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Terrorism Muslims and the War on Terror
Faisal Kutty - 5/22/2013
A tipoff from a prominent Toronto imam more than a year ago appears to be at the heart of arrests at the end of April in the alleged VIA Rail terror plot in Canada. In fact, counterterrorism police began their press briefing by thanking Muslim leaders. Proactive Citizenry in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing
Fathi El-Shihibi - 5/22/2013
Whenever we hear or read about Muslim Fundamentalist or extremist movement it is mostly within the context of a reactionary collective consciousness whose ultimate goal is the restoration of an Islamic world order. Counter Terrorism Response Induces Thinking Of A New Cosmopolis
Angelique van Engelen - 3/29/2013
Terrorist attackers have perhaps done the world a lot of good if you consider the long-term effects of their actions on the rest of us. Having a primitive enemy might be the crucial piece in the puzzle that international relations specialists have been trying to fit together in vain for decades. Bonn Conference: Global Shame- Aggressors Now Talk Peacemaking in Afghanistan and Iraq
Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja - 4/19/2012
“If war is a crime what is its name? The Constitution of the United States of America calls it “Treason.” …….So all in all it appears causing unconstitutional war and genocide is a crime; the crime is Treason …..The Judges are the only ones who can achieve prevention without violence. A jurisprudential revolution can prevent war and genocide simply by thinking judicially instead of politically.” (W’Lawpsh, “And Its Name Is Treason!” Dissident Voice: 11/24/2011) Atrocities are Good, Massacres are even Better!
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/18/2012
In 1979, during my first year of compulsory service in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), I was assigned to a unit of the much-dreaded “Golani” division. The unit’s remit encompassed a few villages in the West Bank. Jimmy Carter was visiting the region and we were tasked with suppressing any sign of overt dissent among the cowed populace. I was delighted to discover that a good friend of mine (we grew up together), SG, ended up in the same outfit. Otherwise, the company was comprised of social rejects, primary school dropouts, and worse. Decade's Lesson: Ideology is al-Qaeda's Power, Not Leaders
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 2/8/2012
Ten years have slipped by since Osama bin Laden’s jihadists massacred thousands of men, women and children in the northeastern United States, prompting the start of what Americans came to know as the War on Terror. The current administration, however, insists on more benign terminology, choosing for political reasons to describe the conflict as an “overseas contingency operation,” and a “war against al Qaeda.” But are we making progress in this conflict, whatever the name? Gaining an objective assessment begins with asking the right questions. Venezuela, Iran Linked to Alleged Cyberattack Plot
Trevor Westra - 12/19/2011
U.S. Spanish-language television network, Univision, has released an investigative documentary in which it is claimed that Venezuelan and Iranian diplomats negotiated with Mexican hackers to break into White House, Pentagon, and FBI databases, as well as U.S. nuclear facilities. Critical to these allegations are a series of recordings made by one of the hackers, who went undercover and attempted to document the conspiracy. Al-Awlaki is gone but his Jihadists are multiplying
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 9/30/2011
Imam Anwar al Awlaki held two important positions in the cobweb of international Jihadi terror. First, he was one of the emerging younger leaders of al Qaeda after the killing of Osama Bin Laden. September 11: The True Story?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/11/2011
In 1983, I was an up and coming young Vice-President in a closely-held and secretive Jewish family multi-billion USD group of companies. I was transferred to New-York and given a corner office on a high floor in one of the Twin Towers. I hated the glass-encased building: it was ugly, massive, impersonal, badly maintained, and it swayed with the winds. I asked to be reassigned to our Park Avenue outfit and my wish was granted. Ten years after 9/11 Jihadis are winning the War
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 9/9/2011
A decade after the jihadi strikes against America’s military and financial centers at the hands of al-Qaida, the question remains: Have we won the war? What should the Bin Laden Files tell us
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 8/8/2011
The free world has waited patiently for 10 to 20 years to learn the master plan of international jihadism’s “al-Za’im,” (English: “the leader”) Osama bin Laden. Appointment Of Al-Qaeda Interim Leader Has Strategic, Symbolic Consequences
Trevor Westra - 5/20/2011
Numerous reports indicate al-Qaeda leaders have chosen former Egyptian special forces commander Saif al-Adel (AKA Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi) as interim leader of the international Islamist terrorist network. The appointment of al-Adel is significant for many reasons and if confirmed will have significant implications for al-Qaeda’s future look and strategy. Holy Cows
Deepa Kandaswamy - 5/13/2011
When in India, watch out for Rak and Kak. They’re easy to spot. They are two skinny, wise, well read and very opinionated bulls. You’ll find them near Kalanai – the oldest and the only functioning stone dam in the world, next to deserted spot with the overflowing dustbin that the garbage collectors always ignore. Kak is the one with faded yellow horns. Rak has a pronounced limp when he walks. The Incident at Abbottabad, District of Hazara, Pakistan
Preeti Nalwa, Ph.D. - 5/13/2011
The month of May 2011 and the sleepy town of Abbottabad in the District of Hazara (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan) have captured worldwide attention—both will go down in history as markers for the vindication of “War on terror”. The Raid on bin-Laden: Information released confirms Global Politician Exclusive
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/10/2011
UPDATED May 10, 2011 at 13:30 CET
On May 2, a mere few hours after bin-Laden was assassinated in Pakistan, and then again on May 4, I published in Global Politician detailed articles regarding the raid, its background, and its unfolding (the entire texts of these 2 articles are appended below). On May 5, I reiterated my claims in an exclusive interview I granted to the Macedonian weekly Publika and in a televised investigative journalism show ("Vo Centar" with Vasko Eftov).
My articles contained numerous bits of information that were confirmed only days later. Here is a partial l... Bin Laden: A bad way has bad end
Tanveer Jafri - 5/7/2011
On May 1, the world’s most dreaded terrorist and Al Qaeda chief; Osama Bin Laden was killed in ‘Operation Geronimo’ by the US forces in Abbottabad, near Islamabad. This ultra modern Commando action seems to have sent Laden to his desired destination Jannat (Heaven). Though Laden’s search was on since a decade in Afghanistan and Afpak border areas, it was perceived that owing to his deteriorating health, he might be hiding in a safe and comfortable place, away from the tough terrains of the Hindu Kush. Pakistan was always in doubt as regards to the presence of Osama. A year ago, there were rep... CIA and ISI Built bin-Laden Compound, Obama Ordered Assasination in Live Feed
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/4/2011
UPDATE DATED May 4, 2011 at 20:30 CET
The United States shared with the Israelis the two-way wireless and satelite video feeds (provided by the raiding party's helmet-cams and drop-down transmitters) of the assault on bin-Laden's compound. At a certain point an officer is heard asking for instructions "from the Commander (in Chief Obama - SV)". Obama then ordered him to "terminate target" (i.e, to kill bin-Laden) although this is not captured on tape. Obama gave the lethal command from an underground situation room, flanked by Panetta, Clinton, Gat... Bin Laden Burial Account Requires Better Explanation
Trevor Westra - 5/4/2011
One of the more peculiar storylines emerging from this week’s news that U.S. Navy Seals successfully killed the elusive Islamic-terrorist figurehead Osama bin Laden at a fortified compound in urban Pakistan was the surprising manner in which U.S. officials allegedly disposed of his remains. While it is certainly understandable that the Obama administration would want to avoid entombing his dead body, thereby allowing his followers a location which they could turn into a mausoleum for generations of al-Qaeda sympathizers, affording bin Laden a full religious funeral complete with body washing and Arabic rites was a questionable move. Obama Executed Osama (bin-Laden) to Avoid Revelations, Disclosures
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/2/2011
On May 1, 2011 Osama bin-Laden was allegedly shot in the head by Navy Seals during an operation in Pakistan. The order came directly from US President Obama and he also monitored the firefight from the White House Situation Room as it unfolded. You Got Terrorism! We Got Terrorism! Let's Be Friends and Fight Terrorism!
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/1/2011
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remark about how the Arizona shooting is just like September 11 is such a superb example of everything wrong with Western policy toward the Middle East. Let's summarize the issue by coining a phrase which sounds a bit Zen but has a very practical meaning: The ear doesn't necessarily hear what someone else's brain thinks. Wikileaks Framed, Manning Scapegoated; Stuxnet Victorious, Centrifuges Ruined, Civilian Casulaties
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 12/14/2010
1. Wikileaks Framed, Manning Scapegoated
Our sources tell us that Manning Bradley, the alleged mastermind behind the Wikileaks furor, actually did not have access to most of the documents leaked. He did have Top Secret clearance, but only with regards to specific types of documents pertaining to Iraq and, in a more restricted manner, Afghanistan. Though millions of people have passwords to the relevant State Department and Pentagon intranets, no one has unlimited access to documents pertaining to all the theaters of operation: there is strict geographical compartmentalization.
On... Weak States Incubate Terror
Jonathan Spyer, Ph.D. - 11/16/2010
The revelations last week of a sophisticated plot emanating from the Yemen-based al- Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula organization have belatedly refocused attention on this most backward and poverty stricken of Arab states. The sending of explosive packages to synagogues in Chicago is only the latest act of international terror to have emerged from Yemen in the last year. Millions of Virgins; Millions of Martyrs.
