Hamas calls for "economic Jihad" against the U.S.

International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism ^ | Oct. 2, 2003 | Yoni Fighel

[JohnathanRGalt]

Hamas calls for "economic Jihad" against the U.S.

Yoni Fighel
ICT Researcher

Recently, it was announced that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation was probing several "criminal enterprises" associated with the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas. The investigation, reportedly undertaken at the request of a "foreign intelligence services.

FBI director for counterterrorism John Pistole, testifying before a hearing n the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, said that the investigation led to the thwarting of four separate terrorist attacks--resumably in Israel, though the country was not identified. Investigators traced financial transactions of people preparing terrorist strikes and came up with "specific and identifiable information regarding the parties involved," he said. "Based on this information, the foreign intelligence agency was able to locate the members of terrorist cells and prevent them from conducting their intended terrorist attacks."[1]

Hamas and the Global Jihad
Hamas was not long in reacting. One of the movement's senior political leaders, Dr. Abd al Aziz Rantisi published a written statement on Hamas's official web site[2] calling on Muslims all over the world to wage an economic Jihad against the United States. Muslims must recruit their financial resources and capabilities to strike and weaken the U.S economy. American-made products must be boycotted, he said, and urged Muslims to offer any kind of possible financial aid and support to the Mujahedin (Muslim warriors) fighting for the sake of Allah.

In his statement Rantisi said that hatred of America is a religious duty for all Muslims. Targeting the American economy, he said, will weaken the U.S. and hasten the "inevitable" defeat of American forces in Iraq. This, in turn, will cause the U.S. to halt is "continuous war on Islam."

The notion of an economic Jihad is not new. Following the September 11 attacks in the U.S. Al-Qaida came out with a series of official statements, introduced the notion of economic Jihad. According to al-Qaida, targeting the U.S economy is one of the main pillars in Bin Laden's strategy of confronting the west. See Analysis of Recent Al-Qaida Documents, Part 1.

It is significant that Rantisi, a prominent leader of the Islamic Hamas organization, is now adopting the very same radical Islamic ideology advocated by bin Ladin and his Front for Global Jihad. This development is part and parcel with a growing trend among Islamic groups, including the Palestinian organizations. Like other radical groups around the world, the Palestinian Islamic movements are "buying into" bin Ladin's ideology of global--not just local--Jihad. It is safe to say that, on the background of the continuing Palestinian "intifada," we can expect to see an increasing "Bin Ladenization" of Hamas.

Notes:

[1] AFP Sep.25, 2003
[2]http://www.palestine-info.info/arabic/palestoday/dailynews/2003/sep03/30_9/details.htm#3

[JohnathanRGalt]

Hamas took credit for killing inocent people on this crowded bus.

The second act of terror is the announcement.    A terrorist act is incomplete and ineffectual unless the group claims responsability and makes its demands known.  Hamas accomplishes the second act with the assistance of Telia.net (now merged with Sonera.com).

Whois Information from "whois.ripe.net" about 194.237.212.222

person:  Ousama Mardini
address: al-mardini
address: Hagalundsgatan 29
address: 169 66 Solna
phone:   +46-8-825823
route:   194.236.0.0/15
descr:   TELIANET-BLK

Besides being illegal to materially support terrorism in the U.S. and Europe -- it is also immoral. Contact these people and ask them why Telia/Sonera are providing a home for one of the world's most deadly terrorist groups:

Michael Kongstad, Group Vice President
Responsible for Corporate Communications
investor-relations@telia.se

Steve Fleischer, USA, Head of U.S. Investor Relations
+1 908 719 8978
steve.fleischer@sonera.com

abuse@telia.se

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[My2Cents]

What? Do they plan to flood the US market with foreign falafel?

[.cnI redruM]

Remember. Howard Dean supports the soldiers of Hamas.

[RightWhale]

American-made products must be boycotted, he said, and urged Muslims to offer any kind of possible financial aid and support to the Mujahedin (Muslim warriors) fighting for the sake of Allah.

Right. Sell everything you own and dump the money into the deepest hole you can find.

[Sender]

I have always contended that economic jihad is the ultimate goal of ALL terrorist attacks against the US. Look at the economic fallout from 9/11. As bad as the loss of life was, the real hurt came from billions in losses, businesses closed or moved forever, market uncertainty, etc. And all that from a couple of buildings.

