Australian Counter Terrorism Conference
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publisher
secau Security Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia
Abstract
Shortly after the May 2011 raid by American Special Forces that killed Osama Bin Laden, several of the fascinating clues that the Intelligence Community had used to unlock the puzzle of the Al Qaeda leader’s final whereabouts became public. While much analysis has focused on the centrality of surveillance of a trusted al Qaeda courier to narrow the bin Laden search, this paper offers attention to other compelling clues including the size and composition of bin Laden’s compound, its lack of internet or telephone service, and the peculiar behaviour of its occupants. On the basis of these leads, this paper evaluates methodologies that were proposed for use in the bin Laden search, including micro-level manhunt tactics and macro-level wide area search approaches involving satellite imagery and calculated search areas. Finally, the paper concludes with original proposals—ranging from information technology tools, to organization of analysts, to analytic methodology—designed to aid future such manhunts.
DOI
10.4225/75/57a41de82b5a2
Comments
1st Australian Counter Terrorism Conference, Edith Cowan University, Perth Western Australia, 5th - 7th December, 2011