A Nomad's Analyses of War on Terror!

[Nur]

Nurtel Network News

 

Presents:

 

The War on Terror, The Nomadic View.

 

 

In This thread, I am sharing my insights with fellow Nomads on current issues that affect our lives, and their far reaching implications. In no way do I imply that I have a solution, rather I am just raising questions as to where the current train of thought on these issues is destined, so that wise men and women, regardless of creed or country can reflect and make a better informed decisions to influence direction of current affairs.

 

Billions of Dollars have been earmarked by Congress to fight the scourge of terrorism after the tragedy of September 11, a new Department was created to secure the nation from this dreaded enemy and a lot of freedoms Americans enjoyed were compromised, in order to protect Americans from the terrorist death and destruction. When a public official was asked the motive of the perpetrators of the 9/11, the official said, " they ( Terrorists) hate Freedom", so, as a response the administration requested Congress to issue laws that will revoke present freedoms enjoyed by Americans given to them by the Constitution so that the administration can fight the terrorists who hate our freedoms.

 

If you are like me, a slow learner, you may come to the conclusion that if indeed the Public Official was right about the assertion that the terrorists hate freedom, by curtailing further freedoms such as right to privacy and right to association without being accused to being guilty by association, that the terrorists have indeed emerged as the winners in this interesting so called war.

 

So, it may be worth our while to look into the effects of this terrorism thing to see if indeed it warrants a reaction so fundemental as to call for repealing basic human rights, International agreements and common sense. What is even more amazing is that, in a time when totalitarianism is going out of fashion, the nation that helped championing human rights for over two hundred years is chopping the freedom bird's wings right in its own backyard.

 

Historically, in the seventies and beyond any armed group that caused a terror act was know as guerillas, they targted governmet installations and even civilians to get their point accross, so, if you go back and read old magazines, you will not find the popular buzz word "terroirsts" anywhere, all you will find is guerillas, rebels and the like. Some of this guerillas were even popular among the youth as heroes fighting against what was termed at the time imperialism and hegemony in the Communist Socialis literature. These guerillas were portrayed in the media as heroes fighting for justice and equality like Che Guevara of Chile, Angela Davis of Communist Party of America, Patrice Lumuba of The Congo, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

 

These "terror" or "Guerilla" groups were ranging from religiously motivated, like the Jewish settlers of Palestine who were fighting for the establishment of a Jewsish State in Palestine from the British Empire, the Ikhwan Brotherhood of Egypt who wanted to establish an Islamic state in Egypt, to state sponsored or secularly motivated urban Guerillas like the pro-llife groups, California Redwoods Preservationsists , Animal Rights groups, The Japanese Cults, Irish Republlican Army, Spanish Basque, Italian Brigate Rosso, organized crime bosses or Somali Warlords. All these groups had one thing in common, they used illegal or violent means to send a message to intimidate their adversaries to influence a policy.

 

Unfortunately, Their messages always meant human misery, loss of life and destruction of properties.

 

So, the end result of their actions always amounted to death and destruction. Clearly this phenomena or any other that causes human loss of life and properties must be stopped, and in that regard I looked into the statistics of past twenty years of all events that led to loss of human life, legally state sanctioned deaths or illegally committed crimes by terror groups, astonishingly, here is what I found within an hours research.

 

 

Terrorism:

 

 

Hoffman a well known expert in this field writes:

 

" Religion has been the major driving force behind international terrorism during the 1990s. As described below, the most serious terrorist acts of the decade--in terms of the number of people killed or the political implications--all have had a significant religious dimension.

Hoffman's states:

 

1992 onward: Bloodletting by Islamic extremists in Algeria has claimed an estimated 75,000 lives. (Note: Here the author does not mention that this war was trigerred by the Military who intervened a potential win by Islamists in the elections and rise to power, fatally damaging the democratic process of power sharing, he also does not mention that the government committed massive killings and deception in the process, all available in Archives of International dailies)

 

February 1993: Thirteen car and truck bombings shake Bombay, India, killing 400 and injuring more than 1,000, in revenge for the destruction of an Islamic shrine. ( No International Action taken )

 

February 1993: Islamic radicals bomb New York City's World Trade Center, attempting to topple one of the twin towers onto the other, reportedly while releasing a deadly cloud of poisonous gas. ( Dubious Framing)

 

December 1994: Air France passenger jet is hijacked by terrorists belonging to the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA), who plotted unsuccessfully to blow up themselves, the aircraft, and the 283 passengers on board precisely when the plane was over Paris, which would have caused the flaming wreckage to plunge into the crowded city below.