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/18/2010
Yes, it's true; a fringe minister with just fifty followers in America wanted to burn a Koran. But he didn't. Meanwhile another nut wants to kill all Jews, wipe Israel off the map, destroy the United States, eliminate all Christians, indoctrinate children into being suicide bombers, and carry out a revolutionary war of terrorism for decades no matter how many die and how much destruction occurs. CIA Chief Says Al-Qaida is Weaker
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/1/2010
CIA chief Leon Panetta says al-Qaida is at its weakest point since before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. He's probably right, though the amount of decline in the last three years or so has probably not been large. Most of the damage to al-Qaida was done during the preceding administration and that's a statement of fact not of political viewpoint. After all, depriving al-Qaida of its base in Afghanistan and Taliban ally-the most important actions damaging the group-took place a decade ago. And with a few lucky breaks, for example if passengers on that Detroit-bound plane had been less alert, al-Qaida might well have new massacres to brag about. A Terrorist's World View Signals What Our World View Should Be
Prof. Barry Rubin - 6/27/2010
A dozen words spoken at his trial by Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square would-be bomber, are worth studying very carefully. When asked why he targeted American civilians in the streets of New York, Shahzad replied: Buying flowers from Jihadists
Vinod Mehta - 2/5/2010
In Bangladesh ’s capital Dhaka , Gulshan is considered to be one of the posh areas, where diplomats and foreigners prefer to reside considering the comparatively safer security. But, for years, a notorious Islamist militancy group named Hizb-Ut-Towhid (or Hizbut Towhid) is continuing to operative a recruitment and fund collection center right at Gulshan Avenue under the disguise of a flower shop named Ferns and Petals. Airport Security: Scanners are not the solution
Joshua Fulton - 1/28/2010
A mere three days after the attempted bombing of flight 253, Obama, well-rested from his Hawaiian vacation, strutted up to a microphone and told the world, "We're in an emergency!!!" The emergency was that we weren't afraid enough. Radical Islamism, its Western Coddlers and its Cures
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/26/2009
This is perhaps the best newspaper article I've ever read on the phenomenon of radical Islamists in Europe, written from the point of view of those who have left the movement and now discuss how they felt and what they did. Well worth reading. It is by Johann Hari and entitled, "Renouncing Islamism: To the brink and back again." Are the Terrorists Homeward Bound?
Saberi Roy - 11/20/2009
Osama Bin Laden’s terror group Al-Qaeda and several other Al-Qaeda clones seemed to have changed their strategy. It’s not too clear whether Osama is still alive and whether Al-Qaeda is still continuing with its agenda of bombing people, although terrorism in its various forms and with the Al-Qaeda stamp are still seen and mainly in Asia and Africa. Osama is most probably too ill and his days of glory and prime are all over. His claim to fame has been the September 11, 2001 attacks where Al Qaeda members killed more than 3000 Americans. But that’s just it. Osama hasn’t done anything rem... The West's Choice of Strategy: Defending Itself From Terror Attacks or Combatting A Radical Strategic Threat?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 10/16/2009
There are two basic strategies being put forth in the West and particularly the United States today in regard to the challenge from radical and Islamist forces. The narrower, terror-only strategy is a far more tempting one to follow. It is less expensive, less risky, and makes it far easier to claim success. That’s why it has such enormous appeal and is generally the one being adopted. Cyber Terror – What If?
Sammy Elrom - 10/12/2009
Studies on the transformation of terror groups from a hierarchal structure into a flat, multi-cell, multi-nation amorphous organization, show that the Internet and mobile communication became the exclusively venue that holds together those disparate cells, ideologically and operationally. During this process, approximately from 2003 and on, terrorists needed Internet and networking expertise which they didn’t have at that time. Understanding how vital those means are for self-survival, recruiting, planning, training and indoctrination, terrorists invested unique efforts in augmenting their... Cyber Terror – Attuned To The Wrong Whispers
Sammy Elrom - 10/12/2009
A couple of years ago, during a flight to Dallas, I engaged in a typical traveler small talk with the guy sitting near me. Omar was an impressive, well-articulate man in his mid 40s, a computer engineer from Essex UK, and a newly revived Muslim. Our discussion tilted towards politics after I told him some details of my background, and we began debating the terror-Islamic Jihad nexus, which he honestly agreed not only exists, but in his opinion is an integral part of Islam. He told me that he is in the midst of a purifying returning to the roots of Islam process, from which he parted ways many ... Trans Atlantic Legislators gather to discuss Jihadist Terrorism
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 10/12/2009
Next week, an important summit will be held by a number of legislators from the European Parliament, the US Congress and the Canadian Parliament to discuss "al Qaeda's and other Jihadi forces' campaigns worldwide against Democracies." The closed meeting, to take place in the US, is sponsored by the newly formed "Transatlantic Group on Counter Terrorism (TAG)," launched in Washington and Brussels last year. TAG was launched in the winter of 2008 by Members of the European Parliament, led by MEP Jaime Mayor Oreja, Vice Chairman for Policy of the EPP Group at the European Parliament (present majo... Brennan on Hizballah: They Can’t Be Terrorists! They Have Lawyers!
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/19/2009
It wasn’t enough that President Obama’s counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan gave a speech which—possibly for the first time in U.S. history—gave a government definition of a religious practice, endorsing Jihad as a noble pursuit. No, he also gave a basic endorsement to a terrorist group which has murdered several hundred Americans. Palestinian Leaders Prefer Advocating--Even When They're Not Practicing--Terrorist Violence
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/27/2009
Volcanoes are classified historically as active, dormant, and dead. The second group is merely inactive at present but could blow any time. As a terrorist organization, Fatah, the leading group in the Palestinian Authority (PA) which supplies nearly all of its leaders, is dormant, not dead. Hizbut Towhid goes international
Naresh Bhadra - 6/5/2009
Hizbut Towhid (HuT), which was established in Bangladesh’s Tangail district under the leadership of Mr. Bayeejid Khan Ponni @ Selim Ponni has secretlt established its branch in a number of countries in recent years with the aim of establishing branches of this ultra religious terrorist group in those countries. The Jihad against the Abuse of Jihad
Abukar Arman - 3/24/2009
In light of the rampant extremism and militarism around the world, nothing proves more dangerous than the manipulative alteration of truth to reach certain political ends. In the final analysis, it is this tactic that facilitates the demonization process that blurs ideologies and beliefs in the West and Islamic world. And, no concept is more abused by both sides than the concept of Jihad. The Value of Understanding
Leslie J. Sacks - 3/24/2009
Now that appeasement is back in vogue, the post-9/11 notion that we must "understand" the terrorists-their unique motivations, their sad backgrounds-has re-emerged among the talking heads and diplomatic elites. The presumption is that such understanding will grant us insight and empathy, confirming our inherent similarities and bringing us reconciliation, compromise and resolution. The terrorists are merely aggrieved - not evil. Therefore, they are eminently capable of negotiation. Large Islamic Website Still Carries Material Advocating Destruction of Israel
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 2/6/2009
perators of a British-based Islamic website are speaking out against a charge in a British tabloid that some of its users are extremists targeting leading British Jews. The newspaper story said the alleged “targeting” is in retaliation for Israel’s invasion of Gaza. However, the site continues to carry material advocating the destruction of Israel. Analysis of al-Qaida's Worldview
Raymond Ibrahim - 1/4/2009
By analyzing what al-Qa'ida preaches to Muslims regarding Islam's relationship to the non-Muslim world at large, and what it states to the West are its reasons for battling it, this essay seeks to highlight the many disparities behind al-Qa'ida's words. Juxtaposed in themes, the following excerpts are all derived from Usama bin Ladin's and Ayman al-Zawahiri's writings and speeches as found in The Al Qa'ida Reader.[1] Defending Against Terror: A Difficult Task
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/16/2008
For years, India has been subjected to periodic terrorist attacks throughout the country. But what happened in Mumbai is something new and different: a full-scale terrorist war. This is the kind of threat and problem Israel has been facing for decades. What are the lessons for India from Israel’s experience, points also reflected by India’s own recent history? Analyzing the Strategies of Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Saberi Roy - 12/15/2008
The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 190 people on November 26-28, 2008 highlight yet another strategy that a little known terrorist group seems to have used to inflict chaos in a big urban establishment. The Deccan Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the attacks although the final investigation reports suggest the involvement of Pakistan based militant group, and Al Qaeda clone, Lashkar-e-taiba. These militants are usually young Muslim men, locally trained in the Kashmir region and Indo-Pak border regions where they attend rigorous training camps and are prepared for atta... Method in Their Madness
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/18/2008
One evening you're walking down a street. A robber jumps on you to steal your wallet. You fight back and after a protracted battle you injure him enough so that he flees the scene. Seven Years After 9/11, al-Qaida is in Disarray
Jonathan Spyer, Ph.D. - 9/18/2008
Seven years after September 11, 2001, al-Qaida as an organization is seen by many analysts to be in some disarray. One prominent observer of the network depicts it as having been reduced to a core of 200-300 operatives. Yet al-Qaida as an idea and as a franchise remains healthy and is still a threat. Being a Terrorist Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/3/2008
The number-one mistake people make trying to understand the Middle East is refusing to believe folks here think differently from themselves. Virtually every development in the Middle East should remind us of this reality. What's in a Name?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/29/2008
We all know--though the Western media often doesn't--that radical Arab nationalists, Islamists, and terrorists lie all the time. They then slander and threaten those who point out the truth. Winning the War with Islamic Fanaticism
Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker - 7/28/2008
American-Israeli analyst and news commentator Micah D. Halpern wrote an interesting column last week for his blog—The Micah Report—entitled “The Qualitative Edge” , in which he suggested that Israeli deterrence of enemies has been accomplished through maintaining superior military power: better equipment, better training, better intelligence and greater motivation than its enemies. Halpern states that this doctrine has worked for the past 60 years against Israel’s adversaries, but notes that now Israel is confronted by enemies that are motivated by fervent religious ideology that includes a wi... Prisoner Rehabilitated; Fifty Million Die
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/7/2008
Each day we're told that radical Islamists, terrorists, and assorted extremists are going to moderate, so why not negotiate with them, appease them, defuse their grievances, have dialogue, and then everything will be okay. Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer Founder Mobilizes for Iraq Deployment
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 4/23/2008
When Dr. Thomas Bruce founded a movement six months ago to mobilize Christians to pray for heart changes in terrorists and terrorism sponsors, he did not know the Army would be mobilizing him this week as a reservist to go to Iraq. Why A Terrorist Strategy?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/4/2008
