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The War on Terrorism: Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'ida

This page is dedicated to the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. It provides a select list of research and background sources about the suspected perpetrator of these atrocities: Osama bin Laden and his loose knit network known as al-Qa'ida (The Base).

Introductory Profiles History and Background
Ideology and Beliefs News, Analysis, and Policy Recommendations
Statements and Interviews Al-Qa'ida and WMD
Government Documents on bin Laden and al-Qa'ida Al-Qa'ida and Radical Islamism in Context
Terrorism: General and Introductory Sources Terrorism: Government and Research Sources

Related Link: Attack on America: Remembering September 11th
Related Link: The War on Terrorism: Afghanistan and the Taliban


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Introductory Profiles


Center for Nonproliferation Studies: al Qaida: (http://cns.miis.edu/research/wtc01/alqaida.htm).
-Brief description with links to additional sources.

Federation of American Scientists - al Qa'ida (The Base): (http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ladin.htm).
-Narrative analysis of bin Laden and his organization, with links to important documents, news articles, and statements by bin Laden and his top aide Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Global Security.org: Al Qaida: (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/al-qaida.htm).
-Brief nbarrative description, with lists of al-Qa'ida affiliate organizations and key individuals, and links to relevant documents.

The International Islamic Terrorist Network: (http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/terrorist-network.cfm).
-Introductory analysis of al-Qa'ida from the Center for Defense Information.

Al-Qa'ida (the Base): (http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=74).
-Analysis of al Qa'ida's history and origins, from the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism. Click here for links to current ICT news reports, articles, and documents.

Terrorism: Questions & Answers: Al-Qaeda: (http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/alqaeda.html).
-Basic narrative description of al-Qa'ida in Q & A format, from the Council on Foreign Relations.

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History and Background


CNN.com: Terror on Tape: (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/terror.tapes/index.html).
-Web site offering information on the al-Qa'ida video tapes aired by CNN in August 2002. Features include video clips, articles, and background features.

Hunting Bin Laden: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/).
-Companion Web site to PBS Frontline documentary includes biographical information, the text of many bin Laden statements, interviews and trial transcripts, and links to other resources.

In Search of al Qaeda: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/search/).
-November 2002 PBS Frontline program on al-Qa'ida's presence in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen in the wake of the American military campaign in Afghanistan. Includes interview transcripts, video clips, and links to articles and other readings.

Inside the Terror Network: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/network/).
-PBS Frontline analysis of the September 11th plot and the inner workings of al-Qa'ida. Includes interviews, analyses, biographies of three of the hijackers, and links to a variety of articles and other documents.

Killing In The Name Of God: Osama Bin Laden And Al Qaeda: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/know_thy_enemy/post.pdf).
-Overview by Dr. Jerrold M. Post, part of the July 2003 book Know Thy Enemy: Profiles of Adversary Leaders and Their Strategic Cultures.

The Making of Osama bin Laden : (http://www.observer.co.uk/waronterrorism/story/0,1373,582274,00.html).
-Lengthy biographical analysis originally published by the British newspaper The Observer.

The Man Behind Bin Laden: (http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?020916fa_fact2a).
-Lengthy profile of bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri from the September 16th, 2002 issue of the New Yorker.

The Man Who Knew: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/).
-PBS Frontline documentary on former FBI counterterrorism agent John O'Neill, who became head of security at the World Trade Center and died on 9/11. Includes interviews and readings on O'Neill's efforts to combat al-Qa'ida during the 1990s, the investigation of the USS Cole attack, the FBI's conduct prior to 9/11, and an al-Qa'ida timeline.

Osama Bin Laden: How the U.S. Helped Midwife a Terrorist: (http://www.public-i.org/dtaweb/report.asp?ReportID=23&L1=10&L2=70&L3=10&L4=0&L5=0).
-Account of bin Laden's career by noted Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid. Provided by the Center for Public Integrity.

Osama Bin Laden Bibliography: (http://users.skynet.be/terrorism/html/laden.htm).
-Lengthy list of books and articles. Includes the text of Bin Laden's videotaped statements from late 2001.

Al Qaeda's New Front: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/).
-January 2005 PBS Frontline documentary on the growing jihadist threat in western Europe. Includes an analysis of jihadist ideology, timeline of terror attacks in Europe, and interviews with experts.

