Private sponsors of international terrorism

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Admin

Voltaire Network

The Arab press is abuzz over a list of the major private donors to terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq. It was reportedly gleaned from an internal U.S. Department of State document.

1. Awad Ibrahim Bin Hamad, former university professor and businessman/Saudi Arabia
2. Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, head of the charity society Balouikilih/Saudi Arabia
3. Sheikh Ibrahim Bin Mohammad Al-Jarallah, university professor and businessman/Saudi Arabia
4. Dr. Ibrahim Bin Nasser Nasser, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
5. Dr. Ibrahim, director of studies at the university of Dakar/Senegal
6. Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya, president of the Association of islamic studies/Gaza-Palestine
7. Dr. Ahmed Raissouni, head of the unification and reform movement/Morocco
8. Sheikh Ahmed, islamist preacher/Mauritania
9. Dr. Ahmed bin Rashid bin Saeed, professor/Saudi Arabia
10. Dr. Ahmed Hussein Daddash, islamic preacher/Iraq
11. Mr. Ahmed Rateb, director of publishing house/Lebanon
12. Sheikh Adam, Noah, Adam, islamic preacher/Ghana
13. Sheikh Ejaz Afzal Khan, emir of the islamic community in Kashmir/Pakistan
14. Sheikh Amin khudair al-Janabi, islamic preacher/Iraq
15. Dr. Djillali Bozoinh, university professor/Algeria
16. Dr. Habib Adami, professor/Algeria
17. Sheikh Sadeq Abdallah Abdel Majid, islamic preacher/Sudan
18. Sheik Qazi Hussain Ahmed, emir of Jamaat-e-Islami/Pakistan
19. Prof. Boudjemaa Ayad, businessman/Algeria
20. Mr. Tawfiq, businessman/Lebanon
21. Dr. Jassem bin Mohammed bin Muslim Al-Yassin/Kuwait
22. Dr. Gamal Sultan, editor-in-Chief of Al-Manar news/Egypt
23. Mr. Jameel Mohammed Ali, businessman/Saudi Arabia
24. Dr. Harith Al-Dhari, islamic preacher, Solomon/Iraq
25. Sheikh Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, islamic preacher/Pakistan
26. Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, emir of Jama’at-ud-Da’wah/Pakistan
27. Mr. Nader, Secretary General of the Salafi movement/Kuwait
28. Sheikh Hamed Al-Ali, university professor/Kuwait
29. Sheik Hijazi Al Wadia, islamic activist/Palestine
30. Sheikh Hassan Moussa, head of the Swedish Council of imams/Sweden
31. Mr. Hussein Rawashdeh, writer and journalist/Jordan
32. Dr. Hussein Bin Mohammad Machhour Al-Hazmi, university professor/Saudi Arabia
33. Sheikh Hussein Omar Mahfouz bin Shuaib, editor-in-Chief of Forum/Yemen
34. Sheikh Hussein Mousa Hussein, islamic preacher/Eritrea
35. Sheikh Hamdi Arslan, teacher at Fatih Mosque/Turkey
36. Sheikh Hamoud bin Abdul Aziz Al-tuwaijri, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
37. Dr. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Daweesh, professor/Saudi Arabia
38. Sheikh Khader Habib, islamic preacher, Palestine
39. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammad, islamic preacher/Qatar
40. Mr. Abdel Wahab, member of Derbal Renaissance movement/Algeria
41. Mr. Rabah, businessman/Algeria
42. Mr. Rashid Misfer Al Zahrani, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
43. Sheikh Rashid Haj, emir JI/Sri Lanka
44. Shaykh Reda Ahmed Hamdy, islamic preacher/Thailand
45. Sheik Ramadan Mohammed Nur, islamic preacher/Eritrea
46. Sheikh Zakaria Cisse, preacher and lecturer/Senegal
47. Mr. Zaki Saleh Al Nahdi, islamic preacher/Indonesia
48. Sheikh Sajid Ali, leader of the Islamic movement/Pakistan
49. Dr. Salem Al-Sagaf jiffri, head of the Indonesian Commission for the defence of the Afghan people – Director of the Advisory Board of Sharia/Indonesia
50. Sheikh Salim Abdel Rahim al-Barhian, islamic preacher/Kenya
51. Dr. Sami Rashid al-Janabi, islamic preacher/Iraq
52. Dr. Saud bin Hassan Mukhtar, university professor/Saudi Arabia
53. Mr. Saeed Morsi/Algeria
54. Dr. Saeed, president of the College of Imam Shafi’i/Comoros
55. Dr. bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hawali, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
56. Shaikh Salman Bin Fahd, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
57. Dr. Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Rashudi, businessman/Saudi Arabia
58. Mr. Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Issa, businessman/Saudi Arabia
59. Sheikh Aurally, leader of Jui (Special)/Pakistan
60. Mr. Boutros-Ghali, islamic preacher/Senegal
61. Shaykh Shah Ahmed Noorani, leader of the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Senator/Pakistan
62. Mr. Shaher bin Abdul Raof Batterjee, businessman/Saudi Arabia
63. Sheikh Sharif Hussein, imam and preacher of the mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab/Australia
64. Sheikh Imran bin Abdul Rahman Manai, islamic preacher/Bahrain
65. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Limo, chairman of the Coordinating Council of Muslim organizations/Nigeria
66. Prof. Sheikh, islamic activist, PMP/Senegal
67. Sheikh Saleh bin Othman Al-Ghamdi, businessman/Saudi Arabia
68. Mr. Saleh Ali Saleh, islamic preacher/Eritrea
69. Dr. Tarek Saleh Jamal, professor/Saudi Arabia
70. Dr. Tarek Abdel Halim, director of Dar Al-Arqam/Canada
71. Dr. Taher Ahmed Loulou, islamic preacher, Palestine
72. Sheikh Taher Mahmoud Guelleh, director of radio Koran/Somalia
73. Sheikh Adel Al-Sheikh, islamic preacher/Bahrain
74. Dr. Adel Junaidi, islamic preacher, Hebron, Palestine
75. Dr. Ayesh Al-Kubaisi, islamic preacher/Iraq
76. Sheikh Abd El bare Zamzami, islamic preacher/Morocco
77. Sheikh Abdel Hay Amor, islamic preacher/Morocco
78. Mr. Azzedine, businessmen/Algeria
79. Dr. Ali, professor/Yemen
80. Sheikh, Chairman of the Council of Ulama Indonesia/Indonesia
81. Mr. Solomon Abu Mustafa, islamic preacher, Palestine
82. Dr. Awad al-Qarni, former university professor and attorney/Saudi Arabia
83. Shaikh Salahuddin Akendili, islamic preacher/Nigeria
84. Mr. Issa, islamic preacher/Senegal
85. Dr. Ghulam Azam, emir of Jamaat-e-Islami/Bangladesh
86. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool Dani, president of the islamic organization/Nepal
87. Sheikh Fatih, islamic preacher/pinyin
88. Dr. Fatima Barash, professor/Algeria
89. Dr. Fatma Al-Kunaifis, professor/Saudi Arabia
90. Mr. Fayez Saleh Jamal, writer and businessman/Saudi Arabia
91. Sheikh Freih bin Ali bin Turki, islamic activist and editor, attorney/Saudi Arabia
92. Sheikh Farid Al-Habib, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
93. Shaykh Fazlur Rahman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam/Pakistan
94. Sheikh Fahad Ahmed Mubarak Al-Thani, islamic preacher/Qatar
95. Mr. Muhammad Muslim/Indonesia
96. Dr. Mohamed Habib Altgkani, university professor/Morocco
97. Mr. Mohammad Rasheed Al Rasheed, businessman/Saudi Arabia
98. Sheikh Mohammed, professor/Morocco
99. Judge Mohamed Sadiq Maglis, university professor and judge/Yemen
100. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Awadi, islamic preacher/Kuwait
101. Dr. Mohammad bin Syamsuddin, chairman of Muhammadiyah/Indonesia
102. Sheikh Mohammed, president of the Association for islamic unity/Indonesia
103. Dr. Mohammed Sajid Mir Abdul Gayoom Mir, leader of Assembly of Ahl al-hadeeth/Pakistan
104. Sheikh Mohammed Saeed Abdullah, islamic preacher, Pavel/Saudi Arabia
105. Mohammad Suleiman, thinker, writer/United Kingdom
106. Sheikh Mohammed Abdou Ibrahim Ali, Al-Azhar scholars/Egypt
107. Dr. Mohammed Ayash Al-Kubaisi, islamic preacher/Iraq
108. Mr. Mohammad Kazem Al-Sawalha, president of the Muslim Association/United Kingdom
109. Dr. Mohammed Kurd, president of the League of Europe/Netherlands
110. Mr. Mohammed Mbeki Alejandro/Senegal
111. Sheikh Mohammed, islamist writer/Morocco
112. Sheikh Mahmud Idris, islamic preacher/Eritrea
113. Sheikh Murad Yasha, islamic preacher/Turkey
114. Dr. Musa bin Mohammed Al-Qarni, university professor and attorney/Saudi Arabia
115. Dr. Nasser Al-sane, islamist preacher/Kuwait
116. Dr. Nasser Bin Suleiman, islamic preacher/Saudi Arabia
117. Shaykh Nizamuddin/Pakistan
118. Sheikh Noor bin Yildiz, islamic preacher/Turkey
119. Dr. Hashem Ali al-Ahdal, university professor/Saudi Arabia

