Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Essay

St force in the Arabian Peninsula field has been a concern for the unify States for some time now. AQAP poses a calculate holy panic against the U.S. and U.S. interests of Stability and Security in the Arabian Peninsula. This instability and flagellum is why I corroborate chosen the AQAP as the FTO to query making the next attack. The AQAP comes from the merging of the al Qaeda cells from Yemen and in Saudi-Arabian Arabia. There are approximately one two hundred members, with thousands of supporters. The amalgamation took place in January 2009, due to the success of the Saudi Arabian goerning in destroying al Qaedas infrastructure in the state of Saudi Arabia. AQAP is a subsidiary of the al Qaeda, whose center of gravity is in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but works indep discontinueently of its parent organization. Since formation occurred, they are creditworthy for a number of attacks on the West and are considered responsible parties of the UPS and FEDEX warhead bom salt aw ayg attempts (Kurczy, 2010).They were deemed a terrorist organization on December 14, 2009, by U.S. deposit of State Hillary Clinton. (Gerstein, 2010). Prior to the formation of AQAP, al Qaeda claimed responsibility for many attacks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Those attacks include the 1993 attack on World job Center, 1998 suicide bombings of Embassies, the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, and the 2008 car bombing outside the U.S. Embassy in Sana cleanup spot 19 people including 6 of the terrorists (Poland, 2005 ). AQAP has claimed to aim on targeting oil facilities, tourists, and earnest measures forces in the future. It is believed though that AQAP provided spiritual guidance by U.S. Citizen Anwar al Awlaki to U.S. force Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was the gunman behind the 2009 Ft. Hood killings and the December 2009 attempt to down a passenger airline to Detroit.Responsible parties to these terroristic events are said to be that of the hook five key leaders of AQAP. These m en include are in order of their rank from the top spot of leaders to the last. 1. Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, aka the bomb maker. He is believed to be the creator of the bombs intercepted in October last year on payload planes. 2. Anwar al-Awlaki, aka the chief ideologue. He is suspected of being part of three empty-handed terrorist attacks to include the Fort Hood Shootings (Bryant, C., & Kasinof, L., 2010), bombing attempt on airliner reverse lightning on Christmas, and the cadences Square bombing on May 2. 3. utter Ali al-Shihri, deputy chief of AQAP. He is suspected of participation in family line 2008 US Embassy attack and the kidnapping of nine missionaries in June 2009 according to dodger News. 4. Qasim al-Raymi, military commander. He followed Osama bin Ladens lead on media releases building an ever-more sophisticated propaganda arm for al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (Kurczy, 2010).5. Nasir al Wuhayshi, head of AQAP. Known as the personal secretary of Osama bin Laden (Kurc zy, 2010). Most of AQAP is made up of fighters that returned from Afghanistan during the Russian invasion and fighters that deliver been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They lure new recruits who are sympathetic to al Qaeda and have animosity towards the U.S. and westerly nations. The recruiting pool is vast in the region with fighters fleeing Iraq and Afghanistan and relocating to Yemen and Somalia. Both countries have weak interchange governments that are conducive for lawlessness in the region and have vast ungoverned territory. disposal cooperation with American counter-terrorism efforts has historically been spotty and portions of both populations are hostile to the United States. (Kerry, 2010) AQAP aims to overthrow the Yemeni government for its support to the U.S. and its offensive operations against al Qaeda.The group also emphasizes its global ambitions and desire to target Hesperian interests inside the region. Additionally, AQAP has stated it will focus on cutting s upply lines of westerly nations supporting Israel and looks to expand its mould throughout the region (Boucek, 2010). The animosity against the western nations continues to grow, as does the technology and ideas for new weapons. The newest information is that a poisoned perfume patch against religious and government officials was prevented due to arrest of 149 al Qaeda suspects. This is only if an example of the creativity AQAP has come up with. Last summer the dry lands Deputy Interior Minister had been attempted to be assassinate by a bomber with the weapon in his anus (Rawnsley, 2010). These weapons are scarce the newest form used by AQAP. Yemen has emerged as a major re-create base for al Qaeda and opposite likeminded groups for attacking American targets at heart Yemen as easily