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<title>Terrorism</title>
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<title>CRC Open Sources</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.295/default.asp</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.295/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Counterterrorism Research Center - Letter From the Director</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.285/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dear American Family, We live in a time &ndash; post 9/11 &ndash; when simply going about our daily routine hoping bad things won&#8217;t happen to us and those we love is simply not enough. We must accept that there are individuals and groups of individuals both at home and abroad who want to harm us and destroy our civilization and way of life. This does not mean we are supposed to live afraid or hyper-cautious. Nor should we change the way we live, work, and play. That&#8217;s what the terrorists want us to do. What it does mean is that we must add a new variable to our day-to-day mix. We must see ourselves &ndash; in much the same way the U.S. Army trains its soldiers to see themselves &ndash; as sensors. Or, as New York&#8217;s Metropolitan Transportation Authority urges its travelers, "IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING." It&#8217;s a simple concept, requiring only that you:A) Never be hesitant or too embarrassed to express a concern to authorities or share information about something you believe to be unusual or out-of-the-ordinary, no matter how seemingly insignificant that something or suspicious looking someone may be. Don&#8217;t fall into the trap of NOT trusting your own senses, or hoping that if you ignore something it will simply go away.B) Commit to educating and conditioning yourself to be aware &ndash; be a sensor &ndash; at all times.C) Help other family members do the same. So how do we notice, recognize as potential threats, remember what we&#8217;ve seen, and then report what we&#8217;ve noticed to authorities' The Marine Corps and the Army have something called a SALUTE report. It&#8217;s a basic reconnaissance tool wherein combatants on the ground are able to ensure that everything is noted when spotting or making contact with an enemy force. SALUTE is an acronym for: Size &ndash; How many enemy soldiers are there'Activity &ndash; What are they doing'Location &ndash; Where are they, exactly'Unit &ndash; Are they a special operations unit or a conventional unit' Infantry' Artillery' What do their patches and insignia tell us'Time (and date) &ndash; When were they seen, and for how long'Equipment (and fire support available) &ndash; How are they armed, equipped, and transported' Now, of course, we are not soldiers in combat, so there is no need for us to look for, remember, or report anything related to enemy soldiers. But the same principles can certainly be applied when we notice anything or anyone suspicious in our everyday travels to and from work, school, and anywhere else. For instance, let&#8217;s say you are walking down the street from your office to a nearby coffee shop, and you notice one or more suspicious looking people that your instinct says you should be wary of: Think SALUTE! Size &ndash; Is there more than one suspicious acting person' Exactly how many'Activity &ndash; What is he or she (perhaps they) doing'Location &ndash; Where exactly are you seeing them' Street address' Across from what store' Corner of what and what'Unit &ndash; How are they dressed' What color or style jacket, shirt, pants, cap, etc' Any distinguishing logos'Time &ndash; Glance at your watch. Remember the time.Equipment &ndash; Any tool boxes, book bags, backpacks, etc' License tag numbers if they are in a vehicle, color and model of vehicle' Remember SALUTE! And remember that simply being aware of your surroundings is not enough. How do we know, beyond the obvious, what might appear to be suspicious activity' We know by staying abreast of local threat and security updates, as well as current news events (local, national, and international), because those events can suddenly morph into something close, immediate, and dangerous. Here at the Family Security Foundation&#8217;s Counterterrorism Research Center (CRC) we are going to help you stay informed. The CRC will provide you and your family with frequently updated information &ndash; selected from a variety of open sources (an intelligence term meaning books, newspapers, magazines, broadcast media transcripts, and other published items) &ndash; as well as exclusive commentary and answers to questions. On top of that, if you have any questions, concerns, or general comments, you may contact us directly at CRC@familysecuritymatters.org. We&#8217;re here for you, because all Americans &ndash; you, me, and everyone else &ndash; are helping defend America. W. Thomas Smith Jr.Director, Counterterrorism Research CenterW. Thomas Smith Jr. is director of the Counterterrorism Research Center of the Family Security Foundation. A former U.S. Marine infantry leader and shipboard counterterrorism instructor, Smith writes about military/defense issues and has covered conflict in the Balkans, on the West Bank, in Iraq and Lebanon. He is the author of six books, and his articles have appeared in USA Today, George, U.S. News & World Report, BusinessWeek, National Review Online, CBS News, Townhall.com, The Washington Times, and others.