Inside Al-Qaeda

Have you ever wondered how a terrorist group, such as Al-Qaeda, operates? How does such a chaotic organization remain under the radar? Today, I hope to provide some insight on how Al-Qaeda operates. The topics to be included in this analysis of Al-Qaeda are: leadership, cell types, financial information, and the modes and methods of attacks utilized by Al-Qaeda (CTU, 2006).

The Al-Qaeda, "The Foundation" in English, was founded by Osama Bin Laden in the late 1980's. Al-Qaeda was the first established as the base for what would become a global Islamic army (Global Security, n.d.). Al-Qaeda has cells in over 65 countries that include: Jordan, Iraq, United States, Saudi Arabia, and Europe (Al-Qaeda, 2006).Al-Qaeda has about 20,000 members world-wide that are under direct orders of the network (Al-Qaeda).Al-Qaeda is very organized, yet chaotic, terrorist network. The network is organized with a council and six different committees and two subcommittees. Together, the network is the Islamic Army (Global Security). The first level of the organization is known as the "al Qaeda Shura" or Advisory Council. This level is comprised of the Emir, also known as Osama Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders, most of whom have longtime ties with the terrorist leader (Global Security). Some of the leaders who would have been found in this so-called inner circle include: Saif al-Adel; Sulaiman Abu Ghaith; Abu Hafiza; Abu Faraj al-Libbi; Abu Mohammed al-Masri; Khalid Sheikh Mohammed; Thirwat Salah Shirhata; Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (recently killed in Iraq); Ayman al-Zawahri; and Abu Zubaydah (Al-Qaeda).