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Intelligence


al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat


109th Congress
2d Session		 Union Calendar No. 355
Report 109-615

al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat


REPORT OF THE

U.S. HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE


APPROVED: JUNE 2006

TOGETHER WITH ADDITIONAL AND MINORITY VIEWS

SUBMITTED: SEPTEMBER 2006





Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpo.gov/congress/house

http://intelligence.house.gov/

September 6, 2006.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed


U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE Keeping America Informed | www.gpo.gov WASHINGTON | 2006

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Pninting Office
Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202)512-1800

Fax (202)512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001n.

ISBN 0-16-076897-7


PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PETER HOEKSTRA, MICHIGAN, CHAIRMAN
RAY LAHOOD, ILLINOIS
TERRY EVERETT, ALABAMA
ELTON GALLEGLY, CALIFORNIA
HEATHER WILSON, NEW MEXICO JO ANN DAVIS, VIRGINIA
MAC THORNBERRY, TEXAS
JOHN M. MCHUGH, NEW YORK
TODD TIAHRT, KANSAS
MIKE ROGERS, MICHIGAN
RICK RENZI, ARIZONA 		JANE HARMAN, CALIFORNIA
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, FLORIDA
SILVESTRE REYES, TEXAS
LEONARD L. BOSWELL, IOWA
ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR., ALABAMA
ANNA G. ESHOO, CALIFORNIA
RUSH D. HOLT, NEW JERSEY
C. A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER, MARYLAND
JOHN F. TIERNEY, MASSACHUSETTS DARRELL ISSA, CALIFORNIA


J. DENNIS HASTERT, ILLINOIS, EX OFFICIO MEMBER
NANCY PELOSI, CALIFORNIA, EX OFFICIO MEMER



109th Congress
2d Session		 Union Calendar No. 355
Report 109-615


Mr. Hoekstra, from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
submitted the following report

Al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat


REPORT

by the

PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
TOGETHER WITH ADDITIONAL AND MINORITY VIEWS

September 6, 2006.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State
of the Union and ordered to he printed



On June 28, 2006, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence approved and adopted
a report entitled "al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat." The chairman was directed to transmit a copy to
the Speaker of the House.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 2006

Table of Contents

SUMMARY 5
UNDERSTANDING THE STRATEGIC THREAT 6
AL-QAEDA 8
THE GROWING INSURGENCY IN IRAQ 12
OTHER SUNNI ISLAMIST EXTREMIST GROUPS 13
HOMEGROWN TERRORISM 16
SUNNI EXTREMIST GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES 19
EXPLOITATION OF THE INTERNET 20
CONCLUSION 21
APPENDIX I 23
ADDITIONAL and MINORITY VIEWS 27




The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat

"The call to wage war against America was made because America has spearheaded the crusade against the Islamic nation, sending tens of thousands of its troops to the land of the two Holy Mosques over and above its meddling in its affairs and its politics, and its support of the oppressive, corrupt and tyrannical regime that is in control. These are the reasons for singling America out as a target (August 23, 1996)."1

"It is a duty for the Umma [nation] with all its categories, men, women and youths, to give away themselves, their money, experiences and all types of material support.... Jihad today is an imperative for every Muslim. The Umma will commit sin if it did not provide adequate material support for jihad (April 24, 2006)."2

"The battles that are going on in the far-flung regions of the Islamic world, such as Chechnya, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Bosnia, they are just the groundwork for the major battles which have begun in the heart of the Islamic world ... . If our intended goal in this age is the establishment of a Caliphate in the manner of the Prophet and we expect to establish its state predominantly according to how it appears to us in the heart of the Islamic world, then your efforts and sacrifices, God permitting, are a large step towards that goal (July 9, 2005)."3

"As for similar operations taking place in America, it is only a matter of time. They [the terrorists] are in the final stages, and you will see them in the heart of your land as soon as the planning is complete (January 20, 2006)."4


Statements made by al-Qaeda leaders Usama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri

1Usama bin Laden. "Declaration of War Against the United States," August 23, 1996.
2Usama bin Laden. "Bin Laden accuses the West," April 24, 2006.
3"Letter from al-Zawahiri to al-Zargawi," Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Press Release 3.05, October 11. 2005.
4Usama bin Laden, "There is No Shame in This Solution," http://www.jihadunspun.com, January 20, 2006.

 

 



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