"A new al-Qaeda guide from one of the group's most wanted leaders pitches the value of kidnappings to jihadists, including seizing scientists working in "sensitive" areas and politicians, and details how terrorists should map out these operations.
The 39-page guide, released by al-Qaeda's As-Sahab media, is authored by Saif al-Adel, a senior al-Qaeda member on the FBI's Most Wanted list...Kidnapping is described as more than a ransom-generating operation, but "one of the methods ...to break the will of the enemy and force him to submit to the wishes of the attackers under pressure," as well as "one of the most serious intelligence operations and the most controversial and most difficult" in terms of the length of the many stages of the operation including negotiations.
Funding jihad is listed as the last goal for kidnappers, but the list includes angling for prisoner swaps and stoking debate in the media "to gain international sympathy."
...He ranks kidnapping targets into three tiers: "money men, and senior politicians and senior military" are considered the top targets, with the second-most desirable targets being "leading scientists in sensitive sciences" as well as celebrities, media and government officials.
The lowest priority is tourists and "the citizenry at large," though al-Qaeda has been seizing tourists, particularly in North Africa, for years.
...For targeting tour groups, terrorists are told to observe and learn how different tour companies handle security -- "Does the guard at the bus remain after the descent of tourists? Is there a time unguarded for tourists?" -- along with what language the tourists on board speak and what routes they take."
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