Publisher's Synopsis
This unique book provides a complete compendium reproduction of over 100 declassified documents and letters recovered during the raid on the compound used to hide Usama bin Ladin, released by the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on May 20, 2015. The letters and documents cover everything from mundane matters to terrorism strategies, threats to the United States, and much more. There are also lists of documents and books found in the compound: Publicly Available U.S. Government Documents, English Language Books, Material Published by Violent Extremists and Terror Groups, Materials Regarding France, Media Articles, Other Religious Documents, Think Tank and Other Studies, Software and Technical Manuals, Other Miscellaneous Documents, and Documents Probably Used by Other Compound Residents. In addition, earlier releases include the complete set of declassified English-translated internal letters from Osama bin Laden from his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and a comprehensive report from the West Point Combating Terrorism Center with analysis of the al Qaeda communications. The introduction to the report, Letters from Abbottabad, states: This report is a study of 17 de-classified documents captured during the Abbottabad raid and released to the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC). They consist of electronic letters or draft letters, totaling 175 pages in the original Arabic and 197 pages in the English translation. The earliest is dated September 2006 and the latest April 2011. These internal al-Qa`ida communications were authored by several leaders, most prominently Usama bin Ladin. In contrast to his public statements that focused on the injustice of those he believed to be the "enemies" of Muslims, namely corrupt "apostate" Muslim rulers and their Western "overseers," the focus of Bin Ladin's private letters is Muslims' suffering at the hands of his jihadi "brothers". He is at pain advising them to abort domestic attacks that cause Muslim civilian casualties and focus on the United States, "our desired goal." Bin Ladin's frustration with regional jihadi groups and his seeming inability to exercise control over their actions and public statements is the most compelling story to be told on the basis of the 17 de-classified documents. "Letters from Abbottabad" is an initial exploration and contextualization of 17 documents that will be the grist for future academic debate and discussion. As a bonus, this compilation includes an important CRS report on Al Qaeda and its affiliates deals with historical perspectives, global presence, and implications for U.S. policy. There is extensive coverage of al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP), North Africa/Sahel: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), East Africa, Somalia, Al Qaeda and Radical Islamist Extremists in Southeast Asia, Al Qaeda's Global Strategy and Implications for U.S. Policy, and more.
