Review Article
Austin Emerg Med. 2017; 3(2): 1056.
Can Fundamental Islamic Jihad Terrorism be Defeated: How Feasible?
Alakpa GEU*
American Military Families Immigration Services, Inc., Military Adviser, Clinton Av., Irvington, NJ, USA
*Corresponding author: George Edafese U. Alakpa, 53 Falcon Ridge Way North, Hamburg, NJ 07419, USA
Received: September 09, 2017; Accepted: October 04, 2017; Published: October 11, 2017
Abstract
The Islamic State in September 2014 issued a call to global jihad and war; “So O muwahhid, do not let this battle pass you by wherever you may be. You must strike the soldiers, patrons, and troops of the tawaghit. Strike their police, security, and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents. Destroy their beds. Embitter their lives for them and busy them with themselves. If you can kill a disbelieving American or European-especially the spiteful and filthy French-or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of countries that entered into coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be....If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman, or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him…”
This is war and yet many politicians especially in the Western world are in denial, but keep telling their citizens how they will defeat The Islamic State and other Islamic terrorist groups, is this feasible?
Keywords: Fundamental; Islamic Terrorist; Jihad; Defeat
Introduction
Terror can be said to be a state of extreme fear or panic, thus making those who are responsible for such situation, terrorist, yes? Simplistically, this can be acceptable, however within the current global threats, a less loosely simplistic definition might not be too acceptable for a realist discussion.
Terrorism, what’s it? Browsing the internet like most now do, would reveal a definition from the online dictionary as “The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes”. There is no universally acceptable definition for this word, there are various positions in certain quarters as to who is a terrorist and who is a freedom fighter, especially when the act of terror was committed for either political identity or course?
The United Nation in their non-binding 1996 General assembly resolution 51/210, described terrorism as a criminal act whether intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, within a group of persons or at particular persons for political purposes in any circumstances as unjustifiable. This position by the UN was slightly amended with the addition of “intention to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatant, in the UN security Council resolution 1566 of 2004. The European Union in 2002 has its own definition, so is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and various countries.
No matter the definition, what can be generally accepted among humanity is that the act or terror is witness constantly almost daily globally against fellow humans, and nations, by person or persons. The 2001 September 11 attacks on the United States by 12 men from the Arabian (with majority from Saudi Arabia) world employing airplanes, changed the global out take on the word terrorism, especially by individuals whose stated motives were more religious and political. While the September 11, 2001 attack was not the first such religious act of terror globally, its success at the heart of the United States with the single highest number of deaths and casualties plus economical effect on the apex of the global business city of New York City (NYC), became the “blow that broke” the old Western countries paradigm or perceptive on the threats of terrorism, I guess.
Forms of Terrorism/Terrorists
Terrorism or terrorists comes in various forms or shape based on open general information from web or just listening to the news media. No matter their form/forms, act committed induce fear in a majority of the populace, with the degree variable and relative to mode of action, weapons/tactics employed and target(s) with victims affected. In May 23rd, 2017, the City of Manchester, UK was attacked by a suicide bomber, who denoted a backpacked with explosive killing majority of young children that went for a musical show. Thursday, August 17th, 2017, once again a vehicle was used as it has many times in the past in some European countries, to commit terror in Barcelona. In September 11 of 2001 in the US, planes were used, so it could be any means to cause terror and fear.
Figure 1: Fox business news August 2017: Indicating European Vehicular attacks.
In the month of April, 2017, the US President Trump attacked two bases in Syria following what was perceived as an act of terror against children with the use of chemical [1]. In 1995 a group of religious cult individuals (ShokAsahara led cult, AumShinrikyo) released sarin gas in a subway underground in Tokyo, Japan [2]. We heard of reports about Eco terrorists, or activities of so called “freedom fighters” that has committed acts of terrorism, like the Irish Republican Army (IRA), African National Congress (ANC), Hezbollah etc. We have also read of State sponsors of terrorism or even sponsorship of individuals to commit acts of terror, however this article will be focusing mainly on terrorism as linked with one of the major religions of the world; Islam.
As shown in Figure 1, there have been a lot of vehicular attacks as a tactics by individuals claiming to be doing such attacks in the name of Islamic God, Allah, especially as the international communities intensify military actions on the ISIS stronghold of Mosul (Iraq), or Raqqa-capital of the ISIS caliphate. This vehicular tactic has been employed in many cities in the European countries from Paris, through Brussel to lately Barcelona in 2017 [3].
