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 War
and Terror
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August 2008
BOOK REVIEW
Rebranding 9/11
The Second Plane by Martin Amis
This incendiary collection of short stories and articles smolders like the
rubble of the Twin Towers. Taking on fundamentalism, Islamism in particular, as
well as the West, in absorbing, dialectic prose Amis scores a direct hit
against victim and victor alike. - Julian Delasantellis
(Aug 29, '08)
Maliki
picks a date with destiny
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has put himself on the line by insisting
that all American troops leave the country by the end of 2010, as a
precondition to signing a security accord with the US. Maliki's stance, clearly
influenced by Iran, is unacceptable to Washington. Something has to give. - Sami
Moubayed (Aug 28, '08)
Sectarian clashes flare in Iraq
A United States-backed security operation meant to target al-Qaeda has instead
focused only on Iraqi cities with large Sunni populations. Sunni residents
claim the operations are clearly sectarian and also blame Shi'ite militias
backed by the government in Baghdad. - Ahmed Ali and Dahr Jamail
(Aug 27, '08)
 VIDEO
The Taliban in action
Video made by the Taliban shows military operations from August 2007 to early
2008 in the Pakistani tribal areas, including detailed footage of how easily
the Pakistani armed forces lay down their arms. (Aug
27, '08)
 See related
article Setback for
Pakistan's terror drive (Aug 26, '08)
Setback
for Pakistan's terror drive
The defection to the opposition of the second-largest party in the ruling
coalition in Pakistan will not immediately bring down the government. It will,
however, significantly strengthen the forces opposed to Islamabad's
participation in the "war on terror", and make the military less willing than
ever to crack down on Taliban and al-Qaeda militants. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 26, '08)
A really rough stretch for Pax
Americana
In a "breathtaking" two weeks of foreign policy failures, Washington has seen
bloody attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the possibility of renewed civil
war in Iraq and the embarrassment of Russia's invasion of Georgia. In sum, the
Pax Americana era, in which the US maintained a monopoly on the use of military
force, came to an end. - Jim Lobe (Aug 25, '08)
Exposing the CIA's 'most secret
place'
Long Chen, the air base for the vast bombing and ground operations conducted by
the CIA in Laos during the Vietnam War, is the subject of The Most Secret Place
on Earth, a new film that also explores the plight of ethnic Hmong
tribes, who were backed by the CIA until US withdrawal from Indochina in 1975.
(Aug 25, '08)
Syria
reaps a Russian reward
After the Russian tanks rolled into Georgia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
was the first world leader to visit the Kremlin. Moscow sees a good ally in
Assad, a man who realizes that the Russians are back and intends to use this to
advance Syria's interests. Foremost is the peace process with Israel, which,
given the events in the Caucasus, the United States might now feel compelled to
support. - Sami Moubayed (Aug 22, '08)
Militants
ready for Pakistan war
Pakistan has declared all-out war on militants. This will delight the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization and Washington, which for many years have
complained of the country's spotty record. Militants previously allowed to
operate under the radar will now have to fight back. Thursday's suicide attack
on an ordnance factory in which scores of people died is a portent of things to
come. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 22, '08)
Musharraf
not the problem, or solution
Washington has shown with India it doesn't need a military dictator to
influence a South Asian country's policies or power. It can do the same with
the civilian government in Pakistan now that former president Pervez Musharraf
is out of the picture. With Afghanistan and the Taliban-led insurgency, it
is the US's policies that dictate events, with or without Musharraf. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Aug 21, '08)
Afghan numbers don't add up
From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to think-tanks, the consensus is
that more troops must be sent to Afghanistan to counter the spiraling
insurgency. The emergence of warlords on the side of the Taliban, though, has
added a new dimension to the struggle, and one which cannot easily be countered
by placing more boots on the battlefield. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 21, '08)
