Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Really?
The Tehreek-e-Taliban of Pakistan or TTP the umbrella group for the Taliban fighting against the Pakistan and Afghan government has declared jihad against the Awami National Party (ANP). This Pashtun (remember the Talib are primarily Pashtun) political party who ask for "the promotion of democracy and freedom, the eradication of poverty, the protection of human rights, the combating of extremism in all its forms and the creation of equal opportunities for all citizens. It firmly believes in peace and non-violence as the best way to resolve all issues. It is committed to securing for all the federating units of Pakistan their full political, social and economic rights as equal partners in the federation and their fair share in national progress and prosperity (from the ANP Manifesto)." One of the leaders of the group son was killed last week and this week a suicide bomber struck outside of the grieving families home. Pakistan Daily News reports the TTP released this statement regarding the ANP The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Tuesday that it was the duty of the mujahideen to annihilate the Awami National Party (ANP), as it was “not only the enemy of the Taliban, but Islam as well”. Talking to reporters over telephone from an undisclosed location about the recent attacks on the ANP, TTP spokesman Azam Tariq said Pakhtuns could not tolerate the existence of the ANP in the region, as the party was an enemy of Islam. The spokesman added that it was the need of the hour to exterminate the ANP and the Taliban would continue jihad against the party. Do no get me wrong the ANP are no saints as several members were recently arrested for an attack on a rival political party.
This is where it gets really interesting the ANP is a Pashtun (Pakhtun) political party that is also Muslim. Also remember the TTP swears it does not attack civilians and has actually blamed Blackwater for these attacks in the past. This is a blatent attack on civilians, fellow Pashtuns, and co-religionists. The only reason I can think of for these attacks is that the TTP feels threatened by a Pashtun group that actually wants to join in the state of Pakistan instead of being administered as part of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The TTP has learned well Clauswitz's axiom of "war is a continuation of Politics by another means." By keeping opponents off balance, weak, and more worried about their personal security than getting out and promoting their message the TTP can keep the status quo in the NWFP and FATA. The status quo being virtually no governance in these areas which plays into the TTP and other Taliban and al-Qaeda related groups hands. No governance makes it easier to attack into Afghanistan, Pakistan and also train terrorists for regional and possible global attacks. Also the promotion of peace and tolerance is not one that these cowards want to hear. Bringing the NWFP and the Tribal areas under more central government control will eat into the Talib's opium profits and they really do not want to lose their source of income derived from that.
So far from being the lions of Islam the TTP are showing their true colors as they kill more and more Pakistani civilians. The problem is that the offensives carried out by the Pakistani military chased the TTP into the parts of the NWFP and the FATA that are controlled by the "good" Taliban and the military is very reluctant to take actions against these groups or the land they control.
This is where it gets really interesting the ANP is a Pashtun (Pakhtun) political party that is also Muslim. Also remember the TTP swears it does not attack civilians and has actually blamed Blackwater for these attacks in the past. This is a blatent attack on civilians, fellow Pashtuns, and co-religionists. The only reason I can think of for these attacks is that the TTP feels threatened by a Pashtun group that actually wants to join in the state of Pakistan instead of being administered as part of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The TTP has learned well Clauswitz's axiom of "war is a continuation of Politics by another means." By keeping opponents off balance, weak, and more worried about their personal security than getting out and promoting their message the TTP can keep the status quo in the NWFP and FATA. The status quo being virtually no governance in these areas which plays into the TTP and other Taliban and al-Qaeda related groups hands. No governance makes it easier to attack into Afghanistan, Pakistan and also train terrorists for regional and possible global attacks. Also the promotion of peace and tolerance is not one that these cowards want to hear. Bringing the NWFP and the Tribal areas under more central government control will eat into the Talib's opium profits and they really do not want to lose their source of income derived from that.
So far from being the lions of Islam the TTP are showing their true colors as they kill more and more Pakistani civilians. The problem is that the offensives carried out by the Pakistani military chased the TTP into the parts of the NWFP and the FATA that are controlled by the "good" Taliban and the military is very reluctant to take actions against these groups or the land they control.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Something the sits wrong with me
I losing the resolve to not speak out very vocally about the state sponsorship of terrorism as it involves two supposed allies of the United States in combating religiously inspired terrorism. I know that I do not have a degree in international relations and that bilateral communication between nations is always a good thing. In saying this however two of our closest allies are also state sponsors of terrorism in not in deed then word and monetarily. The Koran commands that if someone cannot bears arms in the jihad then one must support it with their money and for caring for the families of the soldiers.
