America's Terrorist Enemies
A Worldwide List
The State Department, in its annual report on global terrorism released in April, identified several extremists groups that may have had reasons to stage attacks in the USA. Among them:
Location: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Bosnia, Canada, Chechnya, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan,
Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan,
Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Yemen.
Background: Led by Osama bin Laden. In February 1998, bin Laden
said it was the duty of all Muslims to kill U.S. citizens and
their allies. He was indicted in the bombings of U.S. embassies
in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 1998.
He has ties to Sunni extremists and has an estimated $300 million
inheritance that he uses to finance terrorist activity.
Numbers: Several thousand.
Goal: Eject
non-Muslims from Muslim countries and overthrow U.S.-allied regimes
in the Arab world.
Location: Philippines, Malaysia.
Background: Responsible for attacks in the southern Philippines. Some members fought and trained in Afghanistan. May receive support from Islamic groups in Middle East and South Asia.
Numbers: Estimated 200, but could be as many as 2,000.
Goal: Independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
Location: Algeria
Background: Began violent activities in 1992 after Algiers voided the electoral victory of the country's largest Islamic opposition party. The Algerian government has accused Iran and Sudan of supporting the group.
Numbers: Several hundred to several thousand.
Goal: Make Algeria an Islamic state.
Location: Egypt
Background: Leader Omar Abdel-Rahman is in jail in the USA for the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center. The Egyptian government says Osama bin Laden, Afghan militants and Iran might be providing support.
Numbers: Believed have fallen from a peak of several thousand.
Goal: To overthrow the Egyptian government and create an Islamic state.
Location: Israel and the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza.
Background: Responsible for many suicide bombings in Israel. Receives financial support from Saudi Arabian sympathizers, Iran, moderate Arab countries and Palestinian expatriates.
Numbers: Unknown number of hard-core supporters. Tens of thousands of sympathizers.
Goal: Replace Israel with an Islamic Palestinian state.
Location: Pakistan, disputed region of Kashmir, Afghanistan.
Background: Former leader Fazlur Rehman Khalil signed Osama bin Laden's fatwa (religious decree) against the United States. Believed to be responsible for the hijacking of an Indian aircraft in December 2000. Operates training camps in eastern Afghanistan. Financial support unknown.
Numbers: Several thousand.
Goal: Ending India's control of disputed region of Kashmir.
Location: Lebanon
Background: Suspected involvement in bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. Close association with Iran. Has cells in North and South America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Numbers: Several hundred.
Goal: Increase its political power in Lebanon and opposing the Middle East peace process.
Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan
Location: Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Background: Coalition of Islamic militants from Central Asian states opposed to Uzbekistan's secular regime. Took four U.S. citizens who were mountain climbing hostage in August 2000. Support from Central Asian and South Asian Islamic extremist groups.
Numbers: In the thousands.
Goal: Establishment of an Islamic state in Uzbekistan.
Location: Egypt. Network in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen, United Kingdom.
Background: Established in the late 1970s. Responsible for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981. Close partner of bin Laden.
Numbers: Unknown.
Goal: Overthrow of the Egyptian government.
Mujahedin-e
Khalq Organization
(National Liberation Army of Iran)
Location: Iraq
Background: Anti-Western dissidents who supported the takeover
of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
Numbers: Several thousand.
Goal:
Overthrow of Iran's government.
Palestine
Liberation Front
Location: Iraq.
Background: Responsible for the attack on the Achille Lauro
cruise ship in 1985. Libya provided support in the past. Support
now comes from Iraq.
Numbers: Unknown.
Goal:
Independent Palestinian state.
Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine
Location: Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the occupied territories.
Background: Responsible for numerous international terrorist attacks in the 1970s and attacks against Israel and moderate Arab states since.
Numbers: About 800
Goal: Independent Palestinian state.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command
Location: Syria, Lebanon.
Background: Opposed to Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation
Organization: Close ties to Syria. Responsible for attacks on Israel.
Numbers: Several hundred.
Goal: Independent Palestinian state.
