Helmut Joachim Schmidt and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The intelligence agency of Germany, the BND, appears to be realizing that the Syrian government and the armed forces are not in the process of being overpowered. This is a remarkable turn-around because previously the BND hierarchy had predicted the end of the government of Bashar al-Assad. However, times are changing because now this intelligence agency believes that the government position is stronger now than it was last year.

All articles written by a syndicate of writers from Modern Tokyo Times have repeatedly gone against the grain in terms of ignoring the propaganda against the government of Syria. This applies to never predicting the demise of the armed forces of Syria alongside highlighting the enormous spin by so-called experts and major media outlets. Therefore, futile predictions and focusing on made-up mass desertions of the Syrian armed forces and the majority of the populace being against Bashar al-Assad were totally ignored.

Indeed, if the government of Bashar al-Assad does collapse then it will be nothing to do with the so-called “revolution.” If anything, the real “revolution” is that the majority of Syrians are standing firm against the enormous array of enemies which seek to weaken independent Syria based on various different factors. Simply put, the conflict only reached this level because of untold numbers of international jihadists, mercenaries and covert operatives entering Syria and being supplied by military means by countless different nations which care little about this nation. This reality means that the so-called “revolution” is “a puppet” of the CIA, MI6, DGSE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Al-Qaeda and other outside forces which are working closely with the governments of America, France and the United Kingdom.

Spiegel Online reports that the head of the BND, Gerhard Schindler, did a major about-turn because he had predicted that the government of Bashar al-Assad would collapse by early 2013. Of course, many predictions by the leader of America and a host of others, including the BND, had stated that the government of Syria would collapse much earlier than this. Yet now Gerhard Schindler and the BND in general are rethinking such naïve forecasts.

Spiegel online states that “Since then, however, the situation has changed dramatically, the BND believes. Schindler used graphics and maps to demonstrate that Assad’s troops once again possess effective supply lines to ensure sufficient quantities of weapons and other materiel. Fuel supplies for tanks and military aircraft, which had proved troublesome, are once again available, Schindler reported. The new situation allows Assad’s troops to combat spontaneous rebel attacks and even retake positions that were previously lost. The BND does not believe that Assad’s military is strong enough to defeat the rebels, but it can do enough to improve its position in the current stalemate.”

Therefore, it is clear that powerful media agencies, foreign governments and so-called specialists have all been caught by their own propaganda. After all, many new dimensions are now taking shape internally whereby government supporters are playing a more powerful military role in unifying logistics with the national army. At the same time, the Russian Federation and Iran have refused to budge because both nations, and many others, understand that the internal situation is very complex. Political elites in Moscow and Tehran also understand the need to crush Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and other terrorist organizations and to quell sectarian forces which threaten the entire region.

It is also clear that all major religious leaders in Syria are opposed to outside meddling because hostile foreign nations are fueling terrorism, sectarianism and sedition against independent Syria. Iraq is also disillusioned with the role of major Gulf and Western nations. Likewise, Tunisia is also waking up after a major secular leader was brutally murdered by Islamists in this country. After all, many terrorists in Syria come from North African countries which include Libya and Tunisia. The Russian Federation is also deeply worried about the Chechen and Caucasus Islamist angle because Moscow fully understands that this reality will endanger the national security of this nation.

In recent weeks the armed forces of Syria are continuing to make inroads in many areas. At the same time, more brutal massacres by Islamist forces are further alienating the population. Indeed, in areas under the control of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups it is more than apparent that they are ruling by fear. This applies to openly killing people based on whimsical charges and clearly religious minorities and mainstream Sunni Muslim leaders fear the draconian Salafi militants.

The BND to the embarrassment of America, France and the United Kingdom also makes it clear that various anti-government militias don’t recognize the so-called “political leadership” outside of Syria which is meant to be on their side. This is also further evidence that it is outside nations which are pulling the strings and even Saudi Arabia and Qatar are at loggerheads. For these two feudal monarchies have different agendas and while Saudi Arabia is worried about the long-term rivalry of the Muslim Brotherhood if the Obama administration and Qatar get their way; it is clear that Qatar cares little apart from paying anyone who is willing to kill Syrians on behalf of the “outside funded revolution.”

It is hoped that Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister, will keep Germany from a distance. After all, no nation which supports morality should be caught-up in supporting terrorist and sectarian groups which behead, chop Syrian soldiers up, train children to kill Syrian soldiers, kidnap Christian bishops, kill pro-Syrian government Sunni Muslim clerics, kill journalists, do car bombings and brutally murder Alawites and Shia Muslims. Of course, this reality doesn’t concern America, France, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. However, many European nations are worried about the mass brutality of various Islamist factions in Syria alongside many barbaric forces within the so-called Free Syria Army.

Of course, danger still exists for the government of Syria because you always have the threat of future “false flags.” Indeed, this is the reality – if the Syrian government is overpowered it will only happen because of the work of multiple outside nations working in tandem with terrorists, covert operatives, mercenaries, sectarian forces and because the same ratlines will have destroyed the economy from head to foot.

IMAGE - CIA document on early talks to create the “Bundesnachrichtendienst” in 1952

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-intelligence-believes-assad-regime-regaining-lost-power-a-901188.html

http://www.bnd.bund.de/EN/_Home/home_node.html

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Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The nation of Syria is surrounded by many hostile nations which are openly siding with al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist groups and the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) which is a proxy of outside nations. In the past Turkey under Prime Minister Erdogan also tried to entangle Syria into a broader conflict because he knows NATO will support this nation. However, the armed forces of Syria have more pressing matters than falling into a trap by Erdogan. Therefore, after the meddling of America in unifying the friendship of Israel and Turkey once more, it now appears that Israel is upping the ante based on the whims of Washington.

Fox News published a video whereby it allegedly shows Special Forces from Israel re-entering this country from the soil of Syria. It would appear strange for Fox News to deliberately show footage which was inaccurate given the nature of the ongoing crisis in Syria. Once this is verified then clearly this is a violation of international law and the United Nations (UN) should condemn Israel for infringing on the sovereignty of Syria.

Fox News stated that it “captured, for the very first time, Israeli commandos coming back from inside Syria on a mission.” This will only increase regional tensions and it is further evidence of the ridiculous reality of al-Qaeda affiliated groups in Syria. After all, you have NATO Turkey in the north and Israel in the south. However, al-Qaeda groups are only interested in destroying Syria which is the last powerful Arabic speaking nation which is independent and secular.

It is obviously presumed that Special Forces from Israel have entered Syria in the vicinity of the Golan Heights which belongs to Syria. Yet, clearly Israel is allowed to occupy land just like NATO Turkey can occupy Northern Cyprus. Sadly, the reality of the entire region is that all proxies of America, France and the United Kingdom have a free reign to cause mayhem throughout the Balkans, Caucasus region, the Middle East and North Africa – when it suits major Western and Gulf powers.

Israel is playing a very dangerous game because the latest incident comes on top of three unwarranted military strikes against Syria. It is abundantly clear that the CIA, MI6 and other agencies have given a free passage for international terrorists to enter Syria via NATO Turkey, parts of Lebanon under the influence of radical Sunni Islam and by the many ratlines emanating within Jordan. Iraq is unable to stem the flow of terrorists from entering Syria because of internal issues related to terrorism. However, the government in Baghdad is alarmed by what outside nations are doing to Syria. Also, Croatia, Albanian led Kosovo and Libya have all participated in the ratlines against Syria. At the same time, major Gulf powers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are funding sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against independent Syria.

