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Defeating the Attempted Global Jihadist Insurgency: Forty Steps for the Next President to Pursue against al Qaeda, Like-Minded Groups, Unhelpful State Actors, and Radicalized Sympathizers

Laurence Footer

Since September 11, 2001, al Qaeda has attempted to morph into a popular movement—what some have called "al Qaeda 2.0." If the United States is fighting against a global campaign of terrorism and classic insurgencies (or an attempted global jihadist insurgency), then it should employ a global counterinsurgency strategy to combat al Qaeda 2.0. This article recommends such a strategy, including the following suggestions: develop the military, intelligence, and language capabilities needed to win the conflict; improve counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and eliminate safe havens in Pakistan; expand counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq; manage "blowback" and monitor ungoverned regions; develop an Internet-based strategy to attack the jihadis; start fighting the "war of ideas" like we mean it; adopt a more proactive foreign policy; and better secure the U.S. homeland.

Key Words: al Qaeda • war on terror • jihadist • counterinsurgency • counterterrorism strategies • war of ideas

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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Bergen, P. Articles by Footer, L. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?