NCJ Number
230434
Journal
Journal of Strategic Security Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 53-72
Date Published
May 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the terrorist group al Qaeda in the Lands of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Abstract
The terrorist group al Qaeda in the AQIM was established as a terrorist organization in 2007 and joined the global jihad. This paper examines the different aspects of the world that have allowed this group to form and grow as a terrorist organization. The paper is organized into four sections. The first section begins with an examination of Algeria's war of independence with France, showing how the Algerians were able to successfully use terrorism to isolate the French from the general population. The second section discusses the Tuareg, a nomadic people who were deprived of access to vital trade routes by European colonization of Algeria. The third section of the paper examines Algeria's civil war and emergence in that country of modern terrorist group. The authors explore the politicization of Islam by the Algerian Government and the subsequent struggle to return the country to fundamental aspects of Islam. The rise of several Islamic groups is discussed. The fourth section discusses the post-September 11th world and how the events of that day have shaped operations for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This section examines the rise of AQIM and how the group has served as a fusion point for many smaller terrorist groups and made a difficult situation even worse. Endnotes