Al Qaeda

aka Al Qa'ida, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, Islamic Salvation Foundation, Osama bin Laden Network, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders

Al Qaeda (Arabic for “The Base”) is a loosely knit terrorist network that facilitates the activities of like-minded militant Islamic groups in more than 60 countries around the globe. Al Qaeda is believed to have been behind both attacks on the World Trade Center (1993 and 2001) and the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies, among many other incidents.

Organizationally, Al Qaeda is governed by a small core comprising the majlis al-shura, or consultative council, which makes the final decisions on major policy decisions, including the approval of terrorist operations and the issuing of Islamic decrees, or fatwas. Al Qaeda also has a military committee, a business committee, a media committee, and a religious committee. Most Al ...