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.285/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ Terrorism #1</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.227/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[1. I don&#39;t live in a major urban area. How could a terrorist attack possibly affect my family' As illustrated on 9/11, large cities have a certain appeal for terrorists. Places such as New York, Washington, Los Angeles, or Houston have large populations and symbolic buildings that increase the death toll and emotional impact of an attack. Additionally, if an attack by nuclear, chemical, or biological weapon rendered a large city uninhabitable, millions of refugees would need shelter, food and jobs in other areas of the country, perhaps for many years. Other types of weapons, such as cyberterrorism or EMP attack, could eliminate the electricity, food, gas, and water supplies to massive portions of our nation. The economic toll of such displacement, job loss, infrastructure damage, and confidence erosion would be catastrophic. There are other reasons why the rest of the United States cannot be complacent. Some locations are so sensitive that they are appealing targets for terrorists, no matter where they are placed. These include, among many other things, food production facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and chemical plants. Other forms of terrorism, such as cyberterrorism or the use of a biological weapon, could spread damage and devastation over extremely large areas, quickly moving beyond the confines of a city. Even if terrorists attack only a specific urban target, such as on 9/11, the repercussions could spread much farther. The immediate loss of public confidence could severely undermine America&#39;s economy. Transportation, communication, and public health capabilities could be disrupted. In the event of a devastating attack, the American public could be so frightened as to demand government action on a scale that would drastically alter the traditional liberties and freedoms of every citizen in the United States. The cumulative effect of these responses to a geographically limited terrorist attack could cause lasting changes in American society that may greatly diminish our national power and prestige and ultimately erode our entire system of laws and government.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.227/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ Terrorism #2</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.228/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[2. Why did the terrorists attack the United States and do they really want to do so again' The 9/11 attacks were planned and executed by members of Al Qaeda, an organization motivated by Islamist ideology, which uses the teachings of fundamentalist and radical Islamic scholars of the 20th century as a basis for demanding political reforms. The Islamists believe that the Muslim people have been humiliated and disenfranchised by centuries of Western ascendancy and that, as the followers of the only true religion, they should rightfully by the dominant power in the world. They want to destroy the secular governments of the Middle East and establish a multinational state founded upon a highly restrictive interpretation of Islamic laws led by an individual with both political and religious authority. They also want to undermine the Western governments and liberal democracies in the world, because they believe these are models of wanton immorality that oppress their Muslim populations and degrade the world. Finally, they want to punish the West, including the United States, for perceived injuries done to Muslims worldwide. Osama bin Laden believes that American policies alone have killed 4 million Muslims and that he is therefore justified in killing 4 million Americans, two million of them children. The attacks of 9/11 represented a single deadly assault in the war he has declared upon the United States. There are only two ways for Osama bin Laden and his Islamist sympathizers to abandon their war against the West - they will either achieve their objectives or be physically restrained from planning and executing additional attacks. Only then will the threat to the United States from Islamist terrorists disappear.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.228/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ Terrorism #3</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.229/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[3. How do the terrorists hope to accomplish their objectives' Terrorism is, by definition, merely a tool and not a goal. It is the use of violence to spread fear and uncertainty to build popular demand for policy change within government. So while terrorists may set a tactical objective for themselves of bombing a transit system or assassinating a leader, their greater goals are always political. In the case of Islamist terrorists, their objectives are the creation of a multinational Islamic state in the Middle East, the removal of all Western influences from that region, the humiliation and punishment of Western governments, and the ultimate degradation of Western prestige to clear the way for their own ascendancy. The use of terrorism is a means through which they can accomplish some of these goals. They believe that continued terrorist attacks will eventually persuade Western governments to withdraw military forces from Iraq and to discontinue their support of Israel so that radical Islamists can take over the entire, oil-rich region and have an infinitely stronger base from which to pursue their goals. But because their objectives are essentially political, they will also use political means to achieve these goals. In countries such as the United States and Great Britain, with representative democratic governments and strong protections for free speech, it is easy to influence national policy through lobbying and civic action. While it is difficult to imagine any American lawmaker knowingly supporting Al Qaeda, some Islamist objectives, such as withdrawal from Iraq, are issues of legitimate debate within the United States upon which good-meaning people may disagree. It is essential that Americans understand that we are not only dealing with terrorists and their violent activities but that we are confronting an entire ideology with dedicated supporters who will achieve their goals in whatever method is most effective. Sometimes this may be violent, but many times it will be much more insidious, as ideas and individuals infiltrate our society to undermine it from within.