as to reach targets outside of Yemen including the United States.U.S. officials have warned that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was a growing panic even before the failed 2009, Christmas D ay airline bombing attempt (Kerry, 2010). In February 2009, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair stated that, Yemen is reemerging as a jihadist plain and potential regional base of operations for Al Qaedato plan internal and external attacks, train terrorists, and facilitate the movement of operatives. (Rollins, 2010). The threat orgasm from AQAP is greater than the threat coming from al Qaedas central leadership located in Pakistan. AQAP is increasingly a more air pressure concern for U.S. national security. AQAP has relative freedom of movement in the Arabian Peninsula and region which allows for its ability to increase its ranks through recruitment as easy as its ability to train new recruits.Additionally, AQAP has also shown its ability to influence other like-minded individuals to conduct attacks to our homeland with little to no warning. AQAP has proved it has the means and capability to attempt to conduct attacks globally although it has yet to be successful. I t is only a matter of time before they possess the ability and trained personnel that are able to conduct something equal to or greater than the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. AQAP poses a direct threat to the U.S. and U.S. interest of stability and security in the Arabian Peninsula. AQAP is capable of either threat that has been uttered against the US and western countries.The US as well as the other western territories that are considered allies against AQAP, can end or at least moderate the terroristic threat by interdicting terrorists, disrupt their planning, restrict their travel, reduce the flow of financial (EO 13224 signed 9/23/01) and material support to terrorist groups, and enable partner governments to assert control over weakly governed territory where terrorists find sanctuary (US Department of State, 2005). The Antiterrorism Assistance course is a well used rejectrent against FTOs much(prenominal) as AQAP. The AQAP became a bigger threat than al Qaeda, and the instability and security issues within the Arabian Peninsula are threats we must contend with.With the knowledge and learn gained since the imperative attacks on American soil in 2001, we can deter and detain these terrorists and protect our homeland and allies. The ideologies and animosity against the US and other western nations are targeted towards the recruiting of others who sympathize with al Qaeda. Preemptive and retaliatory methods are other forces to use to impede the AQAPs threats and/or attacks. It is also noted in the Country Reports that by Americans helping partner nations in the quest for improving their abilities to detect and prevent terrorist activities this will clearly stir the overall security of all nations (US Department of State, 2005).ReferencesBoucek, Christopher (2010). Terrorism out of Yemen. Carnegie endowment for International Peace. Retrieved from http//carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=41705 ReferencesB ryant, C., & Kasinof, L. (2010, October 29). Suspicious UPS, FedEx packages raise new concerns about Al Qaeda in Yemen. Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost CPJ. (2008, April 15). Iraq Journalists Abducted 2003-09. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Committee to cheer Journalists Defending Journalists Worldwide http//cpj.org/reports/2008/04/abducted.php. Gerstein, Josh (2010). Clinton named Al Qaeda Yemen as terror group. Politico. Retrieved from http//www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0110/Clinton_named_AlQaeda_Yemen_as_terror_group_a_month_ago.html Kerry, John (2010). Al Qaeda in Yemen and Somalia A ticking Time Bomb. Committee on foreign relations United States Senate. Retrieved from http//www.fas.org/irp/congress/2010_rpt/sfrc-aq.pdf Kurczy, S. (2010, November 2). cardinal key members of Al Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP). Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Poland, J. (2005 ). understanding terrorism Groups, strategies, and responses 2 nd edition. Upper Saddle River Pearson. Rawnsley, A. (2010, December 7). Danger style Whats Next in National Security. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Wired http//www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/al-qaedas-latest-weapon-poison-perfume/ Rollins, John (2010). Al Qaeda and Affiliates Historical Perspective, Global Presence, and Implications for U.S. Policy. Congressional question Service. Retrieved from http//www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41070.pdf US Department of National Security. (2006). The National Security dodging of the United States of America. Washington DC USDOS. US Department of State. (2005). Country Reports on Terrorism 2004. Washington DC US Government.