Homeland Security Against Al-Qaeda, Profile Of Al-Qaeda Terror Group (Term Paper Sample)

Homeland Security against Al-Qaeda
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ABSTRACT
America, which is the world’s superpower, remains as a great target for various terror organizations. This stems from the fight by American security to scuttle and destroy the operation networks of this terror organization. Al-Qaeda is one of the world’s dreadful terror organization which fights against the United States. This study seeks to discuss the profile of Al-Qaeda, the insidious activities, purposes and the strategies used by this group. In addition, it intends to research on policies put forwards by Homeland Security to combat the terror organization.
INTRODUCTION
Terrorism remains as one of the global concerns in the modern world. The revolutions and changes in the political and socio-economic aspects have led to the emergence of several terror groups which normally possess a set of ideological beliefs. The concern has however immensely grown the present time with nearly every part of the world experiencing terror-related activities from different terror groups. For example, there are some notorious terrorist organizations specific to some continents such as Africa, Asia and the rest of other continents. The gross breach of security apparatus and strategies used in the by many countries has seen a great rise in terrorism (Gunaratna, 2002).
Al-Qaeda is one of the well-known terror organizations in the world. The group that stands out as one of the largest with a vast network of activities has remained as a threat to the global security. The United States is an example of member countries which has been grossly affected by this terror group. The activities and the manner in which organization works has further propelled its threatening position in the global map. This paper intends to discuss the profile of Al-Qaeda extensively focusing on the activities, strategies, organization and composition of the group. Besides, this paper seeks to analyze the security concerns which have been put by the department of security to attempt to protect the borders against invasion by the group.
PART I
Profile of Al-Qaeda terror group
Al-Qaeda is one of the highly organized terror groups in the world. The group came into operations in 1988 courtesy of funding and coordination by Osama Bin Laden. Al-Qaeda was founded by other Arab volunteers who sought to respond to the invasion of the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. These activities which occurred in 1980 saw the Arab movements coming together to have a common front of rebelling against the Soviet. Since 1988, Al-Qaeda has continued to perpetuate its series of attracts in several countries. America has fallen victim to Al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers fell after being bombed and destroyed by Al-Qaeda. Other countries have equally seen the invasion of the group and further suffered from Al-Qaeda (Wedgwood, 2002).
One of the features notable to Al-Qaeda regards the great extent of loyalty observed by people who have taken an oath to be part of the group. Many Al-Qaeda members perform their activities with extreme loyalty. Some accept suicide bombing as part of actualizing their loyalty to the leadership of the terror group. This has seen a lot of activities in the recent past from the leadership and even from the members of the group in relation to furthering their attacks. This fundamental feature ascribes from the Islamic belief which argues that the group is engaging in a ‘holy war,' otherwise known as Jihad. This notion drives the major activities of Al-Qaeda and further prompts many to join hands in the activities. Most of the members of Al-Qaeda are Muslim faithful who came together to seek to defend their ‘rights’ through the formation of this outfit. Since the 1980s, Al-Qaeda has continued to witness a large following of membership from people with the Islamic faith. However, some from other faiths have equally been radicalized and joined the group (Thomas, 2003).
The US government has listed the Al-Qaeda as one of the major external threats to its security. A lot of attention was given to this listing following the September 11 attack which saw the introduction of a plethora of security policies aim at protecting the country. The global concern against Al-Qaeda has equally seen other countries closer to America employ strategies to keep out of the group. Scholars argue that the terror organization has equally changed its tactics and adopted more fierce attacks and strategy change to respond to security adjustments (Al-Zayyāt, 2004).