Many years after September 11, despite more than 10,000 terrorist attacks by radical Islamist groups alone, there is still an amazing amount of confusion and falsehood over what should be a very simple point: What is terrorism all about? The Reflecting Pool
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 3/28/2008
Whether you see yourself as a truth seeker, patriotic American, independent thinker or voter, or just someone with bad memories of 9/11, you should make an effort to view The Reflecting Pool, a new independent movie. It is not about 9/11. It is about the credibility of the official government story about 9/11. Though a drama, it is based on meticulously researched facts about 9/11 as revealed in the bonus material on the DVD. Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer Movement Begins
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 3/28/2008
What should the Biblical response be to people who blow themselves up along with innocent bystanders? Al Qaeda’s threat to peace
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/27/2008
There is no doubt that peace-loving population in the entire world was once against horrified to know that second-ranking leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, called for new strikes against Jewish and American interests in a new radio address. Online Terrorists Prey on the Vulnerable
Prof. Gabriel Weimann - 3/9/2008
As the internet matures so has the terrorist use of this ideal instrument of communication. Following the path of modern Western advertising techniques, terrorist organizations have begun “narrowcasting,” or making targeted pitches for recruitment and support among specific demographics like women and children. The internet has long been a favorite tool of the terrorists. Decentralized and providing almost perfect anonymity, it cannot be subjected to control or restriction, and allows access to anyone who wants it. Large or small, terrorist gr... High Seas Piracy & Terrorism – The Next "Unexpected" Disaster (Part I)
Sammy Elrom - 3/3/2008
The exotic adventures romantically depicted in The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are far from reality as one can imagine. There is little to none public knowledge or invested interest in the scary facts that high-seas piracy is gradually becoming the next “surprise” in the international agenda of combating Jihadi terrorism. Effective terrorism funding blocking, increasing pressure on underground financial channels like the Hawala and undercutting financial maneuvering of shadowy terrorism financiers, have forced terrorists to look for immediate highly profitable alternatives. Similar to the ... The Newest Weapon Against Militant Islam: Name That Tune
Abigail R. Esman - 1/11/2008
On December 21, 2007, police in Belgium arrested 14 Belgian Muslims on charges that they were planning to free imprisoned Al Qaeda member Nizar Trabelsi, who was arrested shortly after the September 11 attacks and convicted of plotting to bomb a NATO air base. Authorities then issued a terror alert for the entire holiday period, concerned that the group were planning further attacks throughout the country, including the Brussels metro system. 2007: A Global Assessment of the Confrontation
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 1/2/2008
The conflict we call the War on Terror still continues at the end of 2007 and all indications are that its battlefields are expected to spread further, and escalate, in the upcoming year. Reform of Islam is Necessary for Civilization
Larry Houle - 12/21/2007
The greatest danger mankind faces is the smuggling of a nuclear weapon by an Islamic Terrorist into a major western city killing millions in the name of and to the greater glory of God. If the hateful teachings of the Koran are not removed from Islam this is the disaster that will destroy civilization as we know it. It will dramatically change human history forever. The stakes are that high. Dark Web Terror – Part Three
Sammy Elrom - 12/21/2007
Global connectivity, rapid technological development, highly skilled professionals, experienced employee mobility and lack of knowledge, expose IT and network infrastructure to a myriad of risks of which the risk of a malicious cyber attack by terrorists is the most threatening because of its final goals. Debating the terrorists capabilities to launch a sustained cyber-attack on networks and IT infrastructure argument, suffice to quote Kent Anderson in “Managing the Cyber Threat”: “Traditional wisdom holds that insiders are the greatest threat to an organization. This is based on two assumptio... Radical Sheikh Says Christmas Day is Not Off Limits for Attacks
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 12/17/2007
Exiled radical sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed gave a shocking answer to a question he was recently asked in an Internet chat room. Islamofascism: Why It Is Fascism and Why Hating It Isn't Racist
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 12/8/2007
This is getting a bit tedious, but for as long as there are those who decry antifascists as something they are not, there must be those who forcefully defend the spirit of antifascism. A few weeks ago, student groups across some 200 universities aligned with commentator David Horowitz, amongst others, to declare Islamofascism Awareness Week. Such “cause-awareness” charades –– global warming/cooling awareness, the danger of giant man-eating squirrels/how to save endangered giant man-eating squirrels, etc. –– where do-gooders sit around a table and discuss how they “feel,” usually leave me wit... The Dark Web Of Cyber Terror - The Threat That Got Lost in Traffic
Sammy Elrom - 12/2/2007
Addressing the issue of Cyber Terrorism in Nov 2004, Prof. Seymour Goodman, from the Sam Nunn School of Intl’ Affairs & College of Computing at Georgia Tech, stated that “there have currently been no cyber terrorist attacks or evidence of Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations attempting one”. “ Middle East's Nuclear Dark Age
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/15/2007
The Iranian nuclear issue is too important and dangerous to be miscomprehended. So here are some life-and-death factors to keep in mind about it: The Dark Web Of Cyber Terror – An Inescapable Reality
Sammy Elrom - 11/11/2007
Cyber terrorism represents a much unknown facet of extreme Islamic terrorism. One must be extremely knowledgeable and well-versed in multi disciplines to gain a deep understanding of the professional meaning and potential destructive impact that cyber terrorism has on modern economies, national security and politics, and virtually on every aspect of our daily life. Dark Web terrorism, the “military” version of cyber terrorism application is known even less. This is the first part of a three series dedicated to this subject. From the Mosque to the Schoolhouse to the White House
David J. Jonsson - 11/9/2007
One might ask why it is important to understand the relation between the Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance and the Emerging Movement among Churches and Mosques. It is because it indicates the movement of a historically conservative church and other organizations into the fold. These Emerging Church and Mosque Movements are the elephants in the pew. The Radical Islamist Movement has realized that the tactical weapons of terrorism and suicide bombing may not be achieving their goal for world domination, and that seduction, economics and political action are more effective in winning the war. ... Islam and Islamofascism
Larry Houle - 11/8/2007
The term Islamo - Fascism gives tremendous creditability to Islam. It perpetuates the myth that Islam is a wonderful religion of peace and love that has been hi – jacked and perverted by a few bad apples of evil Islamo – Facsists, Islamic militants, jihadists, Wahhabism, radical Islam, Islamists. There has been no hijacking. There has been no perversion. These demented souls are following exactly the teachings of the Koran and in the footsteps of the Prophet - Muhammad. Anti-Islamist Bangladeshi Muslim will be in Chicago
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 10/16/2007
Dhaka, Bangladesh—Muslim journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who was arrested and tortured after exposing the rise of Islamists in Bangladesh, will visit the United States from October 19 through November 4. Mr. Choudhury will be in Chicago, Washington, New York, and Philadelphia to meet with lawmakers, advocacy and rights groups, and students during his stay. He also will visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum and meet Holocaust survivor and author Sam Harris. The rise and rise of Hizb ut-Tahrir
Jonathan Spyer, Ph.D. - 10/11/2007
Sitting in the best bar in Jerusalem about four months ago (it's called Sira, in case you're interested), I entered into conversation with a tall, ginger-haired young man who turned out to be a member of the Swedish contingent in the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH). Our conversation ranged over the trials and tribulations of the life of a member of TIPH, the very large amounts of money he seemed to be making, and the merits of Jerusalem when compared with other cities in the region. Global terrorism funded by bogus organizations setup by terrorists
Alastair Reynard - 9/16/2007
London Metropolitan Police reports said three men including two Tamil expatriates jailed for involvement in a student visa scam have been ordered to pay a GBP 2.3 m confiscation order or face eight years' imprisonment in default by the Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday(13). A Hydra-Headed Monster Called Terrorism
Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker - 9/11/2007
The horrendous carnage wreaked upon the people of Iraq over the past week by various terrorist organizations and insurgents that claimed more than a hundred and thirty lives, is, or should be, a wakeup call to the Allied Coalition that the Global War on Terror is far from over; indeed, it probably has barely begun. Despite the initial victories of the allies in Afghanistan and Iraq, neither al-Qaeda nor the Taliban, nor the Iraqi insurgency has been eliminated; all continue to resist and subvert American efforts to bring peace, democracy, and stability to the region. Although with good intenti... Availability of Chemical and Biological Weapons to Terrorists
Aliheydar Rzayev, Ph.D. - 9/11/2007
One of the defining aspects of modern terrorism is its thirst for cruelty and ability to deliver. If a quarter century ago, terrorist had guns, rifles, automatic guns and grenades, now their armament often exceeds armaments of fighters of counter-terrorist subunits. Potential Spread of Russian Nuclear Weapons
Angelique van Engelen - 9/11/2007
The war on terror is now firmly in its second stage, as the international world is beginning to make wake up to the credibility of the threat of a nuclear attack by terrorists. Concerted efforts by international organizations to make sure nuclear materials aren't taken from one country to another are only now beginning to make consistent headline news. Years and years of painfully slow progress in Russia - where mainly US proliferation experts have been involved in tidying up WMD since 1991 - shows just how worrisome the situation has become. Caliphatism - Establishing the Kingdom of Allah
David J. Jonsson - 9/11/2007
President George W. Bush in his speech of Speech of September 5, 2006 discussed the Global War on Terror. The terrorists who attacked us on September the 11th, 2001, are men without conscience - but they're not madmen. They kill in the name of a clear and focused ideology, a set of beliefs that are evil, but not insane.(Suggsted reading: The Clash of Ideologies: The Making of the Christian and Islamic Worlds) These al Qaeda terrorists and those who share their ideology are violent Sunni extremists. They're driven by a radical and perverted vision of Islam that rejects tolerance, crushes all... Dangerous Alliance: Terrorism and Organized Crime
Ron Chepesiuk - 9/11/2007
Last October, Italian investigators confirmed a disturbing trend in the War on Terrorism: the growing link between terrorism and organized crime. The investigators revealed that al Quaeda was using the Naples-based Camorra mafia, with its extensive network and expertise in forging documents, to move its operatives through Europe to safe houses in such cities as Paris, London, Berlin and Madrid. According to DIGOS, Italy's political crime unit, the number of al Quaeda operatives passing through Naples may have exceeded a thousand. Il Mattino, Naple's major daily newspaper described the arrangem... Post-Modern Terrorism
Antero Leitzinger - 9/11/2007
[This article is republished for the anniversary of 9/11/01.] Individual perpetrators of terrorist acts may be psychopaths or suicidal personalities, but their mentors, protectors, and managers, are rational political players. Not only the techniques, but also the strategies of terrorism will follow general development, to suit better to the modern society. Terrorist Heroshima in America?
