Posted: September 6th, 2015

Terrorism.

Ultimate Goals of Jihadist Terrorists

In order to understand and anticipate future terrorist efforts, particularly in terms of attacks, one must understand what the ultimate goals of the terrorists are. For instance, rather than the destruction of the United States that many Americans seem to believe is the foremost goal of al Qaeda (AQ), the top three primary short terms goals for its existence – as published by Usama bin Laden – have been (1) overthrow of the Saudi regime; (2) destruction of Israel; and (3) removal of all infidels from the Arabian Peninsula. However, the manner in which those goals can realistically be achieved, and what secondary tier goals AQ has, must be examined.

From your own perspective, knowledge, opinions, reading and research, what other short and intermediate term goals do you think AQ would have in furtherance of its grand, strategic goal of the creation of a global pan-Islamic caliphate? In looking at each of those goals, briefly discuss the role of the United States, its protection of its vital interests, and prosecution of its global policies, that would be obstacles to AQ. Secondarily, in light of U.S. military and government intervention in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and the southern Philippines, among others in recent years, would it even be possible for AQ to pursue those shorter term goals without confronting the United States and targeting it? From the other side of that analysis, examine what success AQ would be likely to have in the pursuit of all of its goals if it succeeded in cowing the U.S. and its allies into a non-intervention policy – particularly where AQ was concerned – in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Philippines, Pakistan and elsewhere.

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