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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (37123)	3/31/2004 1:05:24 AM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793967

A military leader has to be alive to function. A dead spiritual leader is every bit as good as a live one, possibly better. Steven, first, we know that Yassin helped plan attacks and set the strategy for Hamas' military campaign. Second, dead spiritual leaders are not as good as live ones. They are not available to settle thorny questions and mediate disputes between underlings. Even if you plan to make them into martyrs, someone effective has to be around to lead the establishment of the cult. That someone may or may not be available. As Saul Singer of the Jpost quipped, It is amazing how sophisticated the war against terrorism has become. According to almost every government in the world, the elimination of Ahmed Yassin was counterproductive, if not downright idiotic. Peace Now called it a "prize for Hamas." Someone really ought to alert those commandos hunting down Osama bin Laden to stop before it's too late. Kill Bin Laden? What a prize for al-Qaida that would be. What a rube I am for clinging to the primitive notion that eliminating a terrorist organization's undisputed leader might prove to be a setback for it. jpost.com

To: Dayuhan who wrote (37123)	3/31/2004 3:22:23 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793967

Belmont Club - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Dean Jorge Bocobo at Philippine Commentary has put together an impressive chronology of what it is like to be an American at the tender mercies of the Abu Sayaf, an Islamist group affiliated with the Al Qaeda. It also illustrates why the Belmont Club believes that 'punishment' attacks by Al Qaeda are wasted on countries like the Philippines. Whatever happens to Americans goes double for the locals, and any attempts by Robert Fisk, the BBC or any other agency to convince the islanders of the benignity of the Jihadis will be met, not with outrage, but by rolling-on-the-ground, knee-slapping, uncontrollable laughter. Current polls show that 90% of the Filipinos support the US War on Terror. In the end, American Guillermo Sobero was executed in a bizarre ritual called a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, described below. According to Dubai News: American hostage Guillermo Sobero was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf in a macabre ceremony called 'ribbon-cutting', according to a source close to the hostage takers. The incident allegedly took place in the town of Tuburan, in Basilan, southern Philippines on June 11. "The beheading ceremony was mentioned by Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafi Janjalani in a letter sent recently through a freed hostage to the presidential palace," said Hector Janjalani, Khadafi's younger brother, who has been imprisoned in Quezon City since last year. "The ribbon cutting ceremony is a term often used by the group for the beheading of hostages," explained the younger Janjalani. Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said the government has tasked volunteers and local government officials with locating Sobero's headless corpse. belmontclub.blogspot.com

To: Dayuhan who wrote (37123)	3/31/2004 3:31:33 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793967

Military News - INDONESIA: Fear of Fighting Islamic Terrorists March 31, 2004: Two Aceh rebels were arrested in North Sumatra, and are suspected of being involved in collecting "taxes" on boats that travel to neighboring Aceh. This sort of protection racket helps finance the rebellion. The war in Aceh continues, with no decision. The rebels still have support among the people, and the army and police still have the edge in firepower. There are several dead and wounded, on average, each day in Aceh. March 30, 2004: The governments failure to control corruption, or Islamic radicals, has resulted in foreign investment dropping. In the first two months of 2004, foreign investment was only a third of what it was a year ago. This means fewer new jobs, more economic distress and more unrest. March 19, 2004: National elections next month have the government backing off on many anti-terrorism measures. The local al Qaeda affiliate, Jemaah Islamiah, still has an active membership in Indonesia, even though has been outlawed. Politicians have found that being "more Islamic than thou" is an easy way to attract votes. The idea that the world is against Islam, and that all Moslems must unite for mutual defense, is a powerful one. Thus attacks on Islamic terrorist groups like Jemaah Islamiah, is increasingly unpopular. This is especially true when it is discovered that many Jemaah Islamiah members are associated with popular Islamic religious leaders. The government does not want to lose the money foreign tourists, and investors, bring in, but they don't want to lose the votes of all those Indonesians who believe the country's woes are all the result of an international conspiracy against Islam. The war on terror, and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein by American troops are both seen as "anti-Islamic" by many Indonesians.