The International Islamist
Revolutionary Movement
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
The Problem Cannot be Defeated
Until it is Correctly Defined

The threat is not from a relatively small group of
“terrorists” that can be “brought to justice” one
at a time
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Rather, it is an international revolutionary
movement, led by a military vanguard,
supported by millions of Muslims, and backed by
a well articulated ideology no less potent than
that of Communism or Nazism
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
Summary

Osama bin-Laden and Al Qaeda represent the military vanguard of
an International Islamist Revolutionary Movement/Insurgency that
has millions of followers worldwide, and tens of thousands in the
U.S.
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No less than Communism and Nazism, Islamism is rooted in an
extremely well articulated ideology developed by well known and
highly respected Islamist ideologues
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Active supporters of this movement in the U.S. assist the Jihad in
numerous ways, which include participation in: support cells,
criminal activity, proselytizing, recruiting, fund raising, the
politicization of American Muslims, and activity designed to
neutralize U.S. foreign and domestic policy regarding the Middle
East and the War on Terror
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
The Beginning
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Ibn Tayimiyya (12th Century Islamic jurist)
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The ideology of Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab
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Wahhab’s 1744 covenant with Muhammad Ibn Saud
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The Saudi state and its policy of exporting Wahhabism
worldwide
– To counter secular Pan Arabist movements
– To counter Iran’s Islamic Revolution
– To gain influence over the U.S., it’s sole protector
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
The Ideologues
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Hassan al-Banna(1906-1949): Created
the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928,
which became the first Sunni Muslim
terrorist organization
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Sayyid Abdul-Ala Maududi (19031979): Radical Indian Islamist who
originated the concept that Islam is
not a religion, it is The way of life
that encompasses “…a revolutionary
doctrine and system that overturns
governments.” Maududi is the founder
of Pakistan’s largest and most powerful
Islamist party- Jammat I Islamii
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Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966): An
Egyptian member of the Muslim
Brotherhood, who is considered by
many to be the “Karl Marx” of
Islamism. Probably the single most
important influence in the formation of
young Muslim extremists Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
Ideologues

Abdullah Azzam (1941-1989):
A Palestinian Muslim Brother
who is referred to as the “Emir
of the International Jihad”
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Osama bin-Laden’s Mentor
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Created the Offices of Services
for the Mujahideen that
supported jihadis fighting the
Soviets in Afghanistan. This
organization eventually
became the international
framework of Al Qaeda
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
Ideologues

Osama’s contribution:
–
He redirected the jihad from a
fragmented and localized struggle
against “apostate” regimes, to a unified
struggle against the U.S.
–
His Genius is in targeting the U.S.,
which is the glue that binds Muslims
from different social and economic
backgrounds in a common cause
–
He interprets and effectively argues
that legitimate citations in the Qur’an,
the Sunna, and the rulings of Islamic
jurists are commands that all Muslims
must fight in a Defensive Jihad if Islam
attacked
–
He then makes a comprehensive and
consistent case that demonstrates that
the U.S. is bent on destroying Islam
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
Osama’s Case
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The U.S. invaded and colonized two Muslim
countries - Afghanistan and Iraq
The U.S. oppresses the Palestinians by
supporting Israel
The U.S. supports tyrannical “apostate”
governments in the Middle East
The U.S. supports regimes that actively oppress
Muslims (e.g. Russia, China, India)
The U.S. robs the Muslim world of its precious
resources (oil)
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
The Result
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Terrorism targeted against the U.S. and its allies
A truly internationalized Islamic Military
Insurgency
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Afghanistan
Iraq
Palestine
Kashmir
Mindanao
Chechnya
China
Africa
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
And, the Terrorism
Major Attacks Since 9/11
Evidence of Global Capability
All of the following attacks required advanced planning, pre-operation surveillance, trained and committed personnel,
operational coordination, operational security, weapons/equipment, and logistics
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October 2002 – Bali bombing
October 2002 – Attack on French oil tanker Limburg
October 2002 – Attack on theatre in Moscow
November 2002 – Car bomb and SAM attack in Mombassa, Kenya
May 2003 – Car bomb attacks in Riyadh
May 2003 – Suicide attacks in Casablanca, Morocco
August 2003 – Car bomb attack of Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia
November 2003 – Car bomb attacks in Riyadh
November 2003 – Car bomb attacks on Synagogues and British organizations in Turkey
December 2003 – Train bombing in Chechnya
March 2004 – Train bombing in Madrid
August 2004 – Two bombed airliners in Russia
September 2004 – Hostage Killings in school in Beslan
September 2004 – Car bombing of Australian Embassy in Jakarta by JI
October 2004 – Car bombing of tourist resorts in Taba, Egypt
Current – Iraq – Full-blown Intifada (uprising) with almost daily killings, kidnappings, car bombings,
sabotage, roadside bombs, etc. Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
Many Agree with Him – The Movement’s
International and Domestic Infrastructure

Millions worldwide (a small percentage of the 1.2 billion
Muslims worldwide, but millions nevertheless)
– Saudi Poll – 95 percent of Saudi males from 21 to 49
– Pakistan Poll – 66 percent of Pakistanis
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Tens of thousands in the U.S.
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1995 – Jihad in America
1999 – Sheikh Kabbani’s comments
2001 – Mosque in America
2003 – FBI statement “widespread and extensive militant Islamic
presence…”
– 2004 – FBI statement – Al Qaeda or affiliated cells in 40 states
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
The Goal
The removal of the U.S. from the Middle
East
 The establishment of a Muslim State
(empire) consolidating the nation states of
the Middle East under the power of a
Caliph, and ruled by Sharia (Islamic) law

Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004
What followers in U.S. do to
support the movement
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They form terror Support Cells
They commit criminal activity to support jihad
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Drugs (and they have formed alliances with DTO’s worldwide)
N.C. Hizballah cigarette smuggling
$4.2 million Manufacturer’s Coupon Fraud
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Radical Mosques
Charities
Islamic schools/foundations
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AMC (Chaplains)
Government interpreters
Prisons
Law Enforcement
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CAIR
ADC
AMC
They proselytize, recruit, raise funds from faithful
They penetrate the U.S. Government
They intimidate/cajole/co-opt law enforcement and policymakers to keep them from pursuing the
War on Terror, and to counter policies in the Middle East to which they are opposed
Higgins Counterterrorism Research
Center - Copyright 2004