Share this:

• Share

The jihadi who never was

By Michael Muhammad Knight September 3, 2014 

Michael Muhammad Knight is the author of 9 books, including Tripping with Allah: Islam, Drugs, and Writing.​

Iraqi Shiite militia fighters hold the Islamic State flag as they celebrate after breaking the siege of Amerli by Islamic State militants. (Youssef Boudlal/Reuters)

The Islamic State just released a gruesome new beheading video, again helmed by a western-bred Jihadist. As often happens, I received messages asking for explanation.

You see, I’m the jihadi who never was.

Twenty years ago, I ditched my Catholic high school in upstate New York to study at a Saudi-funded madrassa in Pakistan. A fresh convert, I jumped at the chance to live at a mosque and study Qur’an all day.

This was in the mid-1990s, during an escalation of the Chechen resistance against Russian rule. After class, we’d turn on the television and watch feeds of destruction and suffering. The videos were upsetting. So upsetting that soon I found myself thinking about abandoning my religious education to pick up a gun and fight for Chechen freedom.

It wasn’t a verse I’d read in our Qur’an study circles that made me want to fight, but rather my American values. I had grown up in the Reagan ’80s. I learned from G.I. Joe cartoons to (in the words of the theme song) “fight for freedom, wherever there’s trouble.” I assumed that individuals had the right — and the duty — to intervene anywhere on the planet where they perceived threats to freedom, justice and equality.

For me, wanting to go to Chechnya wasn’t reducible to my “Muslim rage” or “hatred for the West.” This may be hard to believe, but I thought about the war in terms of compassion. Like so many Americans moved by their love of country to serve in the armed forces, I yearned to fight oppression and protect the safety and dignity of others. I believed that this world was in bad shape. I placed my faith in somewhat magical solutions claiming that the world could be fixed by a renewal of authentic Islam and a truly Islamic system of government. But I also believed that working toward justice was more valuable than my own life.

Eventually, I decided to stay in Islamabad. And the people who eventually convinced me not to fight weren’t the kinds of Muslims propped up in the media as liberal, West-friendly reformers. They were deeply conservative; some would call them “intolerant.” In the same learning environment in which I was told that my non-Muslim mother would burn in eternal hellfire, I was also told that I could achieve more good in the world as a scholar than as a soldier, and that I should strive to be more than a body in a ditch. These traditionalists reminded me of Muhammad’s statement that the ink of scholars was holier than the blood of martyrs.

The media often draw a clear line between our imagined categories of “good” and “bad” Muslims. My brothers in Pakistan would have made that division much more complicated than some could imagine.These men whom I perceived as superheroes of piety, speaking to me as the authorized voice of the tradition itself, said that violence was not the best that I could offer.

