Javier Jordán, an expert in jihadism and a University of Granada professor states that, although drones are not efficient in preventing terrorist attacks in Europe and USA, they are the only instrument that USA has to undermine Al-Quaeda’s leadership and operativity in Pakistan
The unmanned aerial vehicles –also named “drones”– that the CIA is employing against Al-Quaeda in
This is the conclusion exposed in an article recently published in the Newsletters of the Real Instituto Elcano, prepared by a University of Granada professor and an expert in jihadism Javier Jordán Enamorado. In his article, professor Jordán notes that the campaign launched by the CIA is reducing Al-Qaeda’s troops and is negatively affecting its operating capacity.
The employment of armed drones to undermine Al-Qaeda’s capacity was an option that was already being considered before the 11-S attacks. They started to be operated at the start of the intervention in
Lack of reprisals
Professor Jordán stresses “the lack of reprisals from Al-Qaeda in response to CIA’s stategy of eliminating their leaders”. Recently, Al-Qaeda has launched only one attack –against the CIA in Khost in December 2009- where they made it clear through a later communiqué that they acted out of a desire for revenge, for their leaders being eliminated by drones.
Javier Jordán notes that, in 2009, the number of attacks by armed unmanned aircraft vehicles was higher than that launched in 2004 and 2008 –53 against 43–. In September 2010, the number of attacks already exceeded the total number of attacks launched in 2010 (69).
Currently, most of the drones flying in
CIA’s attacks have caused intense controversy within Pakistani society, which explains
Simultaneously, these attacks have caused critics in the
Contact: Javier Jordán Enamorado. Department of Politics,
