october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10

Combating Terrorism Center at West Point CTC Sentinel Objective . Relevant . Rigorous

Contents A Profile of the TTP’s New

FEATURE ARTICLE 1 A Profile of the TTP’s New Leader: Leader: Hakimullah Mehsud Hakimullah Mehsud By Mukhtar A. Khan By Mukhtar A. Khan

Reports 4 The October 2009 Terrorist Attack in Italy and its Wider Implications By Federico Bordonaro 7 LIFG Revisions Unlikely to Reduce Jihadist Violence By Alison Pargeter 9 Rethinking Strategies to Secure U.S. Critical Infrastructure By Charles Faddis 12 Israel as an Al-Qa`ida Target: Sorting Rhetoric From Reality By Matthew Levitt 15 Understanding History’s Seven Stages of Jihad By Sebastian L.v. Gorka 17 Mao Tse-tung and the Search for 21st Century Counterinsurgency By Thomas A. Marks Hakimullah Mehsud speaks with reporters in Pakistan’s Orakzai Agency in November 2008. - Photo by A. Majeed/AFP/Getty Images n october 17, 2009, Pakistan’s after the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State 20 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity military launched a new Hillary Clinton in Islamabad. 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts offensive in South Waziristan

Agency, the stronghold of Pakistan’s military offensive is OTehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The significant because it follows on the heels offensive comes in the wake of a series of the August 2009 Predator drone strike of major attacks launched by suspected that killed Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP’s TTP militants, including an October 5 leader. Baitullah’s death left the TTP in suicide attack on a United Nations office disarray, as he had not established a clear in Islamabad, and the audacious October succession plan. After three weeks marked 10 assault on the military’s General by significant infighting, Hakimullah About the CTC Sentinel Headquarters in Rawalpindi.1 In the Mehsud was finally confirmed as the new The Combating Terrorism Center is an days before the October 17 offensive, the leader of the TTP.2 With Hakimullah at independent educational and research TTP warned Pakistan’s government that the helm of the TTP, the group may reach institution based in the Department of Social any assault on South Waziristan would further into Pakistan’s Punjab Province Sciences at the United States Military Academy, result in increased attacks on civilian due to Hakimullah’s links to Punjabi- West Point. The CTC Sentinel harnesses and military targets in Pakistan. On based militant networks; this may allow the Center’s global network of scholars and October 28, the TTP seemed to deliver the group to further solidify ties with practitioners to understand and confront on its threat. The group was blamed for local insurgent outfits that have been contemporary threats posed by terrorism and a powerful car bomb that killed more other forms of political violence. than 100 people in Peshawar just hours 2 Shortly after his appointment, there was speculation that Hakimullah was killed as a result of infighting. It appears, The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, 1 Shaiq Hussain and Karin Brulliard, “In Pakistan, Mili- however, that it was his brother who died. For more, see the Department of the Army, or any other agency tants Attack Army Bastion,” Washington Post, October 11, Mushtaq Yusufzai, “Baitullah’s Death Finally Confirmed of the U.S. Government. 2009; “Taliban Claims Responsibility For UN Pakistan by Taliban,” The News, August 26, 2009; “New Taliban Blast,” Agence France-Presse, October 5, 2009. Chief Meets Reporters,” BBC, October 5, 2009.

1 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 traditionally focused on neighboring Unlike his predecessors, Hakimullah through Pakistan; to prove his point, Kashmir and India. Moreover, never had the opportunity to fight he arrived at the interview driving an Hakimullah could move the TTP in a against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan armor-plated Humvee that he claimed more sectarian direction as a result of because of his young age. He worked was commandeered from an Afghanistan- his association with anti-Shi`a militant as a driver for Baitullah Mehsud when bound NATO convoy in Khyber Agency.9 leaders. These factors mean that the Baitullah emerged as a Pakistani During the interview, Hakimullah said TTP could become increasingly radical Taliban leader in 2004 and became his his men destroyed more than 600 trucks and dangerous under Hakimullah’s chief spokesman in October 2007 under and shipping containers in Peshawar and leadership. On the other hand, Khyber Agency destined for NATO in Hakimullah’s sectarian and potentially Afghanistan.10 more aggressive agenda could spark “Hakimullah’s anti-Shi`a infighting within the TTP and cause the agenda is an outgrowth of More recently, after rumors of his loosely structured network to split into death, Hakimullah again appeared factions. Given these new challenges and his long association with before journalists on October 4, 2009.11 broad lack of knowledge about the TTP, Qari Hussain Mehsud, During the meeting, Hakimullah ended it is critical to understand the character speculation of his death, and he also of the group’s decision-makers. This his cousin and a TTP warned that he would avenge the killing article profiles Hakimullah Mehsud, commander.” of Baitullah Mehsud. Hakimullah likely who has now assumed the mantle of used the press conference to improve one of the most dangerous groups morale among his followers; two other threatening Pakistan. key Taliban leaders, Qari Waliur his alias name of Zulfiqar Mehsud. Rahman and Qari Hussain Mehsud, Personal History He married two women, one in South were also at the meeting.12 Estimated to be 28-years-old and Waziristan from the Mehsud tribe and a approximately six feet in height, second wife, from the Mamunzai tribe, Military Capabilities Hakimullah has become a household name in Orakzai Agency.6 During his time as Recognizing Hakimullah’s value, in the region.3 He achieved prominence Baitullah’s driver and chief spokesman, Baitullah assigned Kurram, Orakzai and in November 2008 after he introduced Hakimullah reportedly served as a Khyber tribal agencies to his command himself to journalists in Orakzai Agency confidant to the former TTP leader. in early 2008. By the end of that year, of the Federally Administered Tribal Hakimullah managed to gain significant Areas (FATA) and displayed his access Extensive Media Contacts control in these agencies, which some to heavy weaponry. He grew up in South Hakimullah embraced his role as analysts argue is evidence of his Waziristan’s Kotki, and his original Baitullah’s chief spokesman, and he leadership and military capabilities.13 name is Jamshed.4 He is also known by quickly established strong relationships In these agencies, Hakimullah gained his alias name, “Zulfiqar Mehsud.” with journalists. Unlike Baitullah, who influence by controlling strategic refused to be photographed due to smuggling and supply routes. Moreover, Hakimullah belongs to the Eshangai religious concerns about the capture of he assassinated potential opponents.14 clan of the Mehsud tribe, which is a less human imagery, Hakimullah has been influential clan than Baitullah’s Shobi willing to pose for photographs, and he One tactic employed by Hakimullah Khel. Like other Pakistani Taliban recognizes the value of the media as a to gain power in these agencies was predecessors such as Baitullah Mehsud, propaganda tool. to exploit sectarian rivalries between Abdullah Mehsud and Nek Mohammad the Sunni and Shi`a sects. This was Wazir, Hakimullah never completed In November 2008, for example, particularly evident in Orakzai and his religious education. He attended Hakimullah invited more than a dozen Kurram agencies, where he targeted the a madrasa in Shahu village of Hangu journalists to his stronghold in Orakzai Shi`a community indiscriminately and District in the North-West Frontier Agency. During the meeting, he identified sent a wave of fear throughout the Shi`a Province (NWFP), but quit his studies Mullah Omar as his supreme leader, and population in Pakistan.15 Hakimullah’s early and joined the ranks of the Taliban said that Usama bin Ladin’s al-Qa`ida anti-Shi`a agenda is an outgrowth in Afghanistan in the late 1990s.5 network was his ally.7 He criticized of his long association with Qari Hakimullah received military training Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari for Hussain Mehsud, his cousin and a TTP during the last few years of the Taliban ceding sovereignty to the United States commander. Before joining the TTP, regime in Afghanistan. After the fall and vowed revenge for Zardari joining 8 of the Taliban in 2001, he reportedly the “infidels.” Hakimullah boasted 9 Rahimullah Yusufzai, “Hakimullah Mehsud Unveils returned to Pakistan’s Waziristan. about disrupting NATO supply routes Himself to Media,” The News, November 30, 2008. 10 Amir Mir, “The Top 10 Most Wanted Jihadis,” The 3 Information on his personal statistics was acquired 6 Riffatullah Orakzai, “Taliban’s New Leader: A Fiery News, September 1, 2009. through speaking with journalists who have interviewed and Emotional Commander,” BBC Urdu, August 22, 11 “New Taliban Chief Meets Reporters.” him. 2009. 12 Ibid. 4 Zahir Shah Sherazi, “Hakimullah a Fiercely Ambitious 7 Amir Mir, “A Young Turk Takes Over TTP, Ringing 13 Sherazi. Militant,” Dawn, August 27, 2009. Alarm Bells,” The News, August 28, 2009. 14 “Profile: Young Slayer Takes Up Reins of Pakistani 5 Alex Altman, “Hakimullah Mehsud: The New Head of 8 Imtiaz Gul, “Will Hakimullah Fit Baitullah’s Shoes?” Taliban,” Deutsche Press Agency, August 28, 2009. Pakistan’s Taliban,” Time Magazine, August 28, 2009. Pulse, September 3, 2009. 15 Ibid.

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Qari Hussain was an active member of resolution of their disputes in Shari`a the picture, the TTP must be concerned the banned anti-Shi`a group Sipah-i- courts.18 He then levied jizya (protection about future cooperation from Maulvi Sahaba and its militant wing, Lashkar-i- tax) on the Sikh and Hindu communities. Nazir in South Waziristan and Hafiz Jhangvi.16 Hakimullah reportedly relied This decision is unique and significant Gul Bahadur in North Waziristan. On on Qari Hussain’s access to suicide in the history of the tribal areas because August 17, 2009, more than a dozen bombers to gain control of Orakzai, the Sikh and Hindu communities have supporters of the Maulvi Nazir group Kurram and Khyber agencies.17 Qari lived unharmed in FATA for centuries were gunned down in the Laddha area Hussain, for example, is considered one under the tribal traditions. Yet the new of South Waziristan allegedly by Uzbek imposition of Shari`a forced them either fighters part of Baitullah Mehsud’s to leave the FATA region or submit to faction.23 The TTP is also facing challenges “The October 5 suicide the dictates of the TTP and pay the jizya. from the Abdullah Mehsud Group in attack on a United Nations Consequently, reports state that many South Waziristan and from Turkistan minorities have already left the area Bhittani in Tank District of the NWFP. office in Islamabad, and others plan to follow suit.19 and the October 10 Pakistan’s government and intelligence TTP More Prone to Splintering? agencies are aware of these differences, assault on the military’s It is clear that Hakimullah Mehsud and they have been working to court General Headquarters poses a serious threat to Pakistan and tribal groups. The government’s goal U.S. interests. It is believed that his is to keep as many tribal groups as in Rawalpindi, show militia includes 8,000 fighters and possible out of its conflict with the TTP, that the TTP remains several hundred suicide bombers.20 with the hope that they will be able to Nevertheless, there are some indications eliminate the hardcore anti-Pakistan highly effective under that Hakimullah’s appointment as the and Salafist leadership. This appears Hakimullah’s leadership.” new head of the TTP could cause further to be the goal of Pakistan’s offensive splits in the group. in South Waziristan, which went into full force on October 17. The increasing Within the TTP, for example, there number of drone strikes has further of the TTP’s most important assets due are differences between Salafists and shaken the Pakistani Taliban movement to his training of suicide bombers; he is Deobandis. The Salafist members of the and disrupted its militant activity.24 often called Ustad-i-Fidayin, or Trainer TTP practice a harsher interpretation of Suicide Bombers. of Islam and consider the Shi`a infidels. Conclusion Deobandi followers, on the other hand, The TTP has suffered a number of losses The importance of this relationship is are more flexible in comparison and in the last few months. In addition to the evident in the wave of attacks that hit generally do not support killing Shi`a killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP’s Pakistan in October 2009. On October 15, unless they themselves are attacked chief spokesman, Maulvi Omar, was Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province, by them. Hakimullah Mehsud, Qari apprehended by authorities on August was assaulted by approximately three Hussain and the TTP spokesman Azam 17.25 Muslim Khan, a well-known teams of militants, leaving more than Tariq are more inclined toward Salafi- spokesman from the Swat faction of 30 people dead. The TTP claimed jihadism, and their past affiliations the group, was arrested along with credit for the attacks. Analysts believe with the anti-Shi`a Lashkar-i-Jhangvi another militant leader, Mahmud Khan, that the TTP’s links to Punjab-based have made them highly sectarian.21 on September 10.26 Sher Mohammad militants formerly (or currently) part Qasab, a feared Pakistani Taliban leader of groups such as Lashkar-i-Jhangvi are Baitullah Mehsud, on the other hand, known for beheading opponents, died in responsible for these strikes that are was known for his ability to coalesce an government custody on September 20.27 increasingly occurring in the heart of array of diverse groups under a single Pakistan. It is likely that Hakimullah’s leadership. This leadership allowed him ziristan,” The News, February 23, 2009. relationship with Qari Hussain to overcome disagreements with Hafiz 23 This was seen as retaliation for a 2007 incident when contributes to the TTP’s capability to Gul Bahadur and Maulvi Nazir, while Maulvi Nazir killed and expelled several Uzbek militants strike deeper inside Pakistan. continuing to host Uzbek fighters linked from the area. See “17 of Maulvi Nazir Group Killed in 22 to al-Qa`ida. Yet with Baitullah out of Tehsil Ladha,” Geo TV, August 17, 2009. In addition to targeting the Shi`a 24 “Pakistan Drone Attacks Kill 10,” BBC, August 11, community, Hakimullah has undertaken 18 Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman, “Faces of 2009. other sectarian actions. In December Pakistan’s Militant Leaders,” Center for American Prog- 25 “Two Pakistani Taliban Leaders Captured,” CNN, Au- 2008, for example, Hakimullah ress, July 22, 2009. gust 18, 2009. imposed Shari`a in Orakzai Agency 19 “Sikhs, Hindus Dread Taliban Tax in Northwest Paki- 26 For a profile of Muslim Khan, see Imtiaz Ali, “The and demanded local tribesmen seek the stan,” Dawn, July 27, 2009. Taliban’s Versatile Spokesman: A Profile of Muslim 20 Baitullah Mehsud gave Hakimullah control of 8,000 Khan,” CTC Sentinel 2:2 (2009). For information on his 16 For more on Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, see Arif Jamal, “A militants when he assigned him Orakzai, Khyber and arrest, see Ismail Khan, “Swat Taliban Mouthpiece, Top Profile of Pakistan’s Lashkar-i-Jhangvi,” CTC Sentinel 2:9 Kurram tribal agencies. For more, see Amir Mir. Commander Captured,” Dawn, September 12, 2009. (2009). 21 Hamid Mir, “Capital Talk Show,” Geo TV, September 27 Robert Kennedy, “Captured Pakistan Taliban Com- 17 Kamran Khan, “Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath,” Geo 29, 2009. mander Dies in Jail,” Associated Press, September 20, TV, August 11, 2009. 22 Yousuf Ali, “Taliban Form New Alliance in Wa- 2009.