The Real bin Laden: (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/?010924fr_archive03).
-Profile from the January 24th, 2000 issue of the New Yorker.

Terrorist and Insurgent Organizations - al Qaida: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/tergps/tgaqai.htm).
-Online bibliography from the Air Force's Air University Library, published in July 2000.

Trail of a Terrorist: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/trail/).
-PBS Frontline Web site on Algerian terrorist Ahmed Ressam and al-Qa'ida's failed December 1999 "Millennium Plot" to attack Los Angeles International Airport and other targets.

What is al-Qaeda?: (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,996509,00.html).
-Overview by British journalist Jason Burke, published in the July 13, 2003 issue of The Observer.

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Ideology and Beliefs


The Concept and Practice of Jihad in Islam: (http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/03spring/knapp.htm).
-Article published in the Spring 2003 issue of Parameters.

Islamists and Anti-Americanism: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2003/issue4/jv7n4a5.html).
-Analysis of the anti-American beliefs of al-Qa'ida and related groups from the December 2003 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

Jihad and Just War: (http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0206/opinion/johnson.html).
-Article by Professor James Turner Johnson of Rutgers University comparing the classical Islamic comcept of jihad with bin Laden's definition. Published in the June/July 2002 issue of First Things.

Killing in the Name of Islam: Al-Qaeda's Justification for September 11: (http://www.mepc.org/journal_vol10/0306_wiktorowiczkaltner.asp).
-Study published in the Summer 2003 issue of Middle East Policy.

License to Kill: (http://web.archive.org/web/20011218022957/http://www.foreignaffairs.org/Search/printable_fulltext.asp?i=19981101facomment1428.xml&return=).
-Textual analysis by historian Bernard Lewis of bin Laden's February 1998 Declaration of the World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and the Crusaders.

The Neglected Duty: Terrorism's Justification: (http://www.inthenationalinterest.com/Articles/Vol3Issue18/Vol3Issue18Rabil.html).
-Brief analysis of jihadist ideology published by In The National Interest.

Usama Bin Laden and Al-Qa'ida: Origins and Doctrines: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2001/issue4/jv5n4a3.htm).
-Research article from the December 2001 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

"Why We Fight America": (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP38802).
-Excerpts from a 2002 Web article by al-Qa'ida spokesman Suleiman Abu Gheith. Translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

The World According To Usama Bin Laden: (http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2001/Autumn/art1-au1.htm).
-Analysis of bin Laden's ideology from the Autumn 2001 Naval War College Review.

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News, Analysis, and Policy Recommendations


Countering al Qaeda: An Appreciation of the Situation and Suggestions for Strategy: (http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1620/).
-Analysis published in late 2002 by Brian Jenkins of the RAND Corporation.

Counterterrorism after Al Qaeda: (http://www.twq.com/04summer/index.cfm?id=115).
-Assessment by former CIA official Paul Pillar of the broader threat posed by radical Islamist terror groups, published in the Summer 2004 issue of the Washington Quarterly.

Deterrence and Influence in Counterterrorism: A Component in the War on al Qaeda: (http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1619/).
-2002 study by Paul Davis and Brian Jenkins of the RAND Corporation.

Diagnosing Al Qaeda: (http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=9416).
-Transcript of an August 18, 2003 symposium held by Frontpage Magazine with five RAND Corporation specialists on terrorism.

Dislocating Alcyoneus: How to Combat al-Qaeda and the New Terrorism: (http://www.comw.org/pda/0206dislocate.html).
-June 2002 report from the Project on Defense Alternatives.

Jamestown Foundation: Global Terrorism Analysis: (http://jamestown.org/terrorism/).
-News and assessments of al Qa'ida and other jihadist organizations.

Mishandling Suicide Terrorism: (http://www.twq.com/04summer/index.cfm?id=109).
-Critical assessment of the current US approach to combating radical Islamist terrorism, from the Summer 2004 issue of the Washington Quarterly.

Peter Bergen's Website: (http://www.peterbergen.com/).
-Official Web site of the noted al-Qa'ida specialist and author of Holy War, Inc., featuring interviews and articles.

