Until recently, hierarchically organized armies were the dominant actors in military conflicts. However, in the near future, networks will establish themselves as an effective organizational form for warfare. Non-state terrorist networks have advanced significantly in their development. David seizes every opportunity to lure the international community into the irregular battlefields of his small war. Goliath learns anew that his defense budget and outdated organizational forms are ineffective in such asymmetric conflicts. The latest front in this development is the global arena, with the current actor being the worldwide terrorist network al Qaeda. What distinguishes the global, sub-state actor of irregular warfare from limited terrorists and guerrillas? This work scientifically analyzes how al Qaeda succeeded in conducting small-scale warfare on a global scale. In parallel, al Qaeda's structure is examined using social science network theories. Its full-matrix network structure provides the terrorist group with excellent operational capabilities and high agility. The network thus outmaneuvers traditional state countermeasures. Despite the enormous challenge, the fight against sub-state actors is by no means hopeless. However, for all solutions, we must form networks in order to effectively combat networks.