Will the Islamic State survive 2016? from Al-Monitor
"If IS continues to lose territory at the same pace, some people believe the year 2016 could well be its last. But experts are maintaining a cautious optimism in agreeing with this prediction, which is frequently voiced by Iraqi decision-makers."
Showing posts with label Terrorism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terrorism. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2016
Why these terror attacks keep happening ... in Europe
Is America Next? (Daniel Benjamin) from Politico
"I’ll make no guarantees, but there’s a reason these terror attacks keep happening in Europe. ... So if an explosion propels shattered glass and broken bodies in a Brussels airport, we instinctively expect it to happen here next. We shouldn’t. While the jihadist threat is genuinely global, it is by no means equally distributed. ... there are individuals in the United States who are prepared to commit violence against other Americans. But the European context underlying the attacks at Brussels Airport and the downtown Maelbeek subway station—one of alienated, underemployed and ghettoized Muslims as well as subpar security differs dramatically from anything found in the United States."
"I’ll make no guarantees, but there’s a reason these terror attacks keep happening in Europe. ... So if an explosion propels shattered glass and broken bodies in a Brussels airport, we instinctively expect it to happen here next. We shouldn’t. While the jihadist threat is genuinely global, it is by no means equally distributed. ... there are individuals in the United States who are prepared to commit violence against other Americans. But the European context underlying the attacks at Brussels Airport and the downtown Maelbeek subway station—one of alienated, underemployed and ghettoized Muslims as well as subpar security differs dramatically from anything found in the United States."
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: What Obama ReALLY Thinks About the Threat of ISIS
How Obama Thinks About Terrorism (Peter Beinart) from the Atlantic
"At the core of Barack Obama’s terrorism speech on Sunday night lay a contradiction. He gave the address to convince an increasingly fearful nation that he takes the terrorist threat seriously. But he doesn’t, at least not in the way his political opponents do."
"At the core of Barack Obama’s terrorism speech on Sunday night lay a contradiction. He gave the address to convince an increasingly fearful nation that he takes the terrorist threat seriously. But he doesn’t, at least not in the way his political opponents do."
The New "Containment" Policy
Obama Got It Right on the Islamic State from Foreign Policy Magazine
"The United States can't defeat the jihadist group — it can only hope to contain it."
"The United States can't defeat the jihadist group — it can only hope to contain it."
Why "Radical Islam"?
The GOP’s Obsession With ‘Radical Islam’ (Brian Beutler) from the New Republic
"Republicans say they call it as they see it—until the tables are turned on them."
"Republicans say they call it as they see it—until the tables are turned on them."
The Impact of Right-Wing Rage on GOP Foreign Policy
Terrorism in the Age of Trump (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"A few days after the attacks, Politico reported the firm convictions of party stalwarts, who confidently asserted, "The reemergence of foreign policy atop the Republican agenda will force voters to reevaluate the outsider candidates, particularly as both [Donald] Trump and [Ben] Carson display a lack of knowledge about national security and the terrorist threat." But that, it turned out, was wishful thinking. Far from sobering up the Republican electorate, the attacks served instead to intensify its state of frothing rage."
"A few days after the attacks, Politico reported the firm convictions of party stalwarts, who confidently asserted, "The reemergence of foreign policy atop the Republican agenda will force voters to reevaluate the outsider candidates, particularly as both [Donald] Trump and [Ben] Carson display a lack of knowledge about national security and the terrorist threat." But that, it turned out, was wishful thinking. Far from sobering up the Republican electorate, the attacks served instead to intensify its state of frothing rage."
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
News from 9/11: Bush et al Ignored A LOT of Warnings
‘The Attacks Will Be Spectacular’ from Politico
"An exclusive look at how the Bush administration ignored this warning from the CIA months before 9/11, along with others that were far more detailed than previously revealed."
"An exclusive look at how the Bush administration ignored this warning from the CIA months before 9/11, along with others that were far more detailed than previously revealed."
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Laying the Legal Grounds for Killing Bin Laden
How 4 Federal Lawyers Paved the Way to Kill Osama bin Laden from the New York Times
"While the Bin Laden operation has been much scrutinized, the story of how a tiny team of government lawyers helped shape and justify Mr. Obama’s high-stakes decision has not been previously told. The group worked as military and intelligence officials conducted a parallel effort to explore options and prepare members of SEAL Team 6 for the possible mission."
