Exploring the Axis of Evil
Note: This is my most recent article from my parallel writing endeavour, presented here first and in its entirety.
Some infidels are better than others. The likes of al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamist terrorist groups swear to keep fighting until all confess that there is one God, and Muhammed is his prophet; however, these groups have shown themselves to be remarkably willing to work with individuals, nations, and groups that show no interest in converting to Islam. Although the primary motivator for terrorists and those who support them is and remains a dedication to exremist Islam, the existence and extent of the Axis of Evil should not be underestimated.
Some commentators and pundits have claimed over the course of the last several years that the "Axis of Evil" was an impossible construct. After all, Sunnis and Shi'is could not work together; Islamists and secular Baathists could never cooperate; Arabs and Persians loathed each other beyond the point of collaboration - and these examples were merely within Islamic society! These incompatibilities say nothing of the impossibility of collaboration with Asian communists, or European nationalists, or narco-terrorists. Just as the claim that "the Civil War was about slavery" is a gross oversimplification, these assertions ignore both history and evidence. Focusing solely on the last thirty years, a geographic flow chart of terrorist organizations, state sponsors of terrorism, and their allies vaguely resembles a diagram depicting the regular flights of a mid-sized airline - it's that complex.
Passing review of major media outlets will quickly reveal that one of the most egregious state sponsors of terrorism is the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran, which is Shi'i in religious persuasion and majority Persian in ethnicity, founded Hezbollah (which is Shi'i and Arab) in Lebanon in the mid-1980's. In addition to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing (which killed more than three hundred, including two hundred forty-one American military personnel), Hezbollah and its precursors have launched attacks against Israel and operated a criminal network in the United States in order to raise funds. Hezbollah has also trained members of the Shi'i militias within Iraqi borders.
Hezbollah trained and collaborated with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provos) terrorists in the 1980's, and may continue to do so. Hezbollah, among other groups like Hamas and possibly al Qaeda, maintains operations in Venezuela, as well as in the "tri-border" region that joins Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Paraguay. The possibility also exists that Hezbollah and other Islamist terror groups have trained and cooperated with such narco-terrorists as FARC and the ELN in Colombia. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have made a point of publicizing their countries' close ties in the last few months.
Iran is also well known for having armed the Jaish al Mahdi Militia (JAM), a Shi'i insurgent organization in Iraq, providing Katyusha and Kassam rockets, mortar training, sniper rifles, and the notorious explosively-formed penetrators (EFPs) that are capable of penetrating tank armor (although American military leaders have acknowledged a recent decline or stoppage in Iranian weapons smuggling into Iraq). The leader of the JAM, the notorious Moqtada al Sadr, has even taken refuge in Iran in the past, possibly in order to confer with his Iranian allies.(Fox, ABC)
American military leaders have also accused Iran of aiding the Taliban on several occasions, (Reuters, AP, BBC) citing intercepted shipments of weapons that could be credibly traced back to Iran. This is only one example of Shi'i, Persian, Islamist Iran working with Sunnis (primarily Pashtuns in the case of the Taliban). Iran has also pledged financial support to Hamas (BBC, VOA), and works closely with Sunni, Arab, Baathist (secular) Syria. (BBC, Fox)
Syria itself is a supporter of terrorist organizations. Syria shelters the leader of Hamas' militant wing, and is believed to provide either active or passive sanctuary for weapons shipments from Iran to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Syria has offered its own public support to both Hamas and Hezbollah. Whether done in cooperation with Hezbollah, or carried out solely through the efforts of Syrian intelligence agents, Syria is widely believed to have carried out the massive car bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February of 2005. Subsequent assassinations of anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon have included Antoine Ghanim in September of 2007, Pierre Gemayel in November of 2006, and several others.
Although Syria has apparently worked to tighten its border control, the Syrian government provided assistance for foreign fighters in Iraq in the past by maintaining porous borders. The complexity of Iraq's internal divisions between Sunnis, Shi'is, Baathists, Kurds, Arabs, and other groups (some of which overlap) makes it difficult to determine which groups have received training and support from or within Syria, but the evidence and accusations of Syrian support for terrorism in Iraq exist. (NY Times, ABC)
A great deal of media attention has been paid since early September to an Israeli air strike deep in Syrian territory. Syria claims that the Israelis hit a vacant, derelict building. The Israeli government has been relatively quiet, barely acknowledging that the air strike took place at all. Subsequent evidence has emerged that Syria may have been building a clandestine nuclear program with the help of North Korea and Iran (Times, Fox), and that the site was discovered by Israeli intelligence and destroyed. North Korea has collaborated with Iran on ballistic missile development in the past, and reports indicate that North Korea may also be assisting with Iran's nuclear program.
