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The Henryy

Background Briefing
communications@henryjacksonsociety.org

Jackson Society
http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org

Al-Qaeda and radical Islam:


Economic realities and socio-political solutions
By George Grant

Executive Summary
1. In the eight years since 9/11, al-Qaeda has become synonymous with Islamic extremism in the minds of many. The reality,
however, is that al-Qaeda and its allies are very much minority Islamist movements. Moreover, what drives many of al-
Qaeda’s so-called adherents is not ideology but poverty and a profound resentment at the corruption and mismanagement
of ruling regimes.

2. In contrast to al-Qaeda’s globalist agenda, most Islamist movements are and always have been more concerned with
rectifying the perceived failures of their own leaders and fellow Muslims. Conflating such organisations with al-Qaeda,
particularly since many have renounced violence in recent years, is providing repressive regimes with an excuse to
suppress all dissent in the name of aiding in the “War on Terror”, as well as pouring fuel on the fire of violent anti-
Westernism.

3. Al-Qaeda’s charge is that only a total rejection of non-Muslim innovations and a return to their interpretation of Islamic
fundamentals can restore the Muslim world. On the contrary, if the Muslim world is to revive its fortunes and the appeal
of radicalism is to be reduced, it must evidence a greater willingness to engage with outside ideas and innovations,
philosophically as much as technologically. Concomitant with efforts to reduce poverty and corruption must be advances in
the fields of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law.

4. However, if these vital reforms are to succeed in the long-term, they must take place within a recognisably Islamic
framework and be driven forward by Muslims themselves. This cannot become a dialectic with Islamism on the one
hand and secularism on the other. A renaissance within Islamic intellectual and theological discourse is a fundamental
prerequisite to dismantling al-Qaeda’s claim to theological credibility and ultimately to bringing about its demise.

[1]
Al-Qaeda: Popular perceptions and economic realities

It may seem a statement of the un-Islamic, but the entire concept of as the solution to – more mundane
obvious that in order to win the fight the nation state. Any human rights grievances such as poverty, lack
against radical Islam, we must first law that does not wholly correspond of opportunity, poor education,
understand what exactly it is that to the strictest interpretation of resentment at the oppression of
motivates those who subscribe to Sharia law is likewise summarily domestic regimes and the West’s
its cause. Unfortunately, eight years rejected. The final stumbling perceived role in the perpetuation of
after the attacks of 11 September block, of course, is that peaceful this misery. For many, indeed, it is
2001, far too many people remain coexistence with any non-Muslim grievances such as these that serve
lamentably unclear on this point. and even any Muslim who does as the principle motivators to take
not embrace al-Qaeda’s particular up arms and jihadist movements are
To a certain extent, the blame for this interpretation of Islam is also merely a means to an end.
can be levelled at the policy makers, impossible.
journalists and others supposedly When journalists and others recoil
charged with explaining such Set in this context, the prospect of at the prospect of “negotiating with
things to us, particularly given how success in countries where the West moderate elements of the Taliban” as
prominent a feature this issue is in is engaged but in which al-Qaeda’s wholly unacceptable and defeatist,
the public consciousness. However, philosophy is believed to hold they do the Taliban a service by
credit must also be given crediting it with a great
where it’s due, to al-Qaeda deal more unity than it
and its allies, who have Though al-Qaeda and its allies deserves, and many of its
proved that you don’t need supporters with a coherent
a multimillion dollar public proclaim an over-arching ideological ideological conviction that
relations machine at your cause, this cause is sustained by - in many cases simply does
disposal to be effective at not exist.
putting across the message and erroneously sold as the solution
In Afghanistan, one of the
that you want everyone to
hear and believe.
to - more mundane grievances world’s poorest countries,
such as poverty, lack of opportunity, a significant part of the
Were it the case, as al- problem can be explained
Qaeda would have us poor education, resentment at the by reverting to basic
suppose, that the overriding
motivation of every
oppression of domestic regimes mathematics. The Taliban
pay their fighters $10 a day
subscriber to its cause was and the West’s perceived role in the to take up arms, whereas
the sincerest conviction that the Afghan government
the al-Qaeda leadership’s perpetuation of this misery. pays just $4 a day.i This
violent ideology was the in a country where the
right one, to the point that sway seem distant indeed. When, average daily income is
they were happily willing to kill and in Afghanistan, the Taliban leader just $2 a day and unemployment is
be killed in its propagation, then Mullah Omar declares that “NATO at 40 per cent.ii iii
we would be in real trouble. How has the watches, but we have all the
can one beat an ideology in which Many Taliban militants are not die-
time”, Western publics can perhaps
everyone who walks under its banner hard ideologues, but unemployed
be forgiven for believing the war to
is not only willing but eager to lay farmers, dissatisfied with the failures
be unwinnable.
down his life in its defence? How of the Karzai regime, and in want
can meaningful negotiations be had Yet the reality of the situation is in of a viable alternative. Winning
with people who operate within a fact quite different. It is true that the the conflict against the Taliban is
paradigm so completely antithetical leadership of al-Qaeda and affiliated about convincing the majority of
to one’s own that compromise movements, and even some of its Afghans that their present and future
acceptable to either side is quite foot soldiers, are motivated out of prospects are brighter without the
impossible? deep-seated ideological convictions Taliban than they are with it. Not until
but it is impossible to separate this battle is won will the military
Al-Qaeda, after all, rejects these convictions from the lowlier battle subside with it.
democracy not just as anathema, concerns of geo-politics and simple
but as a rival religion, thus making The same is likewise true of other al-
economics. Though al-Qaeda and
adherence to it a crime punishable Qaeda inspired movements around
its allies proclaim an over-arching
by death. Likewise, al-Qaeda refutes the world. According to the European
ideological cause, this cause is
not only governments perceived as Union’s latest terrorism report, two
sustained by - and erroneously sold

