| | '''Ayman al-Zawahiri''' is a prominent leader of the [[terrorist]] group [[al-Qaeda]]. Listed as the second most wanted terrorist in the world, al-Zawahiri has been involved in some of the most horrific terrorist attacks in history, including, the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]], [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], [[USS Cole]], and other terrorist operations in [[Africa]].<ref>http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir011003_1_n.shtml</ref> | | '''Ayman al-Zawahiri''' is a prominent leader of the [[terrorist]] group [[al-Qaeda]]. Listed as the second most wanted terrorist in the world, al-Zawahiri has been involved in some of the most horrific terrorist attacks in history, including, the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]], [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], [[USS Cole]], and other terrorist operations in [[Africa]].<ref>http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir011003_1_n.shtml</ref> |
| − | Upon the demise of [[Osama bin Laden]], Zawahiri succeeded into the premier leadership role. He is currently in a struggle with []Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]],the self declared [[Caliph]] of the [[Islamic State]], for leadership of the global jihad. | + | Upon the demise of [[Osama bin Laden]], Zawahiri succeeded into the premier leadership role. He is currently in a struggle with [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]],the self declared [[Caliph]] of the [[Islamic State]], for leadership of the global jihad. |
| | Born into an upper class [[Egypt]]ian in home, al-Zawahiri's involvement in the [[Islamic]] [[Jihad]] movement began at the early age of sixteen, when he became heavily involved in Islamic groups in Egypt, including a plot by the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] to overthrow the government of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. His radical views came largely from the writings and life of [[Sayyid Qutb]], a Muslim who led the Muslim Brotherhood before he was killed under Nassar's regime. His Uncle Mahfouz Azzam,who was a former student of Qutb and later worked as Qutb's personal lawyer, told Zawahriri of Qutb's beliefs and story of his fight for Jihad.<ref>The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright, pg 36</ref> | | Born into an upper class [[Egypt]]ian in home, al-Zawahiri's involvement in the [[Islamic]] [[Jihad]] movement began at the early age of sixteen, when he became heavily involved in Islamic groups in Egypt, including a plot by the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] to overthrow the government of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. His radical views came largely from the writings and life of [[Sayyid Qutb]], a Muslim who led the Muslim Brotherhood before he was killed under Nassar's regime. His Uncle Mahfouz Azzam,who was a former student of Qutb and later worked as Qutb's personal lawyer, told Zawahriri of Qutb's beliefs and story of his fight for Jihad.<ref>The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright, pg 36</ref> |