Ryan Mauro - 9/11/2007
In 2005, the mainstream media seemed shocked when a number of news sources, including WorldNetDaily.com released a report about an "American Hiroshima" plot against the United States by Al-Qaeda The plot calls for Al-Qaeda to detonate nuclear weapons on American soil, having arrived over the Mexican border with the assistance of MS-13 gang members. The report claims Al-Qaeda has already obtained a large number of nuclear weapons currently being maintained by Pakistani and Russian scientists. Financing of Terror: Interconnection of Criminals and Terrorists
Aliheydar Rzayev, Ph.D. - 9/11/2007
Processes of forming of new geopolitical world's map have increased the significance of international terrorism as a political tool against leading Western states. Polarization of terrorist activity, artificial nobility of goals and methods, give terrorism the status of a liberation movement. But this is contrary to most international agreements and legislation of most developed countries where terrorism is classified as criminal action. "Political" terrorists distanced themselves from criminals, declaring that they come out against social policed systems on whole, but criminal elements, on th... Profile of Islamic Terrorists
Aliheydar Rzayev, Ph.D. - 9/11/2007
The special features of Islam define the specific character of Islamic terrorism. Teachings about Jihad (one of the main theme of which is the war for faith), raised in the Middle Ages, regard concern in war as religious duty ("fard") of Moslems, and the death in the name of Allah as the best, straight way to Heaven. The Koran preaches peace among "those come to believe" (meaning the Moslems) and allows for peaceful co-existence with the infidels, but justifies the destruction of those, who fight against the Moslems and their faith. One of the methods of this fight is the suicide bomber, who sacrifices them in the name of Allah, according the doctrines of Jihad. Roots of Islamic Terrorism: How Communists Helped Fundamentalists
Antero Leitzinger - 9/11/2007
This article traces the roots of Islamic terrorism, with special focus on Afghanistan. Notes are added on practical and philosophical problems of world media in finding the right track. From systematic errors in revealing little details, to serious misconceptions about basic facts and principles, we can relatively easily learn how much of "common knowledge" rests actually on superficial research and popular myths. Instead of becoming critical and aware of the traps laid around the issue, both Islamists and Islamophobes fail to recognize how they are manipulated. Nuclear 9/11: Interview with Dr. Paul L. Williams
Ryan Mauro - 9/11/2007
Dr. Paul L. Williams is a former consultant to the FBI on organized crime and terrorism. Since then, he has become an award-winning investigative journalist and written several books. A central point of his latest book, “The Al Qaeda Connection”, is that Osama Bin Laden has obtained nuclear weapons and smuggled them into the US through Mexico with the help of the MS-13 criminal group for use in a plot known as “American Hiroshima.” Preventive War and Counter-Terror
Major Dennis W. Lid - 9/11/2007
The strategy of containment employed during the Cold War era is passé and defunct, and, therefore, no longer valid. Times have changed, especially since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. Superpower America has adopted a new national strategy of preventive war and preemptive strike as proclaimed by the Bush Administration. This new strategy poses some immediate questions: What is its purpose? Is the strategy legally and morally justifiable? What are the primary considerations and concerns regarding the new strategy? What are the possible consequences of invoking this strategy? Is this the best ... What Drives Jihad?
Manuela Paraipan - 9/11/2007
what are the reasons behind the ongoing attacks since 9/11, on Europe and Asia? In Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East, the radical Islam gained popularity because the respective governments failed to accomplish their mission of working in the benefit of the people. The Islamic movements, whether it is the Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaa al-Islamiyya, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Hezbollah stepped in and provided various needed services to the people, like education, medical care and monthly stipends for the poor families. Their arms are a declaration of force meant to intimidate the existi... Terrorism: The Losing Strategy of the Incompetent
John Mangun - 9/11/2007
Across the globe for more than a generation, nations, governments and individuals have lived under the constant threat of violence through terrorism. A discussion of terrorism often centers on the method and the brutality of the attack, be it a person strapped with a bomb on a bus or a car exploding in a crowded street. There is something inherently disdainful about individuals, in their pursuit of a goal, deliberately choosing an action that results in their own death. Even on a traditional battlefield, entering into a combat mission with small chance of survival pushes to the extreme the definitions of courage and bravery. Recent Terror Threats
Ryan Mauro - 9/4/2007
A Pew poll has shown that radical ideologies in the Muslim world, as a whole, are decreasing. Results include: Delights Of Open Source: Al Qaeda's Recruiting On YouTube, Secret Agents Are Crowdsourcing
Angelique van Engelen - 8/30/2007
An Al-Qaeda-linked group from the Philippines managed to publish excerpts of a recruitment film for over 24 hours on YouTube, raising questions about online safety. YouTube took the video off the site after pressure from security officials. But is that a bad idea? Terrorists resorting to YouTube surely increase transparency? BREAKING NEWS: Al-Qaida Recruiting On YouTube
Angelique van Engelen - 8/24/2007
An Al-Qaida-linked group in the Phillipines has started recruiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFDAU3V66xs on YouTube yesterday. Global papers report that the group, which operates under the name Abu Sayyaf, had uploaded the video on the video sharing site. Abu Sayyaf is responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks to date in the Phillippinnes. They have been linked to February 2004 attack on the Superferry 14 off Manila Bay that killed over 200 people. How Acts of Terror Lead to Tyranny and Dictatorships
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/16/2007
On February 27, 1933, the German Reichstag was consumed by an enormous blaze. Hitler, whose immense popularity was based on his promises to resurrect Germany's economy, immediately accused the Communists - his political opponents - of instigating the conflagration. He had thousands of of their leaders and activists arrested and proceeded to coerce the ageing President Hindenburg into passing an emergency decree that suspended basic judicial, civil, and human rights and led to the setting up of concentration camps. The Nazis fanned up the hysteria and convinced the population that the Fatherlan... Al-Qaeda Is In Need
Glen Jenvey - 8/8/2007
The Charity Commission has vowed to 'act swiftly and decisively where deliberate wrongdoing, criminality and abuse, including terrorist abuse, takes place.The claim is made in the commission's official response to a review of the sector announced by the Home Office and the Treasury earlier this year. Terror Threats In June 2007
Ryan Mauro - 7/15/2007
The troop surge is barely under way, yet Senator Lugar seems to want to ditch the strategy before its full implementation. Politically, it’s quite understandable, as casualties will likely rise and heavy combat will persist for some time. However, the new strategy, implemented since January, has produced some results, even though all the required manpower didn’t arrive until June, and the simultaneous offensives planned haven’t yet been launched. That is proof that any success from the surge is due to the strategy, not solely from increased manpower. Despite the fact that the situation on ... Islam: It's The Ideology, Stupid!
Warner MacKenzie - 7/14/2007
The West’s propensity for ignorance is nothing short of astounding when one considers that, in this first decade of the 21st century, a veritable gold mine of information, on any topic, is available at one’s fingertips via the internet. Never before have books on the subject of Islamic history and terrorism been so prolific, yet the same old dangerously erroneous opinions on the causes of Islamic violence remain as popular, uninformed and widespread as ever. Self-Aware Technology And Its War Against Terrorism
Iqbal Latif - 7/13/2007
Kurzweil predicts paradigm shifts will become increasingly common, leading to "technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history" (Kurzweil 2001). Islam, Islamic Fundamentalism and Islamic Terrorism
Saberi Roy - 7/12/2007
Islam has become a huge question mark in recent sociopolitical debates. Is Islam a religion of peace or a religion of war? Does Islam promote hatred and all forms of perversion? Is it a religion that justifies terrorism? Is Islam inherently weak and will it bring its own downfall? There is no doubt that certain concepts of Islam are severely problematic like Jihad, subjugation of women, polygamy. The Prophet seems to have at times expressed aggression through the Quran and there are pages devoted to glorifying war or Jihad. We know violence sells as this is a base instinct and is it because of... The Adventures of Tony Rodef, Middle East Detective
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/9/2007
After Islamist suicide bomb attacks on London and Glasgow by Islamists were foiled, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered ministers never to use the word “Muslim” when discussing terrorism. Appeasement And Global Strategy Of The Russian-Iran Cabal
David J. Jonsson - 7/7/2007
If you believe: “Your Life Can Be Wonderful if we get out of Iraq now!” the events going on around the world become a haze as you watch the latest golf scores or read the propaganda for the latest appeasement journal or cable news cast. All you hear are the speeches of the latest ‘Tokyo Rose” complaining about the U.S. and its war mongering, blood for oil or unfair treatment of terrorists. Comparing Three Muslim Brotherhoods: Syria, Jordan and Egypt
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/6/2007
The banner of the Islamist revolution in the Middle East today has largely passed to groups sponsored by or derived from the Muslim Brotherhood. This article develops an introductory examination of three key Muslim Brotherhood groups and compares their politics, interrelations, and methods. Each, of course, is adapted to the conditions of a particular country. The Quranic Concept of War - Book Review
Lt.-Colonel Joseph C. Myers - 7/5/2007
“The universalism of Islam, in its all-embracing creed, is imposed on the believers as a continuous process of warfare, psychological and political, if not strictly military... The Jihad, accordingly, may be stated as a doctrine of a permanent state of war, not continuous fighting.”
