Storm Track Infiltration: Sleeping With the Enemy

It goes without saying that our troops fighting in the middle-east should learn Arabic. But is this the place to do it? Hat tip to Cinnamon Stillwell.

According to the Mount Vernon Gazette, twenty-two soldiers from Fort Belvoir in Fairfax, Virginia just graduated from the nearby Islamic Saudi Academy's "Arabic as a Second Language" program, where they also learned about "Middle Eastern culture and traditions."

Language and traditions. OK. But what traditions did they learn?

Read the rest at The Gathering Storm.

The Mother of all Video Lists!

This list was composed for the purpose of being a useful resource-- it not only lists titles, but has descriptions as well. It is a selection of those videos and online slideshows that IMO are the most useful and informative.

The list is a "work in progress"-- additions will be made on an ongoing basis. Suggestions for additions would be appreciated.

If you find a broken link, please mention it so that it can be fixed. Bloggers-- please copy this list if you wish, as more people should know about the information in these videos-- and don't forget to watch a some of them yourself!

A

Ahmadinejad's Bizarre Religious Views (V) — After seeing what he believes, it becomes obvious why he behaves the way he does.

Ambulances for Jihad (V) — Michelle Malkin shows how Hezbollah fakes news- and how most of the mainstream media disseminates their propaganda without question.

Ask for Death (V) — How the PA instills a love of death in Palestinian children.

Australian Volunteer in ''Palestine'' (V) — Daryl Jones, an aid volunteer, tells how Palestinians displayed photos of bodies, "gouged and pitted, torn. We were told this is from torture from the Israelis." Later, when she saw a Palestinian child blow up in front of her face, she realized that the ripped apart bodies were the result of human booby traps that the Palestinians used against the Israelis.

B

Brigitte Gabriel Interview (V) — Brigitte Gabriel is a Lebanese Christian whose family suffered greatly in the Lebanese Civil War. In this interview she provides insight into the situation in Lebanon, the threat of Islamic extremism, and Lebanese-Israeli relations.

Bus Number 19 Suicide Attack (V) — Video of the aftermath of a suicide attack in Jerusalem in 2004. Gives an idea of the effect of this type of terrorism.

C

Checkpoints Save Lives I (V) — A 14 year old boy who has decided to become a suicide bomber is caught at an Israeli checkpoint.

Checkpoints Save Lives II (V) — A Palestinian girl makes regular trips into Israel for medical treatment. She decided to become a suicide bomber and blow herself up in the hospital, but fortunately she is caught at an Israeli checkpoint.

ConceptWizard — Index to Slideshows (S): ConceptWizard has produced a series of online slideshows about the Israel-Palestine situation. They are very straight-forward and easy to understand, yet contain quite a lot of information. Probably one of the best ways to explain the conflict.

D

David Zucker Takes on the Iraq Study Group and James Baker (V) — Chamberlain, appeasement of Hitler, the chances for success in appeasing Ahmadinejad.

E

Education of Arab Palestinian children (S) — Incitement to hatred. Lots of pictures. Large file (700 K), click only if you have a fast connection.

F

Filmmakers’ Struggle to Air “Islam vs Islamists” (V) — A film showing the struggle between moderate Muslims and extremists in America was originally planned to be shown by PBS- but then they refused to show it. (See also the related video, below:”PBS Banned video: ‘Islam vs. Islamists’”).

G

Ghada Jamshir re: Fatwas Sanctioning Sexual Abuse of Children (V) — A Bahraini women's rights activist on Dubai's al-Arabiya TV.

H

Hamas: A Profile in Terror (CW-S) — Excellent slideshow about Hamas.

Hamas Poses a Very Real Threat to Egypt (V) — Retired Egyptian General Hussam Sweilam's TV interview. He talks about what happened when Hamas tore down the Egypt's Apartheid Wall. Also, a warning about the dangers Islamic extremism in general, and Hamas in particular, pose to Egypt.

History in a Nutshell (CW-S) — The modern history of Israel/Palestine. (See also: "Nutshell Too", below)

The History of Empires & Conquests in the Middle-East (S): The expansion of one empire after another throughout history, graphically illustrated by coloured animations on a map of the Mid-East and surrounding areas.

