Research on al-Qaeda

History of al-Qaida

The origin of al-Qaeda can be traced to the group’s logistical network during the Afghan War where it supported the Muslims in their fight against the occupying Soviet Union.  The members of the group had been recruited across the Islamic World. In 1989, the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan and the members of the organization dispersed while still opposing Islamic regimes they considered corrupt and the United States presence in their lands (Chaliand & Blin, 2016). Led by Osama Bin Laden and his associates, the group resolved to capitalize on their already established network to expand their activities – Jihad war globally.  The vision of Bin Laden involved the creation of a squad of elite fighters to lead the Jihad and to join other such smaller groups fighting against their regimes into one group. The al-Qaida group initially had their basis in Sudan during the early 1990s but later moved to Afghanistan in 1996 supported by the Taliban militia (Chaliand & Blin, 2016.

By 1996 time, Bin Laden aim was to reorient the whole group and place it focus on United States, which he considered as the enemy supporting other local regimes. In 1998, the leader issued a Fatwah, which stated that it all Muslims, duty to kill the Americans and any of their allies consisting of military and civilians. The Fatwah seems to have offered religious justification for their atrocities and marked the beginning of planning for the bombing of United State Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998.  Earlier in the Year the group had issued another Fatwah for the Crusaders and the Jews.  The 9/11 attack on US soil was a high point for the organization, an action that shook the entire world. Over the next one decade, the terrorist group experienced expansion in their activities but also suffered disasters and setbacks (Chaliand & Blin, 2016). The 9/11 attack almost ruined the organization, since world leaders now clearly understood the terrorism dangers to their countries , and had to work with United States or risk its wrath. Many countries especially those that had been engaged with counterterrorism embarked on monitoring, arresting or even disrupting the suspect. The occupation of Iraq by U.S somehow rescued the group ideologically and operationally since the position and message of Bin Laden was said to have been vindicated. The notion that U.S. wanted to control the entire Islamic World served as a motivation for new generation of Jihadists to go to Iraq (Chaliand & Blin, 2016).

 The increased intelligence made it even harder for al-Qaida to carry out their activities.  The group was later to be associated with attacks in various parts in countries such as Jordan, Indonesia, Israel, United Kingdom and Algeria. Moreover, the group increasingly used the internet as a platform for communication and even recruiting new members. The groups also suffered a big loss when bin Laden was killed in 2011 by the U.S forces after being located by intelligence in Abbottabad, Pakistan (Chaliand & Blin, 2016). However, after receiving support from the Iraqis turned against the civilians, the organization was not able to turn its violence against them into heroism. The emergence of Arab Spring posed a new challenge to the group as many Arabs tired with dictatorial and corrupt regimes, which did not involve violence, reduced their support for al-Qaida even with the help of Western powers(Chaliand & Blin, 2016).  This, together with the death of Bin Laden was a great loss to the group.

Mission

The major aim of the group is to eliminate United States and its influence from the Muslims countries more so in Saudi Arabia and to destroy the State of Israel in the region. The leadership under Bin Laden had also said that he wanted to bring together all the Muslim together even if by use of force, and form an Islamic country that clearly adheres to first Caliphs rule (Rosenau, Powell & Faber, 2017). 

Al-Qaida leadership and structure

Al-Qaida’s size in terms of membership and operations has not been constant overtime. Over the recent years, it has been estimated that the group has less than 1,000 active members and most of them remain hidden in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the group is still united even though the operations of United States against it leaders have needed a frequent replenishment of the tops ranks.  The group’s leader is also the theological figure, but the organization is run by a group of associates. Below the leader is a top advisor (Rosenau, Powell & Faber, 2017). The leadership supervises various networks of cells that are loosely organized, whose members are recruited mainly from radicals across the Islamic countries and other parts of the world. The infrastructure of the group is mobile, small but decentralized. The operations of every cell are done independently and the members do not know the identity of similar cells. This means that the local operatives are likely not to know the people in the high rank of the group’s hierarchy (Rosenau, Powell & Faber, 2017). The group’s operations can be seen as a franchise.

