Al Qaeda's Western Recruits

Al Qaeda is an international organization that constantly changes and adapts, seeking new ways to avoid detection and catch its opponents off guard. Rather than sending foreigners into other nations to carry out surveillance and strikes, the group has found it can achieve surprise and minimize exposure by recruiting native Western operatives. The examination of some Western al Qaeda operatives offers insights into the group's recruitment methods and plans for operations in the United States, Britain, Australia and other Western nations.