Outside the Middle East, the Taliban continues to play a destructive role in South Asia, sewing the seeds of chaos and violence in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fueled economically by involvement in Afghanistan's illicit opium trade (which ties them back into global organized crime and narco-terrorism), the Taliban remains a primarily regional power. There are some indications that, in addition to material support from Iran, the Taliban may have received support from Chechen militants (CDI,
CS Monitor), though hard evidence for Chechen involvement in Afghanistan is sparse. Evidence exists, however, that some Chechens have seen combat in Iraq and offered experienced training to Islamist militants there. (Pravda, SAAG)
Chechen militants, including the now-deceased Shamil Basayev, have been linked to the former Finsbury Park Mosque in North London. Notable former members of the Finsbury Park Mosque, prior to a 2003 raid by British security personnal and subsequent reclamation by mainstream Muslims, included al Qaeda terrorists such as Zacarias Moussaoui and Richard Reid. Prior to the raid, the Finsbury Park Mosque was headed by Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, better known as Abu Hamza al Masri (or "Captain Hook" in many parodies), an Egyptian-born militant cleric reported to have fought in the Balkan jihad. Some question exists as to how Abu Hamza received his noteworthy injuries; while he claims that he lost both hands and an eye in mine-clearing operations in Afghanistan, other sources claim that they were the result of an explosives accident while he was receiving training at an al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. Abu Hamza's son, Mohammed Mustafa Kamel, was apparently convicted in Yemen of taking part in a bombing campaign.
Many of the exploits of al Qaeda are well known. However, in addition to involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Africa, al Qaeda has allied with the Fighting Islamic Group in Libya, and the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. In his 2004 book Shadow War, Richard Miniter presents evidence that points to an al Qaeda alliance with Iran; subsequent rhetorical clashes between the two groups over dueling intentions in Iraq may indicate that a previous alliance has collapsed.
Additionally, the revolutionary change in Libya's foreign policy since 2003 has provided evidence of other connections between rogue states and rogue groups. Libya itself supported various terrorist groups, including the Abu Nidal Group and the aforementioned Provisional IRA. Upon renouncing support for terrorism and surrending his illicit weapons programs, Libyan leader Moammar Qaddhafi revealed the extent of the nuclear support network of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan - a network which supported development of nuclear programs in Iran, North Korea, and Libya.
Some of the most heinous examples of far-reaching cooperation in illicit weapons proliferation and state sponsorship of terrorism were found in pre-invasion Iraq. Saddam Hussein publicized his regular gifts of money to the families of homicide bombers who die in attacks against Israel. Questions still remain as to the level of cooperation between al Qaeda and Saddam's regime, but credible intelligence indicates that al Qaeda operatives and Iraqi intelligence agents explored the possibility of establishing operational relationships, at the very least.
Despite efforts to keep knowledge of these nations and groups organized, the overwhelming complexity of the interconnected web of terrorists and rogue states is staggering. The preceding paragraphs describe a handful of groups and their operations and supporters on across the globe, from Venezuela to Pakistan to North Korea. The preceding analysis describes the cooperation of Sunnis and Shi'is with Korean Stalinists, Irish Catholic nationalists, and South American narco-terrorists. It details the cooperation of Arabs, Berbers, Persians, Chechens, and Pashtuns, just to name a few. This merely scratches the surface, and omits other high profile terrorist groups to include the Kurdish PKK, or Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines and Indonesia, or ETA in Spain, to name just a few.
Although several of these entities (Iraq, Libya, A.Q. Khan, and the Provisional IRA) no longer factor into the terror networks of the world as they once did, the seemingly simplistic moniker "Axis of Evil" is nothing more than a descriptive phrase used to encompass the cooperation of various forces against world stability and civilized existence. By understanding them, both individually and collectively, we as a nation and the global community at large can better support efforts aimed at disrupting their operations and ultimately bringing greater stability to the global community.
