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Harmony Program

The CTC launched the Harmony Program in 2005 in order to release and analyze documents from the Department of Defense’s Harmony database. The focus of this program is to contextualize the inner-functioning of al-Qa’ida, its associated movement, and other security threats through primary source documents. Harmony products released by the CTC are typically accompanied by an analytical report and the primary source material from which its conclusions are based. By releasing this material, the CTC aims to make these sources, which are captured in the course of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters, available to other scholars for further study.

While captured documents offer unique insight into the decision-making process of terrorist groups they are most valuable when contextualized with information drawn from other sources. Scholars and practitioners should be aware that analyzing such data is fraught with risk. Documents in the Harmony database were collected on the battlefield unscientifically. There is no way to know just how representative documents captured by U.S. forces are of the larger body of information produced by al‐Qa`ida or other insurgents. Likewise, the vast database in which they are stored is imperfect and virtually impossible to search systematically. Readers and researchers should therefore be wary of conclusions drawn from Harmony documents alone.

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Featured Documents

`Atiyah’s Letter to Zarqawi

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This is a letter from `Atiyah `Abd al-Rahman, mostly known as `Atiyatullah al-Libi, to Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi. The letter was...

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Zawahiri’s Letter to Zarqawi

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This is a critical letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi in which the author presents his strategy of...

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Letter from UBL to `Atiyatullah Al-Libi 4

SOCOM-2012-0000019

This document is a long letter authored by Usama bin Ladin after the death of Sheikh Sa'id (Mustafa Abu'l-Yazid) in...

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Lessons Learned from the Jihad Ordeal in Syria

AFGP-2002-600080

This is a lengthy document that examines the jihad waged by the Muslim Brotherhood against the Syrian regime of Hafiz...

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Title

Description

Reference Number

  • Caliphate Complaint Box 197

    This complaint is from a woman who had a benefit eligibility card, but it was taken away, then given back,...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 196

    This is a complaint from a mother whose son was killed by friendly fire. She initially received some compensation, but...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 195

    This is an investigative memo of an interview with the complainant. He claims that several Hisbah members were trying to...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 194

    This is an administrative notification about a punishment issued in response to a complaint, but without many details.

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 193

    This response for more information about a complaint. It describes an individual who tried to intervene in Hisbah enforcement, but...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 192

    This complaint is from a soldier who was supposed to be transferred, but didn’t receive a warm reception in his...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 191

    This is a complaint from an individual who states that he bought a truck, it didn’t work, and getting his...

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  • Caliphate Complaint Box 190

    This is a letter describing a significant amount of abuse and arrogance by an individual who claims to be high...

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