Radicalization and the Social Space: the Case of Jordan
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Mcallister Bradley J 201105 P
REVOLUTIONARY NETWORKS? AN ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN IN TERRORIST GROUPS by Bradley J. McAllister (Under the Direction of Sherry Lowrance) ABSTRACT This dissertation is simultaneously an exercise in theory testing and theory generation. Firstly, it is an empirical test of the means-oriented netwar theory, which asserts that distributed networks represent superior organizational designs for violent activists than do classic hierarchies. Secondly, this piece uses the ends-oriented theory of revolutionary terror to generate an alternative means-oriented theory of terrorist organization, which emphasizes the need of terrorist groups to centralize their operations. By focusing on the ends of terrorism, this study is able to generate a series of metrics of organizational performance against which the competing theories of organizational design can be measured. The findings show that terrorist groups that decentralize their operations continually lose ground, not only to government counter-terror and counter-insurgent campaigns, but also to rival organizations that are better able to take advantage of their respective operational environments. However, evidence also suggests that groups facing decline due to decentralization can offset their inability to perform complex tasks by emphasizing the material benefits of radical activism. INDEX WORDS: Terrorism, Organized Crime, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Insurgency, Networks, Netwar, Revolution, al-Qaeda in Iraq, Mahdi Army, Abu Sayyaf, Iraq, Philippines REVOLUTIONARY NETWORK0S? AN ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN IN TERRORIST GROUPS by BRADLEY J MCALLISTER B.A., Southwestern University, 1999 M.A., The University of Leeds, United Kingdom, 2003 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSPHY ATHENS, GA 2011 2011 Bradley J. -
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Or Simply the Islamic State, Has Carried out Deadly Terrorist Attacks
BACKGROUND REPORT Patterns of Islamic State-Related Terrorism, 2002--2015 For more than a decade, the organization now known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or simply the Islamic State, has carried out deadly terrorist attacks. Beginning as a small network led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the first terrorist attack attributed to this group was the assassination of American diplomat Laurence Foley in Amman, Jordan in October 2002. Since then, the group initially known as Tawhid and Jihad (Jama’at al-Tawhid w’al-Jihad (the Party of Monotheism and Jihad)) has undergone a complex evolution, including name changes, leadership changes, and shifts in allegiance to other Salafi-jihadist organizations, most notably al-Qaida. In addition, the reach of ISIL’s violence surpasses its own membership, to include attacks carried out by other groups and individuals who have pledged allegiance to ISIL regardless of whether or not formal ties exist. This complexity makes it difficult to comprehensively and systematically place into context the violence of one of the most active and deadly terrorist organizations in recent history. For the purpose of this report, we have classified the terrorist attacks in the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) into four ISIL-related perpetrator categories: ISIL Predecessor: attacks by organizations that were part of the ISIL lineage prior to adoption of the ISIL name in 2013 ISIL: attacks by operatives of the “core” of the organization, based in and primarily active in Iraq and Syria ISIL Affiliate: attacks by organizations that have declared allegiance to ISIL1 ISIL-Inspired: attacks by individuals who have indicated that they were motivated by allegiance to ISIL ISIL-Related: any of the above This report presents data that illustrate the dynamics of ISIL-related terrorism over time and place, from 2002 to 2015. -
The Literature on Jihadism in Jordan Henrik Gråtrud
When Insularity Becomes a Problem: the Literature on Jihadism in Jordan Henrik Gråtrud Address: Norwegian Defence Research Establishment/FFI Postboks 25, 2027 Kjeller, Norway Email: [email protected] Henrik Gråtrud is a research fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and a doctoral candidate at the University of Oslo. Acknowledgment: I would like to thank my colleagues at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and the University of Oslo, the editor, as well as the anonymous reviewers for excellent input and advice. 1 Dette er en postprint-versjon/This is a postprint version. Publisert versjon/Publised version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2020.1723282 When Insularity Becomes a Problem: the Literature on Jihadism in Jordan ABSTRACT This article offers a review of the literature on Jordanian jihadism. While excellent work has been done, particularly on the phenomenon’s history and ideologues such as Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, several topics remain unexplored. The main explanation for the literature’s shortcomings is that it has been too inward-looking. I argue that this insularity has led to three problems: first, the literature sometimes recycles observations already made; second, it fails to show how Jordan presents specificities in terms of jihadism; and third and most importantly, it misses insights from the literature on political violence about radicalization and terrorist attack activity. As a result, it fails to address key questions about Jordanian jihadism, such as why, when, and how terrorist attacks happen. Keywords: jihadism; terrorism; Jordan; review; radicalization Introduction After the outbreak of war in Syria, Jordan witnessed an unprecedented jihadist mobilization in the early 2010s. -