Outside meddling in the Levant is also igniting sectarianism once more in Iraq. Therefore, it is essential that a political solution is found to the crisis in Syria which was instigated by the connivance of America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. In recent months Israel is gradually increasing the ratlines of this nation by siding with certain terrorist and sectarian factions in Syria even if the full degree remains unknown. This reality means that you now have al-Qaeda, America, France, Hamas, Israel, the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom all on the same side. This sums up the entire region and the real militancy of certain organizations which are in league with powerful entities when push comes to shove.

The Syrian armed forces stated that it “destroyed an Israeli vehicle with everything that it had in it”.President Bashar al-Assad previously stated that Israel was helping the FSA and Islamists which are cleansing religious minorities like the Alawites, Christians and Shia. In recent months it appears that Israel is increasingly showing its hand and also being caught out by the ratlines which are supporting terrorist groups within Syria.

Syria can’t afford to become embroiled in a regional war with either Israel or Turkey because clearly the armed forces have more pressing issues. However, the government of Syria also can’t afford to allow is sovereignty to be violated within the borders of this nation. It is one thing for outside nations to openly support terrorism and sectarianism against secular Syria from a distance. Yet, clearly no nation can allow its sovereignty to be openly violated. Therefore, the video provided by Fox News is clear evidence that Israel is violating international law and the sovereignty of Syria.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22608489

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Murad Makhmudov and Walter Sebastian

Modern Tokyo Times

America, France and the United Kingdom gave the green light to Qatar and Saudi Arabia to destabilize Syria. Turkey became the essential binding force in the chain of events because of geography whereby covert operatives, mercenaries, terrorists and the forces of sectarianism would be given a free reign. Military equipment would flow in several directions and Islamist organizations in Libya and Tunisia became “play grounds for inciting hatred and helping the flow of military arms and terrorists.” The Balkans would also emerge based on past conflicts. Therefore, Croatia and Kosovo became a chain in the terrorist ratlines being pulled by the CIA, MI6 and various other intelligence agencies. Parts of Lebanon in the Sunni heartland would also become a conduit for supplying military arms, covert operatives and terrorists. Meanwhile, Jordan would face enormous pressure to join the anti-Syrian, pro-terrorist and pro-sectarian alliance. However, given the fear of Islamist political forces in Jordan then clearly this nation is worried about the bigger picture.

Major Western and Gulf powers are utilizing the media to the maximum in order to sell their “dirty terrorist and sectarian war.” Elites within America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom became over confident after the overthrow of Gaddafi in Libya. This reality meant that they believed that Syria would succumb to external pressure. Therefore, the more Syria united under the Bashar al-Assad government – then this forced outside nations to up the ante in the terrorist arena, covert operatives on the ground, manipulating the mass media and utilizing al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist networks. When it became clear that the Syrian armed forces were holding their own then the Chechen and Caucasus angle became increasingly powerful by the middle of 2012 because of past failures. Despite this, the many massacres by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist terrorist organizations against the people of Syria – and captured soldiers – meant that even sympathetic forces were being repulsed by such barbarity.

The more outside nations increased their terrorist and sectarian ratlines against Syria then Iraq felt these convulsions with the upshot being that this nation is once more facing a sectarian crisis. America, France and the United Kingdom know full well that Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq, are all blighted by terrorism and the weakness of central forces. However, despite not being able to contain the forces that they helped to unleash with willing partners in the Sunni Muslim world; the same forces of destabilization then set about spreading chaos to Syria. At no point did Gulf and Western powers consider the knock on effects to Iraq and likewise the deaths of vast numbers of people doesn’t enter the equation. In Libya the only motive now appears to have been killing Gaddafi brutally and to destroy the old order at all costs. Issues related to stabilization are soon thrown out of the window because the same axis of evil then moves on to another nation. Therefore, the flow of failed states is increasing while miraculously Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are immune from all the upheaval because all three nations belong to the intrigues of Washington, London and Paris.

Indeed, the main reason why the conflict in Syria is continuing is because Gulf and Western powers alongside Turkey are afraid to fail. After all, they know that failure will lead to powerful divisions throughout the region based on two powerful blocks. Not only this, it is clear that the government of Iraq is disillusioned with America, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Gulf powers for their destabilization policies throughout the Middle East. This reality means that Iraq may decide to view Iran with a more favorable light because the very future of the power of the central state is at stake. It is abundantly clear to the Baghdad government that nations opposed to Syria care zilch about spreading terrorism and sectarianism in order to defeat the government of Bashar al-Assad. This in turn means that the same nations think nothing about igniting sectarianism once more in Iraq. After all, it is obvious that al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist forces in Iraq have become willing stooges of Qatar and Saudi Arabia which in turn emboldens them once more to attack central forces in Iraq.

Under the watch of President Obama and willing political fools in France and the United Kingdom the influence of al-Qaeda is spreading and the same applies to Salafi Islamist political forces. Therefore, the entire Levant, North Africa and parts of West Africa have become caught up in the terrorist, sectarian and Islamist agenda of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This means that America and the United Kingdom have become willing partners in the Islamist agenda of the Gulf while France is caught in the middle because political elites in Paris want to protect Algeria, Mali and Tunisia from the threat of militant Islam. Yet, when it comes to Syria the nation of France is doing the opposite by supporting the whims of Gulf powers, America, Turkey and the United Kingdom. France should rethink this policy because in history this nation favored more secular forces in the Middle East unlike America and the United Kingdom which always sided with conservative feudal monarchs and despotic leaders.

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “It is clear that meddling in Syria related to international terrorism, sectarianism and sedition are being employed against this secular nation. Yet this could back-fire big time? After all, the mosaic of Lebanon is being threatened by sectarianism which is being funded by outside powers in order to support the FSA, Al-Qaeda and various Islamist factions against secular Syria. Meanwhile, major issues persist in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, and other nations, which have been hit by the so-called “Arab Spring.” However, if Syria unravels then the patchwork of the Levant and the Middle East may suffer from the consequences – and this notably relates to the “failed state domino system” which swallowed up Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations after outside meddling.

Iraq and Syria are facing the blunt reality of outside meddling and for the people of Iraq this is yet another cycle of sectarian violence whereby the usual players care little about the horrendous death toll. Al-Qaeda, radical Salafism and the Muslim Brotherhood have all collectively gained from the policies of Washington and London in recent times in the Levant, North Africa and parts of West Africa. Ironically, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia care little about destabilizing Iraq and Syria it is clear that both feudal monarchs are at odds about supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. This sums up these two callous nations and it also says everything about the current governments of America, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom which are partaking in the unfolding chaos. Therefore, it is essential that Iraq and Syria move closer together and work with nations which support stability in order to defeat the forces of chaos.

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers

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Jibril Khoury and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Several powerful feudal monarchy states in the Gulf region were the main culprits behind the Washington sanctioned non binding United Nations (UN) resolution. Once more feudal monarchs who despise all alternative political thought patterns can manipulate the UN. Not only this, the UN appears to care little about Qatar and Saudi Arabia sponsoring terrorism and sectarianism. This isn’t so surprising, after all the UN says little about Saudi Arabia enslaving women, allowing little girls of 8 and 9 to marry old men and where apostasy means the death penalty.

Sadly, the UN is once more shaming itself just like many media outlets which play around with language all the time. If a nation state opposed by America, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom was sponsoring terrorism to the same degree then this nation state would be warned and most likely invaded in a very short time. However, the “war on terrorism” under the Obama administration equates to supporting terrorist sponsoring nation states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Iraq is disillusioned because now terrorists are once more destabilizing Iraq to a major degree thanks to the barbaric policies of major Gulf powers – which are protected by America, France and the United Kingdom.

The Russian Federation condemned the one sided non-binding resolution while non-democratic Gulf states played their “energy card” in order to bribe nations which sell themselves for a compliant life. It appears that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist terrorist groups can kidnap UN workers; cut open Syrian soldiers; behead at random; do daily terrorist attacks; destroy holy buildings; kidnap Christian clergy; kill mainstream Muslim clerics; kill journalists; persecute minorities; and other barbaric realities. Indeed, the conflict in Syria is clearly showing the world that powerful nations can do anything they please and support barbaric terrorist groups from their wealthy homes and all in the name of democracy.

France is clearly confused because on the one hand this nation is fighting against al-Qaeda and Islamic jihadist groups in Mali. However, on the other hand this nation is supporting Gulf nations and Turkey which are openly providing assistance to various terrorist organizations against the people of Syria. The only consistency is the Russian Federation which understands the need to crush terrorism in Mali and Syria respectively. Yet nations which are supporting terrorism, sedition and sectarianism against Syria are openly manipulating terrorists for their own geopolitical means. It matters little that the FSA and various terrorist groups commit daily massacres because with the mass media in the Gulf and West being largely compliant when it comes to the “big players,” then anything is possible.

Even when the chemical false flag was raised and found to be wanting by the independent commission of inquiry by the UN then these findings were brushed under the carpet. After all, instead of the inquiry under Carla Del Ponte pointing the finger at the government of Syria she stated the opposite. Of course, if the outcome had stated that the Syrian government had been involved then the collective nations of America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom would have used this around the clock alongside the compliant mass media.

However, Carla Del Ponte stated that “investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated.”

“This was use on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities.”

Only the UN could side with terrorist groups which have kidnapped UN workers on several occasions in Syria. This is the madness of Syria because the more the world is provided with clear evidence of Syrian soldiers being cut open by terrorists, people being beheaded, Christian bishops being kidnapped, Muslim clerics being killed and other barbaric realities; the more the axis of evil in America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom plots fresh false flags and garners more economic support for terrorists and sectarian forces.

The so-called opposition is divided and clearly outside nations are pulling the strings. If Saudi Arabia and Qatar are so concerned about human rights, democracy, rights of women and religious pluralism then clearly both nations should change their internal political mechanisms. However, it is abundantly clear that Saudi Arabia and Qatar care zilch about human rights and democracy but they can buy the mechanisms of the UN with their petrodollars.

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Helmet Joachim Schmidt and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Vast numbers of terrorist attacks have devastated many parts of Syria because of the collective policies of America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This applies to nations openly supporting terrorism and sectarianism against Syria which applies to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Meanwhile, major Western powers including America, France and the United Kingdom are involved in covert operations against Syria and manipulating regional nations like Jordan. Therefore, the terrorist attack in Turkey is now part of the collective approach of crushing Syria by other means because on the battlefield the armed forces of Syria have been reinvigorated.

The Russian Federation unlike other major powers frankly condemns all terrorist attacks. However, other nations opposed to the Syrian government are very selective because clearly the forces they are sponsoring in Syria are involved in car bombings and other forms of terrorist attacks. Not surprisingly, the government of Turkey is pinning the blame on Syria without even waiting for the conclusions of the twin car bombings which killed many innocent civilians.

It must be stated that many Turkish nationals in border areas are opposed to the policies of Erdogan who is the Prime Minister of Turkey. Therefore, demonstrations opposing the Erdogan government have been heard in various parts of Turkey. The Syrian government at all times clearly differentiates between the brutal terrorist, sectarian and seditious policies of the Erdogan government while praising the Turkish people for their friendship. Clearly, the chemical issue and this brutal terrorist attack is not in the interest of the government of Syria. After all, the Syrian government knows  that their enemies are manipulating the media and power control mechanisms of the United Nations in order to defeat Syria by stealth.

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, comments that “Nothing will go unanswered…There may be those who want to sabotage Turkey’s peace, but we will not allow that.” The words of Davutoglu carry little weight because Turkey is behind the destabilization of Syria. This applies to being a conduit for international terrorists, covert operatives, supplying military weapons and allowing various terrorist factions to openly manipulate the border areas in order to weaken independent Syria. Also, it is clear that Turkey is hiding behind NATO because unlike Syria which is independent – the Erdogan government is waiting for the “green light” to attack Syria – in the knowledge that NATO will side with Turkey if a major regional conflict emerged. However, the government of Syria is not interested in responding to such provocations because Syrian political leaders know Turkey is trying to drag this nation into a regional war.

Erdogan and Davutoglu are in league with Washington in the conspiracy against secular Syria. However, many Turkish nationals are alarmed by the policies of the Erdogan government because instability is increasing in Iraq and Syria based on nations supporting sectarianism, terrorism and sedition. Lebanon is also in a very delicate situation therefore  many nationals in Turkey are against meddling into the affairs of Syria.

Iraq, meanwhile, accuses Turkey of being behind sectarianism and destabilization polices. Saadun al-Dulaimi stated that “There are foreign agendas controlling these sites…It is like Anbar, or Mosul or Samarra (the cities hit by major protests) are part of the Ottoman Empire.

Dulaimi also stated that “protest sites have become a safe haven for terrorists and killers and those who call for strife, sectarianism and hate.” 

Major political leaders in Turkey haven’t even waited for any findings to be stated about the terrorist attacks which killed many innocent civilians. Erdogan and Davutoglu also claim that the armed forces of Syria are involved in issues related to using chemical weapons. Of course, Erdogan being Erdogan, then this applies to vast numbers of chemical abuses by the Syrian government.

In another article about Syria by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “The independent commission of inquiry set up by the UN according to Carla Del Ponte can’t find any incriminating evidence against the government of Syria.”

On the contrary, Carla Del Ponte states that “investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated.”

“This was use on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities.”

Despite the findings of Carla Del Ponte the same nations involved in supporting terrorism, sectarianism and sedition against Syria are plying their own agendas in order to crush the independence of this nation. Therefore, the devastating terrorist attack in Turkey near the border with Syria is open to manipulation by the forces that have unleashed terrorism against the people of Syria. It is more than likely that blowback hit the people of Turkey just like Turkish border guards were killed recently by “opposition terrorist forces.” After all, it is not in the interest of Syria to enable their enemies to further up the ante against this independent nation.

Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Duma of the Russian Federation, comments that “In the terrorist attack in Turkey, Syria was accused again – as it is always blamed for everything. Someone wants to disrupt the peace conference and to push ahead with the use of military force.” 

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Murad Makhumdov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Saudi Arabia funds Islamic education, media groups, proselytization, building of Islamic mosques and so forth all over the world. So-called puritanical Islam from Saudi Arabia, which incidentally allows old men to marry young little girls, is unleashing fresh divisions within nations and spreading hatred within the Muslim world and non-Muslim world. America and the United Kingdom, and virtually all major nations, are allowing this in the full knowledge that converts to Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and so forth, face the death penalty. Therefore, once Gulf petrodollars from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other feudal Gulf nations funded opposition terrorist forces in Syria the upshot was anti-Christian, anti-Shia and anti-Alawite hatred.