History of Religion- Slideshow/Maps (S) — The history and spread of world religions Illustrated by coloured animations on a map.

Hitler, The Mufti Of Jerusalem And Modern Islamo Nazism (V) — German TV with English subtitles: "This news report from Bayerischer Rundfunk explains in detail the cooperation between the Nazis and the Muslim Arab leaders during WW2. It goes on to explain how high ranking heads of the SS fled to the Arab world and carried on their activities under the protection of leaders such as President Nasser and how modern Islam has adopted a Nazi style ideology of hate and conspiracy against the Jews."

I

Imagine (V) — Helps the viewer to imagine what it would be like to experience terrorism first hand.

Is Islam a Religion of Peace? (V) — Panel discussion with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Bill Maher, and others. Hirsi Ali was raised as a Muslim in Somalia and forced to undergo FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). She immigrated to the Netherlands and was elected to the Dutch parliament. Her outspoken criticism of Islam- and particularly its abusive treatment of women- has earned her death threats (she has around the clock police protection). Many people may find Maher's views surprising. The others on the panel are poorly informed and spout the usual cliches, but Hirsi Ali is brilliant as always.

Israel's 1981 Raid on Iraq's Osiraq Nuclear Reactor (V) — This page has links to a some videos & articles on the subject. A long (45minutes) but excellent video about this amazing raid, plus some other information.

Israel: The Holy Land (V) — Controversial (sexist?) commercial to promote Israeli tourism.

Israel's Security Barrier (S) — Information about the Security Barrier and how it saves lives.

Irshad Manji Interview on al-Jazeera (V) — Irshad Manji is a Muslim, and an activist for Islamic reform. She explains her “moderate” interpretation of the religion, and explains why she feels it is important for some aspects to change.

Islam: What the West Needs to Know (V) - Over the past several years, almost every major Western leader has expressed the opinion that Islam is a peaceful religion and that those who commit violence in its name are fanatics who misinterpret its teachings. This claim, while widely circulated, is rarely ever seriously examined. This film attempts to demonstrate that Islam is an expansionary ideology that seeks the subjugation-- or even the complete elimination-- of other faiths, cultures, and systems of government. Run time: 98 minutes. (Also see "Obsession, the Video", also listed here).

J

Jihad: The Children's Club (V) — A compilation of clips from official PA ("Palestinian" Authority") TV. The main focus is around a children's television program in which the youngsters are encouraged to take up arms for the Islamic holy war against the non-believers. At the time this video was made, the U.S. gov't was funding this TV program. The video also contains footage of terrorist training camps for children.

Jimmy Carter's War Against the Jews (S) — Facts that are not often reported. Good insight into what makes this weird little man tick.

K

"Killing of Non-Muslims is Legitimate" (V) — Sometimes the mask slips. British Mullah Mr. Anjum Chaudri on public television.

L

Lebanese University Students re: Israel (V) — "Just as Hitler fought the Jews...we should fight the Jews and burn them".

M

Missile Attack on Haifa (V) — Attack by missiles fired from Lebanon during Israel's recent war vs. Hizb' Allah.

Mohammed Cartoons Protest (V) — NEFA Foundation video of demonstration outside of Danish embassy in London, February 3, 2006. Protesters are carrying signs with, and chanting: "We want Danish blood"; "May Osama bin Laden bomb you"; "Jihad in the name of Allah", "Europe you will pay, your 911 is on its way"; etc.

Mother of a Shaheed (Martyr) Speaks Out (V) — She explains why she approves of her son blowing himself up. (He is standing next to her as she speaks).

N

Neighborhood Bully (V) — Israel's extensive humanitarian contributions to neighbouring countries, including those who are not very friendly. Excellent video.

"Never Again": The Permanent Anti-Genocide Movement (V) — The ongoing genocide in Darfur. "After the Holocaust, world leaders proclaimed, 'Never Again!' Then: Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and now Darfur, where more than 400,000 have been killed. Join the first permanent anti-genocide movement."

Nutshell Too (CW-S) — More history of the Israel/Palestine conflict, with the focus on ancient history, as well as the issue of refugees, both Jewish and Palestinian. (See also: "History in a Nutshell", above).