While one country may support the jihad for nationalistic reasons that does not stop the groups they are supporting from biting the hand that feeds it and by also striking out against U.S. targets as well as our allies. The other country is all about spreading the salafist ideology through their wallet. Look at who sponsors most of the mosque building, sponsors Muslim schools, and contributes to the Middle Eastern Studies colleges at a great many Universities in the U.S.
While one country may support the jihad for nationalistic reasons that does not stop the groups they are supporting from biting the hand that feeds it and by also striking out against U.S. targets as well as our allies. The other country is all about spreading the salafist ideology through their wallet. Look at who sponsors most of the mosque building, sponsors Muslim schools, and contributes to the Middle Eastern Studies colleges at a great many Universities in the U.S.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Terrorist vs Insurgent/militant
The media has a problem with telling us the difference between an insurgent and a terrorist hence the adage one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. So we can get this straight a terrorism and insurgency can occur at the same time and be conducted by the same group. Terrorism is loosely defined as attacks against civilians used to intimidate or coerce (civilians is the key). Insurgency is attacks against a government and it military forces in over to force a government to change policies or even over throw it.
So for example when the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Communists in the Philippines attack and military patrol that is insurgency. When these groups send someone to blow up a bus full of civilians that is terrorism. What the media fails to recognize is it is the target that matters not the group and the same group(s) can be conducting both type of activities at the same time.
Very interesting article out of Pakistan the money quote being "Jihad is a means, not an end. It does not permit self-destruction and it does not legitimise killing civilians." Read the rest I hope this guy lives somewhere secure and people do not know what he looks like because he is going to make a lot of people very angry.
So for example when the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Communists in the Philippines attack and military patrol that is insurgency. When these groups send someone to blow up a bus full of civilians that is terrorism. What the media fails to recognize is it is the target that matters not the group and the same group(s) can be conducting both type of activities at the same time.
Very interesting article out of Pakistan the money quote being "Jihad is a means, not an end. It does not permit self-destruction and it does not legitimise killing civilians." Read the rest I hope this guy lives somewhere secure and people do not know what he looks like because he is going to make a lot of people very angry.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
In case anyone was wonder
I am working on a series of posts about terrorist groups you might have heard of but do not get the full story on or may have never heard about and need to.
LeT
This is a teaser post for a larger one I am working on about this group.
Wajahidu Fee Sabilallah: Wage a holy war in the name of God Almighty. This is Hafiz Saeed favorite verse from the Koran (Mir, 2008).
Overview:
Laskar –e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Party of the Pure (LeT) is a Sunni Muslim group that is waging jihad in central Asia. This group is fighting against India for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and also to return to Muslim rule all parts of India that once fell under Islamic rule (SATP Staff, 2010). LeT, members have been encountered globally Iraq, Chechnya, Afghanistan, U.S., and other parts of central Asia. The LeT was added to the list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) on December, 26 2001 and has also been banned in Great Britain, is on the U.N. Terrorist lists, and has been banned in Pakistan. LeT is an ally of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and is part of the global jihadist network. The LeT has proved itself as a ruthless and prolific attacker of not only Indian by international targets. During the 2008 Mumbai, Indian attacks the terrorists killed 28 non Indian civilians.
Headquarters and Leadership:
The leadership of the LeT and their main headquarters are well known both to the public and intelligence services world wide. The LeT and its parent organization Jumat-ud-Dawa are led by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. The JUD was founded in 1990 and acts as a humanitarian organization offering social services and religious instruction in Wahabi (Saudi Arabian) Sunni Islam (SATP Staff, 2010). This is the same type of umbrella organization that groups like Hezbollah and Hamas use to ensure a base of recruits and support for their militant arms. The groups current headquarter is near Lahore, Pakistan.
The current leaders of the LeT and JUD is the, afore mentioned Hafiz Mohammad Saeed who acts as the Emir for both groups. Saeed is an Islamic scholar who preaches that war against the unbelievers is the ultimate duty of all Muslims. Zakir-ur- Rehman Lakhvi who serves as the groups chief or military operations, Haji Muhammed Ashraf LeT’s chief of finance, and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq who is a LeT financer and is credited with being the main financier behind the establishment of the LeT and its activities in the 1980s and 90. Bahaziq is a Saudi national and conducts his activities from there. All of these men have been designated on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s designated terrorist list and have had any assets in the U.S. or it jurisdiction frozen (Treasury Targets LET Leadership, 2008).
