Services Office: Difference between revisions
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Founded in [[Pakistan]] in 1984 by [[Abdullah Azzam]], the '''Services Office (Maktab al-Khadamat)''' both supported refugees from the [[Afghanistan War (1978-92)]] and channeled weapons and volunteers against the Soviets in Afghanistan. It was also an increasingly radical Islamist organization. | Founded in [[Pakistan]] in 1984 by [[Abdullah Azzam]], the '''Services Office (Maktab al-Khadamat)''' both supported refugees from the [[Afghanistan War (1978-92)]] and channeled weapons and volunteers against the Soviets in Afghanistan. It was also an increasingly radical Islamist organization. | ||
It had an overt U.S. operations side called [[al-Khifa]]. | It had an overt U.S. operations side called [[al-Khifa]]. As part of [[Operation CYCLONE]], a [[Central Intelligence Agency]] effort against the Soviets, it received U.S. assistance; there is much controversy if this short-term objective created "blowback" of terrorism in the 1990s. | ||
While Azzam was assassinated in 1989, [[Osama bin Laden]] worked with the organization, and it is an indirect ancestor of [[al-Qaeda]]. | While Azzam was assassinated in 1989, [[Osama bin Laden]] worked with the organization, and it is an indirect ancestor of [[al-Qaeda]]. | ||
Revision as of 10:13, 2 April 2009
Founded in Pakistan in 1984 by Abdullah Azzam, the Services Office (Maktab al-Khadamat) both supported refugees from the Afghanistan War (1978-92) and channeled weapons and volunteers against the Soviets in Afghanistan. It was also an increasingly radical Islamist organization.
It had an overt U.S. operations side called al-Khifa. As part of Operation CYCLONE, a Central Intelligence Agency effort against the Soviets, it received U.S. assistance; there is much controversy if this short-term objective created "blowback" of terrorism in the 1990s.
While Azzam was assassinated in 1989, Osama bin Laden worked with the organization, and it is an indirect ancestor of al-Qaeda.