[Peace-discuss] [socialistdiscussion] Question re: al Qaeda

[Carl G. Estabrook]

Perhaps the best reporting on the matter has ben done by Jason Burke, the south Asia correspondent of The Guardian and The Observer newspapers:

~ His 2004 book "Al-Qaeda" is described by the publisher as follows: 

"Jason Burke shows how the threat from Islamic terrorism comes not from a single criminal mastermind, or even from one group. In this revealing account, he characterizes it is a broad movement with profound roots in the politics, societies and history of the Islamic world. Using hundreds of interviews and thousands of documents, Burke shows how 'Al-Qaeda' is a convenient label applied misleadingly to a diverse, disorganized global movement..."

~ An article from last month updates the story:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/29/terror-middle-east-al-qaida-shabaab

~ And here's a list of his recent articles:

http://www.theguardian.com/profile/jasonburke+world/al-qaida

--CGE


On Oct 25, 2013, at 12:26 PM, David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> wrote:

> I have a question regarding "al Qaeda and similar Sunni terrorist groups. I can't see how they can continue their military-type campaigns without the backing of some state, or sectors of some state, or significant sectors of the capitalist class of one or a couple of countries. Does anybody know what such forces stand behind them? I know about some links with Saudi and Yemeni capitalists. Is this who is behind them? Maybe connected to the Wahabis? Does anybody know the specifics, or can they recommend some good reading on the issue?
> 
> John