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9-11 and the War on Terrorism History, Ideology and Current Status Bob Shamy

9-11 and the War on Terrorism History, Ideology and Current Status Bob Shamy. Islam - Ancient religion of 1.5 billion people - Diversity of beliefs, practices, and politics - Modernists, traditionalist and orthodox (80-85%?).

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9-11 and the War on Terrorism History, Ideology and Current Status Bob Shamy

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  1. 9-11 and the War on TerrorismHistory, Ideology and Current StatusBob Shamy

  2. Islam • - Ancient religion of 1.5 • billion people • - Diversity of beliefs, • practices, and politics • - Modernists, traditionalist • and orthodox (80-85%?) • Islamism (salafi Islam, fundamentalism) (15-20%?) • Islam must have political power and a state • Response to European colonialism • Reject modernism and turn to Islam • But no unanimity about democracy • Jihadism (salafiyya jihadiyya) (<1%?) 15 Mill. • Extremist version of Islamism • No gradual implementation or political process • Only violence can recreate an idealized Islamic state called the “Caliphate”

  3. Early History The Prophet Muhammad • Born 570 • Orphaned as a boy – raised by his uncle Abu Talib a merchant • Married a wealthy widow/merchant (Khadijah) • The “Message” comes to him when he is about 40 years old • After overcoming his doubt and fear he begins to preach in Mecca Chosen by God, like the Hebrew prophets, to preach the oneness of God, repentance, submission to God, and a coming day of judgment

  4. The First Three Caliphs or “Rashidin” Sustain the Salaf: The Community of Islam as it was under Muhammed Abū Bakr 632-34 Umar 634-44 Uthmān 644-656 Ali 656-661 Alī grew up with Muhammed and is revered by Sunni Muslims as the last of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs and an authority on the Qur'an and Islamic Law. Shi'a consider him the First Imam appointed by the Prophet Muhammad and the first rightful caliph. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. SHIA is short for šī at Ali "the party of Ali". Shia Muslims adhere to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family who they refer to as Ahl al-Bayt. Ali is killed by the followers of Uthman in a Civil War and the Umayyads rule the Caliphate.

  5. Significance of Karbala 680 (Husayn) He refused to swear allegiance to Yazid, the second Umayyad Caliph. He tried to travel from Medina to Kufa but was surrounded by forces loyal to Yazid in the desert at a place now known as Karbala. Outnumbered, most of the family of Mohammad are slaughtered. Muharram, first month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn, (Imam) the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad and spiritual leader of the Shi'a people. Karbala The captive women and children of the family of Mohammad are paraded in chains from town to town. This contributed to the end of Yazid's rule. The tragedy played an enormous role in the development of Shi'a identity. The story of Husayn and the killing of the family of Mohammad heavily influenced the rapid spread of Shi'a Islam. London Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram commemorating the day of the massacre.

  6. Abbasid Dynasty 750-1258 Shifted the capital from Damascus to Baghdad. Went into decline with the rise to power of the Turkish army it had created, the Mamluks. Their rule was finally ended in 1258, when Hulagu Khan, the Mongol conqueror, sacked Baghdad. While they continued to claim authority in religious matters from their base in Egypt, the dynasty's secular authority had ended.

  7. The Mongol invasions did not destroy the native Islamic faith. • The faith remained • Mongols converted • It was a major change in direction for the region Their military campaigns were brutal and their influence on Eurasian culture was significant. The Mongols destroyed the Islamic empires that existed before they came and three new imperial powers were made possible by the discovery and exploitation of gunpowder and more efficient administration.

  8. Three Muslim Empires The Ottoman Empire (1299 to 1922 Turkish) The Safavids (1501 to 1736 Iranian) Established Shi'a Islam as Iran's official religion and united its provinces under a single Iranian sovereignty. The Mughal Empire (1526 to 1857) Indian subcontinent, then known as Hindustan, and parts of what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan. By the end of the 19th century, all three had declined significantly, and by the early 20th century, with the Ottomans' defeat in World War I, the last Muslim empire dissolved.

  9. The Europeans colonized much of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century • Completed the takeover of Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria World War I Transformed the Middle East in ways it had not seen for centuries. Maps Geoffrey Gaudreault, NPR; Source: A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani T.E. Lawrence Oxford-bred British Army officer who unites the desert-dwelling Arabian Bedouins against the Turks during World War I.

  10. Changing Middle East Map Links to Maps of the Muslim World 661-1500 Vast Collection of Historical Maps

  11. The Oslo Accords 1993 The Oslo accords are the foundation on which current peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are based. • Negotiated secretly by Israeli and Palestinian delegations in 1993: • Signed at a Washington ceremony hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton • Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands, ending decades as sworn enemies. • Long-term goals: • Complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the Palestinians' right to self-rule in those territories. Oslo 2 Interim Agreement 1995 A second stage of autonomy for the Palestinians, giving them self-rule in the cities of Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm, parts of Hebron and 450 villages, while allowing Israeli-guarded Jewish settlements to remain.

