the U.S. was responsible for the humiliating failure of the Arabs to succeed. After describing the American/Vietnam conflict he stated: ?They won?t stop until we do jihad against them.?

THE LOOMING TOWERAL-QAEDA AND THE ROAD TO 9/11 CH. 10 PARADISE LOST Training for terrorism Young men from all over came to Khartoum to train for al-Qaeda. Their motivations varied, but they had in common a belief that Islam (pure and primitive, unmitigated by modernity and uncompromised by politics) would cure the wounds that socialism or Arab nationalism had failed to heal. bin Laden?s main task was to direct them toward a common enemy. ?America the weak? bin Laden told the al-Qaeda recruits that though America appeared so mighty, it was actually weak and cowardly. For all its wealth and resources, America lacks conviction. Tall tales Al-Qaeda was not actually responsible for many of the feats that bin Laden gave them credit for.