Hippercritical's Winds of War: 2003-12-01

Welcome! Our goal 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. In addition, we also have our in-depth Iraq Report. Today's briefings are brought to you by Glenn Halpern of HipperCritical. Glenn has a date with a hospital in his near future, so please everyone drop by his blog and wish him well!

TOP TOPICS

• New warnings have surfaced that Al Qaeda is looking to go for the big score against a US target, and WMDs may be in the plans. The lively dilaogue between Belmont Club and USS Clueless on America's likely response to a deadly WMD strike is eye-opening.

• JK: Guest Bloggers (Hungarian Ambassador to the USA) Andras Simonyi, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of The Doobie Brothers & Steely Dan, talk about the role of Rock n' Roll in spreading freedom: ['Skunk' Baxter | Ambassador Simonyi | Q&A Session]

• This War on Terror is quite the rollercoaster ride, and it stretches around the globe. In the past week, high-profile arrests of suspected Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists were made in Italy, Germany, London, Turkey, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. That the Coalition is tracking down terrorists all over the world is both heartening and worrying, no?

Other Topics Today Include: Iranian Mullahs rejoice over IAEA resolution; Iran-Israel geopolitical games; Iran elections discussion; Vote for Blogger Hoder!; al-Qaeda's strategy; WoT is 2 civil wars; US missile defense system to be deployed in 2004; More controversy over Guantanamo Bay; The 'Israelization' of Turkey; 5 regimes must go; Afghanistan reports, Terrorism futures; How to Support the Troops - updated!

IRAN REPORTS

• The International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for eighteen years of deception surrounding its nuclear testing program, yet somehow, Iran and the European Union emerged as the geopolitical victors. The Mullahs rejoiced over the IAEA resolution, and EU concerns over possible OPEC oil cutbacks (as had been threatened) were alleviated. Peter Brookes sees other reasons for the EU's Mullah-coddling.

• The IAEA will further investigate Iran's nuclear relationships, but Iran's representative to the IAEA doesn't understand why the IAEA doesn't fully take into account "the turn of policy and action in Iran on the 21 October." Perhaps the last eighteen years are a factor.

• A lively discussion about next year's presidential and parliamentary elections is going on over at Free Thoughts. Here's some meddling by a Western influence: Vote For Hoder in 2004!

• The Israeli government may employ scare tactics to win some support in its geopolitical battle with Iran, but then it doesn't even need to manufacture its own material. And others play the same game with far less proof.

• These websites covering Iran's human rights situation and the people's fight for freedom have received some well-deserved attention lately. Check them out!

U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING

• The Global Partnership Against The Spread Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction (or the "GPATSOWOMD"), led by all of the G8 Nations, released its November Update. It warns that all the member nations must do more to prevent the acquisition of WMD's by terrorists. So it may be a good thing that there's a viable fallback option. The Pentagon plans to deploy a missile defense system in 2004.

• A British judge declared Guantanamo Bay to be a "monstrous failure of justice," and The Guardian dotes. The Christian Science Monitor provides full coverage of the Gitmo issue, including a BBC article informing readers that "it is rare for British judges to speak on contentious political issues and almost unheard of for them to attack a foreign government."

• The Pentagon reached a settlement with the Australia government over the military tribunal for David Hicks, an Australian currently detained at Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, a deal between America and the United Kingdom over Gitmo's British detainees is wrapping up.

• Criticism is much more moving when it comes from within rather than without, so it's vital that supporters of the Bush administration and/or this War on Terror level some when our government stumbles. One of the original architects of the Patriot Act drops concerns about its current application by US authorities. This terror war detainee deserved much better treatment. And on a historical note, coup orchestration is a costly business.

THE WIDER WAR

• Donald Sensing takes another look at al-Qaeda's strategy, and explains why he says that "al-Qaeda's primary war is against other Muslims." Belmont Club, meanwhile, explains that The War on Terror is really 2 civil wars in parallel: one within Islam, and a second in the West - and the outcome depends on both.

• More good news and bad news. Saudi Arabian authorities managed to intercept a 1-ton bomb before it was employed. But now, Argentina is warning about terror threats on its land.

• Andrew Sullivan links to a piece contemplating the 'Israelization' of Turkey.

• Mark Steyn says that five regimes must go before this War on Terror is won.

• This Asia Times interview with a Taliban recruiter is chilling, and this report on an Al Qaeda kidnap guide from the always entertaining, occasionally reliable DebkaFile is something to keep an eye on.

• Afghanistan Update: The Coalition in Afghanistan has finally learned that active communication with the Afghan people is a necessity to win this War on Terror. They will be distributing 200,000 radios to people throughout the country. This battle rages on throughout the entire region, including America's allies - Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

• Greece's defense minister says that NATO has offered to have troops available for deployment in case of a terror attack during next year's Summer Olympics. Now, betting on Olympic sporting events seems like a highly improper act (steroid abuse and other acts of corruption are rampant enough already), but would it be beneficial for there to be a gambling market on the likelihood of terrorist acts? It's a question worthy of serious debate, something this country does not always do very well. The quick dismissal is so much more effective.

• The troops are still deployed around the world. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian, Polish. Anyone out there with more information? Email me. [updated Dec. 1, 2003]

• We try to close on a lighter note if possible. President Bush served up some turkey on his trip to Baghdad. Not all Democrats fell for this dish, but those that did look like, well, turkeys.

Thanks for reading! If you found something here you want to blog about yourself (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". If you think we missed something important, use the Comments section to let us know.