The debate between Bruce Hoffman and Marc Sageman over the perceived threat
posed by Al-Qaeda is an intriguing one. Both Hoffman and Sageman are well known terrorist
experts and present an interesting thesis in support of their respective arguments. Hoffman
argues that Al-Qaeda is still active after reconstructing itself in the Tribal Areas in Pakistan,
and therefore, the threat posed by Al-Qaeda cannot be discredited. However, Sageman argues
that the threat posed by Al-Qaeda is no longer critical, and suggests that the threat posed by
terrorists emerging from the concept of leaderless resistance are of greater importance due to
the fact that they are harder to detect since they emerge from pretty much everywhere
(internet, chat rooms, and online forums) and they do not report to anyone. This essay will
argue that Hoffman’s argument is more convincing for several reasons: (1) Al-Qaeda is an
organization that is very versatile, adaptable, and capable of making a spectacular return
with a massive impact if it wants due to its protean nature, thus, it still remains a threat,
and (2) even though terrorists emerging through the concept of leaderless resistance are hard
to detect and infiltrate, they are not capable enough of creating an impact that an organization
like Al-Qaeda is capable of due to the lack of resources, funding, and training and as Peter
Bergen notes, “Leaderless things don’t produce big outcomes.” That being said, it does not
mean that Sageman’s arguments are all flawed, to a certain degree, he makes some credible
points and this paper will analyse those arguments in greater depth. To illustrate key points
found in both Hoffman’s and Sageman’s argument, this essay will make use of the ...
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...ti-layered threat. Furthermore, the report also states the domestic radicalization leading to
terrorism is a problem as well and one that is actually accelerating and the two threats
actually complement one another. Al Qaeda messaging plays a key role in radicalization,
while domestically radicalized individuals (7/7 bombers) often cycle through al Qaeda-run
training camps.
Furthermore, the CSIS report highlights the threat of al Qaeda, “the al Qaeda threat
has not disappeared despite the successes by intelligence and security forces in targeting
and neutralizing much of the group’s pre-9/11 leadership. CSIS’s focus is on the threat posed
by individuals and groups inspired by the ideology of al Qaeda. The primary threats to
Canada and interests would those posed by Islamist extremism and this threat exists both
domestically and internationally.
forces. Terrorist cells will continue to expand their realm and scope to inflict pain to other
The organization of the argument of this paper is not particularly imaginative since this writer “lists” elements in a strictly sequential order, but he or she demonstrates familiarity with a wide range of documents and concepts of the Reader while working closely with the specific language of the document he or she is presenting.
the end of this paper I will show how I come to this conclusion. First I will tell the story in my
For approximately the past three decades, a terrorist group has come to plague the world with its activities (Gunaratna, 2002). This group is known as Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda, when translated means “The Base”. It is a terrorist organization that seeks to remove western influence from the Middle East and spread its radical Islamic views. Al Qaeda’s most prominent leader was Osama bin Laden, until his death during a raid upon his compound in Pakistan. The Al Qaeda’s motivation stems primarily from extreme and deeply rooted religious beliefs. Their most used method of attack is through suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices. This organization has also used chemical warfare and at this time is believed to still actively seek to utilize chemical and biological agents as means to battle.
Currie, Stephen. "Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda." Terrorists and Terrorist Groups. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. 69-83. Print.
Al Qaeda’s history began during the Cold War. Western countries, such as the United States, and its allies supported militant units within Islam to fight the Soviet Union. The United States formed an alliance with the Pakistan Interservice Intelligence Agency (ISI) (White, 2012). The ISI is equivalent to the United States intelligence agency CIA. The ISI, along with the United States began training and arming the mujahedeen (holy warriors) to fight the Soviet Union. In 1979, Afghan mujahedeen along with Saudi Arabia fought the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan (White, 2012). The United States supported the Afghan mujahedeen along with any other form of Islam to combat the Soviet Union. The United States developed an unde...
every day there is something on the news about a terrorist attack somewhere in the world. The threat is real, but the biggest threat is ISIS. Countries all around the globe are preparing for, or fighting, a war against ISIS. In a world full of many terrorist groups and threats, ISIS is the most powerful. The world needs to better understand what it is, where they attack, and how to stop them.
As defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for the purpose of Chapter 113B of the U.S. Code entitled “Terrorism”;
In the introduction of this argument I start by connecting with the reader by showing
For this paper I will break down the following argument in terms of validity and soundness:
He believes that the real danger is overreaction. When the media blows everything up it puts a big fear on American lives. “It is not the people al-Qaeda might kill that is the threat,” concludes David Kilcullen. According to David Kilcullen, “Our reaction is what can cause the damage (Kilcullen). It’s al-Qaeda plus our response that creates the existential danger” (Kilcullen). He is stating that the real danger isn’t terrorist attacks against us. He is stating that the real danger is our media blowing it up and us going to war that doesn’t have to happen. I think that James Fallows is mistaken because he overlooks the alliances that are being created between al-Qaeda and Arab organizations. We are losing American lives over terrorist takes made against us and he states that we are bringing it out of proportion. I believe that no American should lose their lives for terrorist actions made against us. We have hampered al-Qaeda and might possibly take them out, but I still believe that there will be more organizations popping
Al Qaeda, the organization that the United States is in a constant, never ending battle with, the organization that has made the most impact and changed the United States forever. Al Qaeda is always making headlines with their terrorist attacks, the most known attack September 11th, 2001. This essay is about the terrorist group Al Qaeda, its history and background, Osama bin Laden, their well-known leader, and the major attacks on America.
The purpose of this paper is to contrast between these two schools of thought by looking at their assumptions with the help of concrete examples.
The author divides his arguments in favor of the thesis into five parts. Part one concerns