Training for the Jihad (merged thread)

[Merv Benson]

From my post with excerpts from the UK Telegraph:

The Taliban has published its first military field manual detailing how to spring ambushes, run spies and conduct an insurgency against coalition forces in Afghanistan.

At 144 pages, Military Teachings - for the Preparation of Mujahideen, is a minutely detailed "how to" book on subjects ranging from tactics and weapons to building training camps and spycraft.

The guide, which is similar in its aims to British and American military field manuals, was obtained by The Daily Telegraph from a source in Pakistan who claimed to be close to the Taliban. Its cover bears the image of two crossed swords and the Koran, the arms of the Taliban's ousted government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

...

The military manual is divided into 10 chapters and appears to be the result of a collaboration between religious scholars and specialists in terrorist, logistical and intelligence tactics. It is illustrated with simple formulas for the preparation of explosives, pictures and diagrams of light and heavy weaponry, ammunition and communication equipment.

The bulk of the manual details basic military skills such as firing positions and how to use different weapons. It advises on how to carry out remotely controlled attacks on enemy vehicles, and shows how to strike aircraft and armoured vehicles by targeting weak points.

It shows with diagrams how to target vehicles passing through rough terrain at low speed and how telegraph poles and trees can be used to range in on a target.

It also explores methods of blowing up bridges, railway tracks and power and telephone lines.

I'm sure our intel guys will be eager to get their hands on it, although they seemed to have done a pretty good job of figuring out their doctrine. If you follow the link back to the Telegraph they also have photos of some of the pages of the manual.

[MattC86]

I'm sure our intel guys will be eager to get their hands on it, although they seemed to have done a pretty good job of figuring out their doctrine. If you follow the link back to the Telegraph they also have photos of some of the pages of the manual.

The intel guys may know it, but I don't and I'd like to. Any chance we might see it available for us poor laymen?

Or is it safe to say Taliban "doctrine" is pretty close to Mujahideen tactics described in "The Other Side of the Mountain" or other similar works?

Matt

[Cavguy]

The intel guys may know it, but I don't and I'd like to. Any chance we might see it available for us poor laymen?

Or is it safe to say Taliban "doctrine" is pretty close to Mujahideen tactics described in "The Other Side of the Mountain" or other similar works?

Matt

The joke here at the COIN Center is that more people outside the army have read FM 3-24 than inside...... and probably more of our enemies.

[Stan]

And if it wasn't already easy, you get this kind redirect during your search for the free download

FAS Note: This “final draft” of FM 3-24 on Counterinsurgency has
been superseded by the final version of the document dated 15
December 2006 and posted here: http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-24.pdf

[Merv Benson]

Use the link on my post to get to the Telegraph story. There is a link to several pictures from the manual. I have not been able to copy the link directly but it reads "In pictures: Taliban 'how to' manual."

[Sarajevo071]

[Sarajevo071]

[Stan]

Hey Sarajevo !
Thanks for the pics !

This image looks as if it came directly out of a manual for the Army Corps of Engineers. .500 to 1.0 kg explosives placement, shape charges et al.

Nonetheless, fairly basic stuff found on the internet.

I'd be interested in the IED construction sections if any.

Regards, Stan

[Jedburgh]

The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Focus, 1 Apr 08:

An Online Terrorist Training Manual - Part One: Creating a Terrorist Cell

Jihadis continue to pursue terror training and knowledge exchange with fellow jihadis through Internet forums. Often, the jihadi forum participants post short, though significant, details pertinent to terror conduct drawn from real life experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, a forum participant posted six training episodes comprised of the basic knowledge needed by a novice jihadi to become a full-fledged terrorist. The episodes begin with two basics lessons on "How to set up a terrorist cell." Four more episodes followed, over a week, on sniper attacks, assassination techniques, attacking and looting government centers, and conducting massive terror strikes. Terrorism Focus will cover all six episodes of this important training manual, beginning with this issue and continuing over the next two weeks.

Posted by an Islamist forum participant nicknamed “Shamil al-Baghdadi,” the first of the training lessons is entitled, “Do you want to form a terror cell?” and is directed at setting up a terrorist cell behind enemy lines under tight security conditions. The cell, says al-Baghdadi, should commence with one, strong, monotheistic and valorous man as the nucleus. This individual should meet the following conditions:

• He must be a strong adherent of the Sunni ideology and well educated in the history of jihad.

• He should be experienced in—at the very least—light weapons such as pistols and rifles because these are available in nearly any society.

• He should be trained in secure communications through the Internet and mobile devices.

• He should be tolerant and display perseverance in religious preaching and teaching.

• He should maintain a good cover and not be on any security watch lists in order to allow free mobility

[Jedburgh]

The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Focus, 9 Apr 08:

An Online Terrorist Training Manual - Part Two: Assassinations and Robberies

The last issue of Terrorism Focus discussed the first two of six terrorist training lessons posted on a pro-al-Qaeda jihadi forum. These lessons, dealing with the creation of a terrorist cell, also briefly touched on the subject of assassination techniques. This issue will discuss the next two lessons which focus on assassination methods and procedures for raiding and looting small “enemy” installations.

The author of the lessons, who gives his name as Shamil al-Baghdadi, commences the third episode by expanding on the assassination techniques he touched on in lesson two......

[Van]

Check out the articles at the bottom of this page, gleaned from numerous jihadi sites.

I can't read Arabic, but the in Al Battar series and others, the pictures speak for themselves. Lots of other links to jihadi materials.

[Jedburgh]

The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Focus, 16 Apr 08:

An Online Terrorist Training Manual - Part Three: Striking U.S. Embassies

This issue of Terrorism Focus will conclude the look at the terrorist training lessons of Shamil al-Baghdadi, posted on a pro-al-Qaeda website. Episodes five and six of the training discuss the perpetration of “quality terror attacks”—high-impact, high-risk operations that include tourist abductions, sniper attacks and strikes on American embassies and other U.S. interests.....

[AdamG]

Police Discover Online Al Qaeda Manual The 8-page manual offers instructions how to prepare a remote car bomb attack and pilotless craft attack.
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=169313

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403902,00.html
New Al Qaeda Manual Reflects Changing Face of Terror

Most shocking are the lessons on kidnapping, with orders to slaughter hostages in a way that will terrify the public.

"I propose you start with those that have blood on their hands torturing and suppressing Muslims like high-ranking intelligence officers, the governor or any foreign official," writes al-Baghdadi.