Al-Nusrah Front Terrorist Group Profile - Thesis Example

Al-Nusrah Front Terrorist Group Profile During the recent decades, terrorism has become a reality to the international community. The gratification of terror threats started in America during the 9/11. The events marking the 9/11 saw the American government take lead in fighting terrorism with adoption of international standards. The government made efforts to transform its laws, structure and restructure policies to enable effective fighting of terrorism. This paper will analyze the Al-Nusrah Front Terrorist Group based in Syria with extended operation in Lebanon. In the analysis, the paper will concentrate on strategies, tactics, targets, crimes and propaganda of the group. The paper will also analyze the American policies on homeland security, and relate the aspects of the policies to the design and structure of the Al-Nusrah Front. Introduction Terrorism is a serious global issue that is attracting great financial, political, war, economic, religious and social strategies. Usually, the groups characterize with competent military structures and strategies that enable them to fight military of sovereign states. Currently, largest terrorist groups have concentrated within the Middle East and Arabic speaking countries. The nature and organization of the groups has led to labeling of some as Islamic-oriented. In fact, the greatest terrorist groups such as the Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusrah, ISIL and the Hamas have Islamism at the core of their ideologies. Most of the terrorist groups have been targeting Western countries, America in particular, and the allies. A case in point was the 9/11 event that made terror threat on Western countries a reality. It is for the escalation of terrorist activities targeted at America that the US government strengthened policies on Homeland security. The Al-Nusrah Front otherwise called Jabhat al-Nusra is among the renowned global terrorist groups after enlistment by Australia, United States, United Nations, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Russia. Analysis of the Al-Nusrah alongside US security policies is important in determining the efficiencies of the homeland security programs in tackling any threats from the group. Background of the Al-Nusrah Front Terrorist Group The Al-Nusrah Front or Jabhat al-Nusra is a terrorist group based in Syria with extended operations to Lebanon. The group started forming late in 2011 and formalized its existence on January 23, 2012 through publication. The group pays allegiance to the Al-Qaeda of Iraq that saw its formation under the leadership of Abu M. al-Julani, who was an operative of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The purpose for the creation of the group was to participate in the Syrian civil war with ousting of President Bashar al-Assad as the main objective (Boening, 2014). Most of the group members are Syrian mujahedeen who returned from fighting against the American forces in Iraq. The central aim of the group as originally announced by the leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri is to establish an Islamic State in Syria. The group’s fighters affiliate to Sunni sect of Islam, and determined to instill the ideologies on Syrians. The group boasts of a reliable supply of weapons, financing from local sources and donors, and highly trained professionals in its command chain. Ideologies of the Al-Nusrah Front Group According to Huff, Roth and Project Censored (2013), the main ideology of the Al-Nusrah Front is to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad of Syria, and establish an Islamic State affiliated to Sunni. The group intends to make an Islamic Emirate governed by the Sharia Laws. The group portrays itself as respectful of the affairs of people, and provides services as well as maintaining close relationship with the communities and other fighters. These measures are strategies to avoid the group extremism labeling. However, the group members have been attacking the non-Sunni believers. The Al-Nusrah has been opposing efforts to have ceasefire. It remains solid to its original intention of overthrowing the Assad’s government and establishing an Islamic State. Unlike the mother Al-Qaeda, the Al-Nusrah’s ideologies have been fair on the Western and unrelated to the global jihad. However, the group has been warning the Western countries against interfering in the war particularly shaped towards resolving Syrian problems by defeating President Assad. However, the group is sensitive to view USA and Israel as enemies of Islam. Unlike the ISIL, Al-Nusrah recognizes other groups viewing President Assad as a common enemy, and confirms that it cannot succeed unless supported by others fighter groups. The group has denied affiliations or allegiance to ISIS after Abu B. al-Baghdadi attempted to facilitate a merger. Instead, Abu al-Julani reinstated allegiance of the group to the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri of Al-Qaeda. Tactics and targets of the Al-Nusrah Front The Al-Nusrah has the most professional fighters compared to other rebellious and terrorist groups in Syria. The group adopts the guerilla warfare that has proved challenging to the Syrian government forces. The group has employed a strategy of merging and supporting other