JOURNAL: Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia?

Saturday, 19 June 2004

JOURNAL: Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia?

Whither al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia? If al-moqrin (al-muqrin) is indeed dead (he is the al Qaeda entrepreneur in Saudi Arabia), it may signal a shift in strategy. The al-Qaeda operations that are working are focused on Iraqi infrastructure. Virtually none of the cell members that have disrupted Iraqi infrastructure have been captured/killed. The results of these attacks -- on both electrical and oil networks -- have caused massive damage to the Iraqi government. This demonstrates the extremely positive feedback loops driving strategy development in al Qaeda. Additionally, if this strategy is ported to Saudi Arabia, new market-based financing mechanisms open up. This would open up a self-reinforcing process of mercenary action and market financing. Perversely, it will likely be al Qaeda's inability to sustain terror operations in the face of intense pressure that will force them to adopt more effective strategies.

Posted at 08:33 AM in Journal | Permalink

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On Brave New War

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...a fast, thought-sparking book.. -- David Brooks
Greenpeace
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City Journal
Robb has written an important book that every policymaker should read -- Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit)
Small Wars Journal
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Scripps Howard News Service
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Washington Times / UPI
Robb correctly finds the antidote to 4GW not in Soviet-style state structures such as the Department of Homeland Security, but in decentralization -- William Lind (the father of 4th generation warfare).
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Hidden Unities
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