Leverage, Reach, and Isolation of the Enemy in Al-Qaeda's Strategy

Despite recent military successes in Afghanistan and Iraq, Al-Qaeda still remains a threat to the United States. Through research and analysis this paper will assist to illustrate that Osama bin Laden has developed a terror network designed to carry out his terrorist campaign. He possesses the ability to transfer information to subordinate cells through his clandestine information flow and his ability to influence information distributed through the media. Through years of careful planning he has identified his desired endstate and strategic objectives to support his campaign strategies. He has chosen to fight against the United States first, which he believes will help his Islamic revolution later. While fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan, he adopted a pan-Islamic ideology to broaden his support base. Through these initiatives, Al-Qaeda is part of a mutually supportive terrorist network which allows the terrorist the capability to strike globally. Bin Laden has integrated the principle of anticipation throughout his campaign plan. He seeks to gain and maintain leverage with asymmetrical attacks in an attempt to influence his adversary's center of gravity while at the same time strengthening his own. Bin Laden has established in-depth and comprehensive information operations campaigns designed to attack the United States national will to fight. The effective uses of these principles in his design make his organization more resilient and enable him to decide when and how he chooses to conduct operations. The need to continue to analyze this threat from an operational perspective, the United States can further identify both the strengths and weaknesses of bin Laden's plan.