SUPERVERSE:::AMERICA SUPERPOWER

The Al Qaeda Manual (continued)

UK/BM-84 TRANSLATION

TWELFTH LESSON
ESPIONAGE

( 2 ) INFORMATION-GATHERING USING COVERT METHODS

Information needed through covert means: Information needed to be gathered through covert means is of only two types:

First: Information about government personnel, officers, important personalities, and all matters related to those (residence, work place, times of leaving and returning, wives and children, places visited)

Second: Information about strategic buildings, important establishments, and military bases. Examples are important ministries such as those of Defense and Internal Security, airports, seaports, land border points, embassies, and radio and TV stations.

General security measures that should be taken by the person gathering information: During the process of gathering information, whether about governing personalities or establishments, the person doing the gathering must take the following security measures:

Performing the exercises to detect surveillance while executing the mission. These exercises are not well defined, but are dependent on the time, place, and the ability to be creative. These exercises include the following:

	a.		Walking down a dead-end street and observing who is walking behind you. Beware of traps.

	c.		Casually dropping something out of your pocket and observing who will pick it up.

	c.		Walking fast then stopping suddenly at a corner and observing who will be affected.

	d.		Stopping in front of store windows and observing who is-watching you.

	e.		Getting on a bus and then getting off after it departs and observing who will be affected.

	F.		Agreeing with one of your brothers to look for whoever is watching you.

When receiving the gathered information, let the informants travel as far as possible from their place of residence and yours. Let each of them get there using secondary roads, preferably at night.

Gather what information you can without emphasizing any particular part. Do not rush or show urgency because your excitement may uncover you and the degree of importance of the information.

Avoid anything that reveals your identity quickly. Do not attempt to be too creative or inventive. Remember what Taliran [PH] said to his political emissaries, “Do not be anxious.”

Move slowly and travel a great distance. The one who is successful in gathering information is the one who is not known or conspicuous.

Do not accept events at their face value. Do not overlook a quick friendship or an apparent dispute. Evaluate the importance of events and do not judge them by their appearance.

Carry personal credentials and know all their contents.

Prior to collecting the information, make sure that all necessities related to the mission, especially money, are ready.

10.

Study the area where information-gathering takes place carefully: Open and closed streets, residents' customs, ways of dressing, and accent.

11.

It is not permitted to carry any weapons during the information-gathering process.

12.

Finding a cover prior to gathering the information.

Further, review all security measures concerning members of the Military [Organization] which are covered in prior lessons.

Methods of Gathering Information Using Covert Means:

The Military Organization may obtain secret information using:
A. Surveillance, intelligence, and observation;
B. Theft:
C. Interrogation;
D. Excitement;
E. Drugging;
F. Recruitment.

	1.		The brother or brothers performing the surveillance operation on foot study the available information about the target (height, weight, way of walking, looking at a recent photograph)

	2.		Knowing the target's habits, places he visits, and communications

	3.		Studying carefully the area where observation will take place: names of through and dead-end streets, residents' habits and way of dressing.

	4.		Prior to the start of the surveillance mission, making sure that all needs related to the mission, especially money, are met.

	5.		Agreeing on how communications with the leaders will take place in case the surveillance plan is uncovered (telephone, a person used for that purpose). The telephone number should not be written but memorized.

	6.		Agreeing on special signals to exchange orders and instructions among the surveillance team members.

	7.		Knowing the measures to be taken when the target is lost, such as contacting the leaders or something else agreed upon.

	8.		It is not permitted to carry any weapons during the information - gathering process.

	9.		It is preferable to have a camera with the surveillance man in case the target is to personally contact others.

Surveillance by car:

Surveillance by car requires taking certain measures:

	1.		Inspecting the car's fuel, water, and lights.

	2.		The car should be of a common type so it would not attract people's attention.

	3.		The car should be in good condition and the driver should be experienced.

	4.		The car plates should not contain real numbers. It is important to use a false license plate and small numbers in order to prevent anyone from spotting and memorizing it.

	5.		The car's interior light should be disabled in order to hide the identity of the surveillance team members sitting inside.

	6.		The number and appearance of the car surveillance team members should match those of the target's car.

Performing Surveillance by Car:

	1.		The car being used for surveillance should keep up with the target’s car during the surveillance operation, especially in crowded areas and on side streets. The distance between the two cars depends on the circumstances.

	2.		If the target gets out of his car and starts to walk, one of the surveillance team members should get out and observe him.

	3.		Follow all aforementioned measures for surveillance on foot.

Exercises to detect surveillance by car:

	1.		The surveillance car speeds up then stops suddenly while observing which other car is affected (this is done where there is not a lot of traffic).

	2.		The surveillance car enters a dead-end street.

	3.		The surveillance car goes in the opposite direction of traffic.

	4.		The surveillance car stops and goes backwards.

	5.		[The surveillance car] enters a parking lot and immediately goes out.

	6.		[The surveillance car] takes a side road and stops.

A. Surveillance, Intelligence, and Observation (Information about the enemy places)

The Organization’s command needs detailed information about the enemy’s vital establishments, whether civilian or military, in order to make safe plans, reach firm decisions, and avoid surprises. Thus, the individual who gathers information about a desired location should, in addition to drawing a diagram, describe it and all its details.

The Drawing: The brother should draw a diagram of the area, the street, and the location which is the target of the information- gathering. He should describe its shape and characteristics. The drawing should be realistic so that someone who never saw the location could visualize it. It is preferable to also put on the drawing the directions of traffic, police stations, and security centers.

The Description: It is necessary to gather as much information about the location as possible. For instance:

	1.		Traffic directions and how wide the streets are

	2.		Transportation leading to the location

	3.		The area, appearance, and setting of the place

	4.		Traffic signals and pedestrian areas

	5.		Security personnel centers and government agencies

	6.		[Embassies and consulates

	7.		The economic characteristics of the area and traffic congestion times

	8.		Public parks

	9.		Amount and location of lighting

It is preferable to photograph the area as a whole first, then the street of the [desired] location. If possible, panoramic pictures should be taken. That is, the collection of views should be continuous in a such way that all pictures are taken from one location and that the ending of one picture is the beginning of the next. The photographer should be experienced with and proficient in film processing and developing. It is risky to use an outside film processing service. When observing a military installation or camp, we discourage taking pictures where it is forbidden. The brother/photographer should use a modern camera that can photograph at night or from a distance, and only the lens of the camera should be visible. When gathering information about a military camp, the brother should draw a diagram of the camp’s overall area, the camp itself, and its interior, if possible.

The description of the base or camp must contain the following:

	1.		Location

	2.		Exterior shape

	3.		Transportation to it

	4.		Space [area]

	5.		Weapons used

	6.		Unit using the camp

	7.		Fortifications and tunnels

	8.		Guard posts

	9.		Amount and periods of lighting

	10.		Number of soldiers and officers. Officers’ranks

	11.		Ammunition depot locations

	12.		Vehicles and automobiles

	13.		Leave policy

	14.		Commander’s name, rank, arrival and departure times

	15.		Degree and speed of mobilization

	16.		Brigades and names of companies

	17.		Sleeping and waking times

	18.		Telephone lines and means of communication

The brother gathering the information may start a friendship with one of the soldiers or officers of that base. Information may be collected gradually and easily from soldiers when giving them rides from the camp to the bus or train stations, etc.

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