23 December 2013 - Recent developments in Syria, Iraq and Iran must be understood within the wider context of the ineffective and counter-productive western response to the 9/11 attacks. In particular, there is a failure to recognise the real impact of the “war on terror” on the al-Qaida movement, which has now evolved into a form that has serious long-term consequences for international security. Al-Qaida now exists as an idea – one which retains the potency of the original movement and now has the ability to form symbiotic relationships with other conflicts. It has become an idea that seeks new causes and then owns them.
Summary
Recent developments in Syria, Iraq and Iran must be understood within the wider context of the ineffective and counter-productive western response to the 9/11 attacks. This briefing argues that there is little attempt in western security thinking to take a hard look at the impact of the “war on terror”, in addition to a failure to recognise that the al-Qaida idea has evolved into a form that has serious long-term consequences for international security. It is vital to understand that if the al-Qaida movement is now primarily an idea, it is an idea that has the ability to form symbiotic relationships with other conflicts. It has become an idea that seeks new causes and then owns them. This briefing suggests there is an urgent need for a re-examination of the consequences of the “war in terror” to better understand the new emerging crises. Put bluntly, the “war on terror” has been disastrous and this must be acknowledged if further problems are to be avoided.
Introduction
The August briefing in this series, The Evolution of the al-Qaida Movement emphasised that al-Qaida has evolved from a movement to an idea; one that retains the movement’s potency. Its main conclusion was that: read more>>>
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