Al Qaeda: History, Strengths, Weaknesses, and U.S. Impact

Introduction

The terrorist phenomenon has changed the perspective through which security — both homeland and international — is perceived. The complex nature of terrorism, spanning borders, nations, and territories, has impacted the way in which security strategies are drafted and implemented, and has given rise to new meanings of security projected in terms of human, social, economic, and most importantly political security (Buzan, 1991).

Perhaps the most important and well-known terrorist group is Al Qaeda, responsible for the most significant terrorist attack in terms of public impact in human history — the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Few people are unaware of the human and psychological damage the attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon had on the collective beliefs of the American people and of the world. The notion of terrorism was redefined in broader, more complex terms, but above all, the attacks provided solid and undeniable evidence that terrorism is no longer an isolated phenomenon. Rather, it represents a global threat and must be dealt with accordingly. The masterminds of the 9/11 attacks have proven Al Qaeda to be one of the most resilient and flexible organizations of its kind, and through their continuous attacks on the integrity of states around the world, they have forced a constant reconsideration of security and defense strategies.

The history of Al Qaeda was largely influenced by the 1980s war against the Soviet Union. After Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union, Afghan Islamist extremists found a rallying call for their cause, as young Muslims from around the world came to Afghanistan to volunteer in what was being called a "holy war," or jihad, against the invading Soviets. One of these young Muslims was a 23-year-old from Saudi Arabia named Usama bin Laden (PBS, 2010). In order to create strong opposition against Soviet forces, bin Laden established a special funding scheme that would enable the newly formed organization to build an armed resistance against future alleged foreign aggressors, including Western countries. However, during the resistance period against the Soviet Union, countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia financially supported the opposition and provided billions of dollars to Al Qaeda's activities.

The Group's History

After the Soviet withdrawal at the end of the 1980s, Al Qaeda had become a full-fledged organization that had benefited from support — including logistics — from neighboring countries. Even so, bin Laden was forced to withdraw from Afghanistan and orchestrate his activities against the newly identified enemy, the Western countries, from Sudan (PBS, 2010). From the sanctuary of Sudan, bin Laden began linking up with groups from across the Middle East and northern Africa, laying the groundwork for his jihad against the West (PBS, 2010). In this context, the organization began plotting various terrorist attacks against U.S. troops in Somalia and on U.S. soil, taking responsibility for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Given the pressures of the international community and the difficult economic and political situation Sudan was facing, Sudanese leaders forced bin Laden to withdraw once again to Afghanistan, where he succeeded in creating a new training camp for militants of the Holy War. Bin Laden, together with Ayman al-Zawahiri — one of the most important figures of the Egyptian terrorist movement — formed a new and more formidable version of Al Qaeda, strongly supported by the Taliban movement that rose to power in Afghanistan during the 1990s. This organization, with strong and clearly identified leadership and a safe haven in Afghanistan, was able to orchestrate attacks against the U.S.S. Cole and, most significantly, against the United States in 2001.

One of the most important strengths of Al Qaeda is the power it holds over its followers. It should be noted that the organization, through its message and methods, does not appeal to the Muslim community worldwide in any representative sense. Its actions consist of violent and deadly acts directed primarily against Western countries. However, the means through which Al Qaeda managed to attract so many adherents are strongly related to the simplicity of the message underlying its Holy War. More precisely, "Al Qaeda propagates a simple popular message … that 'Islam is under attack,' militarily, religiously, and economically. Al Qaeda's simple message of foreign occupation, desecration, and exploitation seems to resonate deeply" (Reuters, 2009). This is largely due to the certain "clash of civilizations" that Samuel Huntington identified as the driving force behind conflicts in the 20th and 21st centuries (Huntington, 1996). The fault lines between civilizations are felt at the lowest levels of Muslim society, and the perceived discrepancies between the Western and Muslim worlds are constantly exploited and distorted to resemble a "war" waged by the West against Islam. Al Qaeda bases its simple message on this tension and gains momentum from it.

Another strength of the organization is its global nature. Unlike many other organizations, Al Qaeda has leveraged the religious dimension to forge ties across the world and build strong connections throughout the Muslim community. Religion in the Muslim world plays a key role in bringing communities together, and the framing of a "holy war" against invaders who undermine the core values of Muslim faith has attracted support and followers around the world (Reuters, 2009). Furthermore, the effects of globalization and the erosion of border controls have benefited not only economic actors but also transnational organizations of this type, providing space for cross-border operations and recruitment.

A major weakness of the organization is its lack of political support (Reuters, 2009). Despite benefiting from the backing of influential actors in the Middle East, this support is not sustainable in the long run, largely because Al Qaeda has no foundation on which to base its actions other than violent attacks. Sustainable political power cannot be obtained solely through violence and killings. The fact that Al Qaeda no longer possesses a political core capable of representing a genuine alternative to the current political situation in Afghanistan means that the organization's presence and support cannot be assured over the long term.

Strengths of the Organization

Another weakness is related to the first: given the lack of sustainability and the escalating nature of its violence, the organization will not retain popular support indefinitely, and the image of Al Qaeda will eventually fade. The removal of bin Laden — the organization's iconic symbol and the emblematic figure of the fight against the West — has further diminished its momentum. As one analysis noted, "some time in the future, al Qaeda will lose its attraction among the youth, and to pose as a jihadist will no longer be 'cool.' Already, al Qaeda is slowly but steadily becoming yesterday's enemy" (Reuters, 2009).

The existence of Al Qaeda greatly affected the United States and Western countries alike from several points of view and perspectives.

From a political standpoint, the 9/11 attacks had a profound impact on the perception of terrorism as a global threat and on the recognized lack of preparedness of the United States in confronting it. The United States had been perceived as invincible, yet the events of 2001 proved that even the U.S. could not foresee or prevent such a catastrophe. The commission analyzing the attacks concluded that greater vigilance was mandatory in order to prevent similar tragedies. Regardless, the image of the United States was severely shaken by the success of Al Qaeda's operation.

Conclusion