  12. Philosophical Foundations of Islamist Fundamentalism

  13. Ibn Taymiya 1263-1328 • Islam has given to idolatry and innovation • Denounced Sufi practices • First 3 generations of Islam were the best models of Islamic life • Their Sunnah, or practice, combined with a literal interpretation of the Queran constitute an infallible guide to life • Heavily influenced Abd al Wahhab

  14. Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab 1703-1792 • Most famous scholar of the Wahhabi (Salafi) sect • Forged a pact with the chieftain Muhammad Ibn Saud ensuring that regions conquered by his tribe would follow his teachings on Islam • Ibn Saud and his heirs spread this ideology for 140 years and founded Saudi Arabia • Strong influence on bin Laden, al Zawarhiri and al Zarqawi

  15. Salafi Fundamentalism "Salafi" is an umbrella term for adherents of a particular form of Islamic revivalism who vary amongst themselves as to its definition, but share a rejection of contemporary Islamic teachings in favor of a return to the Salaf, as Islam was practiced during the first three generations of Muslims.

  16. Hasan al-Banna 1906-1949 • A Sufi revivalist and thinker • Founded the Muslim Brotherhood as a reaction to British occupation of Egypt • Focused on organizing followers rather than calling people to follow the way of the prophet • Promoted innovation and interpretation of the Queran • Muslim Brotherhood becomes actively involved in Egyptian politics in the 30’s Confronts Egyptian politicians and involved in assassinations – Disbanded in 1948 by Egyptian Govt. Many go to Saudi Arabia to study Becomes clandestine and lays the foundations for al-Qaeda – Innovation and Secrecy Today its outreach is world wide and politically connected

  17. Sayyid Qutb1906-1966 • Egyptian member of the Muslim Brotherhood • US visit early 1948-50’s shocks him – Racism and openness between the sexes • Involved in assassination attempts in Egypt • Imprisoned writes Milestones. Extreme expressions of Islamic revivalism • Call for Islamic militancy and a vanguard of true believers to lead the way in jihad against unbelievers • “Western civilization is unable to present any healthy values for the guidance of mankind…It creates values and legislates rules for collective behavior…Islam is the only system which possesses these values and this way of life…” • Hanged in 1966 by the Egyptian Government

  18. Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, Ph.D. (1941–1989) Azzam galvanized the Muslim masses to wage an international holy war against all infidels and non-believers until the enemies of Islam were defeated. • Built a scholarly, ideological and practical paramilitary infrastructure for the globalization of Islamist movements that had previously focused on separate national, revolutionary and liberation struggles. • His global jihad and organized approach to recruitment and training of Muslim militants from around the world developed during the Afghan war against Soviet occupation. “The love jihad (Holy War) took over my life, my soul, my sensations, my heart and my emotions. If preparing [for jihad] is terrorism, then we are terrorists.” His strategies led to the development of the al-Qaida militant movement.

  19. Basic ideology of jihadism • Distorted definitions of jihad and tawhid (Monotheism) • Believe that only they are the true believers (the saved sect); all others are merely “Muslims” The Narrative of the Global Salafi Islamist Western Society and the Zionist want to destroy Islam….. Therefore war against them and their puppets is justified An Islamic state is necessary not only to implement Islamic law correctly, it will also wage eternal war with the unbelievers

  20. Islam There is only one God Only he has the right to be worshiped - Anyone who worships another god is sinning and after death, he will be judged by God. Jihadism There is only one God Only he has the right to be worshiped and obeyed - Anyone who obeys the laws created by a human being is committing idolatry and must be killed. Contrasting definitions between Islam and jihadism TAWHID – THE ONENESS OR UNITY OF ALLAH

  21. Egyptian Islamic Jihad:Killing the apostate ruler Sadat

  22. Jama‘ah Islamiyah:Tourists as occupiers and polluters On December 24, 2000, a series of explosions took place in Indonesia, which were part of a high-scale terrorist attack by the Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist networks. The attack involved a series of coordinated bombings of churches in Jakarta and eight other cities.

  23. al-Qa’ida:The US as the “greater unbelief”

  24. Why 9/11? • Strike a stunning blow to the US to: • Convince US to leave all Islamic lands • Convince all other Muslims to join al-Qa‘ida’s war with the US and the apostate puppets • Without the support of the US, its apostate puppets would soon fall to the energized jihadist movement

  25. Who Were/Are the Terrorists and What is their Current Status? Adapted from Understanding Terror Networks by Marc Sageman Khadafi Abubakar Janjala-Philippine Jaber A. Elbaneh Yemeni Anas Al-Sabai Libyan Ali Saed Bin Ali Al Houri-Saudi Ramadan Shallah Palestinian Abdul Rahman Yasin American Fazul Abdullah Mohammed-Kenya Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah-Egyptian Ali Atwa-Lebanese 25