 

March 1995: Apocalyptic Japanese religious cult releases sarin nerve gas in Tokyo subway system, killing a dozen people and wounding 3,796 others, with reports that the group also planned to carry out identical attacks in the United States.( Japan Was never mentioned as hosting Terror Groups)

 

April 1995: Members of the American Christian Patriot movement, seeking to foment a nationwide revolution, bomb the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.

 

July-October 1995: GIA unleashes a wave of bombings in Paris Metro trains, outdoor markets, cafes, schools, and popular tourist spots, killing 8 and wounding more than 180.

November 1995: Jewish religious extremist assassinates Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin, viewing it as the first step in a mass murder campaign designed to disrupt the peace process. ( The victim could not stomach what Sharon is doing)

 

February-March 1996: String of attacks by Hamas suicide bombers kills 60 people and turns the tide of Israel's national elections.

April 1996: Machine-gun and hand-grenade attack by Egyptian Islamic militants on a group of Western tourists kills 18 outside their Cairo hotel.

 

June 1996: Religious militants opposed to the reigning al-Saud regime in Saudi Arabia perpetrate truck bombing of U.S. Air Force barracks in Dhahran, killing 19 people.

November 1997: Terrorists belonging to the Gamat al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) massacre 58 foreign tourists and 4 Egyptians at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt.

 

August 1998: Attackers believed to have been financed by Saudi Arabian dissident Osama bin Laden bomb U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 257 people, including 12 Americans, and injuring more than 5,000 in Kenya, and killing 10 people and injuring dozens in Tanzania. Bin Laden had issued a fatwa, or Islamic religious edict, as part of his worldwide campaign against the United States. An estimated 5,000 adherents throughout the Muslim world allegedly are prepared to follow his summons to battle.

 

 

The last part of this report by Hoffman is very interesting, Bin Laden, as he claims, has alledgedly 5000 potential followers who may commit spectacular crimes like his ( which has never been proven in any court of law anywhere so far), this allegation if true is indeed horrible for humanity, but shouldn't we look into other similar group's intentions as close as this one? Like state sponsored terrorism , Sharon, who was found responsible for the killing in Sabra and Shatilla by a a competent Israeli court and who has as many followers as voted him into office, but horribly enough, with proven Nuclear capabilitiy. A Somali Proverb says: * ( Oohinta orgiga ka weyn) and its English counterpart says:

 

* "It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities bewteen two nations, there exists more commonly , a previous jealousy and ill will, a predesposition to take offense". (Washington Irving, The sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon)

 

But because Israel is an Ally of USA, attrocities committed by this state in trigerring the mayhem, destruction and international terrorism is seldom addressed by Congress where the pro Israel Lobby viciously attacks any suggestion to control Israel. To this effect Leon Trotsky said : "An ally has to be watched just like an enemy" because at the end, American interests, regardless of its ehnic groups or pressure lobbies shall weigh heavier than any expedient political manuevers if the nation has to exist as the its founders envisioned.

 

Assuming the 5000 zealot theory of Hoffman to be true, I compared these numbers to PROVEN and legally state sanctioned deaths in the USA. America, a nation that prides itself in the preservation of human freedoms, dignity , property and life, I compared the Terror statistics and deaths with statistics from the Departmenmt of Justice on Crime and other statistics of legalized venues and means that cause the same if not worse devastation and horror, but only if cameras were present like the one that scared the hell out of me. No one describes death like the man who killed millions of his subjects in the name of communism and Patriotism: Joseph Stalin said: " A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths are a statistic. ."

