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Showing posts from August 27, 2017

Terrorism may long remain in our future

JERUSALEM — What to do about radical Islam? There ain’t much anybody can do. It’s one of our insoluble problems. For those of us outside areas of the Middle East and Africa where one or another radical movement established itself, the problem may grow with the defeat of the extremists in areas they had once controlled. The worry comes not only from individuals that had served in Syria or Iraq and then go home to wreck havoc among the infidels. Those can be identified and watched. Even that is difficult Europeans have been killed by those who slipped through the cracks. And screening returnees from Syria or Iraq does not deal with the influence of extremist Islamic preachers and web-sites, as shown by the group of Moroccans who created the recent problem in Barcelona, and could have done something even greater if they didn’t have a “work accident” with explosives while getting ready. An even more elusive problem is with the tens of millions of Muslims, who came to Europe o

As Caliphate Crumbles, Islamic State Turns to Old-Fashioned Crime

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There’s an increasing convergence between criminal and jihadist milieus in European countries — notably France and the Low Countries, generally Belgium and the Netherlands. Radicalization experts say they expect the crime-terror nexus to grow as Islamic State tries to find new sources of revenue to replace those it is losing as its caliphate shrinks, and to mount attacks in Europe to demonstrate its continued relevance. The presence of former convicts and criminals inside terrorist groups and mutually-useful connections with crime groups is not new or unprecedented, they say. It has been seen with secular, nationalist as well as Christian-based terror gangs for decades — from Northern Ireland’s IRA and Protestant paramilitaries to the Basque separatist movement, but the phenomenon related to IS has become more pronounced, especially when it comes to recruitment, and will likely become more so in the coming years. IS appeals to former criminals In several European countries, mos

Somalia Seeks US Help, Says Militants Plot to Supply Uranium to Iran

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The Somali government has asked the United States to provide "immediate military assistance" because it says al-Shabab militants are plotting to supply uranium to Iran. In a letter to U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz, Somali Foreign Minister Yusuf Garaad Omar says the militant group has captured "critical surface exposed uranium deposits" in the central Somali region of Galmudug and intend to transport the uranium to Iran. The letter says the issue presents a problem for the larger global community and will not be constrained within the borders of Somalia. The authenticity of the letter was confirmed to VOA's Somali service by the Somali ambassador to the U.S., Ahmed Isse Awad. The letter says Somalia is facing a "reconstituted" al-Shabab that is seizing territory in central Somalia. It also says the group is linking up with Islamic State militants in the country. In the letter, the foreign minister says "only the United Sta

White supremacist terrorists are protected from the laws that affect Islamic terrorists

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If James Alex Fields had shouted something about ISIS or al-Qaida as he was pulled from his car after he plowed into counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, there would be little doubt about the charges. He would be a terrorist. However, no matter how much Fields may have sworn allegiance to the KKK, white nationalism, or fascist extremism, the results  are very different. According to the Justice Department and legal analysts, it's simply not possible for the government to file charges of domestic terrorism, because no such criminal law exists. The term “domestic terrorism” gets widely used, but in terms of the law, there’s no such charge. Which gives these groups  a decided advantage . But U.S. law enforcement officials, who enjoy sweeping powers to investigate and prosecute suspected foreign terrorists on U.S. soil, face obstacles to charging the man, James Alex Fields Jr., as a terrorist. The Justice Department's civil rights division is currently foc

Heela Najibullah: From Afghan First Daughter to War Refugee

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It's easy to understand why Heela Najibullah would crave revenge. Her father, Afghan President Najibullah, was executed by the Taliban, his body and his brother's dragged by a truck through the streets of Kabul before they were strung up for public display. But Heela has managed to quell her inner demons. Now an aid worker living in Switzerland, she not only wants peace for her homeland but also hopes to play a role in its reconciliation and the compromises that will have to be made to achieve peace. "Losing my father and uncle was not easy, but it certainly made me stronger. Learning to forgive was a very difficult process. It is time-consuming," Heela told VOA in an interview, adding that she saw it as her only choice after years of suffering, tribulations and despondency. "When someone suffers loss or violence, all they want is justice and revenge. I always tell them, 'When I lost my father at the age of 18, if somebody would have asked me then,

A Physicist Who Models ISIS and the Alt-Right

Neil Johnson  used to study electrons as a buttoned-up professor of physics at the University of Oxford. Then, a decade ago, he decamped to the University of Miami — a young institution that he sees as unconstrained by rigid traditions or barriers between disciplines — and branched out. In recent years, the 55-year-old physicist has published research on financial markets, crowds, superconductivity, earthquake forecasting, light-matter interactions, bacterial photosynthesis, quantum information and computation, neuron firing patterns, heart attacks, tumor growth, contagion and urban disasters, not to mention his extensive body of work on terrorism and other forms of insurgent conflict. Johnson models the extreme events and behaviors that can arise in complex systems. The author of two books on complexity, he has found that the same principles often apply, regardless of whether a system consists of interacting electrons, humans or anything else. After the terrorist attacks of Sept.

