“The Palestinian-Jordanian ideologue Abdullah Azzam conceptualised Al Qaeda in 1987. Defining its composition, aims, and purpose, he wrote in Al-Jihad, the principal journal of the Afghan Arabs [in April 1988]: ‘Every principle needs a vanguard to carry it forward and, while focusing its way into society, puts up with heavy tasks and enormous sacrifices. There is no ideology, neither earthly nor heavenly, that does not require such a vanguard that gives everything it possesses in order to achieve victory for this ideology. It carries the flag all along the sheer, endless and difficult path until it reaches its destination in the reality of life, since Allah has destined that it should make it and manifest itself. This vanguard constitutes Al-Qa’idah al-Sulbah for the expected society.’ “ [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Rohan Gunaratna, Inside al Qaeda, Page 3