Some kids in my situation seem to have received different advice.

It’s easy to assume that religious people, particularly Muslims, simply do things because their religions tell them to. But when I think about my impulse at age 17 to run away and become a fighter for the Chechen rebels, I consider more than religious factors. My imagined scenario of liberating Chechnya and turning it into an Islamic state was a purely American fantasy, grounded in American ideals and values. Whenever I hear of an American who flies across the globe to throw himself into freedom struggles that are not his own, I think, What a very, very American thing to do.

And that’s the problem. We are raised to love violence and view military conquest as a benevolent act. The American kid who wants to intervene in another nation’s civil war owes his worldview as much to American exceptionalism as to jihadist interpretations of scripture. I grew up in a country that glorifies military sacrifice and feels entitled to rebuild other societies according to its own vision. I internalized these values before ever thinking about religion. Before I even knew what a Muslim was, let alone concepts such as “jihad” or an “Islamic state,” my American life had taught me that that’s what brave men do.

AFGHANISTAN, SYRIA, IRAQ AND THE ISIS/ISIL

2 good choices for president in Afghanistan

The run off votes have been cast. It will take a month before they count all the votes (yikes) Abdullah Gül got more votes, 10% more, than the other candidate Ashraf Ghani. Both men worked in the present president's cabinet. Abdullah is a Tajik this is the ethnic group that was only place the Taliban could not conquer.

Abdullah is part Tajik, part Pasthu, but many paint him as closer to his Tajik roots. Tajik is maybe 15% of population with their base in the North East of Afghanistan. Pashtu is about 70%a and main base is the southeast boarder of Afghanistan at the Pakistan boarder.. The Taliban come from the Pashtu tribe/ethnic group. Pakistan has about 70% Pashtu also.
Ashraf Ghani is a Pasthu he worked at the world bank he look like a Gandhi and sounds like Kermit the frog, but he looks to be a good person, it is actually who I thought would be best candidate from a ethnic line/lines, and his experience is amazing.But Abdullah would have been good to fight corruption. I expect calls of vote tampering wont get much attention and Ghani will get the position. Main reason I say that is the U.N. current president and others all want Ghani to win. If the U.N. wanted Abdullah to win we may have seen some investigations into the accusations.

Pashtu, Pashtoon, Pashton, and all the other spellings are all excepted spellings and the same thing an ethnic group Sunni Muslim. Currently their religious and other ethnic leadership has aligned themselves to the Saudi Arabia Wahhabi influences, which even view any non-Sunni as an enemy that should and must be killed / conquered. The ISIS/ISIL that is now attacking Iraq is lead by Saudi Arabians and funded by some very rich people in Saudi, Qatar, and Kuwait.The foreign fighters approx 20,000 of them are now fighting on the front lines in Syria and Iraq. So when the "News" says it is a civil war in Iraq, please call BS on that. ISIS/ISIL do not represent the average Iraqi or Syrian citizen/native.

The U.S. has been asked officially by Iraq government to help them fight against ISIS/ISIL. I predict that we will help with some direct air strikes, and also do some on the ground leadership and implementation of counter insurgency tactics and stratagem. Sad that we do not treat all nations alike. Helping the government fight an outside influence is what we should have done in Syria also. 160k dead so far in Syria, all because of outside not civil influences.

Obama's Youtube Arrogance Just Became A Nightmare

YouTube has deleted this video.

interview Obama with Joe Klein of Time magazine in October 2008
I made this blog post on Nov 7, 2008.
Mumbai attacks were on Nov 26, 2008 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks

So I called it, I did not know the target, but I knew something bad would happen, 19 days before it happened. This may have been a video put up by a Pakistani showing the Interview and saying this will have repercussions..

Obama was on this video saying that he would work on the Kashmir Issue (this is before he was inaugurated I think?. Kashmir does not have any real boarders, no set ones. They move all the time. India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan all lay claim over sections of Kashmir.  Well I thought it would cause Pakistan to attack India and they did..... using terrorists. Obama officially shut up a couple months later. Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb.

US President Obama on the conflict

In an interview with Joe Klein of Time magazine in October 2008, Barack Obama expressed his intention to try to work with India and Pakistan to resolve the crisis.^[240] He said he had talked to Bill Clinton about it, as Clinton has experience being a mediator. In an editorial in The Washington Times, Selig S Harrison,^[241] director of the Asia Programme at the Center for International Policy and a senior scholar of the Woodrow Wilson International, called it Obama's first foreign policy mistake.^[242] In an editorial, The Australiancalled Obama's idea to appoint a presidential negotiator "a very stupid and dangerous move indeed".^[243] In an editorial in Forbes,Reihan Salam, associate editor for The Atlantic, noted "The smartest thing President Obama could do on Kashmir is probably nothing. We have to hope that India and Pakistan can work out their differences on Kashmir on their own".^[244] The Boston Globe called the idea of appointing Bill Clinton as an envoy to Kashmir "a mistake".^[245] President Obama appointed Richard Holbrooke as special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan.^[246] President Asif Ali Zardari hoped that Holbrooke would help mediate to resolve the Kashmir issue.^[247]Subsequently Kashmir was removed from the mandate of Holbrooke.^[248] "Eliminating ... Kashmir from his job description ... is seen as a significant diplomatic concession to India that reflects increasingly warm ties between the country and the United States," The Washington Post noted in a report.^[249] Brajesh Mishra, India's former national security adviser, was quoted in the same report as saying that "No matter what government is in place, India is not going to relinquish control of Jammu and Kashmir". "That is written in stone and cannot be changed."^[250] According to The Financial Times, India has warned Obama that he risks "barking up the wrong tree" if he seeks to broker a settlement between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.^[251]

In July 2009, US Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake, Jr. stated that the United States had no plans of appointing any special envoy to settle the dispute, calling it an issue which needs to be sorted out bilaterally by India and Pakistan.^[252] According to Dawnthis will be interpreted in Pakistan as an endorsement of India's position on Kashmir that no outside power has any role in this dispute.^[253]

