The Terrorists' Paper Trail in Iraq
For intelligence agencies, there are also some potential opportunities to be exploited. Bureaucracy implies a higher level of leadership structure. "The more hierarchical these organizations are, the easier they are to take apart," says Seth Jones, a terrorism expert at Rand Corp., a think tank. "When they become diffuse, you can't really remove one single link and expect the organization to fall."
Already, researchers have been trying to trace back the telephone numbers included in the records, as well as the names of intermediaries in Syria. "Just the fact that they had these records was a big security risk," says Felter. "We're hoping it will be useful in stemming the tide from their home countries." The largest number of foreign fighters recorded in these files came from Saudi Arabia, although Libya had the highest per capita representation. The oldest fighter was 54 years old when he crossed into Iraq; the youngest was only 16.
The Iraqi records come from between August 2006 and August 2007. At that time, Al Qaeda in Iraq was believed to be led by an Egyptian, Abu Yaquib al-Masri, who previously fought in Afghanistan and was closely allied with Ayman al-Zawahiri, the powerful deputy commander of al Qaeda.
Al-Masri most likely picked up his bureaucratic habits watching the original al Qaeda operate in Afghanistan. After U.S. forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, a trove of al Qaeda documents surfaced that showed just how bureaucratic the organization had become, from detailed weapons logs to a complex system of vouchers that allowed fighters to stay at government-run hotels free of charge. "When they were in Afghanistan, al Qaeda really prided itself on its H.R.," says Hoffman. "It gave people annual leave and even a death benefits plan."
Al Qaeda also provided a salary—a reminder that militants might be volunteers, but many also are looking for a steady paycheck. "This is a job. They need to feed themselves," says Jones. "Idealism may matter at the top levels, but oftentimes people are motivated by money."
It is no wonder, then, that when asked for their profession, many of the recruits in Iraq put down one word: "martyr."
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