Al-Qaeda Ontogeny of the prototypic RIF terrorist organization Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D. Department of Psychology University at Buffalo .

al-Qaedaal-Qaeda

Ontogeny of the prototypic Ontogeny of the prototypic RIF terrorist organizationRIF terrorist organization

Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.Department of Psychology

University at Buffalo

www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com

Copyright 2006 Michael A. BozartCopyright 2006 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.h, Ph.D.

• Designated name:Designated name:International Front for Jihad against the International Front for Jihad against the Jews and CrusadersJews and Crusaders

• Familiar name: al-Qaeda (“The Base”)Familiar name: al-Qaeda (“The Base”)


• Radical Islamic fundamentalist (RIF) Radical Islamic fundamentalist (RIF) terrorist organizations did not begin with terrorist organizations did not begin with and will not end with al-Qaedaand will not end with al-Qaeda• Evolved from earlier organizationsEvolved from earlier organizations• Morphed into ‘movement’Morphed into ‘movement’


EvolutionEvolution

• Muslim Brotherhood in EgyptMuslim Brotherhood in Egypt• Egyptian Islamic JihadEgyptian Islamic Jihad• Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin al-Arab Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin al-Arab

(MAK)(MAK)• International Front for Jihad against the International Front for Jihad against the

Jews and CrusadersJews and Crusaders——al-Qaedaal-Qaeda


Muslim Brotherhood in EgyptMuslim Brotherhood in Egypt

• Formed in 1928 by Hassan al Banna Formed in 1928 by Hassan al Banna (1906-1949)(1906-1949)

• Anti-colonial advocating expulsion of Anti-colonial advocating expulsion of British influences in EgyptBritish influences in Egypt

• Strong fundamentalist orientationStrong fundamentalist orientation• Generally nonviolent except for the Generally nonviolent except for the

“secret apparatus”“secret apparatus”


Egyptian Islamic JihadEgyptian Islamic Jihad

• Formed in the 1970s by militant faction of Formed in the 1970s by militant faction of the Muslim Brotherhoodthe Muslim Brotherhood

• Advocated terrorist tactics to achieve Advocated terrorist tactics to achieve goals including formation of Islamic stategoals including formation of Islamic state

• Spawned parallel organizations in other Spawned parallel organizations in other Muslim countriesMuslim countries

• Ayman al-Zawahiri assumed control in Ayman al-Zawahiri assumed control in the 1980sthe 1980s


Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt vs. Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt vs. Egyptian Islamic JihadEgyptian Islamic Jihad

• Muslim Brotherhood Muslim Brotherhood • Primary objectivePrimary objective: :

Muslim unity and expulsion Muslim unity and expulsion of foreign influences of foreign influences (considerable RIF (considerable RIF elements)elements)

• fundamentalism a fundamentalism a secondary objectivesecondary objective

• Generally nonviolent Generally nonviolent approach to changeapproach to change

• Egyptian Islamic JihadEgyptian Islamic Jihad• Primary objectivePrimary objective: :

expulsion of foreign expulsion of foreign influences and influences and establishment of an establishment of an Islamic state (RIF core)Islamic state (RIF core)

• fundamentalism a fundamentalism a primary objectiveprimary objective

• Generally violent Generally violent approach to changeapproach to change


Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin al-Arab (MAK)al-Arab (MAK)• Formed in the 1980s by Osama bin Formed in the 1980s by Osama bin

Laden and Laden and Abdullah al-Azzam to recruit to recruit and train foreign fighters to combat the and train foreign fighters to combat the Soviet invasion in AfghanistanSoviet invasion in Afghanistan• Encouraged and indirectly supported by Encouraged and indirectly supported by

the U.S. during the Cold Warthe U.S. during the Cold War• Had strong fundamentalists elements with Had strong fundamentalists elements with

a desire to influence the social-political a desire to influence the social-political system of post-war Afghanistansystem of post-war Afghanistan


MAK SplitMAK Split

• Conflicting agendas after Soviet Conflicting agendas after Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistanwithdrawal from Afghanistan• Protection of Muslim populations in Protection of Muslim populations in

troubled spots throughout the world troubled spots throughout the world ((Azzam objective)

• Overthrow of despotic Arab regimens, Overthrow of despotic Arab regimens, especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia (bin especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia (bin Laden objective)Laden objective)


MAK Merger with Egyptian MAK Merger with Egyptian Islamic Jihad LeadershipIslamic Jihad Leadership• Azzam was assassinated in 1989 leaving Azzam was assassinated in 1989 leaving

bin Laden in controlbin Laden in control• Zawahiri functionally merged Egyptian Zawahiri functionally merged Egyptian

Islamic Jihad with former MAK membersIslamic Jihad with former MAK members• Al-Qaeda emergesAl-Qaeda emerges

• bin Laden—financial aspectsbin Laden—financial aspects• Zawahiri—ideological and operational Zawahiri—ideological and operational

aspects aspects


Conflict with bin Laden EscalatesConflict with bin Laden Escalates

• Offers to raise a mujahidin army to defend Saudi Arabia from a Offers to raise a mujahidin army to defend Saudi Arabia from a potential invasion from Iraq in 1990potential invasion from Iraq in 1990