Of course, radical Sunni Islamism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and other nations, hates all and sundry therefore mainstream Sunni Muslim clerics have been killed by Gulf petrodollars. America and the United Kingdom did little to stem the religious cleansing of Christians and other minorities in many parts of Iraq after Allied forces unleashed vacuums that they couldn’t contain. Likewise, the cleansing of Orthodox Christians in Kosovo happened on the watch of European nations and America. This brutal reality meant that the Christian community in Syria was easily sacrificed by political elites in London and Washington. Sadly, France now appears to have sold “its soul” to these two twins of evil. In the past France had favored secular forces in the Middle East unlike America and the United Kingdom which supported conservative feudal Sharia states in the Gulf and conservative leaders in Egypt. However, the last two leaders of France have sold their “soul” and now this nation is in the troika of Western powers which is in league with feudal Islamist powers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In Syria under the current government the people of this nation had freedoms that were unimagined in Saudi Arabia and Qatar before outside nations decided to crush pluralism and secularism. Also, unlike Saudi Arabia which will not tolerate one single Christian church; the land of Syria is blessed by a mosaic of faiths and political leaders in Syria look favorably towards Christianity. Indeed, President Bashar al-Assad married a Sunni Muslim lady who happened to go to a Christian school when she was younger. However, the Gulf petrodollars which are spreading a militant version of Islam based on supremacy and hatred – and where they stifle all notions of democracy; are now somehow concerned about freedom in Syria. Of course, in the real world it is a farce because they should clean up their own “intolerant houses” instead of spreading sectarianism and terrorism to Syria.

Currently two archbishops and two priests are being held by forces which are being supported by America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This applies to the plethora of factions within the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist factions. Often forces within both groups fight side by side and they are complicit in many brutal terrorist attacks and massacres against anyone deemed to be pro-Assad.

Archimandrite Haddad of the Greek Melkite Catholic Basilica is a Christian rector who speaks his mind because he fully understands the hatred being unleashed against Syria. Fr. Haddad stated that the rebels (terrorists and mercenaries) “want to show that there is no more coexistence between Christians and Muslims but this isn’t true.”

Fr. Haddad also stated that “The Syrian war is not a crisis between Muslims and Christians or Muslims and other Muslims and it’s not a Syrian civil war from and for Syrians….This is a war imported from outside and we have traitors who have sold themselves to outsiders for a bit of money.”

Msgr. Dankaye is another Christian leader who is trying to open the eyes of the agents of hatred. He also attacks media outlets in the West and in the Gulf region which are spreading sectarianism, terrorism and sedition by their extremely biased reporting.

Msgr. Dankaye comments about the mass media by stating that “the international community’s 600 TV channels broadcast the exact same version, while the only Syrian TV channel that exists and broadcasts daily news in English has been blocked.”

“People against the regime are outside Syria….War always has its reasons and its logic, and the true reasons for it are always hidden.”

The Catholic News Agency reports that the “Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim were kidnapped by rebels on April 22 and are still being held in a village northwest of Aleppo.”

“Gunmen pulled the two Christian archbishops out of their car and shot their driver, a deacon.”

“They were on their way to Aleppo from the Turkish border in an effort to negotiate the release of two priests, Armenian Catholic Father Michel Kayyal and Father Maher Mahfouz, a Greek Orthodox Christian.”

“The priests had been abducted on Feb. 9 when the bus they were riding on from Aleppo to Damascus was stopped. They are still being held captive.”

Fr. Haddad also took a swipe at the feudal Islamist states which are funding sectarianism, terrorism and sedition. He states that “Our petro-dollar Arabic neighbors have bought some Syrians and it’s a surprise to me when a Syrian is happy to see a Syrian soldier murdered.”

Ironically, one can claim that Saudi Arabia is consistent because this nation supports institutional hatred and religious persecution. Of course, on top of this is keeping women in the shadows and allowing child marriage to very old men. Therefore, you don’t expect religious tolerance and morality from a nation which supports killing apostates and which allows old men to marry little girls. Given this reality, Islamist forces in Syria are “a true mirror” to the institutional state of hatred in Saudi Arabia. However, why are these anti-Christian, anti-Shia, anti-Alawite and anti-secular forces are being supported by political elites in London, Paris and Washington?

It must also be stated that in Egypt the Coptic Christian community is facing a new wave of Islamist hatred under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood and various Salafi groups. Despite this, America and Europe keep on supplying economic lifelines to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Also, America is continuing to supply major military hardware to the anti-Christian and anti-secular Muslim Brotherhood. Therefore, the forces of hatred which seek to impose conservative Sharia states on the people of Egypt and Syria are being supported by the usual players which are destabilizing Syria.

Mainstream Sunni Islam in Syria is also under threat because killing moderate Sunni clerics means little to Gulf nations which are funding sectarianism, the Salafi message of hatred and indoctrination. In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “The democracy of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist factions was once more made clear in Damascus. This applies to the targeting and murder of a prominent Sunni religious cleric while he was teaching people about Islam. However, for the FSA and various Islamist factions Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti was a danger because he denounced the traitors and enemies of Syria. Therefore, his only crime was to speak from the heart and to denounce the so-called opposition which beheads, kills journalists, cleanses areas of minorities, murders pro-government Syrians, indoctrinates children to hate, destroys the infrastructure and other brutal realities.”

Further down in the same article it is stated that “Early 2012 and late 2012 are ending in the same way in Syria when it comes to killing Muslim religious leaders. In the early part of 2012 Sheikh Mohammad Ahmad Ouf Sadeq was brutally murdered by Islamist terrorists. Sadly, in late December 2012 another religious leader was also shot in the head by Islamist terrorists. These Islamists follow the thought patterns of Saudi Arabia and other draconian Gulf nations.”

The Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) stated about the killing of Sunni clerics “that the terrorist attacks against scholars and directors of Awqaf directorates prove that the war launched against Syria is a war led by Takfiri and terrorist organizations against the moderation and tolerance of the Syrian religious thought.”

Fr. Haddad also stated that there are “terrorists and non-terrorists from Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan who have gone to fight in Syria saying they want to liberate Jerusalem…But can one liberate Jerusalem from Aleppo?…We all know where the path to Jerusalem is.”

Prior to outside nations meddling into the affairs of Syria it was clear that this nation represented a mosaic whereby various religious communities co-existed. However, today terrorism, sectarianism, Salafi indoctrination and sedition are all being supported in order to crush independent Syria. At the same time covert operatives who played such an important role in Libya are also working in tandem and NATO Turkey is a major conduit of international terrorists, covert operatives, mercenaries, Salafi fanatics and military hardware.

Christian priests and churches are not being destroyed by government forces. On the contrary, Syrian soldiers and the government are trying to protect the Christian minority just like they are trying to protect their motherland from a plethora of enemies. Therefore, it is essential that the friends of Syria continue to support this nation and for the mass media to wake-up and ask serious questions in order to shame political elites in London, Paris and Washington. After all, you can’t shame Saudi Arabia because it is beyond reproach and Qatar is a feudal monarchy which just “buys silence” and “propaganda.” If the enemies of Syria succeed then spare a thought to what happened in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya – then ask the simple question – are these nations now free and flourishing?

http://www.eurasiareview.com/12052013-mass-held-in-rome-for-kidnapped-syrian-bishops/

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Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Many important Christian leaders in Syria and throughout the Middle East want a halt to the funding of terrorism and sectarianism. Regional Christian leaders fully understand that the West is morally bankrupt when it comes to human rights and religious pluralism. They also know that countries like America and the United Kingdom often “play the tune” of Saudi Arabia where not one single Christian church is allowed. Also, in Saudi Arabia converts to the Christian faith face the death penalty and openly carrying any non-Muslim religious text equates to prison and persecution but this doesn’t worry the political elites in London and Washington.

At the same time, in Kosovo, northern Cyprus, Iraq, and now happening in Libya, the Christian faith plummets dramatically either on the “watch” of America and the United Kingdom – or, in the case of Libya where the Christian faith was very small then fresh persecution begins after Western and Gulf meddling. Likewise, while Coptic Christians in Egypt face fresh bouts of persecution at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists the United States does little apart from providing financial assistance and more military arms to this country. Similarly, in West Papua in Indonesia you have a covert Islamization process happening including converting young Christian children to Islam and then indoctrinating them to hate their own culture. Once more, the United States and United Kingdom care little and Gulf petrodollars are also inciting religious hatred in this country.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reports that “Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi of the Maronite Church in Lebanon and All the East called for halting violence in Syria and starting a national dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis.”

“During an honoring celebration held by the Syrian and Lebanese community in Brasilia, al-Rahi appealed (to) the international community and the countries which support the war in Syria to stop supporting and financing murder operations and to halt arming terrorism and destabilizing a secure country and to sit (at a) dialogue table.”

Sadly, the arrogance of political leaders in America, France and the United Kingdom means that powerful Christian leaders in the Middle East are ignored just like the cleansing of Christianity is ignored on the watch of America and the United Kingdom. Trillions of dollars have been spent on Afghanistan but the upshot of this is continuing hatred towards all non-Muslim faiths, women being put firmly in the shadows and an abundance of heroin. Therefore, after over 40 years of meddling in Afghanistan the only outcome is terrorism, narcotics, more religious hatred, chaos and women are in chains.

Iraq today is another failed state and because of the policies of powerful Western and Gulf nations then sectarianism is once more on the rise in this country based on the destabilization of Syria. Political leaders in Iraq have condemned regional nations and others for supporting sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against Syria. However, just like major regional Christian leaders are ignored the arrogance of powerful Western and Gulf nations also means that they don’t consider the opinions of Iraq.

Archbishop Atallah Hanna of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox faith condemned some Arab countries for “being a part of the colonist scheme against Syria and the region, particularly those which are funding and supporting the foreign opposition.”

It must be noted that Christian churches dot the landscape of Syria unlike the friends of America and the United Kingdom in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan whereby Christianity is persecuted under a strict Islamist inquisition. Also, vast numbers of Christians from Iraq fled to Syria under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad because they were protected from international terrorism and religious persecution. The government of Bashar al-Assad took in untold numbers of Christians and Muslims fleeing the carnage in Iraq which erupted once outside nations unleashed many vacuums. Indeed, the nation of Syria opened its door to Palestinians being forced out of their homeland because this nation is independent and outside the control of Gulf and Western powers.

Therefore, it wasn’t Israel or Saudi Arabia which came to the rescue of refugees from Iraq. On the contrary it was the nation of Syria which gave much needed breathing space to refugees fleeing terrorism, religious persecution and sectarianism. Ironically, today many refugees in Syria from other nations are now fleeing this nation because of the barbarity of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various al-Qaeda supported Islamist terrorist groups which are fighting on the side of major Western and Gulf powers. This reality would shame most nations but of course when 50% of Christians fled Iraq on the watch of America and the United Kingdom then neither nation batted an eyelid.

Michel Aoun, a powerful Christian leader in Lebanon, comments about the kidnap of two Christian bishops by FSA Islamists in Syria. He states that “These acts do not represent in any way a struggle for freedom, but rather terrorist acts committed by hate-filled, malicious terrorists who feed on the blood of innocents and the lives of civilians … while attempts to justify this terrorism under the pretext of seeking to oust the regime have become ridiculous and pathetic.”

It must be stated that Bashar al-Assad is married to a Sunni Muslim lady who went to a Christian school when she was younger. Also, at no point was religion a point of issue whe it came to taking in over one million refugees. However, today the enemies of Syria are fueling sectarianism and Salafi ideology in order to weaken the unity of this nation.

Many Syrian Christian clergy and regional leaders are alarmed by the destabilization of Syria. After all, another Iraq is on the horizon if the government of Syria is defeated by terrorist and sectarian forces. Christians in Syria, just like Muslims in this country, will all have different political beliefs. However, the vast majority of Christians in this nation fully understand that outside meddling by major Gulf and Western powers throughout the region normally leads to women being put in the shadows, religious minorities fleeing and this is followed by religious bigotry and “the failed state domino system.” Afghanistan, northern Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, and others, all point to the same direction for Christians and this applies to greater marginalization which is then followed by outright religious persecution.

Sister Agnes-Mariam de la Croix who is a Christian nun comments that “The free and democratic world is supporting extremists…They want to impose Sharia Law and create an Islamic state in Syria.”

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Helmet Joachim Schmidt and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Syria continues to remain steadfast despite open intimidation from Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Other enemies of Syria including America, France, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, all prefer a more underhanded approach. This isn’t surprising given the many joint military alliances between al-Qaeda linked terrorist groups and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) despite all the words of denial coming out of Washington. After all, various FSA units work side by side with al-Qaeda linked groups and it is difficult to split them given the reality on the ground. Of course, the Islamists are “useful tools” just like they were in Bosnia when Bill Clinton gave them the green light. However, in time the United States would squeeze them out of the picture in Bosnia once their evil deeds had served the purpose of Washington.

Last year it was the turn of NATO Turkey to try and entrap Syria by not only allowing the FSA and various Islamist groups to reequip and manipulate the border areas; but also because Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey had hoped to ensnare the Syrian armed forces into open hostilities in the border areas between both nations. The Syrian government is fully aware about the real motives of Erdogan therefore they have no intent on assisting his plans. After all, it is not in the interest of Syria to become involved in a conflict on another front. Therefore, with internal discontent increasing in Turkey because of the policies of Erdogan towards Syria, then now it is the time of Israel to play the devil’s advocate for Washington.

President Obama pulled American forces out of Iraq and then supported a policy of the destabilization of Syria in the full knowledge that al-Qaeda and other sectarian forces would be reinvigorated in Iraq. Obama knows that it is a very hard sell to openly fight on the same side of al-Qaeda. Therefore, the CIA is being “pimped out” just like MI6 in the United Kingdom in order to do the dirty work from a distance. Prudently, it is wise for Obama to do this because the FSA Islamists have committed horrendous atrocities and currently two Christian bishops are being held by forces which are allied to the causes of Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington.

America’s “war on terrorism” in Syria is clearly a war on allowing Saudi Arabia and Qatar to openly support terrorism, sectarianism and sedition. The embassy debacle in Libya, the recent terrorist attack in Boston and the Saudi connection to September 11; means that it is a hard sell for Obama to openly side with the forces of al-Qaeda and sectarianism in Syria. This also applies to the fact that thousands of American troops were killed in Iraq but today because of the policies of Obama – and regional nations which are against the government of Syria – then the same forces of al-Qaeda are once more thriving in Iraq and now they can reach deeply within the Levant.