Routledge Handbook of U.S. Counterterrorism and Irregular
‘A unique, exceptional volume of compelling, thoughtful, and informative essays on the subjects of irregular warfare, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism – endeavors that will, unfortunately, continue to be unavoidable and necessary, even as the U.S. and our allies and partners shift our focus to Asia and the Pacific in an era of renewed great power rivalries. The co-editors – the late Michael Sheehan, a brilliant comrade in uniform and beyond, Liam Collins, one of America’s most talented and accomplished special operators and scholars on these subjects, and Erich Marquardt, the founding editor of the CTC Sentinel – have done a masterful job of assembling the works of the best and brightest on these subjects – subjects that will continue to demand our attention, resources, and commitment.’ General (ret.) David Petraeus, former Commander of the Surge in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan and former Director of the CIA ‘Terrorism will continue to be a featured security challenge for the foreseeable future. We need to be careful about losing the intellectual and practical expertise hard-won over the last twenty years. This handbook, the brainchild of my late friend and longtime counter-terrorism expert Michael Sheehan, is an extraordinary resource for future policymakers and CT practitioners who will grapple with the evolving terrorism threat.’ General (ret.) Joseph Votel, former commander of US Special Operations Command and US Central Command ‘This volume will be essential reading for a new generation of practitioners and scholars. Providing vibrant first-hand accounts from experts in counterterrorism and irregular warfare, from 9/11 until the present, this book presents a blueprint of recent efforts and impending challenges. -
Al Qaeda’S Command- And-Control Structure
Testimony of Steven Emerson Before the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence April 9, 2008 Steven Emerson Executive Director Investigative Project on Terrorism www.investigativeproject.org email:[email protected] Introduction: The 2001 invasion of Afghanistan was successful in obliterating much of al Qaeda’s command- and-control structure. Due to a robust and successful counter-terrorist policy made up of good intelligence gathered by the FBI, asset forfeitures and designations by the Department of the Treasury, and other good work by the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies within the intelligence community, the U,S. has fortunately not been hit with another attack since 9-11. Moreover, in the six and a half years since the those horrible, al Qaeda’s direct orchestration of acts of terrorism on the operational level has been somewhat constrained. This is not to say that al Qaeda has not been involved in terrorist attacks and plots since 2001 (training and guidance provided by al Qaeda in the 2005 London transit bombings and foiled 2006 Heathrow plot prove otherwise), but the group’s leaders have relied largely on the power of self- anointed franchises and recognized the power of spreading its message and ideology via the Internet. Extremist Muslims throughout the world have responded to this message and have sought to execute a number of attacks. While most have been stopped, some have been successful, killing hundreds and injuring thousands more, resulting in propaganda coups for al Qaeda and its leadership. Parallel to franchising the al Qaeda ideology, the group has successfully regenerated its operational capabilities in the sanctuary of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan. -
Extremism and Terrorism