• Saudi Arabia declines his offer opting instead to accept the Saudi Arabia declines his offer opting instead to accept the assistance of the U.S. and allow American troops (including assistance of the U.S. and allow American troops (including women soldiers) in Saudi Arabiawomen soldiers) in Saudi Arabia

• Moves to Sudan by invitation of the Sudanese government in Moves to Sudan by invitation of the Sudanese government in 19911991

• Supports several small to medium attacks against Western Supports several small to medium attacks against Western interestsinterests

• Moves to Afghanistan in 1996 by invitation of the TalibanMoves to Afghanistan in 1996 by invitation of the Taliban• Cruise missiles fired at al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan to Cruise missiles fired at al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan to

kill bin Laden in 1998kill bin Laden in 1998


International Front for Jihad International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusadersagainst the Jews and Crusaders

““The ruling to kill the Americans and their The ruling to kill the Americans and their alliesallies──civilians and militarycivilians and military──is an is an individual duty for every Muslim who can individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible do it in any country in which it is possible to do it.to do it. ””

Fatwa issued by Osama bin Laden Fatwa issued by Osama bin Laden & Ayman al-Zawahiri on 23 February 1998& Ayman al-Zawahiri on 23 February 1998


September 11, 2001September 11, 2001


The Iraq ConnectionThe Iraq Connection

• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is believed to have formed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is believed to have formed Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in Afghanistan during Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in Afghanistan during the 1980sthe 1980s• May have received some funds from al-Qaeda but operated May have received some funds from al-Qaeda but operated

independentlyindependently• Original objective was to overthrow the Jordanian Original objective was to overthrow the Jordanian

government and establish an Islamic stategovernment and establish an Islamic state

• Expanded urban guerilla warfare in Iraq to include Expanded urban guerilla warfare in Iraq to include terrorist tactics also targeting Iraqisterrorist tactics also targeting Iraqis

• Officially merged with al-Qaeda 21 October 2004 Officially merged with al-Qaeda 21 October 2004 (finally providing an al-Qaeda connection to Iraq)(finally providing an al-Qaeda connection to Iraq)


New Role for al-QaedaNew Role for al-Qaeda

• Various RIF factions aggressively compete Various RIF factions aggressively compete with each other for control, only uniting with each other for control, only uniting provisionally to fight the common enemiesprovisionally to fight the common enemies

• Al-Qaeda evolved into the symbolic focus of a Al-Qaeda evolved into the symbolic focus of a ‘united’ RIF terrorist movement‘united’ RIF terrorist movement

• As demonstrated by Zarqawi, Sadr, and As demonstrated by Zarqawi, Sadr, and others, the leadership of al-Qaeda is not others, the leadership of al-Qaeda is not essential for continued RIF terrorist activitiesessential for continued RIF terrorist activities


Essam al-Eryan and Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Office in Cairo urged an immediate release in a statement posted 18 January 2006.

“We ... appeal to the kidnappers of the American journalist Jill Carroll to release her as lives of innocent civilians – Iraqi or foreign – should be well guarded,” they wrote. “Jill ... and her colleagues have come to Iraq to report the events to the world, reminding everyone of the hardships faced by the Iraqi people under occupation. Once more, we call upon our brothers in the Iraqi resistance not to target media workers. This contradicts the principles of our religion and doesn't help the cause of liberating the country.”

Source: csmonitor.com (March 2006)

Parent Movement Less Militant Parent Movement Less Militant Than Offspring?Than Offspring?


Jill Carroll ReleasedJill Carroll Released


Timeline of the Evolution of the Timeline of the Evolution of the Modern International Terrorist Threat Modern International Terrorist Threat

• 1979:1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent occupation. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent occupation.• 1984:1984: Radical preacher Abdullah Azzam set up an organisation Radical preacher Abdullah Azzam set up an organisation

called Maktab al-Khidmat (MAK) “Bureau of Services” to called Maktab al-Khidmat (MAK) “Bureau of Services” to disseminate propaganda about jihad in Afghanistan. Usama bin disseminate propaganda about jihad in Afghanistan. Usama bin Laden (UbL) joins.Laden (UbL) joins.

• 1989: Withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan. UbL returns to Saudi Arabia. Decision by MAK to continue to support further jihadist causes. Thinking around “the base” or “foundation” (translation: Al Qaida) for further operations articulated.

Timeline adapted from the British Home Office Report on the 07 July 2005 London Bombings, printed by order of the House of Commons, 11 May 2006.


• 1988-89: UbL disagreement over focus of the cause and starts to form Al Qaida. November 1989, Azzam assassinated.

• Early 1990s: Violence in a number of regions worldwide, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Chechnya, Bosnia, Tajikistan, East Africa, Yemen and Philippines. Groups that would later be a significant international terrorist threat formed eg Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines. Extremist support networks created in the UK and Europe.

