Jackson Jambalaya

Dr. Forest is an Associate Professor at the U.S. Mililtary Academy, West Point and is the Director of Terrorist Studies at the Combating Terrorism Center.

"Knowing Al Qaida
James J.F. Forest, Ph.D

Al Qaida should be viewed not as a normal organization, but as a globally-networked movement with at least four dimensions......

To begin with, it is important to recognize that only one of the four dimensions of al Qaida provides any semblance of traditional command and control within the movement. This so-called “al Qaida central” is comprised of leftover leaders of the pre-9/11 organization, ostensibly led by Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and a small cadre of others, believed to be hiding in the mountainous border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This dimension of al Qaida may be actively engaged in commissioning some attacks, directing surveillance and collating reconnaissance, planning operations, and approving their execution. But the importance of these individuals to the overall objectives of al Qaida is actually limited in comparison to the other three dimensions of the movement.

The second dimension of al Qaida is comprised of formally established insurgent or terrorist groups like those mentioned above, who have received training, arms, money, “spiritual guidance” and other assistance from al Qaida central. These groups are located in dozens of countries across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.........

These so-called “al Qaida affiliate groups” – like Jemaah Islamiyah (in Indonesia), the Islamic Army of Aden (in Yemen), Harkat al-Mujahideen (in Kashmir) and the - Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - have been responsible for hundreds of terrorist attacks since before 9/11. Because of these groups’ ideological (and sometimes logistical) relationship with al Qaida central, we have often attributed these attacks to Osama bin Laden and his close colleagues, regardless of the absence of any direct command or control linkages. This is precisely what bin Laden envisioned for al Qaida – armed groups inspired to act on behalf of the global movement.

The third dimension of the movement is comprised of dispersed, ad-hoc groupings of al Qaida adherents who may have (or previously had) some direct connection with al Qaida, but are not members of any formal group.....

The fourth dimension of al Qaida includes radicalized individuals who have absolutely no direct connection with al Qaida or any other identifiable terrorist group, but nonetheless are prepared to carry out attacks in solidarity with or support of al Qaida’s jihadi agenda. Their relationship with al Qaida is more inspirational than actual. They are typically motivated by a shared sense of enmity and grievance felt towards the United States and West, as well as the apostate regimes it supports, and more generally complain about the oppression of Muslims in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, and elsewhere.....

Altogether, these four dimensions of al Qaida escape any sort of simplified description or sound byte for the news media. But instead of providing the public with a thorough understanding of this complex phenomenon, it is not uncommon for news media to apply the al Qaida label to any terrorist attack by religious extremists. Unfortunately, however, every time the media reports an incident as an al Qaida attack, al Qaida benefits. A primary objective of Osama bin Laden has always been to encourage and facilitate a worldwide Islamic revolution—to launch a socio-political action movement of global proportion, and to inspire, motivate and animate radicalized Muslims to join the movement’s fight. Join the Jihad. Think globally, act locally. These are the messages of al Qaida’s massive strategic communications effort. Each act of political violence attributed to al Qaida, rightly or wrongly, contributes to the image of al Qaida as a global movement..."

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism.php?id=1087256"