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Using the Mistakes of Al Qaeda's Franchises to Undermine Its Strategies
Brian Fishman
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Vol. 618, Terrorism: What the Next President Will Face (Jul., 2008), pp. 46-54
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40375774
Page Count: 9
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Abstract
Since the invasion of Iraq, al Qaeda has used "franchises" to expand its global reach. Al Qaeda offered these franchises very little, except its name, reputation, and ideology. Because of al Qaedas minimal investment, destroying the franchise groups will accomplish very little against the mother organization. Instead, the United States should use al Qaedas franchises as a vehicle to attack al Qaedas name, reputation, and ideas. Al Qaedas franchises are more prone to strategic mistakes than their namesake; those errors should be used as the cornerstone of a narrative to highlight al Qaeda s ideological failings. Al Qaeda in Iraq has been particularly mistake-prone. Three mistakes in particular offer opportunities to undermine al Qaeda s ideology: attacks against Muslim civilians, the declaration of the Islamic State of Iraq, and infighting with other Iraqi insurgent groups.
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The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science © 2008 American Academy of Political and Social Science