The Post-Madrid Face of Al Qaeda: (http://www.twq.com/04summer/index.cfm?id=114).
-Analysis by noted al-Qa'ida specialist Rohan Gunaratna, from the Summer 2004 issue of the Washington Quarterly.

Project for the Research of Islamist Movements (PRISM): (http://www.e-prism.org/).
-PRISM "was founded by Reuven Paz in 2002, in order to combine academic and field research of new developments of radical Islam and Islamist movements. The project is part of the GLORIA Center in the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya." Offers research, analysis, translations of Islamist writings and statements, as well as Arabic language materials.

Al Qaeda and the Internet: The Danger of "Cyberplanning": (http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/03spring/thomas.htm).
-Analysis of how al Qa'ida uses the Internet and World Wide Web, from the Spring 2003 issue of Parameters.

Al Qaeda, Trends in Terrorism and Future Potentialities: An Assessment: (http://www.rand.org/publications/P/P8078/).
-2003 paper by Bruce Hoffman of the RAND Corporation.

al-Qaeda's Advice for Mujahideen in Iraq: Lessons Learned in Afghanistan: (http://www.intelcenter.com/Qaeda-Guerrilla-Iraq-v1-0.pdf).
-April 2003 report by Ben Venzke and Aimee Ibrahim of the IntelCenter, offering analysis and a complete translation of an article by al-Qa'ida military commander Saif al-Adel. More analyses can be found on the IntelCenter Web site.

SITE Institute: (http://www.siteinstitute.org/).
-Provides news and information on al-Qa'ida and other Islamist terrorists, as well as content analysis of radical Islamist Web sites.

Tactical Deception and Strategic Surprise in al-Qai’da’s Operations: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2004/issue2/jv8n2a6.html).
-Article by Richard H. Shultz Jr. and Ruth Margolies Beitler in the June 2004 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

Terrorist Financing: (http://cfr.org/publication.php?id=5080).
-October 2002 report sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, discussing al-Qa'ida's financial network and how to combat it.

Transnational Terrorism and the al Qaeda Model: Confronting New Realities: (http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/02summer/smith.htm).
-Analysis published in the Summer 2002 issue of Parameters.

Update on the Global Campaign Against Terrorist Financing: (http://cfr.org/publication.php?id=7111).
-June 2004 report sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, discussing al-Qa'ida's financial network and how to combat it.

Yahoo News: Osama bin Laden & al-Qaida: (http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=Osama_bin_Laden_and_al_Qaida).
-Links to online news and wire service reports, opinion pieces, and additional resources.

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Statements and Interviews


Bin Laden Tape: February 11, 2003: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2751019.stm).
-Full transcript of bin Laden audiotape broadcast by the al-Jazeera television network.

Bin Laden Tape: November 12, 2002: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2455845.stm).
-Full transcript of bin Laden audiotape broadcast by the al-Jazeera television network.

Bin Laden's "letter to America": (http://www.observer.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,845725,00.html).
-Purported bin Laden letter published in the November 24th, 2002 Observer.

Bin Laden's Message to Iraqis: October 2003: (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/ACB47241-D25F-46CB-B673-56FAB1C2837F.htm).
-Full transcript of bin Laden audiotape broadcast by the al-Jazeera television network.

Bin Laden's Message to US: October 2003: (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8E8EA580-943C-4FBF-9ABD-21B47627FECD.htm).
-Full transcript of bin Laden audiotape broadcast by the al-Jazeera television network.

Bin Laden's Sermon for the Feast of the Sacrifice: (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP47603).
-Statement originally published by Arabic newspapers and Web sites on February 16, 2003. Published in English on March 5, 2003 by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).

Conversation with Terror: (http://www.time.com/time/asia/news/interview/0,9754,174550,00.html).
-Interview published in the January 11, 1999 issue of Time Magazine.

Declaration of the World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and the Crusaders: (http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm).
-February 23, 1998 statement issued by bin Laden and four other Islamist leaders, calling for attacks on all Americans, military and civilian. Posted by the Federation of American Scientists.

Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places: (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html).
-Manifesto released on August 23rd, 1996, calling on Muslims to forcibly expel the United States from Saudi Arabia. Also known as the "Ladenese Epistle".

The Full Version of Osama bin Laden's Speech: (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP81104).
-Complete transcript of bin Laden videotape broadcast by al-Jazeera on October 29, 2004. Made available by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI). A transcript is also available from al-Jazeera.