Pakistan's relation with militants

India has furnished documentary evidence to the United Nations that these militants are supported by Pakistan, leading to a ban on some terrorist organisations, which Pakistan has yet to enforce.^{[citation needed]} Former President of Pakistan and the ex-chief of Pakistan military Pervez Musharraf, stated in an interview in London, that Pakistani government indeed helped to form underground militant groups and "turned a blind eye" towards their existence.^[112]

According to Indian Prime-minister Manmohan Singh, one of the main reasons behind the conflict is Pakistan's "terror-induced coercion". Indian Prime-minister Manmohan Singh stated in a Joint Press Conference with United States President Barack Obama in New Delhi that India is not afraid of resolving all the issues with Pakistan including the kashmir "but it is our request that you cannot simultaneously be talking and at the same time the terror machine is as active as ever before. Once Pakistan moves away from this terror-induced coercion, we will be very happy to engage productively with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues."^[113]

In 2009, the President of Pakistan Asif Zardari asserted at a conference in Islamabad that Pakistan had indeed created Islamic militant groups as a strategic tool for use in its geostrategic agenda and "to attack Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir".^[114] Former President of Pakistan and the ex-chief of Pakistan military Pervez Musharraf also stated in an interview that Pakistani government helped to form underground militant groups to fight against Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir and "turned a blind eye" towards their existence because it wanted to force India to enter negotiations.^[112] The British Government have formally accepted that there is a clear connection between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and three major militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.^[115][116] The militants are provided with "weapons, training, advice and planning assistance" in Punjab and Kashmir by the ISI which is "coordinating the shipment of arms from the Pakistani side of Kashmir to the Indian side, where Muslim insurgents are waging a protracted war".^[117][118]

Throughout the 1990s, the ISI maintained its relationship with extremist networks and militants that it had established during the Afghan war to utilise in its campaign against Indian forces in Kashmir.^[119] Joint Intelligence/North (JIN) has been accused of conducting operations in Jammu and Kashmir and also Afghanistan.^[120] The Joint Signal Intelligence Bureau (JSIB) provide support with communications to groups in Kashmir.^[120] According to Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon both former members of the National Security Council the ISI acted as a "kind of terrorist conveyor belt" radicalising young men in the Madrassas in Pakistan and delivering them to training camps affiliated with or run by Al-Qaeda and from there moving them into Jammu and Kashmir to launch attacks.^[121]

Reportedly, about Rs. 24 million are paid out per month by the Inter-Services Intelligence, to fund its activities in Jammu and Kashmir.^[122] Pro-Pakistani groups were reportedly favoured over other militant groups.^[122] Creation of six militant groups in Kashmir, which included Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was aided by the ISI.^[123][124] According to American Intelligence officials, ISI is still providing protection and help to LeT.^[124] The Pakistan Army and ISI also LeT volunteers to surreptitiously penetrate from Pakistan Administrated Kashmir to Jammu and Kashmir.^[125]

Indian authorities in past has alleged several times that Pakistan was involved in training and arming underground militant groups to fight Indian forces in Kashmir.^[126]

I Wish I  had backed up the video

Pakistans and Indias new nightmare

Kashmir is just east of Pakistan and is a highly fought over and disputed territory. Pakistan and India have waged war against each other in this region for decades. It is a mountainous area with little infrastructure. The Pakistan government has used Pashtun Taliban warriors to do most of the work in Kashmir. Today Pakistan controls the North half of Kashmir and India the South half. Presently there are no real boarders between Pakistan, Kashmir, and north or south Kashmir. The boarder change daily.

So why am I talking about Kashmir? What is their new nightmare?

Obama announced today that he would work to settle the dispute on Kashmir and then Pakistan would not need so many troops in Kashmir and could use those troops to attack the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the Paki NWFP. Sounds like a nice idea, eh ?

The Problem is Pakistan uses Taliban warriors in Kashmir to do most of the fighting and the governance. So instead of getting Pakistan’s military out of Kashmir (which won't happen) Obama will have a nice surprise of some additional ticked of Taliban tribes to deal with in NWFP and Afghanistan.

World War 3 here we come.

India and Pakistan both have nukes and have come very close, on several occasions, to using these weapons of mass destruction against each other. India has had a friend in President Bush and so did China. But it appears the honeymoon is over. India and Pakistan response to Obama’s remarks regarding Kashmir went something like this "stay out of it".

Ignorance and Arrogance = Obama

Found at ThinkRational.org

http://thinkrational.org/blog/archives/2007/12/oh_pakistan.html

"If you drag your google maps to the region where Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and China blur together. You'll see a mess of dotted lines that guestimates the region I'm taking about. Maybe Osama in there. We know the Taliban and al Qaeda are there. Pakistan is blocking our troops from going there. And after this week, democracy is not going there either. Following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, my prediction for the winter is that there will be no elections in Pakistan and the military will reinforce martial law."

Also if you want to see some excellent info onthis subject search the State Department and CIA Fact Book reports about Kashmir.

Media mistakes RE: Basra, Iraq, and the Brits

On the home front in the United States and in Briton there is an ignorance that is spreading and growing. The public, and at times world perspective, is shaped by 15 second sound bytes. Most use some catchy headline that twists or misrepresents the true story.

But when the News gets it "Wrong", why don't we see the same vigor to correct the issue? The facts are of much more interest to me....

Basra is one of these situations.

I hope you will read Michael Yon's latest dispatch "Men of Valor" - part V

Here is a portion of his latest dispatch from the front lines of Iraq:
(there are also a lot of pictures from Basra on Michael's web site)

"......By the time I arrived on my latest trip to Basra on 26 September, the “Honor Agreement” was holding fast. So much so that in September—when the mainstream media was consistently reporting that the place was “in chaos”—the violence in Basra had actually fallen off the screen. Mortar and rocket attacks still occurred, but infrequently and with no military relevance. There was a brief attack at the Basra Airport on 8 October during which I had to lie flat for just a few minutes, and a few other minor attacks where I had to lie down, but this is in sharp contrast to the attacks earlier this year where it was common to lie flat more than a half-dozen times per day, every day......MY"

The News has consistently reported Basra as a city in chaos, with a strong al Qaeda safe haven. The News has convinced people that the al Qaeda Concurred the British troops, and that the Brits are in full retreat.