In recent weeks it is clear that the armed forces of Syria have been reinvigorated and Jordan appears to have taken a step back based on self interests because the ratlines couldn’t be covered-up no more. Also, the elites in Jordan know that the Muslim Brotherhood will not stop at Syria because many ardent members want to take over the leverages of power within this country. Jordan should look at modern day Pakistan and how this nation helped to destabilize itself by giving birth to the Taliban and then fighting a brutal war with the same forces that were unleashed in Afghanistan. Islamists were “adorable killers” of Orthodox Christians for American in Bosnia because once they had dutifully served the interests of others; then they could be dismantled because their powerbase was weak internally. Yet in Jordan the Palestinian and Muslim Brotherhood questions are very real therefore some elites in Jordan are worried about ensnaring themselves.

Turkey likewise backed down when NATO balked at becoming fully involved because just like the European Union it is clear that many members don’t buy into the hard sell of America, France and the United Kingdom. Also, with the Russian Federation remaining firm and internal discontent growing within parts of Turkey towards the policies of Erdogan; then his rants and goading of Syria have died down despite the menace still existing. The recent attack by FSA Islamists against Turkish border guards is also a reminder that Erdogan is playing a dangerous game because you have major religious, political and ethnic divides in this country.

However, Israel doesn’t have to worry about a widespread Palestinian uprising because Hamas is increasingly in the pockets of Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Also, despite anti-Christian persecution increasing in Egypt this isn’t stopping America from supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt both financially and militarily. Therefore, Israel doesn’t currently face an internal threat and with sectarianism growing in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria; then this may be an opportunist moment to weaken Hezbollah further in the knowledge that the “Lebanese street” is extremely divided.

The bombing by Israel also may highlight the death knell of FSA Islamists forces which are being pushed back in many areas by the Syrian armed forces. It seems inconceivable that Syria would be arming any other entity given the range of enemies against this secular nation. Similarly, the involvement of Israel makes a mockery of al-Qaeda because Islamists are not attacking NATO Turkey in the north or Israel in the south. On the contrary, Islamist terrorists are only focused on destroying Syria which is the last major independent state in the Arabic speaking world.

Syria will be faced with a major dilemma if the bombing of this country by Israel becomes more frequent. After all, the Syrian armed forces can’t afford to be drawn into a conflict with either Israel or Turkey. Therefore, Israel may be goading Hezbollah in the knowledge that if Syria and Iran do reply then it will most likely come through south Lebanon and the heartland of Hezbollah. Also, with FSA Islamists attacking villages along the border between Lebanon and Syria and with Sunni Islamist militancy growing in Lebanon; then does Israel see an opportunity to entrap Hezbollah during a time when this organization may become over stretched?

The government of Syria is the most stabilizing entity within the region because clearly this nation doesn’t seek to become embroiled with hostile nations. Israel can’t justify their attacks against Syria on any grounds because the government of Syria is not behaving in a hostile manor unlike Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Therefore, it is imperative that Syria is supported by friendly nations against all the dark forces which are against this country.

Syrian TV stated that “The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups, which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army.”

Ironically, the opposite will most likely happen because the more nations are pushing against Syria – then the more united the armed forces are becoming. Likewise, all major religious leaders in Syria from the entire spectrum remain firm against the meddling of outside nations.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

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Walter Sebastian and Pierre Leblanc

Modern Tokyo Times

The international community is responding to events in Mali and this can be seen by the promised 12,600 United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force which is planned from July. In a short-period of time France and regional African nations have contributed to forcing Islamist militants from much of their strongholds throughout the north of the country. Therefore, it is hoped that the new peacekeeping force named MINUSMA (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) will continue with the progress once their mandate starts.

It is also essential that the international community provides major economic support whereby business investments, developing the infrastructure and other related areas are given a proper boost. At the same time, great attention must be given to centralization processes and strengthening all major institutions related to education, law, the political system and other vital areas. Of course, the ethnic make-up of Mali is very diverse and the same applies to lifestyle therefore areas of alienation need to be addressed in order to embody the spirit of “One people, one goal, one faith.”

Al-Qaeda and other Islamist forces threatened to turn Mali into a nightmare Taliban styled Islamist state whereby indigenous African Islam would be supplanted by draconian Islamic versions emanating from the Gulf region. Amputations for petty crimes and the destruction of ancient African Islamic architecture, holy places and the indigenous way of life were all threatened by draconian Islamists. France therefore stepped in once Islamist forces began to move further south and clearly international troops were welcomed with open arms by the people of Mali because the threat was very real.

If Islamists had taken control of Mali then the entire region would have suffered greatly. Islamists would have firstly sucked the life out of indigenous African Islam in this country and then turned the clock back to “year zero.” After this, terrorist bases and other brutal realities would have engulfed the Mali people and clearly much bloodletting would have ensued. However, France galvanized regional nations to partake in safeguarding Mali from a brutal foe.

Another essential area is that nations with expertise in the military field must train elite forces within the army of Mali. This applies to the entire spectrum and obviously the military needs to modernize in terms of arms, logistics, coordination and other vital areas. In the meantime, it is essential that France maintains a military presence in Mali until everything is put into place.

The BBC comments about MINUSMA by stating that “The 12,600-strong force is intended to incorporate some 6,000 West African soldiers already in the country.”

“The resolution was proposed by France, which intervened militarily in January to drive out Islamist militants from Mali’s northern desert region.”

“The UN force is to deploy at the beginning of July before planned nationwide elections.”

“A French force of 1,000 soldiers will remain, in case they are needed to fight the al-Qaeda-linked groups.”

It is hoped that MINUSMA will provide a genuine breathing space for Mali and that international nations will focus on the economic arena and other important areas. Mali is blessed with a rich culture therefore it was essential that the international community intervened. In the long-term it is hoped that the international community will focus on a whole array of areas in order to help the people of Mali.

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22296705

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

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Vojin Joksimovich, PhD

Modern Tokyo Times

Blowback

The term blowback became a part of my vocabulary after I read Chalmers Johnson’s book:  Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire. The late Chalmers Johnson was my neighbor. He sent me a copy of his book and wrote: “With appreciation for your excellent Kosovo Crisis.” His book dealt with examples of Okinawa, Stealth Imperialism, South Korea, North Korea, China, Japan and Meltdown. I felt that my bookKosovo Crisis: A Policy in the Foreign Policy Mismanagement and even more so in my subsequent bookThe Revenge of the Prophet: How Clinton and his Predecessors Empowered Radical Islam, that these two books supplement his blowback examples while focusing on different parts of the world: Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia. The Boston marathon horror appears to be yet another blowback attributable to the US foreign and domestic immigration policies.

101 on Salafism (Radical Islam)

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB), founded by Egyptian Al-Banna in 1928, has had a slogan: “God is our purpose; the Prophet is our leader; the Koran is our constitution, Jihad is our way; and dying for God’s causes our supreme objective.” The MB spawned another Egyptian called Sayyid Qutb, who provided the intellectual underpinnings of the Salafi jihadism or Radical Islam as it exists today. Salafism advocates a strict interpretation of the Koran and a return to the practices of the Prophet Mohammed and his disciples. Salafists, also called Islamists, are using a black banner as their emblem and they consider jihad as the pillar of Islam. The remarkable “success” of Salafism, including the rise after the so called the Arab spring, is attributable primarily to the Saudi petrodollars and Qatar is increasingly playing a more important role. Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, has been funding for decades Islamic proselytism of its own branch of Salafism, i.e. a conservative version of Sunni Islam named Wahhabism, after its creator Muhammad  ibn Abd Wahhab (1703-1791). Wahhabism became the state religion of Saudi Arabia. It could be viewed that present-day Salafism is an export version of Wahhabism. By supporting various Salafist groups, Saudi Arabia ensures it will not be threatened by home-grown jihadists. The US policy-makers consider Saudi Arabia as untouchable.

