Decoding Al-Qaeda's Strategy by Michael Ryan

Author:Michael Ryan
Format: epub
Tags: POL037000, Political Science/Political Freedom & Security/Terrorism, POL011000, Political Science/International Relations/General
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 2013-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Following military principles [drawn from] experience will cut short the long years in which we might [otherwise] suffer the evils of rigid [attitudes] and random [behavior]. Abandoning randomness and adopting well-studied, scientific methods and military principles [drawn from] experience [i.e.,] actually curtailing randomness by the application of military science will facilitate achieving our goals without complications and make it possible for us to develop and improve our performance, with Allah’s permission.

Teaching individuals these principles will open a wide vista for creativity before their eyes. Extraordinary leaders may emerge who will write their theories in the books of modern history, especially since the books of this kind in our time ignore the fact that most of their principles are taken from the ways of our ancestors.73

Calling for an end to undisciplined behavior caused by too much zeal is nothing new to al-Qaeda’s strategic thought. It is a theme that Ayman al-Zawahiri sounded clearly in Knights Under the Prophet’s Banner, and it is echoed by all prominent strategic writers. But what are the scientific military principles that will benefit al-Qaeda? To forge an answer to this question, Naji proceeds to review principles found in any textbook on military tactics of guerrilla groups dealing successfully with more powerful enemies. Naji breaks no new ground in recommending tactics described in classic European or Chinese texts. In the midst of rather unremarkable observations, Naji turns to a discussion of the best way for a weak force to defeat a stronger enemy: by draining the great power militarily and economically. To remind us all that al-Qaeda’s strategy is not merely about the struggle of the weak against the strong—rather, it is about the weak nonstate actor confronting the strongest nation—Naji quotes former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld exclaiming to reporters: “What more can we do? Don’t forget that we are spending billions against an enemy that is spending millions.”74

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