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http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=116618#top

Top three Gulf security dilemmas
Jordan Times - 02/12/2005

Rami G. Khouri

The small emirate of Qatar where I spent last weekend attending a gathering of NATO parliamentarians with officials, scholars and activists from the Arab
Gulf states is well known for three things, and is trying to generate a reputation for a fourth.

Its three attributes to date are its immense natural gas reserves, which leads to its second reality of being the main base for the American armed forces in
the Gulf region. It is also known (and widely respected in most places, except the impetuous United States) as being the home of Al Jazeera television.

For the past few years, Qatar also has been busy developing a reputation as an open intellectual, educational and political meeting place in the Gulf
region, where the best universities in the world open branches and people can freely discuss any public issue of concern. So it was no surprise to hear the
honest, profound dialogue that took place last weekend in Doha during the two-day gathering sponsored by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, in
collaboration with the Consultative Assembly of Qatar.

The theme of the gathering was the role of parliamentarians in relations between NATO and the "broader Middle East", meaning everything between
Morocco and Bangladesh. Unfortunately, most Arab parliaments and lesser cousins, such as appointed advisory, Islamic shura or consultative councils,
neither accurately represent their citizenry nor play a true checks-and-balances function vis-à-vis the all-powerful executive and security sectors of society.
This is why throughout the broader Middle East, parliaments are also broadly lacking credibility and impact.

Nevertheless, a very fine and honest discussion took place among the 60 participants, who were mostly non-parliamentarians from the Arab side. Three
main themes emerged that should interest anyone who studies the Gulf states and their evolution: the importance for stability in the entire region of
solving the Arab-Israeli conflict fairly; the enormous impact that ultimate conditions in Iraq will have on the entire region; and, the great dilemma that
defines the smaller Gulf states and Saudi Arabia: they have no alternative to American military support for their security, but also suffer the destabilising,
terror-promoting consequence of having US troops in their country.

The oil- and gas-fuelled Gulf states are not, as often perceived abroad, little wonderlands, basking in their bountiful revenues and able to get on with
developing their societies, sometimes in fantastic and flamboyant ways. The reality is that there is great concern and even some fear of an existential
nature here. This is because of their historic vulnerabilities to nearby Iran and Iraq, and the current contradiction between their immense natural wealth,
on the one hand, and, on the other hand, their inability to protect themselves from political tensions in the region (both Arab and Iranian) or even from
the possibility of turning into a battleground of competition for energy among the world's current (US, Europe, Japan) and looming powers (China,
India).

The combination of ongoing injustices and occupation in Palestine and the turbulent, violent situation in nearby Iraq, including the perhaps permanent
presence of American troops, generates popular anger and angst throughout the Arab Gulf region. In some cases, this meshes with homegrown anger at
official policies, and at sometimes wasteful or corrupt use of the indigenous oil and gas income, leading a few disgruntled citizens to respond by joining
Osama Ben Laden's cohort of urban terrorists, targeting the Gulf Arab societies and regimes as well as their foreign protectors.

It is important to recognise that many astute members of these wealthy Gulf societies acknowledge their very real security dilemma. They know they
cannot protect themselves and their coveted resources against traditional local powers like Iran and Iraq, and must rely on foreign protection (the British
before 1971, the Americans since). Yet American military forces in Saudi Arabia after 1990 and in Iraq today are the main instigators of anti-American
sentiments throughout the region, and the primary magnets that attract hundreds of young Arabs to fight in Iraq against the US presence and what they
see as an American-installed puppet government. This is a cruel but deep dilemma: their main source of security — foreign troops — is also the main
reason for their insecurity in the face of homegrown terrorism.