The MB and the Salafists have the same goals vis-à-vis the West but the strategies differ. US policy-makers do not seem capable to comprehend this fact. Central to their ideology is the reintroduction of the caliphate, an Islamic super-state governed by  Sharia law that would stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific as it did during the Islamic imperium.  Terrorism should be viewed as a tactic in asymmetric warfare. It is an equalizer and it is extremely cost effective.

Osama bin-Laden was a Salafist. After his death, there was attrition among the Al Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan/Pakistan but the Salafist ideology he advanced continues to thrive. The terrorist organization he co-founded, Al Qaeda, continues to operate in different forms in many parts of the world. Bin Laden issued two fatwas (1996, 1998) declaring the war against the US. His second fatwa called on all Muslims “to kill Americans and their allies, civilians and military, as an individual duty.”  Hence, radical Islam has been at war with America since 1996 but America has not been at war with Radical Islam. Instead, the American response has been some kind of an ineffectual appeasement and lack of leadership under all three US presidents (Clinton, Bush and Obama), despite a number of severe blowbacks. The American public has been the victim of this flawed policy.

Another big success of Salafists has been the radicalization of Muslims in the West thereby creating home-grown threats either by offering training outside the US or via the internet. There were 12 home-grown terrorist plots in the US in 2010, compared to 1 in 2005. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has been in the forefront of fighting home-grown terrorism. The NYPD thwarted as many as 16 terrorist plots on the city since 9/11.

The Clinton Era

The Salafist networks flourished during the Clinton era (1993-2001). Mansoor Ijaz, a Pakistani-American and a Clinton supporter, characterized it as: “their counter-terrorism policies fueled the rise of Osama bin-Laden from an ordinary man to a Hydra-like monster.” Clinton’s lack of resolve to fight terrorism and turning a “blind-eye” to Salafism amounted to pussyfooting and appeasement. Bin Laden capitalized. On Clinton’s watch over 10,000 terrorists were trained in Al Qaida (Al Qaeda) training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while only 29 terrorists were captured. On Clinton’s watch Al Qaeda and its affiliates planned many and executed several successfully against the US including: 1993 World Trade Center bombings killing 6 and injuring over 1,000; the 1993 killing of 18 American servicemen in Somalia, the averted 1995 project Bojinka, which called for planting bombs on 11 US airliners; 1995 Riyadh Saudi National Guard Station killing 5 and injuring 30 Americans; the 1996 Khobar Towers attack killing 19 Americans; the 1998 attack on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killing 224 (12 Americans); and 2000 attack on USS destroyer Cole killing 17 US servicemen.

Several other salient events of far reaching consequences took place in the Balkans, particularly in Bosnia and Kosovo. US condoned and covertly assisted jihad in Bosnia, which enabled Bin Laden to implement his master plan to establish a base of operations in Europe against Al Qaeda’s true enemy: the US. Bosnia became the direct springboard for 9/11. The US empowered Al Qaeda’s Al Mujahid Brigade in Bosnia. Members of this brigade played pivotal roles in both 9/11 and the Madrid bombings. 3,000 New York residents lost their lives due to these misguided policies. After turning Bosnia into an Iranian, Wahhabist and Al Qaeda terrorist haven, Clinton decided to support “good terrorists” in the Serbian provinces of Kosovo and Metohija, i.e. the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) narco-terrorists initially linked to Al Qaeda. In addition, the Clinton administration cultivated relations with other groups known for terrorist violence, e.g. the Palestinian Liberation Organization in Palestine and the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland, thus setting examples for counter-terrorism policies.

It appears that Clinton’s lack of resolve vis-à-vis bin Laden was in part due to his Islamophilia.  In the 2001 speech at the Georgetown University he said that Muslims in the Middle East might hate America less if only they understood how much the Clinton administration had done for Islam. “Most Muslims in in the Middle East, I’ll guarantee you, don’t know the last time we used our military power was to protect poor Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo.” He also referred to atrocities committed by crusaders. So Clinton decided to bomb a small Orthodox Christian nation called Serbia, US ally in both WWI and WWII, in order to appease the Islamic world.

The Bush-43 Era

As a result of his election and 9/11, the foreign policy of the world’s only superpower has been managed by a small clique of so called neo-conservatives (neocons).  After 9/11 the neocons saw a unique opportunity equivalent to the late 1940s, when the US first engaged the Soviet Union in the Cold War. There were two regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq as a result of the Bush counter-terrorist strategy with explicit endorsement of a preemptive war doctrine. In contrast to the 1940s, the US has been by and large perceived as an aggressor, as an imperialist nation, which made the talk of democracy come across as a blind bid for American supremacy.

Until 9/11 the Bush administration viewed bin Laden as a “little terrorist,” not a strategic threat and hence no sense of urgency in dealing with Al Qaeda. On the night of 9/11 Bush wrote in his diary: “The Pearl Harbor of the 20th century took place today…We think it is bin Laden.”  In his address to the nation he said: “We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.” The neocons had already put Saddam Hussein’s coordinates in the computer and they wanted to attack Iraq irrespective of who was responsible for 9/11. There was no link between Saddam and 9/11 so Bush chose to attack Afghanistan first, a softer target. The so called war on terror was launched. It was executed as Pax Americana and it has resulted in loss of some 7,000 American lives, about 50,000 maimed and it is costing the nation five trillion dollars, a large fraction of the existing $16.8 trillion national debt.

Iraq was a secular Muslim authoritarian country as opposed to the Islamic Republic like Iran or the authoritarian Saudi Kingdom with its Wahhabism. The Christians were protected and even held high government positions, which is unthinkable in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, etc. Hence, it could be argued that Bush invaded the wrong country. Seventeen out of the 21 9/11 terrorists were Saudis. The Bush administration couldn’t have done more to enhance the threat of terrorism. It gave birth to Al Qaeda in Iraq. This writer attended a panel discussion at the UCSD dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The panelists presented two studies attempting to quantify the number of Iraqi fatalities since the invasion. The numbers varied between 600,000 and 1.2 million. The war has advanced Islamism and Al Qaeda influence in the world. On Bush’s watch spectacular terrorist acts were staged such as those in Bali, Indonesia, Madrid and London. Millions of Muslims worldwide were angered not because of the democratic way of life in the US, as Bush had asserted, but because of policies resulting in killing and torturing their own brethren.

Incomplete Obama Era

With the election of President Obama Islamophilia has reached new heights in the US as illustrated in his famous 2009 Cairo speech. America’s #1 Islamophile characterized the Muslim call to prayers “the prettiest sound on earth.” In his speeches he praises and glorifies the Koran. He talked about the civilization debt to Islam. He asserted that Islam is an important part of promoting peace. He says that “America is no longer a Christian nation…Islam is a part of America’s story….America will never be at war with Islam”  (not withstanding that the Afghan war has become Obama’s war). He doesn’t seem to understand that the war in Afghanistan, now his war, like Bush’s war in Iraq, fans the flames for more jihads round the world and thousands of suicide bombers. During his visit to India, an Indian girl asked him to define jihad. He disguised the real meaning of jihad. It is unfortunate that another Indian girl didn’t ask him to explain why over 20,000 terrorist attacks since 9/11 were perpetrated by followers of radical Islam.

