Al-Qaeda's Plan B

[New York Post ] Amir Taheri - Al-Qaeda's chief theoretician, Sheik Abu-Bakar Naji, has written a new book, Governance in the Wilderness, which analysts think may indicate a major change of strategy by the disparate groups that use al-Qaeda as a brand name. In a notable departure from past al-Qaeda strategy, Naji recommends "countless small operations" that render daily life unbearable, rather than a few spectacular attacks such as 9/11: The "infidel," leaving his home every morning, should be unsure whether he'll return in the evening. Naji recommends kidnappings, the holding of hostages, the use of women and children as human shields, exhibition killings to terrorize the enemy, suicide bombings and countless gestures that make normal life impossible for the "infidel" and Muslim collaborators. Naji asks jihadis to target oilfields, sea and airports, tourist facilities and especially banking and financial services. He envisages "a very long war," at the end of which the whole world is brought under the banner of Islam. Naji makes it clear that the U.S. is the chief, if not the exclusive, target of jihad at this time. He mentions Israel only once, as "America's little female idol." His only reference to Palestine is in a historical context.


2008-07-03 01:00:00

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