[2]
of the most dangerous al-Qaeda- likewise cited high unemployment forthcoming.viii It is no coincidence
backed movements operating at amongst Algerian youth as one of the that al-Shabaab has no discernable
present are Al-Qaeda in the Islamic key drivers behind AQIM’s continued presence in Somaliland, the de
Maghreb (AQIM), operating in North endurance.vii facto autonomous state in north-
Africa, and al-Shabaab, operating in western Somalia. In Somaliland
Somalia.iv In Somalia, the world’s most there is not only a comparative level
comprehensively failed state, an of peace, but jobs, education and
Officially, AQIM a measure of representative
professes many of the democracy that is simply
same objectives as unknown in south-central
al-Qaeda, yet all the Somalia, where al-Shabaab
evidence suggests that is strongest. Moreover, the
the motivations of its Somaliland government has a
supporters are rather policy of actively countering
more parochial. Algeria, the growth of the Wahabbist
from where AQIM ideology to which al-Qaeda
originates, has had and their allies subscribe,
significant success in by way of the provision of
persuading militants to lay financial support to dozens of
down their arms by way mosques including payments
of amnesty programmes, to influential Sheikhs in every
suggesting that many major town.ix
of AQIM’s so-called
supporters want not Though al-Qaeda tries to
so much to overthrow claim otherwise, much of its
the existing order, as to have the almost total lack of opportunity so-called support is the result of a
chance to be a part of it. Recently, and a widespread mistrust of the shared opposition to the way things
a number of former AQIM militants central government has fed the long are more than any agreement on
advised the Algerian government running conflict and the Islamic what the alternatives should look
that tackling poverty was indeed insurgency, led by al-Shabaab. like. Indeed, it is significant that
central to winning the war against Moreover, concerns that Somalia whilst al-Qaeda is explicit in what
violent Islamism: “I know militants may become “the next Afghanistan” it opposes, it is deliberately vague
who repented who have resumed are driven as much by the fact of about exactly what the Islamic
jihad because they were unable to the country’s being an attractive Caliphate that it advocates would
work and live,” Hassan Hmida, a destination for international stand for, thus enabling it to garner
former AQIM militant, told Reuters jihadists who exploit the domestic support from as wide a pool of the
in July.vi The US State Department’s grievances of Somalis to generate disenchanted as possible.
most recent terrorism report has support that would not otherwise be