  26. TerrorismIntelligence Community Definition Premeditated Violence, or Threat of Violence • Politically Motivated • Against Non-Combatants • A Criminal Act • Symbolic In Nature • Intended to Impact Audience Beyond the Immediate Victims Perpetrated by sub national groups or clandestine state agents The Psycho-cultural Foundations of Contemporary Terrorism Jerrold Post, GW University

  27. Three processes of self-selection of the most militants: Evolution of al Qaeda - 1988-9: Militants come to fight the anti-Soviet jihad & could not go home stayed behind and formed al Qaeda - 1991-2: Most militants expelled from Pakistan went to Sudan - Switch of strategy from “near enemy” to “far enemy” 1996: 150 militants expelled from Sudan returned to Afghanistan - Control of “Golden Chain:” exclusive funding for terrorism - Control of training camps & establishment of shelter - Staff for planning & coordination - Afghanistan, as failed state, has little ability to control al Qaeda 1996-2001: Golden age of al Qaeda:

  28. USAMA BIN LADEN AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI al-Qaeda 1983: Hezbollah Bombs US Marine Barracks 1992: Aden/Yemen Hotels 1993: World Trade Center 1996: Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia 1998: US Embassy Bombings in Africa 2000: U.S.S. Cole in Yemen 2001: World Trade Center http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/fugitives.htm

  29. Present Statushttp://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm Four types of networks existing in parallel: • The old al Qaeda organization: • Effectively neutralized (sanctuary denial, monitored) • Resurrection in West Pakistan/East Afghanistan/Somalia • The organized affiliated groups, now more autonomous: Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) Armed Islamic Group (GIA)Aum ShinriykyoBasque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG)HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)Hizballah (Party of God)Japanese Red Army (JRA)al-JihadKachKahane Chai 3. Unaffiliated informal groups: • Madrid group; “Salafia Jihadia” (Morocco); Hofstad group; Benchellali group (Algerian/Ricen); London groups; Khan al-Khalili and Taba resorts (Egypt); Istanbul group 4. Singletons Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE)Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, MKO, NCR, and many others)National Liberation Army (ELN)Palestine Islamic Jihad-Shaqaqi Faction (PIJ)Palestine Liberation Front-Abu Abbas Faction (PLF)Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) 29

  30. Global Salafi Jihad on the World Wide Web • Forces migration of the Jihad to the Internet • Internet: interactive transformation of the jihad Diffusion of Salafi message, by passing traditional imams • Rejection of traditions fosters unique interpretation of the Quran • No need for leaders or training camps • Inversion of power pyramid: followers are in control

  31. Diaspora • Global Salafi Jihad is a Diaspora phenomenon • 84% of Global Salafi Mujahedin have joined the jihad, while living in a another country (87% in Western Europe) The Muslim Brotherhood Since the early 1960s, Muslim Brotherhood members and sympathizers have moved to Europe and slowly but steadily established a wide and well-organized network of mosques, charities and Islamic organizations. Its motto is telling: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."

  32. Trajectory: Core Arabs • Upwardly & geographically • mobile (“best & brightest”) • Mostly from religious, caring • & middle class families • Global citizens, conversant • in 3 or 4 languages, skilled in • computer technology • Separated from traditional bonds & culture • Homesick, lonely, marginalized & excluded from society • Seek friends • Drifted to mosques for companionship, not religion • Moved in together (halal food), formed cliques HATE THE HYPOCRACY OF THE ROYAL FAMILIES

  33. Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan’s 150 mil fixer upper in Aspen, CO Saudi Prince bin Talal’s private Airbus. Most expensive ever built. The family home of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan AlNahyan, the former president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu-Dhabi

  34. The Closed Society • Ethnic/Race/Class Exploitation • The aim of a closed society is to ensure the supremacy of one class (or race or group) over another • To bridge the gap, an elaborate set of explanations and ideas are needed which is, by definition, at variance with the facts SEGREGATION, APARTHIED, ETC.

  35. European Social Conditions • Alienated young Muslims, who became radicalized in Europe • Lack of alternative expression of social protest. I.e Communist • Failure of European integration policy for Muslim populations • - Rapid immigration growth post WWII • - Vulnerable to economic crises • Rigid social structure in Europe • - Lack of bottom up integration • - Failure of top down policy No American Dream • No American Dream

  36. An Ideological War • This is a war of ideas. We need idea based solutions against fuzzy idea-based networks • The Threat: Violent Islamist revivalist social movement • • Common element is idea (global Salafi jihad) • • Loose network with fuzzy boundaries • • Self organized, bottom up, local initiative, uncoordinated • • No fixed number of terrorists • • Number fluctuates according to local grievance & international situation • Changing Leadership

  37. Afghanistan – Pakistan – Taliban and al Qaeda

  38. Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan

  39. Pahtunwali: The Code of Pashtun Social Structure

  40. Buzkashi Then Now The Role of Tradition? Do Our Students Understand the Importance of Tradition in Cultural Relationships? This is one of the many questions that arise in relation to teaching students about the current crises.

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