— Majid Khadduri2 Political and military leaders are notoriously averse to theory, but if there is a theorist about war who matters, it remains Carl von Clausewitz, whose Vom Kriege (On War) has shaped Western views about war since the middle of the nineteenth century.”3 Both points are likely true and problem... Jihadi Aunt
Iqbal Latif - 7/5/2007
The head of the Lal Masjid Abdul Aziz Ghazi posed as an "aunty" while trying to escape on Wednesday in a burqa from the shrine surrounded by Pakistani troops. Maulana Aziz was carrying a lady’s handbag stuffed with a lipstick, an ID card of a woman and a diary. it appears that the Maulana finally gave in to the surroundings and pressures of his medieval madrassa. He ended up his shallow defiance by adopting a burqa, making the dictum work that if you cant beat them join them. Counter-Terror Intelligence: Citizens Doing The Job Government Won't Do
Glen Jenvey - 7/3/2007
Soon after Sept. 11 terror attacks, I started a web-site called www.islamic-news.co.uk with a friend based in America. The web-site published radical Islamic web links that led the user straight onto other terrorist sites. The goal was to try to come in contact with terror leaders and budding Jihadists. Almost immediately, the plan began paying dividends with Abu Hamza, a major British Jihadist with links to al-Qaida being the biggest fish we helped nab. Has America’s fight against terrorism gathered dust?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/26/2007
Peace is better than war and we all agree this doctrine, but if the war has been waged against you than what will you do. The only option left before you, when the war has been declared on you is to fight for it. You cannot run away from war, when your nation's sovereignty is in stake, can you? You got to fight and fight with vigor without thinking about the consequences of the war. Terror Threat During Spring 2007
Ryan Mauro - 6/12/2007
Eric Edelman, the Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy, has criticized the Pentagon report that attacked Doug Feith. Feith has published an extraordinary response to it on his own web site, www.dougfeith.com. Edelman claims that one of the vehicles Mohammed Atta used to travel to Prague was registered to an agent of the Abu Nidal Organization, who was being harbored and sponsored by Iraq. It was at this Prague meeting that some have alleged that Atta met with the Iraqi Counsel Al-Ani. The CIA no longer believes this meeting ever took place, but the Czechs who originally reported the meeting and subsequently deported al-Ani, still believe it occurred. Islamist 'Democratic' Parties
Dominic Whiteman - 5/27/2007
Although talk of an Islamicisation of Europe is both exaggerated and unhelpful, and no other great threat to democracy exists (while China and Russia behave themselves), it is time now – in the early days of the twenty first century - to ask the nations of the West and the democratic world, in a series of referenda, whether they wish to carry on with their democratic systems of government. Furthermore, it would be helpful, through probing surveys, to ask the undemocratized world if they are keen to remain undemocratized or whether they too would prefer to become democratic states. Defeating Islamism
Joel C Pousson - 5/7/2007
Many in the West declaim the apparent absence of "Moderate Muslim" voices speaking out against the perversion of Islam used to excuse Islamicist attacks against innocent people in pursuit of political aims. However, mass protests in several cities in Turkey on Saturday, May 5, 2007 in opposition to the candidacy of Islamicist politician Mohammed Gul prove otherwise. Jihad and Paradise
Anwar Sheikh - 5/6/2007
Since Jehad is the sure means of access to paradise, the abode of choicest carnal-delights-after-death, sex and violence combine to form the basic approach of Islam to coax man into a web of salvation. This is the most effective exploitation of his natural fear and sense of uncertainty. Jihad and Civilization, Part 2 (The Battle of Tours)
Anwar Sheikh - 5/3/2007
The Battle of Tours (also known as the Battle of Poitiers) is considered as one of the most important episodes of history. Before discussing its ramifications, one ought to probe into the causes that precipitated the bloody event in 732 A.D. Its major cause is Jihad, a clever contrivance of Islam, whose stated purpose is to establish on man the rule of Allah, "the Almighty, the Creator and the Perfect." Jihad and Civilization, Part 1 (The Battle of Badr)
Anwar Sheikh - 5/2/2007
The Battle of Badr is a tiny event by any stretch of the imagination, yet it has significantly influenced the course of human history. A deeper study of the episode reveals that this mole assumed mountainous proportions because it served as the first practical exposition of the Islamic doctrine known as JEHAD. Zawahiri's Biodefense Insider: "I successfully achieved the target"
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 4/20/2007
"I successfully achieved the targets," Ayman Zawahiri's man on the inside wrote. The Defense Intelligence Agency ("DIA") produced the letter to me under the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). Zawahiri's anthrax weaponization efforts were part of a project codenamed Zabadi or "yogurt." Anthrax Letters: The Significance of the Mailing Dates
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 4/18/2007
The anthrax mailing were on the date of the Camp David Accord and the related assassination of Anwar Sadat (Armed Forces Day). Expert Michael Scheuer, formerly head of the CIA's Osama Bin Laden unit, once said that Al Qaeda does not plan attacks around important dates, so far as the CIA can glean. But Mr. Scheuer should take Ayman at his word when he says he at least plans his messages around anniversaries. Not bowled over by Tablighi Jamaat
Dominic Whiteman - 3/22/2007
In the summer of 2006, I was asked by a senior British politician to draw up a list of organizations operating in Britain which deserved to be banned. This list did not include already proscribed entities, like Al Qaeda or the LTTE. Counter-Terrorism: The Cybersleuth and the Professor
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 3/12/2007
An English cybersleuth and a university professor have unearthed hours of al-qaeda videos which they say shows a strong link between radical Islamic clerics Abu Hamza, Omar Bakri and their followers and the 2005 London terror bombings. How Iranian Textbooks Prepare School Children for Global Jihad and Martyrdom
Ghazal Omid - 2/19/2007
Ghazal Omid was invited by honorable MP Louise Ellman to speak on the research found by Dr Arnon Groiss, co-author “Iran’s War Curriculum” & Dr Yohanan Manor, Chairman of CMIP. Below is her speech: Understanding The Mind Of The Jihadist
David J. Jonsson - 2/6/2007
The war on terror might be lost not on the streets of Baghdad but in the corridors of Congress. A divided America and Anti-Americanism serves our enemies well. Soon we may see a vote in Congress that says, "We can't stop the surge plan, but we don't support it." It is time for America to understand who the enemy is, the murderous ideology that is driving them and their strategy for success. This would be the Islamist's greatest fear. Terrorism And The Enemy in the Chair
Dominic Whiteman - 2/6/2007
Vigil’s terror trackers are constantly wading through extremist chat rooms, searching for drop email accounts, hidden message boards built into websites, which vary from innocent clothing sites to hardcore pornographic sites, studying extremist literature and wading through other detritus which extremists and terrorists use to further their pointless causes. American and U.S. Anti-terror practices on Trial: Maher Arar Saga Not Over Yet
Faisal Kutty - 2/5/2007
“My priority right now is to clear my name,” said Maher Arar during his first public appearance in 2003 upon his return after being tortured for over a year in Syria. The Arar Commission findings which cleared him and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology – which came after months of negotiations -- last week go a long way in helping Arar fulfill his first wish. Even though some believe the apology did not go far enough as he apologized “for any role Canadian officials may have played.” While the Commission squarely blamed Canadian and American officials. Terror Threats In January 2007
Ryan Mauro - 2/1/2007
This month’s major issue was the Bush Administration’s new plan for the war in Iraq. For the first time, there is, in this author’s opinion, a bona fide strategy to effectively combat the insurgency in Iraq. General David Petraeus, as he has demonstrated so competently in Mosul, is quite easily the best choice to lead the US military campaign in Iraq. In this author’s opinion, the troop increase will be a beneficial development that will yield a positive effect in the Baghdad area. The Nexus of Evil
Robert T. McLean - 1/31/2007
Fifteen years after the end of the Cold War, many remain surprised that a coalition of states has not formed to balance the power of the United States. Authors such as Randall L. Schweller of Ohio State University continue to offer theories towards explaining the supposed state of affairs and attribute much of the unbalance to domestic political factors that discourage the necessary efforts to ultimately challenge American primacy. But the last decade has witnessed something quite different as two powerful states have emerged to present the fist post-Cold War challenge to a United States centered unipolar world. Legacy of a Terrorist: Even after capture, a terrorist can rely on global networks to inspire others
William OMalley - 1/31/2007
Skilled terrorists are persuasive, strategic and analytical – and a good example of this is the Indonesian terrorist leader, Hambali, who has pursued his goal of bringing Muslim nations under Islamic rule. The operations chief of the terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah, Hambali has been jailed by the US since 2003, but the vast network of recruits he had developed prior to his arrest continue to support his cause and carry on global terrorist planning. William O'Malley, formerly an intelligence officer and now a commentator in Australia, tells the story of how a terrorist grew up in Indone... Terror Threats in October and November 2006
Ryan Mauro - 12/13/2006
An interesting article was sent to the author in October. As reported by Richard Miniter, an Iraqi defector to Turkey going by the name of “Abu Mohammed” spoke to Gwynne Roberts of England’s Sunday Times. Mohammed claimed that, in 1997, he was a colonel in the Fedayeen and went to the suspected terrorist training camp known as Salman Pak and saw that men were being trained to hijack aircraft, specifically a Boeing 707, utilizing knives. Mohammed said that Colonel Jamil Kamil and Major Ali Hawas met him at the site and, that Major Hawas told him that the men he saw in line for food were members of “Osama Bin Laden’s group,” the PKK and the Mujahideen-e-Khalq. Why Hizb ut Tahrir Should Be Banned
Dominic Whiteman - 11/27/2006
On the evening of the 14th November, the real world became a different place for Hizb ut Tahrir, the organisation which wishes to establish a Global Islamic Caliphate, based on Shariah Law (type "Hizb ut Tahrir draft constitution" into Internet search and retrospective engines and attempt to settle back and read this lengthy document - preferably with a stiff whisky at hand). Terror Expert warns People to be Vigilant During Upcoming Holiday Season
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 11/21/2006
A British-based terror expert is warning people worldwide to be on their guard against terror attacks this holiday season. Glen Jenvey said he has heard a number of terror watchers warn of a possible increase in international terrorism in the weeks leading up to Christmas. "To counter this," Jenvey said in an e-mail interview, "the public need to become the eyes and eyes of the intelligence service, reporting any thing that is not normal or any sinister messages they spot on the Internet." The VIGIL Anti-Terror Network
Capt. Chris Walker - 10/24/2006
Global Politician’s exclusive interview with Dominic Whiteman – the spokesperson and a British director of the international anti terror network VIGIL, which is fast becoming the home of retired spies and military personnel, keen to help win the war on terror. Terror Threats In September 2006
Ryan Mauro - 10/9/2006
Iraqi Document Release 1. Letters labeled top-secret were released that reveal orders from the Iraqi Defense Ministry to conceal weapons and devices in hidden shelters for later use. Some analysts have viewed this operation described in the documents as WMD-related, but most likely it was merely the beginning of the activation of plans to foment an insurgency. 2. In 2000, an Iraqi intelligence officer reported to his government that he had a “trusted source” in the Associated Press that gave the regime important information as UNMOVIC was being established. Mailed Anthrax Was A Warning from Al Qaeda
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 10/4/2006
I recently obtained a journal article from an FBI Lab scientist that explained that: "Individuals familiar with the composition of the powders in the letters have indicated that they were were comprised simply of spores purified to different extents. However, a widely circulated misconception is that the spores were produced using additives and sophisticated engineering supposedly akin to military weapon production. ... The persistent credence given to this impression fosters erroneous preconceptions, which may misguide research and preparedness efforts and generally detract from the magnitude of hazards posed by simple spore preparations." How do the terrorists justify terror by citing Islam?
