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Comparison Of Osama Bin Laden And Al Qaeda

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We have been focusing upon how those in terrorist leadership positions communicate their agenda to those within their organizations, their affiliates, and to the world at large. Focusing upon Osama bin Laden, how would you compare and contrast his ability to communicate and exert influence upon these various audiences from the years preceding 9/11 until his death? Summary Al Qaeda leaders and affiliates have conducted sophisticated public relations and media campaigns since the mid-1990s. Terrorism analysts believe that these campaigns have been designed to elicit psychological reactions and communicate complex political messages to a global audience as well as to specific subpopulations in the Islamic world, the United States, …show more content…

The report will be updated periodically. For background on Al Qaeda, see CRS Report RL33038, Al Qaeda: Profile and Threat Assessment, by Kenneth Katzman. Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Al Qaeda: Statements 1994-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Founding Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 “Declaration of Jihad” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 “Clash of Civilizations” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Al Qaeda Post-9/11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 “The Goals of the New York Strike” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Al Qaeda Statements in 2004-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Outreach and ‘Truce’ Proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Iraq and Al Qaeda’s Ideology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Strategic Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tactical Differences? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Iraq and Al Qaeda’s Regional Ambitions . . . . . . . . . . . .

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