O

Obsession, the Video (V) — One of the better movies about the threat of radical Islam. The site has trailers, suggestions for taking action, plus other information— and you can order DVDs of the movie ($14.95): "Using images from Arab TV, rarely seen in the West, Obsession reveals an ‘insider's view' of the hatred the Radicals are teaching, their incitement of global jihad, and their goal of world domination. With the help of experts, including first-hand accounts from a former PLO terrorist, a Nazi youth commander, and the daughter of a martyred guerrilla leader, the film shows, clearly, that the threat is real. A peaceful religion is being hijacked by a dangerous foe, who seeks to destroy the shared values we stand for. The world should be very concerned." Run time: 77 minutes. (Also see "Islam: What the West Needs to Know", also on this page)

P

PBS Banned Video: “Islam vs, Islamists” (V) — Many people question why more moderate Muslims don’t speak out against extremism. This film tells of Dr. Zudhi Jasser, a moderate Muslim who has been speaking out– and the strong opposition he faced from Islamists in his community. (Some of whom openly state that they feel that America should be governed by Shariah- Islamic religious law). When he decided to organize a rally against terrorism, he was met with opposition from the local Islamists. Originally this video was to be aired on PBS– but they decided not to show it. (Dr Jasser has stated that he feels that he can practice his faith more freely in this country than anywhere else in the world– which seems to be the reason why he is opposing the Islamist’s goals with such vigour). See also the related video, above: “Filmmakers’ Struggle to Air ‘Islam vs Islamists’”).

Palestinian Sermon (V) — "Suicide bombers receive the highest rewards in heaven"

Pipeline of Hatred (CW-S) — How the "new" anti-Semitism is perpetrated by the alliance between Arab extremists and leftists. This phenomenon is explained very well in this ConceptWizard slideshow.

R

The Road to Jenin (V) — “An eye opening film by an independent French film maker Pierre Rehov, which was meant to both counter the claims of a massacre there, show the Israeli side and rebut the propaganda piece “Jenin Jenin” by Mohammad Bakri”. (54 minutes)

S

Saddam and the Third Reich (V) — Few people realize that the Baath party was actually formed upon the principles and organizational structure of the Nazi party...This special examines the key individuals of the Iraqi-Nazi connection, the little-known battle for Iraq in WWII, and the strange link to Saddam Hussein. Video for purchase at this site (The A&E Shop).

Saudi Bigotry and Hatred in a British School (V) — An investigation of some of the things that are being taught in the King Fahd Academy, a Saudi Funded school in the U.K. (For example, one sentence in a textbook says: "The monkeys are the Jews; and the pigs: they are the Christian infidels at Jesus' table).

Sex Bomb ("Make Love Not Terror") (V) — Humorous public service announcement (Israeli TV).

Sermon on PA TV: Mudayris (V) — Arab apologists like to explain to westerners how they don't really dislike Jews— its only "Zionists" that they hate. But when Imams preach to their own people, the spin often changes.

Special Uses of Palestinian Ambulances (V) — Israeli troops regularly inspect Palestinian ambulances. This video shows why this is necessary. (Parts of this clip are included in a longer video, "Ambulances for Jihad" near the top of this page).

Suicide Killers (V) — "This feature documentary takes the audience on a disturbing journey deep into a culture that few can comprehend -- that of suicide bombers. Filmmaker Pierre Rehov examines the phenomenon of suicide bombers through rare and never-before-seen interviews with actual family members of terrorists, the prisoners whose bombing attempts have been thwarted, and exclusive footage of a terror bomber as he prepares for mission! This film provides a message of urgency for increasing our understanding of the psychopathological dynamics of these terrorist bombers. We finally gain insight to how these human bombs 'tick'." (80 minutes)

T

The Association between Naziism and Arab Antisemitism (V) — The Nazis recruited and Islamic Fundamentalists eagerly volunteered for duty in antisemitic activity. The quintessential example is the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and his relationship with Adolf Hitler and his actions as a Nazi collaborator.

The Terrorist Mindset (V) — Walid Shoebat and two other reformed terrorists interviewed. (15 minutes)

Then & Now, Part I (V) — "Patriotic Kiwi's" video about similarities between past Nazi propaganda & current day Islamic propaganda. Lots of examples.

Then & Now, Part II (V) — "Child abuse in the shadow of radical Islam: We investigate the systematic indoctrination and militarisation of youth in 1930's Nazi Germany and in Middle Eastern countries today. We see disturbing parallels of an entire generation being ideologically prepared for total war. Violence and martyrdom are glorified as the noblest ideals. The innocence of youth is robbed by political leaders seeking to incite hatred for political purposes. This is the worst form of child abuse."

U

Undercover Mosque (V) — British TV Channel 4 Dispatches programme brings hidden cameras into British mosques, secretly filming the preaching that occurs. The bigotry and intolerance being preached is quite shocking. 48 minutes. (This video can also be found as 6 separate clips on YouTube).

Unsettled (V) — How the army forcibly removed Israelis from their homes in Gaza. Trailer, DVD for purchase, related information.

W

Wafa Sultan's famous "This is Not a Clash of Civilizations" Speech on al-Jazeera (V) — Wafa Sultan is a Syrian-American psychologist, a powerful speaker, and an opponent of Islamic extremism. This is her famous speech that quickly quickly went viral on the 'net.

Wafa Sultan Clashes with Egyptian Islamist Tal'at Rmeih on al-Jazeera TV (V). Wafa-- even more furious than in the above video. An amazing woman. (I don't think al-Jazeera will invite her back... :-)

We Must Teach Our Children to be Good Muslims (V) — A 3 1/2 year old Egyptian girl explains what she knows about Islam- and Jews.

Would You Shake Hands With a Jew? (V) — A Saudi "man in the street" type interview with several passers-by provides a good picture of some commonly held viewpoints about Jews.

Women of the IDF (V) — A collection of pictures from various sources, in video form.

Why Israel Built the Security Barrier (S) — Makes it quite clear as to why Israel needs the Security Barrier.

Related:

1. MEMRI-TV and Palestinian Media Watch are two excellent sources of videos about the supression of human rights by Islamic extremists.

2. For more information about Darfur, and actions you can take, as well as many related links, see The Genocide Intervention Network. Darfur Scores has information about the position of members of Congress, and also has suggestions for taking action.

(Cross-posted on A Deeper Look's "Recommended Videos" )

FACEBOOK CRACKDOWN ON ANTI TERROR GROUPS UPDATED: FACEBOOK REFUSING TO REMOVE GROUPS THAT DENY THE HOLOCAUST, AIDS THE SPREAD OF HATE

From Atlas Shrugs:

It seems there has been an edict declared from on high. Recently there has been an FB crackdown, an upsurge in deletions and suspensions on facebook, all anti-terror related. Here's one of many anecdotal stories, this from Elaine, "I had photos of the Iranian dissidents on my FB page whom I support, for obvious reasons. I had links to various articles about radical Islam, these items have been removed. A friend informed me she tried to forward my link for American Congress forTruth, the organization founded by Brigitte Gabriel, which gets the word out about radical Islam, and my friend was "blocked" from the content. I am being censored!! There is a story here. Bret, I had tried to e mail you last week when you requested story ideas, and tried to forward you a link about the Saudi Academy proposed expansion in Fairfax, I could not send you the link, that was blocked, too."

This Facebook message mirrors other notes I have received in recent days. It all points to a shut down of grass roots efforts by good folks to organize and pull our country back from the brink.

Obama has been a free speech opponent since taking office. The "fairness doctrine", small media councils, staged press conferences and town hall meetings teeming with un-indicted co-conspirators CAIR and ISNA. He is squelching free expression. Now Facebook is the frontier.

Obama is no stranger to Facebook. He's right tight with Chris Hughes, the 24 year old billionaire and founder of Facebook -- which has over 175 million members. He was an essential part of  putting President Barack Obama in the White House. Obama has continued to use the internet to push his trillion dollar budget through congress.

Just recently, President Barack Obama used the internet and connected with online supporters and nonsupporters of his economic policies.  Over 77,000 Americans online responded to the internet forum about economic policies and political issues

How did Chris Hughes help President Barack Obama to win the election?  Chris Hughes used Web 2.0 social networking to connect millions of Americans to President Barack Obama to get him elected to the presidency.  Chris Hughes 2.0 technology connected over 150 million users worldwide during the presidential election campaign of 2008. 

Chris Hughes created the comprehensive website, MyBarackObama.com to reach the grassroots of the American poliotican movement through the use of internet telecommunications. 

Chris Hughes offered site usage of the MYBO accounts and helped to host community election events.  These activities contributed significantly to the presidential election win of Barack Obama.  The site also helped voters to find local polling booths in their community in which to vote.

Although the election is over, MYBO is still active. President Obama looks through MyBO website and urges supporters to stay engaged in efforts to bring positive political change to the nation.  Chris Hughes plans to continue the MYBO website and may even permanently leave FaceBook to become part of the presidential web team.

Obama 's tentacles are all over Facebook. He gets what he wants, and we are under attack on Facebook. Benyamin B is a co-founder and co-President of the Anti-Terrorism Coalition (ATC) and the director of Project Expose - the code name for the ATC's Database of Terrorist Websites and eGroups (ATCD) and the effort behind it (December 2003 - August 2005). He has been involved in the fight against terrorism and collectivism since 2002. He has written this exclusive piece for Atlas on the massive wave of censorship.

Facebook Launches Massive Attacks Against Anti-Terrorists  By Benyamin B.

Last week, three anti-terrorism organizations were targeted in a massive crackdown by Facebook. The organizations - The Anti-Terrorism Coalition (ATC), Facebook-based American Infidel (AI) and Facebook-based Infidel Forces (IF) - were involved in taking over Islamic terrorist, pro-terrorist and other hateful groups operating on the popular networking site.

IF, which was formed in 2008, had originally been created to counter Facebook's bias against anti-terrorist, patriotic and other freedom-loving groups and individuals. While countless terrorist, pro-terrorist and other hateful groups and users have been allowed to operate freely on Facebook, friendly users and groups have constantly been banned and shut down, respectively. Thus, the creators of IF decided to both "level the playing field" and combat cyber terrorists, at the same time.

By then, Facebook's blatant bias toward hostile groups and against allied groups was beyond obvious. David Appletree, the leader of the Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF), was (and still is) getting banned frequently for his group's actions against hostile groups. The JIDF had been involved in taking over hostile groups and getting others banned, by having massive numbers of its users report them to Facebook. In one instance, David Appletree was banned for being an administrator of a group that was taken over by Islamic hackers, while no action was taken against the hackers.

Facebook's favoritism of the very same people "who would kill all of its male employees and put all of its female employees in burqas" has also made it to the news on numerous occasions. In one instance, after Islamic hackers took over a massive pro-Israel group, Facebook banned the group's creator - a 14 or 15 year old American Jew by the name of Todd Snider. While this story was picked up by the anti-terrorism community, especially by Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs, the David Horowitz Freedom Center (and Frontpage Magazine) and some others; it was largely ignored by the mainstream media.

There's much more. Go read the whole thing.

The stubborn stupidity of the west is GIGANTIC - GB: We do use books that call Jews 'apes' admits head of Islamic school

They HAVE to, you compete morons....THAT'S WHAT THE QURAN SAYS. The quran is the uncreated, perpetual, immutable and perfect words of a perfect being, who, so sorry, is a racist hater.

From THIS LONDON we observe the shock and surprise at the ungentlemanly quranic devotion...

Race row: Dr Sumaya Alyusuf

The principal of an Islamic school has admitted that it uses textbooks which describe Jews as "apes" and Christians as "pigs" and has refused to withdraw them.

Dr Sumaya Alyusuf confirmed that the offending books exist after former teacher Colin Cook, 57, alleged that children as young as five are taught from racist materials at the King Fahd Academy in Acton.

In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, Dr Alyusuf was asked by Jeremy Paxman whether she recognised the books.

She said: "Yes, I do recognise these books, of course. We have these books in our school. These books have good chapters that can be used by the teachers. It depends on the objectives the teacher wants to achieve."

In another exchange, Dr Alyusuf insisted the books should not be scrapped, saying that allegedly racist sections had been "misinterpreted".

005.059
YUSUFALI: Say: "O people of the Book! Do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and the revelation that hath come to us and that which came before (us), and (perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?"

005.060
YUSUFALI: Say: "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah? those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!"

MISINTERPRETED?

The school is owned, funded and run by the government of Saudi Arabia. Mr Paxman asked: "Will you now remove this nonsense from the Saudi Ministry of Education from your school?"

Dr Alyusuf replied: "Just to reiterate what I said earlier, there are chapters from these books that are used and that will serve our objectives. But we don't teach hatred towards Judaism or Christianity - on the contrary."

During the programme Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside and chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement, accused the school of inciting racial hatred and hit out at Ofsted inspectors for failing to discover the textbooks. She said: "This whole situation is unacceptable. It is incitement. It is part of a deliberate Saudi initiative to install Wahabbism extremism among Muslims and in the rest of society. If Ofsted has not drawn attention to this, that is a failing of Ofsted.

This is the correct path. Those portions of the Quran which are UNQUESTIONABLY hate speech must be PROSCRIBED. Their teaching, while it may fall under freedom of speech in the USA certainly will not be under the multicultural zombielaws of the EU today.

Then, let the chips fall where they may.

The situation regarding the west, freedom of speech, racism and Islam could not be more clearly defined than on this issue.

The Quran contains racist hate speech.

Only the muslims among all religions claim, and insist such speech is the perfect word from a perfect

god.

A perfect being cannot be a racist.

Either Quran is not authored by god, or it is a god of racist hate, and therefore no god at all.

Choose, England.

Churchill, or Abu Hamza

Winds of War: It’s the Ideology, Stupid

From The Gathering Storm

We need to re-align our ideas about this war. We can not think in terms of nation states, which leads to impotent inaction - ala the UN, or even terrorist networks, which leads to classifying this war as a criminal justice problem – ala the liberal Left. We have to start thinking in terms of ideology. Plain and simple, our democracy is a threat to their theocracy - a theocratic ideology. For that is what we are at war with.

This is not a battle over peoples’ territory but over peoples’ minds. This war will either be defined by our enemies, or by us. So far, they are defining this conflict, and are more clearly defining the underlying causes of it. We need to face that fact and act accordingly.

The only way we can re-align our thinking to fight this war effectively is to recognize what they are fighting for and what they say this war is about. Let’s start with one of their spiritual mouthpieces, or propagandists, straight from the belly of the beast and get it right from the horse’s mouth. From the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdel Aziz Al Sheikh, himself in Saudi Arabia.

“Saudi Arabia's leading religious figure, the grand mufti, Sunday defended the spirit of jihad, or holy war, as a God-given right.”

Then he lets the cat out of the bag.

"The spread of Islam has gone through several phases, secret and then public, in Mecca and Medina," the holiest places in Islam.”

Secret? Could he be referring to the Muslim Brotherhood "Project"? From the Assyrian International News Agency.

“In October of ‘05 President Bush denounced the Islamic ideological movement that called for a "violent and political vision: the establishment, by terrorism, subversion and insurgency, of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom." The Muslim Brotherhood, also known as the Ikhwan, is a good example of what the President described and what he must protect us against. The Muslim Brotherhood organization, an expansive and secretive society with followers in more than 70 countries, describes itself as a political and social revolutionary movement. It was founded in March 1928 in Egypt by Hassan al-Banna, who objected to Western influence and called for return to an original Islam.”

And we know what that ‘original Islam’ was. The Taliban ands Al Qaeda are perfect manifestations of that ideology.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is dedicated to creating a global Islamic order that would isolate women and punish nonbelievers. Its members and supporters founded al Qaeda. The Muslim Brotherhood has historically and continues to actively pursue the establishment of a Muslim regime that will serve as the basis to re-establish the Caliphate.

But the free democracies, and especially the MSM, just don’t get it. How about this dumb headline from ABC news?

“'Day of Rage': Anger Not Jihad. Muslim Leaders world wide call for a ‘Day of Rage’. Do they mean violence?”

