Al Qaeda's latest "strategy"
The latest attacks in Iraq and the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia have a "strategic" theme of sorts.
Attacks on the Red Cross and the UN have something in common witht he attacks on the arab expatriot housing in Saudi Arabia. Both are aimed at driving out foreigners whose work assist the locals. It is a rather extened form of attrition.
Normal attrition strategies attempt to wear away at the fighting force of the opponent. Al Qaeda is too weak to make such attacks and when they have been attempted they have had minimal success. There have been no attacks on US forces that have impacted in any material way its ability to function and do its job.
This new "strategy" will also have little impact on the US forces ability to complete its mission. At best, from al Qaeda's perspective, these attacks merely inconvenience the locals who are in Iraq's case attempting to recover from Saddam's reign of terror. In Saudi Arabia, the attacks could have some marginal impact on the Saudi economy if the kingdom found it more difficult to attract foreign workers.
One of the stated goals of the 9-11 attacks was to weaken the US economy and thus its ability to fight. Latest economic news indicates al Qaeda is in trouble on that war front too. It appears to be an orgaization caught in a downward spiral with an inability to attack any militarily significant targets. Any enemy that is unable to hold a press briefing is losing big time. Al Qaeda can only "get its message out" by posturing before a tape recorder or keyboard, then attempt to get the message delivered by others to avoid being caught. This is an organization on the run.
The latest attacks in Iraq and the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia have a "strategic" theme of sorts.
Attacks on the Red Cross and the UN have something in common witht he attacks on the arab expatriot housing in Saudi Arabia. Both are aimed at driving out foreigners whose work assist the locals. It is a rather extened form of attrition.
Normal attrition strategies attempt to wear away at the fighting force of the opponent. Al Qaeda is too weak to make such attacks and when they have been attempted they have had minimal success. There have been no attacks on US forces that have impacted in any material way its ability to function and do its job.
This new "strategy" will also have little impact on the US forces ability to complete its mission. At best, from al Qaeda's perspective, these attacks merely inconvenience the locals who are in Iraq's case attempting to recover from Saddam's reign of terror. In Saudi Arabia, the attacks could have some marginal impact on the Saudi economy if the kingdom found it more difficult to attract foreign workers.
One of the stated goals of the 9-11 attacks was to weaken the US economy and thus its ability to fight. Latest economic news indicates al Qaeda is in trouble on that war front too. It appears to be an orgaization caught in a downward spiral with an inability to attack any militarily significant targets. Any enemy that is unable to hold a press briefing is losing big time. Al Qaeda can only "get its message out" by posturing before a tape recorder or keyboard, then attempt to get the message delivered by others to avoid being caught. This is an organization on the run.
Comments
Post a Comment