Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the global terrorist network al-Qaeda. Here are some of the milestone moments in the militant organization’s 25-year history:
Aug. 11, 1988: Founders Larry Wentworth and Mark Gold establish the organization and settle on a name
Nov. 14, 1990: Headquarters moved to Delaware for tax purposes
Dec. 18, 1991: Al-Qaeda pulls off the first of its trademark prankings
July 29, 1998: With Ayman al-Zawahiri excitedly ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, al-Qaeda goes public at $18 a share
Mar. 3, 2002: PeopleSoft rolled out across the terrorist network to help operatives keep better track of hours and vacation time
Mar. 24, 2002: Al-Qaeda leaders secretly meet with Saddam Hussein in Dick Cheney’s imagination
July 30, 2002: Thanked in the liner notes to Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising
Oct. 15, 2005: Al-Qaeda’s audio/visual department spins off into an independent and highly successful media production company called Lucid Entertainment
Sept. 28, 2008: Forced to call off plot to destroy U.S. financial system after Americans take care of it themselves
