Al Qaeda in Its Own Words

Despite the frequent appearances of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri on television screens worldwide, Al Qaeda remains an elusive entity. As the world has grown increasingly familiar with the spectacle of Islamist terrorism, Al Qaeda's essential worldview has remained bewilderingly opaque. To reveal its inner workings, Gilles Kepel and his collaborators, all scholars of Arabic and Islam, have collected and brilliantly annotated key texts of the major figures from whom the movement has drawn its beliefs and direction. The resulting volume offers an unprecedented glimpse into the assumptions of the salafist jihadists who have reshaped political life at the beginning of the third millennium.Excerpts from the work of Azzabdallah Azzam, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - drawn from speeches, internet postings, and published writings - tell the story of Al Qaeda's evolution, from its origins in the Afghan war through the war in Iraq. These texts reveal the rational, discursive mode used to persuade and to justify violent armed struggle in a universe defined by militant Islam. Substantial interpretive introductions to each leader's work and extensive critical commentary provide unparalleled access to the intellectual and doctrinal context of Al Qaeda in which these radical ideas have taken shape.By viewing Al Qaeda from within, this indispensable volume reveals the terrorist network's insidious role in the global web culture of today and the full dimensions of its frightening threat to world stability and security. Despite The Frequent Appearances Of Osama Bin Laden And Ayman Al-zawahiri On Television Screens Worldwide, Al Qaeda Remains An Elusive Entity. As The World Has Grown Increasingly Familiar With The Spectacle Of Islamist Terrorism, Al Qaeda's Essential Worldview Has Remained Be-wilderingly Opaque. To Reveal Its Inner Workings, Gilles Kepel And His Collaborators, All Scholars Of Arabic And Islam, Have Collected And Brilliantly Annotated Key Texts Of The Major Figures From Whom The Movement Has Drawn Its Beliefs And Direction. The Resulting Volume Offers An Unprecedented Glimpse Into The Assumptions Of The Salafist Jihadists Who Have Reshaped Political Life At The Beginning Of The Third Millennium.--jacket. General Introduction : Al Qaeda, The Essentials / Gilles Kepel -- Osama Bin Laden. Introduction : Osama Bin Laden, The Iconic Orator / Omar Saghi ; The Companions' Den (excerpts) ; Declaration Of Jihad Against The Americans Occupying The Land Of The Two Holy Sanctuaries (excerpts) ; Interview With Cnn (excerpts) ; World Islamic Front Statement Urging Jihad Against Jews And Crusaders ; Interview With Al-jazeera (excerpts) ; Tactical Recommendations (excerpts) ; Second Letter To The Muslims Of Iraq ; Message To The American People -- Abdallah Azzam. Introduction : Abdallah Azzam, The Imam Of Jihad / Thomas Hegghammer ; The Defense Of Muslim Territories Constitutes The First Individual Duty (excerpts) ; Join The Caravan (excerpts) ; Morals And Jurisprudence Of Jihad (excerpts) ; To The Young Muslims Of The United States (excerpts) ; The Solid Base (excerpts) -- Ayman Al-zawahiri. Introduction : Ayman Al-zawahiri, Veteran Of Jihad / Stéphane Lacroix ; Bitter Harvest : Sixty Years Of The Muslim Brotherhood (excerpts) ; Advice To The Community To Reject The Fatwa Of Sheikh Bin Baz Authorizing Parliamentary Representation (excerpts) ; Knights Under The Prophet's Banner (excerpts) ; Loyalty And Separation : Changing An Article Of Faith And Losing Sight Of Reality (excerpts) -- Abu Musab Al-zarqawi. Introduction : Abu Musab Al-zarqawi, Jihad In Mesopotamia / Jean-pierre Milelli ; Letter To Bin Laden And Zawahiri (excerpts). Edited By Gilles Kepel And Jean-pierre Milelli ; Translated By Pascale Ghazaleh Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From The French. Despite the frequent appearances of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri on television screens worldwide, Al Qaeda remains an elusive entity. As the world has grown increasingly familiar with the spectacle of Islamist terrorism, Al Qaedas essential worldview has remained bewilderingly opaque. To reveal its inner workings, Gilles Kepel and his collaborators, all scholars of Arabic and Islam, have collected and brilliantly annotated key texts of the major figures from whom the movement has drawn its beliefs and direction. The resulting volume offers an unprecedented glimpse into the assumptions of the salafist jihadists who have reshaped political life at the beginning of the third millennium. Excerpts from the work of Azzabdallah Azzam, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawidrawn from speeches, internet postings, and published writingstell the story of Al Qaedas evolution, from its origins in the Afghan war through the war in Iraq. These texts reveal the rational, discursive mode used to persuade and to justify violent armed struggle in a universe defined by militant Islam. Substantial interpretive introductions to each leaders work and extensive critical commentary provide unparalleled access to the intellectual and doctrinal context of Al Qaeda in which these radical ideas have taken shape. By viewing Al Qaeda from within, this indispensable volume reveals the terrorist networks insidious role in the global web culture of today and the full dimensions of its frightening threat to world stability and security. Contents 7 Contributors 11 Note on the Translation 13 General Introduction: Al Qaeda, The Essentials 17 Part I: Osama Bin Laden 25 Introduction: Osama Bin Laden, the Iconic Orator 27 The Companions’ Den 57 Declaration of Jihad Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Sanctuaries 63 Interview with CNN 67 World Islamic Front Statement Urging Jihad against Jews and Crusaders 69 Interview with Al-Jazeera 73 Tactical Recommendations 76 Second Letter to the Muslims of Iraq 82 Message to the American People 87 Part II: Abdallah Azzam 95 Introduction: Abdallah Azzam, The Imam of Jihad 97 The Defense of Muslim Territories Constitutes the First Individual Duty 118 Join the Caravan 126 Morals and Jurisprudence of Jihad 142 To the Young Muslims of the United States 152 The Solid Base 156 Part III: Ayman Al-Zawahiri 161 Introduction: Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Veteran of Jihad 163 Bitter Harvest: Sixty Years of the Muslim Brotherhood 187 Advice to the Community to Reject the Fatwa of Sheikh Bin Baz Authorizing Parliamentary Representation 198 Knights under the Prophet’s Banner 209 Loyalty and Separation: Changing an Article of Faith and Losing Sight of Reality 222 Part IV: Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi 251 Introduction: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Jihad in "Mesopotamia" 253 Letter to Bin Laden and Zawahiri 267 Annotation 285 Notes to Part I 287 Notes to Part II 310 Notes to Part III 332 Notes to Part IV 357 Index 365 To reveal the inner workings of Al Qaeda, this book collects and annotates key texts of the major figures from whom the movement has drawn its beliefs and direction. There are excerpts from the writings of Azzabdallah Azzam, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi