War on Terrorism

The "War on Terrorism" or "War on Terror" (in US foreign policy circles, the global war on terrorism or GWOT{{fn|1}} ) is a campaign by the United States and some of its allies to rid the world of terrorist groups and to end state sponsorship of terrorism. There is a de facto focus on stopping Islamist terrorism.

Military/diplomatic campaigns

Afghanistan

Main article: U.S. invasion of Afghanistan

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The first target was Afghanistan and the Al-Qaida terrorist organisation based therein. The USA demanded that the Taliban government extradite Saudi exile and Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden with no preconditions. The Taliban responded first by asking to see proof that bin Laden was behind the attacks. When the United States refused and instead threatened the Taliban with military action, the Taliban offered to extradite bin Laden to Pakistan, where he could be tried under Islamic law. This offer too was refused.

Related Topics:
Afghanistan - Al-Qaida - Taliban - Osama bin Laden

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The United States and other Western nations then led an attack along with local Afghan anti-Taliban forces, including several local warlords and the Northern Alliance. Many of the Afghani groups had held power before the Taliban came to power, and ruled with human rights records similar to the Taliban. This effort succeeded in removing the Taliban from power. Most Taliban did not fight; they simply went back to their tribe.

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On March 2, 2003, authorities in Pakistan announced the capture of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks.

Related Topics:
March 2 - 2003 - Pakistan - Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - September 11

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Hamid Karzai became Afghanistan's first democratically elected president in October 9 2004, and the situation in the country appears to be reaching a new equilibrium. However, Karzai's authority is thin outside of the capital Kabul; the weak central government, well-armed warlords and the hidden Taliban do not change the fact that Afghanistan remains an unstable country to this day.

Related Topics:
Hamid Karzai - October 9 - 2004 - Kabul

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As of 2005, Osama bin Laden has not been found. His words have reportedly come to light from time to time, often via Arabic media outlets, and usually in support of anti-Western atrocities, such as the bombing in Bali and Tunisia.

Related Topics:
As of 2005 - Bali - Tunisia

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It appears that the partners in the coalition are becoming concerned about a resurgence of the Taliban and Al-Queda in Afghanistan. This is demonstrated by the UK wanting to move some of their Iraq deployments to Afghanistan and the announcement of further Australian deployments to Afghanistan. On July 13 2005, the Australian Government announced that a squadron of Australian Special Air Service Regiment(SAS) troops would be sent to Afghanistan. In the initial war in Afghanistan these Australian Special forces troops were specificially sought after by the United States because they were thought to be amongst the most effective special forces troops in the world.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 2005 - Australian Special Air Service Regiment

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A popular criticism of the Iraq war was that it would take significant resources away from the war in Afghanistan, which many believed should have been the priority of the United States and its coalition partners.

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Iraq

The current and ongoing Iraq War has been controversial, since that war was from the start promoted as part of the GWOT, and prior claims of Iraq posing a threat to Western countries (ties to Al Qaeda prior to the invasion and existence of weapons of mass destruction) have been all but completely discredited. Furthermore, the claim that the US and UK decided to invade Iraq long before public debate was opened has been supported by documented evidence (See Downing Street memo, Yellowcake forgery).

Related Topics:
Iraq War - Ties to Al Qaeda - Weapons of mass destruction - Downing Street memo - Yellowcake forgery

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However, due to the rise of terrorist groups in Iraq such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, post-invasion Iraq's has undeniably become a current battlefield in the GWOT.

Related Topics:
Al-Qaeda in Iraq - Post-invasion Iraq

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Iran

The United States State Department refers to the Islamic Republic of Iran as the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism."

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Iran provides funding, weapons, and training to terrorist groups based in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. Iran funding of Islamic terrorist groups include Hezbollah (founded with help of Iran), Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Kurdistan Workers Party (among others).

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Iran was involved with Hezbollah's attempt to smuggle arms to the Palestinian Authority in January 2002.

Related Topics:
January - 2002

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Pakistan

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terror bombing, Pakistan agreed to support the US in its war against terrorism. It gave the US the use of three air bases for the invasion of Afghanistan and the air campaign that preceded it.

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Some of the top Taliban leaders had studied in madrassas (religious seminaries) in the rugged semi-autonomous tribal belt along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In alliance with the US, Pakistan sent troops into the tribal areas - for the first time in its history - to flush out the remnants of the Taliban who had gone into hiding there.

Related Topics:
Taliban - Madrassa - Tribal belt

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Pankisi Gorge (Georgia)

Main article:

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In February 2002, the U.S. sent approximately 200 Special Operations Forces soldiers to the former Soviet republic of Georgia to train Georgian troops to fight rebels from the breakaway Russian province Chechnya, crossing the border for safe haven in their war with Russia. This move drew protests from many Russians, who believed that Georgia should remain within the Russian sphere of influence, and not the United States'. On March 1 2002, over domestic outcry, Russian president Vladimir Putin met with Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze in Kazakhstan and pledged his support for the American military initiative.

Related Topics:
Former Soviet republic of Georgia - Russia - Chechnya - March 1 - 2002 - Vladimir Putin - Eduard Shevardnadze

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Yemen

Main article:

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The Bush Administration approved sending about 100 Special Operations soldiers to Yemen, a power base for Al-Qaida. The Special Operations forces, along with the CIA, are engaged in targeted attacks on suspected Al-Qaida members, especially in the regions of Yemen bordering Saudi Arabia, which are not well-controlled by the central Yemeni authorities.

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Philippines

Main article: Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines

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In January 2002, a U.S. force approximately 1,000 strong was sent to assist Philippine forces. About 600 troops, including 160 Special Operations soldiers, remain training forces in the Philippines to combat Abu Sayyaf on Basilan. On October 2, 2002, a bomb in Zamboanga killed a U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant and two civilians. In October 2002 additional Zamboanga bombings killed six and wounded 200. In February 2003, the U.S. sent approximately 1,700 soldiers to the Philippines to engage in active combat against Abu Sayyaf, as opposed to training.

Related Topics:
January - 2002 - Philippines - Abu Sayyaf - Basilan - October 2 - Zamboanga - Special Forces - Zamboanga bombings

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Indonesia

Main Article:

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Near the end of 2001, Congress relaxed restrictions put into place in 1999 against the U.S. training of Indonesian forces because of human rights abuses in East Timor. In October 2002 the Bali car bombing killed and wounded hundreds of civilians, the majority of whom were foreign tourists. The Islamic extremist movement Jemaah Islamiyah, suspected of carrying out that attack, was classified as a terrorist organization in November 2001.

Related Topics:
Indonesia - Human rights - East Timor - Bali car bombing - Jemaah Islamiyah

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Syria and Lebanon

Main Article: Cedar Revolution

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Syria and Lebanon are hosting the headquarters of several terrorist organization (according to the State Department list and the EU list) such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The White House declared it holds Syria accountable for supporting terrorism and officially implemented sanctions on May 11 2004.

Related Topics:
State Department - EU - Hezbollah - Hamas - Palestinian Islamic Jihad - May 11 - 2004

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The situation got even more tense with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by a bomb in downtown Beirut, Lebanon's capital, on February 14 2005. Although exactly who ordered the assassination remains unclear (an obscure militant group claimed responsibility), protests erupted in Beirut demanding that the Syrian troops stationed in Lebanon leave. President Bush, Europe, and Saudi Arabia also put pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad to honor his promises according to the 1989 Taif Agreement and pull out of Lebanon. The Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah is the largest political party in Lebanon, but has been declared by the U.S. State Department to be a terrorist organization with ties to Iran. Hezbollah organized a huge demonstration against the U.S. and seems poised to exploit a future vacuum as the Syrians depart.

Related Topics:
Rafik Hariri - Beirut - February 14 - 2005 - Bashar Assad - Taif Agreement - Hezbollah

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Libya

The United States and Libya have been involved in diplomatic and military disputes stemming from Libya's activities since 1969. The United Nations imposed sanctions against Libya in 1992 following the Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie disaster. The sanctions were lifted on September 12, 2003, after Libya agreed to accept responsibility and make payment of US $2.7 billion to the families of those who died in the bombing. In the same vein, on February 26, 2004, the United States lifted their 23-year travel ban to Libya, although many other restrictions currently remain in place, such as economic sanctions and the ban on flights by U.S. airlines to Libya.

