The serpent in our garden
Subtitle: Al-Qa'ida and the long war
By: Brian M. Drinkwine.
Contributors: Army War College (U.S.)
Series: Carlisle papers in security strategy; Carlisle papers in security strategy
Publisher: U.S. Army War College
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 75
ISBN-13: 9781584873754
Subjects: Qaida (Organization); War on Terrorism, 2001- -- Religious aspects -- Islam; Military planning -- United States
Other titles: Al-Qa'ida and the long war
Notes: "January 2009."

"The terrorist attacks of  September 11, 2001 (9/11),  caused Americans to realize that our sense of invincibility had been shattered. This paper will identify Al-Qa'ida and Salafi-Jihadists as our enemy and will recommend new approaches to fighting terrorism. Colonel Brian Drinkwater will explore Al-Qa'ida's organization, leaders, doctrine, and their radical ideologies. It is argued that the war we must fight is one against Islamist transnational actors who openly engage in terrorism or support terrorism. It will highlight that our current national and military strategies to combat terrorism are inadequate to take on an ideologically emboldened transnational foe. It is emphasized that we must refocus our efforts and prepare to fight a war of several generations (long war), and several initiatives will be recommended to include development of a cogent grand national strategy. These recommendations are intended to assist future planners in the development of a grand national strategy and an integrated long war campaign plan aimed directly at Al-Qa'ida, the Al-Qa'ida associated movement, and Islamist terrorists and executed through the application of diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments of national power by an unified interagency effort in coordination with our multinational partners, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and regional security organizations"--P. vii.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-75).
Table of contents: title: Terrorism; title: Al-Qa'ida, Jihadis, Salafis, Islamists and Islamic fundamentalism; title: Schools of Islam and sources of Islamic fundamentalism; title: Al-Qa'ida  (the base) and the attacks of 9/11; title: Present day Al-Qa'ida and the associated movement (AQAM); title: Al-Qa'ida strategy towards the United States and emerging Jihadi doctrine; title: The strategy of martyrdom tactics (suicide bombers); title: Al-Qa'ida  strengths, weaknesses; title: vulnerabilities; title: Current U.S. strategic guidance, policies and counterterrorism strategies; title: Initiatives for grand national strategy and campaign planning in the war; title: Against Al-Qa'ida , the Al-Qa'ida associated movement, Salafi-Jihadis; title: Reorganizing to fight a campaign against Al-Qa'ida , the Al-Qa'ida  associated movement  and Islamic fundamentalism; title: Join in and fight in "the war of ideas"; title: Identify and exploit strategic opportunities; title: Steal, read, understand, and counter the Al-Qa'ida playbook; title: Attack Al-Qa'ida weaknesses and vulnerabilities; title: Targeting priorities; title: Thoughts on funding, schools, and prisons; title: Strategic communications and fighting in the 21st century information environment; title: United States - multifaceted leader in the world; title: Use of military force; title: War in the 22nd century and Al-Qa'ida after next; title: Conclusion.