 

Here are some of the sobering statistics:

 

1. Over a million babies are killed in cold blood every year in USA ( Silent Screams)

 

2. 1000 Americans die of Cigarette related ailment DAILY, 3000 kids begin smoking every DAY. ( Philip Morris should be tried for these crimes against humanity)

 

3. 15 Million violent crimes are committed in USA annualy ( Murder, Rape, Robbery,Aggrevated assualt etc)

 

4. 20,000 Americans are murdered every year ( Compared to 2900 in 9/11 Tragedy)

 

5. 17,000 Alcohol related crimes and 16000 Alcohol related Traffic deaths, 3 Million crimes/year committed by drunk offenders.

 

6. 1000 Americans are Raped EVRY DAY, and 3 % of all college women are raped ( completed rapes 1.7%)

 

7. 15000 Robberies annually ( Billions of $$ are stolen, white collar like ENRON or street thieves)

 

So, who should Americans fear most?

 

As much as I abhor anarchism and terrorism, I equally detest what is called war on terror, because like Henry Kissinger said " The conventional army loses if it does not win, the guerilla wins if he does not loset" , I do not see an end to this madness and honestly of it comtinues, The USA will emerge out of this war that may never have a decisive end a weaker and pooree nation that compromised a lot of its centuries old ideals while chasing an elusive enemy of its own creation. The Chinese Philosopher Sun Tzu summed it up as:

 

" There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." , The Art Of War.

 

 

In Conclusion, if securing human life and its quality is the priority of the American Constitution, then there is no better way to achieve that goal other than a comprehensive system of justice that everyone can buy into it, because as long as any segment of the human family is not safeguarded, there will be no equillibrium, or a balance and thus security will remain an illusion at best.

 

Allah SWT referring to Prophet Abraham's plight with his people says : Those who "aamanuu" (became peaceful by surrendering to their maker) and further, who have not cloaked up their convictions( their surrender to Allah) with injustice, those indeed ( deserve ) security and these are indeed the guided ones .

 

 

Nur

 

 

2003 Nurtel News Networks

Nomadic News Analyses

[Nur]

Nomads

 

This was a piece I have written two years ago on this page, my assumptions seem to hold true to this day, if you have a different view, please share. " Injustice anywhere, is a threat to Justice everywhere " wrote Martin Luther King.

 

 

Nur

[OG_Girl]

Brother what justice to do with War on Terror and terrorists

 

Well, if this analyses for Westerns , makes perfect sense but for us we know that America always been a Drama Queen, America can't live with out an enemy to defeat. There was Nazis, Communists now Islam just to justify their hunger for power and control over the World.If was not on terror would be under another enemy!! And Arabs always " maf'ool behem" we just sit and blame while others got their plan.

 

You reminding me Ghadafi's speech at Arab league

 

Salam

[Haddad]

Sir Nur, this was a balanced and well read analysis.

Originally posted by Nur:

Historically, in the seventies and beyond any armed group that caused a terror act was know as guerillas, they targted governmet installations and even civilians to get their point accross, so, if you go back and read old magazines, you will not find the popular buzz word "terroirsts" anywhere, all you will find is guerillas, rebels and the like.

The popular buzz word has evolved a number of times during the past few decades. Many, including Westerners, are no longer buying that word. If you check Google News, the word insurgents is overtaking the other outdated word. When the Iraq invasion started, all kinds of fanciful words (including the outdated one) were bestowed on Iraqis fighting the invaders, but much has changed since then. I believe, the reality, the fact an unmatched opponent has humbled the sole superpower, has changed much. I wouldn't be surprised if those remaining outdated words are decommissioned at some time in the future. When that happens, some of our misguided brothers/sisters will follow suit, by ceasing to use those words.

[Viking]

As described below, the most serious terrorist acts of the decade--in terms of the number of people killed or the political implications--all have had a significant religious dimension.

Nur,

So, according to Hoffman, the 4 000 000 who died in DRC the past few years and 1 000 000 who died in Rwanda's genocide in 1994 aren't PEOPLE.

[Nur]

OG Girl sis

 

If you have read this passage :

 

" It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities bewteen two nations, there exists more commonly , a previous jealousy and ill will, a predesposition to take offense ". ( Washington Irving, The sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon)

 

 

And then read this one:

 

Injustice anywhere, is a threat to Justice anywhere, by Martin Luther King.