What is Islam?
Islam is one of the major fast growing monolithic God religion in the world. Many studies have come in agreement that, this religion is said to have come being via its founder; Prophet Muhammad who reported got a revelation he received from God in the 7th century. It actual seize population wise is not certain but it will be in the thousands of the millions, if not billions. The intent of this writing is to understand if it was possible to defeat terroristic action specifically as pertain to those who claim to be Islamic and are committing their terroristic actions in the name of the God of their religion, Islam.
Some Islamic scholars believe this religion is a religion of submission, submission to what is the question and how it is interpreted and applied. This writer is not an expert in Islamic History, but a former graduate of a renown Islamic university, Al-Azhar in Cairo Egypt, with a PhD in Islamic History and later a PhD in Christian education, Dr. Mark A. Gabriel [4], will be the resource, this writer would use. In his book, he quoted a renown and highly respected Islamic scholar and founder of the Pakistani fundamentalist movement; Mawlana Abul Ala Mawdudi, who said “Islam is not a normal religion like other religions in the world, and Muslim nations are very special because they have a command from Allah to rule the entire world and to be over every nation in the world” [4pg 81].
Brief Background of the Writer
This writer as a person was born in Nigeria where there are multiple religious beliefs and faiths, with Christianity and Islam accounting as the major religious faiths in the country. I was born in the southern part of Nigeria, in Lagos State to be specific. In my growing up and frequent movement of my parents, due to my fathers’ military movements, I was exposed to most of the various religious faiths and at a point spent some time with friends in the Mosque and interacting with Muslims from the south of Nigeria. The interrelationship between these various faiths was something that was unique and beautiful because, it was mutual and without fear, because there was no evil intention or clashes. However, the same peaceful coexistence experienced in the Southern part was not in existence in the Northern part of the country, where majority of the citizens are of the Islamic faith.
My personal experience of the antagonist relationship came when I was sent to the north for my one-year compulsory National Service in 1990. It was during my time there I had close calls with my fellow Nigerians from certain sect of people of the Islamic faith that wanted me dead because I was not a Muslim. Before my coming to the North, there has being numerous religious incidents where churches have been burnt, Christians killed for being Christians and refusing to convert. There, I learnt shockingly when many times, I was approached by certain individuals of the Islamic faith that if I desire to be successful or secure a better job after my service year, I should convert to Islam. My rejection and my obvious reply to them, was asking them to become Christian, and I became a target. At a point, my mother asked me to return home and end my service, for my safety, but I refused stating “Nigeria is my country and no man can intimidate me or threaten me”. In the same state where I was serving was then, Sokoto State (Now, Zamfara State), is the seat of the Islamic Caliphate.
At this same period, despite the continuous threat on Christians at this time, it was still my belief that the Islamic and Christian religions were one and the same, serving the One and Only God, but via through different ways and thus should be in peaceful coexistence as in the south. Coincidentally, during my service, I was able to gain access to the Quran, the Holy book with the revelations to Prophet Mohammed from a colleague whose father was an Imam (like a Pastor in the Christian faith), to read and I gave him a copy of the Bible (the Christian book).
After reading the Quran, I notice distinctive differences between both faiths, especially as to life after death. While the Bible says in heaven, there will be no marrying or giving in marriage, nor will there be drinking etc. after death (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25). This was not what the Quran stated, in the Islamic heaven, there was going to be the drinking of wine and marrying-“Azwajun Mutahharatun; purified mates or wives (Surah 2:25; 44:51-55; 52:17-20). If heaven was and is the ultimate goal of both faiths and where they are supposed to be with their God, then, the two faiths cannot have different heavens based on the Holy Books of both faiths. With this and more, I came to the conclusion that, both faiths were not serving the same God, as a single God will not reside in different heavens and/or what will occur in this place must be the same if they are serving the same god.
In the US Military
I enlisted into the U.S. military on Dec 2005 via the US Navy Reserve components in 2005 as E1/E2 after many attempts following 9-11 incidents failed and had to just pursue my postdoctoral fellowships and later a graduate program at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. In 2006, December, I did what was called a “lateral transfer” into the US Army in 2006 a year later following failures by powers that be to fulfill promises of getting me commissioned into the Navy Officers Medical Corp where I would be more useful coming, from years of experiences into biological agents’ research in the civilian world.
In the U.S army and volunteer for combat duties
While on Active duties at Fort Hood, TX, I got my call up for combat duties with a joint special mission unit operating from Qatar as Force Health Protection SME on Vulnerability antiterrorism missions and doubling as medic to an ever rapid deployable 5-man unit covering major but not limited to the Eastern part of Afghanistan. However, mission took us to Pakistan, Egypt, UAE, Qatar etc. During these 2 tours of combat services, I was recommended for officers’ commission twice and third was rejected following post combat issues by same institution that encourages service members, especially medics to educate soldiers to talk to healthcare military team on issues of post combat worries and that cost my commission, however it does not erase the sprite of the very few men and women that stood back-to-back watching your “6”. Like in every organization, there are just those who are just not worthy of the creed, but many still believe and those are the people that keep the love and reason while some of us who enlisted while already attained the highest of academic education did, to serve and defend. I write this, to emphasize the importance of motivation for a course, just like those engaged in acts not too acceptable in larger society termed as terrorism. If any justice as to be done, the key is to understand the whys? The reason for and not just the symptoms.
What is Responsible for Islamic Terrorist?
The question is why is it that among the large population of this religious faith, only less than 1% can be said to be responsible for current global terrorism by people who claimed that they worship Allah and are doing these attacks in the name of their God? To answer this, we have to look into what could be the motivating factor. Understanding the motivating factor, will provide possible outlet as to how these current terrorist threat can be handled, and whether they can be defeated or just contained.
Since it is almost impossible to 100% and accurately as certain the actual reason for Islamic terrorist groups acts of terror in both Muslims countries and non-Muslims countries, one can only go by what they say and proclaim before or after their actions of terror. So, let see some groups
Boko Haram (BH)
A group of individuals in Nigeria of the Islamic faith initially formed by a man, Mohammed Yusuf that had travelled to Saudi Arabia and trained there to propagated the Wahhabi form of Islam, returned to Nigeria to resist Western Education in Nigeria [5,6]. The real name of Yusuf’s group is Jamaatu Ahlisunnah Lidawati wal Jihad, (meaning people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and Jihad), but commonly known as “Boko Haram” (BH) with loose meaning as “books are blasphemous or western education is forbidden [5pg 52]. Yusuf is reported to have broken off from Jamâ’atul Tajdidi Islam (JTI) led by Abubakar Mujahid, that also broke off from the Shiites group led by Ibrahim Zakzaky as documented by Virginia Comolli [6]. This group like most in Nigeria were led by Saudi Islamic scholars, is of the Sunni sect of Islam. In fact, BH is rooted in Sunni Islam with strict Salafi interpretation of the religion as reported by Comolli [6].
This group has not only pledged allegiance to the ISIS (Islamic States of Iraq and Syria) in 2015, under the leadership of its current leader, Abubakar Shekau, it did initially link up with al-Qaeda in the past. This group is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians with over 2 million displaced citizens, with uncountable loss in economy to the communities of the areas of operations (AOs). They have attacked not only Christians and their places of worship, but have also not spared mosques of other Muslim sects and international organization like the United Nation building and country’s military or police stations/barracks. As this writer, writes, the group is still waging battles with the military of the country and also the military from neighboring countries (Cameroon, Niger, Chad).
So, one will ask, if they are true Muslims why attack other Muslims and their places of worship, if their mission is to stop western education? That raise a bigger question as to what’s their true motive for waging this terror.
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
ISIS is an off shoot from the al-Qaeda of Iraq led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and by their pronunciations and literature, claims to be “doing what Allah has commanded them to do; that is to create a Caliphate where political jurisprudence; sharia is the law via which people are to judged or live bye. It has properties or territories unlike other Islamic terrorist groups, with resources to operate as a State or country, and the ultimate goal is to conquer the entire world, especially the Western Countries [7] and ensure Islam remains the only religion as demanded by their religious founder; Prophet Mohammed. Capital of country is the city of Raqqa in Syria.
This group has claimed many recent terrorist attacks or killings in many countries outside of Iraq and Syria where they have maintained dominant control, until recently as at August 2017 (after Donald Trump took over power in the U.S), following renewed offensive by the Iraqi military with support from the US military and fighters from the Kurdish area. This group has mastered the used of social media to recruit and disseminate its’ fundamentalist form of Islam. They once vow to fly their flag on the capital of the United States.
