Uncovering bin Laden’s decision rules
Alex Mintz, John Tyson Chatagnier, Yair Samban · 2019
This chapter attempts to form a basis for understanding Al-Qaeda’s decision process during the Osama bin Laden era. It aims to discern an outline that fits with contemporary theories of decision-making and can be used as a foundation from which to conduct tests in future studies. The acquisition of weapons and manpower was an important part of the pursuit of bin Osama bin Laden’s goals. The religious dimension was critically important to bin Laden because, despite his intensely religious focus and the fact that he couches goals and tactics in religious terms, he had no formal religious training and no clerical authority. The religiously oriented goals of al-Qaeda combined with the importance of maintaining good relations with radical clerics suggest that the religious dimension was one of great importance to Osama bin Laden.