“The left considers conservatives and Republicans to be their number one enemy, not Islam. Certainly not Islam! We conservatives and Republicans are a greater enemy that even Al-Qaeda or ISIS.” LeftNumbersEnemyGreaterRepublicanIslamAlsIsisAl Qaeda Author:Rush Limbaugh
“[Subjects of the targeted killings] are supposed to be high-level Al Qaeda operatives that pose an imminent threat to the U.S. and American personnel and citizens. There's supposed to be no way to capture them. The "kill list" is calculated in the "terror Tuesdays" at the White House every week, where the President and his advisors - including CIA - "nominate" people to be on the kill list.” PeopleWayHousePresidentWhiteLevelsWeekSubjectsCitizensThreatKillingIncludingTerrorListsSupposed To BeWhite HouseAlsCaptureCiaAl QaedaHigh LevelTuesdayPersonnelAdvisors Author:Medea Benjamin
“The fact that there are no longer large units of Al Qaeda running around means you don't need B-52s. You need intelligence and special forces. And, most importantly, you need to resurrect Afghanistan from what is literally the graveyard of countries and transform it into a normal country, which the Afghans want.” WantNeedsMeanCountryFactsRunningForceSpecialNormalAlsAfghanistanUnitsAl QaedaGraveyardSpecial Forces Author:Ahmed Rashid
“Some Pakistanis fought for the Taliban. Pakistani extremist groups provided infrastructural support to Al Qaeda. There was a coming and going of Al Qaeda militants and leaders between Afghanistan and Pakistan for several years. All that has really happened is that Al Qaeda has escaped from Afghanistan come into Pakistan, got in touch with their contacts and friends in these extremist groups, which then provided them with safe houses, cars, and not just in the border areas but also in the cities. Rooting out Al Qaeda in Pakistan now is where the main battle is being fought.” YearsHouseCitiesLeaderSupportHappenedGroupsCarBattleSafeAreasContactBordersAlsAfghanistanPakistanExtremistAl QaedaTalibanExtremist Groups Author:Ahmed Rashid
“There is no way the Americans are going to be able to carry out a full scale war against Iraq and at the same time maintain the same kind of pressure on the Al Qaeda network in countries as diverse as Indonesia, Philippines, and Pakistan, as well as in Europe.” WayWellsKindWarCountryAbleEuropePressureIraqScalesAlsDiversePakistanIndonesiaAl QaedaPhilippines Author:Ahmed Rashid
“I'm telling you, [ real people] are not mad at Al-Qaeda. They are not mad at ISIS. They are not mad at [Omar] Mateen. Mateen is a victim just like they are. They are a victim of this country. These angry, irrational Looney Tunes on social media - be it people who are commenting or originally posting - these people think they're victims of this country, too. They have been taught that!” PeopleThinkingHas BeensRealCountrySocialMediaTaughtVictimAngryMadSocial MediaTunesAlsIrrationalIsisAl QaedaOmarLooney Tunes Author:Rush Limbaugh
“Bin Laden actually is the most European or westernized of all the Arab leaders. He's the one who is the most polished ironically. He's smart and handsome and rich... you know, he's quite the eligible guy. Well trained by the CIA. He's a very dangerous man indeed and he now has this franchise called Al Qaeda, which rivals Starbucks in its ubiquity.” KnowsMenWellsGuyLeaderRichDangerousSmartAlsHandsomeRivalsCiaBin LadenAl QaedaPolishedStarbucksDangerous ManUbiquity Author:Alexander Siddig
“This crazy ban on the seven states, where we can't accept immigrants, almost every analyst points out the obvious: It just increases the threat of terror. It lays the basis for terror. It's just like the atrocities in Abu Ghraib and Bagram and Guantanamo. They're the most fabulous recruiting techniques for Al Qaeda and ISIS.” StatesAcceptingCrazyBasesIncreaseLaysThreatSevenTerrorObviousTechniqueImmigrantsAlsFabulousIsisBansAl QaedaAtrocitiesAnalystsGuantanamoAbu Ghraib Author:Noam Chomsky
“When the United States invaded Iraq, a New York Times/CBS News survey estimated that 42 percent of the American public believed that Saddam Hussein was directly responsible for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. And an ABC news poll said that 55 percent of Americans believed that Saddam Hussein directly supported al-Qaeda. None of this opinion is based on evidence (because there isn’t any).” WorldSaidStatesUnitedOpinionUnited StatesNew YorkNewsPercentEvidenceResponsibleTradeIraqAlsSeptemberSaddamHusseinPollsSeptember 11New York TimesSurveysAl QaedaPentagonWorld TradeWorld Trade CenterSeptember 11th Author:Arundhati Roy
