Global support for al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden: an increase or decrease?

Abstract

Operational terrorism is a vicious by-product of ideological terrorism. Numerous countries have mastered operational counter-terrorism but not strategic counter-terrorism. To be successful, the operational hunt for terrorists must be complemented with the correction of misled ideologies. Reducing support for terrorism is paramount to reduce and manage the threat of terrorism and its partner, ideological extremism. This paper describes the factors and drivers that are correlated to an increase or decrease in support for al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden.