Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Terrorism vs Opposition

Al-Qaeda terror threat 'growing'
BBC News, UK Edition

France's top anti-terrorism judge, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, has warned that al-Qaeda is now more fragmented and a bigger threat than before.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that al-Qaeda had attracted younger recruits radicalised by the Iraq war.



I for one get extremely weary... not to mention wary... of such perceptions by high profile VIP mouthpieces. Why is it the world is so anxious to accept each word uttered by such as unquestionable truths? And even more baffling, how do such individuals, devoid of logic, gain such notoriety in life??

The fact is such misspoken rhetoric as above is agenda laden. As anti-Iraqi liberation types, of course they would seize any opportunity to blame the coalition efforts as the reason for the increase of terrorist actions.

I see it in a completely different light. And while I carry no "terrorist expert" tag behind my name, and no one hangs in devoted anticipation to relish the gems falling from my keyboard, I believe my interpretation is far more accurate.

Terrorists are little more than grown up schoolyard bullies with bigger weapons and loftier goals of world domination. And just like all schoolyard bullies, as long as they get their way and rule the yard, confrontations are minimized.

However once they lose control and meet with resistance in the yard, they stomp their feet, increase their ranks, and wage all out mayhem to once again intimidate their adversaries to again regain power.

Is it too much to ask an expert to deduce that the power in the terrorist schoolyard has been challenged, and terrorists are mustering up what mayhem they can in response? Apparently, in the case of the above French judge's assessment, it is.

The major flaw in the judge's erratic reasoning is confusing terrorist reactionary strategic measures with an "increase" in terrorists. My line of thinking is that the number of extremist Muslim terrorists in the world remains pretty much the same.

Extremists were bred from the beginning to embrace the oppressive Muslim interpretation of the Koran. Fundamentalists don't wake up and hate freedom magically the next morning simply because the American coalition marched in and deposed Saddam. Were this true, the increase would have been far more dramatic when removing the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

In short, the terrorists, facing a losing battle, need to activate all those quiet fundamental Muslims who previously sat back and let the big bullies do their dirty work. In fact, I'll wager there are probably many professed extremists who fall short in their devotion of wanting to strap on bombs for their "cause". But in light of the losing battle against freedom, the terrorist cause doesn't afford the for laziness and complacency in their flock anymore.

Personally I see the terrorist recruitment as proof positive of their declining influence. For decades their quest for an oppressive caliphate state has met with little to no resistance in most parts of the world. They had the run of despotic ruled countries, enjoying safe haven. They controlled Afghanistan. They exercised powerful influence over gov'ts in Syria, Palestine, Libya, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. And this is only in the Middle East. Southeast Asia and Africa have similar problems.

Topping that, they taunted the American giant for over a decade. They boldly killed Americans on foreign soil, attacked our military barracks and ships. Still the NIMBY Congress, in full knowledge of the ongoing, increasing terrorist threat, and the White House, did nothing.

Until 9:11 and the Cowboy President, that is.

Life is no longer a piece of cake for the modern day Muslim terrorist. Dubya has rejected popular opinion polls and done what he believed was necessary - declared all out war on Muslim schoolyard bully terrorists. While the world complacent communities whine about how America's strong response is offensive, Iraq stands as a beacon - proving that the declared war, propelled by the spread of freedom, is working.

Iraqis - resisting the urging of terrorists and MSM alike - have bypassed civil war as an option and are diving headfirst into creating a gov't with personal and religious freedoms and tolerance. Their anger towards "insurgent" terrorists is increasing. Terrorists, losing not only the military war but the battle for the "hearts and minds", are desperate to regain their power of intimidation and revert to the good ol' days when resistance was virtually non-existant.

For the many falling victim to such nonsense spouted above by the French anti-terrorist judge, one need only look to an
Al Arabiya news network's recent poll, that documented the opinions of Iraqi Arab street. All polls online at the above site are in Arabic... not much good for most of us. But James Dunnigan of Strategypage.com summarizes.

In answer to the question, “What is stalling development in the Arab world?,” 81 percent chose "Governments are unwilling to implement change and reform", 8 percent citing "The ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict," 7 percent "Civil society is failing to convince governments", and 4 percent chose "Terrorism".

Another question, "What is the fastest way to achieve development in the Arab world?", had 67 percent choosing "Ensuring the rule of law through justice and law enforcement", 23 percent chose "Enhancing freedom of speech", and 10 percent chose "Resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict".



Apparently the French and other naysayers are in need of some basic common sense and political morality (or is that an oxymoron???). Personal views are blinding their ability to assess what is truly going on. Their agenda's are making them deaf to the voices of the common Muslim, anxious for the opportunity to create a life in their country that offers simple freedoms.

In direct contradiction to the "experts", I suggest that what is truly on the rise is not terrorist recruitment, but moderate Muslim voices... pleading with their governments for reform, change and control of the violent schoolyard bullies we call terrorists. And until such VIP mouthpieces start recognizing the rise of opposition to terrorists is far greater than the rise of terrorist ranks, we will continue to have a skewed world view.

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