Mantiqi IV: Al-Qaeda's failed co-optation of a Jemaah Islamiyah support network

Al-Qaeda s attempts to attack Western countries have often been enabled through the co-optation of existing jihadist organizations and their external support networks. This article examines this phenomenon through a case study of al-Qaeda s failed attempt to co-opt elements of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) for an attack in Australia. The article first examines the emergence of JI and its Australian-based support network Mantiqi IV. It then analyzes al-Qaeda s unsuccessful attempt to utilize Mantiqi IV for an attack during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, identifying key factors that both enabled and hindered the plot.