Iqbal Latif - 10/3/2006
The Farewell Pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammed was a significant historical event in the Muslims life. Although thousands of Muslims witnessed the Farewell (last) Sermon given by the Prophet Muhammed, the Hadiths books reported at least three versions of the same Sermon. For an event witnessed by over 10,000 people an accurate narration should have been available, but it has not. The Jihad and the West - Part II
Mohammed Ayoob - 9/27/2006
Jihad as armed struggle was associated with early expansion of Muslim territories and then took on a more defensive connotation in the 19th century, after Muslim nations were subjected to colonization by European powers. This two-part series explores the role of jihad in modern society, and the second article calls on Islamic scholars to consider dispensing with the term when it comes to politics or analysis of wars over national boundaries. Mohammed Ayoob, professor of international relations, traces the history of the term, offering a reminder that the most profound form of ⌠jihad¡ö is... The Jihad and the West – Part I
Riaz Hassan - 9/23/2006
Before defining or reacting to the word “jihad,” the meaning must be considered in its historical context. This two-part series debates the meaning and role of “jihad” in a modern global society. In Part I, sociologist Riaz Hassan cautions that any interpretation that dismisses jihad as merely a violent manifestation of religious fanaticism strips the term of its complexity. Throughout history, jihad has connoted the personal goal of the betterment of oneself, the nationalist goal of the glorification of a state, the theological struggle for the purification of Islam and the political struggle... New Deal On Terror!
Iqbal Latif - 9/17/2006
These are very challenging times; global events have helped bring changes in the mindset of hardened left leaning ideologues in a manner one could not envision. The human sacrifices for good causes have been immense. In a key concession for perpetrators of war on terror, the 118-nation Non-aligned Movement (NAM) on Sunday articulated its full hostility to terrorism in all its shape and _expression and agreed to combat the menace, including by prosecuting and extraditing its perpetrators. In NAM guide to its communiqué one person's 'terrorist' was usually someone else's 'freedom fighter'. 'Terr... 9/11: Five Years On - Views of a Terror Hunter
Dominic Whiteman - 9/11/2006
Professor Michael Clarke of King's College, London, spoke pessimistically three days ago to the BBC stating "If I was Osama Bin Laden sitting in my cave, I would think I was winning the war (on terror). I would consider that I am still at large, I have a global movement, I strike a chord with young Muslims everywhere, I am an inspiration not a planner and I have lured the US into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq of my choosing and of my way of fighting. Nor is the West countering the easy narrative offered by the jihadis. They are, and I agree with the Bush language on this, Islamic fascists, but ... Radical Muslim Trevor Brooks Apparently in Hiding
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 9/8/2006
With the fifth anniversary of 9/11 just around the corner, you need to be concerned about what happened to Trevor Brooks. Why? Because he’s the former Jamaican electrician Trevor Brooks (also known as Omar Brooks, Abu Izzadeen and Abu Baraa) who hates those of us who don’t share his radical Islamic belief system. Let me explain. Brooks was the man who in a July 7 anniversary meeting of the British terror bombings, held in a community center in the city of Birmingham, dubbed the 7/7 bombers as being “completely praiseworthy. Terror Threats In August 2006
Ryan Mauro - 9/1/2006
The big news is non-news. August 22, the big day Iran picked to respond to the UN's nuclear deal, went by without a shot being fired. That date, as we've discussed, had religious significance for Ahmadinejad. It was the anniversary of when, according to the faithful, Mohammed purportedly ascended into heaven from Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem). No analyst has yet developed a definitive explanation as to why the Iranian leaders had issued so much rhetoric regarding their response, causing considerable consternation and rumor-mongering in the West—and then nothing significant occurred. Here are some possibilities for why nothing significant happened on August 22, as so many had predicted: Gauging Terror - Part II, India
Michael Krepon - 8/21/2006
Fierce military operations may eliminate individual terrorists, but do nothing to destroy their strategy. Some analysts go as far as to argue that excessive force only encourages hatred, boosting the networks that nurture new recruits. In the second article of this two-part series, author Michael Krepon suggests that India – with almost 20,000 civilians killed in terror attacks since 1994 – has reason to pursue terrorists based in Pakistan. Yet, India has exercised restraint when it comes to retaliating against terrorist attacks with suspected links to Pakistan-based groups, resisting opening ... Gauging Terror - Lebanon
Fawaz A. Gerges - 8/16/2006
The world remains divided about the best way to respond to extremism ¡Ì fierce military retaliation versus controlled anger that focuses on diplomacy, tolerance and the power of example. This two-part series examines the viability of two responses: Israel's fierce invasion of Lebanon after the kidnapping of two soldiers and India's restrained reaction after train bombings in Mumbai that killed more than 200. After more than 30 days of fierce fighting, a UN ceasefire finally stopped the battle in Lebanon. The US and Israel must regroup, not for military combat, but to consider how to negotiate ... Terror Threats in July 2006
Ryan Mauro - 8/8/2006
Iraq Intelligence Items
1)A document dated March 10, 2002 describes a meeting of the Iraqi “biological committee” after a trip by “delegates” to Moscow. Rihab Taha, also known as “Dr. Germ,” refers in the meeting to the development of “aircraft sprayers that are able to scatter dust.”
2) A reader forwarded an Associated Press report from October 31, 2003, describing how, in March 2003, Iraq officials brought reporters to a training camp near Baghdad where foreign fighters (a.k.a., terrorists) were being trained. The fighters were from Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia. British Terrorists Call for Destruction of Israel and Jews Worldwide
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 7/17/2006
As the conflict in the Middle East boils over, British-based terrorists are calling for the complete destruction of Israel and Jews worldwide using global terrorism. Recordings made of a July 14 cyber conversation on a radical Islamic group found on www.paltalk.com (Followers of Ahl Al Sunnah Wal Jamaah, found in the Religion and Theology Islam section of Paltalk) reveal that horrifying agenda. The internet offers terrorists a forum for debating strategy
Gabriel Weimann - 7/14/2006
One tends to tar the Islamic militants with the same brush of terrorism, and the internet is seen as the outlet for their propaganda and grisly videos. However, conflicting perspectives of Al Qaeda and other terrorist factions found on the web could be a valuable tool for understanding their motivations and strategies, thus enabling governments to develop effective counter-strategies and prevent an organized attack. Gabriel Weimann, an expert on terrorists' use of the internet, reports on his eight-year study of exchanges via the web and how terrorist-identified groups debate suicide missions,... Cyber Sheikh Calls for More Terror Strikes
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 7/11/2006
While Americans were gearing up for the recent Independence Day holiday, a group of radical Muslims were meeting in a Birmingham, England community center. According to the British-based Vigil Network’s Dominic Whiteman, on July 2, a mix of extremists from al Ghurabaa, the Savior Sect, the Society of Muslim lawyers and other spin-offs from Hitz-ut-Tahrir and the now banned Al Mujahiroun group were among those represented. Iraq's WMD Documents and Terror Threats In June 2006
Ryan Mauro - 7/6/2006
Documents found in Iraq released by the Pentagon continue to be translated by Arabic volunteers on the Internet. Among the findings are: Terror Threats in May 2006
Ryan Mauro - 5/30/2006
There has been a recent stream of reports regarding Al-Qaeda’s purported nuclear capabilities since America’s Truth Forum in April. Hamid Mir, the only journalist to interview Osama bin Laden after 9/11, is set to release a book claiming that Al-Qaeda possesses tactical nuclear weapons which were forward-deployed to the United States. Al-Qaeda’s Hidden Arsenal and Sponsors: Interview with Hamid Mir Who Interviewed Osama Bin Ladin
Ryan Mauro - 5/24/2006
Hamid Mir truly has deep access inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He is best known as the last journalist to interview Osama Bin Laden, and the only one to do so after the attacks of September 11, 2001. He is currently the Bureau Chief of Islamabad for Geo TV and is writing a biography on Osama Bin Laden. He has interviewed countless members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in many countries over the years. Global Terror Threats in March 2006
Ryan Mauro - 4/4/2006
One interesting note before we discuss the biggest issues of the month (mostly the Iraqi document release). The author feels it is worth noting that there is a widespread persecution of Christians going on, and we almost never hear about it. The Open Doors organization has released the 2006 World Watch List which ranked countries around the world based on their religious persecution. The top ten countries guilty of persecuting Christians are as follows: North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos and China. Terror Threats During February 2006
Ryan Mauro - 3/6/2006
General Georges Sada, the former #2 man in charge of the Iraqi Air Force, and close advisor to Saddam Hussein, continues to confidently state that Saddam’s WMD was moved to, and concealed in, Syria. In an exclusive report that I prepared recently, another Iraqi general, known as the “Butcher of Basra”, also confirmed that the Saddam’s WMD are being concealed in Syria. Ali Ibrahim al-Tikriti, who defected in 1991, claims he has deep sources inside Iraq, including some of Saddam Hussein’s former scientists. He also confirmed that, in the mid-1990s, Iraq, under Hussein, developed a relationship with Al-Qaeda. The Spy and The Terrorist: The Real Story
Lewis Panther - 2/12/2006
Glen Jenvey is the real-life hero who nailed terror chief Abu Hamza. The would-be James Bond tricked the hook-handed hate cleric into handing over the video tapes which brought about his downfall last week. Gravel-voiced Jenvey posed as a fellow terrorist supporter who wanted to bring death and destruction to Britain. Jenvey even set up a website praising Al Qaeda to lure the Finsbury Park hate preacher into his trap. The sophisticated sting led to jail for Britain’s public enemy number 1 after his crucial evidence set off a chain reaction of events around the world. World Threats In January 2006
Ryan Mauro - 2/6/2006
Overall, 2005 was a good year, in which was evidenced tremendous progress in Iraq, reasonably reliable elections in Iraq and Egypt, and significant advances, globally, against Al-Qaeda. The general public was made more aware of the dangers of Hugo Chavez, the democracy movement in Iran, and Syria received significant adverse attention. Additionally, the Europeans have been assisting, more than one would expect, in pressuring those two rogue regimes. American ISP Helps Spread Bin Ladin's Message
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 1/26/2006
A radical Islamic web site apparently housed on an American- based Internet Service Provider has been offering links to downloads of the recent speech made by Osama bin Laden and broadcast on Al- Jazeera television. Some of the Internet addresses on the Jaami jihadist forum available to download that audio tape are available at www.jaami.com/vb/showthread.php?p=6752. They include links to the Al Jazeera web site housing the tape, as well as media commentary on the tape. The site's Internet Service Provider is apparently the Inktomi Corporation, acquired by Yahoo in late 2002 (http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/pr/release1050.html). Do Followers of Exiled Cleric Know about 7/7 London Attacks?