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Despite these losses, the TTP clearly The October 2009 Terrorist Muslim religious leaders have been remains a dangerous organization. strictly monitored in recent years due to The October 5 suicide attack on a Attack in Italy and its fears of radicalization in mosques. United Nations office in Islamabad, Wider Implications and the October 10 assault on the This article will first describe the military’s General Headquarters in By Federico Bordonaro operative and tactical aspects of the Rawalpindi, show that the TTP remains October 12 terrorist attack and report the highly effective under Hakimullah’s on october 12, 2009, at approximately findings of the ongoing investigations. leadership. These two attacks have 7:45 AM, a Libyan citizen named It will then briefly illustrate the recent caused an irreparable loss of confidence Mohamed Game1 attacked an Italian history of Islamist terrorist threats in the Pakistan Army. Moreover, the Army barracks in Milan with an in Italy before analyzing the wider October 15 attacks in Lahore show that improvised explosive device similar implications of the seemingly minor Hakimullah retains strong links with to the type used by terrorists in the incident in Milan. jihadist groups with access to Punjab London Underground attacks of July 7, Province. In the face of the government’s 2005.2 It is believed that the attack was The Dynamics of the Milan Terrorist Attack major offensive in South Waziristan an attempted suicide bombing, although According to initial reports, Mohamed Agency, TTP spokesman Azam Tariq Game survived the explosion due to poor Game tried to enter the “Santa Barbara” vowed that the group would continue construction of the IED. Nevertheless, barracks by waiting near the facility such strikes if military operations the bomb was powerful enough to injure until the arrival of an authorized against them were not ceased.28 The him severely. By October 19, Game was vehicle enabled him to follow it through assassination of a Pakistani brigadier still hospitalized and in a coma, having the automatic gate. Once the gate amid heavy rush hour traffic in lost one hand and the use of both eyes. opened, he tried to reach the core area Islamabad on October 22 could be a sign The IED’s blast also lightly injured the of the barracks, but was immediately of a new TTP assassination campaign.29 Italian soldier who managed to stop confronted by an armed soldier, Game’s attempt to access the inhabited Corporal Guido La Veneziana, whose It appears that the TTP is currently at sections of the barracks. unit is currently deployed in Herat, a crossroads, and its future could move Afghanistan. Before the soldier could in two directions. Either the TTP will After five days of investigations, Italy’s physically block him, Game reportedly successfully escalate its activities and intelligence services believe that Game detonated the IED. The device, however, increasingly make use of its Punjabi and his apprehended accomplices—the was not prepared properly, and the network to shake Pakistan, or it could Libyan Mohamed Imbaeya Israfel3 and blast did not cause the desired amount splinter into smaller factions due to the Egyptian Abdel Hady Abdelaziz of damage. According to the soldier’s internal disagreements, heightened Mahmoud Kol4—may be linked to declarations, the Libyan shouted some sectarian tendencies, or Pakistan’s current an unspecified Egyptian terrorist words in Arabic moments before the offensive against its central leadership. organization.5 Although many of explosion.6 the details are not yet clear, some Mukhtar A. Khan is a Pakistani Pashtun conclusions can be drawn about the Early probes found that the IED was journalist and policy/security analyst based operative and tactical aspects of the carried by the attacker in a toolbox in Washington, D.C. Since 9/11, he has attack, and especially on the wider placed in a rucksack. It had been covered Pakistan’s troubled frontier for the political and security implications for assembled with five kilograms of media, including the BBC, Mail on Sunday, Italy. Italy’s north is home to Muslim ammonium nitrate, likely mixed with and Voice of America. He has visited the immigrants, and the activities of some ammonia and acetone, while the trigger region frequently. Currently, he is working may have been electronic.7 The explosive on a book about the increasing trends of 1 Game, a 35-year-old engineer and electrician, has been mixture used by Game was similar to militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan living in Italy for nine years and has a relationship with ANFO,8 although the exact chemical border regions and its spillover to the rest of an Italian woman. The couple have two children and are composition of the device has not been the world. Mr. Khan is also working as Chief reportedly undergoing serious economic troubles after revealed by authorities. Media Strategist for AfPak Media Solutions Game’s business failed to pay back debt. See Carlo Bon- and is Senior Adviser to the Pashtun Focus. He ini, “Dal sogno di fare fortuna ai debiti il mistero di Mo- While the prompt intervention of has also served as the Communication Officer hamed, lupo solitario,” La Repubblica, October 13, 2009. Corporal La Veneziana denied Game the for the Sustainable Development Networking 2 “Libyan in Milan Bomb Attack,” ANSA Press Agency, possibility of proceeding deeper into the Program and The World Conservation Union October 12, 2009. barracks, the damage could have been to help connect and improve the lives of 3 Israfel is a Libyan citizen aged 33 and currently un- considerable had the terrorist been able disadvantaged people in Pakistan. employed. He attracted the attention of Italy’s DIGOS to exploit the full potential of the IED. police service in July 2009, as he was wiretapped speak- ing in extremist religious terms. He has a clean criminal 6 “Bomba contro una caserma a Milano Gravemente feri- record. to l’attentatore libico,” La Stampa, October 12, 2009. 28 “GHQ Attackers Demanded Release of 100 Militants,” 4 Kol, a 52-year-old Egyptian living in Italy, has a clean 7 “Bomba caserma, 40 kg nitrato ammonio,” ANSA Dawn, October 13, 2009. criminal record but is suspected of being linked to Egyp- Press Agency, October 13, 2009; Il Giornale, October 15, 29 Jane Perlez and Salman Masood, “Pakistani Brigadier tian extremist networks. 2009. Assassinated in the Capital,” New York Times, October 22, 5 “Attentato, spunta un testimone ‘Ho visto nascondere 8 ANFO stands for ammonium nitrate-fuel oil and is a 2009. il nitrato,’” La Repubblica, October 16, 2009. widely used explosive mixture.

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As far as the tactical side is concerned, and the material needed to prepare the These findings show that what initially the Santa Barbara barracks attack explosive devices.11 appeared to be the work of a lone wolf diverges from terrorist actions carried or of a totally independent cell may out by Islamists on European soil. In Second, the search of Israfel’s instead be the act of a small unit linked Madrid in 2004 and in London in 2005, apartment uncovered documents of to a wider network, possibly with multiple attackers targeted public other suspects—which may enable the connections in Egypt. transportation systems. The tactical aim disruption of a wider network—a timer of these attacks was to cause as many and some cellular phones that could be Background: The Islamist Threat to Italy and dead and injured as possible among used to trigger an explosion, and around Rome’s Countermeasures passengers, the strategic goal being to 40 kilograms of ammonium nitrate plus Italy hosts an increasingly large decisively weaken popular support for other chemical agents such as acetone community of Muslim immigrants. Western military operations in Muslim and ammonia that are widely used to According to official statistics, there countries and instilling the perception produce improvised bombs.12 According are almost one million Muslims living of a constant asymmetrical threat to to many reports, investigators also and working in Italy, and although European cities. On the contrary, the found evidence of a recent purchase of these figures are lower than those of Milan attack targeted a military facility, 120 kilograms of ammonium nitrate.13 France or Britain, they are nonetheless and its political message was directed at This means that the police confiscated significant. Contrary to France in 1986, the Italian government and military. only 40 of the 120 kilograms, leaving Spain in 2004 and Britain in 2005, room for conjecture about the actual fate Italy has never experienced Islamist Preliminary Results of Investigations of the remaining 80 kilograms.14 The terrorist attacks, although a nationalist Strikingly, Italian Interior Minister authorities have been unforthcoming Roberto Maroni declared immediately about the possibility that the rest of “These findings show that after the attack that the incident the nitrate may have been successfully was caused by “a kamikaze.”9 Since secured by Kol and Israfel before the what initially appeared to Mohamed Game suffered a coma before police stormed their logistical base. An be the work of a lone wolf police could interrogate him, it was alleged witness, a woman living near not possible to ascertain whether his the apartment, told the police that the or of a totally independent intention was to act as a suicide bomber. two accomplices hurriedly placed big cell may instead be the act For example, it is possible that Game’s sacks in their car immediately after the intent was to place his IED inside the explosion in the barracks and that she of a small unit linked to a barracks to be detonated remotely.10 believes that the sacks contained the wider network.” remaining nitrate.15 While during the first two days of investigations the authorities issued Third, on October 13 Italian Interior regular statements, they have remained Minister Roberto Maroni told the Palestinian group linked to al-Fatah silent since October 14. Available press after a meeting with the National struck Rome’s Fiumicino Airport in 1985. open source information and early Committee on Order and Security that In recent years, however, tensions have police declarations, however, enable the attackers had identified seven grown between the Muslim community analysts to piece together what has been military targets including barracks and Italy’s political and civil society. discovered and to cautiously reason and other facilities belonging to the On the one hand, Italy is experiencing about further developments. Carabinieri, police and the army.16 various difficulties in the attempt to integrate Muslims—and immigrants in First, contrary to the initial official general—into its labor market. On the declarations, Mohamed Game is no 11 Davide Carlucci, “L’ombra della rete integralista,” La other hand, requests by Muslim leaders longer considered a “lone wolf.” Repubblica, October 16, 2009. for the construction of mosques and for Instead, Game and his conspirators, 12 “Milano, processateli per terrorismo,” La Repubblica, the introduction of special jurisdiction Kol and Israfel, had apparently set October 14, 2009. for Muslims have created friction. up an operational group that utilized 13 Mohamed Game purchased the nitrate in the shop of Israfel’s apartment in Milan as its base Consorzio Agrario di Corbetta, a consortium specializing Most of all, however, Italy’s security and laboratory to conceal documents in agricultural products. It is legal to sell such products in services have been increasingly Italy since it is widely used in fertilizer. See Gabriele Mo- concerned by the spread of Islamist 9 Il Sole-24 Ore, October 13, 2009. In Italy’s political dis- roni, “Kamikaze fai da te. ‘Vorrei del nitrato d’ammonio,’” militant ideology by some local imams, course and press, the Japanese word kamikaze is em- Il Giorno, October 14, 2009. especially in Lombardy and other ployed as a synonym for “suicide bomber” even when 14 The investigators confirmed to various sources that northern regions (where the Muslim referring to the Islamist concept of shahid (martyr), not- only 40 kilograms of nitrate were confiscated, but they presence is stronger), particularly withstanding the considerable cultural differences be- specified that it is still impossible to say whether the after September 11, 2001 and Italy’s tween the Japanese-nationalist and Islamist traditions. remaining 80 kilograms were dissipated in various at- subsequent involvement in stabilization 10 Paolo Colonnello, “Terroristi: ora spunta un timer,” tempts to produce an IED. missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Italy, La Stampa, October 15, 2009. One of the hypotheses cur- 15 Davide Carlucci and Sandro De Riccardis, “Attentato, therefore, established a program to rently considered by investigators is that Game and his spunta un testimone,” La Repubblica, October 17, 2009. constantly monitor mosques, imams, accomplices may have worked on an IED that they could 16 Davide Carlucci and Massimo Pisa, “Sette obiettivi and congregations linked to some of the activate without sacrificing their lives. per i kamikaze,” La Repubblica, October 14, 2009. religious centers.

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Despite the lack of Islamist terrorist the last few years occurred mainly religious activities.26 Furthermore, they attacks in Italy, there have been a through the internet, which provided have no experience fighting in wars, and number of disrupted plots. On December ideological propaganda and operational they do not have criminal records. As in 2, 2008, Italy’s Division of General training, and a small cultural center the case of the two Moroccans arrested Investigations and Special Operations outside Milan.22 Therefore, widely in December 2008, the three men had (DIGOS)17 arrested two Moroccan spread sociological theories about formed a terrorist cell independently immigrants, Rachid Ilhami and Gafir terrorism being linked to poverty and without logistical support of established Abdelkader,18 both working in Italy and social exclusion did not apply in this organizations. According to some with clean criminal records. Ilhami was case, whereas the internal dynamics of sources, Kol may be linked to Egyptian a preacher in a cultural circle called Islamist radicalization provided a better militants, but this remains unproven. “Pace” (Peace) in Macherio, near Milan. framework to understand the rise of a According to DIGOS, the arrested new kind of terrorist. A possible conclusion is that a new type of terrorist model is taking shape in Although the December 2008 plot Europe. It is in the form of several small, “A possible conclusion is was the most serious, there have been independent cells whose main “fuel” that a new type of terrorist other terrorist threats to Italy as well. is a militant ideology spread mainly On February 19, 2002, four Moroccan through the internet, which try to target model is taking shape in citizens were arrested in Rome after a variety of civilian and military sites, Europe.” police found them in possession of a apparently without an overall strategy cyanide compound, allegedly destined and unified command. to be released in the aqueducts running near the U.S. Embassy.23 In January Dr. Federico Bordonaro is an international were trying to recruit other militants 2006, the Parliamentary Committee for security and defense analyst based in to stage suicide bombings in northern Oversight of Secret Services (COPACO) Italy, specializing in European security, Italy.19 DIGOS proceeded to arrest the stated that there was “concrete evidence” geostrategic issues and terrorism risks. He two men after investigators discovered of Islamist terrorist threats against received his Ph.D. from Paris University- that they had already singled out Turin in northwest Italy as the town La Sorbonne in 2005. several targets, both military, such hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, as police and Carabinieri barracks, as well as to other cities before the 2006 and civilian, such as the Esselunga general elections.24 Nevertheless, it was supermarket near Milan.20 Ilhami and not before the December 2, 2008 arrests Abdelkader reportedly trained other that DIGOS dismantled an actual militants through instructional tapes terrorist cell on Italian soil. and had already conducted hostile reconnaissance activities to prepare the Implications attacks. Sources from Italy’s domestic intelligence service, AISI, stressed that the profiles Wiretaps revealed that the two militants of the three men arrested for the October considered themselves agents of al- 2009 barracks attack force analysts to Qa`ida; however, no real links have rethink the general characteristics of emerged between the two Moroccans and the European-based jihadist.25 Those established organizations, including al- characteristics currently include: 1) the Qa`ida, outside Italy.21 militant may have been indoctrinated and trained on the battlefields of Iraq Italy’s security agencies and analysts or Afghanistan; 2) the militant may have found it particularly worrying become a “homegrown terrorist” after that Ilhami and Abdelkader appeared to intensive religious indoctrination by be well integrated into Italian society, local imams; 3) the militant can be and that their radicalization during “infected” by extremist ideologies while in jail. Game, Kol and Israfel have a 17 DIGOS is a law enforcement agency that investigates seemingly very different profile: they terrorism, the mafia, organized crime, and political and were only moderately involved in local soccer-related violent groups. 18 “Progettavano attentati, due in manette,” Il Corriere della Sera, December 3, 2008. 22 Biagio Marsiglia, “Allarme attentati islamici a Milano 19 “Milano, in manette i due terroristi. Maroni: tensione Maroni: carcere duro per i terroristi,” Il Corriere della altissima,” Il Sole-24 Ore, December 2, 2008. Sera, December 4, 2008. 20 Il Corriere della Sera, December 3, 2008. 23 Federico Bordonaro, “Italian Security and Potential 21 See “Operazione Shamal” in Bruno Megale, Terrorismo Terrorist Targets,” Terrorism Monitor 3:18 (2005). Internazionale. Indagini, report by the Italian police, avail- 24 Federico Bordonaro, “Italy: The Threat to the General 26 Ibid.; Some reports, however, say that Game used to able online at http://appinter.csm.it/incontri/vis_relaz_ Elections,” Terrorism Monitor 4:4 (2006). pray in front of an image of al-Qa`ida leader Usama bin inc.php?&ri=MTc4MjQ%3D. 25 La Repubblica, October 14, 2009. Ladin.