Al-Qaeda
As it is constituted today, was believed to be an off shoot of the radicalism of the Egyptian fundamentalist terrorist group; the Muslim Brotherhood Movement(MBM), founded by sheikh Hassan al-Banna with the goal to reapply the Islamic law and also reestablish an Islamic succession system in Egypt [4]. This group, MBM is said to be responsible for the assassination of the then leader of Egypt, Anwar Sadat. In the mind of these group “killing was the only way to make Islamic nations resubmit to the Quran and the Islamic law” [4]. The late Osama bin Laden, united with members of the Egyptian MBM; Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri and others of the Egyptian al-jihad to continue the al-Qaeda organization, which he led after its original founder died. This organization was responsible for the 1998 August 7th two U.S embassies bombing in Tanzania and Kenya; the U.S Navy USS Cole attack of October 12, 2000 and the ultimate, World Trader Center of September 11, 2001. It is reported that unlike the past fundamentalist policies of “local jihad”, the current policies to go after the “head” rather than the “hands” implying America and Europe, came from the Post Egypt Islamic radicals [4].
Other Islamic terrorists’ groups as designated by the U.S.A. United Nations are Al Qaeda of Arabian Peninsula, Al-Shabaab, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Haqqani Network (HQN), HAMAS, AumShinrikyo (AUM), etc [8].
Present Approached to Contain this Islamic Threat and Failures
Military
Like all past approaches to dealing with all guerilla or arm attacks to the State, has purely remain a more reactive military form of response, either in the form of a police or military full-blown counter offensive, like what the Saudis did to the perceived terrorist led operations in Yemen or the U.S. response to the al Qaeda led attack on 9-11 or Nigerian government response to the BH activities especially on the north-eastern part of that country. While the use of military force alone had led to lots of decapitation of various layers of leadership in various Islamic terrorist groups, it has failed to effectively contain their activities, leading to the calls from many quarters for other ways by which these deadlier forms of threat to the global peaceful coexistence should be addressed. Many have unwisely in so doing advocated for capitulation via political correctness, like giving excuses for these terrorists. For example, it is because they are poor, or it is the absence of work or because the terrorists are less educated, all of which have been discredited by the attributes or pronouncements from the groups themselves. For example, the once leader of the al-Qaeda group was Osama bin Ladin, a very wealthy son from Saudi Arabia, with his 2nd in command a medical doctor trained, Dr. Zawahiri and once a member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement (MBM) in Egypt that was responsible for the killings in Egypt [4], and was among those that escape the cleaning operation from the Egyptian government on the MBM, later to unify with the ultimate course of a global caliphate goal of past and present Islamic fundamental terrorist groups.
Financial targeting
While most countries in the coalition of nations fighting the global threats of fundamental Islamic terrorist groups seeking to form a global caliphate, seek to cut off the sources of funding for these groups as a way of containing them, reports have emanated about, states or countries allegedly funding certainty groups. It is obvious there are divisions within the Islamic sects (Shiite and Sunni) and thus fueling this global threat! Recently, Qatar was recently suspended from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the accusation that it is financially supporting terrorist group [9,10]. At same time, we read of Saudi Arabia, not been “clean” with the war in Yemen, so how can this threat be defeated?
Appeasement via PCed acceptance of their ideology as un-Islamic
While the groups wagging war via terrorist activities with claims they are doing it in the name of their religion, leaders of many secular non-Islamic countries are quick to say, these groups are not Islamic, or non-practicing Muslims. Who determines what religions one practices or clams to practice? This writer has been in combat and witness these groups in action, even too, while growing up in Nigeria, his country of birth, witness those involved in similar act, exhibiting same characteristics: screams same quotes from the Quran and belief they are doing their terroristic acts for their god Allah, based on certain directives from the Surah verses in the Quran!
Are the Activities of These Terrorist Group Un-Islamic?
