Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and U.S. counterterrorism policy

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has developed to become one of the major terror groups in the recent past. This paper examines this terror organization and the threat it poses to global security in relation to policies adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to combat terrorism. The paper is divided into two sections with the first one provide a profile of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The profile includes a discussion of its formation, ideologies, overall goals, ambitions, targets, tactics, capabilities, and propaganda. The second part analyzes the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism that was developed in 2006. The analysis of this policy is carried out vis-a-vis its ability to counter the threats posed by this terror group. The deficiencies of this policy in countering AQAP\'s threats are discussed and recommendations provided on policy changes that could help deal with this terror group.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Al-Qaeda became a household name following the September 11, 2001 attack. The September 11 attack is considered the most catastrophic terrorist attack to have ever happened to the United States. Till this day, Americans can still feel the pain of the almost three thousand people that died. Before then, it seems like Americans had no idea what this terror group is. The country united and remembered the civilians, the public service workers, and the military personnel that were tragically lost on that day. Following the September 11 attacks, Americans and people around the world began to educate themselves on the Al- Qaeda terror organization under the command of Osama Bin Laden. It became apparent that maybe there were warning signs that were possibly ignored in the events leading to the attack. The terrorist organization was extremely \"wealthy\" in regards to funding and members. Since the United States had motive to decimate the \"central nervous system\" of the Al-Qaeda organization; they did just that. However that was not the end of the problem. Al-Qaeda had affiliates all over the Middle East, which formed as a result of the \"central nervous system\" attacks that the United States proposed. Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is among the many almost twenty affiliates.

Part I - Profile of AQAP

As previously mentioned, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has developed to become one of the major terrorist groups across the globe and especially in the Middle East region. This group emerged from United States\' war on terror in the Middle East that contributed to destruction of Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization that was responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks. AQAP developed from affiliates of Al-Qaeda and is one of the unprecedented consequences of war in Yemen (Bayoumy, Browning & Ghobari, 2016). Since its formation, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has developed to an extent that it currently runs its own mini-state, receives funding from raiding local central park, and enforces taxes at the local port. Similar to Al-Qaeda, AQAP poses on the most significant global security threats given its funding and relatively strong base of operations. Actually, security analysts and experts rate AQAP as the most lethal franchise of Al-Qaeda that continues to expand its domestic insurgency while maintaining its focus or tactics on Western nations. Therefore, dealing with this terrorist group effectively requires an understanding of its formation, ideology, targets, tactics, attacks, capability, and overall goals.

Formation of AQAP

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is a terror organization whose origin can be traced back to January 2009 when it was formed following a merger between two branches of Al-Qaeda (BBC, 2015). The two regional groups that came together to form AQAP were outshoots of the global jihadist network in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. While AQAP emerged from a jihadist network, jihadist ancestors have been in the Middle East region since the early 1990s. The existence of these jihadist antecedents was fueled by the return of thousands of mujahedeen to Yemen following the war against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. After the merger between two Al-Qaeda affiliates, the resultant AQAP started carrying out its terror attacks within and outside Yemen\'s borders.

AQAP found a home in Yemen because the country is on the verge of collapse following a history of being fragile and fractured. The state of Yemen provided a suitable environment for the formation this terror group, especially after President Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted in February 2012 through a series of popular protests. While President Saleh\'s successor attempted to deal AQAP militants and other rebels in efforts to bring democracy in the country, the instability in this country made it difficult to achieve this goal. Consequently, AQAP militants have continued to exploit Yemen\'s political instability to widen its domestic insurgency among Sunni communities. Moreover, the worsening clashes between Yemen\'s political and sectarian groups provided a suitable platform for the formation of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (Sergie, 2015).

Ideology, Goals and Ambitions of AQAP

As evidenced in a released statement in May 2010, one of AQAP\'s ideologies is to eradicate Jews and Crusaders from the Arabian Peninsula (Welby, 2015). The terror group also seeks to create a caliphate, ensure the implementation of Sharia and free Muslim lands or Islamic regions from any Western influence and/or dominance. These ideologies are similar to the ideologies of the group\'s predecessor or affiliate, Al-Qaeda. The group seeks to achieve these goals not only in the Middle East region but also expand its reach throughout the world, especially in Western countries. Based on these ideologies, the group capitalized on Yemen\'s political instability to seize political, cultural, administrative, economic, and monitoring activities of the country. AQAP started to publicize an English language magazine in July 2010 that promotes its ideologies and invites any individuals willing to attack Western nations to join the group in Yemen (Welby, 2015). In essence, the terror group\'s ambition is to achieve these goals in the Middle East and across the globe.