There are no other realistic alternatives to foreign security assistance and reliance today, most analysts and officials in the Gulf seem to agree, yet more
effective new policies are required to deal with the consequences of such reliance. As the respected director of the Gulf Studies Centre at the University of
Qatar, Dr Hassan Al Ansari, told the gathering, it is difficult to deal with terror only by force or by trying to fight it militarily from outside the region
(i.e., Anglo-American armadas). What is needed also is a domestic Arab response that includes government reform, anti-corruption actions and moves
towards more participatory democracy. Until then, he said, the small, energy-wealthy emirates of the Gulf will choose to continue to rely on American
and other foreign security protection, because their very survival may be at stake.

The former information minister of Kuwait, Saad bin Tifla al Ajami, offered a very succinct perception of the possible threats or positive repercussions
from Iraq. He outlined four scenarios, as seen from the perspective of Kuwait and other small Gulf emirates. "Containable chaos" was the first one, in
which Iraqis would engage in a protracted and bloody civil war without the interference of neighbours. The second was "uncontainable chaos", where
civil war in Iraq spills over into neighbouring lands, of which there are six countries with conflicting agendas (Turkey, Syria, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
and Jordan). The third scenario is Iraq splitting into three entities run by warlords, which would probably prompt regional confrontations, at least with
Turkey, Syria and Iran. The fourth is a positive scenario — "a dream", in his words — of Iraq emerging from its current condition as a united,
democratic, prosperous and stable country.

There is no way to know today which scenario will prevail, because there are good reasons for both optimism and pessimism on Iraq. His conclusion for
Gulf security in the long run, and his suggestion to NATO parliamentarians, is to get more actively involved in finding a fair solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict while a two-state solution is still possible. He also recommended that Gulf countries themselves confront the potential threat from Iran by
working to strengthen civil society and democracy inside Iraq. Otherwise, he noted, Iraq will continue to promote the "Afghanisation" of Salafi jihadi
terrorists, who are radicalised and trained in military resistance and terrorism in Iraq and then go to attack other Arab countries.

Qatar does a real service to itself and all others in its neighbourhood by continuing to promote this sort of honest public debate which is starting to
become one of its hallmarks and is badly needed throughout the region.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/009232.php

November 30, 2005

The Muslim Brotherhood's "Project"

Scott Burgess at the Daily Ablution (thanks to LGF) has some extraordinarily
important information (here and here) about a recently discovered document that
contains "an outline for a strategy - most likely drawn up by the Muslim
Brotherhood - to combine jihad, surveillance, infiltration and propaganda (among
other techniques) in order to 'establish the reign of Allah throughout in the world'
via the creation of the Caliphate and its subsequent dominance."

A few introductory highlights:

This report presents a global vision of a worldwide strategy for Islamic
policy [or "political Islam"]. Local Islamic policies will be drawn up in
the different regions in accordance with its guidelines. It acts, first of
all, to define the points of departure of that policy, then to set up the
components and the most important procedures linked to each point
of departure; finally we suggest several missions, by way of example
only, may Allah protect us.

The following are the principal points of departure of this policy:

[...]

Point of Departure 5: To be used to establish an Islamic State;
parallel, progressive efforts targeted at controlling the local centres of
power through institutional action.

Point of Departure 6: To work with loyalty alongside Islamic groups
and institutions in multiple areas to agree on common ground, in order
to "cooperate on the points of agreement and set aside the points of
disagreement".

Point of Departure 7: To accept the principle of temporary
cooperation between Islamic movements and nationalist movements in
the broad sphere and on common ground such as the struggle against
colonialism, preaching and the Jewish state, without however having
to form alliances. This will require, on the other hand, limited contacts
between certain leaders, on a case by case basis, as long as these
contacts do not violate the [shariah?] law. Nevertheless, one must
not give them allegiance or take them into confidence, bearing in mind
that the Islamic movement must be the origin of the initiatives and
orientations taken.

