Al-Qaeda & Islamic State: History, Doctrine, Modus Operandi and U.S. Strategy to Degrade and Defeat Terrorism Conducted in the Name of Sunni Islam by Paul Kamolnick, Strategic Studies Institute

Dr. Kamolnick’s book is a meticulously documented investigation and comparison of the al-Qaeda and the Islamic State across three key strategically relevant dimensions: essential doctrine, beliefs, and worldview; strategic concept, including terrorist modus operandi; and in the final chapter, specific implications, and recommendations for current U.S. Government policy and strategy.
Contents:
Belief-System, Creed, Worldview, Doctrine
The Al-Qaeda Organization
Sunni Islamic Orthodoxy
Sunni-Salafism/”Fundamentalism”
The Muwahhidun/Wahhabism/Salafi-Wahhabism
Muslim Brotherhood-Salafi-Wahhabi
The “Base of the Jihad”; Al-Qaeda
From Qa’idat Al-Jihad to Bin Ladenism
From Bin Ladenism Back to Qa’idat Al-Jihad
Post-Arab Spring Qa’idat Al-Jihad
“What is Qa’idat Al-Jihad?” In a Nutshell:
Fazul Abdullah and Adam Gadahn
III. Islamic State Organization
“Zarqawism” vs. AQO: Abu Musab
Al-Zarqawi’s Worldview and Doctrine: 1989-June 7, 2006
From Non-Religious Violent Street Tough to Ultra-Sectarian Salafi-Wahhabi Jihadist Prison
Tough: 1980-1999
Al-Zarqawi’s Private Jihasist Armies of the Levant: 1999-2004
The History, Doctrines, and Worldview of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi’s “Caliphate”:
From ISI to the Caliphate: Brief Organizational History
Self-Proclaimed Emir Al-Muminin Abu Bakr Al-Hussaini Al-Qurayshi Al-Baghdadi:
The Caliphate Now!
The “Final Solution” to the “Shia Problem”
Terrorist Modus Operandi
Terrorist Quadrangle Analysis
The Al-Qaeda Organization
The “Classical” Base First Bin Ladenist
Lone Mujahid”
“Far Enemy” Strategy
Islamic State
Conclusions, Implications, and Recommendations for U.S. Government
Key Findings
Belief-Systems, Worldviews, Doctrines, Creeds
Strategies and Terrorist Modus Operandi
Implications for U.S. Government
Policy and Strategies
Implications for Existing USG Policy and Strategy to Permanently Defeat AQ and its Affiliates
Implications for Existing USG Policy and Strategy to Permanently Defeat the IS