Al-Qaeda:A Global Multinational Terrorist Network

Abstract

This chapter explains why and how the global terrorism of al- Qaeda has emerged and survived in this era of globalization, the essence and main characteristics of this organization, the role of its leadership, the importance of the ideology of Islamic fundamentalism, and how this organization has man aged its worldwide networks and activities. Al-Qaeda as a global multinational terrorist network emerged in the late 1980s to oppose specific US policies in particular and US imperialism in general, advance an Islamic civilization by defeating the Western powers led by the United States, and reestablish a caliphate fan Islamic state) in order to establish an alternative world order. Al-Qaeda’s specific stated reasons for its declaration of war against America are the pres ence of US military troops in Saudi Arabia, the mistreatment of the Iraqi people by the sanctions imposed on them around the time of the first Gulf War, and US support for Israel and certain Arab apostate regimes such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia (Rubin and Rubin 2002: 137).