The reality is the Brits changed strategy. They focused on training the new Iraqi police and Army units. But most important is they worked with the local population, and listened to the needs and wishes of the people of Basra.

The Brits have not fled, they moved. The Brits moved because they were in a place know locally as "Basra Palace". I have read about some of the very aggressive and at times large scale attacks that would come from any direction. But instead of being a target in the center of the city they negotiated settlements with local leaders. they moved to an area that was agreed upon by local government, etc. The Brits are seen as the mediators that can settle disputes between local forces.

Michael mentioned: "Basra was a veritable Hatfield-and-McCoy situation; dysfunctionally functioning."

This is an interesting an insightful observation. Basra like any town has long unsettled disputes. I have read many stories of local disputes that resulted in attacks between old local enemies. Often I have read stories of locals that try to get coalition forces to attack a rival tribe or group of people. I have seen disputes over a goat several times. Also brides who changed their minds or had been forced into marrage. These are disputes we can not resolve. The Iraqis have been and will be the ones who settle their internal disputes.

I have a little saying I have learned from my many travels:

"People who live in cities think that people who live in the outskirts are hicks or backwards, people who live in the outskirts think people who live in cities would have to be nuts to live in such a chaotic unconnected environment. This is true for all nations."

It is something that has always fascinated me. I was lucky enough to travel A LOT every since I was a toddler. That little saying is of course a generalization. I don't think it is a true view for all people in either position. But when you get to the heart of those populations, weather it be city or outskirt, it is clear that the community revolves around leaders who do firmly believe their way of life is better.

The fact is Basra is not some outskirt city in London or New York, Basra is Basra. The best thing our military and political strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan is doin now, is to work with the people, not try and change them.

Violence is down 70% in Basra. Al Qaeda is seen as the Devil, the Brits are respected by the locals, and the News is still reporting that al Qaeda is rising?

Does anyone actually believe the Media anymore?

Let’s take a look at the problem. Our news was once first hand from reporters in the field. All the major News papers after WW2 had always had personnel year round in the Middle East. Television would get their news from the newspapers and independent sources grew as TV grew. Then the internet came along one day. Well that was when it started to change. Also large publishers which were once independent family owned entities became corporate giants. Gone was the day of the newspaper man. last I heard around early 2007 was only one major newpapper still had a full time presence in the middle east. Yet I believe it was only one reporter at times (especially in the hot summers - which is also the time when the enemy is most active). The fact is most of today’s so called "News" comes from what are referred to in the industry as "stringers".

OK I just looked up Iraqi stringers and found a article titled "Myths of Iraq"

here is a portion of the Article by By Ralph Peters

"The dangerous nature of journalism in Iraq has created a new phenomenon, the all-powerful local stringer. Unwilling to stray too far from secure facilities and their bodyguards, reporters rely heavily on Iraqi assistance in gathering news. And Iraqi stringers, some of whom have their own political agendas, long ago figured out that Americans prefer bad news to good news. The Iraqi leg-men earn blood money for unbalanced, often-hysterical claims, while the Journalism 101 rule of seeking confirmation from a second source has been discarded in the pathetic race for headlines......"

Terrorist have been waging a Propaganda War and the News is making money off it. Let's change that...

Pakistan Photos - Pakistan Travel Guide - Photos of Pakistan from Tourist Board Office

http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Pakistan/Photos
Pakistan Photos

Our Pakistan photos include city views and travel photographs of Pakistan's sights and attractions. Click on an image to see a larger photo and a description. Please help us improve our travel guide by submitting your own Pakistan travel photos.

Submit your travel photos

A Muslim's Perspective on Nick Gisburne's Quotes

Nick Gisburne posted a video on YouTube disparaging the Quran as a cruel book. His video got him banned and sparked intense debate and opinion on the Internet. You can find the video here. The video is a slide of "paraphrased" quotes "supposedly" taking from the Quran. Nick claims these are quotes from the Quran. I claim Nick is clever. Nick took many quotes out of context, misquoted several and distorted some. I have little reason to believe this is accidental. It seems his intention was to show the Quran, Islam and Muslims in bad light. I am a Muslim. I feel obliged to weigh in on the issue.

In the interest of time, I'm going to focus on two of the several quotes Nick claimed are direct quotes for the Quran. I'm going to show you how Nick took these quotes out of context and distorted the message of a book over a billion individuals consider sacred.

Nick's Quote:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ORIGINAL COMPLETE POST

This is an awesome example of what I have always contended that the quotes the armchair theorists and islamaphobics use as examples of why Christians, Jews, Americans and the World should fear Islam. Well I could not have been more overjoyed when I stumbled onto this guys little blog. I had been reading someones web site (who is a wee bit preoccupied with Jihadist propagand) When I went to view the video he posted on his blog as proof of why we must fear Islam and how Muslsims want to kill everyone who is not Muslim. I saw a lot of stuff about the video being banned on youtube. Most articles chanted for "freedom of speech". More like freedom to misinform our youth or I got it "lets help the terrorists and we can post this video into english and get lots of attention. YEAH that's a great idea we will be famous. woot." Bottom line people like Nick Gisburne are scum and they are creating more nut jobs, ignorance and intollerance. - Ian Bach

Reason: A Muslim's Perspective on Nick Gisburne's Quotes

http://mystilleef.blogspot.com/2007/02/muslims-perspective-on-nick-gisburnes.html
Nick Gisburne posted a video on YouTube disparaging the Quran as a cruel book. His video got him banned and sparked intense debate and opinion on the Internet. You can find the video here. The video is a slide of "paraphrased" quotes "supposedly" taking from the Quran. Nick claims these are quotes from the Quran. I claim Nick is clever. Nick took many quotes out of context, misquoted several and distorted some. I have little reason to believe this is accidental. It seems his intention was to show the Quran, Islam and Muslims in bad light. I am a Muslim. I feel obliged to weigh in on the issue.