The Near Enemy and the Far Enemy


It is also the case that even amongst summarised with striking clarity Nonetheless, such rhetoric is hardly
those who are motivated out of by Muhamad ‘Abd al-Salam Faraj, less disturbing on account of the
genuine ideological convictions, the ideological guide of the group fact that the targets for destruction
the concern is predominantly with that assassinated Egypt’s president are domestic as opposed to
internal matters as opposed to Anwar al-Sadat in 1981: international. Indeed, the bloodshed
external ones. That is, the majority caused by such movements over
of Islamist movements operating “Fighting the near enemy is more the years has easily matched if
today are much more interested important than fighting the distant not surpassed that achieved by
in rectifying the perceived failings enemy. In jihad the blood of the al-Qaeda to date. Throughout the
of their own leaders and fellow Muslims must flow until victory is 1990s, Egypt, as elsewhere in North
Muslims than they are in any achieved... To begin the struggle Africa, was rocked by an Islamist
notion of bringing blood and against imperialism would be a insurgency seeking to impose its
fire to the West in global jihad. work that is neither glorious nor solutions by violent means. Civilians,
Historically, this has also been the useful, but only a waste of time. including tourists, were frequently
case, making al-Qaeda’s explicitly It is our duty to concentrate on targeted, culminating with the
globalist agenda more an anomaly our Islamic cause, which means massacre of more than 60 people at
than the norm. The domestic as first and foremost establishing a temple in Luxor in 1997.xi In Algeria
opposed to internationalist focus God’s law in our own country, the violence took the form of an 11-
of many Islamist movements was and causing the word of God to year civil war between 1991-2002
prevail.1”x

1
The Far Enemy- Why Jihad Went Global, by Faraz A. Gerges provides an excellent and much fuller exposition on this point.
[3]
that left upwards of 150,000 dead. tacitly acknowledge the need for it of great importance that Western
to take account of contemporary policy makers take account of this
Today, however, there is evidence social realities and, consequently, for fact when determining how best
that things may be changing. Though interpretative reasoning (ijtihad) and to conduct relations with Muslim
firmly opposed to existing regimes, states. By conflating
Islamists in the region have Islamism wholesale with
largely abandoned violence
as a legitimate means of
By conflating Islamism wholesale the ideology of al-Qaeda,
the West has succeeded
bringing about change. In with the ideology of al-Qaeda, the in providing repressive
Egypt, Islamists have not
resumed violence since
West has succeeded in providing regimes with an excuse
to suppress any Islamist
the ceasefire that followed repressive regimes with an excuse movement, peaceful or not,
the Luxor massacre, and
in Algeria, only AQIM to suppress any Islamist movement, that threatens their position
in the name of aiding in
continues to advocate
violence. Many analysts
peaceful or not, that threatens their the “War on Terror.” This

believe AQIM has lost position in the name of aiding in the results in the alienation of
many Muslims otherwise
much of its support and
influence and all of the
“War on Terror.” opposed to violent
resistance and pours
main Islamist parties have fuel on the fire of anti-
explicitly disassociated themselves deliberative processes to play their Westernism as a motivator of
from its violent message.xii Moreover, part in its elaboration.xiii Islamist insurgents. Such a conflation
there are also encouraging signs also risks unnecessarily curtailing
that many Islamists have now This is not to suggest that Islamist what progress can and needs to be
reconciled themselves to operating movements are travelling inexorably made within the ideology and goals
within a recognisably national toward the glorious sunlit uplands of Islamists themselves by artificially
and democratic framework. of liberal democracy, but it is putting them in al-Qaeda’s camp and
Whilst continuing to demand the important to draw the distinctions making violent resistance a much
application of Shari’a law, they now between them and al-Qaeda. It is more attractive option.

