CTC Sentinel (Volume 5, Issue 6, June 2012)
Abstract
This issue of CTC Sentinel contains the feature article "Arc of Convergence: AQAP, Ansar al-Shari'a and the Struggle for Yemen," by Christopher Swift. Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has proven remarkably adept at reconciling the ideological dictates of global jihad with the practical realities of local insurgency. This article examines that reconciliation in three stages. First, it explains how AQAP uses Ansar al-Shari'a to operate and propagate within Yemen's tribal society. Second, it discusses AQAP's current capabilities and structure, with particular emphasis on its operations in Abyan and Shabwa provinces. Third, it examines AQAP's efforts to knit Saudi ideologues, Yemeni tribesmen, and a diverse cohort of foreign fighters into an ideologically and operationally coherent coalition. Drawing on more than 40 interviews with religious, political, and tribal leaders from 14 of Yemen's 21 provinces conducted in May and June 2012, this analysis addresses the arc of convergence among these factions and the implications for regional counterterrorism operations. This issue also contains the following articles: "Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances," by John P. Sullivan and Adam Elkus; "The Evolution of an American Jihadi: The Case of Omar Hammami," by Christopher Anzalone; "The Holsworthy Barracks Plot: A Case Study of an Al-Shabab Support Network in Australia," by Andrew Zammit; "European Experiences in Counterradicalization," by James Brandon and Lorenzo Vidino; and "The Southern Thailand Insurgency in the Wake of the March 2012 Bombings," by Zachary Abuza. The journal also includes a section on Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA563873
Entities
People
- Erich Marquardt
Organizations
- United States Military Academy