Sample Records
Ten Years Later: Insights on al-Qaeda’s Past & Future through Captured Records
The Conflict Records Research Center’s (CRRC) is pleased to release 12 records from the CRRC’s al-Qaeda and Associated Movements (AQAM) collection in conjunction with the CRRC-Johns Hopkins University “Ten Years Later” conference, held 13-14 September 2011 at the National Defense University.
At this conference, prominent analysts of al-Qaeda discussed what we knew about AQAM before 9/11, what we have learned over the past 10 years, and how captured records and other primary sources can guide scholarship and policy.
Digital copies of captured records are provided below, along with full English translations and summaries. These records provide only a small sample of the much larger collection that is available to researchers at the CRRC.
AQ-INSE-D-000-118, “Intelligence training chapters, entitled ‘Dealing with the Enemy,’ ‘Creating Agents,’ and ‘Operations Security,’” undated (circa late-1990s).
AQ-INSE-D-000-122, “Memorandum regarding recruitment, organization and personal security, and creating and managing agents,” undated (prior to 2002).
AQ-MCOP-D-001-136, “Article regarding the 1994 Air France hijacking by Sunni Mujahideen, recommends ‘aerial martyrdom operations,’” 30 December 1994.
AQ-MISC-D-000-286, “‘Terrorist Groups’ Operations and Plans of the United States to Defeat Them,’ by Hidira al-Argentini, outlining al-Qaeda’s views on the U.S. definition of and reaction to terrorist organizations,” undated.
AQ-SHPD-D-000-085, “Document detailing the organization of cells in cities, including command, information, supply, and execution cells,” undated (prior to 2002).
AQ-SHPD-D-000-103, “Letter from Abu Hafs to Abu Khalid regarding the rise of the Taliban and their successes in Afghanistan, and the strategic significance of Afghanistan for the United States, Pakistan, Russia, and India,” undated (prior to 2002).
AQ-SHPD-D-001-157, “Jihad media document, regarding means of communication with the population and the importance of slogans and truthfulness,” (circa 1990).
AQ-SHPD-D-001-285, “Document contains al-Qaeda review of the 9/11 attacks on the United States one year later,” undated (circa September 2002).
AQ-THEO-D-001-152, “Questions and answers regarding changing the status of vice in society, using Islamic legal texts and scholarly teachings,” undated (prior to 2003).
AQ-TRED-D-000-996, “Description of several courses in al-Qaeda training program for new recruits,” undated.
AQ-SHPD-D-000-995, "Abu Yassir urges Osama bin Laden to select only strategic operations even if there is a long time between attacks," undated.
AQ-POAK-D-000-257, "Al-Qaeda training document for first year members, from the series “To Be Prepared Against Them,” by the Curriculum Committee," undated.