Al Qaeda's Center of Gravity

Abstract

This paper postulates that Al Qaeda's center of gravity is Osama Bin Laden and his brand of Islamist extremism. Looking at Al Qaeda as a system the following characteristics emerge as COG candidates at the strategic level: its fighting force financial capacity external support leadership and extremist Muslim ideology. Each of these candidates is analyzed to include discussion of capabilities requirements and vulnerabilities. Clausewitz indicated that a center of gravity in a popular uprising is the personalities of the leaders and public opinion. Bin Laden fits the Clausewitzian definition of a personality leading a popular uprising. Only today this uprising is on a global scale with the objective of overthrowing the world order. Bin Laden rallies Muslim extremists. His charisma vision wealth and leadership abilities are the reasons Al Qaeda is an effective terrorist organization striking fear across the globe while winning admiration among many in the Muslim world.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 03, 2004
Accession Number
ADA423365

Entities

People

  • James A. Bliss

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Center Of Gravity
  • Command And Control
  • Commerce
  • Globalization
  • Governments
  • Gravity
  • Middle East
  • Money
  • New York
  • North America
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Opinion
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.