Interview with Mujahid Usamah Bin Laden: (http://www.islam.org.au/articles/15/LADIN.HTM).
-Published in the October/November 1996 issue of the Australian Islamist publication Nida'ul Islam Magazine.

A New Bin Laden Speech: (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP53903).
-Translated excerpts from an alleged bin Laden speech appearing on various Islamist Web sites. Published in English on July 18, 2003 by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).

Osama Bin Laden Speech Offers Peace Treaty with Europe, Says Al-Qa'ida 'Will Persist in Fighting' the U.S.: (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP69504).
-Transcript of bin Laden audiotape broadcast on April 15, 2004. Made available by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).

Osama Bin Laden to the Iraqi People: It Is Forbidden to Participate in Iraqi & PA Elections; Jihad in Palestine and Iraq is Incumbent upon Residents of All Muslim Countries, Not Just Iraqis and Palestinians; Zarqawi is the Commander of Al-Qa'ida in Iraq: (http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP83704)
-"On December 27, the Al-Sahab Institute for Media Productions, known to be the institute that distributes Al-Qa'ida's videocassettes, published Osama bin Laden's letter "To the Muslims in Iraq in Particular and The [Islamic] Nation in General." Approximately two minutes of the tape aired on Al-Jazeera – the full tape is over one hour long. The following are excerpts from the main points". Made available by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).

Osama Bin Laden: 'Today There is a Conflict between World Heresy Under the Leadership of America on the One Hand and the Islamic Nation with the Mujahideen in its Vanguard on the Other': (http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP83804).
-"In an audio-cassette tape released on December 16, 2004, Osama bin Laden directs his criticism against Arab rulers in general and against the Saudi royal family in particular, saying that they are no longer to be considered Muslims and calling on them to step down. Portions of the approximately hour and fifteen minutes-long tape were aired on Al-Jazeera. The following are excerpts from the speech". Made available by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).

Resist the new Rome: (http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1116855,00.html).
-Excerpt from an alleged bin Laden audiotape, published in the January 6, 2004 issue of the Guardian.

Transcript of Bin Laden's October Interview: (http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/02/05/binladen.transcript/index.html).
-Transcript of the October 2001 interview with the al-Jazeera television network first made public by CNN in early 2002.

"Usamah Bin-Ladin, the Destruction of the Base": Interview with Usamah Bin-Ladin: (http://web.archive.org/web/20021113111503/http://www.terrorism.com/terrorism/BinLadinTranscript.shtml).
-Transcript of interview broadcast on the al-Jazeera television network on June 10, 1999. Originally published by the Terrorism Research Center.

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Al-Qa'ida and Weapons of Mass Destruction


Al-Qaeda and Mass Casualty Terrorism: Assessing the Threat: (http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/rsepResources/si/oct03/terrorism.asp).
-October 2003 assessment from the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Contemporary Conflict.

Al Qaeda's Nuclear Program: Through the Window of Seized Documents: (http://www.nautilus.org/archives/fora/Special-Policy-Forum/47_Albright.html).
-'This essay by David Albright - a physicist, and the President of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C. - examines Al-Qaeda's efforts towards acquiring weapons of mass destruction. He argues that al-Qaeda developed "only limited technological capabilities in Afghanistan to produce WMD." However, he writes, "if al Qaeda had remained in Afghanistan, it would have likely acquired nuclear weapons eventually."'

The al-Qa'ida Network and Weapons of Mass Destruction: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2004/issue3/jv8n3a3.html).
-Analysis from the September 2004 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

WMD Terrorism and Usama Bin Laden: (http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/reports/binladen.htm).
-Report issued in March 2001 by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies on al-Qa'ida's efforts to obatain nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

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Government Documents on bin Laden and al-Qa'ida


Central Intelligence Agency - The War on Terrorism: (http://www.cia.gov/terrorism/index.html).
-Select CIA statements and documents discussing bin Laden, from 1997-present.

Congressional Joint 9/11 Inquiry Final Reports:
-Released December 10, 2002.

Congressional Joint 9/11 Inquiry Hearings: (http://foi.missouri.edu/terrorintelligence/intelligcomm/).
-Reports and statements delivered before the joint House and Senate Intelligence Committees investigation of the September 11th attacks. Also available from the Federation of American Scientists.