During his presidency he has appointed two devout Muslims to Homeland Security posts. He cannot conceive a paradigm in which Muslims can be evil perpetrators. The words “terror,”  “terrorist” and “radical Islam” appears to be banned in his administration.  Bill O’Reilly, of the Fox News, suggested that Obama would not use radical Islam term even if subjected to water-boarding.

In 2009, a joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI concluded that Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a US born Palestinian Muslim, wasn’t linked to terrorism. Major Hasan after shouting “Alahu Akbar” (Allah is Great) murdered 13 people at Fort Hood and wounded two dozen. The 9/11 hijackers also yelled “Allah Akbar” as they were crashing their planes into the World Trade Center. The mainstream media and the White House were puzzled about what Hasan’s motives could have been!! Obama said that he was at a loss for an explanation. In the first five days after the Fort Hood massacre, 85% of the news stories did not mention the words “terror” and “terrorists.” Many continued to paint Islam as a “religion of peace” and marginalized critics of jihad as suffering from “Islamophobia.” Robert Spencer wrote: “Political correctness has the media and government in a stranglehold.” To this writer and many others, radical Islam is a totalitarian ideology (like communism) more so than a religion. As a matter of fact radical Islam is masquerading as religion.

Libyan president Muammar al-Gaddafi gave up his former ambitions of being a terrorist sponsor and an owner of nuclear weapons in order to become an African leader. Also, he allowed oil companies to operate in Libya. Nonetheless, Obama went along with his secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s push to remove Gaddafi from power.  Removal of Gaddafi left Libya in a state of chaos with war lords and terrorists in charge and with many Islamist fighters moving to Mali thereby causing another battlefield. Benghazi and the 9/11 anniversary fiasco, with the death of the US ambassador and three other Americans became another blowback.

Boston Marathon Horror

At this writing a number of theories offer tentative explanations for the root causes of this latest example of Islamist terrorism. One of them is that the suspects Tsarnaev brothers of Chechen origin from Dagestan were self-radicalized in conjunction with their mother Zubeidat. The younger brother Dzhokhar, who survived the shootings, told the interrogators that he and his brother used bomb-making instructions found in Inspire, an online Al Qaeda magazine and that he was driven to detonate a bomb packed with ball bearings and nails to “defend Islam” and protest US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Major Hasan protested also the same US actions in his Ft Hood massacre. The Obama administration sent a federal judge to Mirandize Dzhokhar. Obama, who has pledged to fight against “negatives stereotypes of Islam,” warned that Americans shouldn’t jump into any conclusions.

There are many examples of self-radicalization in the US and Western European countries among Muslim immigrants allowed to become residents or even citizens. Self-radicalizations among Kosovo Albanian and Bosnian Muslim immigrants are well-known. Here are three examples. Betim Kaziu, whose parents are Kosovo Albanians, was sentenced in March of 2012 to 27 years in prison for traveling to the Middle East in a failed bid to join Al Qaeda and avenge the abuse of Muslims by killing American troops. In 2007 federal authorities busted the so-called Fort Dix Six before they could launch a murderous attack on a US military installation. Four out of six were ethnic Albanians from Kosovo (one of them was a sniper in Kosovo) and Macedonia. Three of the four were brothers. The institutionalized political correctness approach was used by the mainstream media in order to cover up their identity of being Albanian conspirators. In March of 2011, two US airmen were killed and two injured in front of Terminal 2 of the second continental at Frankfurt Airport. US forces were on their way to Afghanistan. The perpetrator was a Kosovo Albanian named Arif Uka, who was born and raised in Germany. He also yelled “Allah Akbar.”

The FBI’s bomb experts, analyzing remnants of both bombs which exploded near the marathon finish line concluded that the bomb makers likely had additional training or expertise because in part they deviated from the Inspire recipes. The older brother Tamerlan, slain in the shootings, made a six-month trip to Dagestan, which borders Chechnya. He must have received additional training there? Russian Izvestia reported that they obtained documents from the Georgian Interior Ministry suggesting that Tamerlan Tsarnaev went through a Georgian training seminar with Georgian and American instructors. The organization in question is called the “Caucasus Fund,” which cooperates with the American NGO “Jamestown.” These two organizations recruit people from the Northern Caucasus to “work in the interest of the US and Georgia. One of their tasks is to inculcate young men from the Caucasus with Salafist ideology and direct them against Russia.

The Russian officials are claiming that Tamerlan met several times with Mansur Makhmud Nidal, suspected jihad recruiter in Dagestan. The venue was a mosque in Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan, known for its adherence to Salafism. Nidal died last year in a firefight with the Russian authorities. His other likely contact, William Plotnikov from Canada, was slain two months later. Tamerlan was in the region at the time of both slayings, but left Russia for the US three days later after the second one. He left without picking the Russian passport he applied for. A Russian official said: “He intended to join the fighters but lost his contacts. In the end he picked an easier enemy in Boston.”

The Russians know more than anybody else about the Islamist terrorist activities in the Caucasus. The Chechen terrorists, linked to Al Qaeda, had committed a series of most brutal terrorist acts in history including the siege of the Beslan School in 2004. After yelling Allahu Akbar they murdered 350 including many children shot in the back. Beslan was summarized as child rape, torture, enforced urine drinking, sexual sadism and Islamic ritual murder. Stella Jatras wrote: “To call them animals would be an insult to the animal kingdom.” Former FBI agent Colleen Rowley—a 2002 Time Person of the Year— pointed out that the neocons backed Chechen terrorists as a way to challenge Russia. Many distinguished neocons signed up as Chechnya’s “friends.” John Laughland wrote that the leading group which pleads the Chechen cause is the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC).

The Izvestia story, if corroborated, could give some credibility to the DEBKA file story alleging that the Tsarnaev brothers were double agents, hired by the US and Saudi intelligence – thereby decoyed the US into a terrorist trap. The DEBKA file story, based on counterterrorism and intelligence sources, suggest that the objective was to penetrate the Wahhabi jihadist networks which, helped by Saudi financial institutions had spread into Russian Caucasia. Instead the two former Chechens betrayed their mission and went secretly over to radical Islamist networks. The Saudis feared that their involvement would come to light when their student was questioned about their involvement in the bombings while in a Boston hospital. The Saudi foreign minister flew to Washington, in the middle of the Boston Marathon crisis, to meet with president Obama and his national security adviser.

The DEBKA file report concludes with four questions that should top the interrogators agenda: a) At what date did the Tsarnaev brothers turn coat and decide to work for Caucasian Wahhabi networks?; b) Did they round up recruits for those networks in the US—particularly, among the Caucasian and Saudi communities?; c) What was the exact purpose of the Boston Marathon bombings and their aftermath at MIT in Watertown?; d) Are any more terrorist attacks in the works in other American cities?

In the interest of the safety of the American people the ongoing investigations should focus on answering these four questions. In addition, president Obama should appoint a Boston Marathon Commission similar to the 9/11 Commission. He might be reluctant to do this therefore public pressure should be applied especially from the 282 injured people in the Boston Marathon horror.

Minutes before closure of this piece the author read about the phone call between presidents Obama and Putin in which they agreed to boost anti-terror cooperation. It is about time for Washington to realize that the US and Russia should be allies against the same enemy: radical Islam.

Vojin Joksimovich, PhD is the author of three books and over 100 articles on world affairs.

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