smaller groups such as Jaish wal-Ansar, Islamic front, Jund al-Aqsa and Aleppo Liberation that are also fighting the Syrian Government. Viotti, Opheim and Bowen (2008) elucidate that the merger and affiliation with other group helps the Al-Nusrah to concentrate resources to support pursuance of its plans. Some of the fighters not labeled as terrorists receive weapons and financial support from USA and affiliates. The group also took over the supply chain of flour to the Aleppo based bakeries. It has also established a Sharia judicial system in the northern part of Aleppo. Since January 2013, the Al-Nusrah has been running a Sharia government in a city in the East of Syria near Iraq. The group has been trying to distance from the ISIS by exercising moderate governance to gain popularity among Syrians. The Al-Nusrah has been shaping its propaganda in the war to appeal to Muslim communities. It has presented itself as opposed to the causalities of civilians. The group has also produced videos of its members speaking to crowds, and giving assurances of their support and intention to restore order in Syria. The group distributes its video and audios through its al-Manara al-Baida media, posting to jihadist websites, video-sharing websites, and the social media such as Face book and Twitter. The group attunes to secrecy, and focuses at concealing the identities of the fighters and citizens appearing in its videos. Even the leader Abu al-Julani only communicates through audio recordings and not videos. Further tactic used by the Al-Nusra group is kidnappings that help in raising money and motivate military and political actions. During August 2014, the group produced a video of collaboration with ISIS in captivating Lebanese soldiers that it would kill should Hezbollah fail to withdraw from the Syrian Civil war. During the same month of August, the group released Theo Curtis (American) without ransom after two years of hostage. During September 2014, Al-Nusrah released forty-five UN peacekeepers of Fijian origin after two weeks hostage. The group cited failure by the UN to support Syrians in the war as the reason for the kidnappings. The Al-Nusrah Front targets its war on the government of President Bashar Assad, which is at the center of its participation in the Syrian Civil war. The group intends to overthrow the government and institute an Islamic State under Sunni. Besides the government, the group targets non-Sunni communities like Alawites. Al-Nusrah also targets terrorist groups such as the Hezbollah, NDF, Ba’ath Brigade, Hazzm Movement, Al-Abbas brigade, and 101st Division supporting Syrian government. Even though the Front does not actively target Western countries, it confirmed its hate for the US and Israel for hating Islam. The group also warned Western countries against intervening in the war by supporting the regime of President Assad. Attacks by Al-Nusrah Front On 6 January 2012, a suicide bomber linked to the Al-Nusrah front bombed a bus that carried anti-riot police headed to tackle anti-government protests in Damascus. The incidence killed twenty-six people and injuring sixty-three. Other suicide bombers associated with the Al-Nusrah detonated explosives carried in cars targeting government officers at the center of Aleppo in October 3, 2012. On 10 February 2013, the group’s fighters alongside other rebel groups attacked an army camp in Tabqa, and secured large amounts of ammunitions and artillery as well as gaining a strategic viewpoint of the town (Young et al., 2014). This attack recorded unknown number of causalities. In December 2013, the group attacked Maaloula town and kidnapped 13 Christian nuns. Nonetheless, there were no causalities as the group agreed to release the captives safely after negotiations with Qatari, Syrian and Lebanese officials. In March 2014, the Al-Nusrah bombed Hezbollah base at Bekaa valley as retaliation to the defeat from the combination of Hezbollah fighters and government forces in Yabroud town (Steenkamp, 2014). The bombing led to frequent conflicts between the Al-Nusrah and the Hezbollah and eventual death of four fighters. On 3 November 2014, the Al-Nusrah defeated a combined force of Harakat Hazm and Syrian Revolutionary Front in Jabal al-Zawiya, Idbil. The two groups that also affiliates to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) surrendered their town to the Al-Nusrah with some facing arrests as other defect to the aggressor. Analysis of US Homeland Security Policies The events marking 9/11 and the subsequent outbreak of Anthrax in the United States prompted the Federal Government to structure and restructure laws to protect against future attacks. The American public demonstrated great dissatisfaction of the management of home security and demanded that the b government establish measures to safeguard against future terror attempts. It was then that the Congress approved creation of Department of Homeland Security alongside establishment of many others policies to guide in the management of terror threats. The main policies relevant in this study include the USA PATRIOTIC Act of 2001, the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS), and the IRTPA. Even though the policies seem to concentrate more on the domestic security, the great American interest in the global community makes it possible to apply the