If you need an accessible version of this item please contact JSTOR User Support

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
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40375774
Page Count: 9
  • Download PDF
  • Citation Tools

You are not currently logged in.

Access your personal account or get JSTOR access through your library or other institution:

login

Log in to your personal account or through your institution.

If you need an accessible version of this item please contact JSTOR User Support
Using the Mistakes of Al Qaeda's Franchises to Undermine Its Strategies

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.

Page Thumbnails

  • Thumbnail: Page 
46
    46
  • Thumbnail: Page 
47
    47
  • Thumbnail: Page 
48
    48
  • Thumbnail: Page 
49
    49
  • Thumbnail: Page 
50
    50
  • Thumbnail: Page 
51
    51
  • Thumbnail: Page 
52
    52
  • Thumbnail: Page 
53
    53
  • Thumbnail: Page 
54
    54