Extremist Movements and Their Threat to the United States: (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_senate_hearings&docid=f:61869.wais).
-Transcript of a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, held on November 2, 1999. Osama bin Laden is one of the main points of discussion. Also available as a PDF document.

The Global Reach of Al-Qaeda: (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_senate_hearings&docid=f:77601.wais).
-Transcript of a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on International Operations and Terrorism, held on December 18, 2001. Also available as a PDF document.

Global Terrorism after the Iraq War: (http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr111.html).
-October 2003 special report from the United States Institute of Peace.

Indictment of Zacarias Moussaoui: (http://notablecases.vaed.uscourts.gov/1:01-cr-00455/docs/66826/0.pdf).
-July 2002 indictment of a suspected al-Qa'ida member for involvement in the September 11th attacks. The original indictment, issued in December 2001, can be found at the US Department of Justice Web site. More documents on this case can be found at the US District Court of Eastern Virginia.

Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities before and after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001: (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/creports/911.html).
-Official 832 page report produced by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and released in late July 2003.

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: (http://www.9-11commission.gov/).
-Official Web site of the bipartisan commission created in November 2002 to investigate the September 11 attacks. Includes hearing transcripts, webcasts, press releases, interim reports, and the commission's final report.

9/11 Commission Report: (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/index.html).
-Final report released in July 2004.

Al Qaeda After the Iraq Conflict: (http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/21191.pdf).
-Congressional Research Service report dated May 23, 2003.

Al-Qaeda and the Global Reach of Terrorism: (http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa75562.000/hfa75562_0f.htm).
-Transcript of a hearing held before the House Committee on International Relations on October 3, 2001.

Al Qaeda: Profile and Threat Assessment: (http://fpc.state.gov/fpc/52678.htm)
-Congressional Research Service report last updated on August 17, 2005.

Al Qaeda: Statements and Evolving Ideology: (http://fpc.state.gov/fpc/48928.htm).
-Congressional Research Service report last updated on June 20, 2005.

Al-Qaeda: The Threat to the United States and its Allies: (http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations/108/92869.pdf).
-Transcript of a hearing held before the House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights, on April 1, 2004.

Al Qaeda Training Manual: (http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/trainingmanual.htm).
-Translated copy released by the Justice Department.

Responsibility for the Terrorist Atrocities in the United States, 11 September 2001: (http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2001/11/ukreport.html).
-Revised document released by the British government on November 14, 2001, that outlines the evidence implicating Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'ida in the events of September 11th. Original version was published on October 4, 2001.

Terrorist CBRN: Materials and Effects: (http://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/terrorist_cbrn/terrorist_CBRN.htm).
-May 2003 report from the CIA on the possible threat from chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons. "This pamphlet contains a summary of typical agents and CBRN devices available to al-Qa'ida and other terrorist groups. It is not intended to be a summary of the overall threat from al-Qa'ida's CBRN program."

Transcript of Usama Bin Laden Video Tape: (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/d20011213ubl.pdf).
-Official Department of Defense transcript of the bin Laden video made public on December 13, 2001.

United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee: (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/1267Template.htm).
-"The Security Council Committee established pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 1267 (1999) (hereafter referred to as the 1267 Committee) oversees the implementation by States of the sanctions imposed by the Security Council on individuals and entities belonging or related to the Taliban, Usama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaida organization and maintains a list of individuals and entities for this purpose." The site offers committee reports, reports from member states on compliance with resolution 1267, and the list of those persons and groups believed linked to al-Qa'ida and the Taliban.

U.S. Engagement with the Taliban on Usama Bin Laden: (http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB97/index3.htm).
-July 2001 summary by the State Department, made available by the National Security Archive.

United States of America v. Enaam M. Arnaout: Evidentiary Proffer: (http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/bif/usarnaout10603prof.pdf).
-January 6, 2003 document presented before the Federal Northern District Court of Illinois, outlining the evidence against the head of the Benevolence International Foundation (BIF), an Islamic charity with alleged ties to al-Qa'ida. Includes information on the origins of al-Qa'ida, and its involvement in places such as Sudan and Bosnia, and excerpts from letters written by Osama bin Laden.

