Political Manipulation and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Terrorism, Influence and Persuasion (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

"Concerns about CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear) weapons have featured prominently in both political debates and media reporting about the ongoing threat from al Qaeda since 9/11. This book provides a chronological account of al Qaeda's efforts to acquire a CBRN weapon capability, and the evolution of the al Qaeda leadership's approach to actually using CBRN weapons, set against the context of the politicisation of the threat of CBRN terrorism in US security debates. Ben Cole explores how the inherently political nature of terrorist CBRN threats has helped to shape al Qaeda's approach to CBRN weapons, and shows how the heightened political sensitivities surrounding the threat have enabled some governments to manipulate it in order to generate domestic and international support for controversial policies, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He assesses the relative success of the al Qaeda leadership's political approach to CBRN weapons, together with the relative success of efforts by the US, UK and Russian governments to exploit the al Qaeda CBRN threat for their wider political purposes. Shedding new light on al Qaeda's tactics and strategy, this book will be essential reading for scholars of terrorism and extremism studies."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Cover Author Bio Title Copyright Contents Abbreviations Introduction 1. Opportunism, 1994–6 Opportunities to Acquire CBRN Weapons Al Qaeda and Sudan’s Chemical Weapon Programme Al Qaeda Attempts to Connect with Iran and Iraq Al Qaeda Leaves Sudan 2. The US and the Politics of CBRN Terrorism, 1996–8 CBRN Terrorism in Security Debates The Politicisation of the Threat Intelligence Assessments of the Threat 3. Antecedents: Afghanistan, 1996–8 The Development of Al Qaeda’s Strategy and Tactics The Attacks on the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania The Decision to Start a CBRN Programme 4. Project Al Zabadi and the Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons Chemical Weapons Biological Weapons Nuclear and Radiological Weapons Al Qaeda Implements CBRN Training Breakthrough? – Al Wafa and Ummah Tameer-e-Nau 5. Al Qaeda’s Strategy Begins to Emerge, 1988–2001 The Returnees from Albania US and UK Intelligence Assessments of Al Qaeda’s CBRN Capabilities Bin Laden Begins to Articulate a Strategy of Deterrence Exploiting the Politics of CBRN Terrorism 6. Opting for Deterrence, 1999–2001 Chechnya and the Politics of CBRN Terrorism Stepping Up Attacks on the US 7. The End of Project Al Zabadi The War on Terror Investigating Project Al Zabadi Re-Assessing the Threat Renewed Politicisation of the Threat from CBRN Weapons 8. Re-Establishing a CBRN Weapon Capability, 2002–3 Re-Establishing the CBRN Weapon-Development Programme The Publication of Online Training Materials The Al Qaeda Leadership Refuses to Approve Further CBRN Attacks Warning Signs of Al Qaeda Losing Control of the Threat 9. Al Qaeda Announces its Strategy, 2002–3 The Theological Legitimacy of Using CBRN Weapons A CBRN Fatwa Confusing the Message Evidence of Developing CBRN Plots in Europe 10. Constraining the Threat, 2002–3 AQSA Attempts to Buy Nuclear Weapons Europe and the ‘Chechen Network’ The Capture of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed Intelligence Assessments of the Threat 11. The Politics of CBRN Terrorism and the Invasion of Iraq The Iraq Link Confirmed? The Build-Up to the Invasion of Iraq The Debate in the UK The Invasion of Iraq and its Aftermath 12. Western Uncertainty About the Threat, 2004–7 False Alarms The Threat Moves to Europe Publicising the Threat and the Debate on Enhanced Interrogation 13. Losing Control of the Threat, 2004–8 The War in Iraq Sporadic Global Incidents 14. Breakdown in Control, 2007–9 The War in Afghanistan, 2004–6 The Theological Challenge to Al Qaeda Strategic Thought, 2007–8 15. Influencing the New President, 2008–10 Increasing Jihadi Online Chatter on Nuclear Weapons Emerging Opportunities in Pakistan Assessing the Risks and Increasing Political Concerns President Obama’s National Security Strategy and the Drone Programme 16. A New Threat Emerges, 2010–15 Decentralised Incidents Al Qaeda Attempts to Impose Control over CBRN Plots New Opportunities – the Arab Spring The Emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Conclusion Al Qaeda’s Intentions Regarding the Use of CBRN Weapons The Political Value of CBRN Weapon Threats to Nation States Al Qaeda’s Legacy with Respect to CBRN Weapons Notes Bibliography Index Back Cover Concerns about CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear) weapons have featured prominently in both political debates and media reporting about the ongoing threat from al Qaeda since 9/11. This book provides a chronological account of al Qaeda's efforts to acquire a CBRN weapon capability, and the evolution of the al Qaeda leadership's approach to actually using CBRN weapons, set against the context of the politicisation of the threat of CBRN terrorism in US security debates. Ben Cole explores how the inherently political nature of terrorist CBRN threats has helped to shape al Qaeda's approach to CBRN weapons, and shows how the heightened political sensitivities surrounding the threat have enabled some governments to manipulate it in order to generate domestic and international support for controversial policies, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He assesses the relative success of the al Qaeda leadership's political approach to CBRN weapons, together with the relative success of efforts by the US, UK and Russian governments to exploit the al Qaeda CBRN threat for their wider political purposes. Shedding new light on al Qaeda's tactics and strategy, this book will be essential reading for scholars of terrorism and extremism studies. -- Back cover