This is not the way to fight terror
The News Review:
- This is not the way to fight terror
- Suicide bombers turning to websites
- Movement for Muslims Proposed
- Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) chips the ball over…
- Israel pounds Gaza; Palestinians seek Bush’s help
This is not the way to fight terror
The Age – Sep 29, 2005
In 1997, the US Department of Defence science board reported:”Historical data show strong correlations between US involvement ininternational situations and increased terrorist attacks againstthe US. A study by University of Chicago political scientist Robert Papeof 462 suicide-terrorist attacks between 1980 and 2004 worldwidefound the overwhelming reason for the attacks was a clear politicalobjective and in more than 95 per cent of the cases the “centralobjective” was the eviction of foreign troops. But in the case of London it seems that the home-grownterrorists emerged because of the British involvement in Iraq. Itwould seem that to the extent that Howard’s tougher new terrorismlaws are inspired by anything more than domestic politicaladvantage, it is an implicit admission that any home-grownAustralian terrorism would be inspired by a sense of alienationamong Australia’s Muslim youth because of our role in the invasionof Iraq. Surely the best way to deal with terrorism is to drain the swampof injustice that the West has created in the Middle East in theinterests of cheap oil and support for the continuing Israelioccupation of Palestine territory beyond the green line – indefiance of the UN. If Australia made it clear that it supported a staged withdrawalfrom Iraq behind a genuine UN (preferably Muslim) peacekeepingforce, the return of Iraqi oil to Iraqi control and a decentagreement between Israel and the Palestinians based on the 1967borders, this would do far more to prevent a terrorist bombing ofan Australian city than the divisive legislation proposed by theHoward Government. The alternative? A never-ending “war on terror” that will be farmore horrible and expensive to Western civilisation than the “waron drugs”, another mainly US-inspired frolic doomed to failure.
Suicide bombers turning to websites
The Age – Sep 29, 2005
even in Iraq,jihadis from 14 other Arab countries say that they have volunteeedto fight against ‘international evil’ rather than for Iraq itself,”the letter says. Combatting home-grown jihadis requires understanding small-groupdynamics and psychological motivations, including isolation andbrooding resentment, it says. “Given the increasing role played by the Internet, effortsshould foster alternative peer groups in cities and cyberspace,showing the same commitment and compassion towards their ownmembers as terror groups seem to offer, but in life-enhancing waysand also towards others,” it suggests. Atran is a research leader at the Institut Jean Nicod inFrance’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) andassistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan,while Stern is at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Movement for Muslims Proposed
Times of India – Sep 29, 2005
Cherif Bassiouni presented them with a challenge and a
proposal. A Distinguished Research
Professor at the DePaul University’s College of Law, Bassiouni noted in his
speech how former attorney general John Ashcroft had publicized the presence of
sleeper cells in the country, increasing fear among the American public and
consequently fostering more prejudice against Muslim
Americans. “When you look at these cases
(in which Ashcroft claimed that home grown terrorists across the country had
been arrested), you will find in all of these cases that charges were never
proven,” he pointed out to the
audience. All Americans, irrespective of
religion, “have a big challenge ahead of us,” he argued. “The challenge is to
restore the rule of law to this country. It is obvious that if you have a system
where the rule of law prevails, or where the rule of law can be bent, or where
the rule of law can be politicized, then you are going to find victims and,
right now, the victims are the
Muslims. ”
Bassiouni proposed that
Muslims in this country seriously consider forming a national council of learned
Muslims scholars.
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) chips the ball over…
Calcutta Telegraph – Sep 29, 2005
Lacking the sergeant-major presences of the injured Roy Keane and Gary Neville, United appeared badly short of real leaders. Gradually, though, Alan Smith began to impose himself on central midfield, allowing Paul Scholes to stay further forward in Ferguson’s 4-2-3-1 system. Snapping into one 15th-minute challenge, Smith transferred the ball wide to Phil Bardsley, one of six home-grown players gracing the red ranks. Bardsley, employed at right-back with ’Shea covering for the injured Mikael Silvestre in the middle, looked far from in awe of such a grand European occasion. Controlling Smith’s pass, the Salford-born Bardsley lifted the ball towards the edge of the area. It was flighted slightly behind Van Nistelrooy, but good players can turn average passes into richly promising ones. Taming the ball and turning in one movement, Van Nistelrooy then volleyed it goalwards, only to be thwarted by the bar.
Israel pounds Gaza; Palestinians seek Bush’s help
Turkish Daily News – Turkish Daily News (subscription) – Sep 29, 2005
Palestinian officials confirmed Abbas would meet Bush during a visit to Washington next month. The two last met at the White House in May, the first time Bush had received a top Palestinian leader since the beginning of his first term in 2000. This time, however, Abbas is likely to come under flak, with the Palestinian Authority seemingly incapable of stopping home-grown extremists from firing rockets into Israel in a relentless cycle of violence that flared on Friday. Announcing that an Abbas-Sharon summit had been postponed, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat urged Bush to intervene to stop the cycle of violence, saying “things are slipping out of hand”. “The meeting will not take place on Oct. 2, but only once the preparations for this summit have been completed,” Erakat said. Apache helicopter gunships slammed missiles into offices owned by Abbas’s ruling Fatah party as pilots sent rockets screeching into Palestinian security offices elsewhere in Gaza City, although there were no reports of casualties.