 

 

You'd deduce:

 

That, what is happening in London are the ripple effect of a long attrocious past engagements and conflicts where there are two parties at war, injustices that take place far from where victims have fallen without knowing why? one of the parties in conflict is well established, legitimate due to its own constituents mandate, the other is disinfranchised, illigitimate and marginalized, with grievances that are not addressed since no one recognizes them as viable parties to a conflict. So, their voice is heard in mayhem and blood on the public. But unlike teh declared Just surgical attacks of American planes in Afghanistan and Iraq that killed many a happy marriage procession, by mistake, the disadvantaged party in this war is said to have targeted the very civilians for their attacks, simply because they cannot take their anger against the more equipped adversary.

 

 

As long as this situation exisits, we have the Royal Navy against pirates, of the high seas, the only difference between the two being the number of their warships and abilities. If the Royal Navy is capable of finishing off the Pirates, the problem is thus solved for one side, if not, and unless politicians brave to adopt a pragmatic solution to accomodate the greiveance of everybody touched by current policies, UK which just completed a peace plan with the more organized Irish Republican Army, who have used the same if not worse tactics then present terrorists, may have to look back at the IRA experience to draw wise lessons to save innocent lives. Every confrontation that killed many innocent lives began with the same rhetoric, but it ended with conciliatory tones as a lasting solution, how much more lives should be spent before this madness is addressed at the core?

 

 

Nur

[Nur]

Viking bro.

 

Thats right according to Hoffman, the 10,000 Bosnians laid to rest in Srebrenica with the full authorization of the UN's Butors Butros Ghali and the Dutch Army who handed these civilans to the Serbs to be killed in cold blood did not trigger international cooperation to stop this evil.

 

 

Haddad bro

 

Names will keep changing, but the sad fact is that unless the core problems are addressed equittably, the world is poised for more bloodshed, issues are swept under carpets, but those in disadvantage recognoze no law nor ethics, just like politicians who subscribe to Machiavellis theory of government.

 

 

Nur

[Baashi]

Nur,

Good analysis as always bor Nur. Gotta question for you. Do you see parallels in what the "terrorists" are doing in the West and what the nomadic rule that our Somali Anarchists have been practising time in memorial preaches: Nin la dilay nin baa loo dilaa waaa dekanadiisiiye?

[Rahima]

As always wonderful post and analysis-if only those with SHM Syndrome would take heed

[Nur]

Bashi Bro.

 

You write:

 

" Gotta question for you. Do you see parallels in what the "terrorists" are doing in the West and what the nomadic rule that our Somali Anarchists have been practising time in memorial preaches: Nin la dilay nin baa loo dilaa waaa dekanadiisiiye?

 

 

Last night I had a nice discussion with a fellow Somali expatriate who told me that he had a discussion with one of our cabinet Ministers of the new transitional Anarchist government of Somalia. Wallahi, what I heard was so disturbing, yet so funny, I decided I will devote my next Cag Bakayle Anarchist satire to them.

 

"terrorist" in the west, which for now are entirely represented by "Muslims" are up to something, just like our Anarchists back home, you never know what they are up to at any given moment, whodunit? is echoing from all around, but one thing baffles my mind.

 

Everytime the polls show that Bush or Blair are losing their popularity for their campaign, Bin Laden and Company come to their aid to do the dirty work to raise their respective popularity back up again, and on the way painting Muslims as a blood thirsty lot and the Blairites and Neocons as Da Vinci's Virgin Mary.

 

I am going to prepare an Satirical interview with Bin Laden on this topic along with Cag Bakayle of the Somali Anarchist Declaration to see what they share in common. Please join our live webcast by the Cag Bakayle Bin Laden Group Cross Fire Discussion on Somaliaonline Anarchists Declaratioon.

 

 

Nur

[NGONGE]

This thread makes some sporadic sense. However, the predictable Islamic apology and rationalisation are still clearly evident.

 

There is a good debate to be had when discussing the encroachments of laws specifically introduced to deal with “terrorâ€. There is an even better one regarding the differences between terrorists, gorillas, rebels, insurgents, resistance or freedom fighters. There are arguments about cot death, domestic violence, crime, drugs and a dozen other subjects that deal with death. There is even the customary debate about Israel and its special relation with the United States! All these are good discussions and are worth examining, on their own.

 

There is also the veiled ‘understanding’ and sympathy for ‘terrorists’. The one that makes light of their despicable actions just because the mighty superpower with the mighty navy has done ‘worse’ things!

 

Ah! Right in the end, you come back with a post questioning if any of these ‘terrorists’ actually exist and linking the actions (and timing of them) to the popularity of Bush and Blair!

 

This is a question of morality. Yours and mine, not America’s! There is no point in one mincing one’s words, avoiding the glaringly obvious questions or burying one’s head in the sand. Having listened to and read people’s opinions (Muslim people) on this terror issue, I still find it shocking that the overwhelming majority are indifferent to the whole thing (unless it affects them directly). In the aftermath of the September events in America, many Muslims worried about the implications and consequences of such an act! After the events of last week, many Muslims, again, spoke about how bad things are going to get and how new draconian laws aimed at Muslims might be introduced! Even here, on this site, the first reaction of many was “I hope the consequences of this are not bad for Muslimsâ€. It’s all self-indulgent nonsense really.

 

There is no question of RIGHT and WRONG here, it’s all relative. Big navies and pirates; big cluster bombs and ‘desperate’ tube train explosions; superpowers and lashing out victims! It’s all nicely explained away and put into neat and acceptable compartments.

 

I don’t buy this. I spent all my life being told and believing that I come from the best nation in the history of the world. I was brought up hearing and believing about the tolerance of my faith. I still hear the same stories, still get lectured with the same historical anecdotes and still believe every single word of it. What I don’t believe or can understand is that the same people that share such beliefs and stories with me, the same staunch, pious, devout and fearful people are now indifferent to obvious wrongs committed by those that claim to be part of us! In fact, for many, indifference is not even the correct description. Many seem to be overtly supportive of such acts and would explain it away with the ‘tit-for-tat’ reasoning!

 

Now, that’s not the only problem. The same group of people that are indifferent, supportive or undecided are also the same group that falls for conspiracy theories and would bring out the Zionist coat hanger at every opportunity!

 

Conspiracy theories are all good and well, and some of them might even be TRUE! However, when we as Muslims use these conspiracy theories, we use them to excuse, overlook and hide from problems that exist within our ranks. It is amazing that many Muslims, the world over, cry havoc and swear vengeance on the West at every given opportunity. That many Imams in Mosques talk about the destruction of Israel and pray for Allah’s help to defeat the occupiers. That everyone is calling for Jihad in Kashmir, Russia, Bosnia, Thailand and every place where Muslims are oppressed. That they all blame the West (and Israel) for this and talk of a day of reckoning! Yet, despite all of that, in spite of the obvious unrest found amongst Muslims at large (and the youth in particular), people still BELIEVE in conspiracy theories!

 

Muslims talk about the West’s plan to destroy Islam, yet Islam is destroying itself from within. They talk about the clash of civilisations, yet we’re slowly abandoning all that was civilised about us (with no prompting or force from the West). They talk about holding on to our values, yet we’re letting those gradually slip.

 

 

My advice to all the readers here is to engage oneself in some serious self-examination and contemplation. Think about your faith, your morals, what you deem to be right and wrong (without the interference of politics, conspiracy theories or games). Think about your duties to your fellow Muslims, to yourself and to your creator. If you still believe that this is a fight between two sides and that the actions of the weaker side are justified by the transgressions of the stronger side, then don’t play with words, hide behind slogans or arguments and stay silent. Shout it out clearly and support your brothers in Jihad. If on the other hand, you think this whole thing to be wrong and not compatible with your religious beliefs or morals, denounce it, shout about how wrong it is and argue until you’re blue in the face.