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LIFG Revisions Unlikely to by Qadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam, and the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, its LIFG’s leadership who, along with much members who had been residing there— Reduce Jihadist Violence of the group’s rank-and-file, are housed including much of its leadership—were in the Abu Slim prison in Tripoli. scattered and forced to flee. A number of By Alison Pargeter The foundation brought a number of key figures were subsequently arrested Islamic scholars in addition to Noman and handed over to Tripoli in 2004, at the end of August 2009, the bin Othman (also referred to as Noman while others were arrested in Europe Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) Benotman), a former LIFG leader based under the threat of being returned. issued a set of revisions declaring the in London, into the prison to convince renunciation of violence. Following the LIFG leaders to renounce violence It is clear that by the time the Libyan in the footsteps of Egypt’s al-Jama`a in return for their release. As such, the regime was willing to engage in dialogue, al-Islamiyya, the 420-page document, revisions are the conclusion of more the LIFG was already compromised titled “Revisionist Studies of the than two years of theological debate. and had little room for maneuver. The Concepts of Jihad, Hisbah and Takfir,” is a scholarly work that draws on a Although the revisions represent a range of Islamic references to condemn major step for both the LIFG and the “Overall, the revisions are extremism and to advocate a peaceful Libyan state, their impact is likely to unlikely to have any direct and patient approach to improving be limited. Indeed, despite predictions the state of the umma (global Islamic in some quarters that this ideological impact on al-Qa`ida or its community). In what is presumably a shift will have major repercussions in affiliates.” reflection on their own past, the group jihadist circles and beyond, this article declared that the “backwardness” of argues that they are unlikely to have the umma cannot be remedied by “hasty much effect at all and may only spark solutions or by enthusiastic actions or relatively insignificant debate. LIFG’s main challenge was to come to by sentimental behavior.”1 Although the agreement with the regime with the revisions accept the concept of defensive The LIFG in Libya minimum loss of face. Therefore, while jihad against an occupying power, The LIFG was all but finished as an the LIFG’s renunciation of violence may they reject the use of violence against organization before the negotiations be genuine, it has been driven largely by one’s own rulers, stating, “The aim of even began. In fact, the LIFG was a the promise of release, which for some fighting is to protect the Islamic project. failed project from its inception. Despite of the group has yet to be realized. Protection means resistance...But for the fact that the LIFG in Afghanistan jihad to become a military profession— had a reputation for military prowess, In fact, the LIFG’s leaders were well this is a distortion of the concept... they were never able to garner a real aware that by entering into negotiations Allah doesn’t like aggressors.”2 It also foothold inside Libya. Much of the they would effectively drive the final states that “arms are not for use legally group’s leadership was forced to nail into their own coffin. The Libyan or religiously to reform or bring about remain outside of the country, many in state prohibits the existence of all change in Muslim countries.”3 Afghanistan but others in the United organizations outside of the framework Kingdom and a handful in Turkey and of Qadhafi’s unique Jamahriyya (State The revisions are a bold step for a Qatar, among other places. Moreover, of the Masses), which means that the group that was established in the there was never much of an appetite LIFG leaders will only be released as camps of Afghanistan with the aim of for such a radical approach among the individuals and not as a group. In spite bringing down the Libyan regime and Libyan population, and the LIFG was of the fact that their revisions declare which at their peak in the mid-1990s unable to muster the same popular that they will continue to strive for posed the greatest challenge to Colonel legitimacy as groups such as the Armed da`wa (missionary activities), they will Mu`ammar Qadhafi in his 40-year Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, who certainly not be able to do so as an rule. They are also a brave move for had the injustice of the canceled 1992 organization. As such, the state has a regime that since coming to power Algerian elections on their side.4 Once succeeded in making no real concessions in 1969 has been characterized by its the LIFG was discovered by authorities itself in the process and has successfully zero-tolerance approach to Islamist in 1995, it took only a few years for the neutralized what was once its fiercest opponents. Yet this ideological shift regime to eliminate the fighters within foe. is not an unexpected development. Libya, forcing those who escaped death The revisions are the culmination of or arrest to flee. This is not the first time the regime negotiations that have been ongoing for has achieved a victory against Islamist at least the past couple of years between Even in exile, the LIFG was unable to opponents. In March 2006, it released the Libyan regime, represented by the survive for long. Following the U.S. around 100 Muslim Brotherhood Qadhafi Development Foundation run prisoners who had also struck a 4 The fact that the Algerian army canceled elections that deal with the regime, effectively 1 Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, “Revisionist Studies the Islamists were set to win provided the GIA with ad- finishing off the Libyan branch of the of the Concepts of Jihad, Hisbah and Takfir,” August ditional legitimacy, as many in the population felt that international organization. As well 2009. they had been robbed of their rightful victory and as such as further debilitating its opposition, 2 Ibid. found the idea of taking up arms against the state more these initiatives have also helped Libya 3 Ibid. acceptable. improve its image internationally, as

7 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 they have demonstrated that Libya The LIFG preferred to give their loyalty There are believed to be between 20-40 can be more flexible with its Islamist to Mullah Omar of the Taliban. The Libyans who are still with al-Qa`ida in prisoners than some other states in group’s spiritual leader, Abu Munder Afghanistan and Pakistan; however, the the region. The fact that the revisions al-Saidi, went so far as to give a series impact of the LIFG’s revisions on them are currently being translated into 16 of lectures in Afghanistan in which he is likely to be negligible, as they have languages courtesy of Saudi Arabia will advised Arabs there to follow the law always rejected the idea of entering only add to this positive publicity. of the Taliban government rather than into a dialogue with the Libyan regime Bin Ladin so long as they were living let alone agreeing to such a radical and Therefore, the revisions must be on their land.8 Furthermore, in April remorseful strategic reassessment. considered as a victory for the Libyan and May 2000, al-Qa`ida held a series state. Indeed, in spite of the length of of meetings in Usama bin Ladin’s house The LIFG decision will also likely have the document—which covers a range no impact on AQIM, which remains of issues from extremism to da`wa to “While the LIFG’s primarily an Algerian organization. “enjoining good and forbidding evil”— Although a number of Libyans appear the revisions essentially boil down to renunciation of violence to have established links with AQIM in one point: it is incorrect to use violence may be genuine, it has recent years, these do not appear to have against the state. It was of course this had anything to do with the LIFG; these very change that the state demanded been driven largely by the Libyans seemed to have cooperated of the group in its negotiations. The promise of release, which with the group in an individual regime has triumphed to such an extent capacity. Moreover, the LIFG has had that on this year’s 40th anniversary of for some of the group has a particularly antagonistic relationship the Libyan revolution, the LIFG sent yet to be realized.” with Algerian militants since the early a communiqué to Qadhafi apologizing 1990s when a contingent of fighters who for their past actions and asking for his had gone to assist in the Algerian jihad forgiveness, declaring, were killed by the GIA for “deviancy.” in Kandahar to try to persuade others We would like to take this to join them. During the meeting, the Overall, the revisions are unlikely to opportunity to congratulate you LIFG asked Bin Ladin to stop using have any direct impact on al-Qa`ida or its on the coming of Ramadan and on Afghanistan as a base from which to affiliates. The revisions may, however, this occasion we would like to send launch attacks against the United States provoke debate within Islamist circles you our apologies regarding what and tried to convince Bin Ladin that he considering that there is a growing body we issued against you, from the should not violate the laws or policies of former militants calling for similar setting up of a secret organization of the Taliban, under whose protection reassessments. Nevertheless, it is likely to all that happened afterwards, they were all living, by launching attacks that these revisions will be regarded large and small.5 that risked bringing retribution.9 with a heavy dose of skepticism and suspicion by many of those in the The LIFG and Al-Qa`ida Some of the recent speculation about jihadist camp because they were issued The impact of the revisions on al-Qa`ida the LIFG’s links to al-Qa`ida was from prison. Some well-known Islamists will also be limited primarily because the sparked by a statement made by Ayman such as Ali Belhaj, the former leader of LIFG was never part of al-Qa`ida or al- al-Zawahiri at the end of 2007. Al- the Algerian Islamic Salvation Front Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Zawahiri announced that the LIFG had (FIS), have already criticized the project It is true that some Libyan militants become part of the al-Qa`ida network. on that basis.11 As in similar revisions joined al-Qa`ida, but as a group the This announcement was supported by recently, there is a deep mistrust within LIFG always retained its independence. another prominent Libyan Islamist, Abu jihadist circles because they have all The LIFG were positively opposed Laith al-Libi, who was in Afghanistan occurred in prison. Moreover, they are to Usama bin Ladin and believed his and who had always been opposed to being undertaken by failed movements ideas were unworkable. They instead the LIFG negotiating with the Libyan and by older leaders who in the eyes of focused on nationalistic concerns. state. The LIFG’s leadership, however, the young are no longer relevant to the As former LIFG member Noman bin was appalled at the announcements, cause. Othman explained, “on the question of not least because, although a member of al-Qa`ida, we never thought they had a the LIFG’s shura council, Abu Laith did Today’s Generation of Militants realistic plan.”6 He also declared, “We not have the authority to act or issue The revisions are also unlikely to have refused right from the beginning to be statements in the name of the group.10 much impact on the generation of absorbed into this group because that Abu Laith was killed by U.S. forces in militants that have sprung up across would make us lose our ability to move January 2008, effectively putting an North Africa. This new generation of freely and independently in Libya.”7 end to the project. militants seems to be characterized by their low education levels, nihilism and desperation that is reflected in their 5 Oea [Tripoli], August 27, 2009. 6 Mahan Abedin, “From Mujahid to Activist: An Inter- Books, 2007). view with a Libyan Veteran of the Afghan Jihad,” Spot- 8 Ibid. 11 “Bin Al-Haj: Murajat al-Islamiyeen fi Libya wal Jazair light on Terror 3:2 (2005). 9 Ibid. wa Misr Harb Nafseer,” al-Quds Press, September 9, 7 Camille Tawille, Al-Qa’ida wa Akhawatia (London: Saqi 10 Personal interviews, former Libyan militants, 2008. 2009.

8 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 willingness to blow themselves up in antagonistic relationship to the center. Rethinking Strategies suicide attacks.12 Indeed, on account of As such, it would appear that while it the failings of the nationalist insurgent is impossible to pinpoint exactly what to Secure U.S. Critical projects of the 1990s, they seem to have drives someone to militancy, there are Infrastructure none of the specific political goals of a number of underlying grievances groups such as the LIFG. Rather, given related to internal regional factors in By Charles Faddis the strict confines in which they can Libya that have yet to be resolved. As operate, these individuals appear bent a result, while the issue of militancy there is an almost endless list of upon destruction in some vain promise in Libya should not be overplayed, it potential terrorist targets in the United that they will achieve paradise. is certainly a problem that is likely to States. The most concerning of these persist for the foreseeable future. targets, however, are those loosely Although the appearance of such classified as critical infrastructure. militants is most pronounced in In conclusion, the LIFG revisions are There are a large number of such countries such as Morocco or Algeria, a positive step for both the group itself sites, and the potential impact of a Libya has not been immune. Reports and for the Libyan authorities. Yet they successful attack on many of them have emerged in recent years about are unlikely to have any real impact on would be catastrophic. An attack on the young men blowing themselves up to militancy in the region and beyond. rail system in the Northeast Corridor, evade capture by the security services. if effectively carried out, would kill Qadhafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, confirmed Alison Pargeter is a Senior Research hundreds if not thousands and cripple how in June 2007 three young militants Associate at the Centre of International the transportation sector in a key exploded themselves in a house in Studies at the University of Cambridge. region of the United States. Commuters Derna and in the same year clashes were She is currently running a project on would be stranded. Freight would not reported between militants and members radicalization in North Africa that is move. Economic costs would amount to of the police in Benghazi. There are also funded by the UK’s Economic and Social the billions of dollars. Nuclear power many Libyans who joined the jihad in Research Council. She has published plants scattered across the country are Iraq, and there are countless stories of widely on issues of political Islam and another concern due to the horrible martyrdom celebrations being held in radicalization. Her book, The New effects of a disaster. Moreover, the Libya by the families of those who have Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam in United States is dotted with major died in Iraq. Europe, was published by I.B. Tauris in chemical facilities, which are, in effect, 2008 and her forthcoming book on the giant prepositioned weapons of mass For these militants, the LIFG’s revisions Muslim Brotherhood is due to be published destruction. Railroads carry thousands are unlikely to have a significant impact. by Saqi Books in 2010. of railcars jammed with similar It is true that the LIFG are regarded as types of chemicals. As warned by the heroes by some parts of the population; Department of Homeland Security, a the fact that they fought in Afghanistan single rail car filled with chlorine has and have suffered in Libyan prisons the capacity to kill 17,500 people.1 gives them a degree of credibility. Yet by striking a deal with the regime, many To prevent attacks on these targets will accuse them of being co-opted by and avoid the loss of life on an the state. Perhaps more importantly, almost unimaginable scale, it is given the low education levels of many imperative that further defenses be of these young radicals, they will have instituted to frustrate terrorist attack a difficult time understanding such a plans. To accomplish this, however, it is scholarly document as the revisions. first necessary to understand the nature of the threat and the way in which the Moreover, the majority of today’s enemy fights. Attacks planned by Libyan militants and volunteers for Islamist terrorists may involve limited the Iraqi jihad have come from the physical surveillance, and the enemy country’s eastern regions—an area will likely be prepared to die to carry that provided the bulk of support for out the mission successfully. Faced with the LIFG when it was in its prime and this type of enemy, many of the United an area that has traditionally had an States’ current security measures are not sufficient to counter this threat. 12 For example, data provided to the author in 2007 and 2008 by local human rights groups in North Africa re- This article argues that more attention garding those arrested on terrorism charges reveal that should focus on physical security such the vast majority have extremely poor education levels as explosives detection dogs or hard with many only educated to primary school level. Al- barriers to critical infrastructure. It though many of the LIFG rank-and-file were also poorly explains why current security measures educated, the group also comprised graduates and those who had received an Islamic education in Saudi Arabia 1 David Howe, “Planning Scenarios,” The Homeland Se- or elsewhere. curity Council, July 2004.

