As part of the RAND Corporation's Thinking Strategically About Combating Terrorism project, this report develops a way to assess and analyse the danger posed by various terrorist organizations around the world.

Understanding how terroirst groups learn may aid in developing strategies to combat terrorist activites.

Case studies of the organizational learning avtivities of five major terrorist groups and a methodology for ascertaining what and why they learned.

Case studies of 11 terrorist groups in Mindanao, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and southwest Colombia show how these groups have exchanged technologies and knowledge in an effort to innovate (i.e., improve their operational capabilities). The analysis provides national security policymakers with insight into the innovation process and suggests ways that government policies can create barriers to terrorists1 adoption of new technologies.

Examines al-Qaeda's evolution and the emergence of the broader global jihadist movement--groups affiliated, associated, or inspired by al-Qaeda--and the threat that they pose to the United States and U.S. allies and interests. The authors conclude by setting out a four-pronged strategy to counter the jihadist threat.