Europe’s Terrorism Problem

Europe has had a long and conflicted history of terrorism, often from nationalist and separatist movements such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and political and religious extremism, most recently the Islamic State (ISIS). Since 2016, there have attacks in Barcelona, Paris, Marseilles, Istanbul, Hanover, Brussels, Nice, and London to a name a few. The rise in these attacks have made people and tourists more fearful and have forced government agencies to issue travel warnings and tips. On the United States travel  page , the following advice to U.S. citizens is given, “The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued threat of terrorist attacks throughout Europe. While local governments continue counterterrorism operations, the Department nevertheless remains concerned about the potential for future terrorist attacks. “U.S. citizens should always be alert to the possibility that terrorist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks with little

Spanish police learnt lessons from long war with Basque separatists of Eta

The speed with which Spanish police dealt with a terrorist cell preparing a gas canister attack in Barcelona shows how a strategy from another bloody conflict has paid off. Spain’s security services learnt during a 40-year war with the Basque separatists of Eta to disable threats before they become active. That conflict, which claimed more than 800 lives, persuaded police to combat a new enemy — jihadist terrorism — by “taking out” suspects, said a source from the Centre for Intelligence Against Terrorism and Organised Crime (Citco), which assesses strategic threats. The four suspects who were shot by police in Cambrils are believed to have been on the radar of anti-terrorist forces. Intelligence on suspects is shared by Spain’s two main forces, the Guardia Civil… Want to read more? Register with a few details to continue reading this article. Source:  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/barcelona-terror-attack-spanish-police-learnt-lessons-from-long-war-with-basque

How a remarkable novel is helping Spain come to terms with the Basque Country’s violent past

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A worker removes graffiti reading ‘Gora ETA’ (Long live ETA) in support of the Basque terrorist group in Pamplona.  EPA Images Western Europe’s last remaining home-grown terrorist organisation finally ceased operations in 2011 when Basque separatist group  ETA declared a permanent ceasefire . And yet the decades of violence continue to cast a long shadow over Basque society and political life. As politicians on both sides remain as antagonistic as ever, novelists and other writers are taking on the challenge of tackling the subject with far more eloquence and nuance, telling stories that could provide a much-needed form of remembrance, catharsis and understanding. Fernando Aramburu’s novel Patria  (“Fatherland”) is a stellar example – and sets the bar high for others to follow. First published in Spanish in September 2016, it has reached a wider audience than novels on the subject written in Basque, and it has topped the bestseller lists – not only in the Basque region, but also i

Jim Mattis on Pakistan: Responsible countries take terrorists down

WASHINGTON: The US intends to work with Pakistan to take down terrorists, defence secretary  Jim Mattis  has said, asserting that this is what a "responsible" nation does.  He was responding to questions on Pakistan's reaction to the Afghan and South Asia policy announced by US President  Donald Trump  last Monday.  Trump hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to terror groups that kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. He also warned Pakistan that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists.  Mattis did not respond to questions on timeline, if any, for Pakistan to take action against terrorists and terrorist groups.  "We intend to work with Pakistan in order to take the terrorists down. I think that's what a responsible nation does," Mattis said at a media briefing.  His remarks remarks came after the State Department notified to the Congress to place a pause button on $255 million foreign military financing for Pakistan.  US holds up $

UK home to up to 25,000 Takfiri extremists: EU official

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Gilles de Kerchove, the EU’s counter-terror coordinator The European Union’s top terror official has warned that Britain is home to up to 25,000 Takfiri extremists who could pose a terrorist threat to the country as well as other EU countries. Gilles de Kerchove, the EU’s counter-terror coordinator, told Spain’s  El Mundo  newspaper on Thursday that he expected more terrorist attacks following the deadly car incidents in Barcelona and Cambrils, the Spanish cities. “We are going to suffer more attacks,” he said. “The majority, except Brussels and Paris, were not directed from Raqqah but inspired, and then ISIS (Daesh) claimed responsibility,” he said, referring to the Syrian city considered the de facto capital of the Daesh terrorist group. “The group’s propaganda no longer calls so much for people to travel to the ‘caliphate’, but to launch attacks in their places of origin or of residence, even on a small scale with homemade weapons,” he continued. British officials have

China Against Discussing Pakistan's Counter-terror Record at BRICS

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that Pakistan is at forefront of counter-terror efforts and has made sacrifices for this. The international community should recognise their contributions and sacrifices. Beijing:  China on Thursday said that concerns over Pakistan's counter-terrorism record is not an "appropriate topic" to be discussed at the next week's BRICS summit where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were expected to meet. "We noticed that India when it comes to Pakistan's counter-terrorism has some concerns. I don't think this is an appropriate topic to be discussed at BRICS summit," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here, indicating that Beijing was averse to the criticism of its close ally at the summit to be held in Xiamen. Asked whether Pakistan's counter-terrorism record which was sharply criticised by US President Donald Trump last week will figure a

Boko Haram terrorists kill 18 people in northeast Nigeria

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This file photo shows Nigerian troops during a patrol in the Borno state town of Banki to guard against Boko Haram attacks. (Photo by AFP) Suspected Takfiri Boko Haram militants have killed at least 18 people in northeastern Nigeria near the border with Cameroon in the latest surge of lethal assaults by the terror outfit in the restive region, local sources say. The deadly incident took place on Friday, when a group of knife-wielding terrorists launched a stabbing attack against people in Banki, a border town some 130 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri, the capital city of the northeastern state of Borno, said Modu Perobe, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a regional vigilante group. The death toll was also confirmed by Abor Ali, the leader of a local community. Boko Haram terrorists often launch deadly assaults against military convoys, unleash members with explosive vests and litter the surrounding roads with mines in the ravaged corner of the country's northeast

Philippine Troops Battle Islamist Terrorists in Marawi; 3 Killed, 52 Injured

Manila : Philippine troops have fought one of their toughest clashes against terrorists loyal to Islamic State in a southern town, and three soldiers were killed and 52 wounded, many by rebel bombs as they pushed forward, an officer said on Friday. The Islamists shocked the country by seizing large parts of Marawi town in May. After more than 100 days of fighting, pockets of fighters remain dug in in the ruins. The army made its push on Thursday, the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, and seized a bridge in what military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla described as some of the toughest fighting yet. At least five militants were killed, he said. "We are working to clear the remaining areas where the enemy is holding out," Padilla said in a statement. "Following a short pause early today, to give due respect to the solemnity and significance of this day, the operations will continue without any let up," he said, referring to the Muslim holid