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.229/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ Terrorism #4</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.230/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[4. The war on terrorism is killing young Americans and taking up a lot of our money and resources. The government is saying this could last for years. Is it possible to negotiate a settlement with terrorists that would keep America safe and allow us to end the fighting' War is a nasty business and the American people are so dedicated to the ideals of human rights and democracy that it is sometimes difficult for us to believe that it is the best, or even the only, solution to a problem. Unfortunately, sometimes war is the only way for us to protect ourselves and dissuade our enemies, as we saw in both world wars. Islamist terrorists, however, are not like a normal enemy in war. They do not have a country or a government. They have no resources or economy to protect and they have no moderate faction urging reconciliation. Members of Islamist organizations have chosen to be there or have been so indoctrinated that they can imagine no other way of life. There is no line that they will not cross and nothing, beyond their religion, that is so valuable that it cannot be compromised to reach their goal. When an individual is willing to die for a cause, there is very little opportunity left for bargaining. A suicide fighter can only be deterred through physical restraint or through the establishment of an entirely different value system in which he is given something for which to live, something that transcends his immediate cause. This is a multi-generational process that must begin so that the practice of filling young minds with hate can end. It will require the stabilization of local economies, the establishment of good schools, and the incorporation of every individual into the social and political system. While it can decrease or eliminate the pool of potential terrorists in ten or twenty years, it is unlikely to change a suicide bomber&#39;s mind immediately. For this reason, armed conflict is sadly, but inescapably, necessary in the war on terrorism.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.230/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ Terrorism #5</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.231/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[5. How are Islamists different from other Muslims' A Muslim is any person who believes in the teachings of Islam, a religion founded in the seventh century by the Prophet Mohammed in present-day Saudi Arabia. Because Islam began in the Middle East, the people of this region today are predominantly Muslim. However, there are large Muslim populations elsewhere in the world. Indonesia has the world&#39;s largest Muslim population and India has the second largest. The people of these countries are not Arab, like the Muslims of the Middle East. They have a different cultural heritage and do not speak Arabic, but they do share the same religion. The Islamists are a small group within the global Islamic community. Their religious beliefs are based upon the teachings of a few fundamentalist leaders, mainly from the 20th century, that emphasize an extremely strict interpretation of Islam. Many Islamic leaders outside of the Islamist movement, even those who are quite conservative or traditional, do not believe that the Islamists correctly interpret the teachings of the Koran, or Islamic holy book. With their religious beliefs as a foundation, Islamists have created an entire political ideology that draws heavily from 20th century totalitarian governments and revolutionary movements. They believe that all government is illegitimate unless it is built upon their particular interpretation of Islam and so seek to establish a state that uses their vision of Islamic law as its legal and political foundation. Such a government would control every element of its citizens&#39; lives, including their dress, their professions, their social activities, and their relationship to the state. The Taliban in Afghanistan came closer to the Islamist ideal than any other government, although Iran and Saudi Arabia have been influenced by the movement as well, as evidenced by their restrictive domestic policies.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.231/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>FAQ</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.95/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[I don&#39;t live in a major urban area. How could a terrorist attack possibly affect my family'   Why did the terrorists attack the United States and do they really want to do so again'  How do the terrorists hope to accomplish their objectives'  The war on terrorism is killing young Americans and taking up a lot of our money and resources. The government is saying this could last for years. Is it possible to negotiate a settlement with terrorists that would keep America safe and allow us to end the fighting'  How are Islamists different from other Muslims']]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.95/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Background</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.64/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[For nearly 1000 years after the death of the Prophet Mohammed in 632 AD, Islam accompanied political ascendancy and military expansion throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and into the heart of Europe. But beginning in the fifteenth century, the nations of Europe turned the tide of Muslim expansion, a process that eventually culminated in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the twentieth century. To this day, Islamic cultures, with their emphasis on historical awareness, nurture memories of Islam&#39;s past glories. These memories are often difficult to reconcile with the realities of the twentieth century that placed many traditional Muslim lands and ancient Islamic peoples under official Western mandate or de facto economic influence. Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, movements appeared within the Muslim community dedicated to reasserting Islam&#39;s past greatness, often using the rhetoric or tactics of revolutionary Marxist theory. One of the most important leaders from this period was Sayyid Qutb, an important philosophic influence upon the Egyption Muslim Brotherhood and other radical terrorist groups to follow. 1. Radical Beliefs Building upon the works of men such as Sayyid Qutb, radical Islamist groups believe their efforts are essential to return Islam to its former greatness. They seek to undermine the authority of secular governments in Muslim countries and replace them with regimes founded upon extreme interpretations of shari&#39;a, or Islamic law. The Taliban in Afghanistan was such a regime, intent upon enforcing its vision of a good Muslim society. Many radical Islamists believe their culture&#39;s decline over past centuries has accompanied a greater accommodation with Western values and behaviors. Therefore, they believe that it is necessary to purify their societies of all things Western in order to strengthen them. The interpretation of Islam expounded by radical groups is substantially different than that advanced by the majority of religious teachers and thinkers over the centuries. For example, in Islam jihad is, above all, a struggle. It can be a struggle against another person, but is more often a struggle against the base elements within oneself, in an effort to achieve greater holiness and become closer to God. When jihad is understood as an armed conflict against other people, it must be authorized by religious leaders. However, radical Islamism promotes a view of jihad as a personal choice that any Muslim can make for himself. Leaders of the radical movement such as Osama bin Laden may recommend jihad, but traditional standards do not recognize such individuals, without any religious training, as having the authority to make such proclamations. While the different definitions of jihad and religious authority are important, they are only two of the many ways in which Islam has been distorted to support radical beliefs and actions.  2. Culture Societies that have a strong radical presence have adapted to support the violence in their midst. For example, the Palestinian people remember suicide bombers as heroes, placing large posters in public places to preserve their memory. Wealthy individuals and leaders such as Saddam Hussein have offered large financial incentives to the families of suicide bombers. Young men are taught that sacrificing their lives in the jihad will guarantee great rewards in heaven. one of the primary ways in which this cultural transformation occurs is through education. The government-run schools in many countries are inadequate in number and quality to provide a viable challenge to the conservative madrassahs, schools established and directed by religious leaders. Other governments, such as that of Saudi Arabia, have reached agreements with conservative religious sects to promote a particular ideology and so Saudi schools adhere to the wahhabi interpretation of Islam. Some governments and non-governmental organizations, many with a radical bent, offer financial and material support to schools in other countries, including Western countries, if those schools adopt approved textbooks and curricula. The result is a cycle in which children of the most impressionable ages are instructed in a dangerous ideology by respected adults and grow into the terrorist actors and sympathizers of tomorrow. 3. Economy Most of the Muslim societies that support terrorist activity are either largely poor or have a drastically unequal distribution of wealth. Young Muslim men will rarely be allowed to marry unless they have a certain level of financial stability. With few other opportunities, they turn to radical groups, where they are surrounded by their peers, instructed in the use of advanced technology, and guaranteed accommodation and food. If they die, their families will receive honor and money, making their younger brothers&#39; and sisters&#39; lives a bit easier. If they live, perhaps they will have garnered enough wealth to marry. Since the time of Karl Marx, education and sufficient financial means to allow a life of relative leisure have been prerequisites for the leadership of revolutionary groups. Radical Islam is no different. While many suicide bombers are quite poor, the leaders, including bin Laden, have middle class or wealthy backgrounds. The high-tech nature of many forms of modern terrorism also increases the likelihood that terrorists will be well-educated, many having attended college and graduate school. So while it remains easy to find terror recruits in a pool of poorly educated young men with no real opportunity, increasingly terrorism depends upon individuals with great wealth and higher education in order to thrive. 4. Attacks Islamist terrorism against Western targets is largely a development of the last three decades. Following World War II, the countries of the Middle East slowly began to emerge as independent states and many used the ambiguities and uncertainties of the Cold War to develop their economic, educational, and political infrastructures. With the Iranian Revolution and the establishment of the Ayatollah Khomeini&#39;s government, the era of Islamism began with the example of the world&#39;s first Islamic republic in 1979 and the seizure that year of 66 American citizens as hostages in the American embassy in Teheran for 444 days. The subsequent invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union drew many young Muslim men to defend their faith and gave many the military training they would later use against the United States and Europe. The bombing of the American embassy in Beirut, the bombing of Marine barracks in Beirut, and the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 all signaled that a new enemy, with new tactics, had appeared. Attacks continued throughout the 1990&#39;s, including the first World Trade Center bombing, the bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the assault upon the U.S.S. Cole. While many Americans did not realize the gravity of the threat until 9/11, and many still don&#39;t, assaults upon American targets have been escalating for more than twenty-five years. 5. Groups The threat to the United States from Islamist terrorism is not monolithic. Many different groups exist with similar objectives. For many Americans, the most familiar of these is Al Qaeda. Formed by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri following the Soviet-Afghan War, it was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Other groups, some smaller, some older, exist in different regions. Some, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, have attempted to enter legitimate political discourse. Others, such as Egyptian Islamic Jihad, have incorporated themselves into larger groups such as Al Qaeda. It is important when considering terrorist groups to understand the impact of modern communications technology upon organization and hierarchy. Internet and satellite television no longer make it necessary for geographically remote individuals with sympathetic beliefs to listen to leaders such as Bin Laden in person. Instead, they can form local cells with no formal association with Al Qaeda or other groups to achieve objectives that Al Qaeda may condone, but not actually organize or even know of beforehand. This makes the global terrorist threat extremely amorphous, very dangerous, and highly unpredictable and forces analysts to reconsider their traditional views of organization and hierarchy. 6. Women The role of women in Islamist terrorist activity is primarily one of support. While some areas, such as Israel, have been subject to suicide bombings perpetrated by women, the overall level of active participation is very low. Instead, they are used as motivational tools for the men in their family. Women who have been indoctrinated into the same ideological system share the conviction of their husbands, sons, and brothers that jihad is a valid means for achieving honor, both for the individual and the family, and that the Western targets selected pose serious threats to Muslim physical or spiritual security. While losing a family member in the struggle may be painful, it also gives great honor and prestige to survivors. The larger role of women in Islamist social theory and practice is similarly one of support for men. While liberal democratic Islamic states allow and encourage participation by women in professional and political activities, the memories of Afghanistan under the Taliban are still clear. According to this ideology, women must remain shrouded in public and are subject to a set of strict rules governing behavior. Freedom of movement is virtually eliminated, access to education is extremely restricted, and female independence is essentially non-existent, as women are seamlessly transferred from the authority of father to husband. Since the collapse of the Taliban, however, there is no country with such strict rules for women, though some, such as Saudi Arabia, preserve elements of this code, where women must wear the traditional burqa, or floor-length black veil, and are not even allowed to drive a car. the authority of father to husband. Since the collapse of the Taliban, however, there is no country with such strict rules for women, though some, such as Saudi Arabia, preserve elements of this code, where women must wear the traditional burqa, or floor-length black veil, and are not even allowed to drive a car.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.64/default.asp</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Objectives</title>
<link>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.65/default.asp</link>
<description><![CDATA[Terrorist attacks upon the United States are not indiscriminate and done merely to kill, without any larger purpose. The very definition of terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation to compel the people and government of a country to make certain policy decisions. The objectives of groups such as Al Qaeda are quite clear. They seek to punish the United States and the West for perceived attacks upon Muslims worldwide, to secure control over the Middle East and its oil by forcing the withdrawal of Western military forces and cultural influences, and ultimately to establish Islam as the dominant force worldwide by undermining the Western institutions that restrict the ascendancy of radical Islam. These objectives have been clearly articulated in the published writings and recorded statements of the movement&#39;s leaders. In 1996, Osama Bin Laden issued a fatwa, or religious statement, declaring war against the United States. Later statements indicate that he has calculated the number of Muslim deaths due to American policies at 4 million and is willing to kill an equivalent number of Americans, including women and children, in order to achieve his vision. 