Al-Qaeda and its Threat Today
Background of the study
Al Qaeda traces its genesis in the 1970s when Sadam Bin laden, together with Abdullah Azzam, came together to channel finances that would finance the group to fight the Soviet union’s invasion to Afghanistan. The group became a popular terrorism group when they expected an attack US killing more than 3000 victims in the 9/11. After the attack, in Washington DC, in 9/11, the American government launched an operation to destroy the leadership of Al Qaeda, notably Osama Bin Laden. Osama was exiled in Afghanistan, and he settled in Sudan, where he continued with the operations and leadership of the party.
In the past few years, the Al Qaeda-Led attacks have significantly dropped across the world, which is attributed to the continuous fights by both the local governments and the United States. Additionally, the destabilization of their finances has dramatically weakened the group. Generally, Al Qaeda has lost its status in the US because it failed to conduct attacks (Baken & Mantzikos, 2016).
The latest attacks conducted by Al Qaeda was the 2015 gunfire at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. A much as the Al Qaeda-connected attacks have been significantly reduced in the recent past; their political cohesion is still intact though the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The group’s command of leadership is still cemented in the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri, which makes the group potentially dangerous to the USA and the entire world.
Thesis statement
In the past years, the American policy considerations on Al Qaeda threats have significantly gone down because Al Qaeda has not had an active attack on Americans. The American government should stay vigilant in controlling any attacks from Al Qaeda as the group’s continued political ambition remains to fight the US (Humud, 2016). According to many political and policymakers in America, the risks of attack from Al Qaeda terrorist group is continuously diminishing (Baken, & Mantzikos, 2016). The reason for the reduced risks of attack is because of the political cohesion, as many counterterrorism ambassadors argue. To the contrary, however, the Al Qaeda group possess a threat to the US and indeed the whole world because the group’s authority is rooted in its leader- Zawahiri (Humud, 2016)
Review of the literature
Atkinson (2016) discusses the impacts and Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and violence in the West. In his arguments, he claims that the decline experienced by the Al Qaeda in its international operations is brought about by the growth and development in Islam State. When the Islamic State came up, their philosophy and school of thought created competition for the Jihadist movement. Since the death of Bin-Laden, the leadership of Al Qaeda has been compromised. Therefore its following went down immensely, which created a negative impact on its influence both locally and internationally. Atkinson (2016), however, recognizes that the leadership of Al Qaeda tries to inspire foreigners and people living in the diaspora to radicalize and organize terrorist attacks in the West.
The article offers a critical analysis of the potential and foreseeable future of the jihadist movement. According to the author, Clarke & Moghadam (2018), Al-Qaeda’s renaissance, Jihad’s ongoing ideological petition, and the decentralization of organizational management boost the jihadi movements. The articles foresee a more united, competitive, and robust movement with a more significant following, which is a threat to international peace, especially to the West.
This study centres on the unappreciated concerns about the impacts of foreign fighter returnees. Cragin, R. K. (2017). Discusses that the leaders of the extremist groups have changed their strategies to involve the foreign fighters. Using the foreign fighter returnees strategizes their execution plan making their parallel attacks successful. The reasons for the increased threats both in the local and Western nations is because of the underestimated impacts of the foreign fighter returnees. Policymakers have, in the recent past, misinterpret the intentions and potentials of these groups. Cragin, R. K. (2017). Used the case of ISIS group and the impact of foreign fighter returnees in executing an attack.
Gunaratna (2020) explores the factors influencing increased terrorist attacks, mainly fueled by religious groups. Politicians and different political parties have a hand in influencing religious parties as a means of advancing their political superiorities. According to Gunaratna (2020), the following four categories are the main reasons for the continued development of terrorist violence. First, the disagreements between Al Qaeda and ISIS and their associates, and secondly, the reformation of the strategies. The rise of the extreme right wings in the West is also another reason. Last but not least is the impact of renewed escalation between the United States of American and Iran (Humud, 2016).
After the 9/11 attack in Washington USA, the security agencies in Homeland security delved deeper into understanding the management of terrorist groups, in order to eliminate the group both in the international jurisdiction and in the social space. The US Homeland Security relieved that Al Qaeda is strengthening its powers by empowering its affiliates in the Middle East and Africa (Munir, & Shafiq, 2016). The US increased the efforts to eliminate the leadership of the extremist groups out of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. They did not, however, concentrate on making sure that these cannot happen in other places such as in Africa.
The article discusses the global threats posed by both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The articles focus its analysis on the difference in ideologies, philosophies, and strategies that these groups employ (Munir & Shafiq 2016). Both Al Qaeda and Islamic State targets both the local and international enemies but applying the different strategies. Al Qaeda focuses on attrition to the western countries while, on the other hand, the Islamic State is focusing on ascending to the jihadist movement and solidifying the entire Islam state. Munir & Shafiq (2016) analyses the local terrorist groups such as the Afghan Taliban, which operates locally and compares their threats to Al Qaeda’s possibilities and capabilities to threats.