Naaah! And what about that ‘secret’ phase? Perhaps this is one version of it. Clerics 'teaching secret jihad'

“Islamic clerics in Sydney and Melbourne are using covert tactics to preach martyrdom and jihad to young followers, recruiting them under the guise of classes teaching the Koran…… Singapore-based terrorism analyst Rohan Gunaratna told The Australian that despite their denials and stronger terror laws, religious leaders in the two cities continued to preach violence to impressionable followers. Clive Williams, who runs a terrorism and counter-terrorism program at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said young Muslims were being recruited for jihad through "Koran classes". "They are doing it differently now," he said. “They are advertising for Koran classes and then selecting a few people for an inner circle.”Mr Williams said the clerics were profiling the followers in the Koran classes and selecting impressionable ones to target separately and privately for indoctrination.”

And finally, from the Asian Tribune that brings a new ripple to global struggle against theocracy. “War on Terror Equals War on Minorities”. That should warm the cockles of every liberal heart.

It’s neither terrorism nor nation states nor neo-cons who are the prime enemy; it’s the ideology, stupid - the ideology of Islamism and those that follow and quietly support it.

The Ugly Truths about Pakistan Acquire Hard Edges

Image via Wikipedia

1 ) Arnaud de Borchgrave:

Section S of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency operates pretty much as a state within a state with plausible deniability. Those selected by a supersecret fraternity for service in Section S after they officially retire from ISI aren’t known to the chief of army staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, or the ISI chief, Gen. Shuja Pasha.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari speaks what he believes to be the truth when he dismisses “S” as a figment of fevered James Bondishimaginations in America.

But when a Pakistani journalist writes scathing pieces about Islamist militants in the Pakistani army, he is kidnapped, and his mutilated body is found a month later.

U.S. intelligence, which demonstrated its prowess in Pakistan by discovering Osama bin Laden’s hideaway near Pakistan’s West Point and guiding a SEAL team to kill him, soon uncovered the culprit. ISI had ordered the journalist, Saleem Shahzad, 40, of the Asia Times, executed.

That wasn’t good enough for the executioners. They inflicted 17 lacerated wounds, a ruptured liver and two broken ribs.

The message to the Pakistani media: No reporting or writing on Islamist militants in the armed forces. The supertaboo: No mention of Islamist officers possibly linked to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

Pakistan’s ultrasecret assistance to the Taliban fighting U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan is another proscribed topic for the media.

Slowly thawing after the May 2 killing of bin Laden, Washington’s relations with Islamabad took another vertiginous plunge.

ISI’s principal anti-U.S. talisman is retired Gen. Hamid Gul, who ran the intelligence service during the closing phases (1987-89) of the mujahedeen campaign against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He became a bitter enemy of the United States after Washington walked away from the Afghan engagement and began punishing Pakistan for its secret development of nuclear weapons.

For 10 years, Washington banned Pakistani officers from U.S. staff schools and all manner of military training. Gen. Gul became their anti-U.S. mascot. He also was a close friend of bin Laden’s during the campaign against the Soviet army and again when the Saudi rebel returned to Afghanistan in 1996.

Gen. Gul was on a trip to Afghanistan, returning home two weeks before Sept. 11, 2001. He told this reporter three weeks after 9/11, in his home in Rawalpindi, that the attacks were the work of a Mossad-CIA plot in which the U.S. Air Force was involved. Today, countless millions of Pakistanis believe the monstrous canard, as do millions of others around the world, including in the United States.

President Zardari says, “Gul is more of a political ideologue of terror rather than a physical supporter.” Translation: “I don’t dare touch him lest he order me terminated.”

READ IT ALL

2) GlobalSecurity.org ..a VERY well respected outfit …

The United States’ top military commander has accused Pakistan’s government of “sanctioning” the slaying of a journalist whose hard-hitting reports included allegations that the Pakistani intelligence services had been infiltrated by Islamic militants.

Not quite right, still a little too hopeful. The ISI has not been “ infiltrated by Islamic militants”, THEY ARE ISLAMIC MILITANTS, spreading what they believe it is their individual responsibility before god to spread.

The United States’ top military commander has accused Pakistan’s government of “sanctioning” the slaying of a journalist whose hard-hitting reports included allegations that the Pakistani intelligence services had been infiltrated by Islamic militants.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, was quoted by “The New York Times” as having told journalists at a Pentagon briefing on July 7 that the kidnapping and torture death of Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad “was sanctioned by the government.”

Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani was quoted by the same paper as saying that “any evidence” that the Americans have “should be shared” with a Pakistani commission appointed to investigate the death.

Pakistani Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said Mullen’s comments would deal a “big blow” to joint efforts in the war against terrorism.

“It’s extremely irresponsible,” she said. “The statement by Mike Mullen about Pakistan is extremely irresponsible and unfortunate. This statement will create problems and difficulties for the bilateral relations between Pakistan and America.”

Shahzad disappeared from Islamabad on May 29 after writing a report about Al-Qaeda’s alleged infiltration of Pakistan’s navy. His body was found two days later, bearing what police said were signs of torture.

Asked on July 7 about media reports that the Pakistani government approved the reporter’s killing, Mullen said: “I have not seen anything that would disabuse that report that the government knew about this.” “It was sanctioned by the government,” he added.

However, he said he did not have a “string of evidence” linking the death to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the military’s premier intelligence agency.

Speaking at a Pentagon Press Association luncheon in Washington, the admiral also suggested other reporters had suffered a similar fate in the past.

Mullen said the episode raised worrying questions about the country’s current course: “It’s not a way to move ahead. It’s a way to continue to, quite frankly, spiral in the wrong direction.”

“The New York Times” reported recently that Obama administration officials suspected the ISI had ordered Shahzad’s killing. They quoted unnamed U.S. officials who cited unspecified intelligence indicating the ISI wanted to silence Shahzad.

Another military official was quoted by the same paper as declining to say whether Mullen thought foreknowledge of the killing extended as high as President Asif Ali Zardari or Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Pakistani Investigation

Pakistani Information Minister Awan told a news conference that Mullen’s comments would “create problems and difficulties in the bilateral ties.” She said they would “impact our joint efforts in [the] war against terrorism,” without elaborating.

The government earlier said Islamabad had set up an independent commission to probe the killing and that Mullen’s statement would not help the investigation.

“Whatever is published in U.S. media, the judicial commission needs evidence,” Pervez Shaukat, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and a member of the investigating commission, told RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal.

“You know that the judicial commission circulated and advertised that any one having evidence about Saleem Shahzad, they should bring it before the judicial commission.”

The ISI has denied as “baseless” allegations that it was involved in the murder of Shahzad, who worked for the Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online.

The 40-year-old Shahzad was a well-known journalist who made a career writing about Islamist militant networks operating in Pakistan and investigating the alleged ties between militants and the ISI.

His abduction came shortly after he had written an investigative piece on the deadly insurgent attack on a naval base in Karachi on May 22-23, which took 16 hours to contain and resulted in the deaths of at least 10 military personnel and four militants. In his report, he alleged that the attack stemmed from a breakdown in secret negotiations between the navy and Al-Qaeda.

Shahzad warned that he had received threats because of his report, with suspicions turning toward the ISI agency.

U.S.-Pakistan Relationship ‘Under Pressure’

Mullen acknowledged the U.S. relationship with Pakistan was “under extraordinary pressure,” confirming that the U.S. military presence in Pakistan had been dramatically scaled back at Islamabad’s request.

But Mullen insisted that Washington was “committed to sustaining that relationship.”

The Karachi attack came after the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, which led to questions of how the Al-Qaeda leader could find a safe haven for years alongside Pakistan’s elite military training academy, and how the U.S. raid could be successfully carried out unbeknownst to the armed forces.

Mullen said that even before the bin Laden raid ties had become strained, particularly over the arrest of a CIA contractor in Pakistan who was charged with double murder before eventually being released.

Despite growing frustration over Pakistan’s failure to crack down on militant sanctuaries near the Afghan border, Mullen said it would be a “disaster” to cut off financial aid to Islamabad, as some U.S. lawmakers have urged.

with agency reports

ISI and Gul from MEMRI
More Hamid Gul:WIKI
WaPo on Gul
Gul demands US leave
Hamid Gul and 9/11

Source:http://www.rferl.org/content/us_commander_accuses_pakistan_government_journalist_killing/24259191.html

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