Comparing Al Qaeda and ISIS: Different Goals, Different Targets

Overview

• Prepared testimony before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
• Focus on the differences between Al Qaeda and ISIS regarding their goals and threats to the U.S. and the Middle East.
• Al Qaeda remains a threat to the U.S. homeland, while ISIS poses a danger to Middle Eastern stability and U.S. interests abroad.

Origins

Al Qaeda

• Originated from the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
• Founded by Osama Bin Laden to create a global jihadist network.
• Focused on attacking the U.S. as the root cause of the Middle East’s problems.

The Islamic State (ISIS)

• Began as an Iraqi group post the 2003 U.S. invasion.
• Initially led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, later taken over by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• Focused on sectarian war and regional dominance, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

Threat Profiles

Al Qaeda

• Main enemy is the U.S., targeting it to withdraw support for Middle Eastern regimes.
• Prefers large-scale attacks on symbolic U.S. targets.
• Uses a mix of terror attacks and insurgencies.

ISIS

• Focuses on regional control and establishing a caliphate.
• Targets include local apostate regimes and sectarian enemies like Shia Muslims.
• Known for brutal tactics like mass executions and public beheadings.

Affiliates and Influence

• Both groups compete for affiliates across the Muslim world.
• Al Qaeda has created affiliates in various regions, expanding its influence.
• ISIS has gained affiliates in places like Nigeria and Egypt, emphasizing sectarian violence.

Policy Implications and Recommendations

• Exploit the schism between ISIS and Al Qaeda to weaken both.
• Emphasize the infighting in propaganda to reduce jihadist recruitment.
• Military defeats and propaganda of ISIS atrocities can diminish its appeal.
• U.S. should focus on intelligence gathering and strengthening local regimes to counter expansion.

Conclusion

• The rivalry between Al Qaeda and ISIS shapes the jihadist movement and poses distinct threats to global stability.
• Continued infighting may reduce their ability to influence regional politics and diminish jihadism’s appeal overall.