ISLAMABAD – The Jordanian doctor who killed seven CIA employees in a suicide attack in Afghanistan said in video clips broadcast posthumously Saturday that all jihadists must attack U.S. targets to avenge the death of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.
Footage showed Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi — whom the CIA had cultivated as an asset against al-Qaida — sitting with Mehsud's successor in an undisclosed location. It essentially confirmed the Pakistani Taliban's claim of responsibility for one of the worst attacks in CIA history, though a senior militant told The Associated Press that al-Qaida and Afghan insurgents played roles, too.
MEANWHILE, in a separate universe
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan, said that the United States can't defeat al Qaeda unless Osama bin Laden is captured.
McChrystal said that bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, is an "iconic figure" whose survival "emboldens" the extremist group's franchise.
The problem with that thinking is (in my view) that our struggle with al Qaeda has moved beyond simple combat; our actions to defeat them have probably helped make al Qaeda a movement far beyond what they could have become on their own. Even when given a clue to how we can defeat them, provided by one of their own, we seem oblivious to it.
In 2005 Abu Yahya al Libi's stock within al Qaeda when up when he and 3 others escaped US custody from Bagram AFB in Afghanistan. His stock has continued to rise. As a member of the infamous "Bagram Four" Abu Yahya publicly defied and embarrassed the United States and gave hope to his fellow jihadists. Abu Yahya laid out how the United States could defeat Al Qaeda. In his video titled "Dots of the Letters," the Libyan provided six steps for the United States to win the war of ideas.
Abu Yayha’s six steps for defeating Al Qaeda are:
1. Focus on amplifying cases of ex-jihadists who have renounced armed action2. Fabricate stories about Jihadist mistakes and exaggerate mistakes when possible
3. Prompt mainstream Muslim clerics to issue fatwas that incriminate the Jihadist movement and its actions
4. Strengthen and back Islamic movements far removed from Jihad, particularly those with a democratic approach
5. Aggressively neutralize or discredit the guiding thinkers of the Jihadist movement
6. Spin minor disagreements among leaders of Jihadist organizations as being major doctrinal or methodological disputes
Really good post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice!
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing, though, about Washington, is that they there in govt don't listen to anyone's advice except that of other members of their exclusive club---the club which excludes the sheeple.
ReplyDelete