Just or unjust? Al-Qaeda’s ideology and actions have proven to be unjust, violating just war theory, basic human rights, and plain old human decency. In this paper, I will explain how and why Al-Qaeda’s ideology and tactics violate the Just War Theory, as well as a counterpoint to this.
Al-Qaeda which means “The Base” was created by Osama Bin Laden along with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was led by Ayman al-Zawahiri in the early 1980's in order to push the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. In the early part of the 1980’s, 1979 to 1989 to be exact, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, it was also during this time that the U.S. was involved in the “Cold War with the Soviet Union. The U.S. intelligence agencies figured, the enemy of …show more content…
The Mujahedeen’s war eventually gave rise to a Jihad meaning ‘holy war” against all non-Muslims. In the early 1990’s Iraq began an invasion into Kuwait. Saudi Arabia was allies with Kuwait. Bin Laden offered the support of his Al-Qaeda network and the use of the Mujahedeen army. Saudi Arabia declined the offer and instead accepted the assistance of the U.S. military. This upset Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda’s ideology then changed and their main goal now was to eliminate western presence from all Muslim countries, to militantly oppose the western foreign policies, and finally to remove all American influence out of all the Muslim nations, especially Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites. Bin Laden began to set up terrorist training camps throughout the Middle East, especially in Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and in Egypt. Along with the terrorist training camps, Bin Laden created setup terror cells worldwide, as well as, a global funding and support for the Al-Qaeda …show more content…
There are a numerous like principals between the Just War Theory and the Al-Qaeda’ jihadist actions, such as the morality of their actions, just cause, right authority, and protections for the noncombatant individuals. This can be seen in the extreme, according Shari ‘a law, which is interpreted by Al-Qaeda and extremist Sunni Islamic scholars from the teachings of Mohammed in the Qur’an. According to the Islamic teachings, they should note the difference between the non-innocent and the innocent civilians among their enemies and use the lowest amount of force necessary. They further go on to say that if it is important to fight, it is also important to win. If it is necessary to bend or even break the rules of war to win, then they are excused in doing so. Like what was mentioned up above, Al-Qaeda follows Sunni tradition, as apart of Sunni tradition religion is a reasonable excuse of just cause in order to declare war. Also part of the Sunni tradition, anyone that does not follow the Islamic Sunni traditions is considered unclean and an infidel. (Just War or Just
Al-Qaeda which means “The Base” was created by Osama Bin Laden along with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was led by Ayman al-Zawahiri in the early 1980's in order to push the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. In the early part of the 1980’s, 1979 to 1989 to be exact, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, it was also during this time that the U.S. was involved in the “Cold War with the Soviet Union. The U.S. intelligence agencies figured, the enemy of …show more content…
The Mujahedeen’s war eventually gave rise to a Jihad meaning ‘holy war” against all non-Muslims. In the early 1990’s Iraq began an invasion into Kuwait. Saudi Arabia was allies with Kuwait. Bin Laden offered the support of his Al-Qaeda network and the use of the Mujahedeen army. Saudi Arabia declined the offer and instead accepted the assistance of the U.S. military. This upset Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda’s ideology then changed and their main goal now was to eliminate western presence from all Muslim countries, to militantly oppose the western foreign policies, and finally to remove all American influence out of all the Muslim nations, especially Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites. Bin Laden began to set up terrorist training camps throughout the Middle East, especially in Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and in Egypt. Along with the terrorist training camps, Bin Laden created setup terror cells worldwide, as well as, a global funding and support for the Al-Qaeda …show more content…
There are a numerous like principals between the Just War Theory and the Al-Qaeda’ jihadist actions, such as the morality of their actions, just cause, right authority, and protections for the noncombatant individuals. This can be seen in the extreme, according Shari ‘a law, which is interpreted by Al-Qaeda and extremist Sunni Islamic scholars from the teachings of Mohammed in the Qur’an. According to the Islamic teachings, they should note the difference between the non-innocent and the innocent civilians among their enemies and use the lowest amount of force necessary. They further go on to say that if it is important to fight, it is also important to win. If it is necessary to bend or even break the rules of war to win, then they are excused in doing so. Like what was mentioned up above, Al-Qaeda follows Sunni tradition, as apart of Sunni tradition religion is a reasonable excuse of just cause in order to declare war. Also part of the Sunni tradition, anyone that does not follow the Islamic Sunni traditions is considered unclean and an infidel. (Just War or Just