Jordan: Extremism and Terrorism In February 2020, Jordanian authorities arrested five Jordanian citizens who allegedly sought to carry out suicide attacks against Israeli targets in the West Bank. On June 3, 2020, the suspects were tried at the state security court, a military tribunal that normally deals with terrorism-related cases. According to the charge sheet, one of the suspects had visited the Gaza Strip in 2007 where he was trained in making explosives. He later returned to Jordan in 2010 and recruited the four other suspects to plot attacks “with bombs against buses and trains and with explosive vests against other Israeli targets.” Tel Aviv and Amman have been embroiled in political tension as Israel revealed its plans to annex the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley, which has instigated extremist activity against Israeli targets. (Sources: Middle East Monitor, Al Arabiya, Associated Press) On July 23, 2017, a construction worker stabbed a security guard at the Israeli embassy with a screwdriver. The guard shot and killed the attacker and another Jordanian worker. The attack coincides with Jordanian protests against Israeli security measures on at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. (Sources: Jordan Times, Times of Israel) On December 18, 2016, four gunmen carried out a series of attacks in and around the Jordanian city of Karak. Police were responding to calls of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district when assailants began shooting at the officers from within the house. The gunmen fled to a Crusader-era castle in Karak, where they took several tourists hostage. -
Jordan: Extremism & Counter-Extremism
Jordan: Extremism & Counter-Extremism In February 2020, Jordanian authorities arrested five Jordanian citizens who allegedly sought to carry out suicide attacks against Israeli targets in the West Bank. On June 3, 2020, the suspects were tried at the state security court, a military tribunal that normally deals with terrorism-related cases. According to the charge sheet, one of the suspects had visited the Gaza Strip in 2007 where he was trained in making explosives. He later returned to Jordan in 2010 and recruited the four other suspects to plot attacks “with bombs against buses and trains and with explosive vests against other Israeli targets.” Tel Aviv and Amman have been embroiled in political tension as Israel revealed its plans to annex the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley, which has instigated extremist activity against Israeli targets. (Sources: Middle East Monitor [1], Al Arabiya [2], Associated Press [3]) On July 23, 2017, a construction worker stabbed a security guard at the Israeli embassy with a screwdriver. The guard shot and killed the attacker and another Jordanian worker. The attack coincides with Jordanian protests against Israeli security measures on at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. (Sources: Jordan Times [4], Times of Israel [5]) On December 18, 2016, four gunmen carried out a series of attacks in and around the Jordanian city of Karak. Police were responding to calls of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district when assailants began shooting at the officers from within the house. The gunmen fled to a Crusader-era castle in Karak, where they took several tourists hostage. -
Jordan Country Report: Children & Security
Jordan Country Report: Children & Security The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative Updated as of 31 January 2017 www.childsoldiers.org [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Map of Jordan ............................................................................................................................... 3 Impact of Conflict on Children .................................................................................................... 4 II. Security Situation ......................................................................................................................... 5 1. Context ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2. State, Non-State, and International Actors ............................................................................. 6 a) Government Forces ................................................................................................................. 6 b) Other Armed Groups (Non-State Actors) ............................................................................... 7 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) .................................................................................. 7 Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Affiliated Groups .................................................................... 8 c) Regional Actors and International -
Iraq's Evolving Insurgency and the Risk of Civil
Center for Strategic and International Studies Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy 1800 K Street, N.W. • Suite 400 • Washington, DC 20006 Phone: 1 (202) 775-3270 • Fax: 1 (202) 457-8746 Web: http://www.csis.org/burke Iraq’s Evolving Insurgency and the Risk of Civil War Anthony H. Cordesman Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy [email protected] With the Assistance of Eric M. Brewer & Sara Bjerg Moller Rough Working Draft for Outside Comment Revised: June 22, 2006 Copyright CSIS, all rights reserved. All further dissemination and reproduction must be done with the written permission of the CSIS Cordesman: Iraq’s Evolving Insurgency 6/22/06 Page ii Executive Summary Later Coalition reporting has shown that the insurgency managed to increase the average number of weekly attacks during the period from around 470 in mid-2005 to 620 in May 2006, and succeeded in triggering a steady increase in civil violence and sectarian and ethnic conflict. While Coalition casualties averaged under 20 per day from the spring of 2005 to the spring of 