Al-Qaeda Seen as Global Insurgency, According to the Department of Defense

According to the Department of Defense and the United States Military Academy at West Point, al-Qaeda is not only seen as a terrorist faction, but as a global insurgency, based on their definitions of the difference between guerrillas, insurgents, and terrorists. Although it acknowledges that terrorism often overlaps with insurgency, as is the case with the Sunni militant faction, the overall goals of the hard line faction headed by Osama bin-Laden shares more with an insurgency movement than with just a typical terrorist faction.

The report goes on to specify that rather than just being interested in carrying out attacks to receive a shock reaction, many of bin-Laden's targets follow a strategic goal for "regime change" - in this case, on a global scale. Where forces such as the now American aligned Islamic Army of Iraq and Ba'ath Party can be seen as domestic, nationalist insurgencies, with a single goal of forcing a regime change in Iraq, al-Qaeda's goal is what's sometimes defined as a global jihad movement, with the ultimate goal of establishing a universal Caliphate on Earth.

The goals are consistent with what the Department of Defense classifies as an insurgency, specifically a faction intent on dislodging and replacing a current regime. Guerrillas and terrorists, according to the DOD, are the outward, physical manifestation of the ideals of an insurgency - where the insurgent is a simple idealist, the guerrilla is the insurgent that carries out those ideals on the muzzle of an AK-47.

But, it is important to understand that, likewise, not all guerrillas are insurgents - while the two do overlap, a guerrilla fighter is not necessarily fighting for a regime change. This is primarily because the term guerrilla is a definition of a military tactic that can be used in a variety of ways and conflicts, not just against an occupying force. Indeed, historically, guerrilla warfare has even been used in an offensive sense when conventional warfare would prove to be unrealistic against the prescribed foe.

Specifically, the Department of Defense defines terrorism as, "the calculated use of violence or threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, ideological, or religious." Meanwhile, they define an insurgency as, "an organized resistance movement that uses subversion, sabotage, and armed conflict to achieve its aims. Insurgencies normally seek to overthrow the existing social order and reallocate power within the country. They may also seek to (1) Overthrow an established government without a follow-on social revolution. (2) Establish an autonomous national territory within the borders of a state. (3) Cause the withdrawal of an occupying power. (4) Extract political concessions that are unattainable through less violent means."

Using a Venn Diagram, the report explains that the irregular warriors, as they are referred to, have overlaps in many regards, but that acting as one does not necessarily involve the others. However, it acknowledges that due to the weak and fragile nature of terrorists and insurgencies, they are more likely to use guerrilla tactics to achieve their ends.

Osama bin-Laden's stated goals include the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate - a kingdom ruled by a Caliph that lives by Islamic law - and the overthrow of any powers he perceives as oppressing Muslims, as well as the annihilation of the state of Israel. Therefore, technically, to achieve this end, requires the use of global insurgency tactics in order to force the change of regimes world wide. The Department of Defense explains that each of the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda, though terrorist in nature, are generally with the intended and explicit purpose of carrying out these stated goals.

Sources:

Insurgents vs. Guerrillas vs. Terrorists - Department of Defense