Some infidels are better than others. The likes of al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamist terrorist groups swear to keep fighting until all confess that there is one God, and Muhammed is his prophet; however, these groups have shown themselves to be remarkably willing to work with individuals, nations, and groups that show no interest in converting to Islam. Although the primary motivator for terrorists and those who support them is and remains a dedication to exremist Islam, the existence and extent of the Axis of Evil should not be underestimated.
Some commentators and pundits have claimed over the course of the last several years that the "Axis of Evil" was an impossible construct. After all, Sunnis and Shi'is could not work together; Islamists and secular Baathists could never cooperate; Arabs and Persians loathed each other beyond the point of collaboration - and these examples were merely within Islamic society! These incompatibilities say nothing of the impossibility of collaboration with Asian communists, or European nationalists, or narco-terrorists. Just as the claim that "the Civil War was about slavery" is a gross oversimplification, these assertions ignore both history and evidence. Focusing solely on the last thirty years, a geographic flow chart of terrorist organizations, state sponsors of terrorism, and their allies vaguely resembles a diagram depicting the regular flights of a mid-sized airline - it's that complex.
Passing review of major media outlets will quickly reveal that one of the most egregious state sponsors of terrorism is the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran, which is Shi'i in religious persuasion and majority Persian in ethnicity, founded Hezbollah (which is Shi'i and Arab) in Lebanon in the mid-1980's. In addition to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing (which killed more than three hundred, including two hundred forty-one American military personnel), Hezbollah and its precursors have launched attacks against Israel and operated a criminal network in the United States in order to raise funds. Hezbollah has also trained members of the Shi'i militias within Iraqi borders.
Hezbollah trained and collaborated with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provos) terrorists in the 1980's, and may continue to do so. Hezbollah, among other groups like Hamas and possibly al Qaeda, maintains operations in Venezuela, as well as in the "tri-border" region that joins Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Paraguay. The possibility also exists that Hezbollah and other Islamist terror groups have trained and cooperated with such narco-terrorists as FARC and the ELN in Colombia. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have made a point of publicizing their countries' close ties in the last few months.
Iran is also well known for having armed the Jaish al Mahdi Militia (JAM), a Shi'i insurgent organization in Iraq, providing Katyusha and Kassam rockets, mortar training, sniper rifles, and the notorious explosively-formed penetrators (EFPs) that are capable of penetrating tank armor (although American military leaders have acknowledged a recent decline or stoppage in Iranian weapons smuggling into Iraq). The leader of the JAM, the notorious Moqtada al Sadr, has even taken refuge in Iran in the past, possibly in order to confer with his Iranian allies.(Fox, ABC)
American military leaders have also accused Iran of aiding the Taliban on several occasions, (Reuters, AP, BBC) citing intercepted shipments of weapons that could be credibly traced back to Iran. This is only one example of Shi'i, Persian, Islamist Iran working with Sunnis (primarily Pashtuns in the case of the Taliban). Iran has also pledged financial support to Hamas (BBC, VOA), and works closely with Sunni, Arab, Baathist (secular) Syria. (BBC, Fox)
Syria itself is a supporter of terrorist organizations. Syria shelters the leader of Hamas' militant wing, and is believed to provide either active or passive sanctuary for weapons shipments from Iran to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Syria has offered its own public support to both Hamas and Hezbollah. Whether done in cooperation with Hezbollah, or carried out solely through the efforts of Syrian intelligence agents, Syria is widely believed to have carried out the massive car bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February of 2005. Subsequent assassinations of anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon have included Antoine Ghanim in September of 2007, Pierre Gemayel in November of 2006, and several others.
Although Syria has apparently worked to tighten its border control, the Syrian government provided assistance for foreign fighters in Iraq in the past by maintaining porous borders. The complexity of Iraq's internal divisions between Sunnis, Shi'is, Baathists, Kurds, Arabs, and other groups (some of which overlap) makes it difficult to determine which groups have received training and support from or within Syria, but the evidence and accusations of Syrian support for terrorism in Iraq exist. (NY Times, ABC)
A great deal of media attention has been paid since early September to an Israeli air strike deep in Syrian territory. Syria claims that the Israelis hit a vacant, derelict building. The Israeli government has been relatively quiet, barely acknowledging that the air strike took place at all. Subsequent evidence has emerged that Syria may have been building a clandestine nuclear program with the help of North Korea and Iran (Times, Fox), and that the site was discovered by Israeli intelligence and destroyed. North Korea has collaborated with Iran on ballistic missile development in the past, and reports indicate that North Korea may also be assisting with Iran's nuclear program.
