Al-Qaeda and E.T.A.

First of all I am going to talk about what I learned about terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ETA. The members of Al-Qaeda are all muslims, or followers of Islam, but they have a lot of different beliefs than those of muslims in other places of the world. They believe that their cause is what is called a Jihad, or a holy war, against enemies of their religion and cause. Al-Qaeda members wish that their attacks will change the way people living in the western part of the world feel about muslims in the middle east. They work the strongest in Arab countries, even though they have other members in countries all over the world.

The current leader of Al-Qaeda is a man called Osama Bin Laden. He was born in the year 1957, he is the 17th son of a family that is very rich, he grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he has more than 50 siblings, and is the man that has begun a Jihad against the "enemies of their religion". He attacks because he thinks that other countries helped the jews during their wars in the middle east. He thinks all americans are against them, or that they are sided with the jews. He is very rich, and has contacts all over the world. Most of his followers would die for their cause. He has attacked the world trade center twice, the first attack being in 1993. He has also placed bomb cars near the United States embassies in Kenya and in Tanzania.

Al-Qaeda's true meaning (of the word) is 'the base'. It began in 1989 after the russian army left Afghanistan. During the 1980's, Arab peoples went to Afghanistan to help the Afghans fight away the russians. They helped them for the mere reason that they were also muslims. The Arabs thought that they were fighting a Jihad. When russia left, the organization stood tall against countries believed to be enemies of Islam. Al-Qaeda has now reached approx. 45 countries. Al Qaeda also has several fronts including Al-Barakaat, Al-Wafa Humanitarian Organization, Benevolence International Foundation, and Global Relief Foundation.

Now, you are probably asking what is Eta. Honestly, I had no idea of that name until I made my research. Eta is a group that wants the Basque country to be an individual group, or separate from part of France and part of Spain. They have attacked several times, by bombings and assasinations. They usually target Spanish officials.

"There are probably about 500 active members."

I think that the information I found is very well detailed and makes its full purpose. Sure, it could have been more detailed, but it is well explained, none the less. I also think that it was very objective, which to me is good, because I like information that doesn't pick sides. It is kind of unfair to do so, but it is hard to be objective with such strong subjects. I think that the people at CBBC did a great job explaining those things.

Next I would like to investigate on the guerilla groups found in Colombia, such as Las Farc or ELN. They constantly kidnap people to accomplish their plans. If some of their members are captured they offer swapping kidnapped people for captured members. I really want to know about those groups a lot, and next week, I think I will.