Why we are under attack

Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and the "do-it-yourself" terrorism

Laura Quadarella Sanfelice di Monteforte

• Publisher: Aracne Editrice
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9788825504989
• eBook ISBN: 9788825505139
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: European Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The "do-it-yourself" terrorism in an analysis, supported by a rich photographic documentation, ranging from jihadist propaganda to the attacks carried out in the West by homegrown terrorists and foreign fighters-returnees. These youngsters respond to the calls by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, competing for the leadership in the jihadist galaxy, and attack us, seldom acting in total autonomy. From the study of the attacks and of the material broadcasted on the net, it is possible to understand which attacks are directed and coordinated by jihadist groups, and which are simply inspired by their ideals. It is therefore possible to answer questions as the one giving the name to this book and to speculate on "who, when and where will attack us", as well as to see first–hand the jihadist propaganda, through hundreds of colour photographs.
A study which, in addition to the explanation on the "where, when and how" of terrorism, helps to understand "why"! (Giuseppe Cucchi, General, former Head of DIS – Italian Security Intelligence Department). I highly recommend this book, as it fills an important gap in Western knowledge of jihadism. To know what the adversarial propaganda says is a way to prevent and contain its effects, and this is especially true in the case of DIY terrorism (Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte, Professor of Strategic Studies, former Commander of NATO Naval Forces Southern Europe and anti-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR). A clear analysis, based on scientific data and methodology, of a complex phenomenon.
A book for everybody, that can be easily read, studied, and that definitely helps us understand why they are attacking us (Fabrizio Luciolli, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association). A central theme of this in-depth analysis is that the West is on the periphery of the conflict, a conflict which is internal to what the author calls 'the jihadist galaxy'. We are not central to this conflict but are being used by it and for it (Ajit Maan, Ph.D., President of Narrative Strategies). Every law enforcement official, policy maker and ordinary citizen who wants to understand the "why" of terrorism must read this essential, insightful and well researched book (Carlos Vazquez, Ph.D., Senior Consultant in Terrorist Recruitment at the Behavioral Analysis Group). This book deeply explores the vicious cycle of different ideologically driven insurgency groups in the world. A must study!!! (David Otto Endeley, TGS Counter Terrorism & Organised Crime Expert UK/EU/Africa). This essential and up-to-date analysis helps us make sense of the most recent trends in terrorism, like the 'do-it-yourself' variety (Paul Cobaugh, Vice-President, Narrative Strategies). More than just a modern Sun Tzu compilation on terrorism, this book offers a comprehensive view on the western homegrown terrorism in all its dimension: cultural, popular and media. A useful overview of the new youngster generation! (Gérald Arboit, Senior Researcher in the French Centre on Intelligence Research). I would strongly recommend this book to get an insight view to part of our new world order (Arne Gerrit Halvorsen, Associate Editor of Defence and Intelligence Norway).

1. THE PRESENT PHENOMENON
OF JIHADIST TERRORISM

The threats of Al Qaeda and of the Islamic State

The risks of “do-it-yourself” terrorism

1. Does a connection exist between the “Arab Springs”and the growth of jihadist terrorism?

– The expression “Arab Springs” is definitely unfortunate.

– It would be more appropriate to speak of “Autumns”.

– An initial power vacuum and an attempt to apply non-middle eastern values: re-lighting of internecine struggles.

Even if it is correct to ask oneself about a possible correlation between the fall of Régimes which controlled, since decennia, large part of the Middle East and North Africa and the increase of Islamic radicalism, both in these areas and in the West, the answer is much more articulated than it could be imagined.

We should, first of all, start by saying that the choice of the expression “Arab Springs”, to identify the phenomenon erupted in January 2011, was definitely unfortunate, and I myself re-baptized in some essays the phenomenon, since the beginning, with a name of season normally associated to darker significances: Autumn!