Now think about the worst-case scenarios of nuclear or biological attacks on several US cities. The actual number of people killed or injured might well run into the tens of thousands but the vast majority of Americans would be unaffected outside the local areas. Losses of property would be limited in scope to small areas as well. Compared to the vast expanse and population of America, it would seem to be a small percentage of loss. Life would go on.

However, the terrorists know all too well what economic havoc would spiral out of this scenario. Lost businesses and workers would fail to support other businesses, who would not buy other products, etc. It would be years, if ever, before our economic lives got back to normal. Couple that with global boycotts and there you go. America can survive, in the larger sense, anything they can throw at us. But the US economy may not. And once the US economy is down and out, there goes most of our power in the world.

[conservativecorner]

Well damn it! No stylish homicide belts for the fall fashions? Do we really want the business of terrorists? Here's hoping all the terrorists go to virgin heaven real soon!

[Trailerpark Badass]

I guess they're not happy with the results so far of the military-style jihad.

[been_lurking]

Now I'm scared. If those economic gurus of the Arab world start an economic Jihad against our economy, all is lost.

P.S. I used the term "gurus" because I just couldn't come up with the names of any Middle East based mega-corporations off the top of my head.

[anniegetyourgun]

Never let anyone forget that.

[DonQ]

We should assist this economic jihad against America by stopping the foreign aid we have been sending the Arab countries - countries which were already getting plenty from us at the filling stations - so that their subjects will not have quite so much money to fret about spending on something other than American goods. In fact, we should take this economic jihad right to American territory - by not hiring Arabs in American workplaces so they won't be in a hypocritical and awkward position of having to boycott their own employers.

[JohnathanRGalt]

Jehadi website ping: (let me know if you want on or off)

..the Palestinian Islamic movements are "buying into" bin Ladin's ideology of global--not just local--Jihad.

[Cobra Scott]

Go further; build more nuclear plants. twofold benefits ;)

[JohnathanRGalt]

Here's hoping all the terrorists go to virgin heaven real soon! and that they don't take any innocent people with them.

[MEGoody]

"We should assist this economic jihad against America by stopping the foreign aid we have been sending the Arab countries"

Amen

[conservativecorner]

Amen on that count!

[JohnathanRGalt]

Date:	Thu, 2 Oct 2003 22:13:37 +0100 (BST)
From:	"Johnathan Galt" <johnathanrgalt@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject:	Hamas is hosted by Telia.net
To:	investor-relations@telia.se, steve.fleischer@sonera.com
CC:	abuse@telia.se

Michael Kongstad and Steve Fleischer,

The terror organization, Hamas, is hosted by your company.

Besides being illegal to materially support terrorism in the U.S. and Europe. It surely must be a violation of an ISPs AUP (Acceptable Use Policy).  I'm not able to read Swedish on your website but I'm sure there is a provision in your own document against hosting groups which promote illegal acts and hate speech.

There is a discussion here on FreeRepublic (a conservative news forum with over 100 thousand members):

Hamas calls for "economic Jihad" against the U.S.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/993915/posts

We are discussing the recent announcement from Hamas (from your servers) which is in response to the FBI's recent success in:

"...traced financial transactions of people preparing terrorist strikes and came up with "specific and identifiable information regarding the parties involved," he said. "Based on this information, the foreign intelligence agency was able to locate the members of terrorist cells and prevent them from conducting their intended terrorist attacks.

I hope that you will see to it that all of the financial information you have on your customer will be turned over to the FBI -- the lives of innocent people not yet murdered are at stake.

The Hamas site is located at Telia.net in Sweden:

http://www.palestine-info.info/arabic/

Regards,
-- Johnathan Galt.

[SJackson]

Thanks for the ping.

[SJackson]

I have always contended that economic jihad is the ultimate goal of ALL terrorist attacks against the US. Look at the economic fallout from 9/11. As bad as the loss of life was, the real hurt came from billions in losses, businesses closed or moved forever, market uncertainty, etc. And all that from a couple of buildings....

You have a point, Osama has suggested that, but the real hurt came from the lives lost, here, on our shores. IMO, he underestimated our resolve, overestimated the value of economic disruption.

[McGavin999]

These guys keep screwing around and the US is going to come up with an alternate fuel and THEIR economy is going to tank. What do these guys have to sell other than oil?

They really have NO idea who they're messing with.

This country came out of the worst financial crisis in history and fought the second world war, what makes them think that money is all we're about?