1. Retribution For nearly 1000 years during the Middle Ages, Islam was the religion of a dynamic and growing world empire. Its followers controlled the entire region from southern Spain, throughout North Africa and the Middle East, into southeast Europe. But beginning in the Renaissance, the borders of Islam began to recede, culminating in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. For much of the 20th century, the traditional centers of Islamic power in the Middle East were ruled by Western nations. When they achieved autonomy, the first governments were frequently handpicked and installed by Western leaders. Under foreign leadership and in their early years of sovereignty, many countries in the Middle East were poorly managed, with rampant corruption and vastly unequal distributions of wealth. Living conditions for most people deteriorated far below levels in the rest of the world and the former glory of Islam seemed very distant. Islamist ideology seeks to rectify this situation, to raise the quality of life for Muslims in accordance with Islamic laws and to punish those nations that have robbed Islam of its past successes. Of course, many Islamic nations were victimized by poor leadership and exploitative policies, but the current conditions of the Middle East and many developing nations worldwide result from a complex network of causes that cannot be attributed directly to a single factor. 2. Consolidation As part of the return to Islam&#39;s historic political power, radical Islamists seek to establish control of the greater Middle East. They believe that it is necessary for the countries of the Middle East to be governed in accordance with their interpretations of Islam and sharia law. Certain realities of contemporary international politics are considered to be threats to their fundamentalist view of Islam. The presence of Western military forces is a primary cause of outrage and terrorists have launched attacks on American installations in Iraq and elsewhere in an effort to drive the United States and its allies from the region. Another objective is the erosion and destruction of local governments that have close ties to the West. Numerous attacks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt illustrate the willingness of Islamist terrorists to kill other members of their own religion in their zeal for punishing pro-Western or modern governments. And finally, a major element of the Islamist plan for consolidating control over the Middle East is the destruction of Israel, which represents a hated intrusion of religious outsiders and Western power upon sacred Muslim territory. Once the entire region has been remade according to radical Islamist principles, the stage will be set for the reestablishment of a caliphate, or multinational Islamic community under a single leader. Such a community would have the demographic and economic resources to become a major world power. 3. Expansion Radical Islamist ideology denies the validity of other world religions and is often used as justification for policies designed to undermine countries and groups not explicitly founded upon Islam. This process is not confined to the Middle East, but has begun to spread across the world. On several continents and in numerous countries, including the United States, an effort is being made to change traditional standards and twist existing political structures to make them more palatable to Islamic fundamentalists and Islamist radicals. This effort is often carried out within the sphere of legitimate social and political action, but sometimes metastasizes into violent terrorist attacks. For example, London has been home to a vibrant Muslim community for many years, thriving in the political and economic freedoms of the West. In recent years, however, members of this community have used their freedom of speech to advocate increasingly radical policies, hostile to established British institutions. The attacks upon London transit systems in July, 2005 represent the cumulative effect of years of ideological development. Elsewhere in Europe, governments are eyeing their Islamic populations warily. A very low birthrate in European communities combines with rapid immigration and growth in Muslim populations to make the Islamic minority an increasingly large and powerful constituency. In response, several countries, most notably France, have enacted legislation to encourage a blanket secularization of society and reduce the public visibility of any religion. Such policies have dubious effectiveness and are extremely unlikely to deter attacks such as those in London and Madrid or those that have been recently discovered in their planning stages in France. Similarly, a movement exists in the United States to encourage social and political reforms to make American society more hospitable to fundamentalist Islam. Advocacy groups have been formed to prevent ostensible discrimination against Muslims. The United States has a strong history of religious freedom and there are numerous groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union that act as watchdogs against discrimination of all forms. However, some of these new anti-discrimination advocacy groups have had an extremely chilling impact upon free speech, as they can mobilize powerful resistance to any individual in a public forum who questions their motives. Another threat to the United States comes from certain American Islamic religious leaders who teach an interpretation of Islam that is similar, and sometimes identical, to the radical Islamists. The United States has a much higher standard of free speech protection than most of the world and also fiercely protects individual privacy. Speech that simply condones or even advocates violence is often protected by American laws. Finally, there is a movement in Canada, only a few miles over the border from Michigan, to allow the local Muslim community to live under sharia laws, rather than Canadian laws. If this move was to succeed, two legal and judicial systems would exist, leading to the segregation of Canadian society and undermining the legitimacy of Canadian laws. These policies do not represent the mainstream of Islamic thought but do represent a strong effort by Islamists to erode the foundation of Western society and make radical Islam the dominant force worldwide.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<guid>http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/terrorism/pageID.65/default.asp</guid>
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