Support:
Pakistan’s Inter-Services-Intelligence agency (ISI) is a known supporter of the LeT during its creation and even after the banning of the group by Pakistan. The jihad waged and supported by the ISI serves a strategic purpose in tying down Indian military and security assets that could be facing Pakistan across the line of control that separates the two countries. The ISI also helped create and is still supporting the Taliban now fighting U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Pakistani control or influence in Afghanistan gives Pakistan the strategic depth it thinks it needs against India (Coll, 2004). After the 2008 Mumbai, India attack Pakistan arrested LeT’s leader Hafiz Saeed but he was released in June of 2009. This shows further that Pakistan has no intention of trying to stop LeT or JUD activities. Funding for the group comes from a variety of sources donations from Pakistani, and Muslim Kashmiries, the Persian Gulf, and it is reported from the ISI as well (SATP Staff, 2010).
Attacks:
This is just a partial list of the attacks carried that the LeT has claimed or has been accused of.
August, 2000 Rajwas, India armed militants (terrorists) killed 30 persons at a community kitchen.
January, 2001 Srinagar Airport, India terrorist killed five civilians another attack killed eight security officers
December, 2001 New Delhi the attacks kill 12, India blames Let and Jaish-e-Mohammed
May, 2002 and Indian army bases is bombed killed 36.
August, 2003 Mumbai, India two bombings killing 40 (Global Security Staff, 2008)
August, 2008 the LeT is suspected in the suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul Afghanistan. The Afghan, Indian, and U.S. Governments also blame the Pakistani government in having a hand in the attack based on intercepted communication between the ISI and the attackers (Mazzetti & Schmitt, 2008). The attack killed 54 people.
November, 2008 Mumbai, India the Indian Government blames the LeT for the well coordinated attacks against a train station, hotels, security officers, and a Jewish center that resulted in over 160 deaths. Pictures of the attackers show welled armed terrorists carrying out coordinated attacks throughout the city. It has been learned that the terrorists were giving nearly real time intelligence from their handlers in Pakistan via cell phone. Hamid Gul the former head of the ISI is suspected as being one of the handlers of the Mumbai attackers (Roggio, 2009). While not a direct link the former head of Pakistan’s main intelligence agency participating in terrorist attacks would at least indicate tacit support from the Pakistani State.
While this review of the LeT is not about Pakistan’s role in terrorism it should be noted that when groups like the LeT or the Taliban are mentioned the ISI is not far behind. Also Pakistan’s refusal to take substantial action against the LeT or JuD following the evidence obtained after and during the 2008 Mumbai attacks would indicate further State of support or at least acceptance of such attacks made against Pakistan’s main enemy, India.
New Articles:
http://www.middleeasttransparent.com/spip.php?article4957&lang=en&id_forum=11759
In this interview with the Emir of the LeT Hafiz Saeed makes his world view and what he thinks the obligations of all Muslims is to fight jihad (jehad) in the name of Allah. However throughout the interview Saeed denies any allegation to ties of terrorism and tries to refute any Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks. Meanwhile he and his organization preach the jihad in the name of Allah is a Muslim’s sacred duty.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8664179.stm
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab the only Mumbai attacker that was captured is sentenced to death in an Indian court. This article also points out that only after a great deal of evidence was accumulated did Pakistan acknowledge that Qasab was a Pakistani citizen that the attacks were in part planned in Pakistan.
http://www.hindu.com/nic/dossier.htm
This is the dossier of evidence showing LeT’s involvement in the Mumbai attacks.
Bibliography
Coll, S. (2004). Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 . New York: Penguin Books.
