Radical Groups Terrorists or Freedom Fighters The

Radical Groups Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?

The Society of Islamic Brothers ﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ ﺍﻷ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻮﻥ ﺨﻮﺍﻥ Formed in 1928 in Egypt, The Muslim Brotherhood opposes secular tendencies of Islamic nations and wants return to the precepts of the Qur’an, and rejection of Western influences. The organization's motto is: “Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope”

Teachings of The Muslim Brotherhood Sayyid Qutb was the Brotherhood’s leading theorist of 1950 -60 s. On a 1949 student trip to U. S. , he developed negative impressions of American culture. Egyptian Pres. Nasser hanged Qutb in 1966 for plotting his assassination. Qutb laid the philosophical foundation for radical Islamists. In Shade of the Qur’an and Milestones of the Roads, Qutb interpreted the Qur’an as demanding extension of Sharia (religious law) to all aspects of life. He called for “Jihad for abolishing the organizations and authorities of the Jahili system, ” i. e. , all Muslim governments in the world today. Drawing from puritanical Salafi & Wahabbi doctrines, Qutbism’s principles are: Muslims must return to pure Islam as practiced in the Prophet’s time That path lies through strict, literal interpretation of the Qur’an & Hadith Muslims should individually interpret original sources, not rely on scholars Using history and contexts to interpret the Qur’an is a corruption Armed struggle (jihad) is justifiable as the means to eliminate un-Islamic governments and establish a global system of Islamic State rule

The Muslim Brotherhood The Brotherhood today is one of the most influential movements in the Islamic World. It exists in more than 80 countries. The Brotherhood has posted electoral victories in Turkey, Jordan, and Algeria and forms the main opposition to the governments in several countries in the Muslim world, such as Egypt and Syria. They are politically active to some extent in nearly every Muslim country. There also diaspora branches in several Western Nations, composed by immigrants previously active in the Brotherhood in their home countries.

Osama bin Laden and His Group

Al Qaeda Organization

Al Qaeda Network

From the Horse’s Mouth … Or Maybe the Other End…

Osama bin Laden Speaks "After the end of the Cold War, America escalated its campaign against the Muslim world in its entirety, aiming to get rid of Islam itself. . However, our gratitude to Allah, their campaign was not successful, as terrorizing the American occupiers is a religious and logical obligation. " November 1996

Osama Bin Laden Speaks "We have declared jihad against the U. S. . [Is it] directed against U. S. soldiers, the civilians in [Mecca and Medina] or against the civilians in America[? ] “We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians; they are all targets in this fatwa. ” March 1997

Osama bin Laden Speaks “[The U. S. Embassy explosion in Nairobi] was a painful blow. [The Americans] had not sustained such a blow since the blowing up of the Marines in Lebanon. . . They deserved it. It made them taste what we tasted during the massacres committed [against us]. June 1999 “Acquiring weapons for the defense of Muslims is a religious duty. To seek to possess the weapons that could counter those of the infidels is a religious duty. ” February 2001

Osama bin Laden Speaks “As to America, I say to it and its people a few words: I swear to God that America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine, and before all the army of infidels depart the land of Mohammad, peace be upon him. ” 6 October 2001

"O American people, I am speaking to tell you about the ideal way to avoid another Manhattan, about war and its causes and results. “Contrary to Bush's claims that we hate freedom. Let him tell us why we did not attack Sweden for example. "We fought you because we are free and because we want freedom for our nation. When you squander our security we squander yours. October 2004

Bin Laden’s Message "God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the towers but after the situation became unbearable and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American. Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, I thought about it. "As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me to punish the unjust the same way and to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and get them to stop killing our children and women. "Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands and each state which does not harm our security will remain safe. ” October 2004