Render unto God that which is Caesar’s: Sunni Islam’s


answer to the separation of “Church and State”
That such political and philosophical which is God’s”, the same cannot of Islamic influence from the political
progress does take place within be said of Islam. In Sunni Islam, to sphere is seen not only as retrograde
an Islamic theological sphere is but wholly apostate.
important. The drive to promote
democracy and the rule of law Understanding this also sheds
in the Muslim World cannot greater light on the concept of the
be presented as a dichotomy Muslim nation, and why it is that
between full-blown and perceived injustices perpetuated
progressive secularism on the one upon Muslims in Palestine, for
hand and regressive and violent instance, can serve to radicalise
Islamism on the other. Indeed, Muslims living hundreds or even
expecting reform to take place thousands of miles away. In the
wholly independent of Islamic West, one of the consequences of
influences is not only unrealistic the separation of church and state
but potentially counterproductive. is that national identity has become
In order to understand the principally determined in terms of
significance of this point it is where one lives as opposed to what
necessary to bear in mind the very one believes. In Sunni Islam, it could
different socio-political contexts be said that the reverse is true. As
in which the Muslim world and already discussed, this does not
the West have evolved over the mean that all Muslims subscribe to
centuries. Whereas the separation al-Qaeda’s vision of uniting the world
of church and state has always which al-Qaeda and the majority under a single caliphate; rectifying
been possible in the Christian world of Muslims subscribe, God’s law is local wrongs is the priority, but it
on account of Christ’s famous very much the nation’s law, a law does help to explain the strong
command, “Render unto Caesar that that extends to every part of Muslim affiliation many Muslims feel with co-
which is Caesar’s and unto God that life. Consequently, a total excising religionists in foreign countries.

[4]
This relationship needs to be in terms of his character. Further no country is today ruled wholly
understood on another level also, success following his death in 632, consistent with God’s law and that
which helps to explain the appeal which saw the dramatic expansion only a radical socio-political return to
of radical Islamism not just to the of Muslim territory out of the Arab the perceived ways of Mohammed
al-Qaeda hard-core, but also to all world and into the Byzantine Empire, can reverse the Muslim world’s
those others who are acutely aware all the remainder of the Persian faltering fortunes. Indeed, the logic
and resentful of the Muslim world’s Empire, North Africa, India, South behind al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks was
current weakness. Unlike Christianity, East Asia, parts of China and even not simply to strike a blow against
which teaches the insufficiency of Europe, confirmed, to Muslim eyes, the United States as an end in itself,
human action to make man right with that God was on their side.xv The rather the attacks were intended to
God, Islam is an orthopraxic religion important factor here is that all this spark revolutions across the Muslim
in which the success or failure of a had been done by Muslims without world; to replace US-backed regimes
human being to find favour with the compromising their religion. That with Islamist ones by demonstrating
Almighty very much depends on his is to say that there had been no the vulnerability of the United States
or her actions and behaviour. The question of Muslims compromising and by extension the weakness of its
‘Five Pillars of Islam’ incumbent on their ideology in return for earthly apostate puppet regimes in Middle
every Muslim are based entirely on gain, rather on the contrary, it was East and beyond.
human action.2 precisely because they had remained
true to their religion that earthly gain To impoverished Muslims, resentful
Out of this has come a doctrine had been granted to them by God. at their lack of opportunities and
sometimes known as ‘Manifest the corruption of their leaders,
Success’ in which the extent to Consequently, the appeal of al- and acutely aware of the Muslim
which Muslims can know divine Qaeda’s ideology is that it offers a world’s geo-political weakness, this
favour can be directly measured seemingly plausible explanation for explanation can seem appealing. It
against the extent of their earthly the very weak geo-political position is, however, wholly erroneous. The
success.xiv This doctrine is born out in which the Muslim world finds reality is that the Muslim world’s
entirely by the astonishing success itself relative to the West. The claim geo-political weakness is the result
of Mohammad in spreading Islam of al-Qaeda and its allies is that of too little engagement with the
during his life in the 7th century, Muslims have strayed far from the non-Muslim world as opposed to too
since to Muslim eyes he was entirely way of life advocated by the Quran much.
faithful to God both doctrinally and and lived out by Mohammed, that

