The Al Qaeda Brand: The Strategic Use of the “Terrorist” Label

Al Qaeda leaders have consistently praised the Chechen insurgents as an exemplary front of global jihad. Ayman al-Zawahiri recently applauded the steadfastness of the Chechen rebels and indicated that their resolve for jihad is worthy of emulation. Ever since the world found out about a war going on in the Muslim republic in the North Caucasus, Al Qaeda leadership has attempted to represent the Chechen struggle as one of its own battlefields. In turn, the Russian government has tried to justify its policies in the North Caucasus through demonstrating to the world that the Kremlin is fighting nothing less than Osama bin Laden’s agents in Chechnya. The North Caucasus insurgents in turn have embraced some of Al Qaeda’s narratives. While such narratives have proliferated, the factual evidence to show the direct links between the North Caucasus insurgents and Al Qaeda is still lacking. The article examines how terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda use framing for strategic ends. The evidence discussed here suggests that Al Qaeda, the North Caucasus insurgents, and the Russian government have adopted similar narratives. However, the lack of evidence to back up such narratives indicates the differences in reasons driving the convergence of the narratives.     

Hurdles to International Terrorist Alliances: Lessons From Al Qaeda's Experience

Despite the threat posed by international terrorist alliances, the conditions that foster and inhibit these relationships remain poorly understood. When seeking allies outside of their primary conflict and political market, groups struggle to forge credible commitments, particularly the requisite ‘shadows of the future’ and reputations conducive to cooperation, without third-party enforcers. Given their suspicious nature and strong in-group identities, terrorist groups sometimes balk at relinquishing independence for security. Alliances risk precipitating counterterrorism pressure, alienating constituents, and increasing the risk of betrayal. Even groups that enjoy alliance success, like Al Qaeda, experience these hurdles in their alliance. What helped to set Al Qaeda apart from most groups was its ability to navigate these obstacles, though some bedeviled its alliances efforts. This offers under-utilized opportunities for alliance disruption.     

网络视野下的恐怖主义及应对

凭借现代通信技术的发展,恐怖主义以网络化的组织形式将其极端活动秘密推向世界各地。本研究旨在针对国际恐怖主义的发展特点,以网络的视角观察和分析恐怖组织结构的变化,描述国际恐怖主义网络化特点,评估网络化恐怖主义带来的威胁及挑战,并从中探讨反恐的新思路和打击策略。     

公安宣传工作如何正确引导舆论

公安宣传工作是公安工作的重要组成部分。公安宣传工作要正确引导舆论,必须正确把握党性原则、真实性原则、正向性原则、及时性原则、平等性原则。同时注意尊重受众、内外有别、引导适度、良性互动等引导艺术。     

宣传思想工作要具有创新性

在新的形势下,宣传思想工作必须以“三个代表”重要思想为指导,紧紧围绕改革、发展和稳定的大局进行理论创新,同时要加强机制创新,切实把宣传思想工作落到实处。     

商业银行、非银行金融机构与恐怖组织洗钱犯罪研究

9·11事件后,尽管国际社会付出了巨大努力,但斩断恐怖组织"金融血管"的行动却收效甚微,由于种种原因,商业银行、非银行金融机构仍是恐怖组织洗钱的首选路径,因此,必须从体制,机制、观念等方面进行创新,以发挥银行系统反洗钱的整体功能。     

论我国反恐怖刑事立法的完善

我国在反恐怖方面的刑事立法还有诸多不足之处,宏观上看存在法律体系散乱,指导思想不明确,程序法缺失等问题;微观上看存在恐怖犯罪地位不明,罪名遗漏较多等问题。应该结合我国实际, 借鉴国外通行做法,构建以反恐怖法为中心的反恐怖法律体系。     

刑法应增设包庇、纵容恐怖活动组织罪

当前恐怖活动组织活动猖獗,制造了大量恐怖事件,为此我国在《刑法修正案》(三)中增设了几种罪名以适应打击恐怖犯罪的需要。然而,《刑法》尚未规定包庇、纵容恐怖活动组织罪,对有些犯罪行为尚难以处罚,因而我国刑法中应尽早增设包庇、纵容恐怖活动组织罪。包庇、纵容恐怖活动组织罪是指国家机关工作人员包庇恐怖活动组织或者纵容恐怖活动组织进行违法犯罪的行为。     

俄罗斯车臣恐怖主义产生的根源

近年来,俄罗斯境内频繁发生车臣恐怖分子的袭击事件。究其原因有5方面:1.俄、车民族结怨很深且由来已久,这使得车臣族人很容易拿起武器,随时准备着用暴力证明自己的正确;2.冷战结束以后,一部分车臣人谋求政治独立,结果遭受俄军一再打击,受害者转而寻求以武力复仇;3.车臣地区社会贫困、经济文化发展落后,使得一些车臣人迫于生活压力从事恐怖活动;4.伊斯兰教原教旨主义不断向车臣地区渗透扩张,使部分车臣青年产生了驱逐甚至消灭俄罗斯异教徒的激进思想;5.包括穆斯林国家战斗人员、本·拉登“基地”组织和前阿富汗塔利班政权在内的国际恐怖势力的公开支持以及某些国家的纵容立场,都对车臣恐怖分子起到了姑息养奸的作用。惟其如此,俄罗斯国内的恐怖主义问题不仅层出不穷,而且成了一个久治难愈的顽症。