The Truth about Al Qaeda

[ck4829]

There have been a variety of theories about Al Qaeda ranging from "Al Qaeda is everywhere, they're out to kill us!" to "Al Qaeda doesn't exist".

Is there a vast Muslim conspiracy to take over every nation from Spain to India?

A Conspiracy is when 3 or more people come together in secret to do something.

So yes, there are about 3 Muslims who want to do the thing that RW'ers are constantly screaming about.

J/K.

Seriously though, Islamic beliefs range from the Liberal to the Conservative (to the Extreme Right), from the Privacy loving to the Totalitarian (such as the Taliban), and more.

To get more than 5 Muslims to agree on something is a miracle in itself and to get 10 to agree on something is beyond words.

Take it from me, a Convert to Islam. I still haven't found a Muslim who is ideologically similar to me. I think it's a good thing BTW, as it is a bonus to create Individuality within the religion.

There is no Global Network of Terrorists. I'd be surprised if there was. Does it exist? Al Qaeda in reality is most likely the militant arm of the Taliban and not much more than that. (BTW, although most Muslims disagree on things, just about all Muslims reject the Taliban).

To best sum it all up:

Al Qaeda is just like ADD.

It exists but it is over-hyped.

[ugarte]

1. Al-Qaeda is more useful to the U.S. right wing than to Muslims

Even if it didn't exist, Bush and Rumsfeld would pretend it did.

[RC]

2. Al-Qaeda does in fact exist

and is being run out of the White House.
No?
Among other things what about those two Brits and later two american solders involved with car bombings in Iraq? Or almost any terrorist attack that seems to happen when the bu$h administration needs a distraction.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. You ask "being run out of the WH. No?" I answer "No."

It is much easier for the right wing to create grand conspiracy theories than to actually mount one. And all the International House Of Pancakes theories are a useful way for them to divert otherwise intelligent people down rabbit holes chasing phantasms.

[FtWayneBlue]

3. my understanding is that the cia had a list of terrorist

individuals they had recruited to do their especially dirty deeds, and that list was the start of al qaeda - which means, "the list."

[Disturbed]

4. Al qaeda

It actually means "The base".

This group does exist and is a great boon to the US/UK RW,the Multi-Corps and the MIC of both nations.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

6. Not quite.

There was a guy called Abdullah Azzam (who was allied to the US/UK/Pakistan, although his exact relationship with the CIA is contested) who ran a group of (predominately arab) mujihadeen called "The Office of Services" who were fighting in Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden left Saudi for Pakistan to work for Azzam in (I think) 1984, providing financial support and later heading military logistics. bin Laden split from Azzam in 1988 because he wanted to launch a global jihad & Azzam was assassinated the following year (by bin Laden, the US, Mossad, ISI or other Afghans). 'Al-Qaeda' is basically the list mujihadeen that formed the 'Office of Services' (whom bin Laden didn't exert any particular control over although he offered to use them as an army to expel Saddam from Kuwait in 1991).

Bin Laden calls al-Qaeda (referring to his fatwa) the 'International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders'. What the media/government calls 'al-Qaeda' is so broad it's ridiculous. Given that they apply such a label to anyone who went to a training camp in Afghanistan - despite the fact that many were bound for nationalist campaigns in Chechnya or Kashmir for example - it's easy to see why people get confused.

(I hope the above is correct; its late & I'm posting from memory so apologies for any slips)