The Secret History of al QaedaOver the last ten years, journalist and al-Qa'ida expert Abdel Bari Atwan has cultivated uniquely well-placed sources and amassed a wealth of information about al-Qa'ida's origins, masterminds and plans for the future. Atwan reveals how al-Qa'ida's radical departure from the classic terrorist/guerrilla blueprint has enabled it to outpace less adaptable efforts to neutralize it. The fanaticism of its fighters, and their willingness to kill and be killed, are matched by the leadership's opportunistic recruitment strategies and sophisticated understanding of psychology, media, and new technology - including the use of the internet for training, support, and communications. Atwan shows that far from committing acts of violence randomly and indiscriminately, al-Qa'ida attacks targets according to a decisive design underwritten by unwavering patience. He also argues that events in Iraq and Saudi Arabia are watershed moments in the group's evolution that are making it more dangerous by the day, as it refines and appropriates the concept of jihad and makes the suicide bomber a permanent feature of a global holy war. While Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri remain al-Qa'ida's figureheads, Atwan identifies a new kind of leader made possible by its horizontal chain of command, epitomized by the brutal Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi in Iraq and the bombers of London, Madrid, Amman, Bali, and elsewhere. Scholarly, analytical, objective, it is also intensely readable, being by far the best book on the subject.' -- Tony Benn 'This is a must-read book for anyone interested in understanding our increasingly scary world.' -- Gavin Esler 'What shines out ... is a profound desire to investigate and reveal the truth. Intelligent and informative.' -- Jason Burke, Guardian 'Deeply researched, well reported and full of interesting and surprising analyses. It demands to be read.' -- Peter Bergen, author of Holy War, Inc |
Contents
Holy Warrior | |
Human Bombs and the Concept of Martyrdom | |
CyberJihad | |
Al Qaeda in Iraq | |
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb | |
The Future of al Qaeda | |
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Common terms and phrases
11 September Abdul Abdullah Abu Hafs Abu Qatada Afghan Arabs Afghanistan al Qaeda Al Saud al-Faqih al-Zarqawi Algerian Allah American Ansar al-Islam April AQIM Arabian Peninsula armed army assassination Azzam battle believe bombings caliphate cells countries death Droukdal emir enemy established Europe European fatwa fight fighters global GSPC ideology insurgency intelligence services Internet invasion of Iraq Iran Iraqi Islamic Jihad Islamist Islamist groups Israeli jihadi groups jihadi websites killed kingdom Laden and al-Zawahiri leader living London Madrid martyr martyrdom military million mosque Muhammad mujahedin Mullah Omar Muslim world National organization Osama bin Laden Pakistan Palestine Palestinian political Qaeda leadership Qur’an radical recruitment region religious Riyadh Saddam Saud Saudi Arabia Saudi government security forces shari‘ah Sheikh Shi‘i soldiers Soviet strategy Sudan suicide attacks suicide bombers suicide missions Sunni Taliban target terrorism terrorist Tora Bora training camps troops umma Wahhabism Western Yemen