Leverage Reach and Isolation of the Enemy in Al-Qaeda's Strategy

<p>Despite recent military successes in Afghanistan and Iraq Al-Qaeda still remains a threat to the United States. Through research and analysis this paper will assist to illustrate that Osama bin Laden has developed a terror network designed to carry out his terrorist campaign. He possesses the ability to transfer information to subordinate cells through his clandestine information flow and his ability to influence information distributed through the media. Through years of careful planning he has identified his desired endstate and strategic objectives to support his campaign strategies. He has chosen to fight against the United States first which he believes will help his Islamic revolution later. While fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan he adopted a pan-Islamic ideology to broaden his support base. Through these initiatives Al-Qaeda is part of a mutually supportive terrorist network which allows the terrorist the capability to strike globally. Bin Laden has integrated the principle of anticipation throughout his campaign plan. He seeks to gain and maintain leverage with asymmetrical attacks in an attempt to influence his adversary's center of gravity while at the same time strengthening his own. Bin Laden has established in-depth and comprehensive information operations campaigns designed to attack the United States national will to fight. The effective uses of these principles in his design make his organization more resilient and enable him to decide when and how he chooses to conduct operations. The need to continue to analyze this threat from an operational perspective the United States can further identify both the strengths and weaknesses of bin Laden's plan.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>