Military Studies In The Jihad Against The Tyrants: The Al Qaeda Training Manual

by Jerrold M. Post

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Dr. Post has devoted his entire career to the field of political psychology. Dr. Post came to George Washington after a 21 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency where he founded and directed the Center for the Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior, an interdisciplinary behavioral science unit which provided assessments of foreign leadership and decision making for the President and other senior officials to prepare for Summit meetings and other high level negotiations and for use in crisis situations. He played the lead role in developing the "Camp David profiles" of Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat for President Jimmy Carter and initiated the U.S. government program in understanding the psychology of terrorism. In recognition of his leadership of the Center, Dr. Post was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit in 1979, and received the Studies in Intelligence Award in 1980. He received the Nevitt Sanford Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Political Psychology in 2002.

A founding member of the International Society of Political Psychology, Dr. Post was elected Vice-President in 1994, and has served on the editorial board of Political Psychology since 1987. A Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, he has been elected to the American College of Psychiatrists and is currently Chair, Task Force for National and International Terrorism and Violence for the APA.

Reviews

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This brief (~150 page) book is an annotated translation of an actual al Qaeda field manual. It is mostly a pedestrian 'how to' guide for junior foot soldier types in the al Qaeda organization, with limited unique insight into the thought processes and philosophy of the leadership. Don't pick this one up if you want an in-depth, scholarly examination of the middle east, Islam, al Qaeda, terrorism, or the war on terror...but it is an interesting supporting document if you do have an interest in any of the above. What unique aspects there are (mis-interpretation of Koran verses, notably boilerplate historical references in some areas, very insightful and targeted historical references in others, among others) are helpfully footnoted by the author.

The Egyptian jihadist influence is pretty clear in the anecdotes chosen. Likewise, it seems that this document probably predated some of the more innovative terroristic methods seen in Iraq, etc, after the invasion. Overall, it reads to me as if it was written before the war on terror for readers planning to conduct internal operations within their middle eastern/African homelands (though could be wrong here).

Interestingly, it shows a good amount of depth in some areas, counterpointed by an extremely naive and surface-level angle on other areas. There is a great deal of 'nuts and bolts' about things like establishing a communication plan, using simple ciphers, firing a pistol, etc.

Finally, I was struck by some of the conversation about methods of interrogation and torture al Qaeda agents might expect and the suggestions for resisting them...immediate parallels to reading about the experiences of American POWs in Vietnam.

In conclusion, please don't report me to the feds.