9 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 are not sufficient, and then suggests there was a bomb on board when every the level of detail they typically acquire some steps for moving forward. other passenger did: when it detonated. in advance of an attack is much less than what U.S. military or intelligence Current Security Policies Not Sufficient Moreover, detecting a terrorist during teams would judge sufficient. Much of In the 2004 Madrid and 2005 London the planning phase is also extremely that information will derive from open terrorist attacks, terrorists boarded difficult. There is much discussion in sources, from casual observation and trains carrying explosive devices law enforcement and homeland security from individuals who, largely by chance, concealed in backpacks and bags. The circles about the terrorist attack happen to have access to the target. In terrorists themselves spoke the local cycle and the necessity to detect and fact, in many cases, it is probably more language, dressed in Western clothes neutralize terrorists while they are accurate to say that the target is chosen and blended into their environment. preparing for an operation. While these at least in part by virtue of the amount detection practices are necessary and of information available about it than it important, they gloss over the difficulty is to say that the target is chosen and “The premium must of detecting a terrorist involved in then information is compiled on it. be on guards, physical pre-attack surveillance and also There may, in fact, be a certain amount greatly over-emphasize the amount of of directed, “formal” surveillance of the barriers, metal detectors, preparation that is likely to occur. target, but it will likely be much less explosives detection dogs, extensive in both time and scope than is A rank amateur with aspirations to often assumed. and related measures, and martyr himself may board a train in less on cameras, signs and such a manner and behave in such a A perfect illustration is the case of the way as he prepares to carry out an individuals arrested for planning an observation. Against an attack that will allow a police officer to attack on Fort Dix in New Jersey in enemy that relies more correctly identify and apprehend him 2007. The preparation for those attacks before he takes action. Yet an operative consisted of a few casual visits to military on shock, violence and of even marginal competence will not installations and the compilation of surprise than it does on do so. He, or she, will dress and act and what U.S. analysts would consider a speak appropriately enough to blend very limited amount of information on sophistication or finesse, into the surrounding population. In the the potential targets. The terrorists’ it is essential to employ run-up to the attack, the terrorist will ultimate selection of Fort Dix as a target board the train, ride it as far as needed was based largely on the fact that one of similarly tough defensive to gather data and then disembark and them already had access to the facility measures.” go home. An experienced terrorist will as a pizza delivery man.2 Their visits not stand and stare or take photographs where they should not or draw diagrams “While these detection of a station platform while standing in They did nothing to attract attention. In view of a security camera. In short, the practices are necessary and Madrid, they left the bags and exited the operative will not do anything while important, they gloss over trains. In London, they chose to detonate conducting surveillance in preparation the bags themselves and commit suicide. for an attack or as he boards the train on the difficulty of detecting a the day of the attack that will appear out terrorist involved in pre- Despite this, in the United States many of the ordinary to an observer. For law of the security measures in place seem enforcement, it is not just looking for a attack surveillance and also to be predicated on an expectation of needle in a haystack; it is looking for a greatly over-emphasize the being able to detect and neutralize needle in a pile of identical needles. terrorists in the run-up to an attack. amount of preparation that One example of this is a security It is also likely that the number of is likely to occur.” program initiated by a major rail such pre-attack visits to any particular system in the United States that allows site will be limited. A U.S. special uniformed and off-duty plainclothes law operations team preparing to attack a enforcement to ride trains free of charge target will undertake extensive pre- to other installations hardly qualified as a deterrent to potential terrorists. attack surveillance. The team will as anything other than drive-bys, were The implementation of this measure use overhead imagery, reporting from extremely limited in duration and would is a perfect illustration of the lack of clandestine assets and the results of have been almost impossible to detect. understanding of terrorist methodology surveillance conducted over a lengthy In the end, they were not captured that characterizes much of what passes period of time by trained operators to because of their actions while casing for security today. What would a police allow for the preparation of the best prospective targets, but because of good officer in a uniform or in plainclothes possible plan of attack. Attributing that intelligence work and the actions of an sitting behind a suicide bomber—who same kind of methodology to terrorist undercover officer. The same is true in would not be distinguishable from attack teams is a mistake. Certainly, other passengers—do to stop such an terrorists want to have information on 2 “Fort Dix Plotter Spoke of Bombs on Tape,” Associated attack? The officer would find out the target they are going to strike, but Press, October 29, 2008.

10 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 the recent Najibullah Zazi case, where tourists. When the target is one that is In this context, efforts to detect pre- attacks were prevented not because of open to the public and employs literally attack surveillance or other preparations pre-attack preparations, but because hundreds of individuals from the are necessary, but likely to be of little intelligence reports gave forewarning surrounding community, as is the case value. What is of value, however, are that Zazi had traveled to Pakistan and with many soft targets, little pre-attack measures that can physically prevent been trained in an al-Qa`ida camp.3 surveillance is necessary. a successful attack. The premium must be on guards, physical barriers, metal Moreover, terrorists intent on attacking Even attacks on major economic targets detectors, explosives detection dogs, the United States would likely be are launched with what Western and related measures, and less on prepared to die during their mission, analysts would consider a rather crude cameras, signs and observation. which means that they will not need to understanding of the target. When al- case targets extensively enough to find Qa`ida struck the Abqaiq oil facility in This would establish a layered, integrated an escape route. One example is the defense consisting of uniformed and attack on the U.S. Consulate in Jidda, “For law enforcement, it plainclothes officers, combined with Saudi Arabia in 2004. The team of explosives detection dogs screening attackers mounted a furious assault on is not just looking for a all passengers as they enter a train the site with the express goal of killing needle in a haystack; it is station or other mass transportation every American inside.4 Nothing in facility. Moreover, rather than focusing the attack suggests any planning for looking for a needle in a on security cameras at chemical plants extraction or withdrawal.5 From the pile of identical needles.” and other critical infrastructure, these moment the attack began, the one near facilities should be gated and guarded, certainty was that every member of the and protected by remotely activated assault team was going to die. barriers that can prevent entry of a Saudi Arabia in 2006, they employed truck carrying a bomb. Moreover, the nature of the terrorists’ extensive resources. They used two objectives often obviates the necessity separate vehicle borne improvised Against an enemy that relies more on for extensive pre-attack surveillance. If explosive devices (VBIED) and a separate shock, violence and surprise than it a U.S. Special Forces team is focused on assault team to overwhelm the Saudi does on sophistication or finesse, it the destruction of a specific, transient guards. Yet when they were successful is essential to employ similarly tough target, it may require a large amount in forcing their way into the site, they defensive measures. Failure to move in of data to plan an effective operation. ultimately detonated their devices at this direction only creates a false sense Terrorists, particularly Islamic locations that produced nothing like of security, and leaves only hope that a extremists, are rarely interested in the kind of damage that could have terrorist attack will not occur. mounting any such operation. They care resulted had the VBIEDs been exploded about killing people in large numbers a relatively short distance away.6 The Charles S. Faddis is a retired Central and spreading terror. attackers simply did not understand Intelligence Agency operations officer and the facility well enough to know exactly the former head of the CIA’s WMD terrorism A case in point is the Mumbai attack of how to cripple it. unit. He spent 20 years as an operative in 2008. From the moment the shooting the Near East, South Asia and Europe and led the first CIA team into Iraq in advance began, the attackers were intent on one Moving Forward of the 2003 invasion. He is the author of a goal: killing as many people as possible. The enemy is fanatical, determined and recently released book on the CIA entitled When they opened fire with automatic creative. They will likely base attack Beyond Repair and the coauthor of a book weapons in the middle of a crowded plans on what Western analysts would on the actions of his team inside Iraq in train station, they did not know the consider limited information, much of it 2002-2003, entitled Operation Hotel identities of anyone they were shooting. compiled through methodologies rather California. His next book, Willful Neglect, The amount of pre-attack surveillance than extended physical surveillance. is an examination of homeland security required to mount such an operation Even when the operations are relatively from an operator’s perspective and will be is minimal. The same can be said in complex, the bulk of the information released in early 2010. He runs his own regard to the hotel targets hit, which required will be gathered through security consulting business, Orion Strategic were chosen primarily because they means that are difficult for authorities Services, LLC. catered to upscale, largely Western to detect. A target may in fact be chosen not so much because it is the best 3 “AP: CIA Learned of Zazi, Tipped Off FBI,” CBS News, possible choice, but because it is one the October 6, 2009; Richard Esposito, Clayton Sandell actors know already and to which they and Brian Ross, “Official: Terror Plot Suspect Admits al may have some degree of natural access. Qaeda Ties, May Plead Guilty,” ABC News, September When the attack comes, however crude, 18, 2009. it will be executed with vigor no matter 4 “Jeddah Consulate,” Global Security, October 13, what the odds. 2009. 5 Roger Harrison, Essam al-Ghalib and Hassan Adawi, “US Consulate Attacked,” Arab News, December 7, 2004. 6 Personal interview, confidential source, Spring 2009.

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Israel as an Al-Qa`ida provides al-Qa`ida with a powerful Two years later, Bin Ladin’s 1996 rhetorical tool for radicalization, declaration of war against the United Target: Sorting Rhetoric recruitment, and fundraising. States invoked the Palestinian cause to From Reality rally Muslims to fight “the American- This article shows how al-Qa`ida Israeli” alliance: By Matthew Levitt has always been interested in the Palestinian issue, demonstrates the gap Your brothers in Palestine and in a variety of groups in the Palestinian between al-Qa`ida’s rhetoric and its the land of the two Holy Places are Territories claim to be affiliated with operations targeting Israel, and finally calling upon your help and asking or inspired by al-Qa`ida. None of these identifies the few attacks that al-Qa`ida you to take part in fighting against groups, however, have been welcomed has conducted against Israel and Jewish the enemy—your enemy and their into the al-Qa`ida franchise. Moreover, targets. enemy—the Americans and the this bottom up phenomenon where Israelis. They are asking you to do local Palestinian groups reach out to Al-Qa`ida’s Interest in Palestine whatever you can, with one’s own al-Qa`ida is not matched by a top down Although al-Qa`ida’s primary focus means and ability, to expel the effort by al-Qa`ida’s core leadership or has been the United States and its enemy, humiliated and defeated, even its established affiliates to create presence and influence in Muslim out of the sanctities of Islam.5 an official al-Qa`ida faction in the countries, Palestine has featured Palestinian Territories. Nevertheless, prominently in al-Qa`ida’s statements This “Declaration of War against the in nearly all of al-Qa`ida’s public and propaganda from the early outset Americans Occupying the Land of the statements, the liberation of Palestine of the group’s founding. In fact, nearly Two Holy Places,” while leveraging is a goal and Israel is denounced as an every public statement made by Usama the Palestinian issue for rhetorical enemy. Al-Qa`ida’s extensive anti- bin Ladin since 1990 has mentioned the purposes, focused on the United States, Israel rhetoric, however, is not matched Palestinian cause, often represented not Israel. Similarly, a February 1998 with the parallel operational focus on through references to the al-Aqsa fatwa issued by Bin Ladin and a host targeting Israel. Mosque in Jerusalem that strike both of other radical Islamists insisted that religious and political chords among killing “Americans and their allies— Instead, it appears that Palestine is Muslims and Arabs worldwide.2 civilian and military—is an individual employed as a useful lightening rod duty for every Muslim who can do it through which al-Qa`ida can tap into One of Bin Ladin’s earliest public in any country in which it is possible the emotional attachment of Muslims statements, a letter addressed to to do it.” The fatwa justified this call to and Arabs worldwide. The place of Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, the late terrorism in the name of liberating “the Palestine and Israel in al-Qa`ida’s grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, illustrates al-Aqsa mosque and the holy mosque speeches and operations is shaped by the early attachment of the Palestinian from their grip, and in order for their its need to construct narratives, often cause to al-Qa`ida. The letter, written armies to move out of all the lands of focused on specific populations and in December 1994, was entitled “The Islam, defeated and unable to threaten conflicts, that support its radical and Betrayal of Palestine.” The basis of the any Muslim.” In both pronouncements, violent agenda. Al-Qa`ida, explained letter was a repudiation of the Saudi the Palestinian issue is referenced in French scholar Gilles Kepel, combines dynasty and Bin Baz’s complicity with global, Islamic terms, not Palestinian elements of Salafism—a literalist Saudi rule. The object of Bin Ladin’s ire, nationalist ones, and is only one part of interpretation of Islamic history akin and the true focus of the proclamation, the larger call to liberate Islamic lands to Saudi Wahhabism—with jihadism.1 however, was Bin Baz’s endorsement of and defend the umma from the perceived Al-Qa`ida utilizes some aspects of the Oslo Accords a year earlier, in 1993:3 enemies of Islam. Although still jihadism, namely the legitimization of powerful rhetorical images leveraged to violent action to achieve political means, The legal duty regarding Palestine inflame the emotions of their intended to its organizational, logistical and and our brothers there—these audiences, neither liberating Palestine operational agenda. To do this, it must poor men, women and children nor attacking Israel are themselves place conflicts throughout the world that who have nowhere to go—is to central themes. involve Muslims into a singular, radical wage jihad for the sake of God, and narrative in which Islam in general to motivate our umma to jihad so Instead, al-Qa`ida has leveraged and Muslims in particular must defend that Palestine may be completely Palestine as a cause to support its call to themselves from Western aggression. liberated and returned to Islamic jihad writ large. Consider, for example, For al-Qa`ida, the Palestinian cause sovereignty.4 how Ayman al-Zawahiri concluded in is a paradigmatic example of this his 1996 treatise “The Cure for Believers’ phenomenon. Since the Israel-Palestine Hearts” that Arab and Muslim regimes conflict is perhaps the single most 2 Asaf Maliach, “Bin-Ladin, Palestine and al-Qaeda’s that accept the United Nations and Israel animating regional conflict for many Operational Strategy,” Middle Eastern Studies 44:3 as legitimate entities have lost their Arabs and Muslims, its resonance (2008): p. 358. credibility and authority. Al-Zawahiri 3 Bruce Lawrence ed., Messages to the World, The State- 1 Gilles Kepel, Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam (Cam- ments of Osama Bin Laden (London: Verso, 2005), pp. 5 Usama bin Ladin, “Declaration of War against the bridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2002), pp. 219- 5-14. Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places,” 22. 4 Ibid., p. 9. August 23, 1996.

