How is bin Laden’s terror network structured?
Bin Laden is the undisputed leader, called “emir” or “prince” by his followers, who must take a sworn oath to him, violation of which is punishable by death. Beneath him is the “shura al-majlis” or “consultative council,” which includes his top lieutenants. His top aide is an Egyptian: Ayman al-Zawahiri, a physician and leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad — believed responsible for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981, and the attempted assassination of his successor, Hosni Mubarak, in 1995 A former top military aide, Saif Al-Adel [delete] is now believed to be living in Iran. Iranian officials say he is “in jail,” along with several dozen others. U.S. officials say there is an ethnic hierarchy within al-Qaida with Saudis and Egyptians at the top, followed by Pakistanis, Chechens and Uzbeks. At the bottom are North Africans, although recently, the United States has seen a greater reliance on Tunisians.
