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Strategy, History, & Goals

Ends, ways, and means. Terrorist organizations are familiar with these concepts and the development of strategy too. Over the course of our history the CTC has studied and released reports and articles about terrorist goals and strategy. Browse the content below to learn more.

March 1, 2015

Abu al-Layth al-Libi (Jihadi Bios Project)

Kevin Jackson

December 16, 2014

The Group That Calls Itself a State: Understanding the Evolution and Challenges of the Islamic State

Bryan Price, Daniel Milton, Muhammad al-`Ubaydi, Nelly Lahoud

May 14, 2013

Usama bin Ladin’s “Father Sheikh”: Yunus Khalis and the Return of al-Qa`ida’s Leadership to Afghanistan

Kevin Bell

January 15, 2013

Challengers from the Sidelines: Understanding America’s Violent Far-Right

Arie Perliger

September 26, 2025

Feature Commentary: Confronting Cartels: Military Considerations South of the Border

Brian Michael Jenkins

September 8, 2025

The Global State of al-Qa`ida 24 Years After 9/11

Colin Clarke, Clara Broekaert

August 20, 2025

Understanding China’s New Counterterrorism Ambitions in Africa

Jason Warner

Tehran’s Homeland Option: Terror Pathways for Iran to Strike in the United States

Matthew Levitt

July 3, 2024

Caliphate Complaint Box 390

Caliphate Complaint Box 389

Caliphate Complaint Box 388

Caliphate Complaint Box 387

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