The Unyielding Enemy: Al Qaeda's 25 Year Evolution Al Qaeda has demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt and transform in response to changing global circumstances and military actions since its inception as a regional militant group in Afghanistan.
Over the past quarter century, it has evolved from a local entity with anti Western sentiment into a global terrorist organization.
Al Qaeda's Original Goals: A Retrospective Analysis The core objectives driving al Qaeda's ideology and actions following the 9/11 attacks were rooted in anti Western sentiment and jihadism.