Al Qaeda Strategic Vision: Engage the U.S. Overseas, Not at Home
June 27, 2006 10:09 AM
Maddy Sauer Reports:
Westpoint_nrAl Qaeda's strategic vision involves challenging the United States and its allies overseas using small- to medium-scale attacks, according to an online book available on extremist websites that has become the seminal jihadi textbook. The first English translation of the text is being circulated this week among DOD and government policy circles.
The translation is being released by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. As ABC News reported last month, the Center has been translating thousands of declassified insurgent and extremist documents that were seized in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Abu Bakr Naji, an al Qaeda insider and author of the book, "The Management of Savagery," believes that the 9/11 attacks accomplished what they needed to by forcing the U.S. to commit their military overseas. He says 9/11 forced the U.S. to fall into the "trap" of overextending their military and that "it began to become clear to the American administration that it was being drained."
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"The point is to make them come in," McCants said. "You'll be seen as fighting the crusaders directly so you'll win over the public."
Second, it also puts pressure on local governments, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who face domestic pressure once they are associated with the United States.
Not to mention the situation within the United States. Naji believes that by committing militarily overseas, the U.S. will drain itself economically and face domestic pressure from within.
"That's the way they want to get to the U.S.," said McCants.
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http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/06/al_qaeda_strate.html