AL
QAEDA AND
AFFILIATED TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS
Lines
of
Inquiry
and Key
Questions
A. We propose to organize our
initial
research around
three over-arching questions,
which
will be used as principal
"lines
of inquiry."
1.
Whatis thehistoryof
al-Qaeda
and itslinkagestoother transnational terroristentities
prior
to the 9/11
attack?
2.
What can we determine, through a comprehensive examination of
all
evidence
now
available
-
synthesizing
the
information available earlier with that obtained
post-9/11
-
regarding
the
planning, preparation,
financing,
and
execution
of the
9/11
attacks?
3.Whatis nowknownof thepresent compositionandthreat posedbyal-Qaedaandits
affiliated
entities, and what does this indicate regarding the threat
posed?
Each of these lines of inquiry is building blocks that encompasses many specificcomponent questions.We can
identify
some
ofthese component questionsat theoutset
of
the research and are listed below as a means of
focusing
the
initiation
of our research,
and
they are listed below as a means of focusing the initiation of our research. However,
new
component questions will emerge
from
ourdiscoveriesas ourresearch progresses.Thus, one of theaimsof theinitial researchis be to
identify
theadditionalkeycomponent
questions
for our research. One of the crosscutting issue to which we will pay
close
attention
is
al
Qaeda's
collaborative
relationships
and
connections with various other
entities,
as these
will
be critical in
assessing
the means and capabilities for
future
attacks.B.The following is a list
some
of the key subsets of component questions that
will
be engaged to focus the initial research:
1.
Whatis thehistoryofal-Qaeda priorto the
9/11
attack?a. What are its origins,
ideological
roots, doctrines, and worldview, and how have
these evolved over time? Who have been its key
functionaries?
How has it
recruited personnel?b. What attacks before
9/11
can we now connect
with
al-Qaeda, mounted on its ownor in collaboration with other terrorist groups? How were they carried out?c.With what other terrorist groupshas itbeen
affiliated,
whetherincollaborativeoperationsorthrough
funding
andlogistic support?
d.How has al
Qaeda functioned organizationally
and
financially?e. What have been its relationships with governments, or government components,or
government components acting outside
the
purview
of
their
own
political
leadership, including but not limited to those governments or factions thatprovidedalQaeda with supportandsanctuary?
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