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Understanding Al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Infrastructure

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Understanding Al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Infrastructure Syracuse University SURFACE Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects Projects Spring 5-1-2006 Understanding al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Infrastructure Sarah Dickens Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone Part of the Eastern European Studies Commons, and the Other International and Area Studies Commons Recommended Citation Dickens, Sarah, "Understanding al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Infrastructure" (2006). Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 653. https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/653 This Honors Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Understanding al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Infrastructure Sarah Dickens Candidate for B.A. Degree in International Relations with Honors May 2006 APPROVED Thesis Project Advisor: Professor Michael Barkun Second Reader: Professor Guitty Khorsand-Tabatabai Date: April 19, 2006 i PREFACE Intellectual discovery is much like a tapestry. Weaving the threads of research, analysis, introspection, and critical thinking, discovery leads to new questions while seeking answers. The process of researching and composing Understanding al-Qaeda: History, Ideology, and Infrastructure has been a meaningful journey, fusing my academic experiences in the fields of International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies. This project began as an inquiry on changes in US counter-terrorism procedure since the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001. However, it was not long before I realized that, like many areas of study, counter-terrorism is one which requires a foundation if it is to be analyzed insightfully. From this moment, the goal of my work evolved; my focus shifted to cultivating an understanding of the formation, ideology, and organizational strategies of a particularly menacing terror threat: the al-Qaeda network. There were many reasons for selecting al-Qaeda as the specificity for this work. Clearly, a study of al-Qaeda provides the most relevant information for understanding September 11 th , the event that motivated me to explore terrorism issues in greater depth. At the same time, al-Qaeda begs further research because of its unique character. As a global terror network with a transnational membership, al-Qaeda poses a threat not only to the United States, but also to its allies in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Indeed, understanding the nature of al-Qaeda will play a key role in developing international counter-terrorism policy in future years. As an exploration of al-Qaeda’s growth and evolution, this thesis represents an underpinning for future research. By thoroughly tracing elements of ii al-Qaeda’s history and its development of radical discourses, the work concentrates on issues that current research on al-Qaeda, often eager to focus on the 9/11 attacks, may overlook. Broadly speaking, the goal of my project has been to attain a clearer understanding of al-Qaeda’s philosophies and objectives and to examine how the terrorist network has developed in order to accomplish its aims. Though the project’s specificity is al-Qaeda, it also retains a broader scope, allowing the reader to understand how this particular terror group is integrated in the larger realm of Islamic extremism. Opening chapters emphasize links between key Islamic terrorists, such as those responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The thesis also offers perspective on how the training of mujahideen , holy warriors, during the Soviet-Afghan War later served as a backdrop for the development of a terrorist network based on the premise of global jihad. This historical analysis is enhanced by a study of al-Qaeda’s ideology, which critically examines Osama bin Laden’s public statements against the discourses of the leading Islamic fundamentalist thinkers that preceded him, including Sheikh ibn Taymiyyah, Hasan al-Banna, and Sayyid Qutb. The final chapters on al-Qaeda’s infrastructure, in particular recruitment, training, and structural issues, provide readers with a sense of al-Qaeda’s global reach, not only in its missions but also in its ability to exploit globalization and technology for its lethal purposes. iii One of the most rewarding aspects of my project has been researching al- Qaeda from a variety of perspectives and voices. Understanding al-Qaeda: History, Ideology, and Infrastructure offers a blend of information from former FBI and CIA officials (Paul William’s Al-Qaeda: Brotherhood of Terror , Marc Sageman’s Understanding Terror Networks ), government sources (information released by the Justice Department, as well as the 9/11 Commission Report ), and media perspectives (Peter Bergen’s Holy War, Inc , Jane Corbin’s al-Qaeda: In Search of the Terror Network that Threatens the World ). Over the course of two years, I have analyzed the work of key Western scholars (Steven Coll, John Parachini, Roland Jacquard), as well as the writings of Israeli researchers (Emmanuel Sivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, and leading voices from the Institute for Counter-Terrorism), and the texts of Islamic fundamentalists themselves (bin Laden, Qutb, al-Zawahiri, and others). The experience of researching and drafting this thesis will be invaluable in my future endeavors to conduct in-depth studies on terrorism issues, Middle Eastern affairs, and in particular, the operational strategies of al-Qaeda. In closing, I would like to urge future honors students to pursue their research with vigor and enthusiasm. Tackling a thesis project reminds us of the importance of discovery, of the necessity of looking beyond the surface in order to contemplate the underlying meanings of complex situations. So that this process flows smoothly, it is important that the researcher be highly motivated to investigate his or her topic. Intellectual discovery is not a process that can be rushed; time is required for research to be conducted and for the project to evolve. The most iv important element in composing a thesis, however, is commitment. The honors student that pursues a thesis with dedication, diligence, and attentiveness is the one that is the most satisfied with his or her discoveries. The opportunity to develop a thesis has been a privilege and a challenge. An intellectual mission unifying my principal areas of study, this honors thesis represents perhaps the most significant accomplishment of my academic career. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many individuals to whom I owe gratitude for supporting my academic achievement and the momentous accomplishment of researching and composing an honors thesis. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to interact with professors whose intellect inspire me to explore my research wholeheartedly. I am indebted to Professor Michael Barkun for sharing his insight, time, and resources with me. His willingness to advise me over a two-year period testifies to his commitment to scholarly activity. I am also grateful to visiting scholar Professor Guitty Khorsand-Tabatabai. Her courses on Islamic radicalism and Muslim Diaspora populations have intensified my interests in Middle Eastern affairs and have allowed me to cultivate the background information necessary to tackle this thesis. As my Second Reader, she has helped me shape my work into a polished finished product. I would like to extend my thanks to Florence Di Gennaro, Matt Powers, and Stephen Terzolo for their friendship and continued support. They have never failed to provide me with encouragement and hopefulness during the most challenging periods of my academic career. Finally, I am profoundly indebted to my family—my parents Hannah and Harvey Dickens and my sister Michelle—for their love and guidance. My family has been my most important foundation, supporting my endeavors and instilling in me the importance of creating dreams and working hard to achieve them. 1 I. THE NEW YORK JIHAD “Oh you Muslims everywhere, sever the ties of their nation, tear them apart ruin their economy, instigate against their corporations, destroy their embassies, attack their interests, sink their ships, and shoot down their airplanes. Kill them in land, at sea, and in the air, kill them wherever you find them.” –Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman (In Their Own Words) In the early afternoon of February 26, 1993, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center climbed 107 stories into the heavens, standing prominently among the skyscrapers of Manhattan’s horizon. In minutes, this proud emblem of American financial prowess would be transformed into an early battlefield of a global holy war against the United States and its allies. At about 12:18pm, a yellow Ford Econoline van truck packed with four canisters of explosive material detonated, unleashing a ferocious blast in the B-2 level of the World Trade Center’s underground parking lot (McCarthy). The explosion, set off by a mixture of fuel oil, fertilizer, and nitroglycerine attached to a timing device, sent ravaging flames across the garage and a rainstorm of shrapnel traveling at thousands of feet per second (Miller, Stone, and Mitchell 95). In the aftermath of the colossal blast, the once World Trade Center parking area was but a gaping hole seven stories high filled with billowing black smoke (9/11 Commission 71). Six people trapped in the garage at the time of the blast died instantly; 1,042 others were wounded (9/11 Commission 71). Alongside fire trucks and NYPD cars, broadcast journalist John Miller rushed to the financial district. “I jumped out of the car across from the North Tower. People, choking, coughing, were streaming out into the snow. When I got across the street, I heard glass breaking. People in the towers were trying to let the smoke out. The shards fell around me on the street like daggers” (Miller, Stone, and Mitchell 98). The explosion’s effects created a dizzying nightmare for survivors trying to evacuate the Towers, many unaware of the cause of such sudden pandemonium.
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