Does Al Qaeda exist?

[Ichisan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQFC8AlCVjE&NR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBVVs9hcmRY&mode=related&search=

I think there was no Al Qaeda back in 2001 and doubt that the 9/11 hijackers were under Bin Laden's actual authority although he may have helped them plan it. On the other hand, Al Qaeda's been hyped up so much by the media it's acted like a free worldwide recruitment drive for hotheaded malcontented young Islamic males, so maybe it exists now.

Maybe I'm just ignorant but I've heard tons and tons of hype about Al Qaeda this and Al Qaeda that but precious little evidence. If anyone can show me some evidence of its existence I'd be more than happy to be proved wrong.

[Saitou Hajime]

If anyone can show me some evidence of its existence I'd be more than happy to be proved wrong.

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http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2395/911jj5.jpg

[MeneerDijk]

Cnn mentions it LONG before 2001

if you search for 'al queda' you'll find they have articles on them starting from 1999 (http://search.cnn.com/pages/search.jsp?currentPage=660&query=al+qaeda&sortby=Date) It probably existed before then but the cnn archive doesn't go further.

Maybe the media is using the term 'al qaeda' too broad. But i do think it exists. And besides, the Mafia didn't call themselves 'the mafia' before the media coined the phrase, but it did exist long before that.

Edit: On the topic of documentaries claiming wrong-doing of the governement: I think it's good people make them and are critical of stuff the governement says, it keeps them on their toes. But people shouldn't blindly believe what they claim either.

[Fermented Yeast Paste]

I can safely say that the only reason you say that there is precious little evidence for the existence of al-Qaeda is because that's what you choose to believe.

[Trump]

I just... don't even care any more. The current regime has already screwed itself. In about 30 years someone will come clean and say what really happened.

[Kass]

I want some of what he's having. It must be good...