Crisis in the Middle East

Question 1

Who planned and funded the 9/11 attacks?

Answer 1

Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden

Question 2

What was the goal of the 9/11 attacks?

Answer 2

Intended to destroy the American economy and spread radical Islamic ideology

Question 3

What were the 3 targets of 9/11?

Answer 3

• World Trade Center
• The Pentagon
• U.S. Capitol Building

Question 4

The World Trade Center

Answer 4

• Destroyed by 2 planes
• Economic center of the United States

Question 5

The Pentagon

Answer 5

• Destroyed only one of the exterior walls of the building
• Military headquarters of the United States

Question 6

U.S. Capitol Building

Answer 6

• The attack failed - the passengers realized what was happening, took over the plane, and crashed it into rural Pennsylvania
• Meeting house for Congress

Question 7

What was the aftermath of 9/11?

Answer 7

• Airport security is made stricter and is ran by the government
• Increase in patriotism
• Economy does the opposite of al-Qaeda’s intent: economy does better
• Declaration of the War on Terror - still ongoing: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and domestic war (United States)

Question 8

Overview of Afghanistan

Answer 8

• Country in the Middle East - in between Iran and Pakistan
• Muslim majority (99%) with Sunni majority and Shia minority
• Was never colonized - attempts made by Britain in the 1800s and the Soviet Union in the 1980s
• Reasoning: One of the most resource-rich countries

Question 9

How did the United States stop the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 9

• The USA used the Theory of Containment to stop the attack
• Used Afghan militias to fight against the USSR
• USA trained these militias and supplied them with weapons
• The militias eventually united into one group, now known as the Taliban

Question 10

What is the Taliban?

Answer 10

• Radical Islamic group whose main goal is to take over Afghanistan and create an Islamic state there
• Took over the capital city of Kabul in 1996 - successfully created an Islamic state
• Osama bin Laden was hidden by the Taliban, making them a US enemy

Question 11

When and why did the United States invade and leave Afghanistan?

Answer 11

• The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks
• This toppled the Taliban’s government
• The US left Afghanistan in 2021, and the Taliban took over the country almost immediately afterward

Question 12

What is Al-Qaeda?

Answer 12

About:
- Radical Islamic terror organization
- Main goal is to create a world-wide caliphate, or a Muslim government that takes control of the whole world
Structure:
- Very well-organized
- Chain of command and ranked leadership
- Wealthy due to Osama bin Laden
Methods:
- Send warning videos
- Use many explosives/IEDs

Question 13

What is ISIS?

Answer 13

About:
- ISIS: Islamic State of Iran and Syria
- Also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iran and the Levant)
- Want to create a world-wide caliphate
Structure:
- Not very well-organized
- Young men all fighting one another for power
- No detailed goal
- No steady or legal source of income
Methods:
- Propaganda and execution videos
- Use many explosives/IEDs
- Perform mass shootings