Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Page 27
CIA). In collaboration with the Taliban theocracy, he set up training camps, where recruits
from around the Muslim world learned Al Qaeda doctrine as well as the use of guns and
explosives. They formed autonomous small cells in Europe, Asia, and the United States that
were supported by a covert Muslim financial network. In 1997 bin Laden declared war on
the United States. Among his objectives were removal of U. S. bases in Saudi Arabia and
withdrawal of support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
Since the defeat of the Taliban, Osama and the Al Qaeda leadership have disappeared. The
9/11 commission (9/11 Report, 2004) concluded that Al Qaeda had no connection with the
secular Baathists of Saddam Hussein. As we have noted, the extent of participation of Al
Qaeda in Iraq and even in Madrid may or may not be exaggerated. Although experts like
Bergen (2001) believe that the group may now be severely weakened, video tapes of
Osama appear from time to time that encourage the faithful. According to Steven Coll
(2004), Osama is the intellectual, the theorist, versed both in theology and politics he is
the public relations specialist for the group as well as its charismatic leader.
GPA of Al Qaeda
Please look at Exhibit B3. Compliance =4.6 Exploitation =4.1 Mind Control =4.6
Dependency =4.1 Total =4.4 (Cannot say 3 =11%).
When I apply whatever information is available to me in rating Al Qaeda on the GPA items,
across the board it is characteristic of a group that uses psychological abuse. In particular,
its high scores on Compliance and Mind Control fit with the impression that absolute
obedience to Allah is more important than material gain. There is no scale on the GPA that
characterizes a group on Violence (e.g. "aggressively kills outsiders in substantial
numbers"). Such a scale would help to justify classifying Al Qaeda as a killer cult.
Exhibit B3
Dole’s Ratings on GPA Subscales for Afghan Al Qaeda
Psy Abuse
Rating
Complia
nce
Exploita
tion
Mind
Control
Dependen
cy
5 very
characteristic
4.6 4.6
4.1 4.1
4
characteristic
3 can‘t say
2 not
characteristic
1 not at all
characteristic
CIA). In collaboration with the Taliban theocracy, he set up training camps, where recruits
from around the Muslim world learned Al Qaeda doctrine as well as the use of guns and
explosives. They formed autonomous small cells in Europe, Asia, and the United States that
were supported by a covert Muslim financial network. In 1997 bin Laden declared war on
the United States. Among his objectives were removal of U. S. bases in Saudi Arabia and
withdrawal of support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
Since the defeat of the Taliban, Osama and the Al Qaeda leadership have disappeared. The
9/11 commission (9/11 Report, 2004) concluded that Al Qaeda had no connection with the
secular Baathists of Saddam Hussein. As we have noted, the extent of participation of Al
Qaeda in Iraq and even in Madrid may or may not be exaggerated. Although experts like
Bergen (2001) believe that the group may now be severely weakened, video tapes of
Osama appear from time to time that encourage the faithful. According to Steven Coll
(2004), Osama is the intellectual, the theorist, versed both in theology and politics he is
the public relations specialist for the group as well as its charismatic leader.
GPA of Al Qaeda
Please look at Exhibit B3. Compliance =4.6 Exploitation =4.1 Mind Control =4.6
Dependency =4.1 Total =4.4 (Cannot say 3 =11%).
When I apply whatever information is available to me in rating Al Qaeda on the GPA items,
across the board it is characteristic of a group that uses psychological abuse. In particular,
its high scores on Compliance and Mind Control fit with the impression that absolute
obedience to Allah is more important than material gain. There is no scale on the GPA that
characterizes a group on Violence (e.g. "aggressively kills outsiders in substantial
numbers"). Such a scale would help to justify classifying Al Qaeda as a killer cult.
Exhibit B3
Dole’s Ratings on GPA Subscales for Afghan Al Qaeda
Psy Abuse
Rating
Complia
nce
Exploita
tion
Mind
Control
Dependen
cy
5 very
characteristic
4.6 4.6
4.1 4.1
4
characteristic
3 can‘t say
2 not
characteristic
1 not at all
characteristic
