Terrorist organization
chose which terrorist attack you will focus on for your final project. In this first milestone, you will complete an introduction and provide background information on your chosen attack. The milestones in this course will allow you to draft ideas and receive feedback from the instructor throughout the course. Each milestone builds on the previous one. These assignments will ensure that you are on the right track before you submit the final project in Module Nine. You may want to review the entire Final Project Guidelines and Rubric document to understand the full scope of the project.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
• Introduction: Draft the details of the terrorist attack you selected. Be sure to touch on when, where, and how the attack took place, and to describe the terrorist group responsible.
• Background on the Attack: Draft a discussion of the events that contributed to the attack’s occurrence, including the formation of the terrorist organization involved. Limit your focus to historical events that occurred from the Cold War to the present.
o Explain how the history of the geographic region where the terrorist organization originated contributed to the attack. In other words, how did the region’s history create a volatile atmosphere or lead to tensions that contributed to the situation?
o Describe the sequence of relevant historical events that set the stage for the terrorist attack. Events to consider might include government policies or decisions, political elections, military actions, and other terrorist attacks.
o Describe the evolution of the terrorist organization involved in the attack. Be sure to consider the global historical attacks, policies, or decisions that led to its creation.
Sample Solution
On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. Nineteen militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in New York City and Washington, D.C. The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and caused widespread devastation, forever impacting the nation and the world.Full Answer Section
Details of the Attack:- Date: September 11, 2001
- Location: New York City, New York; Washington, D.C.; Shanksville, Pennsylvania
- Attackers: 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda
- Methods: Hijacking four commercial airplanes and carrying out suicide attacks
- Targets:
- World Trade Center, New York City (two planes flown into the Twin Towers)
- Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (one plane flown into the building)
- Shanksville, Pennsylvania (one plane crashed into a field after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers)
- Casualties: Nearly 3,000 people killed, including civilians, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders
- Founders: Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam
- Founded: 1988
- Origin: Afghanistan
- Ideology: Islamic extremism, anti-Americanism, and anti-Western sentiment
- Objectives: Establish a global Islamic caliphate, overthrow Western-backed governments, and drive Western forces out of the Muslim world
- Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989): This event provided al-Qaeda with an opportunity to recruit and train fighters, develop its organizational structure, and establish a base of operations in Afghanistan.
- Gulf War (1991): The presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia to defend against Iraqi aggression angered bin Laden and other Islamic extremists, who viewed it as a desecration of Muslim holy land.
- US sanctions against Iraq (1990s): These sanctions caused widespread suffering in Iraq, further fueling anti-American sentiment in the region.
- Al-Qaeda's attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania (1998): These attacks demonstrated al-Qaeda's growing capabilities and its willingness to carry out large-scale terrorist attacks against US targets.
- Effective use of propaganda and media: Al-Qaeda used media outlets and online platforms to spread its message, recruit new members, and incite violence against the West.
- Financial networks: Al-Qaeda established a complex network of financial supporters and donors who provided funding for its operations.
- Exploitation of regional conflicts: Al-Qaeda exploited existing conflicts and tensions in various regions to gain footholds and recruit fighters.
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