Global Security Staff. (2008). Lashkar-e-Tayyiba / Lashkar-e-Toiba / Lashkar-i-taiba (LeT). Retrieved May 19, 2010, from Global Security.org: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/lt.htm
Mazzetti, M., & Schmitt, E. (2008, August 1st). Pakistanis Aided Attack in Kabul, U.S. Officials Say . Retrieved May 19, 2010, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/asia/01pstan.html?_r=1
Mir, A. (2008, December 6). Interview with Prof Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from Middle East Transparen: http://www.middleeasttransparent.com/spip.php?article4957&lang=en&id_forum=11759
Roggio, B. (2009, January 7). Mumbai Attackers Cheer After Ordering Murders Over the Phon. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from The Long War Journal: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/01/mumbai_handlers_in_p.php
SATP Staff. (2010, May). Laskar-e-Toiba: Army of the Pure. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from South Asian Terrorism Portal: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm
Treasury Targets LET Leadership. (2008, May 27). Retrieved May 19, 2010, from US Department of Treasury: http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp996.htm
Wajahidu Fee Sabilallah: Wage a holy war in the name of God Almighty. This is Hafiz Saeed favorite verse from the Koran (Mir, 2008).
Overview:
Laskar –e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Party of the Pure (LeT) is a Sunni Muslim group that is waging jihad in central Asia. This group is fighting against India for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and also to return to Muslim rule all parts of India that once fell under Islamic rule (SATP Staff, 2010). LeT, members have been encountered globally Iraq, Chechnya, Afghanistan, U.S., and other parts of central Asia. The LeT was added to the list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) on December, 26 2001 and has also been banned in Great Britain, is on the U.N. Terrorist lists, and has been banned in Pakistan. LeT is an ally of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and is part of the global jihadist network. The LeT has proved itself as a ruthless and prolific attacker of not only Indian by international targets. During the 2008 Mumbai, Indian attacks the terrorists killed 28 non Indian civilians.
Headquarters and Leadership:
The leadership of the LeT and their main headquarters are well known both to the public and intelligence services world wide. The LeT and its parent organization Jumat-ud-Dawa are led by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. The JUD was founded in 1990 and acts as a humanitarian organization offering social services and religious instruction in Wahabi (Saudi Arabian) Sunni Islam (SATP Staff, 2010). This is the same type of umbrella organization that groups like Hezbollah and Hamas use to ensure a base of recruits and support for their militant arms. The groups current headquarter is near Lahore, Pakistan.
The current leaders of the LeT and JUD is the, afore mentioned Hafiz Mohammad Saeed who acts as the Emir for both groups. Saeed is an Islamic scholar who preaches that war against the unbelievers is the ultimate duty of all Muslims. Zakir-ur- Rehman Lakhvi who serves as the groups chief or military operations, Haji Muhammed Ashraf LeT’s chief of finance, and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq who is a LeT financer and is credited with being the main financier behind the establishment of the LeT and its activities in the 1980s and 90. Bahaziq is a Saudi national and conducts his activities from there. All of these men have been designated on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s designated terrorist list and have had any assets in the U.S. or it jurisdiction frozen (Treasury Targets LET Leadership, 2008).
Support:
Pakistan’s Inter-Services-Intelligence agency (ISI) is a known supporter of the LeT during its creation and even after the banning of the group by Pakistan. The jihad waged and supported by the ISI serves a strategic purpose in tying down Indian military and security assets that could be facing Pakistan across the line of control that separates the two countries. The ISI also helped create and is still supporting the Taliban now fighting U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Pakistani control or influence in Afghanistan gives Pakistan the strategic depth it thinks it needs against India (Coll, 2004). After the 2008 Mumbai, India attack Pakistan arrested LeT’s leader Hafiz Saeed but he was released in June of 2009. This shows further that Pakistan has no intention of trying to stop LeT or JUD activities. Funding for the group comes from a variety of sources donations from Pakistani, and Muslim Kashmiries, the Persian Gulf, and it is reported from the ISI as well (SATP Staff, 2010).
Attacks:
This is just a partial list of the attacks carried that the LeT has claimed or has been accused of.
August, 2000 Rajwas, India armed militants (terrorists) killed 30 persons at a community kitchen.
January, 2001 Srinagar Airport, India terrorist killed five civilians another attack killed eight security officers
December, 2001 New Delhi the attacks kill 12, India blames Let and Jaish-e-Mohammed
May, 2002 and Indian army bases is bombed killed 36.
August, 2003 Mumbai, India two bombings killing 40 (Global Security Staff, 2008)
August, 2008 the LeT is suspected in the suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul Afghanistan. The Afghan, Indian, and U.S. Governments also blame the Pakistani government in having a hand in the attack based on intercepted communication between the ISI and the attackers (Mazzetti & Schmitt, 2008). The attack killed 54 people.
