Is Al Qaeda still Alive?

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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.

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