September 11: The Causes And Background

Question 1

What Did The US First Do That Encouraged Bin Laden To Dislike Them?

Answer 1

When Israel invaded southern Lebanon, and had the US’s support in 1982.

Question 2

Why, According To Bin Laden Was Al-Qaeda Attacking America?

Answer 2

They were attacking because the US involved themselves in conflicts in the Middle East, where they weren’t welcome.

Question 3

When Did Saddam Hussein Invade Kuwait, And What Did America Do That Made Bin Laden Angry?

Answer 3

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 and the Americans exported 500,000 of their troops to Saudi Arabia, despite Bin Laden claiming to the king that Al-Qaeda was more than capable of defending the country.

Question 4

Who Were America’s Allies That Outraged Bin Laden?

Answer 4

America considered itself to be allied with Israel, during its feud with Palestine. This upset Bin Laden because Palestinian people held the same religious beliefs he did, and were hence his allies.

Question 4

What Particular Action Of Support Did The Americans Offer Israel That Angered Bin Laden?

Answer 4

In 1982, Israel invaded southern Lebanon and had the support of the US. This led Bin Laden to encourage a boycott of American goods through the 1980s and started his anti-Americanism.

Question 5

What Did The Islamic Radicals Attempt To Do With Islamic Students Who Were Studying In The West Through the 1980s and the 1990s?

Answer 5

They recruited them, which would have changed the students’ opinions of the west. The radicals saw these students as vulnerable, most likely because they were not in their home country, they were the minority, they were away from their families, and they were young.

Question 5

What Does The Book Dying To Win By Robert Pape Argue?

Answer 5

It argues that the motivation behind the September 11 attack wasn’t due to radical Islam but the fact that the foreign forces (the US) had come into their sacred country (Saudi Arabia) despite it going against their religious beliefs.

Question 5

What Did Most Of The Terrorists Who Flew The Planes During The September 11 Attacks Experience While In Saudi Arabia?

Answer 5

Most of the September 11 pilots were from Saudi Arabia, where there was a large US presence. This would have left them feeling exposed and vulnerable in their own country.

Question 5

Did Bin Laden Have Total Dominance of AL Qaeda?

Answer 5

Yes, he did, since he established the group in 1988.

Question 6

What Was Bin Laden’s Analysis Of The US Foreign Policy Based On?

Answer 6

It was based on their withdrawal from Lebanon in 1983, following the attack on the barracks that killed 241 American servicemen. Also from the Somalia attack in 1993, where 18 US soldiers were killed in Mogadishu. This made Bin Laden think that the US was weak, and would likely only be able to withstand a few strikes. He believed that this would then leave the Middle East vulnerable.

Question 6

Why Was Bin Laden’s Analysis Of The US Foreign Policy Incorrect?

Answer 6

After September 11, unlike what Bin Laden assumed, where the US would’ve not retaliated, they wanted to destroy the Taliban and end Al Qaeda.

Question 7

What Was Bin Laden’s View On The Gulf War?

Answer 7

The Gulf War ran from 1991 to 1992, and Bin Laden was furious that Americans had been deployed to assist, rather than Afghan volunteers. He saw it as a violation of the land, since it went against Muslim beliefs.

Question 8

Was September 11 A Success For Al-Qaeda?

Answer 8

It was considered a tactical success for Al-Qaeda, however, it threatened the organisation’s future.

Question 9

When Did Bin Laden Join To Fight Against The Soviets For Afghanistan?

Answer 9

He joined in 1984 and was described as a shy boy. However, Saudi Arabia was looking for Muslim recruits to fight for Afghanistan. Bin Laden saw the invasion as a direct attack against Islam, which offended him.

Question 10

When Did The Afghanistan Vs. Soviet War Begin?

Answer 10

It started on the 24th of December 1979, and ended on the 15th of February, 1988, with the Afghans as the winners, and the Soviets retreating.

Question 11

What Did Bin Laden Dislike That Occurred During The Soviet Vs. Afghanistan War?

Answer 11

Bin Laden disliked how Saudi Arabia relied on the US for weapons and money.