United States of America v. Jamal Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi and Fahd Al-Quso: (http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/cole/usalbadawi051503ind.pdf).
-May 15, 2003 indictment of two suspected al-Qa'ida members for their role in the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole.

United States of America v. Usama Bin Laden: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/fbi/indict1.pdf).
-Indictment of bin Laden by the Federal Southern District Court of New York for his role in the August 1998 US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The full 157 page indictment from this case can be found here.

Usama Bin Laden: Islamic Extremist Financier: (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB55/ciaubl.pdf).
-1996 CIA assessment of bin Laden and his activities, made available by the National Security Archive.

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Al-Qa'ida and Radical Islamism in Context

Causes of Anti-Americanism in the Arab World: A Socio-Political Perspective: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2003/issue4/jv7n4a6.html).
-Argues that anti-American sentiment in the Middle East is a result of US support for Israel and other actions. Published in the December 2003 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

The Clash of Ignorance: (http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20011022&s=said).
-Critique by scholar Edward Said of the idea that the September 11th attacks represent a "clash of civilizations" between Islam and the West. Published in the October 22nd, 2001 issue of the Nation.

The Forgotten Swamp: Navigating Political Islam: (http://www.mepc.org/public_asp/journal_vol9/0206_denoeux.asp).
-Analysis seeking to "provide, in one place, a succinct presentation of key concepts and issues required to analyze political Islam, particularly in its more radical manifestations." Published in the June 2002 issue of Middle East Policy.

Fractured Fundamentalisms: (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/88/story_8849.html).
-Essay by religion scholar Karen Armstrong on the origins of religious extremism and how Osama bin Laden's beliefs compare with traditional Islam.

Fundamentalist Islam: The Drive for Power: (http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/FundamentalistPower.htm).
-"A short history of Islamism's pursuit of power." Article by historian Martin Kramer, originally published in the June 1996 issue of Middle East Quarterly.

Hudson Institute: Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World: (http://www.futureofmuslimworld.com/).
-"The purpose of the center is to research and analyze the ideological dimension of Islamism and radical Islam, and to encourage and support moderate and democratic alternatives within the Muslim world. The center’s research program includes conferences, seminars and publications." Publishes an online journal called Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, which is freely available in PDF.

Islamic Activism: A Bibliography: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/islamc/islamact.htm).
-Lists books, articles and Web links. From the USAF Air University Library.

Islamic Extremists: How Do They Mobilize Support?: (http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr89.html).
-July 2002 special report from the United States Institute of Peace.

The Islamic Fundamentalist View of Life as a Perennial Battle: (http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2001/issue4/jv5n4a2.htm).
-Scholarly analysis of Islamist ideology from the December 2001 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs.

Looking for Answers: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/).
-Companion Web site to PBS Frontline documentary on the sources of Islamist extremism in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and on the failure of US intelligence to stop the September 11th attacks. Includes interview transcripts, a collection of articles from the New York Times, and links to a sizable number of online readings.

Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI): Jihad and Terrorism Studies Project: (http://www.memri.org/jihad.html).
-Translations of articles from Arab media sources, especially those representing the radical Islamist viewpoint.

Mixed Message: The Arab and Muslim Response to 'Terrorism': (http://www.twq.com/02spring/alsayyid.pdf).
-Article by Professor Mustafa Al Sayyid of Cairo University discussing terrorism as perceived and defined in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Published in the Spring 2002 issue of the Washington Quarterly.

The Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Radicalism: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/know_thy_enemy/servold.pdf).
-Detailed overview published as part of the July 2003 book Know Thy Enemy: Profiles of Adversary Leaders and Their Strategic Cultures.

Muslims: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/).
-PBS Frontline Web site provides an overview of mainstream Islam, with a wide selection of readings on Islamic history and belief, and interviews with Muslim scholars. Topics include "Islam and the West", Islam and democracy, and the role of women within Islamic societies.

The Other Face of the Islamist Movement: (http://www.ceip.org/files/Publications/wp33.asp?from=pubtopic).
-January 2003 working paper from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discussing the non-violent parts of the Islamist movement, and how the international community can best deal with them.