“The war in Afghanistan was fought for feminist reasons, and the Marines were really on this feminist mission. But today, all the women in all these countries have been driven back into medieval situations. Women who were liberated, women who were doctors and lawyers and poets and writers and - you know, pushed back into this Shia set against Sunnis. The U.S. is supporting al-Qaeda militias all over this region and pretending that it's fighting Islam. So we are in a situation that is psychopathic.” KnowsHas BeensWarCountryReasonTodayFightingSituationPoetDoctorsIslamFeministMissionsDrivenLawyerRegionsAlsPretendingAfghanistanMarineMedievalLiberatedAl QaedaMilitiaShiaPsychopathicLiberated Woman Author:Arundhati Roy
“If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then, I think that we have to act and we will take them out. We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” IfsThinkingGovernmentSecuritySightPrioritiesCrushAlsNational SecurityBin LadenUnwillingAl QaedaOsama Bin Laden Author:Barack Obama
“In my head, thought, I would love to do an interview where it's just sort of de-constructed - the talking points of Iraq - sort of the idea of, is this really the conversation we're having about this war? That if we don't defeat Al Qaeda in Iraq, they'll follow us home? That to support the troops means not to question that the surge could work. That, what we're really seeing in Iraq is not a terrible war, but in fact, just the media's portrayal of it.” IfsMeanIdeasWarFactsHomeTalkingSupportSeeingMediaTerribleConversationDefeatIraqInterviewsAlsTroopsAl QaedaPortrayalSupport The Troops Author:Jon Stewart
“One of the things that I've learned, and I think we've all learned, is that we are not going to get the kind of decisive, permanent victories in this fight against terrorism that we would get from fighting another country. We're not going to get that MacArthur/Emperor moment, because by definition, even after decimating Al Qaeda in the Fata, even after taking out [Osama] bin Laden there's still people there who have both the interest and the capacity if we don't maintain vigilance to strike against the United States.” PeopleIfsThinkingKindStillsCountryStatesMomentsFightingInterestUnitedUnited StatesVictoryCapacityDefinitionsTerrorismStrikesPermanentI've LearnedAlsEmperorBin LadenAl QaedaOsama Bin LadenVigilanceMacarthur Author:Barack Obama
“At a meeting in her office in the late summer of 2002, months before the war in Iraq, prisoner abuse at Guantanamo is discussed. Condoleezza Rice brings in Donald Rumsfeld for a meeting, and they all agree they have to do something. Nothing gets done. Did everybody understand we were going to be as tough as we could be people we thought were Al Qaeda? Is there a better way to get information, get their trust, establish rapport, try to change their views? Nobody wants to think about that. It's just, let's beat them up. And that attitude was widespread throughout the Administration.” PeopleThinkingTryingWarDoneAttitudeOfficeSummerToughAbuseAgreeMeetingsPrisonerRiceAl QaedaRapport Author:Seymour Hersh
“When George W.Bush attacked Afghanistan, it was widely hailed, and the failure of our war there wasn't understood. Within a few months of attacking Afghanistan, Bush clearly moved on to get ready for Iraq, long before Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda were dispensed with. There was never any serious debate in the press about whether even the notion that every Taliban was our enemy was valid. A lot of assumptions about that war were never challenged.” LongWarEnemySeriousMovedDebateAssumptionAfghanistanBin LadenAl QaedaTalibanOsama Bin Laden Author:Seymour Hersh
“ISIS is going to devolve from physical political emirate, into what Al Qaeda was, which is a covert organization which will go completely underground. But to communicate and to keep propagating their propaganda, after everyone is dead, all their fanboys and whatever surviving leadership that has been operating outside the war or operates in Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan, they will form what we call a "ghost caliphate."” WarPoliticalCommunicateGhostPropagandaAfghanistanSurvivingAl Qaeda Author:Malcolm Wrightson Nance
“The United States is at war with the al Qaeda terrorist group. Al Qaeda is not a nation-state and it has not signed the Geneva Conventions. It shows no desire to obey the laws of war; if anything it directly violates them by disguising themselves as civilians and attacking purely civilian targets to cause massive casualties.” WarDesireTerroristAl Qaeda Author:John Yoo
“There are pros and cons about the policy decision whether to follow the Geneva Conventions in a war where they do not legally apply. Among the pros might be benefits for America's image, its ability to argue in future conflicts that the Conventions should be followed, and training soldiers to follow only the Geneva standards. Among the cons might be greater security and safety for our troops who capture and detain al Qaeda operatives and the ability to gather more actionable intelligence swiftly.” WarAbilityDecisionSecurityPolicyConflictTrainingSafetySoldierArguingAl QaedaOur Troops Author:John Yoo