In the interest of time, I'm going to focus on two of the several quotes Nick claimed are direct quotes for the Quran. I'm going to show you how Nick took these quotes out of context and distorted the message of a book over a billion individuals consider sacred.

Nick's Quote:

Ian Bach on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/panjshir07
Ian Bach's YouTube website

aka
Panjshir07

Yahoo! 360° - Entries tagged "afghanistan"

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-maffXBw4eqgt97WCgUjX?tag=afghanistan
My Blogs about Afghanistan and related topics

Tribal Region in Pakistan - Update 8-2007

When we look at the future of Afghanistan and the present situation, we must look at Pakistan's Tribal Region located in the North-West area of Pakistan. This is where Taliban and al-Qaeda actively train personal for Jihad. There is strong indications that we do have intelligence from this region that appears to be accurate. Whether Bin Laden is still alive is of little consideration in regards to the future and present actions of al Qaeda.

Most intelligence agencies agree the Internet is al-Qaeda's number one Recruitment and Propaganda Bases of operations. But little is talked about the number of recruits that stem from Saudi Arabia. Most of these are products of radical clerics within Saudi Arabia. So why does the Saudi government support or at a minimum overlook the Wahhabi (Arab Supremacy Cult) that focuses on extremist views of the Quran and a view that the end of the world is near. (Ian rolls his eyes)... Geez how many groups over the past 2,000 years have used this fear to recruit ignorant and disenfranchised people to their bidding.

Well the Saudi and Pakistans problems are more complicated than most would think. The Saudi Royals gained control of Saudi Arabia approx. 200 years ago (around the time of American independence and french revolts. The Saudi Family used the Wahhabi clerics to gain control of the country. Now the relationship between them is a little like two friends who went into business but later realize they don't see eye to eye.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan should take a closer look inside Iraq at the U.S. Military successes with the Surge, armed with the new counter insurgency methods and tactics.

It is clear that al-Qaeda has not read their Mao. They are making enemies with the citizens of the areas they area wielding their evil deeds and terror tactics. They are relying on the fear they instill to hold back the rage of those who's lives and neighborhoods are penetrated and subjugated.

It appears to be crystal clear that al-Qaeda and Taliban currently get many active recruits from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Only a year ago the numbers of foreign insurgents caught or killed each year in Iraq was approx. 1,200-2,000 each year. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Syria and Egypt remained at approx 10-7% (each respectively) of the foreign insurgents. the remaining 50+ % were from 60 other countries.

Those numbers have gone up significantly . With one major change. Almost 20-30% of the foreign insurgents are now Saudi. The numbers for Syria, Jordan and Iran, remain high.

However it does seem that the Surge is making a big dent by obtaining these mid to high rank Saudi insurgents. It also backs up what most people in Iraq have said about Saudi Arabia. Also what people in Afghanistan have said about the numbers of Pakistani and Saudi in Afghanistan.

One thing I hear from Afghans and conspiracy theorists is the U.S. aiding the Taliban or al Qaeda. The main reason is the Money that we send to Pakistan and/or Saudi Governments. It is clear that a good amount of the money goes to the ISI ( Pakistan's secret service) and the Pakistan Military. Yet most people would agree that the military in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are the only thing that is keeping the radicals from overtaking the Governments. But most don't consider the fact that control over the government, does not mean they have control of the people. For this the governments have done all the wrong things in the propaganda war. They try and hide military actions causing a general mistrust amoung the disenfranshed citizens. Also they have tried to appease the very people they fight. Pakistan seems to be at the stage were they seem to be attempting to attack the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the NW Tribal areas. One indicator is the al-Qaeda style attacks against Pakistan Troops. One thing is certain, and that is the Pakistan army need retraining. They need to learn counter insurgency tactics! From the way the Tribal natives and Afghans speak of the Pakistan Government and Military it is clear there is no hearts or minds being won in the Tribal areas. The problem is much worse than a year ago. With the numbers of foreign militants within Pakistan having doubled. Also the number of Pakistan citizens commiting violence has almost tripled, this includes gangs of thugs that claim to be holy police.

Here is a letter from someone within the Tribal Areas. I have read many of his letters in the past. His hope has gone up and down for the past year, but his frustrations have grown. I really hope the Pakistan Army gets it right when they finally go in with boots on the ground. Currently they have seemed reluctant to confront the Enemy head on. They use arial tactics and often use local Tribal leaders and militias to lead the fights with minimal assistance from the Pakistan Army or ISI.

So the million dollar question is when will they start to make moves that hold ground, instead of taking ground, only to vacate and allow insurgents back in. - Ian Bach

Here are some links to some Articles at Peace and Freedom.

(One thing to consider here is how the Pakistan and Iraqi citizens think the USA is giving financial aide to governments... somehow transfers dirrectly to the way the Terrorist get their money. Well the fact is the Taliban and al Qaeda get their money from so many sources including web scams, identity theft, bank scams, clerics, money laudering, counterfiet money, foreign arab and muslim businessmen and yes even militant groups within the Pakistan and Iranian Armies. - Ian Bach)

« Iranian Guards amass secret fortunes

Israel to turn away Darfur refugees »

Along with a letter from the Pakistan Tribal Region.

Pakistan’s Frontier Still Held By Terrorists

Dear John E. Carey
Peace and Freedom

Dear Sir,

I am really grateful to your goodself for giving me so many times [oppertunities to post letters - I.B.]. You are really great. I have really enjoyed keeping contact you. Some time your kind words gave immence pleasure. I have been showing your words to my tribesmen that a person sitting on other side of the world have concern for you. So thank you very much.

Situation in the areas is the same as it was years ago. The exploitation and now the killing and destruction is the hallmark of every day. The tribesmen have been waiting for a miracle. They think one day the United States will order its rulers to stop playing the ugly game. They will directed to stop support to Taliban and terrorists. When that day will no one knows.

