Eric Beougher_Research Paper_HMLS 302

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Eric Beougher Introduction to Homeland Security HMLS 302 7381 Dr. Kirkland Research Paper 5 December 2023

Abstract The Salafi jihadist organization, Al-Qa'ida, is acknowledged as a major national security threat to the United States. This group has orchestrated several attacks within the U.S. and internationally. Their belief system is based on a radicalized interpretation of Islam that advocates for a literal application of the Quran and a commitment to jihad. Their strategic targets include political, economic, and essential infrastructures, with the intention of causing extensive casualties and chaos, thus destabilizing American interests. Al-Qa'ida utilizes tactics such as bombings, suicide missions, aircraft hijackings, abductions, and potentially weapons of mass destruction. The group remains a persistent danger due to its global network and charismatic leadership. Its goals are to establish an Islamic state governed by strict Sharia law, spread its extreme doctrinal views, expel Western influence from Islamic regions, and topple current regimes in these areas. Al-Qa'ida actively disseminates messages and propaganda to weaken the U.S. influence and to motivate Muslims around the world to participate in their cause. To counteract these threats, the U.S. has enacted several counterterrorism legislations and strategies, including the USA PATRIOT Act, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, and the National Strategy for Homeland Security. Furthermore, this document proposes additional strategies to improve these measures and strengthen the United States' homeland security initiatives.

Part 1 Profile Emerging from the Mekhtab al Khidemat (MAK), a group created to counter the Soviet forces in Afghanistan in 1979, Al-Qa'ida was formed by Osama bin Laden and his mentor Sheikh Abdullah Azzam in the late 1980s. Initially developed from the MAK, this organization aimed to support mujahedeen fighters worldwide and extend the struggle of jihad beyond Afghanistan's borders. Their objective was the removal of Western presence from Muslim lands and the establishment of nations under strict Islamic law. Al-Qa'ida has since built partnerships with militant groups across various nations such as Egypt, Libya, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Algeria, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Somalia. These affiliations have helped spread their radical Islamic ideology and facilitated international recruitment. The group has executed several high- profile terrorist acts, including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa, the September 11 attacks in 2001, and bombings in Pakistan, Tunisia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Utilizing tactics ranging from bombings and suicide missions to assassinations and kidnappings, Al-Qa'ida has maintained its relevance and continues to pose a critical threat internationally, despite the impact of bin Laden's demise on its operations. Ideology The enduring influence of Al-Qa'ida is attributed to its foundational ideology, which seeks the removal of Western influence from Islamic nations and aspires to establish a global caliphate governed by a strict Sunni interpretation of Sharia law. As noted by Bruce in 2008, the organization upholds a strong ideological framework rooted in fundamentalist Islamic tenets. It was conceived as a driving force for Salafi jihadism, with the ambition of mobilizing Muslims

worldwide. Influential figures such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri have been pivotal in propagating radical ideologies, sustaining a global jihadist movement that has morphed into an extensive insurgency. The longevity of such groups is contingent on their ability to boost capabilities and constantly inspire their ranks. The essence of their persistence lies in the rapid recruitment of new adherents. Their ideology serves a dual purpose: it energizes the militants and convinces them of the moral integrity of their mission. By instilling in their followers the belief that they are engaged in a legitimate and historical crusade, Al-Qa'ida has successfully persuaded many to see the West as a dehumanized foe, legitimizing drastic measures against them. Targeting Al-Qa'ida employs a strategic approach in selecting its targets, with a focus on those that hold significant political, economic, and infrastructural value. The goal of such selections is to maximize the impact of their attacks, causing not only physical destruction but also widespread fear and economic turmoil. The group's broader aims, which include establishing an Islamic caliphate, spreading their interpretation of Islamic teachings, expelling Western influence from Muslim nations, and overturning existing governments in the Islamic world, inform its choice of targets. Al-Qa'ida has proclaimed a religious conflict against the United States, Western countries, and Muslim governments that do not subscribe to its stringent Islamic views. According to the coercion hypothesis, the organization's strategy is to inflict substantial suffering to drive Western presence out of Islamic territories. The damage hypothesis suggests that by significantly debilitating the U.S. economy, they aim to impair America's capacity for international engagement. The rally hypothesis points to their objective of rallying global support and attracting new recruits. Lastly, the franchise hypothesis indicates their intent to garner backing and establish strongholds for jihad activities. The coercion and damage hypotheses are

particularly reflective of Al-Qa'ida's tactical methods, with the organization carefully orchestrating attacks for extensive destruction and influence. Tactics Al-Qa'ida utilizes a range of attack methods to advance its objectives. As outlined by Alexander & Swetnam in 2001, the organization's core techniques include bombings, suicide missions, aircraft hijackings, and abductions. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), such as car bombs and roadside explosives, are commonly used for their lethal potential and the relative simplicity of their construction. The Anti-Defamation League in 2017 noted that Al-Qa'ida often coordinates multiple suicide bombers to carry out simultaneous attacks, as seen in the 2005 bombings in London and Amman, causing substantial damage and panic. Hijackings are another tactic, with the most infamous being the September 11 attacks involving the commandeering of four airplanes, resulting in profound tragedy. Kidnappings for ransom have also been used by Al- Qa'ida, evidenced by their creation of a kidnapping manual in 2004 to finance their operations. Furthermore, the group has exhibited interest in acquiring and potentially using weapons of mass destruction, encompassing nuclear, chemical, and biological weaponry, to escalate the devastating impact of their terrorist acts. These strategies are indicative of Al-Qa'ida's dedication to causing widespread destruction and casualties. Capabilities Following the demise of Osama bin Laden, Al-Qa'ida remains a potent threat to the United States and its allies. Terrorism authorities, including Bruce Hoffman, have pointed out Al- Qa'ida's enduring danger and its wider global reach. In her 2022 testimony, Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, affirmed Al-Qa'ida's persistent endeavors to target the United States. The risk posed by Al-Qa'ida has possibly been heightened by the U.S. military's exit from

Afghanistan, as this may provide the group with opportunities to strengthen and revive assaults on the U.S. Byman & Mir, in 2022, highlighted that under Ayman al-Zawahiri's direction, Al- Qa'ida has extended its influence. While its core is positioned along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier and in Iran, Al-Qa'ida has broadened through affiliate groups across the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, and Asia. It sustains ties with other jihadist factions and continues to galvanize Muslims globally to further its objectives. Despite intensive counterterrorism efforts against it, Al-Qa'ida's sway is considerable and constitutes an enduring menace, affecting stability in areas such as Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, and continues to be a major security concern worldwide Overall Goals Al-Qa'ida is committed to a set of strategic goals that span from immediate actions to broader, long-range ambitions. Their primary long-term goal is to create a unified Islamic state or caliphate, upholding strict fundamentalist Islamic principles. This includes the eradication of Western influence in Muslim-majority countries and the overthrow of what they consider to be illegitimate, apostate governments in these areas. In the near term, Al-Qa'ida targets the removal of American and Western military, political, and cultural presence from Islamic countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and various North African nations, viewing this influence as an obstacle to establishing their desired caliphate and as support for regimes they deem un-Islamic. Their approach to achieving these ends involves the destabilization of existing governments to pave the way for rule based on their interpretation of Islamic law. Al-Qa'ida's broader strategy includes undermining the economic and political might of the United States to decrease its ability to back these governments, aiming to foster conditions that they can exploit to establish control. Ultimately, they seek to replace current governments with ones that follow religious rule. To

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