2006, even a partial count of Iraqi casualties rose from less than 60 per day during February 2005 to February 2006 to 78 per day during February though May 2006.1 The quarterly reports that the Department of Defense issued to Congress do not seem to count many low-level incidents and types of civil violence.2 They omit coverage of major problem areas like Arab-Kurdish ethnic violence in the Kirkuk area, and Shi'ite violence in the Basra area. They still, however, report serious increases in civil conflict and the fact that most Iraqis came to see Shi'ite and Kurdish militias as a growing threat to security by the spring of 2006.3 Even the Coalition's partial count of Iraqi civilian casualties showed an increase from 10% of its national total in January 2006 to 13% in March 2006, and from 10% to 18% in Baghdad. -
Lebanon – Lebanese Army – Fatah Al-Islam – State Protection – Nahr El-Bared – Tripoli Bus Bombing
Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: LBN34442 Country: Lebanon Date: 23 February 2009 Keywords: Lebanon – Lebanese Army – Fatah al-Islam – State protection – Nahr el-Bared – Tripoli bus bombing This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. How did the conflict between Fatah al Islam and the Lebanese army begin, prior to Nahr-El- Bared? 2. Since Fatah al Islam were defeated in that conflict, what evidence is there that they are still operating in Lebanon? 3. Is there any information about Fatah al Islam targeting members of the military who were involved in the Nahr-El-Bared conflict? 4. What evidence is there that Fatah al-Islam were responsible for a bomb blast on the bus in Tripoli, August 2008? Is there any detailed information on how many soldiers were killed in that incident and where exactly it took place? 5. Is there any update on information about how the authorities in Lebanon are able to protect those who are targeted by Fatah al Islam? RESPONSE 1. How did the conflict between Fatah al Islam and the Lebanese army begin, prior to Nahr-El-Bared? Question 2 of RRT Research Response LBN33576 provides a history of Fatah al-Islam, including events within the organisation leading up to the fighting in Nahr el-Bared. -
Terrorism and Global Security
GLOBAL ISSUES TERRORISM AND GLOBAL SECURITY Ann E. Robertson Foreword by James O Ellis III Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism 0i-viii_GI_Terrorism_fm.indd i 8/1/07 4:31:46 PM GLOBAL ISSUES: TERRORISM AND GLOBAL SECURITY Copyright © 2007 by Infobase Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 ISBN-10: 0-8160-6766-X ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6766-4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Robertson, Ann E. Terrorism and global security / Ann E. Robertson; foreword by James O Ellis III. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-6766-X (acid free paper) 1. Terrorism—United States. 2. Terrorism—Case studies 3. Terrorism— Psychology. 4. Terrorism. 5. Security, International. I. Title. HV6432.R59 2007 363.3250973—dc22 2006029477 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can fi nd Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfi le.com Text design by Erika K. Arroyo Cover design by Salvatore Luongo Diagrams by Jeremy Eagle Printed in the United States of America MP Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Th is book is printed on acid-free paper. -
Chapter 8 -- Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Chapter 8 FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS◊ Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Ansar al-Sunna (AS) Armed Islamic Group (GIA) Asbat al-Ansar Aum Shinrikyo (Aum) Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) Communist Party of Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) Gama’a al-Islamiyya (IG) HAMAS Harakat ul-Mujahedin (HUM) Hizballah Islamic Jihad Group (IJU) Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) Jemaah Islamiya Organization (JI) Al-Jihad (AJ) Kahane Chai (Kach) Kongra-Gel (KGK) Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LT) Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM) Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) National Liberation Army (ELN) Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) Al-Qaida (AQ) Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) Real IRA (RIRA) Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) ◊ FTO aliases cited are consistent with the Specially Designated Nationals list maintained by the Department of Treasury. The full list can be found at the following website: http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/sdnlist.txt . 183 Revolutionary Nuclei (RN) Revolutionary Organization 17 November Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) Shining Path (SL) United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) __________________________________ Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) a.k.a. Arab Revolutionary Brigades; Arab Revolutionary Council; Black September; Fatah Revolutionary Council; Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims Description The ANO international terrorist organization was founded by Sabri al-Banna (a.k.a.