"While the Bin Laden operation has been much scrutinized, the story of how a tiny team of government lawyers helped shape and justify Mr. Obama’s high-stakes decision has not been previously told. The group worked as military and intelligence officials conducted a parallel effort to explore options and prepare members of SEAL Team 6 for the possible mission."
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Outrage in Jordan: Better Late Than Never I Guess
Outrage In Mideast Over ISIS Killing Of Jordanian Pilot from the Associated Press
"The gruesome militant video of the last moments in the life of 26-year-old Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, whose F-16 crashed in Syria in December during a U.S.-led coalition raid on the extremist group, crossed a line — beyond the beheadings of Western hostages at the hands of Islamic State extremists. From the world's most prestigious seat of Sunni Islam learning, Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque, Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb said the IS militants deserve the Quranic punishment of death, crucifixion or the chopping off of their arms for being enemies of God and the Prophet Muhammad."
IT IS ABOUT TIME!! When were Islamic authorities going to take a stand against the heinous acts of ISIS [and by extension al Qaida, the Taliban, and their ilk]. Now... unfortunately some folks immediately went to the following position: "Jordanian politician Mohammed al-Rousan wept openly on national television as he described watching al-Kaseasbeh's death, saying even people accustomed to violence could not bear to see a man burned alive. Then, his tears turned to rage. "Let's use the same methods as them!" he shouted during the interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV. "Let's kill their children! Let's kill their women!"" There -- that'll solve ... somthing. -- Nuggetsman
"The gruesome militant video of the last moments in the life of 26-year-old Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, whose F-16 crashed in Syria in December during a U.S.-led coalition raid on the extremist group, crossed a line — beyond the beheadings of Western hostages at the hands of Islamic State extremists. From the world's most prestigious seat of Sunni Islam learning, Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque, Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb said the IS militants deserve the Quranic punishment of death, crucifixion or the chopping off of their arms for being enemies of God and the Prophet Muhammad."
IT IS ABOUT TIME!! When were Islamic authorities going to take a stand against the heinous acts of ISIS [and by extension al Qaida, the Taliban, and their ilk]. Now... unfortunately some folks immediately went to the following position: "Jordanian politician Mohammed al-Rousan wept openly on national television as he described watching al-Kaseasbeh's death, saying even people accustomed to violence could not bear to see a man burned alive. Then, his tears turned to rage. "Let's use the same methods as them!" he shouted during the interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV. "Let's kill their children! Let's kill their women!"" There -- that'll solve ... somthing. -- Nuggetsman
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Joining the Jihad: Why?
Here's The Real Reason Young Muslims Join The Global Jihad from Talking Points Memo
"One begins to see parallels emerge with past youth movements claiming to defend fundamental human values against powerful countervailing forces in the world, like the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. At its core, the global jihad presents itself as a challenge to the status quo, to a global order where the cultural, political, and economic positions of ruling elites in the West prevail, at least in part because of Western military might."
"One begins to see parallels emerge with past youth movements claiming to defend fundamental human values against powerful countervailing forces in the world, like the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. At its core, the global jihad presents itself as a challenge to the status quo, to a global order where the cultural, political, and economic positions of ruling elites in the West prevail, at least in part because of Western military might."
Saturday, January 24, 2015
The Real Costs of Dysfunctionality in the Arab World
On Radical Islam, Say It Like It Is (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times
"It is the struggle within Arab and Pakistani Sunni Islam over whether and how to embrace modernity, pluralism and women’s rights. That struggle drives, and is driven by, the dysfunctionality of so many Arab states and Pakistan. It has left these societies with too many young men who have never held a job or a girl’s hand, who then seek to overcome their humiliation at being left behind, and to find identity, by “purifying” their worlds of other Muslims who are not sufficiently pious and of Westerners whom they perceive to be putting Muslims down."
"It is the struggle within Arab and Pakistani Sunni Islam over whether and how to embrace modernity, pluralism and women’s rights. That struggle drives, and is driven by, the dysfunctionality of so many Arab states and Pakistan. It has left these societies with too many young men who have never held a job or a girl’s hand, who then seek to overcome their humiliation at being left behind, and to find identity, by “purifying” their worlds of other Muslims who are not sufficiently pious and of Westerners whom they perceive to be putting Muslims down."