The Al Qaeda Plan of Action 1. Awakening: The 9/11 attacks & 2003 U. S. invasion of Iraq 2. Opening Eyes: Network recruiting of young members until 2006 3. Arising & Standing: Attacks on Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Israel until 2010 4. Declaration of the Caliphate: Islamic State & a New World Order by 2016 5. Total Confrontation: Global fight of believers vs. nonbelievers 2017 -19 6. Definitive Victory: Creation of the Islamist utopia by 2020

The Taliban Students of Allah

Who Are the Taliban? The Taliban, backed by Pakistan and funded by Saudi Arabia, arose in 1994 during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and overran most of Afghanistan by 1996. They are driven by an extremely harsh Medieval interpretation of Sunni Islam. The Taliban imposed an extremely repressive, sectarian Islamic regime on the Afghan people, barring women from work and education and even killing Shiite Muslims of the Hazari minority.

Who Are the Taliban? The Taliban said their aim was to set up the world's most pure Islamic state, banning frivolities like television, music, and cinema. Their attempts to eradicate crime were reinforced by the introduction of Islamic law including public executions and amputations. A flurry of regulations forbidding girls from going to school and women from working quickly brought them into conflict with the international community.

The Bin Laden Connection Bin Laden had been a hero of the 'jihad' against the Soviet occupiers, and the Taliban welcomed him back to Afghanistan in 1996 after his expulsion from the Sudan. Bin Laden cemented his ties to the Taliban leadership through his daughter's marriage to its leader, Mullah Omar. Bin Laden’s "Arab Afghan" fighters played a leading role in the Taliban's military campaign against its opponents. The Taliban's elite brigade were trained in Bin Laden's camps, and are believed to be loyal to the Saudi terrorist's "Al Qaida" movement.

The Pakistan Connection Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's government prior to 9/11. Pakistan has been more than a friend to the Taliban — in many ways it has been mentor and tutor, too, and even, according to opposition groups, an active participant in its rise to power.

Taliban Resurgent Military officers and diplomats say Pakistan's tribal belt is the engine room of the insurgency. Two shuras, or tribal councils, coordinate the attacks - one in the western city of Quetta, the other in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal area that is also a crucible of al-Qaida terrorism. In September 2006 Pakistan agreed to withdraw army units from the tribal region and turn over checkpoints to local tribes that are effectively Taliban

The Sanctuary

Taliban Resurgent Bolstered by a compliant Pakistani government, hefty cash inflow from the drug trade and a population disillusioned by battered infrastructure and lackluster reconstruction efforts, the Taliban is back. While northern and western Afghanistan remain stable, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is isolated and unpopular. Suicide attacks in Afghanistan have risen from single digits two years ago to more than 40 already this year. The Taliban's growing presence in central Afghanistan's Ghazni province -- outside the group's traditional strongholds in the south and east -- is another benchmark of its strength. Nearly half the districts in Ghazni are now under significant Taliban influence. The Taliban units operating there aim to control access to Kabul 100 miles to the north

The Palestine Liberation Organization

Palestine Liberation Organization Created in 1964 during a meeting known as the Palestinian Congress. Comprised of several factions: - The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, - Popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, and - al-Fatah.

PLO Evolution By 1967 the PLO decided that their primary goal was the destruction of the state of Israel. For the next ten years, this goal was the primary focus of the massive terrorist campaign by which their reputation was formed. In 1974 the PLO received UN recognition, and a government in exile was recognized by the other Arab nations as a basis for a future Palestinian state, to be formed from land regained from Israel along the west bank of the Jordan River. In 1976 the PLO was granted full membership in the Arab League.

PLO Evolution In 1979 the PLO was forced out of Jordan and fled to Lebanon. In 1982, the Israeli army swept into Beirut, Lebanon and forced the PLO to flee to Tunisia. In a decision that radical Palestinians resented, Arafat agreed to come to the bargaining table to discuss peace with Israeli leaders. Little came of these talks. In 1988, Arafat took the diplomatic road one step further when he not only announced the right of the state of Israel to exist but renounced PLO terrorism.