policies at international level, and enable countering of threats that may emanate from the Al-Nusrah. The USA PATRIOTIC Act of 2001 The policy empowered the law enforcement agencies and intelligence department to foil terrorism using four ways. First, the law expanded investigative tools used to counter other organized crimes to apply on terrorism. Secondly, the Act eliminated many barriers that initially hindered the intelligence force from sharing crucial information with the law enforcers. Thirdly, the Act made the reviewed laws to line with the new terror threats and new technology (US Department of Homeland Security, 2004). Lastly, the Act increased penalties for terrorists and formulated new offences related to terror acts. Among the important aspect of the law is the article that allows law enforcers to carry investigations and avoiding tipping of terrorists. This provision is possible when the enforcers delay the time for informing a subject about release of an arrest warrant to enable sufficient time for identification of associates, eliminate any threats, and coordinate arrests of many people. This article is important in helping the intelligence and law enforcement officers identify and track Americans sympathizing with foreign terrorist groups. In the case of Al-Nusrah, many Americans have attempted to travel to Syria with the objective of serving the terror group. Ahmad Zarkali, Thayer al-atheim and other fifty friends have faced arrests and charges for planning to join Al-Nusrah in the Syrian Civil war. Another crucial aspect of the USA PATRIOTIC Act is enablement of the federal authorities to secure a court order to investigate business records provided by foreign agencies to assist in investigation of terrorism. This part supports corporation of the US anti-terror agencies with foreign authorities. With this possibility, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad can link with the US authorities to assist in investigation of business records of the Al-Nusrah to identify financers of the group and the underlying business activities that the group takes part (Whitley, Zusman & American Bar Association, 2009). The article in the USA PARTRIOTIC Act that abolishes barriers that initially hampered sharing of information between the intelligence communities and law enforcement to enable easy coordination in countering terrorism is also important. However, to apply to the case of Al-Nusrah, the law requires adjustment to permit sharing of the information with even foreign anti-terror agencies. Making such changes would help the American government corporate openly with Lebanese government and the Syrian government in understanding the nature of the Al-Nusrah. Significant understanding of the group would help the US to monitor flow of its weapons to ensure that fighters affiliated to Al-Nusrah do not get the weapons and support. The National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) The National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) is a policy document developed in 2002 through the Executive Order number 13228. The document makes it easier to understand the strategic way of managing homeland security. The document defines homeland security to enable a clear understanding of the extents that security officers should reach when carrying investigations. The document also prevention of terrorism within the American borders as part of the strategic objectives. Another objective of the document is to reduce the vulnerability of America to terrorism. The last strategic objective of the document is to reduce damages and recover from any attacks (US Office of Homeland Security, 2002). The National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) of 2002 applies eight principles in guiding the implementation of homeland security strategies. Among the principles of NSHS is to foster flexibility, encourage mobilization of the public, seeking judicial approval for resource allocation, accountability, responsibility, measure preparedness, make long-term efforts, and limit government spending. The strategy also has six missions that include domestic counterterrorism, gather intelligence and warn, border and transport security, defending catastrophic events, protect infrastructure and assets, and emergency preparedness (Fitzgerald & Young, 2014). The policy part of the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) that intends to reduce the vulnerability of the America to threats of attack is necessary in guiding America in tackling the Al-Nusrah. Even though the fundamental ideology of the Al-Nusrah is not to attack Western countries and the allies, there is need for the government to exercise caution considering the already declared hatred against US and Israel by the group. The group also associates with the Al-Qaeda that planned the 9/11 attacks and promised more war against America. Furthermore, however complex it is, the US security agencies should be cautious of the relationship between the Al-Nusrah and the ISIS that presents a real threat to US homeland security. ISIS has been kidnapping and beheading American citizens as a way of retaliating against US determination to fight terrorism. Considering the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) and the threats presented through the activities of the Al-Nusrah, the