Comments

You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name

Your e-mail (optional)

Website (optional)

	My Original Nic Pic-a-Nic Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Foto

Submit your comments on this article

Terror Networks & Islam

World conflict 'has already begun'

2004-11-02

THE world had already entered the next global conflict, but one very different to the world wars of the past, the second International Policing Conference was told here today.

Retired US Army colonel John Alexander also said he disagreed with his Commander in Chief, US President George W Bush's assessment that the world was a safer place because of the US led war on terrorism.

"We're used to war, nation state on nation state," Dr Alexander said.

"But now we have non-state actors that approach the power of nation states.

"The concept of what is now known as the super-empowered individual, a person like (Osama) bin Laden and the influence that he can wield around the world."

Dr Alexander, now a world expert on the use of non-lethal weapons and an adviser to the Commander of the US Special Operations Command, said the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in the history of the United States and the world.

He said terrorism had already come to the US mainland but never with such devastation and loss of life.

That attacks served to wake the "sleeping giant" just as the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour had done during World War II.

But, he said, he did not agree that the world was a safer place now following the US-led response.

"I must humbly disagree with my commander in chief because I do not believe the world is a safer place today than it was a few years ago," Dr Alexander said.

"Rather we have entered a dark, dangerous and foreboding path, one from which the outcome is unclear.

"But this is not just America's struggle, terrorists have struck at nearly every corner of the world and several attacks have targeted Australians specifically.

"It is the free people of the world and many nations who must now respond and say, never again."

Posted by:Mark Espinola

#13 As far as the modern jihadic movement strating. It was 1979 with the 'allowed' take over of Iran by ultra-fanatical Shi'ite Muslims taking control of 'Persia & her vast oil reserves

The Shi'ites worthshiped what some saw as the 12th iman, the one who arrives prior to the Mahadi. The Muslim elder cleric was was Ruhollah ibn Mustafa Musawi Khomeini Hindi (meaning the Indian). The name Khomeini was taken from the town where he was born.

Two titles have been used for him, 'Ayatollah', which is the title of a religious leader, but not the highest in Shi'i Islam. This was Khomeini's title at the time of the Iranian revolution, but he soon took the title 'Imam', which is definitely the highest position in Shi'i Islam. Actually this title is so high that this necessitated a a new interpretation of Shi'i theology.

The Ayatollah's radical horde held America hostage for 444 days . Khomeini gained a geostrategic foothold in the Near-East by training & funding Lebanon's arch-terrorist group, Hizballah, currently an 'important' part of the Lebanessse parlement. Today decendants of the ------------------------------------------============================

Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-02 10:18:44 PM

#12 Thanks for the history, RWV. I remember being at services that Yom Kippur Day. The rabbi stopped the service, informed us of the situation, and passed out Israel Bond pledge cards. Daddy always bought bonds every year anyway (in lieu of personal service, since he'd settled Stateside in 1958), but that day he pledged an additional $6000 -- for the six members of our family. (Which is probably why I had to pay my own college tuition. The funds could be spent in Israel, but not repatriated therefrom.) I think my parents voted for Nixon the next election, too.

Shipman, Frank, you guys are being mean! Go dream about some flexible bimbo instead.

P.S. If it matters to anyone, my [sweet, old, academic, classical American liberal, living in Buffalo,NY] mother decided to vote Bush instead of Kerry. And Michael Moore makes her sick. I'm not sure if Daddy felt well enough to leave the house to vote.

Posted by: trailing wife 2004-11-02 9:49:34 PM

#11 mmmm Martha in the prison shower with seasonal accessories.....

Posted by: Frank G 2004-11-02 6:43:28 PM

#10 AP, it was more than just an airlift. Nixon put us at DEFCON 3 and stared the Arabs' Russian allies down. The 72nd provisional Strat Wing consisted of 186 B-52Gs at Andersen AFB on Guam. Within 24 hours of going to DEFCON 3 everyone of the BUFFs that was flyable was either in the States on nuke alert or enroute to the states. Squadrons of A4s lifted off the decks of carriers in the Med, flew to Israel where their roundels were repainted and Israeli pilots flew them against the invaders. Richard Nixon was the best friend that Israel ever had.

Posted by: RWV 2004-11-02 6:30:38 PM

#9 Don't let the jihhadis wear on ya Lucky. I dream of Martha Stewart in the slammer shower.

Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-02 6:27:43 PM

#8 Nice take Dreadnaught. Until this war moves forward to victory over the evil jihad. Then its battle stations.
I have a joke. When is a jihadie a good jihadie?

When he's dead! Get it? I dream dead jihadies.

Posted by: Lucky 2004-11-02 5:45:35 PM

#7 Right, .com---The IDF was down to 2 days or so worth of materiel and we had to do something or they would be sunk. Yom Kippur War, IIRC. The Egyptians attacked on Yom Kippur and caught the Israelis off guard.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-11-02 5:18:20 PM

#6 '73 - when we saved Israel via an airlift of materiel (to counter the same move by the Soviets) and the Saudis declared war with the oil embargo.

Posted by: .com 2004-11-02 5:13:21 PM

#5 With all due respect to Dr. Alexander, but if this article is truly indicative of the analysis going on in our intel communities, perhaps we are in big trouble.

First, Al Qaeda does not have the power of a nation-state. Not even close. It's an incredibly stupid thing to say. That's why they need the Afghanistans and Irans of the world.

Second, the entire "world isn't a safer place today" mantra is absurd. Sheer sophistry. The world wasn't safer in 1944 than in 1938 if one looks at the casualty rolls, but we were definitely better off because we were finally driving a dagger through the heart of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Ditto for the current conflict.

Perhaps Dr. Alexander's comments are taken out of context.

Posted by: Dreadnought 2004-11-02 4:48:07 PM

#4 flash91 has it right.

Sirhan said he did it because of Israel. The PC MSM (yes, even in those days) covered it up now and has ever since.

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-11-02 3:32:51 PM

#3 How about Sirhan Sirhan and Bobby Kennedy?

Posted by: flash91 2004-11-02 11:08:12 AM

#2 Indeed.

Posted by: Tom 2004-11-02 9:49:15 AM

#1 If you want a year it started in try 1979 when the Ayatolah Cockamamie got of the airplane in Tehran

Posted by: Cheaderhead 2004-11-02 7:42:22 AM

00:00