PLO Evolution On 9 September 1993, in letters to Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Norwegian Foreign Minister Holst, PLO Chairman Arafat committed the PLO to cease all violence and terrorism. On 13 September 1993, the Declaration of Principles between the Israelis and Palestinians was signed in Washington, DC.

PLO Evolution In 1994, Arafat appointed an interim 19 -member Palestinian National Authority, under his direction, to administer Palestinian affairs in the areas of self-rule. Under a 1995 accord, self-rule was extended over a two-year period to all major Arab cities and villages in the West Bank, except East Jerusalem. Arafat was elected president of the Palestiniancontrolled territory in 1996. In the same year the PLO formally revoked all clauses in its founding charter that called for the dissolution of Israel, and Arafat pledged to fight terrorism. In the summer of 2000, peace negotiations sponsored by the US failed to reach agreement. In September 2000, the current round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians began.

Hamas (The Islamic Resistance Movement) Ø Hamas is religious-political-military organization that evolved from Palestinian members of the Muslim Brotherhood. It opposes the Oslo peace because it involves recognizing Israel's existence. Ø The organization's ultimate goal is to create an Islamic state in all of pre 1948 Palestine, which includes all of Israel. But its short-term objective is to drive the Israelis out of all territories they conquered in June 1967. Sheik Yassin, Hamas Founder

Hamas, 2 Ø One of the keys to Hamas's popularity is its large-scale welfare arm. Hamas provides educational, medical and other desperately needed welfare services in impoverished West Bank and Gaza towns and refugee camps Ø The welfare arm also cares for the families of suicide bombers and others who have died fighting the Israelis. Ø The social services performed by Hamas also create a pretext for the massive funding the organization receives from Muslim charities throughout the Persian Gulf and beyond.

Hamas, 3 Ø Hamas is now believed to directly represent the political views of one in three Palestinians, and its actions carry the support of an overwhelming majority. - Opinion polls find upward of 70 percent of Palestinians currently favor suicide bombings and oppose a cease-fire. Ø Most of the rank-and-file of Fatah and security services regard Hamas as comrades-in-arms against the Israelis. Ø Hamas has been the primary beneficiary of the alienation of many Palestinians from the corruption of the PA, the failure of the peace process and of Arafat's declining political authority over the 14 months of the second intifada.

Hizbullah Ø Hizbullah won a particular reputation for striking at western interests, pioneering the use of suicide attacks against targets such as the American and French embassies, and an American marine barracks in Beirut. Ø Hizbullah has also been linked to atrocities abroad since the civil war ended in 1991, in particular the bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires. Hizbullah operatives may also have sponsored an attack on American servicemen in Saudi Arabia in 1997. Ø Hizbullah is credited with making Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon so costly that it was forced to withdraw its forces in May 2000. Ø Hizbullah’s standing in Lebanon and the Muslim world in general was enhanced by its showing in the summer 2006 Israeli incursion into Lebanon.

Characteristics of Islamic Militant Leaders Ø They are young, typically in their twenties and thirties. Ø Eighty percent are University students or University graduates. Ø Over half come from elite colleges or from the intellectually most demanding fields of technical specialization, such as medicine and engineering. Ø Over 70 percent are from lower middle-class 'modest, but not poor backgrounds, '' and are the first generation in their family to get higher education. Ø They spent their childhoods in small towns or rural areas but became residents of large cities.

Characteristics of the Followers of Islamic Militants Ø Urban middle class people make up the bulk of the active membership in Islamic militant groups. In some degree these come from what are often termed "traditional" middle -class groups: merchants, traders, small business proprietors, bazaaris. Ø To an even greater extent fundamentalists belong to the more "modern" sectors of the middle class. Islamist activists include a disproportionately large number of the best-educated and most intelligent young people in their respective populations, " including doctors, lawyers, engineers. Scientists, teachers, civil servants.

Radical Groups Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?