Let’s check the holy book. One will see that like confirmed by some top scholars in Islamic history, the early part of the revelation to the Prophet as documented made reference to a more peaceful coexistence with peoples of other faiths especially Christians and Jews, however at other times and sections, you read more about direct command from the prophets and supposedly from Allah to Muslims to practically kill Jews and Christians, as can be found in the various chapters and verses in the Quran: (Surah2:193; 3:83; 8:38-39; 9:5, 11, 29 ) or the Hadith and Sira like: (Sahih Muslim 1:33; 19:4294; Bukhari 2:24; 53:392; 60:80 etc). This departure by the Prophet Mohammed from a more tolerant to antagonistic one is reported by the holy book to be a directive from God, Allah and the question is why the sudden change by Allah? Many believed this change was as a result of the reception Mohammed got from his neighbors or communities [4]. Prophet Mohammed did disseminate his new religion base on the later commands, via killing and subjugation of others to accept his religion, yes? Any that refuses to accept were to be killed, or asked to pay a tax; Justification of slaves [4] and even the killing of supposed Muslims that are thought to have backslidden or become apostate. Ali ibn Abi Talib, the 4th leader of Islam after the death of founder, Muhammed, he was killed following the split in the Islamic world into two: Shiites and Sunni, by the El-Kharij radical fraction of the Ali’s Shiites group [4]. The citing of Surah 2:204, 207 were use as justification for this assassination in about 660-661AD [4]. Ali was Muhammed’s first cousin and said to have married Muhammed’s daughter!
Root of Islamic Terrorism?
From the above, what is really the root cause of Islamic base terrorism? Common denominator among all these groups or individuals, is their faith in Allah and belief they are doing whatever they are doing to cause death, injuries to all, in order to assist in the dissemination of the religion. Whether right or wrong, remains very subjective. From the religion itself, its Holy books, there are verses indicating a directive by their God, Allah to engage in these acts. Many terrorists rely on principles also or examples set by prior past “renown” Islamic scholars or leaders like the El-Kharij’ beliefs; the belief of martyrdom as demonstrated by the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Al-Husayn.
The El-kharij belief
Arabic meaning of El-Kharij, is “one who goes out” [4 pg108], this principle and belief, is believed to be the foundation of modern day Islamic fundamentalist groups like the MBM. Their principle is as stated by Dr. Gabriel is based on, “when a government or a leader is found acting not in accordance with the Quran, Muslims have the right to declare them renegade and infidel. Islam’s way of dealing with a renegade or infidel is killing” [4pg 108]. This group as stated above splinted off the Ali’s Shiite group (one of the two groups that came out of the dead of the 3rd leader the Islamic world).
The suicide for Islam belief
This is based on the principle; “Fighting evil is a must; it does not matter if you win or you die. If you win, you will be honored by victory; if you die, you will be honored by God. Fighting evil is an honor either way” [4pg 109]. This is said to be based on the act by the grandson of Prophet Muhammed, Son of the 4th leader of the Islamic world Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first cousin of the Prophet and was assassinated on the order of the El-Kharij. It is reported that after the death of the leader of the 2nd splinted Sunni group, Muawiya in 680 AD, his son Yazid assumed leadership of the Islamic world, this was unacceptable to al-Husayn. Al-Husayn, whose father (Ali) was the 4th leader but forced to step aside and later assassinated had more direct link to the Prophet and he was going to retake the leadership from Yazid despite knowing he was out man and with less equipped than Yazid’s men, still went after Yazid in Iraq, where he was killed. The Shiites by this act, is reported to have learnt a new principle from the death of their leader al-Husayn, who they “term a martyr of Islam and to this day” held in high esteem and a great example of self-sacrifice [4 pg 109].
Principle of no tolerance
It is said to have begun in the 14th century by a strong powerful Sunni leader, called Ibn Taymiyah from Syria. He is said to have fought the Mongolian invasion of Syria between 1299-1303 and that he taught followers the Muslims of Mongolia were not real or true Muslims and thus Syrian Muslims must not submit to then. He established the no-tolerance principles and practices, majority of which were used in the past [4]. The principles of this belief are first, Muslims should resist, fight and overturn any Islamic government that doesn’t govern the land according to the Islamic law only, and second, Muslims should enforce jihad on anybody those beliefs differ from Islam, especially Jews and Christians [4].
Principle of wahhabi movement
Formed by Muhammed lbn Abd al-Wahhab, said to have led this movement between 1703 and 1793 and fought the Turkish government. He created a Saudi Arabia (SA) that is “100% Wahhabi Islamic nation” [4 pg112], not tolerating another form of religions even to date. The rulers of SA royal family in authority today are said to be descendants of Abdul Aziz Bin Saud, a political leader that worked with Wahhab to establish the country of SA [4].
