HISTORY
Al Qaida
Al Qaida is a network led by Ousama bin Laden, originally based in Afghanistan created in 1988. The purpose of this organization was to support the afghan resistance against the soviet invasion of 1979. Around 1992 to 1996, Ben Laden criticized the Saudi regime, which allows the presence of the U.S troops in the country during the Gulf War. This terrorist organization composed of anti-Western Islamic fundamentalists, is responsible for the attacks of September 11th 2001 and several other terrorists’ attacks. Fundamentalist Muslims consider it necessary to retrieve and practice the basics of Islam, as they are crucial to the fundamental understanding of life. Members advocate the overthrow of non-Islamic governments. They are also against Western influence on Muslim areas. Al Qaida named after the training emplacement ‘’the base’’ is compose of member using violence and terrorist’s attacks in order to spread a message. Here’s a chronology of Al Qaida activities since its creation until the 9/11.
Al Qaida activities since its creation until 9/11
King, John. L'invasion du Koweit . Montréal: École active, 2003. Print.
Al Qaida activities since its creation until 9/11
- February 26th, 1993: Bomb in the basement of the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York. 6 killed, a thousand injured.
- 1996: Ben Laden and members of Al Qaida settled in Afghanistan.
- June 25th, 1996: Truck weighted 2 tons of explosives destroys the entrance to the U.S. base at Khobar (Saudi Arabia). 19 killed, 386 wounded.
- August 7th, 1998: attacks against U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania: Over 200 dead, thousands injured. Two truck bomb explosions occurred at the United States embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's capitol and in Nairobi, Kenya's capitol. The day the bombings took place, August 7th 1998, marked the eighet anniversary of the American presence in Saudi Arabia. United States linked the attacks to some local members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ). The bombings were probably perpetrated in revenge for the American involvement in the extradition of four members of the EIJ. After those attacks, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) place Osama Ben Laden on the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
- October 12th, 2000: Attack against the American destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden (Yemen), fatal to 17 sailors.
- September 11th, 2001: attacks in the United States: nearly 3000 dead. American bombing followed by ground operations, caused the fall of the Taliban regime and the leak of bin Laden and al-Qaeda to neighbouring Pakistan.
King, John. L'invasion du Koweit . Montréal: École active, 2003. Print.
Gulf War
In order to be able to see in which way the Gulf War had an impact on the attacks of September 11th 2001, it is crucial to go trough the basic events that occurred during the conflict. The Gulf War, held from August 2nd 1990 to February 28th 1991, had a major impact on many countries. Waged by a 34 nations coalition led by the United States, the purpose of this war was to prevent the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
In order to understand the incentives of Iraq to take over Kuwait, we must know that Iraq had just suffered huge financial loss due to the Iran-Iraq war. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia helped Iraq financially to compensate for the eight-years conflict. The President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein wanted to be exempted from these important debts. In addition to this incentive, 10% of the world’s oil reserves belong to Kuwait making it a country of interest for many nations, particularly Iraq. Furthermore, in order to build a submarine base to facilitate the exchanges of goods in the Gulf, Saddam Hussein saw great opportunity in gaining access to 2 islands of Kuwait. After several negotiations, Kuwait agreed to cancel the debts of Iraq, but refused to cede him the two islands. Consequently, invasion of Kuwait occurred. A coalition formed by 34 nations was created in order to protect Kuwait from this invasion. When asked to withdraw its troops from Kuwait on January 15th 1991, Saddam Hussein refuses and from that point on, it’s the Desert Storm opposing the entire coalition to Iraq that we’ll be referring to.
King, John. L'invasion du Koweit . Montréal: École active, 2003.
Print.http://www.history.com/topics/persian-gulf-war
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14647211
DESERT STORM
On Thursday January 17th 1991, on CNN network, citizens around the globe can watch live the US Army launching the Desert Storm operation. Over 1,300 air attack on Iraq all day long at the beginning of this operation. Iraq forces only answer to these multiple attacks few hours later by bombarding Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The Desert Storm was initiated after the ultimatum of the United Nation
was concluded on January 15th of the same year. The operation puts an end to the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq. There was two phases for this operation, first an air attack followed by the ground phase on February 24th. Four days later, the Iraq administration has decided to submit to the resolution 678 of the Security Council of the United Nation adopted by 15 countries including. The resolution permit to the countries to do the necessary in case of attacks after the ultimatum.
The term Desert Storm is derived from the name of the popular video game. Technology and tactical operations leads conflict. 88,000 tons of bombs were dropped, 75 aircrafts and helicopters were slaughtered in the period of five weeks.
Iraq had not a chance if we compare the arsenal: 500 aircrafts versus 112 000 flights for the allies. In term of dead bodies, around 150 000 Iraqi were killed and 340 soldiers form the coalition.
