Waubonsee Community College

The threat from within, recognizing Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and terrorism in the West, Phil Gurski

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

The threat from within

bibliography

918986441

Phil Gurski

recognizing Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and terrorism in the West

The Threat From Within examines what drives Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization to violence, how to detect it, and how to confront it. The chapters in this book discuss behaviors and ideologies that are observable and tangible in radicalized individuals or those on the path to violent radicalization. The main case study is Canada, and each chapter features many examples that range from Ted Kaczynski (the "Unabomber") and Anders Breivik in Norway to Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Damian Clairmont, a Canadian citizen who died fighting in Syria. A comprehensive list of behavioral indicators that someone is becoming a violent extremist is provided, followed by a look at what is being done as well as what could be done.--From publisher description

1. What do we know about the basic causes and drivers of Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and violence in Canada? The fight of his life -- What makes a terrorist?: Gender and age ; Poverty ; Marital and family status ; Alienation and lack of integration ; Criminal background ; Lack of education and employment (lack of opportunity) ; Psychological predisposition ; Discussion ; Necessary and sufficient conditions ; Association with like-minded people ; Presence of a charismatic or spiritual mentor or leader ; Access to confirming information ; A belief in the narrative -- Venues of radicalization: Religious institutions ; Schools ; The Internet ; Foreign conflict zones -- 2. Concepts associated with Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and violence. Designing the "base" -- The concepts underlying the Al Qaeda-inspired terrorism: Jihad ; Defense of the Muslim lands ; The forgotten obligation (also known as The absent obligation) ; Hadiths and jihad ; Al Wala' wal Bara' ; Jahiliyyah ; Hijra ; Taghut ; Takfiri ideology (kuffar, kaffir) ; Bayat (also bay'a, bayah) ; Shirk ; Fatwa ; Dividing the world into different dars ; Khilafa (caliphate) -- 3. Twelve indicators of Al Qaeda-inspired radicalization and violence. Damian's dilemma -- From cause to indicator: Indicator #1. Sudden increase in intolerant religiosity ; Indicator #2. Rejection of different interpretations of Islam ; Indicator #3. Rejection of non-Muslims ; Indicator #4. Rejection of Western ways ; Indicator #5. Rejection of Western policies (domestic, military, foreign, social, etc.) ; Indicator #6. Association with like-minded people ; Indicator #7. Obsession with jihadi and violent-extremist sites and social media ; Indicator #8. Obsession with the narrative ; Indicator #9. Desire to travel to conflict zones ; Indicator #10. Obsession with violent jihad ; Indicator #11. Obsession with martyrdom ; Indicator #12. Obsession with end-times -- 4. What do radicalized individuals and groups do? From Winnipeg to wanton destruction -- From thought to action. Planned acts in Canada: The Toronto 18 ; Project Samossa ; The Via Rail plot ; The Canada Day plot -- Successful attacks in Canada: Martin Couture-Rouleau ; Michael Zehaf-Bibeau -- Leaving Canada to fight abroad: Jabarah brothers ; Vilyam (William) Plotnikov ; Project Darken ; Canadian Somalis -- Participating in foreign terrorist plots: Momin Khawaja ; Sayfildin Tahir Sharif ; Said Namouh ; The In Amenas attack -- The Syrian foreign fighters: Damian Clairmont ; Ali Dirie ; John Maguire ; Farah Shirdon -- "Wannabes" -- Do Canadian Al Qaeda-inspired extremists pose a threat to other countries? -- 5. Where do we go from here? From recklessness to remorse? Saad Khalid -- Approach 1. Security and law-enforcement action -- Counter-radicalization. Awareness raising and community outreach -- Counter-narratives -- Early intervention -- Other prevention programs. Seizure or revocation of passport ; Cancellation of citizenship -- Deradicalization -- A cautionary note -- 6. Conclusion. A lonely wolf? ; Final thoughts -- Appendix 1: Books on Al Qaeda-inspired extremism -- Appendix 2: The twelve indicators -- Appendix 3: Radicalization-to-violence matrix -- Appendix 4: At Tibyan publications