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 1/24/2006
A message on an Internet web site by the followers of radical Islamic cleric Omar Bakri Mohammad has one expert wondering if there is another terror attack in the works for Brits. His concern is based upon an event occurring a few weeks ago when a video surfaced on the Internet site of Bakri Mohammed's followers, apparently predicting terrorists would strike on the British mainland several months before the July 7 London bombings. Terror Threats During December 2005
Ryan Mauro - 1/13/2006
Will the Bush Administration’s biggest victory in Iraq turn into its biggest loss? The election was undoubtedly extremely successful with huge Sunni participation. In the Sunni Anbar province, participation rose from 2% in the last election to possibly as high as 55%. And no large-scale attacks marred the process. High levels of Sunni participation will certainly lead to the marginalization of the insurgents, and already there are increasing reports of the Sunnis turning their guns of foreign fighters filtering in from Syria. Psychics and the 72 Virgins for Suicide Bombers
Ghazal Omid - 1/10/2006
If the Americans can believe psychics speak to the spirit of their dead father, why can’t Middle Eastern suicide bombers believe in 72 virgins? When I was living in Iran, looking at pictures of Europe and the US and other Western countries, I always believed that the Westerners, particularly North Americans, must have better clues about reality and truth and be smarter than the Middle Easterners to achieve such a high standard of living. EXCLUSIVE: Cover Organizations for Terrorists In US and UK Exposed
Andrew Green - 1/3/2006
In April 2005, CityMuslim.com posted an ad for an Islamic rally in London against the Saudi Arabian government, claiming to highlight “the oppression of the Saudi regime and their many crimes…” The organizers, calling themselves Party for Islamic Renewal claimed that it “rejects intellectual terror, supports the freedom of thought and believes in dialogue based on argument and evidence.” What neither the ad nor CityMuslim.com noted was that this was a recruiting mission for Islamist terrorists, including al-Qaida fighters in Iraq, belonging to al-Muhajiroun (“The Emigrants”) terrorist group th... Al-Qaida Beware: "Mrs. Galt" Is On Your Trail
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 1/2/2006
To her neighbors, she is just plain old "Mrs. Galt" - a run-of-the-mill American soccer mom. But after her neighborhood quiets down, curtains are drawn for the night and her two children are tucked safely in bed, this suburban American mom assumes an entirely different personality as she plunges head on into the shadowy world of internet terrorism. The "Mrs. Galt" story was recently recounted in the Washington Times. As the Washington Times reported, "Mrs. Galt" has accessed a number of obscure web sites used by the Al Qaeda and a number of other terrorist groups for their routine communicatio... Terror Threats During November 2005
Ryan Mauro - 12/10/2005
The 2005 State Department report on religious freedom designated eight “countries of particular concern” and, that are eligible for certain action such as sanctions: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam. It is encouraging to observe the Saudis on the list, as there have been years where the Saudis were conspicuous in their absence from the list—a clear indication of the significant influence the Saudis have had on the American government. Update: Islamist Site Containing Threats Against World Leaders Re-Activated
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 12/1/2005
A statement distributed by the Global Islamic Media Front and located on an radical Islamic American hosted Internet site, contains a death threat against a number of world leaders. The site was initially suspended and since reactivated. The forum on the reactivated site is now locked, so it is impossible to tell whether the death threat is still housed on the site, but there is no reason to suppose otherwise. Ironically, the data center housing the Al Firdaws site is located 17 miles from Fort Campell, KY, home of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division (www.campbell.army.mil/newinternet/main.asp). US Shuts Down Islamist Site Threatening World Leaders
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 11/29/2005
A statement distributed by the Global Islamic Media Front and formerly located on an radical Islamic American hosted Internet site, contained a death threat against a number of world leaders. The site has now been suspended. My Date With Al-Qaida Member
Ghazal Omid - 11/26/2005
Near the end of Ramadan 2004, I was at my desk working on the net, sending drafts of my now published book, “ Living in Hell” to my publisher, when I received a peculiar instant message from a total stranger asking me if I am Muslim. I paused for a second. Then I noticed, on my instant message box, I had chosen an internationally known icon for Muslim, which anyone familiar with Islam or part of this faith can identify immediately. The icon is a moon and star almost hugging each other. This icon appears on the dome of every mosque in every corner of our world. I hesitantly answered, “Yes”, bec... Extremist Cleric Abu Hamza Still Preaching Hate From Prison
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 11/14/2005
In an apparent response to Jordanians who took to the streets to call for its leader to "burn in hell," al-Qaida in Iraq attempted Thursday to justify the triple suicide bombings that killed 56 people, mostly Arabs. The Associated Press (AP) reported http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1300775 that earlier Thursday, the group posted a Web statement http://alfirdaws.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7868 claiming responsibility for Wednesday's suicide bombing attacks. Then a second al-Qaida statement appeared on the Internet "to explain for Muslims part of the reason holy warriors targeted these dens." That statement appeared after Arab-wide expressions of outrage. World Threats In October 2005
Ryan Mauro - 11/11/2005
The Mehlis Report has blamed Syria for the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon, who opposed an amendment to the Lebanese constitution to allow the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to extend his term. The report stated that Syria, specifically Bashar Assad’s brother-in-law Assaf Shawkat, to divert blame from himself, coerced someone else to take credit for the assassination. The assassination plot originated in 2004 when, during a meeting between Assad and Hariri, Assad warned Hariri that he would “break Lebanon on your head.” General Mustafa Hamdan, the hea... American Company Is An Al-Qaida News Broadcaster
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 10/8/2005
The anchor for a brand new Internet based video "news" service doesn't need makeup, and isn't likely to win any prizes for his looks or his clothing. He's dressed in all black and hooded. Terror Threats During September 2005
Ryan Mauro - 10/6/2005
Yossef Bodansky, the former director of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare and current director of research at the International Strategic Studies Association warned Congress in a secret reporting that Al-Qaeda was planning spectacular attacks around the world as part of a Ramadan offensive in October. He said that operatives were being trained and supplied in the Balkans and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had a key role in it. Several other experts and sources are warning about a Ramadan offensive as well. The Origins of Biological and Chemical Warfare
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 10/4/2005
Chemical and biological warfare are not an invention of the 20th century. Solon (638-559 BC) used a strong purgative, the herb hellebore, in the siege of Krissa. During the 6th century BC, the Assyrians poisoned enemy wells with rye ergot. In the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), the Spartans flung sulfur and pitch at the Athenians and their allies. In the Middle Ages, besiegers used the bloated and dripping bodies of plague victims as readymade "dirty bombs". US-Hosted Site Shows Massacre of Christians by Muslims
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 9/30/2005
An American- hosted soft porn site also doubles as a cyber home for radical Islamic video propaganda. One approximately six-minute video housed on the Japanese site (www.dos222.com/test/imgupload/img/200552712418face.wmv) is particularly shocking. Titled, "The Ambon Massacre," it starts with a picture of the ocean waves lazily lapping at dusk. Do You Yahoo? Al-Qaida Does!
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 9/7/2005
With only a handful of members, the recently formed Yahoo group Al Neda Cell doesn't look like it will be capable of causing much trouble. However, its very existence is still a reminder of the incendiary, anti-American Islamic material that circulates on the Internet–especially troubling as Yahoo is an American company and appears to freely allow this material. Terror And Peace
Ajay Nath - 9/1/2005
The American President's recent statement on terrorism was the strongest so far against the enemies of freedom and human civilization. He just does not believe in any form of compromise. Terrorists are terrorists and they must be dealt with severely, wherever they are, whoever they are. Their atrocities and barbaric display of Pol Pot-like behaviour are beyond human imagination and tolerance. The British Prime Minister has come down equally heavily on terrorists. The British government is, in fact, coming out with a special law on terrorism that empowers it even to expel suspected terrorists f... Defending Terrorism: Interview with Kristine Withers
Ryan Mauro - 8/19/2005
Kristine Withers claims to have been assaulted by the Islamic Thinkers' Society, a group she says is likely tied to Al-Muhajiroun, which is a radical Islamic group that is believed to have worked with Al-Qaeda. The following is our conversation about ongoing threats to her from the group, and charges that have been brought against her by the group. Narcissists, Group Behavior, and Terrorism - Part IV
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/9/2005
Terrorists can be phenomenologically described as narcissists in a constant state of deficient narcissistic supply. The "grandiosity gap" - the painful and narcissistically injurious gap between their grandiose fantasies and their dreary and humiliating reality - becomes emotionally insupportable. They decompensate and act out. They bring "down to their level" (by destroying it) the object of their pathological envy, the cause of their seething frustration, the symbol of their dull achievements, always incommensurate with their inflated self-image. Narcissists, Group Behavior, and Terrorism - Part III
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/9/2005
It is no wonder that bin-Laden and the United States are engaged in mortal combat. Adversarial narcissists often are. That the United States in a narcissistic society was suggested long ago (1979) by Christopher Lasch. Narcissists, Group Behavior, and Terrorism - Part II
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/8/2005
Osama bin-Laden is often labeled a narcissist (as was Hitler and are Saddam Hussein and Milosevic). Are all politicians narcissists? The answer, surprisingly, is: not universally. The preponderance of narcissistic traits and personalities in politics is much less than in show business, for instance. Moreover, while show business is concerned essentially (and almost exclusively) with the securing of narcissistic supply - politics is a much more complex and multi-faceted activity. Rather, it is a spectrum. At the one end, we find the "actors" - politicians who regard politics as their venue and ... Narcissists, Group Behavior, and Terrorism - Part I
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/8/2005
More about pathological narcissism and the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in the Appendix. Having lived in 12 countries in 3 continents now, I firmly believe in "mass psychopathology", or in ethnopsychology. The members of a group - if sufficiently cohesive - tend to react similarly to circumstances. By "cohesive" I mean, if they share the same mental world ("Weltanschauung") - possibly the same history, the same language or dialect, the same hopes, folklore, fears, and aspirations ("agenda"), the same enemies and so on. World Threats Report During July 2005
Ryan Mauro - 8/2/2005
“I can control the Americans—I have experience in doing it…[I’ll] bring the death that the Shi’ites are experiencing in Iraq to the streets of America with the volunteer martyr brigades ready to act.”
