The military strategy of global Jihad
By: Sarah E. Zabel.
Contributors: Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute.
Series: Carlisle papers in security strategy
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 18
ISBN-13: 9781584873143
Subjects: Qaida (Organization); War on Terrorism, 2001-; Jihad; Strategy; Islamic fundamentalism; Islam and world politics; Terrorism -- Religious aspects -- Islam
Description: America entered the Global War on Terrorism with little understanding of the enemy it faced. AI-Qaeda plays a leading role in the larger movement of global jihad, a splinter faction of militant Islamism intent on establishing its vision of strict Islamic rule in the Muslim world through armed action. Global jihadis have spent more than 40 years refining their philosophy, gaining experience, building their organization, and developing plans to reestablish what they see as the only true Islamic state on earth. The September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks set this plan in motion. In the years leading up to and following the 9/11 attacks, global jihadis have written copiously on their military strategy for creating an Islamic state. This paper draws on those writings to examine and explain the mechanisms by which they plan to neutralize the superpower guardian of world order, claim land and peoples for Islamic emirates out of the resulting chaos, and bring these emirates together to become a true Islamic state. Their writings also expose weaknesses in their strategy, and this paper explores some of those potential vulnerabilities as well.
Notes: "October 2007."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 11-18).

Electronic version also available on the SSI website.
Table of contents: title: What is a global jihad?; title: Democracy vs. God's sovereignty; title: History of global jihad; title: Global jihad political goal; title: Global jihad strategy; title: A historical perspective; title: Conclusion.