Al-Qaeda
The Threat Today
Chuck Feer
Criminal Justice Dept.
Bakersfield College
Introduction
• Al-Qaeda has a worldwide reach serving as the unbrella
organization for a worldwide network that includes
many Islamic groups.
• The have become less of an organization and more of an
order.
• They provide ideological guidance to semi-autonomous
cells around the world, that are loosely tied to each
other.
• The shadowy network of cells recruits Islamist
extremists, trains them and sends them to attack U.S. &
western interests.
Osama bin Laden
• May be in hiding, but experts
believe that Al-Qaeda
remains fully capable of, and
determined to kill large
numbers of Westerners and
disrupt the global economy.
• Al-Qaeda will do so by
orchestrating attacks
worldwide, by recruiting
local groups of fanatics to do
so.
Al-Qaeda’s Influence
• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM) rules a wide,
lawless area of the Sahara and is
trying to overthrow Algeria’s
government.
• AQIM is suspected of
kidnapping several French
nationals and Africans from
Niger.
• Kidnapping for Ransom is a
major source of funding.
Al-Qaeda’s Influence
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP) – Yemen, has
an English-language publication
“Inspire” Magazine.
• Urges Muslims in western
countries to carry out random
terrorist attacks.
Al-Qaeda Threat
• FBI Director Robert Mueller
explains that groups and
individuals inspired by Al-Qaeda
are switching to smaller scale
attacks.
Al-Qaeda Threat
• Child Suicide Attack
• Suicide bomber believed to be
12 – 15 years old killing 31
soldiers and injured 40 others in
northwestern Pakistan.
• Al-Qaeda linked Taliban
claimed responsibility.
• The poor cannot afford to send
children to school, so they enroll
them in extremist religious
schools – “Madrassas”
• Glorious path to heaven.
Al-Qaeda Threat
• Australian Crime Commission
reports that terrorists are using
similar techniques to drug
traffickers and other criminals
which shows a link to organized
crime.
Al-Qaeda
• South American drug gangs are providing
funding to terrorists by paying Al Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to ensure the safe
passage of cocaine across North Africa.
Anwar al Awlaki
• American Citizen (born in New Mexico).
• Living in Yemen (moves around constantly)
• “Islamic Scholar” radicalizes and incites
American Muslims to commit terrorist acts.
• Several terror attacks where the terrorist
said they were influenced by his lectures,
writings and videos downloaded from the
internet.
Conclusion
• Based on disrupted plots, D.H.S. (TSA) assesses
that AQ have demonstrated a continuing desire,
intent and capability to attack the Homeland
including mass transit systems.
• Most likely may be passenger rail cars or
stations.
• Terrorists will most likely utilize improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) or conduct armed
assaults.