12 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 counted the Palestinian Liberation ultimately target Israel as part of an Palestinians to perform jihad.13 He Organization as one of these turncoat Islamist ideological vision to “liberate” tried to make a distinction between his entities, and used such logic to pave all Muslim lands. In the words of Ayman criticism of Hamas leaders and their the way for attacks against the West, al-Zawahiri, “Palestine was a land of decision to participate in elections and “apostate” Arab regimes, international Islam, and it is an individual duty for Hamas fighters. Hamas leaders should organizations and Israel.6 every Muslim to liberate it.”9 Al-Qa`ida not adhere to a secular constitution, has even linked its involvement in Iraq al-Zawahiri complained, but “as for There is precedent among al-Qa`ida the mujahidin of Hamas and the rest of ideologues for this discrepancy. At the mujahidin in Palestine, I supported least until the mid-1990s, Ayman al- “The delta between al- them and continue to support them, and Zawahiri maintained that “the road Qa`ida’s rhetorical focus I call on the umma to aid them.”14 to Jerusalem passes through Cairo,” meaning that only after illegitimate and on Israel and its lackluster Al-Qa`ida’s operational absence from insufficiently Islamic regimes such as efforts to translate its the Palestinian arena was perhaps Hosni Mubarak’s in Egypt were toppled most glaring during the December could Palestine be liberated. Years later, propaganda into action is 2008-January 2009 war in Gaza. al-Zawahiri would write to al-Qa`ida in significant.” During this conflict, dubbed Operation Iraq leader Abu Mus`ab al Zarqawi that Cast Lead by Israel, al-Qa`ida released targeting Israel was a “fourth stage” written statements and media messages goal following the expulsion of the expressing support for the Palestinian Americans from Iraq, establishing an to its eventual conflict with Israel. The fighters, and often denounced Arab Islamic emirate in Iraq, and extending leader of the al-Qa`ida-linked Islamic states for failing to act in the defense of the jihad to the secular countries State of Iraq, the elusive Abu `Umar Gaza. Al-Zawahiri deliberately directed neighboring this new emirate (although al-Baghdadi, stated that Iraq has part of his statement toward Egypt, it could come at the same time, he said).7 “paved the way for invading the Jewish saying, Meanwhile, al-Qa`ida ideologue Abu state,” which would then lead to “the Mus`ab al-Suri reportedly doubted Bin restoration of Jerusalem.”10 Other al- lifting the siege imposed on Gaza Ladin’s own “willingness to take the Qa`ida leaders, such as Abu Laith al- is your responsibility that you fight to the heart of the Middle East,” Libi, echoed this linkage, asserting that must take up. If you organize a move al-Suri felt was essential. In all of al-Qa`ida’s actions are to prepare and participate in a campaign contrast, al-Suri’s lectures stressed for conflict with Israel. Abu Laith stated, of strikes, demonstrations and “the strategic impact of striking Jewish, “the preparations we make and all the protests that persist until the American, and Western interests in the fighting in the cause of God we carry out siege is lifted from over our people heart of the Arab world.”8 in the East and West is preparation and in Gaza, then Hosni Mubarak, the training for fighting the Jews in the al- criminal traitor, is bound to give Al-Qa`ida Rhetoric on Operations Targeting Aqsa Mosque.”11 Likewise, al-Zawahiri in.15 Israel stated in a video released in January Al-Qa`ida’s leaders have often stated 2006 that once U.S. President George Al-Baghdadi, al-Zawahiri and Bin their desire to attack the state of Israel. W. Bush conceded defeat in Iraq and Ladin all released statements calling for Yet while the intent and imperative Afghanistan, al-Qa`ida would turn its jihad in Gaza, but none of al-Qa`ida’s of killing Israelis and Jews features attention toward the Palestinian cause. proclamations provided any indication prominently in al-Qa`ida’s rhetoric, it A “routing” would soon take place in that al-Qa`ida itself would support its has rarely translated into operational Palestine, al-Zawahiri warned.12 stance with action. attacks on Israel, its citizens abroad, or Jews more generally. Both Usama bin Ladin and Ayman Al-Qa`ida Attacks Targeting Israel al-Zawahiri have addressed al- The delta between al-Qa`ida’s rhetorical Most of al-Qa`ida’s rhetoric regarding Qa`ida’s lack of operations in Israel focus on Israel and its lackluster efforts operational planning targeting Israel and the Palestinian Territories. When to translate its propaganda into action is references not concrete, near-term questioned on this issue, al-Zawahiri significant. Al-Qa`ida attacks on Israeli planning, but rather notional intent to responded in April 2008 that al-Qa`ida and Jewish targets have been small-scale “strive[s] as much as we can to deal blows and half-hearted. For a group that has 6 Edwin Bakker and Leen Boer, “The Evolution of Al- to the Jews inside Israel and outside it, executed spectacular attacks involving Qaedaism: Ideology, Terrorist, and Appeal,” Nether- with Allah’s help and guidance.” He sophisticated planning throughout the lands Institute of International Relations, December supported this statement by urging world, al-Qa`ida’s record of targeting 2007, p. 29. Israel is remarkably poor. Most of al- 7 A copy of the letter is provided by the Combating Ter- rorism Center at West Point, and can be found at the 9 Christopher Blanchard, “Al-Qaeda: Statements and 13 “Al-Zawahiri,” Anti-Defamation League, undated. following URL: www.ctc.usma.edu/harmony/pdf/CTC- Evolving Ideology,” CRS Report for Congress, July 9, 14 “Open Meeting with Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri-Part Zawahiri-Letter-10-05.pdf. 2007. One,” al-Sahab, available at www.nefafoundation.org/ 8 Brynjar Lia, Architect of Global Jihad: The Life of Al- 10 Ibid. miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefazawahiri0408.pdf. Qaida Strategist Abu Mus’ab al-Suri (New York: Columbia 11 Ibid. 15 Ayman al-Zawahiri, “The Massacre of Gaza and the University Press, 2008), p. 280. 12 Maliach, p. 360. Siege of the Traitors,” January 6, 2009.

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Qa`ida’s operational planning that being searched and contained at Qa`ida may have focused on soft Jewish focused on Israel never even came to least 100 people at the arrival time targets is the perception that targeting fruition. Even if they had, the majority of any given train.18 Israel directly is too difficult due to its of these plots were not of the scale robust security measures. typical of al-Qa`ida attacks. Al-Qa`ida, however, never acted on any of Reid’s detailed surveillance. Seven months after the Djerba According to U.S. intelligence, for synagogue attack, al-Qa`ida-affiliated example, at the time of his capture in At a hearing in March 2007 before his terrorists carried out the group’s most March 2002, the Palestinian al-Qa`ida U.S. military tribunal in Guantanamo successful terrorist attack against facilitator Abu Zubayda was “trying to Bay, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaykh Israeli targets. In November 2002, al- organize a terrorist attack in Israel and Muhammad claimed to have been Qa`ida operatives attacked the Paradise he had enlisted the help of Zarqawi in involved in 31 terrorist plots, including Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, a popular finding a smuggling route into Israel for several targeting Israeli or Jewish vacation spot for Israeli tourists. Three moving persons and materials.”16 This targets—most of which never occurred. Israelis were killed and approximately was not Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi’s first These included plots to fly airplanes 20 more were seriously wounded.22 In a attempt to target Israel. A year before from Saudi Arabia into buildings in the nearly simultaneous strike nearby, al- these attacks, and long before he became southern Israeli city of Eilat; sending Qa`ida fighters shot a portable surface- famous as the head of al-Qa`ida in Iraq, several “mujahidin” into Israel to to-air missile at an Israeli Arkia Airline al-Zarqawi reportedly attempted to survey “strategic targets”; targeting passenger plane flying from Kenya set up a cell to target Israel. By 2001, Israeli embassies in India, Azerbaijan, to Israel.23 While the missile missed according to the U.S. Department of the the Philippines and Australia; plotting its mark, the coordinated Mombasa Treasury, al-Zarqawi had received more to attack an El Al Israel Airlines attacks demonstrated a high level of than $35,000 for work in the Palestinian flight from Thailand; the Mombasa, skill and capability, the effects of which Territories. He personally planned Kenya attacks; plotting to attack U.S., reverberated widely as aviation experts to use this money to train additional British and Jewish targets in Turkey; grappled with the implications of al- Jordanian and Palestinian fighters in and plotting to attack an American oil Qa`ida terrorists targeting passenger Afghanistan, to purchase passports, company in Indonesia that Muhammad flights with shoulder-fired missiles. and to facilitate travel to the Levant. described as “owned by the Jewish Al-Zarqawi “received assurances that former Secretary of State Henry Al-Qa`ida attacks against Israel since further financing would be provided for Kissinger.”19 While the veracity of these then have been neither as sophisticated attacks against Israel” and according statements is unknown, the attacks in nor as successful. In January 2006, Abu to some reports may have traveled to Kenya, Turkey, and a similar attack— Mus`ab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al- Palestine himself by 2002.17 using rockets, not planes—on Eilat did Qa`ida in Iraq, claimed responsibility in fact occur. for a rocket attack in northern Israel. Richard Reid, the “Shoe Bomber” Although unverifiable, he claimed that convicted of trying to blow up an Of the attacks that did take place, some he was ordered to conduct the attack American airliner flying from Paris focused on soft targets that while Jewish by Usama bin Ladin and described the to Miami, prepared for his mission by were in no way connected to Israel. For attack as “the beginning of blessed testing out airline security on Israel’s example, in April 2002, an al-Qa`ida- action to strike the Zionist enemy at the El Al airlines and scouted out potential affiliated suicide bomber detonated heart of its existence.”24 targets for attack in Egypt and Israel. a truck bomb in front of a historic After his scouting trip, Reid reported synagogue on the Tunisian island of Conclusion back to an associate in Afghanistan Djerba. The attack, tied to Khalid Shaykh In the near-term, Israeli experts assess with a variety of suggestions on how Muhammad, killed 21 people, including that while al-Qa`ida has not shifted and where to conduct attacks in Israel, 16 Europeans.20 In November 2003, al- its operational focus to target Israel, including specific information on Qa`ida-affiliated terrorists bombed two the threat of Salafi-jihadi attacks from Israeli buildings, Ben Gurion airport, synagogues in Istanbul.21 One reason al- both local groups in Gaza and al-Qa`ida the Wailing Wall plaza, and suggested affiliates remains serious. As in the that 18 U.S.A. v. Richard Colvin Reid, “Government’s State- Danish cartoon crisis, al-Qa`ida could ment Of Relevant Facts Provided At Defendant’s October easily take advantage of local events to the reception area of the Tel 4, 2002 Rule 11 Hearing (Not An Exact Transcription),” inspire local groups or regional affiliates Aviv train station would be a October 3, 2002; Alan Cullison and Andrew Higgins, to prioritize attacks against Israel. For particularly good bombing target, “Account of Spy Trip on Kabul PC Matches Travels of al-Qa`ida, an ideal outcome is an attack especially on a Saturday night, Richard Reid,” Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2002; because it could be entered without “KSM’s Trans-Atlantic Shoe Bomb Plot,” NEFA Foun- Chronology,” U.S. Department of State, undated. dation, September 2007. 22 Dexter Filkins, “Terror in Africa: Attacks in Mom- 16 Office of the Director of National Intelligence,- bio 19 “Verbatim Transcript of Combatant Status Review basa; Kenyans Hunting Clues to Bombing; Tolls Rises to graphical summary of Abu Zubayda, available online at Tribunal Hearing for ISN 10024,” U.S. Department of 13,” New York Times, November 30, 2002. http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/wdc/docu- Defense, March 2007. 23 Thom Shanker, “Terror in Africa: Security Concerns; ments/detainee_bios.pdf. 20 “France Tries Trio Over Djerba Synagogue Bomb- Ideal Terror Weapons: Portable, Deadly, Plentiful Mis- 17 “Treasury Designates Six Al-Qaida Terrorists,” U.S. ing,” Agence France-Presse, January 4, 2009. siles,” New York Times, November 29, 2002. Department of the Treasury, September 24, 2003. 21 “Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief 24 Blanchard, p. 14.

14 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 in which the group itself plays nothing Under stress, however, al-Qa`ida could more than an inspirational role. seek to bolster its image by focusing Understanding History’s not only its rhetoric but its operational Seven Stages of Jihad Israeli officials express concern over focus on Israel in an effort to take the rise in prominence and operational ownership of the emotive Palestinian By Sebastian L.v. Gorka capability of al-Qa`ida in the Islamic issue. Spurred on by al-Qa`ida’s Maghreb (AQIM) and its interest in continued rhetorical focus on Israel, the post-9/11 debate on the meaning targeting Israeli and Jewish targets regional affiliates could ultimately of “jihad” has often floundered at a in North Africa, Europe and possibly carry out successful attacks on Israeli superficial understanding of the term. Israel. AQIM today, one official targets. Local Salafi-jihadi groups in the Jihad is often simply referred to as either explained, “is al Qaeda’s long arm in Gaza Strip could catapult themselves to “striving” or “holy war.” Jihad, however, Europe” and is proactively seeking to center stage and demand the attention must be understood to consist of four carry out attacks, including operations of al-Qa`ida’s core leadership with varieties of human activity agreed upon against Jewish targets. Given its access just one successful attack inflicting by Islamic theologians and jurists. The to Muslim-European and Palestinian significant casualties or targeting a first is the jihad of the heart, the so-called operatives who could potentially enter major international figure. In the words “greater jihad” of fighting evil within Israel, and the plethora of Jewish and of one senior member of the Salafi-jihadi oneself. The second and third definitions Israeli targets in Europe where AQIM Jaljalat group operating in Gaza, “So far involve the jihads of the mind and tongue, maintains an active network, Israeli al-Qa`ida has not sponsored our work. the condoning of “right” behavior in analysts see AQIM as the al-Qa`ida We are waiting to carry out a big jihadi others and counseling those who have element most intent and capable of operation dedicated to Shaykh Usama gone astray. Finally, there is jihad of the targeting Israeli interests.25 bin Ladin. However, our course and sword. Jihad of the sword is most relevant doctrine are similar to those of al-Qa`ida. for the counterterrorism community Nevertheless, al-Qa`ida and its global If al-Qa`ida asks us to pledge allegiance today because it rests at the foundation of jihad have not yet come to Palestine to it, we are completely ready for it.”28 the global jihadist ideology. in any meaningful way. This is in part due to the hostile reception Hamas Dr. Matthew Levitt is a senior fellow at The The concept of jihad of the sword has has provided Palestinian Salafi-jihadi Washington Institute for Near East Policy, been repeatedly reinterpreted and fighters in Gaza. In August 2009, where he directs the Institute’s Stein Program redefined since the days of the Prophet for example, security forces from the on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Dr. Muhammad. During this extensive time Hamas-run government in Gaza— Levitt is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins period, jihad by the sword has been used together with militants from the group’s University/SAIS. From 2005 to early 2007, by protagonists to rally co-religionists Qassam Brigades terrorist wing—raided Dr. Levitt served as the Deputy Assistant in the pursuit of a political objective. a mosque affiliated with a Salafi-jihadi Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Al-Qa`ida and the broader Salafi-jihadi preacher and engaged in protracted gun U.S. Department of the Treasury and before movement have also reinterpreted this battles with his followers, all members that as an FBI counterterrorism intelligence concept to justify the direct targeting of of the group Jund Ansar Allah. The analyst. He is the author of several books and civilians in terrorist attacks. clashes, which left some 24 people dead monographs, including Hamas: Politics, and 130 wounded, followed a Friday Charity and Terrorism in the Service of To properly understand the historic sermon by their cleric, Shaykh `Abd Jihad (Yale University Press, 2006) and the significance of al-Qa`ida, it is relevant al-Latif Musa, condemning the de facto forthcoming Al Qaeda Inspired Groups to review the contextual evolution of the Hamas government and announcing the in Palestine: Determined but In Check concept of jihad and the great success establishment of an Islamic emirate in (Washington Institute, 2009). al-Qa`ida has had in redefining it for the Palestine. Al-Qa`ida in Iraq denounced current conflict. Since the days of the the Hamas attack on its website, calling Prophet Muhammad, jihad by the sword on Allah “to avenge the blood of the has been shaped by seven, historically- murdered men and to destroy the Hamas shaped political conceptualizations state.”26 The episode highlights both the of jihad, occurring in the following presence in Gaza of Salafi-jihadi groups order: empire building; the suppression inspired by but not formally affiliated of apostate subjects; the revolution with al-Qa`ida and the tensions between against “false” Muslim leaders; the anti- these groups and Hamas, a violent colonial struggle and “purification” Islamist but still Palestinian nationalist of the religion; countering Western group in power in Gaza.27 influence and jahiliyya;1 guerrilla warfare activity in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and among Israeli- against secular invaders; and finally the 25 Personal interviews, Israeli intelligence officials, Tel Arabs, see Yoram Cohen and Matthew Levitt, “Al Qaeda direct targeting of civilians in terrorist Aviv, Israel, September 2009. Inspired Groups in Palestine: Determined but In Check,” attacks. This article will identify each 26 “The Struggle Between Hamas and the Jihadi-Salafist The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, forth- contextual interpretation and the Networks in the Gaza Strip Affiliated with the Global coming Winter 2009. significance of jihad as terrorism. Jihad,” Intelligence and Terrorism Center, October 4, 28 Hasan Jabr, “‘Jaljalat’ is Waiting to Carry Out a Big 2009. Operation in Order to Dedicate it to Bin-Ladin,” al- 1 Jahiliyya refers to the age of polytheism and “unbelief” 27 For an in-depth analysis of Palestinian Salafi-jihadi Ayyam, July 11, 2009. that existed before the Prophet Muhammad.