The mystery of Aafia Siddiqi
The resurfacing in a United States jail of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia
Siddiqi, who inexplicably vanished along with her three children in Karachi in
2003, has only deepened the mystery of her absence. The US believes she's a
terrorist caught red-handed in Afghanistan. Her family see her as a "fun-loving
people's person" caught in a bizarre nightmare. (Aug
21, '08)
Goodbye Musharraf, hello Taliban
As if to reinforce an influential think-tank's latest warning
that efforts to contain the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan are failing,
10 French soldiers have been killed and a US base brazenly attacked. The roots
of the problem can be traced to Pakistan, where, during the watch of pro-West
Pervez Musharraf, militants gained a solid foothold. With the former president
gone, and the government in Islamabad virtually paralyzed, the militants can
only get stronger. - Syed Saleem Shahzad
(Aug 20, '08)
Bush buried Musharraf's al-Qaeda
links
Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf's cozy
relationship with the US earned him lavish political and economic benefits. But
behind the public support, the George W Bush administration covered up the
Musharraf regime's involvement in the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear export scandal
and its deals with al-Qaeda.- Gareth Porter
(Aug 20, '08)
US faces up to life without
Musharraf
 Cornered
by politicians baying for his blood and out of favor with the George W Bush
administration, Pervez Musharraf had little option but to serve the "supreme
national interest" and vacate the presidential palace. Washington believes it
already has the Pakistani military and political leaders in Islamabad on side.
Now it needs to ensure that the third asset needed in this crucial "war on
terror" arena - the presidency - is filled by "their" man. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Aug 19, '08)
Confident Iran sings its own tune
Irish crooner Chris de Burgh, of Lady in Red fame, was reportedly denied
a permit to perform in Iran, saying much about how strong Tehran feels in its
dealings with the West, whether on grand issues like its nuclear program, or
smaller ones, such as a pop concert. It is also feeling good about its policies
in Iraq. - Sami Moubayed (Aug 19, '08)
In Afghanistan, blurred lines cost
lives
Killings of aid workers have moved Afghanistan's civilian and military groups,
both national and international, to sign an unprecedented agreement on their
roles and functions. The pact could be a huge step for civil-military relations
in conflict situations or, like hundreds of other documents produced by the
international community, it could gather dust in academic archives. - Aunohita
Mojumdar (Aug 19, '08)
US setback over rendition 'poster
child'
A federal appeals court in New York last week decided to
rehear a lawsuit filed by Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian who was detained
in 2002 and flown to Jordan and Syria, where he was held for 10 months and
allegedly tortured. As it has done in the past, Washington may invoke the
"state secrets privilege" to avoid political embarrassment.
(Aug 19, '08)
US worries as Maliki gets
'difficult'
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is no longer as dependent on Washington as
he was a year or two ago. That major shift in power - now reluctantly
acknowledged by the George W Bush administration - has given Maliki a new
political identity as a nationalist foe of the occupation. The new tough-guy
stance makes him "difficult to negotiate with". - Gareth Porter
(Aug 18, '08)
Iran
gambles over Georgia's crisis
Iran, itself under threat of military action by the United States and or
Israel, has remained conspicuously silent over Russia's offensive in Georgia.
Tehran shares Moscow's fears over the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization and the US's plans for anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe. But
the Iranians may have blundered by not criticizing Moscow, and the "Iran Six"
diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program is now in jeopardy. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi
(Aug 15, '08)
How Tenet 'betrayed' the CIA on
Iraq
Saddam Hussein's intelligence czar was a secret agent for Britain's MI6 and he
told Western powers that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. This
information was discarded by then-Central Intelligence Agency director George
Tenet because it conflicted with Washington's case for war, a new book claims.