The Revolt of Islam: (http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?011119fa_FACT2).
-Essay by historian Bernard Lewis from the November 19th, 2001 issue of the New Yorker analyzing the historical roots of militant Islamism.

Somebody Else's Civil War: (http://evatt.labor.net.au/publications/papers/76.html).
-Essay by professor Michael Scott Doran, originally published in the January/February 2002 issue of Foreign Affairs.

Target America: (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/).
-Companion site to PBS Frontline documentary on the lessons of the first US struggle against terrorism in the 1980s. Includes transcripts of interviews with former Reagan administration officials, a timeline of anti-American terrorist attacks from 1979-1988, an essay on the development and evolution of Islamic terrorism, and links to online articles and reports.

The Tenets of Terror: (http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1018/p1s2-wogi.html).
-An analysis of "the ideology of jihad and the rise of Islamic militancy" from the October 18, 2001 Christian Science Monitor.

U.S. Policy Toward Political Islam: (http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11479).
-Argues that American policy in the Middle East has been a major factor in producing radical Islamist movements. Published in June 2001 by Foreign Policy in Focus.

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Terrorism: General and Introductory Sources


 Academic Info: International Terrorism Studies: (http://www.academicinfo.net/terrorism.html).
-Excellent subject directory of selected quality Web sites.

After Sept. 11: Perspectives from the Social Sciences: (http://www.ssrc.org/sept11/essays/).
-A collection of essays written by social scientists from around the world seeking to put the attacks into their broader context. Topics include globalization, fundamentalism, terrorism and democracy, and the future of international relations, among others.

America's War Against Terrorism: (http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/usterror.html).
-A comprehensive directory of news, information, and research links from the University of Michigan's Documents Center.

Evergreen State College Hot Topics: Terrorist Attacks on the U.S., September 11, 2001 : (http://www.evergreen.edu/library/govdocs/hotopics/sept11/enter.html).
-A lengthy list of news and information Web links on September 11th and the aftermath, "pertaining to the attacks as they happened in the days immediately after the event".

Recent Terrorism Events: Background and Context: (http://www.cqpress.com/context/).
-CQ Press Web site offering articles from the CQ Researcher, encyclopedias, and other reference sources. An ideal resource for students and general users.

Selected Internet Resources: Terrorism: (http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/terrorism/terrorism.html).
-Annotated Web directory from the Library of Congress.

Terrorism: Questions & Answers: (http://cfrterrorism.org/home/).
-An excellent introductory source from the Council on Foreign Relations.

United States Institute of Peace Library: Terrorism/Counter-Terrorism Web Links: (http://www.usip.org/library/topics/terrorism.html).
-Topical list of academic and governmental sites, as well as links to relevant USIP reports.

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Terrorism: Government and Research Sources


 Annotated Bibliography of Government Documents Related to the Threat of Terrorism and the Attacks of September 11, 2001: (http://www.odl.state.ok.us/usinfo/terrorism/911.htm).
-Print and electronic federal publications from a variety of agencies, assembled by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

Chronology of Significant International Terrorism for 2004: (http://www.tkb.org/documents/Downloads/NCTC_Report.pdf).
-April 2005 report from the National Counterterrorism Center, offering statistics and quantitative analysis of the number of terrorist attacks in 2004. Replaces the statistical portion of Patterns of Global Terrorism.

Combating Terrorism: Interagency Framework and Agency Programs to Address the Overseas Threat: (http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?recflag=&accno=A06978&rptno=GAO-03-165).
-Lengthy, detailed May 2003 report published by the General Accounting Office. Click on the report number for a PDF copy, or "Accessible Text" for an ASCII version. For additional GAO reports on terrorism, go to http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/featured/terrorism.html.

Conflict 21 Center for Terrorism Studies: (http://c21.maxwell.af.mil/cts-home.htm).
-Web site of US Air National Guard research group. Offers a wealth of government reports and publications on al-Qa'ida, Islamism, and terrorism in general.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs: (http://www.fpc.state.gov/c4763.htm)
-Coverage from late 2001-present, provided by the US State Department's Foreign Press Centers. Other sources include Findlaw, and the Federation of American Scientists. Relevant reports from 1998-2005 include the following (PDF files):

CRS Issue Briefs:

CRS Short Reports:

CRS Long Reports:

Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism: (http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/commission.html).
-Full text of the June 2000 report issued by the National Commission on Terrorism. Also available as a PDF document.

