Third, al Qaeda opposed the involvement of the United States armed forces in the Gulf War in 1991 and in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 19. Second, the United States was viewed as providing essential support for other "infidel" governments and institutions, particularly the governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the nation of Israel, and the United Nations organization, which were regarded as enemies of the group. First, the United States was regarded as an "infidel" because it was not governed in a manner consistent with the group's extremist interpretation of Islam. Bin Laden and al Qaeda violently opposed the United States for several reasons. Those who were suspected of collaborating against al Qaeda were to be identified and killed.Ģ. Members of al Qaeda pledged an oath of allegiance (called a " bayat") to Usama Bin Laden and al Qaeda. At all relevant times, al Qaeda was led by its emir, Usama Bin Laden. In 1996, Usama Bin Laden and other members of al Qaeda relocated to Afghanistan. Al Qaeda was headquartered in the Sudan from approximately 1991 until approximately 1996 but still maintained offices in various parts of the world. In or about 1991, the leadership of al Qaeda, including its " emir" (or prince) Usama Bin Laden, relocated to the Sudan. From 1989 until in or about 1991, the group (hereafter referred to as "al Qaeda") was headquartered in Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. From in or about 1989 until the present, the group called itself "al Qaeda" ("the Base").
The group was founded by Usama Bin Laden and Muhammad Atef, a/k/a "Abu Hafs al Masry," together with "Abu Ubaidah al Banshiri," and others. This organization grew out of the "mekhtab al khidemat" (the "Services Office") organization which had maintained offices in various parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Pakistan (particularly in Peshawar), and the United States. At all relevant times from in or about 1989 until the date of the filing of this Indictment, an international terrorist group existed which was dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. (Conspiracy to Commit Acts of Terrorism Transcending National Boundaries)ġ. §§ 46502(a)(1)(A) and (a)(2)(B))Ĭonspiracy to Use Weapons of Mass DestructionĬonspiracy to Murder United States Employees