Al-Qaeda was founded by Osama Bin Laden in the late 1980s (al-Qaeda). The organization was a broad-based Islamic militant organization that was based in Sudan in the early 1990s, but eventually re-established in Afghanistan (al-Qaeda). The word or name “Qaeda” simply means “base” or “foundation,” which Al-Qaeda affiliates and members hope to build a vigorous and geographically diverse network (Rollins, John). Al-Qaeda began as a network with a centralized leadership, composed mostly of Egyptians, to support Muslims against the Soviet Union during the war in Afghanistan, also composed mostly of veterans of the Afghan insurgency against the Soviets (Rollins, John ). Shortly after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the association split, but continued to oppose corrupt Islamic regimes and foreign presence in Islamic lands (al-Qaeda). After being banished from Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden set up Al-Qaeda headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan. (Al-Qaeda | Infoplease.com). Even though Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden became identical, he did not run the organization alone (Al-Qaeda | Infoplease.com). Later, when Ayman Al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon from an upper-class family, served three years in prison, he went to Afghanistan, where he met Bin Laden, and became Bin Laden's personal doctor and advisor (Al-Qaeda |. Infoplease.com ). Al-Zawahiri was suspected of organizing a massacre of 67 foreign tourists in the Egyptian city of Luxor during the year 1997 (Al-Qaeda | Infoplease.com). He is also indicted in connection with the attacks on the American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya (Al-Qaeda | Infoplease.com). In 1998, Al-Zawahiri was one of five Islamic leaders to sign a statement for Bin Laden to call for attacks against the United States... half of the document... I. "Prepare for one war and get another?" Preparing for one war and getting another? Institute for Strategic Studies, 2010. COV+. Collection of military and intelligence databases. Network. November 26, 2013. Gray, Colin S. “Irregular Warfare, One Nature, Many Characters.” Strategic Studies Quarterly 1.2 (2007): 35+. Collection of military and intelligence databases. Network. November 26, 2013.Ploch, Lauren. "Overview." Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and issue notes. Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Summaries, 2010. War and Terrorism Roundup. Network. November 19, 2013.Rollins, John. “Al Qaeda and Affiliates: Historical Perspective, Global Presence, and Implications for U.S. Policy.” Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and issue notes. Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Summaries, 2010. War and Terrorism Roundup. Network. November 18. 2013.