The overall goals of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are to offer encouragement and justification for conducting attacks against the establishments in Yemen, the Middle East, the West, and other parts of the world. Through its English language magazine, the group continues to encourage and justify attacks against the establishment in attempts to achieve its objectives. In addition, the group also provides practical advice regarding mixing explosives and weapons handling when carrying out attacks.

AQAP\'s Target

As evident in the previous discussion, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is a terror group that targets the Middle East region and the rest of the world. This is demonstrated in the group\'s ideological battles and physical attacks within the Middle East region and other parts of the world. AQAP has successful fought its ideological battles in Yemen by taking advantage of the country\'s instability to craft a safe haven for its funding and operations. Furthermore, in the past few years, this terrorist group has conducted several high-profile attacks on the West, particularly in the aviation industry.

While it targets the Middle East as an ideal place to establish its ideologies, the major focus of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is the West. Despite experiencing some challenges in carrying out its attacks and mission, this terror group is yet to abandon its ambition of reaching the whole world, particularly the West. This is primarily because international appeal continues to be a significant part of its strategy. The organization remains a major part of the international jihadi movement (Welby, 2015). This is despite the growing competition that the group faces from ISIS and Houthi movement for control of the global jihadist movement.

AQAP\'s Tactics

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula seeks to achieve its goals and objectives through various tactics. The first tactic employed by this terror group is providing motivation and justification for terror attacks, activities, and operations. Through its magazine, the group continues to provide encouragement to Muslim readers and other readers to engage in such activities. Through this tactic, the group seeks to not only encourage but also ensure that many people participate in terror activities so as to realize its political ideologies.

Secondly, this terror organization is promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to promote attacks against Israeli targets and other targets. Through these theories, this group advocates for attacks against Israel in places where Jews gather, against their institutions in Europe, and against their political leaders and other leading personalities (Anti-Defamation League, 2013). The anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and anti-Israeli messages are published in its English language magazine whose production has significantly increased in the recent past.

Third, the group provides advice regarding mixing explosives and how to handle weapons to its readers. This tactic is meant to encourage and empower willing readers to engage in conducting terror attacks regardless of whether they belong to the group or not. In essence, by providing such advice, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula seeks to ensure that potential terrorists have the skills and capability to carry out attacks with or without direct link to the group.

Finally, the overriding tactic employed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is conducting attacks on targets and mobilizing civil involvement or participation in such activities. Through terror attacks, the group believes it will successfully establish its political and cultural ideologies while seizing crucial governmental operations in its targets, particularly Israel and Western nations. On the hand, mobilizing civil terrorist acts will make it impossible for any counter-terrorism measures adopted by governments across the globe.

Propaganda Released by AQAP

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula utilizes propaganda and other statements as part of its strategies towards realizing its goals and objectives. These statements and propaganda are usually released through its English language magazine known as Inspire. Since it\'s first-ever release in July 2010, the magazine has been used as a platform for spreading propaganda and other messages. There are two major propagandas released and spread by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula i.e. anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and anti-Israeli messages. The anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are geared towards justifying terror attacks and other activities carried out by this group. On the other hand, anti-Israeli messages are geared towards attacking Israelis, their leaders, and institutions throughout the world. For instance, AQAP unsuccessfully planned to send explosive-laden packages on America-bound cargo flights in October 2010 (Anti-Defamation League, 2013). This terror plot that was to be carried out on Chicago-area Jewish institutions demonstrated the group\'s anti-Semitic ideology. The anti-Israeli messages or propaganda is shown in its publication entitled, \"Israel Can\'t Hide,\" which called for attacks on Israeli-targets and their affiliates. In May 2012, the group published a tribute to Osama bin Laden in the first anniversary of his demise in which the spread propaganda that Israel and the United States are at war with Palestinians and Islam.

Capability of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has continued to grow stronger in the recent past, especially through capitalizing on Yemen\'s political instability. The strength of this group emerges from strong funding following its raid on the local central bank and taxation at the local port. Actually, this terror group now governs its own mini-state in Yemen backed by approximately $100 million obtained from looted bank deposits and taxes from Yemen\'s third largest port (Bayoumy, Browning & Ghobari, 2016). In addition to its economic strength, AQAP also has a relatively large militant group for its operations and activities. The group has utilized its financial muscle and militant base to develop and acquire weapons, especially explosives. Given its bomb-making expertise, AQAP has the capability to carry out attacks on its targets through complex tactics, which demonstrates its threat. Nonetheless, this group has recently faced significant competition from ISIS and Houthi movement, which have threatened its operations and capabilities.