- Gareth Porter (Aug 14, '08)
US blamed for Iran's clout in Iraq
Despite instances of positive assistance from Iran, many Iraqis blame Tehran
for meddling in Iraq's politics and corrupting local governments. Others,
specifically in Sunni-dominated Diyala province, feel the Iranian influence
would have been impossible without United States policies. - Ahmed Ali and
Dahr Jamail (Aug 14, '08)
Taliban
win a fight - and settle a score
When the Pakistani military launched operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda
militants in Bajaur Agency, their opponents were more than ready, having been
briefed by well-placed informants. Under the unified command of radical leader
Baitullah Mehsud, the militants repulsed the offensive and are planning
retaliatory attacks in other parts of the country. And on Wednesday, Baitullah
settled a score with one of Islamabad's last remaining "precious assets". -
Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 13, '08)
Israel has peace in its hands
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat used to wave his right hand in the air in
front of US officials, saying it was the only one that could sign peace with
Israel. Now there is another man with signing powers - Marwan Barghouti, the
charismatic former Fatah leader. All that needs to happen is for Israel to free
him from jail. - Sami Moubayed (Aug 13, '08)
Israel and Iran: A bridge too far?
The misplaced fear of an Iran-origin nuclear holocaust awaiting Israel, unless
pre-emptive action is unleashed to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, has now
reached such a disproportionate height as to trigger another major crisis in
the Middle East. Yet it would not take much to ease anxieties on both sides. - Kaveh
L Afrasiabi (Aug 13, '08)
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 SPENGLER
Putin for US president
- more than ever
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's swift and decisive action in Georgia reflects
precisely the sort of decisiveness that America requires. However, the United
States, apart from a bad case of cream pie in the face, has lost nothing in
this flare-up - Georgia never should have been an ally anyway.
(Aug 12, '08)
The end of the post-Cold War era
The United States is carefully cultivating an opinion in Western capitals that
Russia is "bullying" Georgia. This will strengthen Washington's case for
inducting Georgia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which will in
turn facilitate the deployment of the US missile defense system onto Russia's
border. If Moscow remains passive, the Caucasus could become its "bleeding
wound". - M K Bhadrakumar (Aug 12, '08)
Russia marks its red lines
The Georgian attack on South Ossetia and the Russian response is the first
battle in a new proxy war between United States and Israeli
interests against Russia. But Georgia and ally Washington appear to have
miscalculated very badly. Russia has made it clear it has no intention of
ceding its support for South Ossetia or allowing a missile defense system into
a neighboring country. - F William Engdahl (Aug
12, '08)
Oil in troubled mountains
The Caucasus conflict underlines the exposed position of oil pipelines from the
Caspian Sea that avoid Russia by threading their way through Georgia. Moscow's
military moves, supposedly over South Ossetia, indicate its intention to
maintain control of these energy links to the West. - Robert M Cutler
(Aug 12, '08)
Russia bids to rid Georgia of its
folly
 The
Georgian push into the breakaway region of South Ossetia was not intended to
hold it, but to destroy it, ending secession by liquidating its people. The
Russian response has put a halt to that, and then some. If a ceasefire follows
soon, Georgians and Russians might be able to agree that the unpopular
President Mikheil Saakashvili bears responsibility for the war. This will place
the United States and France at severe odds. - John Helmer
(Aug 11, '08)
Saakashvili overplays his hand
The strategy of Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili is clear. His only
chance of success in his bid to regain control of the Moscow-backed breakaway
region of South Ossetia is to globalize the conflict and turn it into a central
front of a new struggle between Moscow and the West. However, he appears to
have badly miscalculated the West's willingness - and ability - to intervene.
(Aug 11, '08)
US too much in the dark for Iran
strike
An attack on Iran's nuclear facilities cannot be justified, given the limited
US knowledge of these, while a strike would probably merely delay Tehran's
ability to make a nuclear weapon, according to a US think-tank. It argues that
comparisons with previous similar pre-emptive strikes are misleading. - Jim Lobe
(Aug 11, '08)
New al-Qaeda focus on NATO supplies
Almost 90% of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's shipments for
Afghanistan land at the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Rather than
wait for the supplies to reach the border areas, al-Qaeda and Taliban militants
now plan to target them in Karachi. Their cause is aided by political turmoil
in Islamabad. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Aug 11, '08)
Battle
lines move from Kashmir to Kabul
On the surface, India appears to have scored a major diplomatic victory in
Afghanistan. This has come with the blessing of the US, which has embarked on
an unprecedented pro-India tilt in its regional policy. Washington's other
major ally in the region, Pakistan, is naturally not impressed and sees Kabul
replacing Kashmir as the main area of antagonism with New Delhi. How Washington
benefits from this is unclear, but India would do well to remember the history
of its involvement in Afghanistan - and prepare for a Pakistani backlash. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Aug 8, '08)
Inside Iran's garden of diplomacy
The United States has dismissed Iran's response to an incentive package offered
by world powers to Tehran over its nuclear program as "not a serious answer".