- New Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, on his own web site. World Threats During June 2005
Ryan Mauro - 7/15/2005
Elections in Iran
The most important events this month were related to Iran. Iran conducted presidential elections that, from the start, were manipulated in favor of the Islamic radicals. The Guardian Council, made up of radical, unelected clerics, approved the candidates. Voter turnout was low, as a form of protest against the government. According to my sources, turnout was almost certainly below 30%. One cannot, of course, expect an accurate voter turnout given the fact that Iran is a closed society, and the Iranian state-controlled press is not a reliable source. World Threats During May 2005
Ryan Mauro - 6/12/2005
The Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus issued a report this month detailing what would be required to secure the US borders. It concluded that 36,000 troops, from either state militia, or the National Guard, would “dramatically reduce if not virtually eliminate” illegal immigration. The report said the buildup could be accomplished within 30 days, and there was currently adequate manpower available. Foreign Aid Fuels Terror
Aliheydar Rzayev, Ph.D. - 5/31/2005
Destabilization of the most important subjects of world political and economic systems could become the acts of terrors, paralyzing the will of rulers and sowing horror among the population. As it was noted by V.Slutsker, at the present we can develop three main causes of the sharp increase of terrorist activity which is closely interconnected each with others. The first is the ecological problem. Second is the democragraphic problem, which is tightly connected with the abovementioned ecological safety: it is the not simply explosive increase in the population, but also the asymmetric increase, when some regions are overpopulated, but others, such as Europe, become less populated. Interview with Aaron Klein on al-Qaida, WMD and Other Terror Threats
Ryan Mauro - 5/26/2005
Aaron Klein is WorldNetDaily.com's Middle East correspondent, who previously conducted interviews with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as leaders of the Taliban. Ryan Mauro interviewed Mr. Klein on terror threats, al-Qaeda and biological/chemical weapons possessed by Syria and other Arab states. World Threats - April 2005 Report
Ryan Mauro - 5/10/2005
We found a report particularly interesting that indicates the British and American nuclear forces would not be as effective during wartime if they needed to be used. Scientists tied to the Los Alamos National Lab claim that the casing is so thin on a W76 warhead that it will likely fail to detonate. The warheads on submarines are poorly designed and a large number are probably duds, the scientist warned (Telegraph, 4/4/05). Al-Libbi Caught, But Al-Qaida Is Still Strong
Angelique van Engelen - 5/7/2005
Pakistan's claim that its forces have captured Abu Faraj Al-Libbi, a close associate of Osama bin Laden and the number three in the Al Qaeda Network, is said to be hopeful news because it narrows down the hunt for Bin Laden himself. But does this make any difference to the network? INTERVIEW: Antero Leitzinger Global Trends and Terrorism Effecting U.S. and the West
Ryan Mauro - 4/18/2005
Antero Leitzinger is the editor of the book called "Caucasus-An Unholy Alliance". He is a history researcher on topics ranging from Russia to Islam. The majority of his works are in Finnish, including various travel guide books, textbooks, and works about the history of liberalism and the history of Finnish immigration. He is working with other authors for an English book about Eastern European history and human rights policy in that region, of which he will write about the Karaim minority in Lithuania. INTERVIEW: Dr. Joseph Douglas on Terror-Sponsorship by Non-Islamic Countries
Ryan Mauro - 4/17/2005
RM: What countries were the most involved in the creation of the current terrorist threat we face? Tracking Terrorists: Interview with Aaron Weisburd
Ryan Mauro - 4/16/2005
This following interview is with Aaron Weisburd, director of Internet Haganah, a website devoted to monitoring radical Islamic websites, message boards and general online communication. His very successful site can be viewed at: http://www.haganah.org.il Zawahiri's Plan To Obtain the Ames Anthrax Strain
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 4/15/2005
Ayman Zawahiri had a scientist named Rauf attending conferences sponsored by Porton Down, UK's biodefense facility, for the purpose of obtaining the Ames anthrax strain. The scientist's handwritten notes reportiing on his efforts are available through the Freedom of Information Act. On November 1, 2001, not long after the anthrax mailings, an article ran in the Chicago Times called "Pakistan's scientists under scrutiny." With a dateline Islamabad, Pakistan, the story began: "The day after Pakistan handed over Yemeni microbiologist Jamil Qasim Saeed Mohammed to U.S. agents, authorities ste... INTERVIEW: Richard Minister - Author of "Losing bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror"
Ryan Mauro - 4/11/2005
Richard Miniter is the author of the New York Times bestseller, "Losing bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror." A veteran investigative journalist, he was a member of the award-winning Sunday Times of London investigative team whose four-part series traced the secret war between Clinton and bin Laden. World Threats Report - March 2005
Ryan Mauro - 4/10/2005
In our opinion, the most interesting development this month, in the War on Terrorism, was new intelligence indicating that Osama bin Laden had relinquished day-to-day control of jihadi operations, while still remaining the jihadi movement's spiritual figurehead and main moneyman. Ayman al-Zawahiri appears to be maintaining liaisons with local groups and sectors of certain intelligence services, and setting the general technical planning (and likely authorizing certain attacks and distributing responsibility). Study of Modern Terrorism and Responses by Governments
Aliheydar Rzayev, Ph.D. - 4/9/2005
At present, the main problem of the human society is the rise of terrorism, accompanied by numerous victims and big material causalities. As a result of development of modern technologies of ambiguous functions, mass-media and Internet, scenes of suppression and cruelty, represented through the means of mass culture, more and more people able to get and use information to create most modern weapons and methods of their use. Asymmetric Warfare and Its Domestic Effect
James McLeod-Hatch - 4/7/2005
"Asymmetric warfare" is a current voguish term that describes age-old guerrilla tactics. But while many might think that the guerrilla battles of an asymmetric war are being fought far away, in actual fact the insurgents are bringing the battle to our home soil, and this been facilitated by the rising tide of poor and non-specific regulation. The threats posed by asymmetric warfare to the troops on the ground are well covered by the media. However, the very fact that guerrilla tactics are increasingly referred to as "asymmetric warfare" hints at a difficulty faced by not only the commanders ... Tracking Terrorists: Interview with Laura Mansfield
Ryan Mauro - 4/5/2005
Laura Mansfield has over 20 years of experience dealing with issues pertaining to the Middle East. She is fluent in written and spoken Arabic, and has an excellent understanding of the complex cultural, religious, and historical issues. She spent nearly 7 years living and working in the region, for a wide range of clients including the United States Embassy, the United States Agency for International Development, and various international corporations. She was active in the embassy warden system, acting as a liaison between the Embassy security office and her employer during the days of the Beirut hijacking. Counter Terrorism Response Induces Thinking Of A New Cosmopolis
Angelique van Engelen - 3/17/2005
Terrorist attackers have perhaps done the world a lot of good if you consider the long-term effects of their actions on the rest of us. Having a communal enemy might be the crucial piece in the puzzle that international relations specialists have been trying to fit together in vain for decades. Which puzzle? The possible framework for world government. Other pieces are (versions of) globalisation, the end of the nation state, transnationalism, cross border flows, general flux the world is in, that kind of thing. But perhaps the term 'cosmopolitanism' is most apt to describe the renewed interes... World Threats and Major Events at the End of February 2005
Ryan Mauro - 3/16/2005
Today, Ryan Mauro examines the threats to the world and major events coming from al-Qaeda, Middle Eastern countries, Israel-Palestinian the Peace Process, Asia, North Korea and Europe. The article deals with the state of threats and world events at the end of February 2005. Anthrax and the Vanguards of Conquest
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 3/13/2005
This past month, Interpol, the NYPD and FBI have warned of a possible anthrax attack. These warnings have become very familiar. In early June 2003, a Central Intelligence Agency ("CIA") report publicly disclosed that the reason for Mohammed Atta's and Zacarias Moussaoui's inquiries into cropdusters was for the contemplated use in dispersing biological agents such as anthrax. An early September 2003 Newsweek article included a rumor by a Taliban source that at a meeting in April 2003 Bin Laden was planning an "unbelievable" biological attack, the plans for which had suffered a setback upon t... Doctrine of Just War in the Age of Terrorism
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/12/2005
In an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the medieval doctrine of Just War needs to be re-defined. Moreover, issues of legitimacy, efficacy and morality should not be confused. Legitimacy is conferred by institutions. Not all morally justified wars are, therefore, automatically legitimate. Frequently the efficient execution of a battle plan involves immoral or even illegal acts. SR-IX: Using the Wrong Tool in the Wrong Place
Peter A. Gallo - 1/31/2005
In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") expanded its brief from the fight against money laundering to include also terrorist financing, and, to this end, issued 8 'Special Recommendations' at the end of October 2001. Despite all the rhetoric and the considerable efforts since that time, however, none of this appears to have had much tangible success in achieving the stated objective of 'starving terrorists of funds.'
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