As the terrorist organizations persisted, the counterterrorism has evolved and successfully
prevented multiple terrorist attempts. As counterterrorism measures, the terrorist started to utilize
different ways to harm our ways of lives. One of the changes was to implement cell structured
terrorist organization that is harder to track and identify. This paper will identify the advantage
and disadvantage of traditional hierarchical and networked structured terrorist organizations and
come up with possible ways to dismantle them.
A terrorist organization like Al Qaeda and Islamic State’s main objective is to create an
Islamic State and establish a Khilafah, an ideal future Muslim state. By having a well-structured
hierarchy organization and centralized leadership, it is a step closer to its ultimate goal of
creating an Islamic State. Also, by having a structured organization, a terrorist organization can
implement coherent strategies and control its support base.(Tucker,D. 2019) In this way, the
terrorist organization can recruit in a systemic approach and train and educate their recruits in a
way the organization operates and also financially support itself. Al Nusrah Front (ANF) a
jihadist terrorist organization based on Syria. ANF has control over some parts of Syria and
formed their version of an Islamic State. This way, ANF can sustain itself financially. ANF
received streams of funding of $13 million monthly from tariffs, tax, fines from its occupant.
(Counter Extremism Project) This way, ANF obtained advanced weapons and posed a significant
threat in Syria. Because of well-trained members and financial means, terrorist organizations
could pull off a complicated and big scale attacks like 9/11and Benghazi. However, a well-
structured organization has its vulnerabilities as well. Due to its large size, it is easier to infiltrate
the organizations. For example, Operation Kayla Mueller, better known as the Al Baghdadi raid,
could be successful due to sources in the organization. The CIA and Iraqi intelligence
organizations co-opt with Al-Baghdadi’s wife and nephew into providing route and location of
Al-Baghdadi. (Chulov,2019) Just like Operation Kayla Mueller, it is easier to infiltrate or gather
intelligence from a well-structured organization. Also, there is a possibility that some members
disagree with the organization’s plan, action, or idealism and defect. These defectors can be a
valuable asset to the intelligence Community for intelligence. The most effective way to
dismantle such a group, the finance must be cut off. To do that, there need to be military
operations to force out the terrorist organizations from their occupants and territory. Once the
resources are cut off, the terrorist organization won’t be able to sustain itself and let alone recruit
new members. Then slowly, the organization will dismantle.
Due to the organized terrorist organization being infiltrated and thwarted, the terrorist
started to utilize cell structured organization. This structure refers to the organizational technique
of dividing terrorist organizations into small sub-units that usually interact in a larger network.
This cell composes of 3 to 10 individuals, and it self-sustain and operate individually. (Terrorism
Research & Analysis Consortium) Due to these characteristics, it is harder for the intelligence
community, and law enforcement to infiltrate the cell. Also, this structure allows the group to be
individual and independent as well. If one terrorist cell is infiltrated or taken down, the other cell
is not affected by it and still carry out its function. However, this new structure isn’t perfect,
either. It has a severe downfall when it comes to finances and strategies. First, these cell
structures don’t have many resources like ANF or ISIS. It is almost impossible for these groups
to obtain a mass amount of weaponry. That is why these cells utilize van or small arms for their
attacks. Not only that, but these groups don’t receive paramilitary training or proper
bombmaking training. Due to the lack of training, there has been an increasing number of failed
terrorist attacks due to device malfunction. In order to disrupt cell structured terrorist
organizations, there needs to be a surveillance program to monitor a possible terrorist attack. For
example, to stop terrorist cells, the Israeli government increased the monitoring of social media.
After this implementation, there were only four terrorist attacks in April of 2018 compared to 71
attacks in October of 2015. (Eglash & Morris 2018)
Terrorist organization comes in various form. It comes in both hierarchy and cell
structured forms. Both structures have advantages and disadvantages and by identifying their
weakness and vulnerability, these terrorist organizations can be defeated with appropriate
policies and strategies.
References
Belgioioso, M., & University of Essex. (2010, May 21). Better the Devil You Know? How
Fringe Terrorism Can Induce an Advantage for Moderate Nonviolent Campaigns. Retrieved from
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Tucker, David. “Terrorism, Networks, and Strategy: Why the Conventional Wisdom is
Wrong.” Homeland Security Affairs 4, Article 5 (June 2008). https://www.hsaj.org/articles/122
Counter Extremism Project. (n.d.). Nusra Front (Jabhat Fateh al-Sham). Retrieved from
https://www.counterextremism.com/threat/nusra-front-jabhat-fateh-al-sham.
Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. (n.d.). Cell Strategy and Terrorist Groups. Retrieved
from https://www.trackingterrorism.org/article/cell-strategy-and-terrorist-groups
Chulov, M. (2019, October 27). Nowhere left to run: how the US finally caught up with Isis
leader Baghdadi. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/27/nowhere-left-
to-run-how-the-us-finally-caught-up-with-isis-leader-baghdadi
Eglash, R., & Morris, L. (2018, July 9). Israel says monitoring social media has cut lone-wolf
attacks. Palestinians are crying foul. Retrieved