2
These are: Shahadah (profession of faith), Salah (ritual prayer 5 times a day), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan),
[5]
Zakat (tax on the community) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
The Civilisation to end all civilisations?
The cost of cultural isolationism
It has been to the lasting loss of interpretation, this inquisitiveness Progress in almost any field, be it
Islamic civilisation that for too has not extended to more recent scientific, philosophical or otherwise,
long it was so convinced of its works. Indeed, the extent of the is very largely dependant upon
own moral, political and cultural Muslim world’s studied disinterest practitioners subjecting their work
superiority that it made virtually no in non-Muslim literature can be to criticism, learning from others,
effort to learn from or to respect seen from the disturbing statistic and engaging in open-minded
the outside world, and in particular, provided by the United Nations debate with people of a different
from the West. After all, in Islam, Development Programme in its 2003 point of view. In his work, On Liberty,
both Christianity and Judaism are Arab Development Report, that the the English philosopher J S Mill
corrupted deviations from God’s true total number of books translated famously explained the danger to
way, and the message given by God into Arabic in the last 1,000 years, those unwilling to admit of opinions
to Mohammed is his final, authentic roughly equates to what Spain differing from their own:
revelation. How then, could Muslims translates in a single year.xviii
possibly move forwards by going “If the opinion is right, they are
backwards? This failure to engage with deprived of the opportunity
methods and ideas that challenged of exchanging error for truth:
This reluctance to engage with the existing assumptions has taken a if wrong, they lose, what is
West manifested itself almost as great a
in a number of fields. benefit, the clearer
Technologically and The ideology of al-Qaeda, which perception and
scientifically, Western livelier impression
advances were frequently not only rejects any innovation of truth, produced
dismissed as mere by its collision
‘Frankish trickery’ as or points of view not directly with error... There
opposed to being studied is always need of
and taken seriously.xvi in conformity with their strict persons not only to
Muslim advances in the discover new truths,
fields of science and interpretation of Quaranic precepts, and to point out
mathematics are not to when what were
be denied, but this early but which advocates extreme once truths are
true no longer, but
superiority ironically only
made matters worse. When violence against all those, both also to commence
Western advances in these
fields began to match Muslim and non-Muslim, who say new practices, and
set the example of
and ultimately supersede
those being made in the otherwise, is thus the very last more enlightened
conduct, and better
Islamic world, Muslims
were painfully slow at thing the Muslim world needs if it taste and sense in
human life.”
acknowledging this fact
and reacting accordingly. wishes to prosper. The ideology of
A telling indicator of how al-Qaeda, which
unconcerned the Muslim not only rejects any
world was with knowing what the heavy toll on the Muslim world’s innovation or points
West was up to can be seen by the development. Perhaps the most of view not directly in conformity with
fact that the first permanent Ottoman vivid demonstration of the extent their strict interpretation of Quaranic
diplomatic mission in Europe was of this failure can be seen through precepts, but which advocates
not established until 1793.xvii an examination of Nobel Laureates. extreme violence against all those,
Since the founding of the Nobel both Muslim and non-Muslim, who
Much the same has been true prizes in 1901, the recipients of say otherwise, is thus the very last
of the Muslim attitude to non- which are generally considered to thing the Muslim world needs if it
Muslim literature, be it historical, be the very best in their respective wishes to prosper.
philosophical or merely cultural. fields, 878 prizes have been
Though again it is true that some Unfortunately, al-Qaeda’s position
awarded, in the fields of Chemistry,
pre-Islamic literature and philosophy, is given a boon on account of
Economics, Literature, Peace and
for instance the Platonic dialogues, its opposition to the wholly un-
Physics. To date, just seven of those
were subjected to study and Islamic despotism of the majority of
have come from the Arab world.xix
governments throughout the Muslim

