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AL-QAEDA (U) AL-QAEDA, under the leadership of USAMA BIN LADEN, holy lands" and has issued a total of three fatwas (religiously sanctioned opinions on civil or religious matters). in which it declared the duty of every Muslim to kill Americans, civilian or military, wherever possible. (U) The name AL-QAEDA, or "the Base," dates back to 1988 eeo oo nagee oo paan wnen ayn woee pageughgeo Aepaaaodae pue of USAMA BIN LADEN's (UBL) guesthouses, where the Mujahidin that came to fight in Afghanistan were required to register. These Islamist fighters around the world. AL-QAEDA includes, in addition to the warriors present at usAmA BIN LADEN's camps, a loose network of terrorist cells throughout the world. The most outstanding features of AL-QAeDA are its.international outreach and vast financial resources, derived mainly from UsAmA BIn LADeN's personal wealth and financial dealings. (U) UsAMA BIN LADEN was raised in Saudi Arabia in a wealthy, high profile, family of Yemeni origins.. The beginning of his radicalization dates back to his university studies in Jeddah, 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. (U) AL-QAEDA operates approximately 12 training camps in. Afghanistan, in which it has reportedly trained as many as 5,ooo militants. These militants have allegedly created cells in 50 countries. Saet oym 'sauebe .nadaare aq Aeu saauteag aseyn Jo aeee undetected among local populations. (0) 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 2 SECRET REQ 3-1q 000000079