• Aug 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. Saudi Government agrees to allow US troops to be stationed in the Kingdom for 1st Gulf War. UbL fiercely opposed.

• 1991: UbL leaves for Sudan. Al Qaida (AQ) changes from being predominantly paramilitary organisation into a terrorist group, focussing on the US.


• 1992: AQ publishes a fatwa calling for jihad against western “occupation” of Islamic lands.

• 1990s: Radical young men from the UK go to support jihad overseas eg Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, left for Pakistan/Afghanistan in 1997.

• 1992: Somalia: two IED (improvised explosive device) attacks against hotels where US troops were staying. January 1993, “Black Hawk down” incident.

• 1993: First World Trade Centre attack.• 1994: Taliban established.• 1995: Start of 4-month GIA (Armed Islamic Group) campaign in

France.• Mid-1996: Relocation of AQ leadership and many other

extremists to Afghanistan.


• Jun 1996: Truck bomb at housing complex in Saudi Arabia.• Aug 1996: UbL publishes fatwa “Declaration of War against the

Americans occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places [Saudi Arabia]”.

• Nov 1997: Islamic gunmen attack tourists in Luxor, Egypt.• Feb 1998: UbL’s second fatwa calling for jihad “to kill the

Americans and their allies – civilian and military”.• Aug 1998: US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya damaged in

AQ truck bomb attacks. Many dead and injured.• Dec 1998: Yemen: kidnapping of 16 tourists, including 12

Britons.• Aug 1999: Russia: start of 2-month series of bombings.


• Dec 1999: Indian airlines flight hijacked.• Oct 2000: suicide bombers directed by AQ attacked USS Cole

in Aden, Yemen.• Nov 2000: 2 British citizens of Bangladeshi origin arrested in

Birmingham, UK on suspicion of preparing a large quantity of home made explosives.

• Jan 2001 India: The Red Fort in New Delhi attacked by Kashmiri militants.

• Sept 2001: AQ operatives crashed hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon.

• Late 2001- Early 2002: Coalition action expelled the Taliban, AQ and other extremist groups from main Afghanistan, dismantling training camps etc. Freezing of assets and targeting of support networks.


• Oct 2001: Kashmir, India assembly attacked by militants.• Dec 2001: militants attacked Indian Parliament in New Delhi.• Dec 2001: disrupted plans to attack US, Australian and British

Missions in Singapore.• Dec 2001: Richard Reid’s attempted “shoe bomb” attack on US

airliner.• Jan 2002: Kidnapping and execution of US journalist Daniel

Pearl in Pakistan.• Apr 2002: attack on Western tourists at synagogue in Tunisia.• May 2002: attack against a bus transporting French Naval

engineers in Karachi, Pakistan.• Jun 2002: attack against the US Consulate in Karachi,

Pakistan.• Jun 2002: : disrupted attacks on Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco.


• Oct 2002: : water-borne attack on MV Limburg in Yemen.• Oct 2002: attack on nightclub in Bali, Indonesia.• Oct 2002: Chechen terrorists occupy Moscow theatre, taking

hundreds hostage.• Nov 2002: attack on hotel and Israeli charter aircraft in

Mombasa, Kenya.• 2002-2003: Ricin plot (UK).• Feb 2003: Coalition action and removal of Saddam Hussain in

Iraq.• May 2003: attack on residential compounds and US/Saudi

office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.• May 2003: attacks on various (including Jewish) targets in

Casablanca, Morocco.


• Aug 2003: simultaneous bomb blasts in Mumbai, India.• Aug 2003: attack on Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.• Nov 2003: attack on residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi

Arabia.• Nov 2003: multiple attacks on Jewish and British targets in

Istanbul, Turkey.• Dec 2003: two assassination attempts on President Musharraf

in Pakistan.• Feb 2004: bomb on Superferry 14 in Manila, Philippines.• Mar 2004: multiple attacks on Madrid, Spain train network.


• Apr 2004: Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) suicide attack in Saudi Arabia.

• May 2004: multiple attacks in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.• May- Sept 2004: assassination of Westerners in Saudi Arabia.• Aug - Sept 2004: Chechen terrorists down 2 passenger aircraft

in Russia, mount suicide bombing on the Moscow metro and take over 1,000 hostage at a school in North Ossetia.

• Sept 2004: attack on Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.


• Oct 2004: attack on Israeli tourists at a hotel and campsites in Egypt.

• Dec 2004: Further AQ attacks in Saudi Arabia.• Feb 2005: simultaneous Valentine’s Day bombings in the

Philippines.• Mar 2005: suicide car bomb against Western theatre in Qatar.• April 2005: IED detonated in Cairo, Egypt bazaar, suicide

attacks against tourists.• July 2005: bombings in London, UK.

52 commuters killed along with 4 suicide bombers, 700 others injured

Al-Qaeda Ontogeny of the prototypic RIF terrorist organization Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D. Department of Psychology University at Buffalo .

Documents

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evolution muslim brotherhood

muslim brotherhoodformed

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muslim countries ayman