Question 12

Were The US Troops In Saudi Arabia After The Afghanistan Vs. Soviet War Against Islamic Beliefs.

Answer 12

After the war had ended, it was an expectation that the American troops would leave, since it was against Islamic beliefs for non-muslims to reside in Saudi Arabia. However, they were still present in 1991.

Question 13

Why Was Bin Laden Angry At The Saudi Arabian Government During The Gulf War?

Answer 13

Bin Laden was angry at the fact that Saudi Arabia had allowed American troops into the country. The Americans arrived on the 7th of August 1990.

Question 14

Why Was Saudi Arabia And America On Good Terms?

Answer 14

In 1933, the US and Saudi Arabia established a diplomatic relationship. Saudi Arabia gives the US oil, and in return, they expect security. Saudi Arabia is the US’s largest foreign military sales customer, with more than 100 billion dollars in active FMS cases. When it comes to wars breaking out, Saudi wanted security.

Question 15

How Did Al-Qaeda Attack The Americans During The 1990s?

Answer 15

On the 7th of August 1998, Al Qaeda bombed the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The attacks were almost simultaneous and killed more than 200 American, Kenyan, and Tanzanian people while wounding 4,500 others. Although this is the most notable event prior to September 11, Al Qaeda’s first attack took place in Yemen in 1992, where they tried to bomb a hotel in Aden, where Americans were staying. This failed and ended up killing two non-American people. On the 26th of February 1993, they bombed the World Trade Center for the first time. This killed 6 people and wounded more than 1,000 others. a car bomb exploded in Saudi Arabia in August of 1998, where the US troops were training. 5 Americans and 2 Indians were killed, and 60 other people were wounded.

Question 16

How Was Bin Laden Able To Develop Al Qaeda In His Time In Afghanistan And Sudan Thanks To The US?

Answer 16

Bin Laden fled Saudi Arabia due to his difference in opinion. He disagreed with Saudi allies with the US and joined the opponent that wasn’t allowed. Sudan didn’t require Muslims to need a visa to enter the country, which made it easy for Bin Laden to get in. He went from Afghanistan to Sudan during the first few months of 1991. During his time in Sudan, Bin Laden was a wealthy businessman in a poor country, suffering from civil war. He was capable of living a double life. In 1996, he was expelled from the country, due to pressure from Saudi and America. However, during his time in Sudan, Bin Laden was able to expand his business, before the US and Saudi Arabia caught on to his acts.

Question 17

How Was Bin Laden Able To Develop Al Qaeda In His Time In Afghanistan Thanks To The US?

Answer 17

After being expelled from Sudan in 1996, Bin Laden fled to Afghanistan. Here, he was able to establish a new base, and formed strong connections and was supported by the Taliban. In Bin Laden’s time in Afghanistan, he declared 2 fatwa, the first in August of 1996, a declaration of Jidah against the United States, and a second in February of 1998, declaring holy war against the US. By Bin Laden being in Afghanistan, he was able to create an alliance with the Taliban, who helped Bin Laden to expand Al-Qaeda. They did this through allowing Bin Laden a space to train recruits, and plan attacks. These base camps and training spots were used in preparation for September 11.

Question 18

How Was The Second Fatwa Made By Bin Laden In February Of 1998 A Warning Sign Of What Was To Come?

Answer 18

In February of 1998, Bin Laden and his close associate, Ayman al Zawahiri developed a fatwa that came under the banner ‘International Islamic Front for Jihad On The Jews And Crusaders’. This was published in the newspaper Al-Quads Al-Arabi on the 23rd of February 1998. It described the necessary killing of both military personnel of America and civilians alike. In the fatwa, is said ‘The ruling to kill all Americans and their allies - civilians and military - is an individual duty for every Muslim’.

Question 19

How Did The Different Values Of The Fundamentalist Islamics And The Westerners Cause September 11?

Answer 19

Islamic Fundamentalists had extreme views, which contrasted with the majority of westerner’s opinions. The Islamics believed that the westerner’s values were a lot less strict than theirs, which they heavily frowned upon.