But how many years I shall live, but I have been loosing the hope and confidence. Report from Waziristan tribal region spoke of the same violence.........Click here for the complete letter.

Afghanistan Dutch Forces - Video

The Dutch have a hard place to protect. It is the vital road for supply to British troops in the Southwest of Afghanistan.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/08/06/walsh.afghanistan.dutch.tro...

There is a short video after that link above of Iranians who are bike riding for peace. they started in Europe and now are in America. It is nice to see these Iranians speaking up for peace.

Many Americans wonder why do the Muslims who do not believe in Terrorism stand up. But I try and tell people this is like if you lived in south los angeles. There are many gangs in some areas. When someone is killed all are afriad to speak or they may be killed next. I work with gangs to help them see similarities. When I ask gang members how do you get someone to speak up they all get silent. They all agree they understand better and its really the first question I ask ex gang members when I teach them anti terrorism techniques and counter insurgency methods. Also I help them to get the info to friends they have serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The info is designed to empower them on currect way to work with people and to understand when no one wants to talk this may be because they can not talk maybe someone is watching them. Also I tell them to work with their commanders and let their commanders know they are ex gang members so they can talk and work on techniques and tactics.

There is anti-terorist FBI training If anyone wants click on FBI website it is sorta easy to find. You don't get paid you just get trained. But any policeman, fireman, and hazardous waste professional or community leaders should take the class.

Pakistan still dragging it's feet.

America and the U.N. have waited for the leaders in Pakistan to stop the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. But still no real progress has occurred. The time is ripe to strike / attack al-Qaeda in Pakistan's Tribal Region. The majority of people within the Tribal areas are ready to oust al-Qaeda.

Yet like we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan a responsible/respectable military presence is needed to ignite the spark and help the people regain their homelands and human rights.

Currently al-Qaeda/Taliban are continuing it's attacks on Afghanistan. Also Al Qaeda is calling for the Pakistani people to focus on Jihad in Afghanistan. This is al-Qaeda's attempt to take the focus off Pakistan vs al-Qaeda. It looks like al-Qaeda is waiting and hoping for the USA and UN to leave Afghanistan. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

For now we hope and pray that Pakistan's Army will do what is needed. If Pakistan does not stop the jihadist infection it is sure to spread even more throughout Pakistan and the region.

I urge each person to contact their representatives and urge the U.S. and U.N. to require Pakistan to take action or face sanctions. Until then I hope we use as much covert force as is possible on pakistan and al-Qaeda.

- Ian Bach

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Strategic Forecasting, Inc.
Pakistan: Al Qaeda After the Red Mosque
July 12, 2007 22 17 GMT

".................Although al Qaeda would love to exploit the anti-government sentiments that have arisen among Pakistanis in the wake of the storming of the Red Mosque, the group probably is bracing for what Stratfor has identified as the beginning of a long-term struggle between the Pakistani state and the jihadist Frankenstein it created over an extended period. While the struggle against the jihadists will be a long engagement, the founders of al Qaeda could get caught in the cross-fire between Islamabad and its former proxies in the not-too-distant future."

Click here for full article

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a letter to "Peace and Freedom" blog/online magazine

".......Dear Sir, the terrorists and Taliban have been teasing [chasing with potential loss of life] your brother in Bajaur Agency, tribal areas. We the tribal people are very simple people. When say something we mean it. You the American are honest and true people and when you say something you mean it. But the rulers of Pakistan have two faces. They say one thing, but do the other. The same is the case in the war on terror. They say to the Americans that they (Pakistani) have been fighting against terrorists, but actually they have been creating terrorists. They have been giving full support to Taliban and terrorists.

Some of the American officials and politicians have been blindly supporting Pakistan. They should study the situation...................."

Click here for full article

Wahhabism - Please Read This

Wahhabism is not a sect. It is the name of a reform movement. It is the conduit of the modern spread of terrorism. The previous Posts show you legislation regarding Saudi Arabia's influence and spread of Wahhabism in America. The goal of the Wahhabist propaganda is to create more terrorists. This ideology "Wahhabism" has recent roots in Serbia, Bosnia, Somalia, Sudan, Algeria, and is spreading. It teaches hate, much like the Hitler Youth Movement in the 1930's, the terrorists/Wahhabists goals are to brain wash young minds and mold them into people who will hate anyone who does not follow their views. Currently the European infestation of the Wahhabi ideology stems from the Bosnia War. The Wahhabist are the people who wage Jihad. They spread hate propaganda much like Hitler and Gerbil. We must stop these people by any means necessary. My Next Post I will give some insight into how to spot a follower of Wahhabism.- Ian Bach

The following is some of the information I found regarding Jihad and Wahhabism and how it has spread throughout the World and why it must be stopped as soon as possible. - Ian Bach

Wahabism is a branch of Islam practiced by those who follow the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, after whom the movement is named. Ibn Abdul Wahhab, who reintroduced Shariah (Islamic) law to the Arabian peninsula, was influenced by the writings of scholars such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ibn Taymiyya. This theology is the dominant form found in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as some pockets of Somalia, Algeria, Palestine and Mauritania.

"Wahabism" is among the most conservative forms of Islam?[says wikipedia - I call BS on that. - Ian bach]

Others have described the doctrine as inspiring violence and intolerance. [I agree says Ian Bach]

Ibn Abdul-Wahhab went so far as to declare jihad against Muslims who practiced so-called acts of polytheism. Ibn Abdul-Wahhab's views were totally opposite to those of the renowned Muslim scholars of Mecca and Medina of that time. For example, he called intermediation of the Prophet an act of polytheism.