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Seven Swords of Jihad had previously prohibited revolution interpretation of jihad was typified by Each of the contextualizations of jihad against Muslim rulers. Ibn Taymiyya’s the pronouncements of Muhammad of the sword has been dictated by the answer was to remove the prohibition; ibn `Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of desire to have jihad fill a real, specific he argued that jihad is permissible Wahhabi Islam. Its practical and military and political need for Muslims in a given against one’s own leaders if they do not consequences were amply demonstrated age and facing a specific threat. When live as true Muslims and if their rule during the decade-long resistance to the the Prophet Muhammad was building does not conform to the requirements of 1830 French invasion of Algeria led by a completely new state, he used the Shari`a. He said, `Abd al-Qadir and also by the Sudanese concept of jihad to justify the expansion resistance to the British led by the self- of Islam. Although the Qur’an does not And it is known by necessity from proclaimed mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad. use the term jihad to refer directly to the din (religion) of the Muslims, The second, non-military element of empire-building in the military sense, and the agreement of all the this redefinition of jihad—what author sura 25 verse 52 stipulates “obey not the Muslims, that whoever permits the Noor Mohammad has described as disbelievers, but strive against them following of a din other than Islam Islam’s internal “housecleaning”—was with the utmost endeavor.” Understood or following a Shari`a other than represented by Shah Waliullah’s call to the Shari`a of Muhammad then he spiritual revival and the purification of “The seventh political is a kafir (unbeliever), and it is like India’s Muslims under British control.5 the kufr (blasphemy) of one who definition of jihad, believes in part of the Book and This definition of jihad would lead therefore, is terrorism.” disbelieves in part of the Book.3 directly to the next interpretation, one that relies heavily on the principles Since the fusion of Mongol, Turkic and laid down hundreds of years prior by Tartar power was occurring at the same Ibn Taymiyya, including the doctrine in the context of Muhammad’s return time that Ibn Taymiyya was writing, he of takfir (excommunication). This fifth to Mecca from Medina, and the ensuing was specific about the threat to “pure” version of jihad was fathered and later conflict with the Meccans that is Islam and how Muslims must respond: developed by Abu al-A`la Mawdudi in reflected in the latter half of an earlier India (then later Pakistan) and Sayyid sura, it is clear that striving is in this Fighting the Tartars, those who Qutb in Egypt. This time the threat instance connected to military combat came to the land of Shaam is wajib was embodied by the post-WWII Arab post hijra,2 as Muhammad returns to (religious duty) according to the leaders of the Middle East and the Mecca and enforces his new writ. This Book and the Sunna, for indeed influence of Western “soft power,” constitutes the first offensive use of Allah said in the Qur’an: And which together equaled a new jahiliyya, the concept, referring to the conflict to fight them until fitna (schism/ or age of polytheism and ignorance. establish order among the Arab tribes blasphemous upheaval) is no more, Apostate leaders were to be resisted around Mecca, through the use of force and the din becomes all for Allah.4 once more (and removed if possible), if necessary. Islam purified and Shari`a re-imposed. Therefore, in the Middle Ages jihad When Muhammad’s successor, Abu became legitimate revolution based Holy War as an International Brand Bakr, faced recalcitrant tribes on the upon a new mechanism by which the With the invasion of Afghanistan by the Arabian Peninsula that were threatening people could denounce their leaders as Soviet Union in 1979, jihad would no the order Muhammad had previously un-Islamic. longer be limited to resistance against established, the second meaning of the cultural and political influence of jihad was born: ridda, or the war against The fourth political reconceptualization the secular West or un-Islamic Arab apostasy, against one’s own subjects. of jihad occurred four centuries later, rulers. Although it is true that within In the Western world, this would be starting in the early 1700s. As the Afghanistan, among the Afghans, the equivalent to a war against rebels. European powers pushed militarily and motivation to resist Soviet domination politically into North Africa, the Middle did not have to be couched in terms The third contextual definition of jihad East and the Indian subcontinent, the of theology but simply in terms of came centuries later after the eclipse threat to Islamic societies was two- survival and sovereignty, to the Arab of the Abbasid Caliphate’s strength, fold. Empires such as the British had mujahidin recruited by the Palestinian starting in the second half of the 13th to be physically resisted. At the same Abdullah Azzam, jihad was a crucial century. It is this reworking of the time, the West’s cultural influence concept, a brand Azzam assiduously meaning of holy war, most significantly upon the purity of the Islamic faith built in his travels around the world. by Ibn Taymiyya, that has the greatest was growing and had to be countered. Most importantly, Azzam built his consequence for today’s context. The During this period, jihad was defined jihadist brand in a way that negated motivation for this redefinition was as anti-colonial resistance. This new earlier requirements for holy war to be the need to provide Muslims with declared by a legitimate authority, as the right to revolt against their own 3 Ibn Taymiyya, “Rulings of Fighting the Mongols,” fa- he redefined military resistance as an leaders, specifically the Mongols. Islam tawa, 28/524. individual duty. In his introduction to 4 Ibid.; See also Ibn Taymiyya, Al-Shaykh al-Imam: Al- 2 The hijra refers to the migration of the Prophet Mu- Siyasah al-Shariyah fi Islah al Raiwa Rajyah (Cairo: Dar 5 Noor Mohammad, “The Doctrine of Jihad: An Intro- hammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. al-Shab, 1976). duction,” Journal of Law and Religion 3:2 (1985): p. 396.

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“Defense of Muslim Lands,” he plainly Wahhabi understanding of jihad would Mao Tse-tung and the stated that “…if a piece of Muslim land be suffused with the ideology of the st the size of a hand-span is infringed Egyptian Qutbists. What resulted was Search for 21 Century upon, then jihad becomes fard `ayn (a al-Qa`ida and a new indirect approach Counterinsurgency personal obligation) on every Muslim to violent jihad. Subsequently, the male and female, where the child shall meaning of jihad was expanded for a By Thomas A. Marks march forward without the permission seventh time since Muhammad built of its parents and the wife without the his empire in the seventh century. in any discussion of insurgency, permission of the husband.” Azzam The fight would be focused less on the works of Mao Tse-tung are invoked Ibn Taymiyya by name to justify irregular warfare in countries where unavoidable. His innovations resulted his version of self-declared jihad and Muslims were suffering and more on in “people’s war,” a formulation that then warned his audiences of the price the “far enemy,” which they identified lifted the asymmetric challenge from they would pay if they did not follow as supporters of tyrannical regimes the tactical and military to the strategic the path of military resistance. Quoting in the Muslim world. With the East and political. Mao was to irregular from the Qur’an, sura 9 verse 39: “If Africa embassy bombings, the USS Cole war what Napoleon and Clausewitz you march not forth, He will punish you attack and then finally the September 11 were to regular warfare. Yet today with a painful torment and will replace attacks on New York and Washington, his insights are altogether ignored by you with another people, and you cannot Bin Ladin successfully defined jihad as Western analysts, who continue to look harm Him at all, and Allah is able to do willful targeting of civilians by a non- elsewhere for guidance. all things.”6 By the late 1980s, Azzam’s state actor through unconventional rebranding of Muslim holy war in a means. The seventh political definition The writings of Mao, however, are new political and geostrategic context of jihad, therefore, is terrorism. essential to achieving and maintaining was so successful that even in the success in the insurgencies in Iraq West jihad would become synonymous Conclusion and Afghanistan. This article explains with guerrilla resistance to communist It is crucial for analysts and strategic how Western analysts misinterpret invasion and dictatorship. planners to fully understand this Mao’s writings, the importance mutation and evolution of the concept of understanding Mao’s approach Only after the eventual defeat of the of jihad over time. It is incorrect to to irregular challenges, and the Soviets, the end of the Cold War and see jihad solely as a religious concept implications Mao’s theories have on the outbreak of the first Gulf War referring to the striving of the individual today’s counterinsurgency campaigns. would the seventh and most important to be pure, because jihad of the sword redefining of jihad of the sword be is referenced in the hadith in multiple Failing to Understand Mao’s Thought born. With Azzam’s death in 1989, his instances. It is clear that the meaning If there is any one error that hobbles the organization of Arab guerrillas, the of violent jihad has been shaped during use of Mao, it is to focus strictly on the Mujahidin Services Bureau (MAK), was the centuries to fit the needs of those “military” aspects of his thought to the taken over by his deputy Usama bin espousing holy war and calling their neglect of his other theories. The only Ladin. Rejected by his own government co-religionists to the battlefield. Usama widely read Maoist work, On Guerrilla when he offered to protect Saudi Arabia bin Ladin’s great historical significance Warfare, was in fact a 1937 training from Iraq with his Arab fighters, Bin is that he managed to turn jihad from manual that was only a stepping stone Ladin would change the mission and referring to guerrilla resistance against to a much larger and more complex name of his organization. The “godless” military oppression of the 1980s to body of “people’s war” work. In his Russians had been defeated, the bipolar mean the killing of mass numbers of larger body of work, he stated the world order replaced by the hegemony civilians on the soil of non-Muslim lands. fundamental reality that all insurgency of a victorious United States, a country Understanding this contextual evolution is strategically political and directed that had been invited to bring its troops is critical in the effort to find strategies to operationally through multiple lines of and influence into the Arabian Peninsula weaken al-Qa`ida’s ideology. effort (only one of which was violence) to defend Saudi Arabia from Iraq. toward mobilizing a challenge to the Guerrilla warfare within Saudi Arabia Dr. Sebastian Gorka teaches irregular state (i.e., a counter-state) sufficient to against the apostate House of Saud and warfare and counterterrorism at the College dominate the correlation of forces. against U.S. targets was impractical, if of International Security Affairs of the not impossible. National Defense University, Washington Mao’s own framework was driven by D.C. He is an Associate Fellow of the Joint the circumstances of China as he found Several influential figures who had Special Operations University (USSOCOM) it. The need to transition from guerrilla followed the teachings of the original whose first degree was in Philosophy and to regular warfare was because he knew Muslim Brotherhood and its leader Theology. Most recently, he co-authored, with in his circumstances that lesser forms Hassan al-Banna, including Ayman al- David Kilcullen, “Who’s Winning the Battle of violence could never be decisive. Zawahiri, had, after the severe crackdown for Narrative: Al-Qaida versus the United When weak, insurgents wage the war against the Muslim Brotherhood in States and its Allies,” in Influence Warfare of the weak, using terror and guerrilla Egypt, joined the MAK. Bin Ladin’s (Praeger 2009). The views expressed do not warfare. The primary targets of violence necessarily reflect those of the Department of during this strategic defensive stage 6 This is otherwise known as part of the Sura at Taubah Defense or any other government agency. are local notables and representatives (Repentence). of the state, as well as police and those

17 october 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 10 who will rally the people against the that non-violent organizations build Second, Mao would argue that insurgency. As the insurgents grow up to violence (Phase I, in U.S. military circumstances in Afghanistan and Iraq stronger, the neutralization of the literature), then guerrilla warfare are different from those he faced because military becomes the objective, with follows (Phase II), then conventional there were no U.S. forces present in the goal to achieve strategic stalemate. warfare culminates the process (Phase China as the lynchpins of the conflict. Ultimately, the insurgents will go on III). To the contrary, as Mao made clear The case of Vietnam, however, is more the strategic offensive. time and again, violence is integral to relevant. In this conflict, Mao supported all phases of insurgency. It is merely the Vietnamese dual approach of using Strategic stalemate could only be used at a level appropriate to the military power to shatter the South achieved, Mao observed, through force- situation to eliminate resistance and Vietnamese by breaking the will of the on-force action conducted by “regular” government presence so that insurgent American interlopers. In this sense, units. He called this mobile/maneuver politics can produce mass and resource producing American casualties in warfare, which is also translated as mobilization. Mao’s critique of Che Vietnam, by whatever means, served “main force warfare.”1 Terror and Guevara’s foco approach was precisely to remove the critical element without guerrilla warfare were not so much that of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s apparent which the indigenous forces could not warfare as armed politics. Their use letter to Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi in survive. Iraq: over-emphasis of violence to the “Armed reform must be the neglect of political work. Violence, Mao In Iraq, “the surge” was the appropriate stated, was but a weapon used by armed response to the conflict and prevented counter to revolutionary politicians and insurgents. the insurgents from moving beyond warfare. Success is never IEDs and unfocused guerrilla action to Mobilization, however, depends anything more substantive. The several merely protection of upon local circumstances, with local occasions when the insurgents did mass the status quo, but the particulars often at variance with the in larger numbers resulted in their larger organizational positions. If decimation and exposed them further building of a new world the insurgent organization is able to because the U.S. surge allowed troops that is superior to the establish tight command and control to pursue them vigorously. (C2), it will dominate local activity. If vision advanced by the the opposite holds, with local concerns In contrast, in Afghanistan, the failure revolutionary challenger.” holding sway, the “insurgency” will to implement the same process creates remain a welter of largely uncoordinated a situation where even U.S. platoons local actions. are at risk, with the forces of NATO far more endangered. Taliban units as large opened up control of the population to Mao would be the first to point out two as 400 men have been identified in the counter-state and allowed it to engage caveats. First, C2 is a function of time some areas, with complementary local in the same mobilization of population and space. An insurgency in its early presence demonstrated in incidents of and resources as would the state itself. stages does not have the form it will terror and guerrilla action not unlike As this mobilization effort produced assume later. The U.S. mistake in Iraq, those of China or Vietnam. With the greater combat power, regularization as an easy illustration, was to hold up the growing resources available from the occurred. Insurgent units could then Viet Cong organization as a straw man, drug trade and other support, the prevent the government’s military from claiming that there were no lessons to be Afghan Taliban are regularizing at a reclaiming areas that had become part learned from Vietnam since that foe was rapid rate, which bodes ill for a status of the counter-state. Having forced a hierarchical, while the Iraqi insurgents quo response to the situation. stalemate, the insurgents could then were not. This ignored the reality that complete their regularization and take all insurgencies look like Iraq early Mao’s Approach to Irregular Challenges the offensive. on, and that there is a constant drive To defeat insurgents, it is necessary by dominant players to establish tight to look at Mao’s approach to irregular This process is misrepresented in U.S. C2 over dispersed, uncoordinated, and challenges. Mao highlights that violence military publications (to include the even rival elements. is critical to insurgencies. Yet it was not recently released JP 3-24 Counterinsurgency the most important element. The most Operations). These publications suggest The Afghan Taliban movement also important element was “the cause,” fits this mold. It is still comprised of or the politics of the insurgent effort. 1 Mao repeated constantly in all his work that guerrilla numerous local motivations and forces, Violence allowed “the cause” to advance, units could not be decisive and had to “regularize” to but the dominant players seek unity. and it did so on five complementary and become copies of regular government units (i.e., battal- The present lack of unity creates the intertwined lines of effort: violence ions, regiments, armies). Simultaneously, however, he possibility of splitting the movement with politics, winning allies outside emphasized that the transition was a delicate balancing and is an important fact at this point the movement, using non-violence act driven by the need of guerrilla warfare to mobilize in time, but Mao would correctly note to make violence more effective, and the people even while neutralizing government regular that it is inevitable that greater C2 unity international efforts. forces. The terms “main forces” and “regular forces” ul- will be achieved (unless peculiar local timately came to be used as synonyms as the Vietnamese circumstances dictate otherwise). favored the first term.