American government needs to adjust its laws to allow conception of the threats as increasing the vulnerability of the country to terror attacks. This view is to mean that America should not take the Al-Nusrah Front by its words, but establish measures to suppress the group’s expansion. In that line, USA should advance fights against the Front just as it does to the ISIS and the Al-Qaeda. The American government should adjust its foreign policy on terrorism to allow for monitoring and oppression of the group alongside its affiliates. As the changes happen, the American government should update to the fact that the group may sound less dangerous, since it wants to gain credibility but change later after establish strong military and guerilla power. The Intelligence Community and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) The IRTPA of 2004 defines intelligence as the information developed from collection, processing analysis, integration, evaluation, and understanding of data concerning foreign areas. The IRTPA 2004 integrated the following US agencies into the intelligence community: Army Intelligence Marine Corp Intelligence Coast Guard Intelligences Department of State Department of Energy Navy Intelligence Defense Intelligence Agency Central Intelligence Agency Department of Homeland Security National Security Agency National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Federal Bureau of Investigation For effective management of the information from the Intelligence Community IIC) the IRTPA mandated for the creation of position of the Director of national Intelligence (DNI). The officer is an appointee of the President, and serves to gather and reconcile information provided by the different members of the intelligence community. The office holder gives advice to the American president, the Homeland Security and the National Security Councils (US Department of Homeland Security, 2006). The IRTPA of 2004 also improved the efficiency of the intelligence community by authorizing formation of the national Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). The institution is responsible for analyzing and acting on all intelligence that relate to terrorism. It also establishes appropriate plans for counterterrorism in America. With effective adherence to the IRTPA, the American government has good advantages to monitor the Al-Nusrah Front. The IRTPA makes intelligence come from nearly all the big intelligence agencies of America. The nature of intelligence sharing facilitated by the IRTPA under the Director of National Intelligence is impressive, and capable of supporting tracking of every possible threats of the Al-Nusrah. Such combination of intelligence enables the American government to have all information about the operations of the Al-Nusrah and disclose all secretes probably hidden in the group’s structure. The organization and management of the IC enables effective management of information to ensure maintenance of maximum secrecy and privacy of information supplied by the different agencies. The establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is also important in ensuring management of terror threats in specialized manner. With this institution, the American government is able understand every attempts or plans by the Al-Nusrah group that may prove to be a threat to the homeland security. The institution also enhances the capability of the American government to foil terror attacks with limited errors. There is highly probability that the institution recommended the operation of the American government in targeting the Al-Nusrah bases and operations in Syria. The group seems to understand the camouflaging nature of the Front as precursors of future dangers. Conclusion Analysis of the structure and purposes of the Al-Nusrah Front with respect to the US policies is important in measuring efficiencies in the homeland security laws to tackle any threat that is possible from the group. The Al-Nusrah Front is among the global terrorist groups known to present great threats to the global security and stability. The group is part of the Al-Qaeda of Iraq led by Abu al-Zawahiri. The Al-Qaeda leader initiated measures for the formation of the Al-Nusrah group with intentions to establish a Sunni led Islamic State in Syria after the beginning of the Syrian Civil war. The Front came into formation late in 2011, and formally inaugurated in January 2012. The main ideology of the Al-Nusrah is to establish an Islamic State after ousting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The group members combine both guerilla and military strategies, and have advanced training that any other rebel groups in Syria. Besides the government, the Front targets other organized gangs like the Hezbollah that support the government of President Assad. Even though the group declared that it does not target Western countries and the allies, it has declared its hatred for USA and Israel because of fighting Islam. To gain acceptance, the group has been using moderate force and focuses on portraying self as concerned with citizen welfare. References Boening, A. B. (2014). The Arab Spring: Re-balancing the greater Euro-Mediterranean? Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. Fitzgerald, D., & Ryan, D. (2014). 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