Al Qaeda’s new front in Lebanon
By Walid Phares (bio)
Yesterday in northern Lebanon, a group named Fatah al Islam conducted several attacks against the Lebanese Army killing (up to) 25 soldiers and losing (up to) 15 members in addition to civilian casualties. The fighting is still raging at this hour. This security development, which could be happening in many other spots in the troubled Middle East, from Iraq to Gaza, and from Somalia to Afghanistan, has however a special dimension. It signals in fact the opening of a new front in the War with al Qaeda’s Terror: Lebanon. Here are the reasons
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Posted by Walid Phares on May 21st, 2007
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Question Period: War of the worlds
By Walid Phares (bio)
The war on terror will be won or lost on the battlefield of ideas
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Posted by Walid Phares on May 20th, 2007
Permanent link: Question Period: War of the worlds
French Resistance to Jihadism: The broad implications of Sarkozy’s election
By Walid Phares (bio)
When I was leaving Paris at the end of October 2005 after a visit to France, I had two things in mind: First, I had seen the beginning of the urban intifada, which would soon engulf about two hundred cities and towns. Second, I was able to have my book received by Minister of Interior Nicolas Sarkozy. And as my plane was taking off, I concluded that the jihadi “invasion” of France’s cities would lead to a French popular response. This Sunday’s presidential election epitomized this reaction, and Nicolas Sarkozy embodied it.
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Posted by Walid Phares on May 10th, 2007
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Losing the War in Congress: Not in Iraq
By Walid Phares (bio)
A simple statement made by a national legislative leader in Washington this week indicates that a war is being lost, but it is not the war in Iraq. It is the defeat of the War of Ideas taking place nowadays in the US Congress.
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Posted by Walid Phares on April 22nd, 2007
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British Minister Fails the War of Ideas
By Walid Phares (bio)
In a speech on British policy on Terrorism, the international development secretary of the UK failed the basic understanding of the ongoing War on Terror. M Hilary Benn, a candidate for Labor Party deputy leadership said “President George Bush’s concept of a “war on terror” has given strength to terrorists by making them feel part of something bigger.” In a New York meeting organized by the Center on International Cooperation think-tank, Mr. Benn advocated the pre 9/11 idea that Terrorists are reacting to foreign policies and that they function not on the basis of ideologies but on the grounds of economic injustices. Thus in view of the fact that Mr. Benn is a member of a Government involved in the War on Terror, both inside Britain and overseas, it is very troubling to see that in the heart of Western democracies, a deep ignorance of historical and ideological facts still exist, even among leaders of global defense of democracy. Following are my comments on Minister Benn’s remarks:
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Posted by Walid Phares on April 16th, 2007
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Ahmedinijad’s Plan “B” - The Circus Continues
By Walid Phares (bio)
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Posted by Walid Phares on April 4th, 2007
Permanent link: Ahmedinijad’s Plan “B” - The Circus Continues
Jihadi circus begins in Tehran
By Walid Phares (bio)
Since day one of the planned operation to snatch British sailors from Iraqi (or international waters), the Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards) “Kitchen” in Tehran, had already drawn multiple scenarios for the following weeks and potentially months to come. Indeed the regime, reacting to significant rising pressures from sectors of its own population and from the US-UK led coalition, engineered an “escalating” incident.
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Posted by Walid Phares on April 1st, 2007
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Royal Navy Incident: Iran’s larger trap
By Walid Phares (bio)
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Posted by Walid Phares on March 23rd, 2007
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Conversation about Future Jihad: An interview
By Walid Phares (bio)
Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Walid Phares, a Professor of Middle East Studies and Religious Conflict at the LLS Program of Florida Atlantic University and a visiting Professor at National Defense University in Winter 2007. Dr. Phares is a Senior Fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. He has served as an Analyst on Terrorism with MSNBC since 2003 and is now a contributor to Fox News. He is the author of Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies Against America, which has just come out in paperback and includes a new chapter which discusses some of Phares’ predictions that have already proved accurate.
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Posted by Walid Phares on March 20th, 2007
Permanent link: Conversation about Future Jihad: An interview
Muslims against Jihad? Report from the St Petersburg Summit
By Walid Phares (bio)
A peculiar conference, taking place on the West coast of Florida drew the attention of many observers of the War of ideas: The first Secular Islam Summit.
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Posted by Walid Phares on March 5th, 2007
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Valentine’s Day and the Jihadists
By Walid Phares (bio)
This article below was originally published on several sites on February 14, 2005. It is still very actual in the region. I have decided to re-post it as many sites have been quoting it this 2007 Valentine.
