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 War
and Terror
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July 2009
Iran, US do a 'war on terror'
somersault
The transfer of security in Iraq from the United States military to local
forces has made for some ironic entanglements, many of which benefit Iran. This
week's Iraqi raid on Camp Ashraf, a base for the militant Iranian dissident
outfit Mujahideen-e-Khalq - until recently "guarded" by the US - has turned
friends into enemies. - Sreeram Chaulia (Jul
31, '09)
Police and thieves pillage Helmand
The major United States and British military offensive in Afghanistan's Helmand
province is aimed at wresting the US$3 billion drug epicenter from the Taliban
by bringing back Afghan army and police. But as Western troops depart, police
linked to a local warlord are committing systematic abuses against the
population, including the abduction and rape of pre-teen boys. - Gareth Porter
(Jul 30, '09)
Musharraf misses his day in court
Former Pakistani president, retired General Pervez 
Musharraf, failed to show up in court in Islamabad on Wednesday to explain why
he fired the judiciary and imposed emergency rule in November 2007. Musharraf,
now living in England, may yet decide to account for his actions, but the case
already has senior military figures shaking in their boots. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Jul 29, '09)
Israel wrestles with Iran problem
As Iran continues with its nuclear-enrichment program, Israel seethes in
frustration. Unlike the days when the United States, with its Israeli
cheerleaders, was easily led to unleash a war against Iraq, today Washington is
far too busy to do much about Tehran. Word has it Israel has even agreed to
"concessions" in exchange for Western approval of a strike on Iran's nuclear
facilities. - Ramzy Baroud (Jul 29, '09)
Pakistan turns on its jihadi
'assets'
The high-profile jailing of a former member of parliament in connection with
the beheading of a Polish engineer is a significant first step in Pakistan's
crackdown on the jihadi assets its intelligence services raised in the 1990s
for asymmetric warfare against India. There will be a backlash from militants,
but Islamabad has made it clear it has taken Washington's desires to heart. - Syed
Saleem Shahzad (Jul 28, '09)
A lesson in imperial paranoia
The British a century ago - and the United States today - came to believe that
rebellious Pashtun tribes in the borderlands of what is now Pakistan could
imperil the empire. Indeed, there are comparisons between Washington's
attitudes toward the Pakistani Pashtuns (all those fantasies of Taliban armed
with nuclear weapons) and similar British fantasies from the early 20th
century. - Juan Cole (Jul 28, '09)
Terrorist Kasab and the journey of
death
Following his shock confession, Mumbai terrorist Ajmal Amir "Kasab" has
requested to be hanged quickly. He says he is haunted by the face of every man,
woman and child he killed. In Buddhist thought, this repentance may have come
too late - its laws of cause and effect ensure terrorists are not rewarded with
virgins in heaven, but destined for the miserable realms of the asuras (demons).
- Raja Murthy (Jul 28, '09)
Xinjiang riots confound Islamists
That China has so far escaped major jihadist attacks in spite of its harshness
towards its ethnic-minority Uyghur Muslims is not due to superior
counter-terrorism strategies, but rather to confusion among some Islamists and
cooperation from others. China's image as a staunch rival of the West confuses
hardline Muslims, while Beijing's rising clout may have kept Iran's
fire-spewing ayatollahs silent. - Sreeram Chaulia
(Jul 27, '09)
What made Jakarta suicide
bombers tick
It is clear from an extensive planning blueprint for the October 2005 Bali
bombing, downloaded off Malaysian-born terrorist mastermind Azahari bin Husin's
laptop, that the plans and objectives of earlier attacks were repeated in this
month's suicide bombings in Jakarta. The document serves as another chilling
reminder that for these terrorists, killing is simply business. - John McBeth
(Jul 27, '09)
India's 'enemy destroyer' sets sail
New Delhi has launched its first indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine
for sea trials, bringing India a step closer to second-strike capability. This
makes India the sixth country in the world to develop its own nuclear
submarine, a feat that completes New Delhi's nuclear weapons triad. - Sudha
Ramachandran (Jul 27, '09)
Beleaguered Tigers name new chief
Two months after being crushed by the Sri Lankan  military,
