The internal conflicts within alQaeda from "summary" of The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
The internal conflicts within alQaeda were rooted in the differing visions of its leaders. Osama bin Laden, the group's founder, believed in a strategy of attacking the "far enemy" - the United States - in order to provoke a global conflict that would unite Muslims against the West. On the other hand, Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's deputy, favored focusing on the "near enemy" - the Arab regimes that he saw as corrupt and apostate. This ideological divide was not merely theoretical; it played out in the group's operations and decision-making processes. Bin Laden's emphasis on high-profile attacks like 9/11 put alQaeda in direct conflict with the governments of the countries where it operated, leading to a series of setbacks and losses. Zawahiri, in contrast, argued for a more patient and strategic approach, focusing on building local support and alliances ...
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