Learn about al Qaeda

Overview: The United States accuses Iraq of aiding al Qaeda terrorists. Have students learn about Osama bin Laden and the evolution of the al Qaeda network, including its links to other radical groups. Discuss the advantages that a global terrorist network offers terrorist operations, and how such a network makes a war on terrorism more difficult than a conventional war.

Have students read the story "White House may have linked Iraq, al Qaeda" and answer the following questions:

1. What is President Bush's position on Iraq? What is al Qaeda? What accusation did the Bush administration make regarding the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda? Why is this accusation politically significant? What are the implications of the accusation in terms of the U.S.-led War on Terrorism?

2. In the video, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld asserts that the U.S. has ""credible evidence' that al Qaeda leaders have sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire weapons of mass destruction." Ask students: In your opinion, what would constitute "credible evidence"? Do you think the Bush administration should reveal this evidence to the public? Why or why not?

3. Refer students to multimedia resources, including the CNNstudentnews.com backgrounder, "Who is bin Laden, al Qaeda?" to learn about the evolution of the al Qaeda network, including its links to other radical groups. Instruct students, working in groups, to create lists of the different terrorist groups to which al Qaeda has ties and the countries where each group operates. Have students share their lists in class discussion. On a large wall map, mark each of the countries where these terrorist groups operate with a pushpin. Then, ask students to draw conclusions about the global reach of al Qaeda and its associated terrorist groups. Discuss the political and economic advantages a global network offers to these terrorist operations, and how such a network makes a war on terrorism more difficult than a conventional war.