Ayman al-Zawahiri is a leader of the fundamentalist Sunni Muslim terror group Al Qaeda. Reported to be Osama Bin Laden's second-in-command, Zawahiri is also sometimes thought to be the true source of many of the Al Qaeda policies, while Osama Bin Laden acts the organization's public face.CBS News: Exclusive: Al Qaeda No. 2 Injured? (August 1, 2008)

On January 6, 2008, Ayman al-Zawahiri called on Muslims to "hit the interests of the Zionists and crusaders wherever and in whichever way you can." The calling on Muslims to act was in response to Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip.Ynetnews.com: Zawahiri urges attacks on Israeli, Western targets (January 6, 2008) The audio taped message was posted on Islamic web sites.FOXNews.com: Al Qaeda No. 2 Urges Strikes on Western, Israeli Targets (January 6, 2008)

On November 19, 2008, al-Zawahiri released an audio-taped message to President-Elect Barack Obama. In the message, Zawahiri calls Obama a "house negro" and said he is the "opposite of honorable black Americans," like Malcolm X.Telegraph: Al-qaeda Leader Racially Abuses Barack Obama (November 19, 2008)

Zawahiri began working with Islamist groups as a student in his native Egypt. At the age of 15, he was arrested for being a member of Egypt's oldest and largest Islamic political organization, the "Muslim Brotherhood."BBC News: "Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri" (2004) Zawahiri went on to become a medical doctor earning his masters degree in surgery from Cairo University's medical school.BBC News: "Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri" (2004)

Zawahiri joined the Egyptian Islamic Jihad in 1973.BBC News: "Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri" (2004) Following the assassination of Anwar Sadat, in 1981, he was arrested for his involvement in the attack and served a three year sentence. After his release, he lived in worked in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan, and Iran, making frequent visits to Egypt and the United States. In 1997 he reportedly moved to Afghanistan's city of Jalalabad, and became close with Osama Bin Laden.The New Yorker: Profiles: The Man Behind Bin LadenBBC News: "Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri" (2004)

• 1951: June 19, Ayman al-Zawahiri is born to a middle-class family in Egypt

• 1951-1965: Influenced by his great uncle, Mahfouz Azzam, al-Zawahiri becomes a follower of Sayyid Qutb

• 1964: Sayyid Qutb publishes Ma'alim fi al-Tariq, outlining what would become Qutbism

• 1965: al-Zawahiri joins the Muslim Brotherhood

• 1966: The Egyptian Government executes Sayyid Qutb

• 1966: In response to the Qutb execution, al-Zawahiri forms an anti-government action group

• 1974: al-Zawahiri graduates from Cairo University with a degree in psychology and pharmacology

• 1974-1977: Serves as a surgeon in the Egyptian Army

• 1978: Recieves a masters degree in surgery

• 1978: Marries Azza Nowari

• 1981: al-Zawahiri emerges as the leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad

• 1981: Following the assassination of Anwar Sadat, al-Zawahiri is arrested

• 1985: al-Zawahiri visits Saudi Arabi on Hajj and continues on to Pakistan

• 1990: At Maktab al-Khadamat, al-Zawahiri meets Osama Bin Laden

• 1991: As rebel groups split, al-Zawahiri becomes the leader of the Pakistan Egyptian Islamic Jihad

• 1993: Posing as "Dr. Abdul Mu'iz" of the Kuwait Red Crescent, al-Zawahiri tours California

• 1997: Upset with anti-terrorist movements in Egypt, al-Zawahiri organizes an attack on the Luxor temple

• 1998: Osama Bin Laden joins a fatwa with al-Zawahiri under the World Islamic Front

• 1998: Officially merges the Egyptian Islamic Jihad with Al Qaeda

• 1999: Egypt sentences al-Zawahiri to death in absentia for his involvement in the Luxor massacre