Part II -- Analysis of Security Policies vis-a-vis AQAP\'s Threat

The United States and other nations across the globe have attempted to deal with terror through creating security policies that promote and foster the war on terror. This process has involved examining threats posed by individual terrorists and terror groups and creating policies that would help deal with these threats effectively. Since the 9/11 terror attacks, the U.S. government has taken a lead role in fighting terrorism and its associated impacts. U.S. homeland security policies have been developed depending on emerging threats and the nature of terrorist attacks. An example of such a policy is the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, which is based on existing realities in the fight against terrorism.

Overview of National Strategy for Combating Terrorism

The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism is a policy developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which was first published in February 2003. This policy acknowledges that America is at war and that the fight against terror is different from conventional war (Federation of American Scientists, 2006). This policy was created as part of America\'s strategy to destroy and eliminate the wider Al-Qaeda network and tackle the radical ideology that encourage others to support and/or become members of the terrorist movement. Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security made significant efforts in the fight on terror, which resulted in the killing or apprehending key lieutenants of the network, disrupting existing support lines, and destroying safe havens. However, terrorists adjusted their tactics, which necessitates changes in policies and strategies for dealing with terror networks and organizations.

The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism of 2006 sought to prevent attacks by terror networks, promoting effective democracies as the long-term solution to terror ideologies, create foundations and develop necessary structures and institutions for the war on terror. The other strategies in the policy include cutting off terrorists\' support lines, denying these criminals the safe haven of rogue states, denying terrorists weapons of mass destruction, and denying terrorists control of countries they could use as base of operation.

Evaluation of National Strategy for Combating Terrorism

Based on the strategies outlined in the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism of 2006, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seemingly recognized that rogue states played a crucial role in promoting terrorism and terror activities. Rogue states have the potential of providing terrorists and their allies with safe havens to carry out their activities and support for launching and claiming attacks on specific targets. The policy was developed on the backdrop of the war on terror in Iraq, which was an operating haven and support line for Al-Qaeda. Therefore, further counter-terrorism initiatives and strategies required eliminating the possibility of rogue states to provide such platforms and support for terror organizations and networks. In essence, the core components of this policy or strategy are disrupting and disabling terrorist networks throughout the world and strengthening international cooperation in the fight on terror (Perl, 2007).

Unlike the 2003 version, the 2006 National Strategy for Combating Terrorism established different priorities for the strategy elements developed to foster global cooperation in the war on terror. One of the most significant differences between these two versions is that the 2006 Strategy places greater emphasis on democratization as a means of combating terrorism. Secondly, this policy emphasized on denying terrorists safe havens in failed, underdeveloped, and rogue states that were characterized by political instability. As a result, the strategy did not emphasize the use of political and economic tools to strengthen countries that were likely to experience the spread of terrorist influence within their territories.

Recommendations for Policy Change to Counter AQAP\'s Threat

As shown in the above discussion, the 2006 National Strategy for Combating Terrorism is deficient in combating the threat posed by Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula. Therefore, policy change is required to foster counterterrorism efforts by the United States and the international community. Policy changes are required because direct action operations will be unable to neutralize threats from this terror group, which is supported by its insurgent arm (Zimmerman, 2012). The first recommendation towards policy changes that could help counter AQAP\'s threat is the inclusion of counter-insurgency efforts in the existing counterterrorism measures. While the U.S. has attempted to fight AQAP through promoting political stability and working with Yemeni counterterrorism forces, these measures are ineffective because of increased insurgency in Yemen. Therefore, contingency plans to deal with insurgency, which fosters the capabilities and threats of AQAP, will help in dealing with this terror group. Counter-insurgency efforts will help cut off one of the group\'s major supplies/support and ultimately weaken the group.

Secondly, policy changes that focus more on lessening extremism in education systems, particularly in the Middle East should be adopted. Extremisms have fueled negative values and attitudes that in turn generate hatred and bigotry that contribute to terrorism (Perl, 2007). Through such changes, the strategy will be more effective by dealing with one of the root causes of terrorism and mitigating terrorist indoctrination. Third, the policy should also focus on addressing anti-U.S. sentiment in Muslim nations and promoting reforms in this region.

In conclusion, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is one of the major terror groups that pose serious threats on global security. This group emerged from the merger of two regional Al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. This group has continued to propagate radical ideologies against Israel and the West and has capitalized on Yemen\'s political stability and insurgency to grow. While the 2006 Strategy highlights some strategies for countering terrorism, it\'s deficient in dealing with AQAP\'s threats. The policy can be improved by including counter-insurgency efforts, lessening extremism, and dealing with anti-U.S. sentiment in Islamic regions.