Al Qaeda- Birth of the Network

Al Qaeda- Birth of The Network

In approximately 1989, bin Laden and co-defendant Muhammad Atef founded "Al Qaeda," an international terrorist group; which was dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. One of the principal goals of Al Qaeda was to drive the United States armed forces out of Saudi Arabia (and elsewhere on the Saudi Arabian peninsula) and Somalia by violence. Al Qaeda had a command and control structure which included a majlis al shura (or consultation council) which discussed and approved major undertakings, including terrorist operations. Both Atef and bin Laden sat on this council. Al Qaeda had ties to other terrorist organizations that operated under its umbrella, including: the al Jihad group based in Egypt, the Islamic Group, formerly led by Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and other jihad groups in other countries. Al Qaeda also forged alliances with the National Islamic Front in Sudan and with representatives of the government of Iran, and its associated terrorist group Hezballah, for the purpose of working together against their perceived common enemies in the West, particularly the United States.

Bin Laden plus other members of Al Qaeda, conspired, confederated and agreed to kill nationals of the United States. In furtherance of this conspiracy,