Related Topics:
Libya - 1969 - United Nations - Sanctions - 1992 - Pan Am Flight 103 - September 12 - 2003 - February 26 - 2004 - Airline

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On December 19, 2003, Libya admitted having had a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program and simultaneously announced its intention to end it and dismantle all existing WMD to be verified by unconditional inspections. Libya also agreed to limit its long range missiles to 300 km. Some of the WMD included mustard gas, which was hidden in a turkey farm. The announcement came after clandestine diplomatic negotiations with the United Kingdom and United States since March 2003. On March 7, 2004, the White House confirmed that the last of Libya's nuclear weapons-related equipment had been sent to the United States.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 2003 - Weapons of mass destruction - Mustard gas - Turkey - United Kingdom - United States - March 7 - 2004 - White House

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About that same time, Libya was also caught secretly passing nuclear technology which originated in North Korea on to other countries. Furthermore, Pakistan and China were mentioned as contributors to the programs.

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Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip

Main Article: Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Both Israel and the USA define the following militias as terrorists: Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the PFLP, the PDLF and the Popular Resistance Committees who were responsible for the murder of 3 American diplomats and the Hatuel family.

Related Topics:
Hamas - Islamic Jihad - Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades - PFLP - PDLF - Popular Resistance Committees - Hatuel family

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The USA called on Palestinian Authority to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist groups who targets Israeli civilians. The U.S. government expressed great concern about the suicide bombers, which became popular among other Muslim terror groups such as Al-Qaeda. The Palestinians refuse to dismantle those groups and claim they are legitimate political factions who fight against occupation.

Related Topics:
Palestinian Authority - Suicide bombers - Al-Qaeda

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The Israeli Defence Forces conducted many counter-terrorism operations in order to thwart suicide bombings. U.S. Army officers studied Israeli operations and methods and even held joint trainings. The U.S. Army adopted some of the Israeli methods such as targeted missile-strike on terror leaders, the use of armoured bulldozers in urban warfare and new techniques for gathering military intelligence.

Related Topics:
Israeli Defence Forces - Counter-terrorism - Bulldozers - Urban warfare - Military intelligence

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In addition to agreed-upon terrorist organizations, the U.S. also includes Kach, a Jewish ultra-nationalist outlawed in Israel on its official list of terrorist organizations, and recently added support of their Web sites to be an act of supporting terrorism.

Related Topics:
Kach - Ultra-nationalist

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The USA also has a political involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and acts as a negotiator between the two parties, in order to solve the conflict in a peaceful manner.

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On December 29, 2004, the Israeli Knesset passed a law against terrorism and against support of terrorism. The law prohibits funding terrorists, families of terrorists and institutes inciting terrorism. The law gives Israel the right to confiscate property and funds of terrorist organization, even if they do not target Israel or Israelis. The law is part of the legal war against terrorism and was approved definitely by 62-6 (all opposers were Arab Knesset members). (Haaretz)

Related Topics:
December 29 - 2004 - Israel - Knesset - Law - Terrorism - War against terrorism

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Detentions at Guantanamo Bay

Many people captured in the military conflict in Afghanistan have been detained at a facility known as Camp X-ray at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and have been treated as "illegal combatants" rather than as prisoners of war.

Related Topics:
Camp X-ray - Guantanamo Bay - Illegal combatant

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Many persons state that the term 'illegal combatant' has no meaning under international law and serves to justify denying these detainees rights granted to POWs under the Geneva convention. However, the U.S. position is that the detainees do not fall under any of the categories of combatants or noncombatants protected by the Geneva or Hague conventions (See Camp X-ray for further details.)

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Many have suggested that Guantanamo Bay be closed down, and all prisoners summarily executed by Military Tribunal, as they were in effect sabatuers against the United States of America. The same happened to the Nazi sabateurs in 1942 in the famed Quirin case, where the President of the United States demanded that they face the Electric Chair.

Related Topics:
Military Tribunal - United States of America - Nazi - Quirin - President of the United States - Electric Chair

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