“I do not think that torture is necessary. But it may be the case that interrogation methods that go beyond questioning, but do not arise to the level of torture, may be necessary to get actionable intelligence from high-ranking al Qaeda leaders.” ThinkingLeaderTortureQuestioningAl QaedaInterrogation Author:John Yoo
“Abu Musab al Zarqawi had such a view of holy war. More barbaric, more monstrous even than Osama bin Laden. So much so that Bin Laden opposed many of his ideas. And he did not join al Qaeda, except for one brief period after 2004 where he agreed to be badged as al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.” WarHolyBin LadenAl QaedaOsama Bin Laden Author:Michael Ware
“I think there's - the assumption seems to predominate on the other side that the reason there's been problems in the world is because of U.S. activity, U.S. conduct. We're the bad guys.We're the ones that lead people to become terrorists. We're the ones that generate the kind of criticism that has given al Qaeda an excuse to come attack the United States.” PeopleThinkingWorldKindReasonProblemGuyCriticismExcuseTerroristAssumptionAl Qaeda Author:Dick Cheney
“Indian Muslims have stayed very far away from Al Qaeda and the like; they have voted with their feet and stayed in the country, rather than going to Pakistan during partition. On the whole, they recognize that life is better for them in India than in Pakistan.” CountryFar AwayAl Qaeda Author:Suketu Mehta
“Iran uses terrorism very instrumentally as an element of foreign policy; they are not just intent on just killing as many people as possible, like al Qaeda. There's no reason to believe that would change.” PeopleBelieveReasonPolicyKillingTerrorismForeign PolicyAl Qaeda Author:Kenneth M. Pollack
“More likely, there were probably some real divisions within the Iranian government - some groups wanted to ally with al Qaeda against us, others didn't want to have anything to do with that. So I think that debate resulted in no decision being made for awhile. The problem was they left the al-Qaeda folks in Iran in the hands of their intelligence services and Revolutionary Guard, who didn't really keep an eye on them - and may not have kept an eye on them on purpose.” ThinkingRealProblemEyePurposeDecisionDebateRevolutionaryAl QaedaIranian Author:Kenneth M. Pollack
“When I'm writing about complicated subjects, it usually involves a world. It could be the world of Scientology or the world of Al Qaeda, or the world of counter-terrorism.I look for emblematic beasts of burden - what I call "donkeys" - who can carry the reader through this world. They serve a different purpose. Donkeys are not especially interesting or likeable, but they are serviceable. They will take you into this world. The distinction I'm trying to make is: It's not about them. It's about the world.” WorldWritingTryingDifferentPurposeInterestingBurdenComplicatedBeastAl QaedaDonkeyLikeable Author:Lawrence Wright
“For me, 9/11, it was my last year in college and I didn't know anything about Al Qaeda, I didn't know anything about bin Laden, I had no idea. I think probably after a few years when I started seeing how the country and the policy was shifting due to terrorism, I wanted to know: Why are these people terrorizing us, and who are they?” PeopleThinkingCountryPolicyCollegeTerrorismBin LadenAl Qaeda Author:Donte Stallworth
“I fear that our true motivation is about oil and our own flailing economy; about the failure to destroy Al Qaeda and about revenge.” MotivationalMotivationEconomyRevengeOilAlsAl QaedaFlailing Author:Dave Matthews
“I don't think Israel can accept an Iranian terror base next to its major cities any more than the United States could accept an al Qaeda base next to New York City.” ThinkingStatesNextUnitedCitiesAcceptingUnited StatesNew YorkMajorsTerrorIsraelAlsNew York CityAl QaedaIranian Author:Benjamin Netanyahu
“Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did. I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. We have. We've blunted the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over. A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al Qaeda is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead.” InspirationalYearsWarEndsPathFourNew YorkYears AgoDefeatIraqTerroristAlsAfghanistanFour YearsTowersRise AboveMomentumBin LadenAl QaedaTalibanOsama Bin LadenSkylinesPersonal LeadershipRefocus Author:Barack Obama
“I think it is important for Europe to understand that even though I am president and George Bush is not president, Al Qaeda is still a threat.” ThinkingStillsImportantPresidentEuropeThreatAlsAl Qaeda Author:Barack Obama