In the recent past, the rise of the Islamic state has influenced the decline of Al Qaeda’s operational spirit. Novenario (2016) analyses the impact of the availability of the two antagonistic groups in terms of the threats they pose to the West. The Al Qaeda became held to their philosophy of reducing the West’s ideas, influences, and powers using attacks and intimidation both in the Middle East and in the western territories. The Islamic State, on the other hand, strives to strengthen its support base to the Caliphate. The entrance of the Islamic state to the struggle of the ascendancy to the jihadist movement has significantly reduced the potential threats of Al Qaeda.
Security at the airport is the primary value that looks into the safety of passengers and the crew members. The study by Sagawa et al. (2016) discusses the best measure an airport can use to counterterrorism. The paper advises on integrated linking of the surveillance teams and analytical tools to make the best combination of solutions for airport security. Using these integrated tools to improve security as it identifies the worker action zones and movement flows, which is helpful to the security teams. These have helped reduce the potential security threat to the USA. The physical security teams would then easily counter terrors attacks at the airports and on boards as well (Humud, 2016).
Technological advancements have brought about changes in the manner in which security agencies handle the threats to security, especially from terrorist groups. In their arguments, Steinbach, & Series (2016) analyzed the security threats of Al Qaeda using three paradigm shifts. Before the 9/11 attack, the terrorist group used travels to organize their attacks. The success of the 9/11 attack was attributed by the ease of the terrorists to travel from one place to another. After the 9/11 attack, the FBI and security specialists around the world came up with stringent measures that countered the travelling. Terrorism shifted to the second paradigm, which was the use of the internet. The terrorist organization and its leadership used the internet to mobilize their supporters and coordinate attacks. The security agencies advanced security measures and created safer use of the internet. The third paradigm shift, as Steinbach & Series (2016) postulates, is the social media influence on terrorism. In order to counterterrorism, security agencies, strategists, and policymakers should regulate the use of social media as it is one of the biggest platforms influencing the advancement of terrorism and posing threats to international peace.
The article by Zimmerman (2017), provided critical and insightful information about the threats of Al Qaeda in America. The writer acknowledges that the rise of ISIS would eventually strengthen the influence of Al Qaeda, leading to increased threats from these groups in the future. Zimmerman (2017) argues that the American strategies to handle Al Qaeda have remained rather the same, as compared to what Al Qaeda is doing, especially to launch fresh attacks to the West.
Methodology
Quasi systemic review
This research study based its fundamental arguments through the analysis of secondary data previously done by other scholars on the same topic. Researchers and scholars interested in the field of security have invested time in analyzing the positions, strategies, and philosophies driving Al Qaeda for decades. Their work can be used to make critical conclusions. Al Qaeda is not a local organization, but it operates in Afghanistan and spreading to the United States and Europe. Across the world, the impacts of Al Qaeda’s extremist movement is felt and thereby influencing scholars to conduct research that would help the world attain global peace as well as international public safety (Humud, 2016).
Secondary work from scholars in Asia, American, and Europe who have authored different topics on the study and peer-reviewed other resourceful work would be used.
Atkinson (2016) analyses Al Qaeda’s change in strategy as a result of the introduction of an Islamic state. When the Islamic state became to hold ground, Afghanistan, it created a competition with Al Qaeda, which caused the change in strategies. The study helps us understand that Al Qaeda changed its strategy, but did not change its primary philosophy of fighting the Western world.
Internet sources
The internet has proved to be resourceful in providing information. Al Qaeda has changed its form of communication from calls and texts to extremist videos from the leadership of the group. With the rise of social media, the organization has used these platforms to communicate with its members and recruit new members. The internet is resourceful in pointing out critical issues about the group ranging from the leadership, competition from ISIS (Gasparetto, 2018). Additionally, the decisions and policymaking processes in the United States on the issue relating to attacks from Al Qaeda are analyzed on the internet. Comments and viewpoints from the congressmen illustrate the nature of seriousness the foreign governments have in fighting the group (Munir, & Shafiq, 2016).
Finding
Structure
Afghanistan and Iran are examples of places that have failed governance and thus allowing the end state to exploit and invade the countries. Al-Qaeda is very alert and cautious about their operations because they are aware of the sensitivity of the activities they conduct, and this includes a clear procedure on resources and people. Mostly, the recruited members want the promises made to them to be fulfilled, committed to the cause, wants social status, and to get acceptance. Considering the limitation of the resources in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the members of these countries, need the standards aforementioned to support and fed their families. Therefore, this is basically what spearheads the Al-Qaeda group to get members locally. If there is a need for more recruitment, some of the members can refer their closest friends to join the private networks, thus expanding the territory. During the time Osama Bin Laden was the leader in the 1990s, the terror group got support from various committed countries that wanted the development of true Islamic religion and a form of governance that plots and executes attacks.