The point is, the reply was intended not as an answer but rather as a
notification of Iran's willingness to continue negotiations in earnest. Russia
appears to understand this. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug
8, '08)
BOOK REVIEW
Chronicle of errors
Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid
Hopes that the US's direct involvement in Afghanistan would lead to a
terrorism-free region have gone. Rashid, an insightful and revealing
chronicler, rightly identifies the need for a reshaped Pakistan if peace in the
region is to be found. - Sreeram Chaulia (Aug
8, '08)
US hopes pinned on Musharraf
President Pervez Musharraf's fate hangs in the balance. The general who ruled
Pakistan for eight years faces impeachment by the civilian government elected
in February. If Musharraf falls, grand United States plans to tackle militancy
in the country's tribal areas will also come tumbling down. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Aug 7, '08)
Syria
exploits US loopholes
Rather than isolate Syria, the United States' tough line on Damascus
has made it an indispensable problem-solver in key regional issues.
Washington's flawed perception of Syria as a "weak country" has led to it
helping stabilize Iraq and Lebanon while also acting as a mediator with Iran.
And for Syria, a peace deal with Israel is now a real possibility. - Sami
Moubayed (Aug 6, '08)
Pakistan's problems spill into India
Pakistan's recent incursion into Indian territory - the first since 1999 - has
placed the five-year-old ceasefire between the countries in jeopardy. All the
same, Delhi is aware that Pakistan's compulsions possibly have more to do with
its problems with Taliban militants and al-Qaeda in its tribal areas than with
antagonism towards India. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Aug 6, '08)
Baghdad warms to Sunni awakening
Lured by a promise of 3,000 jobs in the national police, the mostly Sunni Sahwa
militia is playing a pivotal role in a joint operation with Iraqi government
forces in Diyala province. The deployment underscores the military and
political gains of the Sahwa, and even former foe Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
has come around. - Ahmed Ali and Dahr Jamail
(Aug 6, '08)
US distractions let in 'foes'
The George W Bush administration's continuing pre-occupation with Iraq, as well
as its growing concern about Afghanistan and Pakistan, has effectively put an
end to its larger transformational ambitions in the Arab world. The vacuum is
being filled in part by US adversaries, a new report by an influential
Washington think-tank concludes. - Jim Lobe (Aug
5, '08)
SPENGLER
Israeli pre-emption
better than Islamist cure
The critical mass of three Islamist states - Iran, Turkey and Pakistan -
threatens to create an upheaval that can be contained only by wars of
attrition. The outlook is grim, not least because the US State Department is
repeating in Turkey the errors that helped bring Islamist governments to power
in Iran and Pakistan. Israel is the only player with the perspicacity and power
to stop the slide to regional war. (Aug 4, '08)
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ATol Specials
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Syed Saleem Shahzad reports on
the Afghan war from the Taliban side
(Dec '06)
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How
Hezbollah defeated Israel
By
Mark Perry and
Alastair Crooke
(Oct '06)
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Mark Perry and
Alastair Crooke
talk to the 'terrorists'
(Mar, '06)
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The evidence for and against Iran's alleged
nuclear weapons program
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Nir Rosen goes inside the Iraqi
resistance
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Nir Rosen rides with the 3rd
armored cavalry in western Iraq
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Islamism, fascism and
terrorism
by Marc Erikson
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For earlier articles go to:
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