Al Qaeda is an international organization of fundamentalist Sunni Muslims. The group has claimed responsibility for, among other acts of terrorism, the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.

On March 27, 2009, President Barack Obama unveiled a new strategy that would destroy the "cancer" of Al-Qaeda. Obama's plan includes sending over 20,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan and billions of dollars in aide to Pakistan. 4,000 of the troops will be deployed in the spring of 2009.Times Online: President Obama unveils His "Stronger, Smarter" Strategy... (March 27 2009)

On February 10, 2009, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) issued an international security alert for 85 suspected terrorists with ties to Al Qaeda. All of the suspects mentioned in the so-called "Orange Notice" were wanted on terrorism-related charges in Saudi Arabia.INTERPOL: INTERPOL issues unprecedented global alert for 85 terrorist suspects...

Osama Bin Laden originally founded Al Qaeda in 1988 in a effort to unite soldiers in a Jihad, or Holy War, against the Soviets and to force the United States military out of Saudi Arabia. The militant group has since focused on attacking non-Islamic governments.

On September 11, 2001, members of Al Qaeda hijacked and crashed four commercial jetliners. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan, the third into The Pentagon and the fourth in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

Following the terrorist attacks, on October 7, 2001, President Bush launched the War on Terror in Afghanistan in an attempt to foil the Taliban regime.

In addition to the 9-11 attacks, Al Qaeda has attacked several other areas including London, Spain, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia and Turkey. Many of the attacks used suicide bombers to target embassies, government buildings and other retail buildings.

On January 16, 2009 the United States Treasury Department zeroed-in on four alleged Al Qaeda operatives with ties to the organization's operations in Iran. The department issued executive order 13224, freezing the men's assets and prohibiting transactions between them and U.S. citizens. The purpose of such an order is to target the operatives as well as those that support them, and forces Iran to publicly accept responsibility for how it is meeting its international obligations regarding Al Qaeda. The four men, Mustafa Hamid, Muhammad Rab'a al-Sayid al-Bahtiyti, Ali Saleh Husain, and Osama Bin Laden's son Saad bin Laden, were allegedly detained by Iranian authorities in 2003, though it is believed Sa'ad bin Laden has been away from the country since at least September of 2008.Google News (AFP): US Treasury Targets Bin Laden Son, Al Qaeda with Iran Ties (January 16, 2009)

Raja Lahrasib Khan is a 56-year-old man who used to be a cab driver working in [[Chicago]. He reportedly attempted to provide money to al-Qaida for explosives. Additionally, Khan is said to have entered into discussions with al-Qaida members concerning a possible bomb attack on a US stadium.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/26/ap/national/main6336457.shtml

Khan is a naturalized United States citizen who was born in Pakistan.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/26/ap/national/main6336457.shtml The FBI is officially charging Khan with having provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The particular stadium that Khan discusses has not been released. As of March 26, 2010, Khan is scheduled to appear in a Chicago area federal court