Discussion
Current Goal/Motivation:
Al-Qaeda did not change their intentions because they still follow their different motives. Since September 2011, they continuously engage different groups with hate. The terror group has the motivation, needs, and wants to cause immediate harm and destruction.
Today, the group continues with its mission of terror attacks with those responsible with the exercise considering themselves martyrs. The members hope for a greater reward once they finish the task of the organization and so they kill anyone who interferes with their revenge mission.
Tactics/Capabilities:
The main goal of Al-Qaida is to influence others and re-establish with countries that have the same interest as they do (Humud, 2016). The other strategy they use is the denial system, which makes or they pretend not to be involved in various aspects such as the provision of ID cards and the rest of the travel activities such as passports and visas. On matters deception, this terror group has a lot of support that the way people think. Al-Qaida receives much support from many organizations through charities, funding, nondescript transactions, donations, and as well as banking and cash. Also, the group has a well-established network that allows them to communicate without any trace by the government or the relevant authorities. With all these in place, then, the terror group can induce attacks very quickly.
Organization connections and funding
The Al-Qaeda terror group is getting support from countries and groups with similar interests to remove Americans from the Middle East. The connection between the Al-Qaeda funding from Iran and Saudi Arabia indicates the cooperation these stakeholders want to give.
From various research and technology, it was possible to investigate and find out that there was a significant contribution from Iran during the 9/11 attack. The country not only financed the group but also allowed people in and out of Afghanistan, thus affecting the attack. Furthermore, Iran, together with Tehran, supported the Al-Qaida by protecting them from being arrested and tried even if there was evidence of their terror acts (Steinbach, & Series, 2016).
The Al-Qaeda receives various supports and funding, which includes one of their major followers, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia sends its package as charities and dollars to the terror group. Saudi Arabia has been a major source of financing to rebel and terrorist organizations since the 1970s, in a 2013 report, the parliament of the European wrote that, adding, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait do too little to end rich and conventional donors from financing terrorist organizations through charitable and religious organizations.
Al-Qaeda has a strong base that saw them link with the Taliban in Pakistan. The good relationship they have has seen them successfully implement the plotted terror attacks.
Location/Scope/Magnitude:
The geographical coverage for Al-Qaeda includes the Philippines, Kosovo, Eritrea, Chechnya, Bosnia, Algeria, Yemen, Tajikistan, Somalia, and majorly Afghanistan. The organization has invested in requiting new members in European countries. The attack in France in 2015 was executed by foreign recruits, which is a clear indication that the organization has spread its wings across the world.
Al-Qaeda’s Global Network
Al Qaeda is primarily a Middle Eastern group founded in Asia but with a worldwide network. Its leading lights are all Arabs, and they hold all the key positions. Nevertheless, Osama appreciated after moving to Asia, that this was one of the organization’s weaknesses and hence corrected the condition by enrolling Non-Arabs and counterfeiting ties with Islamists outside the Middle East (Steinbach, & Series, 2016). Above all, with the Taliban, there is the enhancement of the diversity-essential to its strategies for global Jihad.
Al-Qaeda is still alive despite the death of its leader, Osama Bin Laden. The westerners underrate the potential harm such a group can cause to society. The Al-Qaeda terror group has a bigger network established to disturb various government systems through catastrophically launching big missions and might even affect the rest of the world (Steinbach, & Series, 2016). The group is now under Zarqawi, although it might be facing drawbacks in its funding and financials, the group continues to receive funding from various wealthy nations (Kozaric, 2017).
The largest compositions of people in North America are Muslims, forming about 80 % of the total population. The groups here are mostly Islam, and having the chance of getting influenced by the extremist ideology; there is a more significant threat of spreading the terror plans. The non-state issue above indicates that there is a potential for more danger because of the likelihood of expansion of the ideology. The non-state traces its origin to about 1989, thus affecting those not practising the religion to be part while maintaining those that were Muslims.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Al-Qaeda has been a risk and will keep on being a risk in the current and later on. Al-Qaeda presently observes development openings in the extending conventional war in Syria, a developing issue in the post–Saddam Hussein Iraq, the disorder in the Sinai Peninsula, and the approaching US taking out from Afghanistan. Al Qaeda’s attacks have dropped dramatically around the world due to continuing struggles between local governments and the United States. In addition, the destabilization of their finances has weakened the group considerably. Globally, Al Qaeda lost its status in the United States because it did not launch an attack.