Outside the Middle East, the Taliban continues to play a destructive role in South Asia, sewing the seeds of chaos and violence in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fueled economically by involvement in Afghanistan's illicit opium trade (which ties them back into global organized crime and narco-terrorism), the Taliban remains a primarily regional power. There are some indications that, in addition to material support from Iran, the Taliban may have received support from Chechen militants (CDI,
CS Monitor), though hard evidence for Chechen involvement in Afghanistan is sparse. Evidence exists, however, that some Chechens have seen combat in Iraq and offered experienced training to Islamist militants there. (Pravda, SAAG)
Chechen militants, including the now-deceased Shamil Basayev, have been linked to the former Finsbury Park Mosque in North London. Notable former members of the Finsbury Park Mosque, prior to a 2003 raid by British security personnal and subsequent reclamation by mainstream Muslims, included al Qaeda terrorists such as Zacarias Moussaoui and Richard Reid. Prior to the raid, the Finsbury Park Mosque was headed by Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, better known as Abu Hamza al Masri (or "Captain Hook" in many parodies), an Egyptian-born militant cleric reported to have fought in the Balkan jihad. Some question exists as to how Abu Hamza received his noteworthy injuries; while he claims that he lost both hands and an eye in mine-clearing operations in Afghanistan, other sources claim that they were the result of an explosives accident while he was receiving training at an al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. Abu Hamza's son, Mohammed Mustafa Kamel, was apparently convicted in Yemen of taking part in a bombing campaign.
Many of the exploits of al Qaeda are well known. However, in addition to involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Africa, al Qaeda has allied with the Fighting Islamic Group in Libya, and the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. In his 2004 book Shadow War, Richard Miniter presents evidence that points to an al Qaeda alliance with Iran; subsequent rhetorical clashes between the two groups over dueling intentions in Iraq may indicate that a previous alliance has collapsed.
Additionally, the revolutionary change in Libya's foreign policy since 2003 has provided evidence of other connections between rogue states and rogue groups. Libya itself supported various terrorist groups, including the Abu Nidal Group and the aforementioned Provisional IRA. Upon renouncing support for terrorism and surrending his illicit weapons programs, Libyan leader Moammar Qaddhafi revealed the extent of the nuclear support network of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan - a network which supported development of nuclear programs in Iran, North Korea, and Libya.
Some of the most heinous examples of far-reaching cooperation in illicit weapons proliferation and state sponsorship of terrorism were found in pre-invasion Iraq. Saddam Hussein publicized his regular gifts of money to the families of homicide bombers who die in attacks against Israel. Questions still remain as to the level of cooperation between al Qaeda and Saddam's regime, but credible intelligence indicates that al Qaeda operatives and Iraqi intelligence agents explored the possibility of establishing operational relationships, at the very least.
Despite efforts to keep knowledge of these nations and groups organized, the overwhelming complexity of the interconnected web of terrorists and rogue states is staggering. The preceding paragraphs describe a handful of groups and their operations and supporters on across the globe, from Venezuela to Pakistan to North Korea. The preceding analysis describes the cooperation of Sunnis and Shi'is with Korean Stalinists, Irish Catholic nationalists, and South American narco-terrorists. It details the cooperation of Arabs, Berbers, Persians, Chechens, and Pashtuns, just to name a few. This merely scratches the surface, and omits other high profile terrorist groups to include the Kurdish PKK, or Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines and Indonesia, or ETA in Spain, to name just a few.
Although several of these entities (Iraq, Libya, A.Q. Khan, and the Provisional IRA) no longer factor into the terror networks of the world as they once did, the seemingly simplistic moniker "Axis of Evil" is nothing more than a descriptive phrase used to encompass the cooperation of various forces against world stability and civilized existence. By understanding them, both individually and collectively, we as a nation and the global community at large can better support efforts aimed at disrupting their operations and ultimately bringing greater stability to the global community.
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