I labeled them as “Autumns”, as I reasoned on the dire consequences which, according to my judgment, they would have brought to some among the populations involved. The reasons of such pessimism should not be seen in the fact that, as it is heard somewhere, “Arab populations are unable to live in a democracy” and “need an iron fist to keep them at bay”. Quite to the contrary, I have the utmost respect for populations having a millenary culture, but I felt that the two concurrent factors of the quite foreseeable initial power vacuum and of the attempt to apply/impose values which are not proper to the Middle East would have generated, o to say better re-lit, internecine struggles of supremacy in the Islamic world. Struggles, it should never be forgotten, which involve and upset in primis local populations.

If we ask ourselves about the existing interrelations between the Islamic religion, and more generally Islamic culture, and concepts as “Nation-State” and “Democracy”, we easily reach the conclusion that these are concepts proper to the West, not to populations which have been composed, since centuries, by nomadic groups, not organized on the basis of sovereignty over a well-defined territory, but in accordance to their clan or to an ethnic-tribal allegiance.

In addition, as it is known, the Islamic world does not acknowledge the Christian distinction between the competences of God and Caesar, but lives a superimposition of these two levels, a superimposition generating conflicts, first of all, within itself.

All in all, to conclude, the so-called “Arab Springs” have created power vacuums without marginalizing the jihadist ideas, and have witnessed, instead, groups which benefitted from this instability and from the transformation of part of these populations in armed groups.

In the first image, a festive and colorful demonstration, to recall how popular protests started.

Following, an image taken from March 2011 issue of AQAP Revue Inspire (which we will discuss in an ad hoc paragraph) portraying the “apostate dictators”, friends of the West, against whom people rose.

Then, an image of the ruins of a Syrian town: here what remains of the demonstrations which we labeled in 2011 as “Arab Springs”.

2. The internecine conflicts of the Islamic world

– Struggle between Shiites and Sunnites.

– Struggle for supremacy within the Sunni world.

– It is not correct to speak of a single Islam.

– Competition at different levels and with different actors: Koranic schools, State Powers, terrorist groups.

The aspect I would like to discuss is the following: in order to explain the root reasons of the present jihadist terrorism, we must look at the internecine conflicts of the Islamic world. In order to understand what is happening we should start from the struggle between Shiites and Sunnites, as well as from the struggle for supremacy, wholly internal to the Sunni world.

The latter, deprived of a political and religious guide, is experiencing, at least since one hundred years, after the fall of the “Caliph of the whole Islam”, a situation of constant tension for the leadership, which can be acquired also and mostly while fighting both the Shiites and Western values, which allegedly have “shattered” the purity of the true Islam.

The internecine divisions of the Sunni front explain why it is unable to prevail over the Shiites, numerically most inferior. As it is possible to see from the image on the next page, the Sunni (in light green) are decidedly superior to the Shiites (in dark green), but nonetheless are unable to prevail, due to their internecine fractures.

While avoiding to enter in this instance within the complex implications connected to what is intended as “pure Islam”, nor trying to tackle the study of the movements which have promoted it during the past two centuries, I would deal with the central knot of our reasoning: it is incorrect to speak of a single Islam, as several Islams exist, fighting against each other, and such a fight is carried out both on the political and theological domain. It is a competition carried on different levels and by different actors: there is competition among law schools (the main Sunni law schools are Hanafite, Malikite, Shafiite, and Hanbalite, while the main Shia’s schools are Ja’ferite, Islamelite and Zaydite), among State powers, among Koranic schools, among terrorist groups.

In this map it is possible to locate easily in dark green the Shiites and in light green the Sunnites, which, albeit being superior in number, are unable to prevail, due to their internecine divisions.

3. The present character of jihadist terrorism

– “Jihadist Galaxy” polarized around two networks: Al Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS).

– To promote jihad against the West confers power and visibility.

– The West is attacked mostly while looking at enemies within the Islamic struggle.

– AQ and IS are in competing between each other since 2013.

– Struggle fo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• List of acronyms of the principal jihadist groups mentioned
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1. The present phenomenon of jihadist terrorism
• 2. The “do-it-yourself” terrorism
• 3. A Case Study: the Brussels Attacks
• 4. Possible future developments
• Chronological list of the most important attacks mentioned
• Bibliography