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel group has a new leader. But
Selvarasa Pathmanathan's attempts to forge a moderate path are undermined by
his criminal past, the grim reality of the LTTE's current capabilities, and his
weak level of support among Tamil hardliners. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Jul 27, '09)
Escalation and appraisal in
Afghanistan
As the test phase of Washington's ambitious - and some say impossible -
counter-insurgency program gets underway in the Afghan province of Helmand, its
viability is in question. Troops must clear villages of Taliban, build local
military forces and deliver medical and construction services. Then do it all
over again in other parts of the country. Fortunately, confidence is an
essential part of military culture. - Brian Downing
(Jul 27, '09)
Hezbollah stalls Syrian-Saudi
detente
Born out of a common need to counter Iran's growing regional influence, Saudi
Arabian and Syrian ties have improved solidly this year. But hopes of a
three-way summit with Lebanon have stalled. Saudi heavyweights say Lebanon's
new leader must first overcome Hezbollah's aggressive political demands and
succeed in forming a new government. - Sami Moubayed
(Jul 23, '09)
Indonesian terror changes face
Indonesia's recently re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono garnered
praise for curbing Islamic extremism during his first term. But his
counter-terrorism successes have caused terrorist groups such as Jemaah
Islamiyah to transform into violence-prone splinter groups eager to assert
themselves. Last week's bombings of two luxury hotels in Jakarta is an ominous
sign. - Nelson Rand (Jul 23, '09)
Pakistan-US plan falls into
place
For Pakistan and its United States ally, the military establishments of the two
countries are marching in step, the foundations of the civilian government in
Islamabad are being strengthened and closer Pakistani ties with India are
planned. The overall objective is an all-out offensive against militants in
Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been making some smart moves
of their own. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul 22,
'09)
Last chance saloon in Helmand
More surprising than the Taliban's meek counter-punch in Helmand has been the
warm reception for United States troops fighting Operation Dagger Thrust there.
For Helmandis, battered by eight years of air strikes, oppression and betrayal,
this is the US's last chance to prove itself. Meanwhile, the Taliban say the
real fight is yet to come. - Aziz Ahmad Shafe, Mohammad Ilyas Dayee
and Aziz Ahmad Tassal (Jul 22, '09)
Iran's Guards keep on marching
Despite Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's last will stating that Iran's armed
forces should refrain from political activities, the Revolutionary Guards have
become a major political force within the theocracy. Accusations that Guards
played a big part in the re-election of Mahmud Ahmadinejad are the latest
evidence of a power shift that began in 2001. - Babak Rahimi
(Jul 22, '09)
DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA
Serial war as a way of life
From American humanitarian intervention and wars of choice to President Barack
Obama's present Af-Pak war - and finally to wars beyond the horizon - wars have
become an American way of life. Yet, one cannot continue as free people while
accepting the fruits of conquest and domination: the passive beneficiaries of
masters are also slaves. - David Bromwich (Jul
22, '09)
Jihadi confession rocks India,
Pakistan
The decision by a Pakistani militant to plead guilty to his part in the terror
attack on the Indian city of Mumbai last November - after insisting in court
for 65 days that he was innocent - has stunning implications. Not only has
Mohammad Ajmal Amir "Kasab" revealed gory details of the rampage by the 10
gunmen, he has provided an opportunity for Delhi and Islamabad to get back to
peace talks that were so violently interrupted by the incident. - Neeta Lal
(Jul 21, '09)
A failure of state and military in
Afghanistan
Three decades of fighting, treachery, reprisals and collaboration have spawned
much hatred and mistrust among Afghans, while the absence of a coherent
government makes Kabul incapable of creating and directing a viable military.
This means Afghanistan's counter-insurgency operations will continue to be led
by Western forces - the least desirable option. - Brian M Downing
(Jul 21, '09)
Pakistan wields a double-edged sword
Refugees are slowly trickling back to their homes in the Pakistani tribal areas
after several months of military operations against Taliban militants.