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These lines of effort are the “answers” What was particularly dazzling was U.S. leadership never understood the to five questions a counterinsurgent Mao’s use of multiple frameworks relationship between the non-violence must ask of any irregular challenge: in his conceptualization process. He line of effort and the other lines of effort. had no trouble, as noted above, using This should not be a surprise because 1. What is the political content of the standard military terminology and operational art itself entered U.S. usage movement? concepts for violence. Battles along a only relatively recently through the 2. Who are its domestic allies? line of operation became a campaign, study of the Soviet Union. 3. How is it using violence? and a series of campaigns executed a 4. How is it using non-violence? military strategy. Simultaneously, he Implications 5. What is it doing internationally? used appropriate political vocabulary It is principally “others” who have and ideas to discuss struggles merging grasped the implications of Mao’s In representing his “answers” to into campaigns, unfolding as efforts insights and their meaning for these questions, Mao used a synthesis directed in time and space (i.e., lines of counterinsurgency. Peru and Colombia of terminology and concepts drawn are two clear cases. In fact, most from individuals such as Jomini and “To the contrary, as Mao insurgencies are unsuccessful, and Clausewitz (whom he had read in they fail precisely because they fail to translation) and key Marxist-Leninists made clear time and again, advance simultaneously along the five (especially Lenin and Trotsky). Of violence is integral to all lines of effort outlined by Mao. FARC, greatest value was his use of lines of for instance, adopted people’s war as its effort and campaigns/battles.2 phases of insurgency. It warfighting doctrine yet consistently is merely used at a level overemphasized the violence line of Although U.S. manuals utilize decision- effort. It became a large foco in search points as the constituent elements on appropriate to the situation of a mass base, thus a perfect target for lines of operation/effort, Mao would use to eliminate resistance and a multifaceted, whole-of-government the Marxist-Leninist term “struggles.” response by the state. A series of struggles (i.e., battles) thus government presence so comprises a “campaign,” as it would in that insurgent politics can The FARC case illustrates that, whether conventional usage. Lines of effort, in Maoist or not, insurgencies must pursue turn, are comprised of these campaigns, produce mass and resource the Maoist strategic essentials as realized which move through time and space. mobilization.” in operational art. Although each state that has achieved victory has done so Mao saw the political line of effort in a particular manner, appropriate to comprised of two struggles (campaigns): its national circumstances (especially popular and resource mobilization. effort). The non-violence line of effort, culture), ample evidence exists to Furthermore, any struggle, he wrote, which was called “political warfare,” demonstrate that the assessment that would have numerous smaller struggles was perhaps the most complex because led to correct adaptation followed the (sub-campaigns in Western literature). its struggles could be conceptualized analytical outline already discussed. In perhaps his greatest insight, he in a variety of different ways. What Analysis of insurgent strategy and observed that these unfolded not only Mao found most useful, however, operational art led to detailed plans on the ground (tangible space) but in was to use the target audiences as the intended to neutralize the identified the mind (intangible space). Every objects of struggles. This decoupled elements. act had to be considered for both its these campaigns from their delivery immediate effects (e.g., assassinating a systems. “Information warfare,” to This is where the value of Mao’s analysis recalcitrant village elder) and its follow- use a particularly apt example, was lies today. It is all but a truism to observe on effects (e.g., the fear generated from not a campaign, only a means to that each insurgency is different. the assassination). Such assessment influence a target audience, which Nevertheless, Mao has provided an was carried out at all levels of planning simultaneously was being influenced approach which, when turned inside (tactical, operational, and strategic) by other means (e.g., subversion, which out, allows insight into any insurgent and was implemented perhaps to its was included within political warfare).4 project (and any irregular challenge). pinnacle by the Vietnamese.3 Beyond all else, counterinsurgency must 4 Also used to translate the Chinese “political warfare” be built upon political mobilization 2 To be clear, this reading of Mao is the author’s, as dis- is the term “allegiance warfare,” which is that used by enabled by security. The more that the cussed in his various works on the subject, especially his Monte Bullard in his excellent The Soldier and the Citizen: irregular challenge veers toward pure most recent book, Maoist People’s War in Post-Vietnam The Role of the Military in Taiwan’s Development (Armonk, terrorism and divorces itself from a Asia (Bangkok: White Lotus, 2007). The subject of just NY: ME Sharpe, 1997). His earlier work on the institu- mass base, the more relevant traditional what and who Mao consulted remains a neglected topic tionalization of political warfare in China may be found “hearts and minds” activity will become of research. It is not altogether clear, for instance, that he in Monte Bullard, China’s Political-Military Evolution: The (“wells, roads, and shots”). The closer actually wrote On Guerrilla Warfare, as opposed to put- Party and the Military in the PRC, 1960-1984 (Boulder, CO: the challenge is to implementing fully ting his name on a staff product. Westview, 1985). Concerning the Chinese “PolWar” sys- Mao’s five lines of effort, the more good 3 The best discussions remain those of Douglas Pike, Viet tem, see Edward C. O’Dowd, Chinese Military Strategy in governance rooted in legitimacy must Cong (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1966) and Doug- the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War (New York: be the state’s response. las Pike, PAVN (Novato, CA: Da Capo Press, 1986). Routledge, 2007).

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The reality that the strategic quest for the political opposition supported the Recent Highlights in legitimacy is the heart of the matter is state’s effort, and an array of nonviolent often said, but little understood. It was efforts complemented violence. Abroad, Terrorist Activity the conundrum faced by the United Colombian representatives spoke States in Vietnam, where a contest of with one voice when it came to the September 1, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): Vietnamese nationalisms, communist legitimacy of the democratic order. Philippine authorities announced the and noncommunist, saw advantage go to It was a Colombian people’s war arrest of a suspected terrorist accused the former due to the latter being fatally that overwhelmed the increasingly of kidnapping at least four Americans wounded by corruption and inefficiency. externally sustained, dwindling forces and dozens of Filipinos. Hajer Sailani, The United States tried unsuccessfully of FARC. Tactical shifts, such as greater an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf for a decade (1955-65) to support nation- emphasis upon special operations, could Group, was arrested at some point last building, then intervened directly with then follow. week in Cotabato City. – BBC, September 1; regular forces (1965-73) in an effort to New York Times, September 1 change the correlation of forces. In These are the lessons for counterinsurgent contrast, the Taiwan advisory mission forces today, whether dealing with global September 2, 2009 (AUSTRALIA): An of only dozens sought to reinforce “will” insurgency or its individual theaters. Australian court sentenced Shane Kent by emphasizing activities that comprised Bin Ladin and his al-Qa`ida project are to five years in prison for being part of campaigns on the non-violence line of neo-Guevarist, but in localities it is often a terrorist cell and making a jihadist effort. It sought to emphasize “why we people’s war that dominates “terrorist” propaganda video. Kent participated in fight” programs and actions to build strategy and operational art. As a result, jihadist military training at the al-Faruq legitimacy that would allow enhanced it is a balanced, multifaceted response, camp in Afghanistan in August 2001. national mobilization. appropriate to the local level, however Due to time already served, however, defined, that will produce victory. Kent will be eligible for parole in nine Not surprisingly, “why we fight” Armed reform must be the counter to months. – Herald Sun, September 2 remains the heart of the challenges revolutionary warfare. Success is never the United States faces around the merely protection of the status quo, September 2, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): globe. It is significant that the most but the building of a new world that is Afghanistan’s second-ranking intelligence salient illustration of an answer— superior to the vision advanced by the official was killed by a suicide bomber transparent and effective governance revolutionary challenger. Mao would in Laghman Province. Abdullah by a democratic, market economy be the first to admit that the devil is in Laghmani, the deputy director of the state—has been provided by Colombia, a the details, but he would conclude that National Directorate for Security, was country in which the United States has tactics are meaningless in the absence killed along with at least 15 others. The been intimately involved since World of sound strategy and operational art Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for War II. Bogota grasped the heart of the driven by an accurate and penetrating the attack. – New York Times, September 2 matter and built success. That success analysis of the conflict. first came from a sound assessment of September 2, 2009 (PAKISTAN): the flawed adoption of the people’s war Dr. Thomas A. Marks is a political risk Gunmen shot and wounded Hamid approach by FARC within a rapidly consultant based in Honolulu and the author Saeed Kazmi, Pakistan’s religious changing global context; second, of several benchmark works on Maoist affairs minister. The attack occurred in through mobilizing the inherent insurgency, including Maoist People’s Islamabad. – Reuters, September 2 strengths of a democratic order. The War in Post-Vietnam Asia (Bangkok, strategy of “Democratic Security” used 2007) and Counterrevolution in China: September 4, 2009 (THAILAND): A lines of effort that neutralized FARC’s Wang Sheng and the Kuomintang bomb in a truck exploded in southern own strategy and operational art even (London, 1998). Thailand’s Yala Province, killing a as popular mobilization swamped the policeman and wounding 10 villagers. insurgents. – Reuters, September 4

Asked at one point what “counterinsurgency September 5, 2009 (PAKISTAN): philosophy” he was following, Pakistani security forces reportedly Colombian President Alvaro Uribe killed at least 43 Islamist militants noted that he was only engaging in in Khyber Agency of the Federally politics, determining the needs of the Administered Tribal Areas. The people and then rallying them behind operation targeted militants part of programs that addressed those needs. Lashkar-i-Islam and their headquarters Since the system had legitimacy, the in Khyber’s Tirrah valley. – AFP, people were willing to support it in its September 5 effort to neutralize the counter-state, which in turn was built upon winning September 7, 2009 (UNITED KINGDOM): the myriad local wars. In that final A jury in the United Kingdom declared effort, the central weapon was the three men guilty of plotting to blow up approximately 600 platoons of the Home transatlantic planes in an al-Qa`ida Guard, or “Peasant Soldiers.” Even terrorist plot. The men, Abdulla Ahmed

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Ali, Tanvir Hussain and Assad Sarwar, The explosion killed at least two Afghan September 13, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A were part of the so-called “liquid civilians. – AFP, September 9 roadside bomb killed three Pakistani explosives” plot in August 2006. The soldiers in Khyber Agency of the three men could be sentenced to life in September 10, 2009 (IRAQ): A suicide Federally Administered Tribal Areas. prison. Four other defendants, however, bomber detonated a truck filled with – Voice of America, September 13 were acquitted of the same charges. explosives in the Kurdish village of – Los Angeles Times, September 8 Wardak in northern Iraq, killing at least September 13, 2009 (THAILAND): A 19 civilians. A second suicide bomber, group of militants attacked an army September 7, 2009 (IRAQ): A suicide also in a truck filled with explosives, ranger base in Yala Province, killing bomber detonated an explosives-laden tried to detonate a second blast in the five Thai soldiers. – Reuters, September 13 vehicle at a checkpoint just outside same village, but Kurdish peshmerga Ramadi, Anbar Province. The attack forces killed him before he reached September 14, 2009 (UNITED STATES): killed nine people. – Reuters, September 7 the inside of the town. The village of Agents from the Federal Bureau of Wardak lies 18 miles east of Mosul. Investigation and police officers from September 7, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A – Reuters, September 9 the terrorism task force raided three suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone apartments in New York City that had killed five suspected militants near Mir September 10, 2009 (PAKISTAN): been visited by a possible al-Qa`ida Ali in North Waziristan Agency of the Muslim Khan, the spokesman for Tehrik- operative. The possible operative had Federally Administered Tribal Areas. i-Taliban Pakistan’s Swat faction, was returned to the United States from Local officials said that four of the dead apprehended by authorities. Four other Afghanistan recently. The suspect was were ethnic Arab militants. Early press senior Tehrik-i-Taliban leaders were later identified as Najibullah Zazi, who reports stated that Algerian national also captured. – Dawn, September 12 is 24-years-old. – Toronto Star, September 15; and al-Qa`ida member Mustafa al- USA Today, September 16 Jaziri, in addition to Pakistani guerrilla September 11, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): commander Ilyas Kashmiri, may have A roadside bomb killed 14 civilians in September 14, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A been killed in the attack. – BBC, September Uruzgan Province’s Chora district. suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone 8; UPI, September 8; New York Times, September – AFP, September 11 killed four alleged militants near Mir 18 Ali in North Waziristan Agency of the September 11, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Federally Administered Tribal Areas. September 8, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban fighters attacked a police post One of the dead was later identified A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden in Kunduz Province and killed seven as Najmiddin Kamolitdinovic Jalolov vehicle blew up outside the entrance to policemen. – AFP, September 11 (also known as Abu Yahya Muhammad Kabul’s international airport. Three Fatih), a senior Uzbek militant linked Afghan civilians were killed. The September 12, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): to al-Qa`ida. Jalolov was the founder of Afghan Taliban claimed credit for the Taliban fighters and Afghan and the Islamic Jihad Union. – BBC, September attack and said that it targeted a foreign international forces clashed in 14; Reuters, September 17 military convoy. – BBC, September 8; Voice of western Farah Province, leaving seven America, September 8 Afghan and two U.S. soldiers dead. September 14, 2009 (SOMALIA): U.S. Approximately 40-50 Taliban militants commandos launched a raid in southern September 8, 2009 (PAKISTAN): were killed. – AFP, September 13 Somalia and killed wanted al-Qa`ida Pakistani Taliban militants killed four militant Salah Ali Salah Nabhan. schoolchildren in Atmankhel town September 12, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A Nabhan was wanted for playing a of Orakzai Agency in the Federally suicide bomber detonated his explosives leading role in an al-Qa`ida attack on Administered Tribal Areas. Officials at the gate of a police station in Hangu an Israeli hotel in Mombasa, Kenya in stated that the attack was sectarian District of the North-West Frontier 2002; he may have also been involved in and the children were targeted because Province. The attack injured a police al-Qa`ida’s U.S. Embassy bombings in they were Shi`a. Atmankhel tribesmen official and two civilians. – Dawn, Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. According reportedly retaliated for the attack on the September 13 to the New York Times, “American military schoolchildren and killed two militants. forces have been hunting [Nabhan] for – Christian Science Monitor, September 8 September 12, 2009 (RUSSIA): A suicide years, and...villagers near the town of bomber detonated his explosives after Baraawe said four military helicopters September 8, 2009 (PAKISTAN): being confronted by police in Grozny. suddenly materialized over the horizon Gunmen on the outskirts of Quetta The bomber was killed, and three police and shot at two trucks rumbling set fire to eight trucks carrying fuel officers were injured. – Focus News Agency, through the desert.” The trucks were supplies to NATO forces in neighboring September 12 carrying al-Shabab fighters, in addition Afghanistan. Quetta is the capital of to Nabhan and other foreign fighters. Baluchistan Province. – AFP, September 8 September 13, 2009 (GLOBAL): A new The New York Times report further stated audio message purportedly from al- that “the helicopters landed, and the September 9, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A Qa`ida leader Usama bin Ladin was commandos inspected the wreckage and suicide bomber detonated his explosives posted on jihadist websites. – Voice of carried away the bodies of Mr. Nabhan outside Camp Bastion, a major British America, September 14; The Australian, September and other fighters for identification.” base in southern Helmand Province. 14 – New York Times, September 14