If these above theories are correct, then it is almost plausible to agree that these groups are nothing but fundamentalist of the faith and thus, it will be erroneous to claim they are not Muslims, as they are just following the acts and saying of the prophet, or his disciples and renown Islamic historical leaders like Sayyid Qutb, seen as the Martin Luther of the modern-day jihad movement [4]. Other thought leaders are, Dr. Salah Serea of the Egyptian Islamic liberation movement; Shokri Moustafa of Al-Takfir wal-Hijra (i.e. repentance and Holy Flight) [4], and many more like them.
Now so what?
The decapitation of leadership has not stopped these groups from operation and becoming more vicious and deadly, as no sooner are leadership either arrested or killed, that a replacement is found as enumerated by Dr. Gabriel in his book [4], when the government of Egypt dismantle the leadership of the MBM with imprisonment and death sentences, Sayyid Qutb rose with his movements, then he was killed, then came Dr. Serea, and Moustafa arose after Serea was arrested and killed. In Nigeria, we saw same within the BH group, same with the al-Qaeda group and same will happen with ISIS.
So why has it survived? I want to assume that, it is because;
- The activity is religiously based, with willingness to die unlike other groups like Communism or Eco-terror, or the IRA (also religiously based). Islamic fundamentalist, believe in the straight path to paradise if killed or captured engaged in this jihad.
- Failure of the global community to be in unison and be honest to address this global threat, instead, sides are taken for strategical reason or otherwise.
- Disunity within the global community as to who or what these groups are and what’s to be done: Should they be called Islamic group? What’s responsible for this ideology and what tactics is to be employed to tackle it and more?
- Failure to address the Saudi Arabia’s involvement with the creation and dissemination of “Wahhabism” by the global community, while pointing fingers to other States like Iran. We just read about the threat or actual suspension of Qatar from the Arabic Gulf community post visit of the U.S. President Trump to an all Arabian/Islamic conference. From the position of the writer, who grew up in Nigeria where majority of the known Islamic groups responsible for the massive and continuous killings of non-muslims in Nigeria, where led by those who had earlier Islamic trainings in Saudi Arabia before returning to Nigeria to cause havoc on the citizens. A major case is the Boko Harm group, whose founder is reported to have obtained his training from Saudi Arabia prior to his setting up of the group. Prior to BH, we had Matashini group, Alzaki Zaki, etc. While the West attacks Iranian Shia (Shiites) nothing much is done or yet to be done against terrorist States tied with “Wahhabism” base!!
- There is a major division within the Islamic faith. The major divisions within this massive expanding religious faith are two: Shiites (Ali’s followers) and Sunni, (followers of Muawiya) whose origin can be retraced to immediately after the death of the religious founder, Prophet Mohammed and the 3rd leader Uthman ibn Affan. It is reported that, after the death of 3rd leader to succeed Prophet Mohammed, two groups emerged to contest the leadership of the faith, that eventually led to what we now know as the “Shiite” and Sunni factions, during the era of the 4th leader Ali [4]. Despite their differences which is also reported to be due to their different positions on the book of the “Hadith”, they can still unify against a common course or enemy; the West! However, they still do not agree and hence what we see with the usual ISIS (Sunni) antagonist approach to the Shiite (Iranian group Muslims) in Syrian and vis-visa in Yemen, with Saudi vs. Iran. So how does the West address this divide within this religion to ensure a united front against global Islamic fundamentalist terrorism?
- Failure by most liberal governments in the West to realistically address the open border issues vs. the massive uncontrolled migration of so call refugees from mostly Islamic led countries, despite after ISIS had afore warned to infiltrate its soldiers/fighters among these groups of migrants [11,12].
Possible Mitigation Steps
- Accurate identification of the Enemy: From military training, one must first accurately identify the enemy; identify (ID) it’s distinguishing characteristic, insignia, location, equipment etc. From research word, one must identify a problem first, similarly it is imperative to ID this threat: Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. We must, ID what and/or how to separate these threats from the general population of this religion and either deter, or destroy the threat.
- Declare War: The U.S. and global community (if possible to unite), declare this as a “War”, employing all areas of both symmetrical and asymmetrical war strategies to deal with it plus sponsors or groups.
- Need for Political WILL: Increase honesty from politicians and leaders of governments, with real WILL to mitigate or defeat this global threat. No Political Correctness excuses for the terrorist and remaining in denial as to their goals. They have declared war on the decent humanity and they are employing every arsenal, even deception, to advance their mission, while the world remains in denial.
