This paper will provide an in-depth organizational profile of the international terrorist organization known as al-Qaeda, Arabic for “the base”, as well as a look at the leadership, funding, support locations, personnel strength, ideology, targeting, tactics, capability, communications, and overall goals of the group. Al-Qaeda was responsible for the worst attack on United States soil on September 11, 2001, as they planned and executed the hijacking of four commercial airliners and crashed two into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and the fourth was disrupted and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Al Qaeda was founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden to consolidate the international network he established during the Afghan war. The
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federal indictment, al-Qaeda is governed by a shura council that ranked under Osama bin Laden (U.S. vs. bin Laden, 1998). Since 2001, it is hard to determine if the shura council still exists. Many of the council members have been detained or killed due to the counter-terrorism pressure applied on the organization. A 2007 U.S. military press release confirmed the council was defunct (U.S. DoD Press Release, 2007). Until May, 2011, bin Laden was the leader of al-Qaeda however, the raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan by elite U.S. forces resulted in the death of bin Laden (Brown, 2012). The following month, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who had served as bin Laden’s deputy and al-Qaeda’s ideological adviser assumed the role as leader of the organization (Sheridan, 2011). The Rewards for Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ayman …show more content…
Along with AQ, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other like-minded groups continue to conduct operations against U.S., Coalition, Afghan, and Pakistani interests from safe havens on both sides of the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, and in Pakistan, terrorist groups and AQ allies have executed armed assaults on police stations, judicial centers, border posts, and military convoys.
Overall Goals
Al-Qaeda’s main goal has been to oust Western influence in Muslim lands, especially Americans. Al-Qaeda leadership has always believed that American influence has been their largest roadblock to establishing an Islamic nation. Al-Qaeda believed the best way to drive the U.S. out of the region was to carry out a crusade of jihad to inflict economic, political, and physical damage to U.S. forces. Once successful, al-Qaeda would establish Islamic rule and expand their jihad around the region. Ultimately, they wish to join all of the Islamic states and establish a Caliphate in the Islamic
federal indictment, al-Qaeda is governed by a shura council that ranked under Osama bin Laden (U.S. vs. bin Laden, 1998). Since 2001, it is hard to determine if the shura council still exists. Many of the council members have been detained or killed due to the counter-terrorism pressure applied on the organization. A 2007 U.S. military press release confirmed the council was defunct (U.S. DoD Press Release, 2007). Until May, 2011, bin Laden was the leader of al-Qaeda however, the raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan by elite U.S. forces resulted in the death of bin Laden (Brown, 2012). The following month, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who had served as bin Laden’s deputy and al-Qaeda’s ideological adviser assumed the role as leader of the organization (Sheridan, 2011). The Rewards for Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ayman …show more content…
Along with AQ, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other like-minded groups continue to conduct operations against U.S., Coalition, Afghan, and Pakistani interests from safe havens on both sides of the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, and in Pakistan, terrorist groups and AQ allies have executed armed assaults on police stations, judicial centers, border posts, and military convoys.
Overall Goals
Al-Qaeda’s main goal has been to oust Western influence in Muslim lands, especially Americans. Al-Qaeda leadership has always believed that American influence has been their largest roadblock to establishing an Islamic nation. Al-Qaeda believed the best way to drive the U.S. out of the region was to carry out a crusade of jihad to inflict economic, political, and physical damage to U.S. forces. Once successful, al-Qaeda would establish Islamic rule and expand their jihad around the region. Ultimately, they wish to join all of the Islamic states and establish a Caliphate in the Islamic