Point of Departure 8: To master the art of the possible on a
temporary basis without abusing the basic principles, bearing in mind
that Allah's teachings always apply. One must order the suitable and
forbid that which is not, always providing a documented opinion [? "Il
faut ordonner le convenable et interdire le blâmable, tout en donnant
un avis documenté"]. But we should not look for confrontation with
our adversaries, at the local or the global scale, which would be
disproportionate and could lead to attacks against the dawa or its
disciples.
Point of Departure 9: To construct a permanent force of the Islamic
dawa and support movements engaged in jihad across the Muslim
world, to varying degrees and insofar as possible.

[...]

Point of Departure 11: To adopt the Palestinian cause as part of a
worldwide Islamic plan, with the policy plan and by means of jihad,
since it acts as the keystone of the renaissance of the Arab world
today.

I believe I just articulated that 11th point in reverse. Read it all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are several comments with this post, that make sense and hidden links in the story, that you will need to go to the site to get.
granny

New US-Iraqi operation launched in Ramadi
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2005/December/focusoniraq_December7.xml&section=focusoniraq

(Belgium) Wives of terror suspects 'ready for suicide attacks'
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=25835&name=Wives+of+terror+suspects%27ready+for+suicide+attacks%27
Belgian terror suspect arrested in Morocco claims wives of other terror
detainees in Belgium are prepared to carry out suicide attacks in
Morocco to assist Jihad.

(Netherlands) 'Morocco suspect met with Samir A.'
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=25836&name=%27Morocco+suspect+met+with+Samir+A%2E%27
A Belgian national arrested by anti-terrorist police in Morocco in
November claims he offered Samir A. the services of female suicide bombers
to attack the headquarters of the Dutch security service AIVD.

Belgian 'suicide bomber' is named
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4488642.stm
La Derniere Heure newspaper says she is Muriel Degauque, 38, from
Charleroi, who converted to Islam after marrying a radical Muslim.

(Belgium) From baker's assistant to jihadist suicide bomber in Iraq
http://www.startribune.com/stories/722/5758835.html

Islamist Website Design Contest: Winner Fires Missiles at U.S. Army
Base in Iraq
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD103805

Militant camps still exist in Pakistan: India
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005\12\02\story_2-12-2005_pg1_3
India claimed that militant training camps still exist in Pakistan and
Kashmir, as well as in Bangladesh along its eastern border.

Bombings hit Bali tourist numbers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4491356.stm

'Taliban' note causes emergency landing in Kansas
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475667722&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
An America West Airbus jet made an emergency landing at Kansas City
International Airport after someone left a note in the plane's bathroom
that said: "Taliban is Here."

(Israel) Reservists catch two Palestinians with pipe bombs
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475665255&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Seven Jailed Muslims Go on Hunger Strike in Central Russia â€” Rights
Group
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/12/02/muslonhung.shtml

Greek November 17 terrorists begin appeals
http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/12/02/story233089.html

Maoist rebels extend Nepal ceasefire by one month
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/December/subcontinent_December47.xml&section=subcontinent

Plan to Allow Scissors on Planes Opposed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/passenger_screening;_ylt=Al0EtRSA2zyUkPnks8OF7ZB34T0D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

TSA to unveil new security procedures
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/02/airport.screening/index.html
The Transportation Security Administration will announce changes in
screening procedures at the nation's commercial airports Friday

Wis. Judge Sentences 'Dr. Chaos' to Prison
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRF_DR_CHAOS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Anarchist terrorist Joseph D. Konopka was sentenced to seven years in
federal prison for hacking into computers and causing power failures in
northeastern Wisconsin; he is in prison for cyanide plot on Chicago
subway

"Syria may hand Hariri suspects to UN"
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/December/middleeast_December26.xml&section=middleeast

(Update) Bangladesh bombing kills one, injures 26
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/December/subcontinent_December32.xml&section=subcontinent
Gazipur, Bangladesh - One person died and 26 were hurt on Thursday in a
blast during a national strike called to protest suicide bombings two
days earlier in Bangladesh,

German, UK bids to free hostages
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/01/iraq.hostages/index.html