November, 2008 Mumbai, India the Indian Government blames the LeT for the well coordinated attacks against a train station, hotels, security officers, and a Jewish center that resulted in over 160 deaths. Pictures of the attackers show welled armed terrorists carrying out coordinated attacks throughout the city. It has been learned that the terrorists were giving nearly real time intelligence from their handlers in Pakistan via cell phone. Hamid Gul the former head of the ISI is suspected as being one of the handlers of the Mumbai attackers (Roggio, 2009). While not a direct link the former head of Pakistan’s main intelligence agency participating in terrorist attacks would at least indicate tacit support from the Pakistani State.
While this review of the LeT is not about Pakistan’s role in terrorism it should be noted that when groups like the LeT or the Taliban are mentioned the ISI is not far behind. Also Pakistan’s refusal to take substantial action against the LeT or JuD following the evidence obtained after and during the 2008 Mumbai attacks would indicate further State of support or at least acceptance of such attacks made against Pakistan’s main enemy, India.
New Articles:
http://www.middleeasttransparent.com/spip.php?article4957&lang=en&id_forum=11759
In this interview with the Emir of the LeT Hafiz Saeed makes his world view and what he thinks the obligations of all Muslims is to fight jihad (jehad) in the name of Allah. However throughout the interview Saeed denies any allegation to ties of terrorism and tries to refute any Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks. Meanwhile he and his organization preach the jihad in the name of Allah is a Muslim’s sacred duty.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8664179.stm
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab the only Mumbai attacker that was captured is sentenced to death in an Indian court. This article also points out that only after a great deal of evidence was accumulated did Pakistan acknowledge that Qasab was a Pakistani citizen that the attacks were in part planned in Pakistan.
http://www.hindu.com/nic/dossier.htm
This is the dossier of evidence showing LeT’s involvement in the Mumbai attacks.
Bibliography
Coll, S. (2004). Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 . New York: Penguin Books.
Global Security Staff. (2008). Lashkar-e-Tayyiba / Lashkar-e-Toiba / Lashkar-i-taiba (LeT). Retrieved May 19, 2010, from Global Security.org: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/lt.htm
Mazzetti, M., & Schmitt, E. (2008, August 1st). Pakistanis Aided Attack in Kabul, U.S. Officials Say . Retrieved May 19, 2010, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/asia/01pstan.html?_r=1
Mir, A. (2008, December 6). Interview with Prof Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from Middle East Transparen: http://www.middleeasttransparent.com/spip.php?article4957&lang=en&id_forum=11759
Roggio, B. (2009, January 7). Mumbai Attackers Cheer After Ordering Murders Over the Phon. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from The Long War Journal: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/01/mumbai_handlers_in_p.php
SATP Staff. (2010, May). Laskar-e-Toiba: Army of the Pure. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from South Asian Terrorism Portal: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/terrorist_outfits/lashkar_e_toiba.htm
Treasury Targets LET Leadership. (2008, May 27). Retrieved May 19, 2010, from US Department of Treasury: http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp996.htm
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Lone Wolves, single attackers, and sponsored attackers
During the course of the last four months got two very different opinions on these matters. It is my view that our government including the FBI has been reluctant to classify lone wolf attackers such as the Ft. Hood shooter and the Arkansas recruitment center attacker as terrorists. Also our counter-terror experts are saying that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism....Well I had a professor who works for the FBI say that he thinks his department does a good job of identifying terrorism as such even though it might come later than people would like. Secondly another professor agrees that current Islamic terrorism is all about the jihad. This professor is just as frustrated as I am about our government since the 19802 has not recognized the driving force is in fact jihad.
That being said how do we stop the recruitment of young Muslim men and women to the jihad. It is not a military mission even though eventually they will have to be fought. Since we can agree it is a religious issue the next question would be why will Islam not renounce terrorism in its name? Could it be as Daniel Pipes and Robert Spencer and many other continue to say and that is that Islam is fueled and expanded by jihad.
Fuel for thought.
That being said how do we stop the recruitment of young Muslim men and women to the jihad. It is not a military mission even though eventually they will have to be fought. Since we can agree it is a religious issue the next question would be why will Islam not renounce terrorism in its name? Could it be as Daniel Pipes and Robert Spencer and many other continue to say and that is that Islam is fueled and expanded by jihad.
Fuel for thought.
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