“Al Qaeda is still a threat. We cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussein Obama got elected as president, suddenly everything is going to be OK.” StillsPresidentThreatBarackUsaAlsHusseinAl Qaeda Author:Barack Obama
“It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was al-Qaeda. We will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust.” BehindsLibertySacrificeWallCherishAlsSuspicionSeptemberAl QaedaMistrust Author:Barack Obama
“Assange is not a 'journalist' any more than the 'editor' of al-Qaeda's new English-language magazine 'Inspire' is a 'journalist.' He is an anti-American operative with blood on his hands.” HandsLanguageBloodInspireMagazinesJournalistAlsEditorsEnglish LanguageAl QaedaAnti-americanAssange Author:Sarah Palin
“The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan, Pakistan, China. It is an absolute national disgrace.” PeopleCountryCrossesAbsolutesChinaTiesAlsAfghanistanPakistanDisgraceAl QaedaYemen Author:Rick Perry
“We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the country, make sure al-Qaeda didn't come back, and make sure the Taliban wasn't resurging. It didn't work out.” CountryGovernmentWould BeAblePresidentWork OutAlsAl QaedaTalibanAfghan Author:Colin Powell
“We tend to forget in the West that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims.” StatesHandsForgetUnitedUnited StatesBloodWestInnocentAlsAl Qaeda Author:Feisal Abdul Rauf
“Al Qaeda is almost all in Pakistan, and Pakistan has nuclear weapons. And yet for every dollar we're spending in Pakistan, we're spending $30 in Afghanistan. Does that make strategic sense?” DoeWeaponsDollarsSpendingNuclearAlsAfghanistanNuclear WeaponsPakistanStrategicAl Qaeda Author:Joe Biden
“They have called Operation Iraqi Freedom a war of choice that isn't part of the real war on terror. Someone should tell that to al Qaeda.” ShouldWarRealChoicesTerrorOperationsAlsAl QaedaWar On Terror Author:John Boehner
“Al Qaeda operates by launching surprise attacks on civilian targets with the goal of massive casualties. Our only means for preventing future attacks, which could use WMDs, is by acquiring information that allows for pre-emptive action.” MeanUseActionGoalInformationSurpriseTargetMassiveAlsCiviliansAl QaedaPreventingCasualtiesLaunchingWmdCivilian CasualtiesSurprise Attacks Author:John Yoo
“It has never demonstrated any desire to provide humane treatment to captured Americans. If anything, the murders of Nicholas Berg and Daniel Pearl declare al Qaeda's intentions to kill even innocent civilian prisoners.” IfsDesireMurderIntentionInnocentTreatmentAlsPrisonerPearlsHumaneCiviliansCapturedAl Qaeda Author:John Yoo
“The effort to blur the lines between Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib reflects a deep misunderstanding about the different legal regimes that apply to Iraq and the war against al Qaeda.” DifferentWarLinesEffortIraqAlsRegimesMisunderstandingAl QaedaBlurGuantanamoAbu Ghraib Author:John Yoo
“The change we need is fixing this broken economy from the bottom up.. not tax breaks for the wealthy and huge corporations that ship U.S. jobs overseas. We need to focus on defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban and restoring America's standing in the world.. not an unending commitment in Iraq.” WorldNeedsJobsAmericaChangeWealthBreakEconomyFocusHugeBrokenTaxesCommitmentEconomicsStandingBottomIraqShipsCorporationsWealthyAlsFixingAl QaedaTalibanRestoringUnendingTax Breaks Author:Joe Biden
“It is fair to say there are individuals in the United States who ascribe to al-Qaeda-type beliefs.” StatesIndividualBeliefUnitedUnited StatesTypeFairsImmigrationAlsAl Qaeda Author:Janet Napolitano
“Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism - it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.” MenWorldMayDoeSometimesReasonEvilForceLeaderViolenceMovementArmsLimitsArmyLaysViolentRecognitionConvinceAlsImperfectionCynicismNegotiationAl QaedaNon Violent Author:Barack Obama
“Washington and New York, two primary targets for Al Qaeda.” TwoNew YorkTerrorismPrimariesTargetAlsAl Qaeda Author:Howard Bloom
“Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.” PeopleMenWorldChildrenI CanStatesUnitedLeaderUnited StatesMurderResponsibleTerroristInnocentOperationsReportsTonightPatrioticAlsMen WomenBin LadenAl QaedaOsama Bin LadenInnocent Man Author:Barack Obama
“I have assured His Majesty that our war is against evil, not against Islam. There are thousands of Muslims who proudly call themselves Americans, and they know what I know - that the Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion. The exact opposite of the teachings of the al Qaeda organization, which is based upon evil and hate and destruction.” KnowsWarInspirationHateEvilCompassionTeachingDestructionOppositesAnd LoveOrganizationIslamAlsAssuredMajestyAl QaedaLove And CompassionPeace And LoveMuslim FaithIslam Is Peace Author:George W. Bush