[Castro]

If you still believe that this is a fight between two sides and that the actions of the weaker side are justified by the transgressions of the stronger side, then don’t play with words, hide behind slogans or arguments and stay silent. Shout it out clearly and support your brothers in Jihad. If on the other hand, you think this whole thing to be wrong and not compatible with your religious beliefs or morals, denounce it, shout about how wrong it is and argue until you’re blue in the face.

I'll take combo number one please, super-sized!

[NGONGE]

^^^ Still doing the tedious one-liners I see!

 

Care to explain that one line with another? It wasn’t very clear, see.

[Castro]

^^^ Still doing the tedious one-liners I see!

It's a chronic problem.

 

Care to explain that one line with another? It wasn’t very clear, see.

Sure. I strongly believe that this is a fight between two sides and that the actions of the weaker side are justified by the transgressions of the stronger side.

 

Is it clear now?

[Warrior of Light]

Asalaam aleykum

 

Brother Nur mashallah as usual you go to lengths to discuss a topic which I do appreciate. To be honest, personally Im sick and tired of these cases of ‘terrorism’ blamed on religion and politics. It is in mans nature to cause mischief on earth if he loses his way. And we know when greed, no accountability, superiority, pride, arrogance creep in a human’s souls havoc happens on earth. It will start not with big implications but you will see small tribulations growing bigger and when people with similar minds congregate and act on them that’s when we have the problem. So it can be the American govt or a so called Islamic govt doesn’t matter really. I agree with what Bro. Ngonge said to find a solution we need to search within ourselves, our responsibilities to our fellow human being and to our Creator. Most of us Muslims in this era have become people of mere words, no action nor responsibility takers of our own burden. We have a tendency of shifting responsibilities either by blaming others or finding mere excuses to justify outcomes of our weaknesses.We have become cowards in many ways. You can see muslims demonstrating against the discretation of the Quraan(sorry for using this as an example, it is sacred ) in huge numbers but ask that Muslim, do you pray? Do you help your neighbour? Have you read the quraan? Do you tend to your parents?Do you fast? Is your earnings halal? And more he will say no or I do it when I feel like it. The whole essence of our religion by most of the people has gone down to Im a muslim alhamdullilah, I believe in the Prophet Mohammed SAW and Allah and the Quraan is my book.Thats enough for me.

 

I believe time has come for Muslims to claim their Islam back, go back to the basics and forget about the doubtful acts and answer for themselves instead of asking for justifications from different Sheikhs with their conflicting fatwas. We all know how life is held sacred in Islam, why are Muslims now the mischief makers? Why don’t Muslims start with the Jihad of Nafs then grow stronger as a Ummah to reach the strengths to have armies to fight for their courses? So far there are few Islamic countries who fight for Islam most are headed by self centered leaders unfortunately and Islamic knowledge taught isn’t properly acted upon. Through sirah we have learnt of the magnificent character of Sayidna Umar, May Allahs blessing be on him who took his responsibility seriously, visiting different parts of his realm either punishing or helping those he comes across. Why because Firstly He feared Allah, Secondly he feared failing his responsibility as an Amir, thirdly he was a Muslim meaning that he had to implicate the teachings of Islam in the best of manner. Lets be honest there are few such people in our times, we Muslims of this era are more into material gain, discording amongst ourselves on matters of minor significance, don’t fear Allah and Prophet Muhammed’s Law, lack of knowledge of the diin, thus we have youth who for trivial reasons can be filled with hate and blow themselves in the name of Islam. Isnt Islam the religion which says that if a person commits suicide, he will be resurrected doing the same action over and over again. And Isnt Islam the religion which saved that innocent girl from being killed alive? And we are to be asked for what reason she was killed?

 

Im sorry if I don’t make sense, just overwhelmed with the state of our Ummah is going through and the weakness we, Muslims have agreed on and the state of the world and its discord. My fellow Muslims lets empower ourselves, learn our diin and practise it, the first lesson we were taught was Iqra, knowledge in all forms is necessary to curb these problems. And through knowledge to question ourselves on whats right and wrong and not acting on our impulses.And to fear Allah.

 

May Allah guide us, Im also His slave and need a lot to pick up on. Im no saint. But that’s my though for now.

 

Fiamanillah