The world was introduced to Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organization, al’ Qaeda on September 11, 2001. Millions gathered around their televisions in shock at the devastation this terrorist organization created. Thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives after al’ Qaeda operatives devised and carried out their plans to hijack planes and divert them into key U.S. landmarks. Osama bin Laden praised the work of his followers and the United States realized just how serious of a threat al’ Qaeda and Osama bin Laden really were. Al’ Qaeda had been around for over a decade prior to 9/11; and bin Laden had declared his hatred for the West, specifically the United States, during his fatwa’s in 1996 and 1998 when he declared a Holy War.
During this time, Islam became more than just a religion to bin Laden, he began to adopt a more radicalized view of the world and extreme his religious ideals began to shape his political views. By the late seventies, bin Laden was actively involved with the extremist group and joined in “the jihad” (holy war) against the Soviets when they invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Bin Laden used his connections and wealth to help finance and support recruitment and training of jihads against the Soviets, in addition to developing a “Golden Chain” of financiers that helped fund recruits into Afghanistan. During this time, the United States and Saudi Arabia were spending billions of dollars of assistance into training rebels in Afghanistan in order to fight against the Soviets. It was during this time that bin Laden and his associate Abdullah Azzam created Al ‘Qaeda (the base). The U.S. was unaware that they were providing training and secret assistance to a future enemy.
The union has more states. Since, the union has more states that means they have more advantage because they have more power than the confederate states.
