Al Qaeda began in Afghanistan to fight the Russians. The United States government gave supplies, support, and training to the mujahideen who had Osama bin Laden as the planner of attacks against Russia. He was a Saudi Arabian and from a wealthy family and helped fund the mujahideen with arms, and money. In 1999 he formed Al Qaeda and in 1992 he was banished from Saudi Arabia. He moved to Sudan until 1996 when he was forced to leave and went to Afghanistan. At this time he declared war on the US.