[6]
world. Al-Qaeda is surely correct in It is progress in these fields, more The move toward reform cannot
its assertion that these regimes have than any other, that the Muslim take place outside of the Islamic
abandoned Quaranic principals, but world desperately needs and it is intellectual paradigm. If the choice
they are absolutely incorrect when principally through reform in these is presented as a dialectic between
they assert that this is because these fields that support for al-Qaeda and radical Islam on the one hand and
regimes have sold out to corrupt its ideology will be reduced to the full-blown secularism on the other,
Western practices. greatest possible extent. Certainly, then the consequences will not be
the West has its part to play in this, happy ones. It is incumbent upon
The reality is that governments of but the impetus must primarily come Muslim scholars, authors, journalists
Muslim countries are just as far from Muslims themselves. So long as and others to provide the necessary,
away from the Western theologically grounded
ideal as they are from rebuttals to extremist
the Islamic one. Yet interpretations of the Quran.
whereas Islamic civilisation
suffered historically from Crucially, this means a
its reluctance to embrace greater willingness to
external progress in any accept criticism and to
field, the modern era engage with new ideas
has witnessed regimes and to accept the validity
in Muslim countries of differing points of view
embracing wholeheartedly than is presently in evidence
Western technological and across much of the Muslim
military innovations, whilst world. It also means an end
continuing to spurn reform to the culture of blaming
in the fields of freedom of external actors for all the
expression, democracy Muslims world’s ills. Zionists
and human rights. Western and the West can only take
collaboration with such regimes, al-Qaeda and even more regionally so much of the blame. Perhaps no
be it for oil contracts, ‘winning the focused Islamist extremists are able better illustration of the extent of
war on terrorism’, or some other to dominate the resistance agenda, this problem is the frighteningly low
consideration of realpolitik, only they will continue to enjoy levels proportion of Muslims who believe
serves to further exacerbate the of support disproportionate to the Arabs were responsible for the 11
perception among Muslims that popularity of their message. September attacks on the United
these regimes have States. According to
rejected Islam in favour of the global opinion
Western modernity, and
moreover, that the West is
So long as al-Qaeda and even research agency
Pew, barely one
also responsible for their
predicament. The reality,
more regionally focused Islamist in seven Muslims
believe that Arabs
however, is that these
regimes are anything but
extremists are able to dominate carried out the 9/11
attacks, based on a
Western in their ideals
and modern only in their
the resistance agenda, they will survey carried out in
2006 across Egypt,
means of repression.
Just two of the world’s 47
continue to enjoy levels of support Indonesia, Jordan,
Pakistan and
Muslim-majority countries
are full democracies, disproportionate to the popularity Turkey. The use of
the word ‘Arab’ as
Indonesia and Mali, and
throughout the Muslim of their message. opposed to ‘Muslim’
is significant, as
world, freedom of the it does not allow
press - and freedom of expression Indeed, equal to the need for for respondents to answer on
generally - is severely restricted, efforts at democratic reform the basis that in their opinion the
corruption is endemic and the rule and poverty reduction is a much attackers were not true Muslims.
of law woefully limited.xx The official stronger theological, intellectual Moreover, when asked “What
use of torture and widespread and philosophical movement is Most Responsible for Muslim
persecution that persists in many of amongst Muslims to counter these Nations’ Lack of Prosperity”, almost
these states has been instrumental in radical ideologies. This is not, by 50 per cent cited “US & Western
perpetuating a culture of victimhood any means, to suggest that such policies”, more than for any of the
and a desire for revenge that has alternatives do not exist at present, other four options which included
enabled radical Islamist movements but it is to say that these movements “Government Corruption” (42%);
to mobilize generations of new are often not as well-developed nor “Lack of Education” (43%); “Islamic
recruits.xxi as vocal as they should be. Fundamentalism” (13%) and “Lack
of Democracy” (32%).xxii
[7]
Conclusion
The greatest strength of al-Qaeda believe in al-Qaeda’s philosophy, but the latter that the former proliferate.
and related Islamist movements is because they, like al-Qaeda, bitterly
not what they stand for but their oppose the existing state of affairs. Yet if these necessary reforms
effectiveness at highlighting what In the absence of coherent, credible are to succeed in the long-term,
they oppose and offering themselves alternatives, joining al-Qaeda as they must take place within a
as a credible alternative. The irony a means to an end thus becomes recognisably Islamic framework
is that much of what Al-Qaeda and attractive. and be driven forward by Muslims
those who oppose them stand themselves. This cannot become
against is the same. Both are in Reducing that pool of disenchanted a dialectic with Islamism on the
agreement that the majority of to the greatest possible extent one hand and secularism on the
governments in Muslim countries is therefore central to reducing other. A renaissance within Islamic
are corrupt and ineffectual. Both are the appeal of radical ideology intellectual and theological discourse
in agreement that the predicament and overcoming al-Qaeda and its is a fundamental prerequisite to
of many ordinary Muslims is allies. Efforts to reduce poverty dismantling al-Qaeda’s claim to
unacceptable and needs to change. and corruption and to increase theological credibility and ultimately
It is the solutions themselves that opportunities in Muslim countries are to bringing about its demise. Not
are radically different. Many and vital to that end. Concomitant with until these developments take place
almost certainly the majority of such efforts must also be advances will al-Qaeda be overcome and nor,
those who support al-Qaeda do in the fields of democracy, freedom indeed, will the Muslim world start
so not because they passionately of expression and the rule of law, for to fulfil its vast but far too often
it is in principally in the absence of squandered potential.