Lebanese leader: Israel started it
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47657
Blames Jewish state for clashes with Hezbollah, denies bribery claim

(Haiti) Kidnappers Seize Bus With 14 Kids; U.S. Citizen Abducted
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177390,00.html

(Spain) ETA bombs transport firm in extortion campaign
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=81&story_id=25816&name=ETA+bombs+transport+firm+in+extortion+campaign+

(Ireland) Car explosive reveals return of IRA bomber
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1518884&issue_id=13361
(Free registration site) A former top Provisional IRA explosives expert
was identified as the manufacturer of an under-car bomb seized by
detectives in Dublin last week.

6 charge-sheeted for Jhalakathi bombing (Bangladesh)
http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=12/2/2005&section_id=2&newsid=8656&spcl=no
Six people, including banned JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman and outlawed
JMJB chief Bangla Bhai, charged in connection with November 14 suicide
bombing that killed 2 judges

Jordanians Charged in Plot to Kill Americans
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177271,00.html
Military prosecutors have charged four Jordanian militants with
conspiracy to kill Americans working at a center to train Iraqi police east of
the capital.

UN Halts Talks on Terrorism Treaty; U.S. Funding Cut Threatened
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a.3Tk2RREkNU&refer=top_world_news

Terror Suspect Extradited From Britain
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_re_eu/france_britain_extradition_1
Algerian man suspected of involvement in bomb attack on Paris Metro a
decade ago extradited from Britain to France

US downplays Iraqi rebel attack on US-Iraqi base
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051201/wl_afp/iraq_051201185052;_ylt=Ak8cow_rYqG6YtmCx3nVO_.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

Suicide Bombings in Iraq Show Decline
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AlSmwpt83xjngCeTh5rE..Ks0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-
Suicide bombings fell in November to their lowest level in seven months

Europe adopts counter-terrorism strategy, but divisions remain
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051201/wl_afp/eujusticesecurity_051201182517;_ylt=AhpQCO0Pdu_RSnwoGG3P1TCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

International Terrorist Reveals All (Russia)
http://www.mosnews.com/interview/2005/12/01/terroristreveals.shtml

Hizbul Mujahedeen added to EU terror list
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Hizb+added+in+EU+terror+list&id=81928
EU adds Hizbul Mujahedeen, Pakistan-based outfit carrying out terrorism
in Jammu and Kashmir, to list of terrorist organisations - freezes
funds, assets and economic resources

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532916/posts

NEW VIDEO: DEATH TO PEACE ACTIVISTS IF
DEMANDS NOT MET - Kidnappers Threaten to Kill
Iraq Activists
AP via Drudge Report ^ | 02 DEC 05 | dcbryan1

Posted on 12/02/2005 12:44:21 PM PST by DCBryan1
Edited on 12/02/2005 1:22:32 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Al-Jazeera has broadcast a video in which kidnappers threaten to kill
four Christian peace activists unless their demands are met by Dec.
8... Developing...

VIDEO: DEATH TO PEACE ACTIVISTS IF DEMANDS NOT MET

Kidnappers Threaten to Kill Iraq Activists

Dec 02 3:52 PM US/Eastern

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Al-Jazeera television broadcast a videotape Friday
in which kidnappers of four Christian peace activists threatened to kill
their hostages unless all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centers
are released. The kidnappers gave the two governments until Dec. 8
to meet their demands, Al-Jazeera quoted a statement delivered with
the tape as saying.

The tape showed what the broadcaster said were two Canadian
hostages. An American and a Briton are also being held. All four
appeared frightened.

The Canadians were shown eating from plates of what appeared to be
Arabic sweets. In a second clip, the British and American hostages
were shown to talking to the camera but no audio was transmitted.

The two were calling on the U.S. and British governments to withdraw
from Iraq, Al-Jazeera reported, quoting a statement from the
kidnappers, who earlier identified themselves as the Swords of
Righteousness Brigade