Wahhabis see their role as restoring Islam from what they perceive to be polytheism and innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries. There are many practices that they believe are contrary to Islam, such as:

• Listening to hymns in praise of the Prophet Muhammad
• Praying to God while visiting tombs (praying near the Prophet Muhammad's tomb is also considered polytheism by the Wahhabis)
• Blindly following any madhhabs (schools of thought) of Islamic jurisprudence in their legal expertise, "except for one who is under necessity and can not reach the Sunnah
• Using non-literal explanations of God's attributes exclusively in preference to literal explanations.
• Celebrating the milad (birthday of the Prophet Muhammad )
• Supposed or actual innovations (bid'ah) in matters of religion (e.g. new supplementary methods of worship or laws not sanctioned by Ibn Abdul-Wahab)
• Killing of any Muslim or Non-Muslim who opposes them in any way
• Killing of Muslims who interact the Non-Muslim is considered as Jihad and the best way to enter paradise to the extent that it is more important than praying salat (one of the pillars of Islam).
• Killing of Innocent Women and children as acceptable even if they are casulty of war, although in Islam these group of people are protected whether Muslims or non-Muslims.

Wahhabism also denounces "the practice of unthinking adherence to the interpretations of scholars and the blind acceptance of practices that were passed on within the family or tribe. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab believed in the responsibility of the individual Muslim to learn and obey the divine commands as they were revealed in the Quran and in the hadith."

This theology spread into Oman during the mid 1700's AD where it played a role in the internal disputes and succession struggles of the country. Ultimately however, its influence lessened over time

Modern spread of Wahhabism

In 1924 the al-Saud dynasty (who were influenced by the teachings of Abdul Wahhab) conquered Mecca and Medina, the Muslim holy cities. This gave them control of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage, and the opportunity to preach their version of Islam to the assembled pilgrims. However, Wahhabism was a minor current within Islam until the discovery of oil in Arabia, in 1938. Vast oil revenues gave an immense impetus to the spread of conservative Islamic theology. Saudi laypeople, government officials and clerics have donated many tens of millions of US dollars to create religious schools, newspapers and outreach organizations.

Wahhabism is also thought to have had a large impact on the Qatar peninsula. It was embraced by many of the tribes of the peninsula and was a motivating factor in the efforts of the Al Thani clan (the current ruling dynasty of Qatar) to resist attempted conquest by the Al Khalifa clan (the current ruling dynasty of Bahrain) who rejected Wahhabism. Wahhabism also set Qatar apart from the rest of the Persian Gulf States. This may have been part of the reason that Qatar did not join the United Arab Emirates as was suggested by the British at the time.

Wahhabism in Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Get out your Google Earth and check look at Qatar this is a small country but it is significant in the war on terror. There are many followers of Wahhabism here. Wahhabism started in mid 1700s in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism faded out for many years up until about the early 1900's

It has spread now to many other Countries. These include Pakistan, Algeria, Somalia, Sudan, Qatar, Palestine, Serbia, Bosnia, and now it is being spread throughout Europe, Americas, Southeast Asia, and even Australia. Saudi Arabia has been a big producer of propaganda magazines to spread Wahhabism. In 2005 the US Senate started to take further actions against the hate propaganda.

Please understand not all Saudis' or Arabs are Wahhabist. But today most of the people approx. 90% mostly the poor and disenfranchised in Saudi Arabi are followers of wahhabism. The Royal Family are not followers and do not want Wahhabism. Since about 1995 Bin Laden and his followers have sought to takeover the power of the Saudi Royal Family and to overthrow the Saudi Arabian government. There are some very powerful and influential people and some Clerics in Saudi Arabia who preach and spread Wahhabism. One area is in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia is where Bin Laden spent much of his time in the Mosques as a young man. This is where he first started to learn about Radical Wahhabism and he started to practice and preach the hate and lies that wahhabism represents. End Note....

NOTE: People like Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Al Zarqawy, etc... are the preachers and teachers of Wahhabism today. End Note....

Bin Laden who is sorta the bastard child of royal family had syrian mother who his dad divorced soon after bin laden was born. Bin Laden has never been a true part of royal family, he was not included in family vacations and he has been described as a loner during his childhood years, and this may be part of reason he talks so bad about, and hates the Saudi Royal Family.

Prior to 911 Sudan wanted to kick Osama out of Sudan, But the Saudi royal family had already disowned him by this point because of his actions. It has been stated by many reputable sources that Sudan attempted to hand Bin Laden over to USA but the Clinton Administration did not want the Liabilities that may have occured. This is about the time that Osama went to Afghanistan.

(In fact my investigations and that of others has shown that the Clinton Administration made many mistakes most of these were due to white house lawyers who felt doing anything would have unknown implications.... Well it's too bad they didn't make the move when they had so many chances.)

Saudis themselves do not use the term "Wahhabi", preferring to call themselves Unitarians - believers in one indivisible deity.

The Wahhabia movement Started sometime, around 1748 AD. The movement faded out somewhat until about 1928 when an alliance was created between the Wahhabi religious movement and the House of Saud - the family that has ruled the Saudi kingdom since its creation in the 1930s. In daily life, the Saudi religious establishment - the ulema - have imposed strict segregation of the sexes, an absolute prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol, a ban on women driving and many other social restrictions. The rules are enforced by the "mutawa", or religious police, who patrol the streets and shopping centres on the look-out for anyone breaking the rules.

Taleban version
There are some similarities between the Saudi interpretation of Islam and that of the ruling Taleban movement in Afghanistan. The Taleban, too, represent an unusually strict form of Sunni Islam - and restrictions on women, for example, are even tighter than in Saudi Arabia. But the Taleban are not Wahhabis. They belong to what is known as the Deobandi movement, named after the small town of Deoband in the Indian Himalayas. It was here that the movement was founded, in the 1860s, during the period of British rule in India. Over time, the movement has become a broad umbrella, including in its ranks Muslims who wish to remain aloof from politics - and others, like the Taleban, who are politically militant. It would be wrong to see either Bin Laden or the Taleban as typical of modern Sunni movements. They represent a radical fringe, rather than the Sunni mainstream.

Al jazeera TV is a propaganda of hate and lies Wahhabi use this to Spread their lies and to create more fear and to recruit more followers.

Recently Al Jazeera TV started to air its hate and lies in English. But American Business men made sure that all TV networks and Cable Providers would not broadcast Al Jazeera in America. But the al Jazeera TV station has gained more listeners. Now Iran has announced a new 24/7 Satelite TV station and this is very bad for all the world.