Counterterrorism Intelligence Capabilities and Performance Prior to 9-11: (http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2002_rpt/hpsci_ths0702.html).
-Unclassified summary of report submitted by the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security on July 17, 2002.

Country Reports on Terrorism, 2004: (http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/c14813.htm).
-April 2005 report from the U.S. State Department. Replaces Patterns of Global Terrorism.

Federation of American Scientists: Terrorism - Background and Threat Assessments: (http://fas.org/irp/threat/terror.htm).
-Contains research reports, articles, and official statements.

Findlaw Special Coverage: War on Terrorism: (http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/us/terrorism/documents/index.html).
-Excellent directory of online articles, legal documents, and research reports on terrorism, from both government and private sources.

Government Publications on Terrorism: (http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/terrorism.html).
-Bibliography of print and online US documents, from the University of Maryland Libraries.

International Crisis Group: International Terrorism: (http://www.crisisweb.org/home/index.cfm?id=1279&l=1).
-Reports, briefings, and articles prepared by ICG specialists and staff.

MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base: (http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp).
-Detailed database of terrorist leaders, groups and incidents. Browsable or searchable.

National Security Archive: September 11th Source Books: (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/sept11/).
-Online collections of government documents and research reports, many previously classified, covering "terrorism, intelligence, and the next war".

National Strategy for Combating Terrorism: (http://www.cia.gov/terrorism/publications/Counter_Terrorism_Strategy.pdf).
-February 2003 document outlining the broad outlines of US strategy in the War on Terrorism.

Naval Postgraduate School - Dudley Knox Library: Terrorism: (http://web.nps.navy.mil/~library/terrorism.htm).
-Thorough guide to online bibliographies, research reports, listservs, and other Web resources.

An Overview of International Terrorist Organizations: (http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa86080.000/hfa86080_0f.htm).
-Transcript of a hearing before the House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights, held on March 26, 2003. Also available as a PDF document.

Patterns of Global Terrorism: (http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/).
-Annual report released by the State Department. 2000-2003 are listed, click on "Archive" to access the 1995-1999 editions.

Project on Defense Alternatives: Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, Homeland Security: (http://www.comw.org/tct/index.html).
-Portal site linking to numerous online research materials, such as articles and reports. Browsable by topic.

RAND Research Area: Terrorism and Homeland Security: (http://www.rand.org/terrorism_area/).
-Reports, articles, commentaries, and other material from RAND Corporation analysts.

The Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism: (http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS17114).
                                  -Lengthy study released in September 1999 by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Recently in the news for its reference to al-Qa'ida possibly crashing aircraft into buildings.

State Department International Information Programs - Response to Terrorism: (http://usinfo.state.gov/is/international_security/terrorism.html).
-Official source of US government statements, press releases, reports and documents. Updated daily.

Terrorism: A Select Guide to Information: (http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/terrorism.html).
-Annotated list of Web links and print government publications from the University of Buffalo's Lockwood Library.

Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends: (http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/49090.pdf).
-Congressional Research Service (CRS) report last updated on June 8, 2005.

Terrorism Today: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/tertod/tertod.htm).
-Detailed subject bibliography, containing Web resources, books, articles, and videos, compiled by the USAF Air University Library in September 2003.

Terrorism 2004: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/terrornew/terrorism.htm).
-Detailed subject bibliography, containing Web resources, books, articles, and videos, compiled by the USAF Air University Library in August 2004.

Terrorism 2005: (http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/terror05.htm).
-Detailed subject bibliography, containing Web resources, books, articles, and videos, compiled by the USAF Air University Library in August 2005.

www.terror.net: How Modern Terrorism Uses the Internet: (http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr116.html).
-March 2004 report from the United States Institute of Peace.

Return to Table of Contents

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Return to War on Terrorism Resource Guides


Created and maintained by David Durant, Political Science and Government Documents Librarian at Joyner Library, East Carolina University. This page and the sites that it links to do not necessarily reflect the views of Joyner Library and East Carolina University.

Last Modified: January 4, 2006

URL of this Page: http://www.lib.ecu.edu/govdoc/qaida.cfm

This page was created on September 16, 2001. 



 
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