Al Qaeda has followed its philosophy of reducing Western ideas, influences and powers through attacks and intimidation in the Middle East and the West. On the other side, the Islamic State has promised to strengthen its support base for the Caliphate. Islamic State’s entry into the struggle to advance the jihadist movement has significantly reduced the potential threats posed by al Qaeda.
Researchers and security scientists have spent decades analyzing Al Qaeda’s underlying positions, strategies and philosophies, and their work can be used to draw critical conclusions. Al Qaeda is not a local organization, but operates in Afghanistan and extends to the United States and Europe. Around the world, the effects of the Al Qaeda extremist movement can be felt and, therefore, inspire scientists to conduct research that will help the world achieve world peace and international public security (Humud, 2016). Al Qaeda receives various types of aid and resources, including one of its biggest followers, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia sends its package to the terrorist group to charities and dollars. Saudi Arabia has been an important source of funding for rebel and terrorist organizations since the 1970s. In a 2013 report, the European Parliament wrote that countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait add very little to stop donors wealthy and conservative to finance terrorist organizations through non-profit organizations and religious organizations.
The Global War, contrary to Terrorism (GWOT) doesn’t seem, by all accounts, to be making significant progress for various reasons. The global counterterrorism agencies should be comprehended in its right viewpoint. Furthermore, the contrast between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban should be understood; the GWOT associates need to arrange their demonstration to counter the hazard. To start with, to observe amongst the Taliban and Al-Qaeda: The Taliban just works in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, though Al-Qaeda works worldwide (Kozaric, 2017). Strategically, one of the contrasts among the two associations is that the Taliban is set up to take on conformist conflicts. However, Al-Qaeda just uses terrorism to battle its wars. The method of fighting for Al-Qaeda is anything but difficult to recognize because their objective is to cause devastation to the network with the goal that the legislature can hear them out. They use prompt decimation arranging where their prosperity gets ordered by more casualties caused. Under these conditions, both the US and Pakistani governments require to embrace a technique, which incorporates the structure of hope amongst the individuals of the two sovereign countries; give valuable insight so Pakistani soldiers can deal with rapscallions viably in their region; help the individuals of the ethnic tie to be built up commercially and financially as methods for nourishment and all the more altogether, end the unremitting habitual pettiness. Refuting the Al-Qaeda needs coordinated exertion and the use of diplomacy just as the threat of work of specific capability.
The fight against terrorism became the order of the day for the United States to counter Al-Qaeda over the decades. The United States used various means of countering such terrorist activities over a long time. First, the US had spies both in Iraq and Afghanistan that could coordinate with the security system to track and report any plans of attacks. Secondly, the United States established a strong army that is sent to the place to handle the terrorism issue.
References
Atkinson, C. (2016). The threat from within: recognizing Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and terrorism in the West.
Baken, D. N., & Mantzikos, I. (2016). Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Security Issues in the Greater Middle East. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 261-267.
Clarke, C. P., & Moghadam, A. (2018). Mapping Today’s Jihadi Landscape and Threat. Orbis, 62(3), 347-371.
Cragin, R. K. (2017). The November 2015 Paris attacks: the impact of foreign fighter returnees. Orbis, 61(2), 212-226.
Gunaratna, R. (2020, July). The contention, Escalation, and Cycles of Vengeance: Reflections on the Global Threat Landscape. In United by Violence, Divided by Cause? (pp. 99-116). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
Hamming, T. R. (2020). The Al Qaeda–Islamic State Rivalry: Competition Yes, but No Competitive Escalation. Terrorism and Political Violence, 32(1), 20-37.
Humud, C. E. (2016). Al Qaeda and US Policy: the Middle East and Africa. Congressional Research Service, Washington United States.
Kozaric, E. (2017). Exploring the demand side of foreign rebel recruitment: a comparative case study of Al Qaeda in Iraq (2004-2008) and the Islamic State (2012-2016).
Munir, M., & Shafiq, M. (2016). Global Threat: A Comparative Analysis of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). IPRI Journal XVI, (2), 1-16.
Nash, S. H. (2017). Perception vs Reality: The Idea of Al Qaeda Sleepers as a Threat to American National Security (Doctoral dissertation).
Novenario, C. M. I. (2016). Differentiating Al Qaeda and the Islamic State through strategies publicized in Jihadist magazines. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 39(11), 953-967.
Sagawa, T., Murakami, T., Kano, T., Ito, W., Nakayama, M., & Ote, I. (2016). Integrated Physical Security Platform Concept Meeting More Diverse Customer Needs. Hitachi Review, 65(8), 353.
Steinbach, M., & Series, S. C. L. (2016). How technology has transformed the terrorist threat fifteen years after 9/11. Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Zimmerman, K. (2017). Al Qaeda’s strengthening in the shadows. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, Committee on Homeland Security, US House of Representatives.