Location and training

The al-Qaida group has traditionally been based on Afghanistan even through it was largely dislodged from these areas in 2002 (Hayes, Brunner, & Rowen, 2005). The group has managed to reconstitute itself and found a place in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan where other threat groups have been operating from.  There parts of the al-Qaida group that have found safe haven and consequently found sanctuaries in FATA areas of Pakistan. The group’s recruitment has taken place in many parts of Middle East, where its ideology can garner adherents from varying backgrounds. Some local insurgents in North Africa have also found the label of al-Qaida as being attracting more membership due to the perceived worldwide revolutionary agenda (Gunaratna & Nielsen, 2008). Hence, the operations of the organization have been embraced by groups such as Al-Shabab in Somalia and Boko-Haram in Nigeria.  The organization has also sought recruits from societies that are marginalized in Europe including the European prison system. However, the group still carries out its major training activities in Afghanistan and in 2015; a major training camp was found in Kandahar province, in areas that are sparsely populated. They also include southern Afghanistan areas that border Pakistan. These facilities had been known to exist over a year.

Al-Qaida techniques and tactics

The al-Qaida group uses many tactics to accomplish its mission which include assassination of high profile individuals including government personalities especially the military and political leaders. The group may also apply biological weapons in a given population center and the later Bin Laden declared the use of biological weapon as part of their “holy duty” (Venzke & Ibrahim, 2002).  The bombings including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other military ammunitions have been a major tactic for the group driven by the knowledge that such weapons can lead to a mass casualty incident or even the destruction of certain facility. These devices can use remote triggers, timers and even sensors. The group can also stage a cyber-based strike against various important infrastructure targets of a country with an aim of closing down the systems, planting false information or even maliciously manipulate these systems (Hedges & Karasik, 2010).  The other tactic involves hijacking of cruise ships plans or even large crafts with an aim of taking hostages in using the planes as a projectile in their suicide operations. The later indicates how the group utilized an aircraft to achieve their intended impact on 9-11. Taking of hostage may involve an attempt by the terrorists to have their demands met or to obtain media coverage and then kill the hostages through various means like explosive devices (Hedges & Karasik, 2010).  Many of the weapons used by the group are employed after extensive training with some volunteers undertaking to carry out suicide bombings at the targeted people or places.

Funding

During the stages, the group major financing was Bin Laden, but the group later started relying on donations or turned to extortion to fund their activities. After the 9/11 attacks, CIA reported that various organizations including non-governmental organizations , mosques , charities and even banks were helping the terrorist group with finances.  Currently, the group receives financial backing from various sources including private donations, state sponsors, various Islamic foundations and charities and some illegal activities associated with drug trafficking, staging robberies and even taking hostages.  The kidnappings and drug trafficking have formed a large source of the groups finances.  The financing has enabled the group to carry out past operations.

References

Chaliand, G., & Blin, A. (Eds.). (2016). The history of terrorism: From antiquity to ISIS. Univ of California Press.

 

Gunaratna, R., & Nielsen, A. (2008). Al Qaeda in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan and beyond. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 31(9), 775-807.

 

Hayes, L., Brunner, B., & Rowen, B. (2005). Al-Qaeda: Osama Bin Laden's network of terror. Infoplease, All the knowledge you need.

 

Venzke, B. N., & Ibrahim, A. (2002). al-Qaeda Tactic/Target Brief. Version, 1(8), 35.

 

Hedges, M., & Karasik, T. (2010). Evolving Terrorist Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) Migration Across South Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East. Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

 

Rosenau, W., Powell, A., & Faber, P. G. (2017). Al-Qaeda Core: A Case Study (No. DIM-2017-U-016117-2Rev). Center for Naval Analyses Arlington United States.