This small-located operation had enormous impact on the Iraq conflict. The Desert Storm was there to initiate the hostilities between the allies, mainly the United-States, against Iraq. Iraq respond to these attacks by bombarding Israel and the conflict was proceeding more then ever.
http://webdocs.ecpad.fr/daguet/page/tempete-du-desert---3
http://guerredugolfe.free.fr/janvier.htm
http://archives.radio-canada.ca/guerres_conflits/conflits_moyen_orient/clips/3024/
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45404
Causes leading to 9/11
The purpose is to see which way the Gulf War had an impact on the attacks of September 11th 2001 even if the war was not really about Al Qaida. By cons, according to different researches, the control of public opinion present during the Gulf War avoided the publication of images or videos giving a negative image of the war. No atrocities appeared causing discontent among the Iraqi population suffering from heavy civilian losses during the conflict. The factor that probably contributed in the 9/11 attacks during the Gulf War is the rise of fundamentalism among Muslims. Religious leaders usually advocate Islamic fundamentalism. Some of them sometimes go up to believe that violence is acceptable in the name of Islam. It is moral for them to use violence against those who are against Islam. Consequently, the Gulf War could have led to a significant rise of Islamic fundamentalism leading to the acceptance of violence. Muslim fundamentalist terrorists have audited the events of September 11th 2001.
King, John. L'invasion du Koweit . Montréal: École active, 2003.
Communication and technologies
On the 9/11
Communication and technologies were everywhere and used by everybody on 9/11. News networks broadcasted live the incident and all around the world, the image of the two towers being destroyed and the sadness in the American nation’s face. Communications was efficient, based on what news networks were receiving as reliable sources. Technologies were not only used to transport the message of the attack worldwide, on the other hand, it was useful to firefighters, policemen, paramedics and others contributors to the rescue operation. Men and women who came in the two towers to rescue workers had communications systems to make the operation more efficient. By cons, technologies cause problem this day of 2001. Because of a bad communication, rescuers made bad decisions and it causes death of many people who would have a chance to survive to this tragic event.
Before the 9/11
As know today by the majority who is interested in the conflict, it starts mainly by a publication. Al Qaeda, a terrorist organism, has a very ingenious communication system that was efficient even in a part of the world where technologies are not very develop. "It is a great breakthrough in the al Qaeda network." Said Pakistani information minister Rashid Ahmad on al Qaeda communication system.
Al Jazeera broadcast videos of Bin Laden because of the importance of Al Qaeda in the country.
And the message of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda continued to be broadcast everywhere because of it videos, published on a regular base, around one per month after the 9/11.
The sophisticated and well prepared and organised communication system Al Qaeda had leed to the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-224_162-618272.html
http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=683104
http://articles.cnn.com/2004-08-03/us/terror.threat_1_al-qaeda-terror-targets-web-sites/2?_s=PM:US
Foreign policy
The foreign policy adopted by the United States has affected quite a lot their position at a global level. We might retrace to the agreement of Truman who approved to recognize the State of Israel in 1948. They still continued to support Israel despite the Arab madness in front of the situation. The fact that they are the only one to support Israel might be one of the reasons why 19 extremist aimed the United States. They might have wanted to threat the country to make them revise their foreign policy. We know that the main enemy to a lot of Muslim extremist were Jews. For example, the poet Saïd Qotb who said : ‘Since the early days of Islam, the Muslim world has always faced problems from Jewish plots. (...) Their intrigues continued until today and they continue to weave new.’ They are also numerous events before the September 2001 that might have created tensions between Arabs and American due to American foreign policy. Firstly, U.S. led coalition forces begin deploying to Saudi Arabia the 7th of August 1990. In January 1991, the U.S. begins air attacks on Iraq. Moreover, they attack another Muslim country in 1992, Somalia. The intervention was a complete failure, letting Somalia in a complete disorder, Thereafter, President Clinton, orders cruise missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan in retaliation for embassy bombings in 1998. In June 2001, U.S. warns Afghanistan that its government will be held responsible for attacks by terrorists sheltered by Afghanistan.
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/terrorism/terrchron1.html
http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/whatwerethecausesof911/
http://mappingideas.sdsu.edu/publications/Gupta_World_After_911.pdf
CHRONOLOGY 9-11
· 7:59 am – American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 took off from Boston's Logan International Airport and was heading towards Los Angeles. There were 92 people on board.
• 8:14 am – United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 took off from Boston and was also heading towards to Los Angeles. There were 65 people aboard.
• 8:20 am – American Airlines Flight 77 took off from Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C. The Boeing 757 was heading towards Los Angeles with 64 people on board.
• 8:41 am – United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 took off from Newark International Airport and was heading towards San Francisco. There were 44 people aboard,
• 8:46 am –Flight 11 (from American Airlines) crashed into floors 93-99 of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, killing everyone on board and hundreds inside the building.
• 9:03 am – Hijackers crashed Flight 175 (from United Airlines) into floors 75-85 of the World Trade Center South Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds inside the building
• 9:21 am – The Port Authority closed all bridges and tunnels in the New York City area.
• 9:37 am –Flight 77 (from American Airlines) crashed into the western façade of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing 59 on the plane and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the building.
• 9:59 am – The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.
• 10:07 am –Flight 93 (from United Airlines) crashed into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew aboard. The flight was initially supposed to crashed into the White House or the Capitol.
• 10:28 am – The World Trade Center's North Tower collapsed, 102 minutes after being struck by Flight 11.
• 8:30 pm – President Bush addressed the nation, calling the attacks "evil, despicable acts of terror" and declaring that America, its friends and allies would "stand together to win the war against terrorism."
COLOR CHARTS
Marie-Pier Caron
Sébastien Ciejka
Catherine Lapointe
François Marquette
Marie-Pier Caron
Sébastien Ciejka
Catherine Lapointe
François Marquette