The Question is When: The Ideology of Al Qaeda and the Reality of Bioterrorism

Abstract

This article evaluates the threat of bioterrorism through a joint analysis of Al Qaeda's ideology and the practical utility of molecular biology. Al Qaeda is shown to advance a logic that is based not on the main schools of Islamic theology but rather on the result of applying Islamic principles to sociopolitical change, thereby re-interpreting the guidelines of Islamic law. Al Qaeda's philosophical underpinnings render non-combatants legitimate targets and inspire its followers to commit violent acts of destruction while being convinced they are fulfilling the ordained will of Allah. In conjunction with this ideological perspective, a discussion of modern biomedical research considers the technical challenges of applying scientific advances to the development and deployment of biological weapons consistent with Al Qaeda's operational history. This multidisciplinary analysis reveals that the reality of Al Qaeda challenges both the ideological and the technical constraints that have hitherto precluded a successful bioterrorism attack.