◆ SpookStack

ET/NOFORN/ORCON (U) The name AL-QAeDA, or "the Base," dates back to 1988. and reportedly originated from the term used to refer to one of UsAMA BIN LADEN's (UBL) guesthouses, where the Mujahidin that came to fight in Afghanistan were required to register. These. fighters around the world. * AL-QAEDA includes, in addition to the terrorist cells throughout the world. The most outstanding features of AL-QAEDA are its international outreach and vast financial financial dealings. (U) USAMA BIN LADEN"was raised in Saudi Arabia in a wealthy, high profile, .family of Yemeni origins. The beginning of Saudi Arabia, where he was linked to members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Later, his involvement in the Afghan 'struggle against the Soviet occupation played a major role in shaping his ideology. During this experience, he found a sense of purpose and became deeply religious. UsAMA BIN LADEN also made contacts with Islamic fighters. from around the world and participated in a victorious struggle against a secular superpower. The combination of UsAmA BIn LADeN'S wealth, connection to, and command over experienced, motivated, and radical Islamic militants, and his fervent anti-U.S. orientation make him a serious threat to U.s. national security. Afghanistan, .in which it has reportedly trained as many as 5,000 militants. These militants have allegedly created cells in 50 countries.. undetected among local populations. (U) AL-QAEDA members are familiar with modern communications and have been reported to use encrypted e-mail, cellular phones, satellite communications, and training manuals on CD-Roms. The group emphasizes the. symbolic value of targets when making its selection, e.g-, U.s. embassies, World Trade Center, military barracks, Uss Cole, etc. (U) The U.S. State Department currently links AL-QAeDA to bombing (February 1993); the attacks in Riyadh (November 1995) and Dhahran (June 1996), Saudi Arabia; the assassination attempt on Egyptian President Mubarak in Ethiopia (June 1995); the. near-simultaneous bombings of the U.s. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania (August 1998); and the bombing of the uss Cole in Yemen (November 2000). SEGRET/NOFORN/ORCON 2 REQ 3-1q 000000202