Monday's Winds of War: 12 Sept 2005

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Security Watchtower.

Top Topics

• Syrian leader Bashar Assad met with representatives from 10 Palestinian militant organizations, and urged them to continue their struggle towards statehood. The meeting came as international pressure on Syria continues to build.

• The Palestinian leadership is blaming Hamas for the assassination of Moussa Arafat, with one official saying "we have confirmed information that Hamas participated in the assassination operation."

• Bangladesh police seized explosives, jihad material, and over 200 homemade bombs from a house they raided in Dhaka. Since the August 17th bombings, authorities have been cracking down on the banned Islamic group, Jumatul Mujahedin.

• After a 38 year presence, Israeli forces have withdrawn from the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinian security forces began moving in as Palestinians celebrated into the night.

Other topics today include: Hezbollah still refuses to disarm; Iran's involvement in Iraq; al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia; Kudistan trail; Congressional hearings on Iran; Jordanian militants sentenced; 9/11 heroes honored; BRAC report; Islamic law in Ontario; Padilla detention; Liberia elections; Egypt elections; Georgian revolution; militants killed in Pakistan; U.S.-Britain labelled terrorists; Fast food bombings in Karachi; Conflict in Taiwan straights; Anti-terror measures in Australia; ties between London bombers & al Qaeda; Italy allows phone taps; suicide operations and more.

Iran & the Middle East

• Hezbollah, the Shi'ite terror group backed by Iran and Syria, still has no intentions of abiding by U.N. resolution 1614 which calls for the Lebanese based group to disarm.

• Arnaud de Borchgrave takes a look at Iran's involvement in Iraq.

• al Qaeda vs. the Magic Kingdom

• Are jihadists using the Kurdistan Trail to move weapons between Iraq and Afghanistan?

• This Week Magazine has a short, basic and to the point summary of Iran's nuclear program from 1976 to present that is worth the read.

• Daniel L. Byman gave testimony last week before the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attacks of the Homeland Security Committee. The testimony focused on Iran, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Also read Ray Takeyh's testimony before the same subcommittee.

• Twelve Islamic militants in Jordan were sentenced for their role in terror plots to attack the U.S. and Israeli embassy's in Jordan. Prison terms ranged from 1 1/2 to 3 years and were delivered amidst cries for jihad on America and praise for the 9/11 attacks.

America Domestic Security & the America's

• 442 firefighters, police officers and rescuers who perished in the 9/11 attacks were awarded posthumous Medals of Valor at the White House.

• The BRAC panel sent their final report to President Bush. According to Secretary Rumsfeld, the proposal would save $ 48.8 billion over the next 20 years.

• Will Ontario allow the implementation of Islamic law? Not if groups opposed to the move have their say.

• A U.S. appeals court has ruled that dirty bomb suspect Jose Padilla can be held without charges, citing Presidential authority.

Africa

• ICG takes a look at the upcoming October elections in Liberia and provides a list of recommendations.

• Hosni Mubarak won re-election in Egypt with over 88 percent of the vote, but his political opposition is declaring fraud and improper handling of the election.

Russia & Central Asia

• Is Georgia heading for a new revolution?

• U.N. envoy Jean Arnault is warning that violence in Afghanistan may drag on for several more years if the international community doesn't do more, and he urged Pakistan to cut off support the militants were recieving.

• Officials from Kyrgyzstan are denying claims made last week by Uzbekistan that militants involved in the Andijon uprising were trained in their nation, calling the charges "baseless."

• Governors from Khowst, Paktya and Paktika provinces met at the Afghan National Police Regional Training Center to discuss cooperation in security, reconstruction and the upcoming elections.

• Why America shouldn't sever ties with Uzbekistan

• Three foreign militants were arrested in North Waziristan after a shootout with Pakistani authorities. The clash comes at a time when Pakistani forces are imposing curfews and stepping up their presence in the tribal region along the Afghan border.

Far East & Southeast Asia

• Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad used a speech on human rights to declare Britain and the United States were terrorist countries.

• According to intelligence reports sent by Indonesia to the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf has been attempting to solicit more funding from Middle East financiers to purchase weapons and fund attacks.

• Twin bombings in Pakistan targeted a Kentucky Fried Chicken and a McDonalds in Karachi, shattering windows and injuring several bystanders.

• Richard Bush, director of the Brookings Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies has a new book out titled "Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait," that focuses on the contentious relationship between Taiwan and China.

• Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said his government will beef up anti-terrorism laws, saying that we are "living in an era and a time when unusual but necessary measures are needed."

Europe

• Britain is pressing the European Union to adopt more stringent anti-terrorism legislation, though not without opposition. The European parliament is threatening legal action in return.

• Eliza Manningham-Buller, MI5 director-general, recently gave a speech to the Dutch Security Services where she indicated that some erosion of civil liberties may be necessary in order to confront terrorism.

• Winds of Change's own Dan Darling lays out the unrefutable evidence of ties between the London bombers and al Qaeda, furthermore declaring London as "al Qaeda's spiritual center in Europe."

• The Cabinet of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi approved a bill that allows for limited use of phone taps. Yet to be approved by the parliament, the bill would also provide for fines of journalists and news organizations for publishing conversations from secret investigations.

The Global War

• On 14 September, an online global parliamentary hearing will focus on space security. The event will be broadcasted live via webcast, and viewers can submit questions to the panel.

• Christopher Dickey of Newsweek ponders whether suicide bombings are preventable, and if there is a solution in dealing with those who will give their own lives to take the lives of others.

• Military historian Victor Davis Hanson asks whether we are isolationists, imperialists, or wide-eyed dreamers.

• The Heritage Foundation has put out a study guide for understanding the public policy challenges of the War on Terrorism. Thought provoking questions.

• FDD fellow Peter Pham reviews three books, Mia Bloom, Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terrorism, Timothy Naftali, Blind Spot: The Secret History of American Counterterrorism, and Robert A. Pape, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism, and ties them into an overview on suicide bombers. For additional reading, see my interview with Timothy Naftali a month back.

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