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Posted by Walid Phares on February 12th, 2007
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London warning: A new step in Jihad Terror
By Walid Phares (bio)
Last Thursday a security report from the UK may have been a low level announcer of a new benchmark in Jihadi Terrorism. British Police said it arrested nine, including an Amjad Mahmoud, for “allegedly plotting” what authorities called “Iraq-style kidnapping.” Counter Terrorism units arrested the men for planning on “kidnapping a British Muslim soldier and post his beheading on internet.” According to the reports the serviceman, in his 20s, has served in Afghanistan. The suspects, per the reports are of Pakistani origin wanted to act a la Zarqawi. They had been monitored for six months by Scotland Yard before the arrests would take place. Besides, the city of their “plot” had witnessed a previous sweep. Last summer, raids foiled a plot involving suspects from Birmingham, London and other British cities who had planned to blow up ten trans-Atlantic flights. Last week’s arrests, conducted in Birmingham, would be a crossing of a new benchmark in the Jihadi war against Britain, perhaps even in Europe. Here is why:
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Posted by Walid Phares on February 6th, 2007
Permanent link: London warning: A new step in Jihad Terror
Redirecting Iraq’s campaign
By Walid Phares (bio)
In short, President George W. Bush’s plan for “redirecting” the Iraq campaign is logical, in line with the war on terror and targets the correct enemies of Iraq, of democracies and of the United States. But the plan needs to fit within a global vision of winning the global conflict with the Jihadists, on a long term policy, win the support of the new Congress, and be well explained to the American people by the various levels of the Administration. This is where the beef is. On the other hand, the response by the Democratic led Congress as stated by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is also logical, touches sensitive issues if the Iraq battlefield, and lays out the normal outcome of a strategic success: that is the return of the troops. So are the White House and Congress in harmony? We will see. Both have advanced what is essentially logical. The President challenge is to make sure his bureaucracy follows him thoroughly, and the Congress’ challenge is to make sure the American public sees the big picture the legislators are not revealing yet for the future. Let’s wait and see how Washington’s new dual approach will fare in the very near future.
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Posted by Walid Phares on January 26th, 2007
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INTERCEPTING RADICALIZATION AT THE INDOCTRINATION STAGE
By Walid Phares (bio)
Your concerns about “radicalization” as a threat to U.S. Homeland Security are warranted.
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Posted by Walid Phares on January 12th, 2007
Permanent link: INTERCEPTING RADICALIZATION AT THE INDOCTRINATION STAGE
HS Future Terrorism Findings: “Salafi Jihadism is the main threat”
By Walid Phares (bio)
The Task Force on Future Terrorism formed by the Homeland Security’s Advisory Council (HSAC) released its findings today in Washington DC, in the presence of Secretary Chertoff, other US leaders and the media. In his remarks, Task Force chairman Lee Hamilton said the group expect al Qaeda and other Islamic radicals to continue to attempt to attack the US. He said motivations behind these potential attacks are “complex” and include extremist ideologies. He added that while it is impossible to predict with precisions, three elements are to be taken into consideration: Terrorists leadership, political and economic reform in the Muslim world and safe havens (as in Pakistan). Dr Frank Cilluffo, the vice chairman of the Task Force said “home and prison radicalization are very important” in the growth of the threat. He mentioned that a “lexicon” has to be established to engage in the “battle of ideas.”
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Posted by Walid Phares on January 11th, 2007
Permanent link: HS Future Terrorism Findings: “Salafi Jihadism is the main threat”
Jihad Versus Education
By Walid Phares (bio)
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Posted by Walid Phares on December 25th, 2006
Permanent link: Jihad Versus Education
HizbAllah’s offensive in Lebanon: Day Two
By Walid Phares (bio)
In its second day, HizbAllah’s offensive in Lebanon against the democratically elected Government has maintained pressures on various levels. Following are the main axis of activities:
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Posted by Walid Phares on December 3rd, 2006
Permanent link: HizbAllah’s offensive in Lebanon: Day Two
HizbAllah’s offensive in Lebanon: Day One
By Walid Phares (bio)
After serious warnings delivered by HezbAllah secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah since early November, the generalized offensive to bring down the Cedars Revolution-backed Government has begun.
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Posted by Walid Phares on December 3rd, 2006
Permanent link: HizbAllah’s offensive in Lebanon: Day One
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