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September 15, 2009 (UNITED STATES): Qa`ida linked Jemaah Islamiya terrorist September 19, 2009 (UNITED STATES): A federal court in New York sentenced group and the most wanted militant in U.S. authorities arrested Najibullah Zazi Oussama Abdullah Kassir to life in Indonesia. The killing was seen as a on charges of making false statements prison for trying to establish an al- major success for Indonesia, as Noordin to federal agents after investigators Qa`ida training camp in the United was involved in multiple terrorist allegedly discovered bomb-making States and operating websites that attacks in the country, including instructions on his laptop. His father, contained information on how to make the August 2003 JW Marriott hotel Mohammed Wali Zazi, was also arrested, bombs. – Reuters, September 15 bombing in Jakarta and possibly the along with Ahmad Wais Afzali, an July 17, 2009 twin suicide bombings Afghan immigrant in New York. Both September 15, 2009 (UNITED STATES): at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Najibullah Zazi and his father were U.S. Director of National Intelligence hotels in Jakarta. DNA tests confirmed arrested in Colorado. The men are Dennis Blair said that the United States the identity of Noordin’s body. – Reuters, suspected of being part of an al-Qa`ida is targeting al-Qa`ida more aggressively September 17; Bloomberg, September 18 sleeper cell that was planning a major because the U.S. government has finally terrorist attack in the United States. – The built up years of information on the September 17, 2009 (SOMALIA): Al- Times, September 21 group. – AFP, September 15 Shabab suicide bombers launched a major attack on the headquarters of September 20, 2009 (GERMANY): Al- September 15, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Sher the African Union peacekeeping force Qa`ida spokesman Abu Talha (also Mohammad Qasab, a feared Pakistani in Mogadishu. The al-Shabab fighters known as Bekkay Harrach) appeared in a Taliban leader known for beheading disguised two vehicles with United new online video threatening Germany. opponents, was apprehended by Nations markings and followed a Unlike his video on September 18 in authorities after an army operation. legitimate UN convoy directly into the which he wore a suit and tie, in the Qasab reportedly sustained injuries headquarters. The al-Shabab suicide latest video Abu Talha wore a mask. during the operation. – BBC, September 16 bombers detonated their explosives – Reuters, September 20 and killed 17 peacekeepers, including September 15, 2009 (SOMALIA): A the AU force’s second-in-command September 20, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Sher spokesman for al-Shabab said that the from Burundi, Major-General Juvenal Mohammad Qasab, a feared Pakistani group would attack Western targets Niyonguruza. Other senior leaders Taliban leader who was apprehended in retaliation for the September 14 were injured. It is believed that one of on September 15, died in government death of al-Qa`ida operative Salah the bombers may have been a Somali- custody, presumably from injuries Ali Salah Nabhan, who was killed in a American from Seattle, Washington. An sustained during his arrest. – Dawn, U.S. military raid in southern Somalia. al-Shabab spokesman later said that the September 20 – Guardian, September 15 attack was revenge for the September 14 death of al-Qa`ida operative Salah September 20, 2009 (SOMALIA): The September 16, 2009 (RUSSIA): A Ali Salah Nabhan, who was killed by Somali insurgent group al-Shabab female suicide bomber detonated her U.S. special forces in southern Somalia. released a new 48-minute video in explosives next to a police car in Grozny, – Telegraph, September 17; AFP, September 17; which its leader, Abu Zubayr, pledged the capital of Russia’s southern region CNN, September 24 loyalty to Usama bin Ladin. In the video, of Chechnya. Six people were wounded crowds of al-Shabab fighters chanted “at in the blast. The bomber was described September 18, 2009 (GERMANY): Al- your service, Usama,” and Abu Zubayr as a “young woman” by an eyewitness. Qa`ida spokesman Abu Talha (also said, “we await your [Usama bin Ladin] – Reuters, September 16 known as Bekkay Harrach) appeared guidance in this advanced stage of jihad.” in a new video warning Germans that In addition to appearing on the web, al- September 17, 2009 (UNITED STATES): there would be a “bad awakening” in Shabab fighters reportedly distributed A U.S. judge ordered the Barack Obama Germany if they did not vote to change the video in several neighborhoods in administration to release a Kuwaiti their government in the September 27 Mogadishu. It was the first time that detainee held at Guantanamo Bay. The national elections. Abu Talha spoke in the group officially pledged loyalty to detainee, Fouad al-Rabiah, has been in German on the video, and told Muslims al-Qa`ida. – Voice of America, September 22; detention for seven years on charges to avoid vital services in Germany for AFP, September 22; CBS News, September 22 of conspiracy and providing material two weeks following the elections. He support to al-Qa`ida and the Taliban. also wore a suit and tie and was clean September 20, 2009 (SOMALIA): A – Reuters, September 17 shaven. – Bloomberg, September 18 leading Islamist leader in Somalia, Shaykh Hassan Dahir Aweys, called September 17, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): September 18, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A upon “the people” to “carry out more A suicide bomber driving an explosives- suicide bomber driving an explosives- attacks against African [Union] forces; laden vehicle killed six Italian soldiers laden vehicle killed 33 people after they came to Somalia to assist our in Kabul. At least 10 civilians were also striking a hotel and market on the enemy, kill them…in any way possible killed in the blast. – BBC, September 17 outskirts of Kohat, in the North-West and use suicide attacks to kill them.” Frontier Province. – Reuters, September 18; Aweys is part of the Hisbul Islamiyya September 17, 2009 (INDONESIA): AP, September 18 militant opposition group in Somalia. Indonesian police killed Noordin – AFP, September 20 Mohamed Top, a top leader in the al-

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September 20, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): this week they controlled the port in September 24, 2009 (GERMANY): Al- Philippine Marines seized the Abu an uneasy alliance…Residents say both Qa`ida released a third video threatening Sayyaf Group’s (ASG) main camp in the sides are rushing in reinforcements in Germany before its upcoming September jungles of Sulu Province in the southern anticipation of battle, and on Thursday 27 parliamentary elections. The latest Philippines. During the fighting, eight [September 24] a senior Hizbul Islam video called on Muslims in Germany to soldiers and at least 22 ASG terrorists leader said that they would not recognise take part in jihad. – AP, September 25 were killed. The military launched the the new authority.” – Reuters, September 24 operation with the hopes of capturing September 24, 2009 (IRAQ): Sixteen al- or killing three senior ASG leaders who September 24, 2009 (UNITED STATES): Qa`ida in Iraq (AQI) operatives escaped were believed to be in the camp; the Najibullah Zazi, who was arrested on from a prison in Tikrit, Salah al-Din three leaders, however, were not killed September 19 on charges of making Province. Five of the escaped men were or captured in the fighting. – Philippine false statements to federal agents, was awaiting execution. According to one Star, September 22; Bloomberg, September 22 indicted in New York on a charge of Iraqi official, “We suspect that they conspiring to detonate bombs against had accomplices inside [the prison] September 21, 2009 (PAKISTAN): targets in the United States. According because there was such a high number Pakistan’s military arrested Nasim to USA Today, the indictment stated that of fugitives.” One of the escapees was Shah (also known as Abu Faraj), who “Zazi received explosives training from recaptured on the same day. Five of the was identified as a close associate of the al-Qaeda and bought large quantities escaped men, including the “ringleader,” Swat Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah. of hydrogen peroxide and nail-polish were recaptured the following day on Shah is allegedly an expert at making remover at beauty supply stores to make September 25. – AFP, September 24; AFP, suicide vests and training suicide bombs.” – USA Today, September 25 September 25 bombers. – Voice of America, September 21 September 24, 2009 (UNITED STATES): September 24, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A September 22, 2009 (GLOBAL): Al- The Federal Bureau of Investigation suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone Qa`ida second-in-command Ayman al- arrested Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, a killed 10 militants in North Waziristan Zawahiri released a new video statement 19-year-old Jordanian accused of trying Agency of the Federally Administered apparently marking the anniversary of to blow up an office tower in downtown Tribal Areas. – AFP, September 29 the September 11, 2001 attacks in the Dallas, Texas. According to the Dallas United States. In the video, al-Zawahiri Morning News, “Authorities said the September 25, 2009 (GLOBAL): Usama said, “Obama has resorted to the policies Jordanian, who claimed to be a supporter bin Ladin purportedly released a new of his predecessors in lying and selling of al-Qaeda, parked an SUV packed audio statement calling on European illusions.” In his concluding remarks, with what he thought were explosives countries to withdraw their troops from he said, “America has got involved outside Fountain Place, a 60-story office Afghanistan, stating that “an intelligent in many wars and lost them…But this tower at Ross Avenue and Field Street.” man does not waste his money and sons one isn’t like others. You have become He is charged with trying to detonate a for a gang of criminals in Washington.” embroiled with the Islamic nation and weapon of mass destruction. The case The statement had German and English its mujahidin, and the nation has begun was not connected to a similar case in subtitles. – BBC, September 25 to wake up.” – Reuters, September 22; Reuters, Illinois involving Michael C. Finton. September 23 – Dallas Morning News, September 26 September 25, 2009 (AUSTRALIA): An Australian court sentenced Belal September 22, 2009 (SOUTH AFRICA): September 24, 2009 (UNITED STATES): Khazaal to nine years in jail for The U.S. government temporarily closed The Federal Bureau of Investigation producing a training manual on how its embassy, three consulates and other arrested Michael C. Finton on charges of to conduct jihad, which included aid offices in South Africa. U.S. officials attempted murder of federal employees information on how to make bombs, “refused to disclose any details about and attempted use of a weapon of mass conduct assassinations and shoot down the threat that prompted” the closures, destruction. Finton, who converted to airliners. He was arrested in June 2004. according to Voice of America. A South Islam while in an Illinois prison from – AFP, September 24 African newspaper, however, said that 2001-2006, drove a van he thought the closures were prompted after an al- was loaded with explosives to the Paul September 26, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A Qa`ida-linked group telephoned a threat Findley Federal Building in Springfield, suicide bomber drove an explosives- to the U.S. Embassy on September 21. Illinois. According to the New York laden truck into a police station in – Voice of America, September 24 Times, Finton then allegedly “locked Bannu District of the North-West the vehicle, then moved a few blocks Frontier Province, killing 10 people. September 23, 2009 (SOMALIA): Al- away before twice making cellphone Other reports said that two vehicles Shabab named its own governing calls he believed would trigger a blast may have been involved. The Pakistani council to run the strategic port city that would kill or injure people inside Taliban claimed responsibility for the of Kismayo. According to Reuters, the building.” The operation involved attack. – Reuters, September 26; AP, September however, the move angered the militant undercover FBI agents posing as low- 26 opposition group Hisbul Islamiyya: level al-Qa`ida operatives. The case was “Both groups want to control Kismayo, not connected to a similar case in Texas September 26, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A which is a lucrative source of taxes and involving Hosam Maher Husein Smadi. suicide bomber in an explosives-laden other income for their fighters, and until – New York Times, September 27 vehicle killed 10 people in Peshawar,

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the capital of the North-West Frontier security forces. The clash occurred CTC Sentinel Staff Province. The bomber first threw a hand in North Waziristan Agency of the grenade toward a crowd of people, and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Editor-in-Chief then detonated the approximately 100 – BBC, October 1 Erich Marquardt kilograms of explosives in the vehicle. Senior Editor, CTC – Reuters, September 26 September 28, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A suicide bomber killed an anti-Taliban Editorial Board September 27, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): tribal elder in the Bakakhel area of COL Michael J. Meese, Ph.D. Afghanistan’s energy and water Bannu District in the North-West Department Head minister, Mohammad Ismail Khan, Frontier Province. The elder, Gul Department of Social Sciences (West Point) escaped injury after Afghan Taliban Hakim, was killed along with three tried to kill him in a roadside bombing. others. – BBC, September 28 COL Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. The attack, which occurred in Herat Deputy Department Head Province, killed at least three people. September 29, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Department of Social Sciences (West Point) – Reuters, September 27 A bus filled with civilians traveling from Herat to Kandahar hit a roadside LTC Reid Sawyer September 27, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A bomb, killing at least 30 people on the Director, CTC suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone bus. Ten children and seven women may have killed Tahir Yuldashev, were among the dead. – BBC, September 29 Christopher Heffelfinger the leader of the Islamic Movement FBI Fellow, CTC of Uzbekistan. The attack occurred September 29, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A in South Waziristan Agency of the suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone Federally Administered Tribal Areas. killed five suspected Taliban militants – Reuters, October 2; The Times, October 2 in South Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Contact September 28, 2009 (GLOBAL): Al- – AFP, September 29 Combating Terrorism Center Qa`ida second-in-command Ayman U.S. Military Academy al-Zawahiri released a new audio September 29, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A 607 Cullum Road, Lincoln Hall statement eulogizing slain Pakistani suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone West Point, NY 10996 Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who fired missiles at militants associated Phone: (845) 667-6383 was killed in August by a suspected with the Haqqani network in North Email: [email protected] U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle. Al- Waziristan Agency of the Federally Web: www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/ Zawahiri also criticized U.S. President Administered Tribal Areas. Seven Barack Obama on the audio recording, Afghan Taliban may have been killed in * For Press Inquiries: (845) 667-6383 stating: “Have we realized the truth of the attack. – AFP, September 29 Obama the criminal, or do we still need more crimes to be carried out in Kabul, September 29, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): Baghdad, Mogadishu and Gaza to be Two U.S. Navy personnel and one sure of his criminality?” – AP, September Philippine soldier were killed by a 28; AFP, September 28 landmine in Sulu Province in the support southern Philippines. They were the The Combating Terrorism Center would September 28, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): first deaths since 2002 among U.S. like to express its gratitude to its financial Taliban militants ambushed a convoy forces deployed to the Philippines. supporters, for without their support and of trucks in Kunar Province, killing six – GMANews.tv, September 29; Reuters, September shared vision of the Center products like drivers and burning their vehicles. A 29 the CTC Sentinel could not be produced. If seventh truck driver was kidnapped. you are interested in learning more about The trucks were carrying construction September 29, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): how to support the Combating Terrorism materials and were headed to a military Suspected Abu Sayyaf Group militants Center, please visit http://www.ctc.usma. base. – AP, September 28 detonated explosives to damage a bridge edu/support/ or call Wayne Richardson at used by Philippine Army tanks in Sulu West Point’s Association of Graduates at September 28, 2009 (IRAQ): A suicide Province in the southern Philippines. 845-446-1553. bomber drove a truck packed with – AP, September 30 explosives into an Iraqi police outpost in Ramadi in Anbar Province, killing at September 30, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A least seven people. The truck exploded suspected U.S. unmanned aerial drone near the front gate of the post. – AP, killed approximately six people near September 28 Mir Ali in North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal The views expressed in this report are those of September 28, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Areas. – BBC, September 30 the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, Kalimullah Mehsud, the brother of new the Department of the Army, or any other agency Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah of the U.S. Government. Mehsud, was killed by Pakistan’s

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