Zawahiri issues General Guidelines for Jihad

[davidbfpo]

An interesting analysis of the al-Zawahiri document by the German journalist, Yassin Musharbash and he asks:

So what is al-Qaeda in 2013? An open network? Or still a hierarchical organization? Is it a network of networks? Or a system of franchise operations?

Link:http://www.abususu.blogspot.co.uk/20...revisited.html

Two key points:

After roughly a decade in which al-Qaeda’s main interest was to plot spectacular attacks against Western targets, or “the far enemy,” the pendulum is now swinging back toward the near enemy. This is not only a strategic decision by the central leadership. It is also what most new recruits are interested in.

We are presently witnessing another transformation, as al-Qaeda not only shifts focus but also allows for more co-operation and integration with local groups at the expense of micro-management by a central leadership, which can’t be maintained under these circumstances.

[OUTLAW 09]

This is in fact extremely interesting as it clearly indicates the lessons learned from past failures and is a true example of adaptation.

If one looks at the 10 standing orders of an insurgency published by John Robb in 2007 in Global Guerrilla's I would place this into the area of open source warfare---meaning the AQ leadership is now following the Robb standing orders.

Which is not a good thing for the future as it allows the individual groups to morph the way they want to in order to match their specific ecosystem.

As Robb mentions in one of the standing orders--- innovate, innovate, innovate.

For those that do not believe AQ drives off of a strategy---this should end that discussion---they do.

Iraq and AFG has shown us that the US Army seems to have never "seen/understood" that strategy.

[OUTLAW 09]

Reading the entire document is worth it---this sentence caught my attention as it is virtually the same as the SF motto in their beret--"to free the oppressed."

15. Providing help and support to the victims of oppression, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, against those who oppress them. Supporting and encouraging everyone who helps them, even if he is a non-Muslim.