Jihad 101 For Angry Muslims
...In 2005, a person calling himself "Ahmad, who trusts in God," gloated, in an essay published on the Internet, "Al-Qaida is a university for students of jihad." He was referring to the omnipresence of information for would-be terrorists. He continued:
Do you remember how al-Qaida got its start in the days of the Afghan jihad? It all began with the "Office of Services," the guesthouse (that housed Arab fighters) and the al-Faruq military camp -- and today al-Qaida has reached this blessed juncture! Al-Qaida ... is a university that is decentralized, respects no geographic boundaries and does not exist in any one location. And anyone who loves his religion can register. ... Praise be to God that the Al-Qaida University graduates (so many) heroes with various specializations. ... This university even has various departments: one for electronic jihad, one for jihad against oneself (in other words, to overcome one's own inner resistance), one for the technology of explosives and others. ... This university is still open, and it is saying to you: Oh you sons of Islam ... learn the art of jihad and its sciences! A student of jihad today and a mujahid on the path of God tomorrow!
"And a mujahid on the path of God tomorrow" -- these words map out the road from sympathizer to terrorist. Unfortunately, no one knows who is hiding behind the pseudonym "Ahmad, who trusts in God." But the author's enthusiastic language and the content of his writings suggest that he is probably one of the young men al-Qaida is trying to attract with its strategic choice to open up to the world.
Encyclopedia of Jihad: Instructions for using a weapon
The phenomenon of this new al-Qaida also means that we can expect to see new types of attackers in the future. One of their characteristics is that they take action quickly and without lengthy preparation.