The greatest strength


of Al-Qaeda and related
Islamist movements is not what
they stand for but their effectiveness
at highlighting what they oppose
and offering themselves as a
credible alternative. The irony is
that much of what Al-Qaeda and
those who oppose them stand George Grant is Africa Section Director at
the Henry Jackson Society
against is the same.

The Henry Jackson Society is named after ‘In matters of national


United States Democrat Senator, Henry M. Jackson. The security, the best politics
Society is a registered charity for the understanding is no politics.’
and articulation of democratic geopolitics—a proactive — Henry M. Jackson
and principled foreign policy which differentiates
between constitutionally governed countries and
autocratic regimes.

[8]
End notes

i
http://www.mod.gov.af/
ii
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-04-02-IEDs_N.htm
iii
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html
iv
http://www.europol.europa.eu/publications/EU_Terrorism_Situation_and_Trend_Report_TE-SAT/TESAT2009.pdf
v
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLG291757
vi
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLF115023
vii
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122433.htm
viii
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6788623.ece
ix
Angel Rabasa (2009): Radical Islam in East Africa, Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, p.30
x
Lewis, Bernard (2002): What went wrong – Approaches to the modernity of the Middle East, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.107-8
xi
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/32179.stm
xii
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2884&l=1 & http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLI168211
xiii
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2618&l=1
xiv
Geaves, Ron; Gabriel, Theodore; Haddad, Yvonne & Idleman Smith, Jane (eds.) (1994): Islam and the West Post 9/11, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Aldershot, pp.1-2
xv
Ibid., pp.1-2
xvi
Lewis, Bernard (2002): What went wrong – Approaches to the modernity of the Middle East, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.75-81
xvii
Ibid., p.40 & p.65
xviii
http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/regionalreports/arabstates/RBAS_ahdr2003_EN.pdf
xix
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/all/
xx
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2009
xxi
Fawaz A. Gerges (2005): The Far Enemy – Why Jihad went Global, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p.9
xxii
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?PageID=832

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