Islamabad touts this as proof that its heavy hand is doing the job. The reverse
is closer to the truth, as the bullets and bombs are turning previously
sympathetic tribal leaders into resolute opponents of the army. - Syed Saleem
Shahzad (Jul 17,'09)
Lies and illusions in Afghanistan
The heart of Kabul is now hidden behind grey sandbags protecting men out of
their depth, projecting also their fears. A new documentary film shows how hard
it is to recognize an enemy or help a friend in Afghanistan, where citizens
fear to tell the truth and Americans can't bear to look it in the face. - Ann
Jones (Jul 17,'09)
Indonesia wakes up to terror
Suicide bombings at two luxury hotels in Jakarta on Friday morning spoiled a
triumphant moment for Indonesia. After veering toward chaos a decade ago, the
archipelago had witnessed a four-year lull in terror attacks en route to
becoming the world's third-largest democracy. The new attacks underscore
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's shortcomings in the fight against
homegrown terrorism. - Gary LaMoshi (Jul
17,'09)
THE ROVING EYE
Kashmir: Ground zero of global
jihad
The jihad waged by Pakistani militants in divided Kashmir and the
Taliban-backed jihad in Afghanistan against foreign troops have always been two
sides of the same coin. The Taliban have established roots in Pakistan's Swat
Valley, which lies between the borders of Afghanistan and Kashmir. If they
become entrenched, Jihad International Inc will have a vital corridor linking
these areas. - Pepe Escobar (Jul 16,'09)
China stalls on the AfPak road
The few terror attacks or attempted plots China has experienced are only a
minute sample of what will hit the Asian giant if United States efforts
collapse in Afghanistan and Pakistan's government crumbles under the Taliban.
This calls for a redesign of Beijing's platform in the AfPak struggle. - Walid
Phares (Jul 16,'09)
Behind the mind games in the Gulf
From fighter aircraft equipped with bunker-busting munitions to submarines
armed with cruise missiles, Israel certainly has the hardware to make a serious
attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Whatever the mind games and the rhetoric,
the claims and denials, it remains highly unlikely, though, that an attack
could avoid some form of direct United States involvement. - Richard M Bennett
(Jul 15,'09)
 SINOGRAPH
China, please invade
North Korea
In 1979, China waged war against Vietnam with the blessing of the United States
as Beijing was on the right side in the grand clash of the Cold War. In the
interests of establishing a solid foundation for broad US-China cooperation,
China could do worse than take up arms against recalcitrant nuclear-armed North
Korea. - Francesco Sisci (Jul 15,'09)
Rich lessons in North Korea's playbook
Since the Korean War ended in 1953, ties between the United States and North
Korea have been strained to the point of war on five occasions, including the
seizure of the USS Pueblo and the Poplar Tree incident at Panmunjom. The
most striking common fact of the crises is that North Korea kept the
nuclear-armed US at bay, a good lesson for the Barack Obama administration, the
North's "unofficial spokesman" suggests. - Kim Myong Chol
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Bombshell conspiracies in
the Philippines
With no group taking responsibility for deadly bombings that have rocked the
Philippines in recent weeks, unsettling conspiracy theories have arisen. As
rumors point to Muslim rebels, terrorist networks and even the government of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, fears that potential United States budget
cuts played a role are also making the rounds. - Shawn W Crispin and Joel
D Adriano (Jul 15,'09)
SPEAKING FREELY
Tread lightly with Pakistan's lashkars
Tribal militias, lashkars, have risen in recent days to capture and kill
militants in Pakistan's remote northwestern districts - a trend that Islamabad
and Washington call emblematic of anti-Taliban sentiment surging through the
country. But close association with the fiercely independent lashkars poses
grave risks. - Michael Kugelman (Jul 15,'09)
Power before peace in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans believed that with the end of the war their freedoms would return.
Instead, with the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, President
Mahinda Rajapakse has abandoned any tolerance for dissent, criticism or
international interference. Authoritarianism disguised in the garb of democracy
looms over the island. - Sudha Ramachandran (Jul
14,'09)
Taliban will let guns do their
talking
Against the backdrop of rising anger in Britain over its losses in Afghanistan,
the talk is now all about talking to the Taliban. This might have happened a
few months ago, but following a reorganization of the Taliban's command
structure, Mullah Omar is back in full control of the insurgency, both in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and he is not the slightest bit interested in any
peace deals. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Jul
13,'09)
Iraq catches it from all sides
As Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki walks the tightrope between Sunnis and
Shi'ites, the United States and Iran are breathing down his neck. Turkey, Syria
and Iran, meanwhile, are not pleased at the revival of Kurdish ambitions in
Kirkuk, while the Kurds in turn are alarmed by calls for a stronger central
government in Baghdad. - Sami Moubayed (Jul
13,'09)
Freed Iranians highlight US-Iraq
conflict
Iraq's release of five Iranians who had been held by the United States military
