390. Road To 9/11: The Soviet-Afghan War (Part 2)
Summary
Host Willie Walsh and guest Jason Burke explore the origins of Al-Qaeda during the Soviet-Afghan War. They highlight the pivotal role of Palestinian preacher Abdullah Azzam in globalizing jihad, contrasting his influence with the then-obscure Osama bin Laden. The episode details the formation of the Maktab al-Khidamat, the founding of Al-Qaeda in 1988, and the mysterious assassination of Azzam, which paved the way for bin Laden’s eventual rise.
Topics discussed
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Introduction: Origins of Al-Qaeda and guest Jason Burke
Peshawar in the 1980s: Lawlessness and refugee influx
Cold War perspectives: US, Saudi, and Mujahideen goals
Debunking the CIA funding Bin Laden myth
Abdullah Azzam: Biography and radicalization
Azzam's global jihad fatwa and propaganda network
The relationship between Bin Laden and Azzam
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Maktab al-Khidamat: Logistics and Arab-Afghan tensions
Bin Laden's Jaji base and rise to prominence
Ayman al-Zawahiri arrives as the war ends
Founding of Al-Qaeda in 1988
Assassination of Azzam and the fragmented aftermath
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