Friday, December 26, 2014
Closing Gauntanamo Gets Closer to Reality
U.S. Prepares to Accelerate Detainee Transfers from Guantanamo Bay Prison from the Huffington Post
"The Obama administration is accelerating its efforts to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center, preparing to move dozens of inmates out of the prison in coming months in a step forward for President Obama’s redoubled attempt to achieve a core national security objective before he leaves office."
"The Obama administration is accelerating its efforts to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center, preparing to move dozens of inmates out of the prison in coming months in a step forward for President Obama’s redoubled attempt to achieve a core national security objective before he leaves office."
Friday, December 12, 2014
Turning Loose More Detainees ... Finally
Obama Effort Leads To Surge In Guantanamo Releases from the Huffington Post
"With the sudden surge in transfers, Guantanamo is now at a turning point. The prisoner population is at 136 — down from a high of near 700 and its lowest point since shortly after it opened in January 2002 — with 68 of the prisoners cleared for transfer. Officials have said at least five more will be moved by Dec. 31."
"With the sudden surge in transfers, Guantanamo is now at a turning point. The prisoner population is at 136 — down from a high of near 700 and its lowest point since shortly after it opened in January 2002 — with 68 of the prisoners cleared for transfer. Officials have said at least five more will be moved by Dec. 31."
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Why ISIS Targets Canada
Why Canada Is Under Attack by Terrorists from the Huffington Post
"Most people probably reacted in shock to learn that Canada has now been hit twice by terror attacks against soldiers in three days. Many Americans probably think of it as our sleepy socialist neighbor to the north. But Canada is a key ally in the war against terrorism in general, and ISIS in particular. And today's attack is a harbinger of things to come in America."
"Most people probably reacted in shock to learn that Canada has now been hit twice by terror attacks against soldiers in three days. Many Americans probably think of it as our sleepy socialist neighbor to the north. But Canada is a key ally in the war against terrorism in general, and ISIS in particular. And today's attack is a harbinger of things to come in America."
Saturday, August 30, 2014
The Deadly Logic of Intervention in Syria
What Going to War in Syria Would Really Mean for the U.S. (Conor Friedersdorf) from the Atlantic
"A brutal dictator, a violent terrorist group, and the morally fraught tradeoff that interventionists face."
"A brutal dictator, a violent terrorist group, and the morally fraught tradeoff that interventionists face."
The Cost of Joining Assad Against ISIS
A Bad Case for Allying with Assad (Daniel Larison) from the American Conservative
"Fighting wars of choice is bad enough, but it is simply perverse to insist on making deals with ugly regimes in order to facilitate the war of choice. If the most effective way of fighting ISIS requires the U.S. to go to war in Syria in concert with the Syrian government, that is just one more argument against waging a war on ISIS in the first place."
"Fighting wars of choice is bad enough, but it is simply perverse to insist on making deals with ugly regimes in order to facilitate the war of choice. If the most effective way of fighting ISIS requires the U.S. to go to war in Syria in concert with the Syrian government, that is just one more argument against waging a war on ISIS in the first place."
Captives held by Islamic State were Waterboarded from the Washington Post
"At least four hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State, including an American journalist who was recently executed by the group, were waterboarded in the early part of their captivity, according to people familiar with the treatment of the kidnapped Westerners."
Whew! Well, at least they didn't torture the hostages!
"At least four hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State, including an American journalist who was recently executed by the group, were waterboarded in the early part of their captivity, according to people familiar with the treatment of the kidnapped Westerners."
Whew! Well, at least they didn't torture the hostages!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Obama vs. ISIS
This Time It's Personal (Eli Lake) from the Daily Beast
"When ISIS beheaded an American journalist, it meant to intimidate—and provoke—the United States. It should be careful what it wishes for. The gloves just came off. ... it will be hard for the Republicans to sound more hawkish than the president, whose tone and evident intentions are strikingly different today than they were only a few weeks ago."
"When ISIS beheaded an American journalist, it meant to intimidate—and provoke—the United States. It should be careful what it wishes for. The gloves just came off. ... it will be hard for the Republicans to sound more hawkish than the president, whose tone and evident intentions are strikingly different today than they were only a few weeks ago."
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