Ideology of Al-Qaeda
The group first came into active operations in the 1980s with a view of protecting Afghanistan. Several people were against the invasion movements by the Society into the country. Therefore, Osama Bin Laden, as well as other Arab loyalists, saw the created of this body to enable them pushes the Soviet operatives. The insurgence of Al-Qaeda follows a massive Arab movement which was witnessed across several Arab countries. The movement was a general strategy by Arabs to have a common fighting front to ‘liberate’ their countries from some foreign forces such as from the US, French and Germany forces. The Islamic revival saw the creation of several Islamist movements which had a general ideology of fighting for the rights and protecting the interests of the Arab nationals. These movements were majorly witnessed in the 20th century (Gunaratna, 2002).
Several researchers have argued that the Islamist movements such as Al-Qaeda came up due to the weaknesses in the sharia law. The vacuum created in these Muslim regions by the void in the legal system saw the dominance by the terror groups that sort to address some of the concerns by people within these countries. For example, the Muslims sought to form the various movements so as to fight away the foreign soldiers that were deemed to be taking resources that belonged to the Arab countries. The rise in the Afghan jihad saw the creation of a very large movement against any government that was deemed to be pro-soviet operatives (Burke, 2004). The awakening saw the movement cut across several Arab countries with the idea of keeping Arab countries safe from external interference. Al-Qaeda rose as the most prominent organization among others during the Afghan jihad.
The ideology which has continued to exist among the members of this outlawed group is to continue fighting for the rights of the Muslims across the entire world. The organization believes that the Muslims have been subordinated by many major forces within the global front. Therefore, the leadership of the group has continued to propagate the notion that Al-Qaeda represents the interests of the Muslims and therefore acting legal. Nearly all attacks that are being done are seen s defensive tactics or provocation by the group to various countries (Thomas, 2003). This can be clearly seen by the high patterns of attacks which are done on non-Muslim regions or territories which are believed to be less supportive of the Islamic beliefs.
Strategy or tactics of Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda employs tow major its manner of activities. One of the most prominent tactics refers to as suicide bombing. Suicide bombings occur when a person volunteers to kill himself with a view of killing as many as possible. Suicide bombers accept to explode themselves to death in a highly populated place stops as to kill other people and cause as much damage as possible. Suicide have been preferred by Al-Qaeda especially in highly populated areas or those areas which cannot easily be bombed on a normal launch (Al-Zayyāt, 2004). Many loyalists of this group have accepted and taken an oath to take their lives in the course of their duties. This includes accepting to die so as to propagate their agenda.
The other commonly used strategies by Al-Qaeda regards bombing of the targeted area by launching a bombing mission. Several targets have been destroyed and many killed by the bombings that have been taken up by Al-Qaeda. America’s history was changed after the bombing of the Twin Towers by Al-Qaeda operatives. This activity was carried out using airplanes directed across the buildings leading to the collapse and destruction of several lives (Gunaratna, 2002).
One of the published strategies used by Al-Qaeda refers to the documents which were released on March 11, 205. The document which was referred to as Al-Quds Al-Arabi outlines some of the strategy issues to be taken by the group to the year 2020. One of the pillars of this strategy directly focused ion America. It is aimed at provoking the US to enter into war with any Muslim countries. The provocation is meant to enter into war with the United States as retaliation to any attack on any Muslim country. The other strategy is aiming at entering into war with other countries as a strategy to rope in the United States into entering into war with the group (Wright, 2006). The military and security departments of the United States are normally assisting regions which are facing serious military threats. Therefore, the strategy of Al-Qaeda is to launch an attack on any neighboring country seeking to invite the US into a long-term war.
The other strategy by Al-Qaeda is to bring a reduction in the general economy of the entire world. The lowering of the economic position is aimed at creating both political and economic instability so as cause a global jihad. The intention of Al-Qaeda is to ensure that the United States is highly provoked and brought to its knees in regards to its economic position (Al-Zayyāt, 2004).
Attacks by Al-Qaeda against the US
Al-Qaeda has remained as the orchestrator of several terror attacks in the entire world. Many attacks have been planned, supported or done by this group which currently has the largest network. Specific attacks have been directed to America with...