in Iraq for two-and-a-half years highlights the conflicting views between
Washington and Baghdad over Iranian policy. The US was locked into the notion
that Iran used its Revolutionary Guards to destabilize the Iraqi regime, while
Iraq saw Tehran as having only friendly intentions. - Gareth Porter
(Jul 13,'09)
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The US takes to the shadows in
Iraq
American activities in Iraq now take place in the dark of night, so fewer
Iraqis are likely to see that the United States withdrawal from the cities and
towns is not total. What is emerging is the silhouette of a new American
posture, and what it doesn't look like is an occupying power preparing to close
up shop and head for home. - Michael Schwartz
(Jul 10,'09)
Pyongyang's cyber-terrorism hits home
North Korea's audacious cyber-offensive this week at high-profile computer
systems in South Korea and the United States is clearly linked to its earlier
nuclear and missile tests. The next step is for Pyongyang to perfect its
ability to deliver weapons of mass destruction to carefully selected targets in
countries where information systems have been disabled. - Donald Kirk
(Jul 9,'09)
Baseless expenditures
The United States empire of bases - at US$102 billion a year already the
world's costliest military enterprise - just got a good deal more expensive
with the projected $736 million new American war embassy to be built in
Islamabad, Pakistan. For other countries getting a bit weary of the American
military presence on their soil: cash in now, before it's too late. - Chalmers
Johnson (Jul 8,'09)
Obama discredits Iran 'green light'
Responding to claims that Washington has given Israel approval to strike Iran's
nuclear facilities, United States President Barack Obama insists Washington's
position remains unchanged. Nonetheless, debate over Vice President Joe Biden's
comments that Israel could determine for itself how to deal with the perceived
threats from Iran isn't going away. - Jim Lobe and Ali Gharib
(Jul 8,'09)
THE ROVING EYE
Go ahead, Bibi - drop the bomb
As unclenched fists go, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's
government and that of the newly empowered administration of the "mullahtariat"
in Iran now seem to be locked in a free-for-all cage match - regardless of
United States President Barack Obama's self-styled "refereeing" positioning. - Pepe
Escobar (Jul 7,'09)
US revives talk of Iran-Taliban ties
Despite the lack of evidence or a plausible motive, the Barack Obama
administration is revisiting the previous US administration's charges that Iran
is arming and training the Taliban. Although the allegations could damage hopes
of Iranian cooperation in the Afghan conflict, some members of the US
government see them as a golden opportunity to pressure Tehran over its nuclear
program. - Gareth Porter (Jul 7,'09)
Crossing the Helmand
The ambitious goals of the United States surge in Afghanistan - to drive the
Taliban out, curtail the opium trade and win hearts and minds - faces a stern
test in Helmand province. By starting the offensive in a Taliban stronghold,
the army has ignored a basic tenet of counter-insurgency warfare - to begin in
districts where insurgent support is weak. - Brian M Downing
(Jul 7,'09)
A town braces for Taliban battle
As United States tanks, aircraft and troops roll out for Operation Dagger
Thrust in Afghanistan's Helmand province, war-weary locals are skeptical about
the "surge". They say the US's new tactics and hardware will be more deadly for
civilians than insurgents, as despite promises to fight "until the last
breath", locals believe the Taliban will merely slip away and regroup. - Mohammad
Ilyas Dayee and Aziz Ahmad Tassak (Jul
7,'09)
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US Marines to 'drink lots of tea'
The new strategy of the United States in Afghanistan is now in play, including
a troop surge, fresh attempts to curtail the poppy trade and a mission to get
to know the locals. Questions linger, though, about the feasibility of
concentrating US forces in areas where the Taliban have established full
control. - Ali Gharib (Jul 3,'09)
Pyongyang plans fourth of July fireworks
United States officials are scrambling for a response as North Korea reportedly
plans a fireworks display to mark US Independence Day in the form of a
long-range Taepodong-2 missile test. As a military reaction could lead to
nuclear war, perhaps the Treasury Department is right to concentrate on
attacking Pyongyang's finances. - Donald Kirk
(Jul 3,'09)
China's rogue regimes play up
North Korea's willingness to export high-tech weapons and know-how to Myanmar
and other reclusive, anti-Western regimes has raised regional security concerns
and could launch a new Southeast Asian arms race. If Pyongyang is indeed
helping Myanmar achieve its nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions, China may
shut the door on its troublesome client states. - Brian McCartan
(Jul 2,'09)
Marching out of step in the US
military
Refusal to deploy, search-and-avoid missions, absence without leave,
desertions, even suicides - these are expressions of dissent today in the
all-volunteer United States military that was rebuilt to purge itself of
Vietnam-style non-obedience. These seeds of a response to the quagmire of the
counter-insurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could grow into something far
larger. - Dahr Jamail (Jul 1,'09)
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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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