ISLAMIC STATE VS. AL-QAEDA

The entire report can be downloaded in PDF at this link: https://static. newamerica.org/attachments/ 12103-islamic-state-vs-al- qaeda/ISISvAQ_Final. e68fdd22a90e49c4af1d4cd0dc9e36 51.pdf

DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS, JASON FRITZ, BRIDGET MORENG AND NATHANIEL BARR

Strategic Dimensions of a Patricidal Conflict

POLICY PAPER | DECEMBER 04, 2015

HTTPS://WWW.NEWAMERICA.ORG/ INTERNATIONAL-SECURITY/ ISLAMIC-STATE-VS-AL-QAEDA/

The rise of the Islamic State and its competition with al-Qaeda has fundamentally reshaped the global jihadist movement. Al-Qaeda, the once-dominant force within the movement, which adopted a strategy focused on fighting the United States in a competition between two actors, has faltered as the Islamic State’s strategy designed for war both with the United States and al-Qaeda has demonstrated results. Rather than competing with the Islamic State’s loud campaign trumpeting its brutality and military success, al-Qaeda has instead sought to avoid attention and rebrand itself as “moderate.” What is the future of the jihadist movement? Whose strategy will succeed – al Qaeda’s or the Islamic State’s? How should the United States analyze and respond to the new environment? In a new policy paper from New America, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and his coauthors explore these questions.