- Increase focus of returnees of fighters from ISIS theater of wars: Especially among leaders in Europe that have softening positions, weak on nation’s sovereignty and border security enforcement. It is known in all intelligence circle that many fighters from ISIS are returning to their home countries to continue the “fight”, yet leaders and weak to arrest or prosecute, falling for deceptions. For example in France, it is was reported that Islamic radicalization has skyrocketed over 60% in two years by the Interior Minister, Gerard Collomb [13], linked returnees.
- Increase surveillance: Like in the fight against the Italian Mafia, or Communist USSR, it time for government to increase surveillance and intelligent gathering /or arrest and appropriate countermeasures of leaders of fundamental radical views.
- Time for proactive cyber counter propaganda strategy: Taking the media or social “war” or battle for the souls of the gullible citizens via proactive cyber engagement with the terrorist groups, which is known to anyone in the intel community, and challenging some of their recruiting propaganda narratives, should become imperative.
- Interdiction of foot-soldiers process: Military term to delay, disrupt or destroy. Should be aggressively looked into as a tactical measure.
- Increase focus on sources for recruitment: “Eyes” should be on possible places of recruitment like prisons, Houses of Worship, schools etc.
- Strong word to rulers and leaders of and/or in the Islamic countries, to ensure a sincere in-house countermeasure: This is where the problem lies, if leaders of the coalition can truly be sincere to themselves, if they want to contain, mitigate or defeat this real global threat.
Conclusion
So, can islamic terrorist activity be defeated?
It is the belief of the writer based on the above stated reasons for their (terrorist) continuous survival and dissemination despite years of military plus financial starvations, that these current threats of terror from those with Islam as their denominator, it that it may never be eradicated nor defeated, but can be contained. Why, because, the global community is not united in purpose or strategies. Secondly, these terrorist groups, is based on religious belief, opium that is difficult to defeat: They are willing to die for their faith, even just to make paradise. Allah as commanded, however, the fact that we have majority in this same religion that are not as militant, shows there is hope and the key to the solution must come from the Islamic religion and people themselves. A kind of re-education or reformation within to the interpretation of the verses of the Holy Books to modern times.
We have one world and one human race, we can either allow a few group of individuals take it upon themselves to perennially place us in a state of fear, insecurity and thus denying each one the God’s given RIGHT TO LIBERTY, FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR ASSOCIATION, OR WE UNITE to end this threat, the choice is ours as a global nation to make, because no one is exempt from their activities in the long run.
References
- Rosenfeld E. Trump launches attack on Syria with 59 Tomahawk missiles. CNBC Thursday 6th April 2017.
- Dembek ZF, Pavlin MD, Kortepeter MG. Epidemiology of biowarfare and Bioterrorism. Chapter 3. In Dembek ZF (senior editor) Textbook of Military Medicine: Medical Aspects of Biological Warfare. Published by the Office of the Surgeon General, S Army. A TMM, Borden Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC. 2017.
- Watts J, Tremlett G, Burgrn S. Barcelona mourns as police step up hunt for driver for van. The Guardian. Saturday 19, August 2017.
- Gabriel MA. Islam and terrorism; what the Quran really teaches about Christianity, violence and the goals of the Islamic jihad. Frontline. A Strang company, Florida, USA. 2002.
- Perry A. The Hunt for Boko Haram: Investigating the terror tearing Nigeria apart. Newsweek Insights. London. 2014.
- Comolli V. Book Haram, Nigeria’s Islamic insurgency. C Hurst & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., London, U.K. 2015.
- Foster A. What is ISIS: Islamic State explained and their sick aim to destroy the West. Monday Sep 26, 2016.
- US Department of States (DoS). “Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Bureau of Counterterrorism”.
- Qiblawi T, Tawfeeq M, Robert E and Alkhshali H. Qatar Rift: Saudi, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt cut diplomatic ties.
- Yeranian E. As tension remain high, no end in sight seen for Qatari crises. June 14, 2017.
- Homeland security Committee. Syrian Refugees Flows: Security Risk and Counterterrorism challenges. Preliminary findings of a house homeland security committee review. 2015.
- Simcox R. The Threat of Islamic Terrorism in Europe and How the U.S Should Respond. Background. 2016.
- Morse B. Islamic radicalization has skyrocketed in France in the last two years. The Blaze August 14, 2017.