Summary
Pt. 1. After September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to threaten the lives and well being of Americans and the security of our friends and allies. This study examines how al-Qaeda has changed since September 11. It then turns to an analysis of the broader global jihadist movement — al-Qaeda and affiliated or associated terrorist groups or groups that may not be formally part of the al-Qaeda network but that have assimilated its worldview and concept of mass-casualty terrorist attacks. These groups are where the center of gravity of the current global terrorist threat now lies.
Pt. 2. This book examines terrorist groups that, while not formally allied with al-Qaeda, pose a threat to Americans. Although the temptation for policymakers is to set aside as less dangerous those groups that have not chosen to join al-Qaeda, such terrorist or insurgent groups and criminal organizations still pose a threat to the United States, its interests, and its allies. The authors first look at violent Islamist terrorist and insurgent groups without formal links to al-Qaeda, such as Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East and Islamist groups in Africa. They then examine a number of non-Islamist terrorist groups - for example, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) in Columbia).