After a few missteps, the US finally announced to the world the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. For ten years, Bin Laden has been a source of frustration by most US analysts and counter-terrorists. They know he's just "out there" and their sophisticated equipment and tracking devices have been used 24/7 to pinpoint his exact location.
Theories of his whereabouts were all over the place but the most plausible was he was in one of the caves in the hilly region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, depicting him like a rat hiding against his enemies.
Yesterday, the US announced that he was captured not in some obscure location hidden by rainsforests or bushes--but in a compound mansion with 12 foot high defense walls in the middle of a nondescript town heavily guarded by Pakistani army personnel.
No one knew that Bin Laden was just there--in the middle of a town supposedly filled by Pakistani army personnel. No one knew that his trusted courier was there, going in and out of the compound, and feeding him information from the outside world. The compound was not modern nor sophisticated---it lacks the modern conveniences. Yet, a valuable target was there, just waiting and hiding from the eyes of the world.
Osama's death was just the same as that of Che Guevarra's, except that Guevarra was arrested alive in Bolivia before he was shot in the head. Osama fought his attackers with sheer courage but was felled by a bullet in the head. Guevarra did the same but was mortally wounded when arrested.
Guevarra's body was paraded and people took shots beside the corpse before it being buried. Osama's body was probably tested for DNA and after a few hours, thrown in his watery grave.
The question that every single one is asking--will his death end the Al Qaeda organisation that masterminded the 9/11 attacks? Will his supporters from around the world be disheartened enough and stop their attacks against American interests around the world?
Surely, Osama was just one of those who rose up and militated against the evil and corrupt system. His death was already foredained shortly after that brutal 9/11 attack. He knew that someday, he'll be shot. That day turned out to be ten years after 9/11.
His death came at a time when one of his prophesies came true---the outbreak of civil war in the Middle East. Bin Laden said that for the True Islam to emerge in the Middle East, the people must militate against these apostate governments. It came true.
Organisations die naturally when they fail to institute succession. Based on analysis of several international anti-terror groups, the Al Qaeda is a highly flexible organisation, able to adapt and thrive well. It would be foolhardy for anyone to strike this organisation out just because of the death of Bin Laden. Death for a Mujaheddin, according to Islamic tradition, is the most worthy thing. It does not take a shrine for Muslims to realize that.
Showing posts with label osama bin laden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label osama bin laden. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Libya is no People Power--it's a bloody civil war
What started with a handful of student militants and ordinary citizens protesting in the streets is now a full-blown civil war.
Four hundred people have died and about 2,000 injured as rebel forces fought government forces led by the son of Libyan president Moammar Khaddafy. The fighting is being staged town by town, inch by inch, as anti-Khaddafy forces fight for territory to assume power.
Libyan president Khaddafy vowed to "fight to the death", and accused those who oppose his rule as "rats" and as "lackeys of foreign powers out to get Libyan gas and land." He also threatened US forces with war, saying that Libyans will fight these forces to the death should they enter Libyan territory.
While fighting continues in Libya, a series of protests again rocked Yemen and other Arab states. The Yemeni president is seeking a quiet solution to popular demands that he step down.
Fears of the revolt spreading into Saudi Arabia are affecting world crude oil prices, as speculators speculate on prices reaching the crazy levels of US$ 120 per barrel. This early, pockets of protesters have been seen calling for the downfall of the Saudi monarchy.
IN Egypt, thirteen people died after fresh fighting broke out between the former regime die-hard sympathizers and pro-government forces. The Egyptian government warned of a "counter-revolution" against pro-democracy forces who continue to camp out inspite of the installation of a new government.
The winds of revolt is spreading like wildfire throughout the region due mainly to economic reasons. People are starving due to higher prices of goods and the lack of jobs for locals. While all of these are happening, oil speculators and legitimate investors are raking in millions of dollars worth of profits.
Will Saudis heed the regional call for jihad against monarchical and despotic regimes rule? Or will it remain traditional?
Scores of Muslims throughout the world are not entirely surprised with what is happening in the Arab world. Decades ago, the fugitive Al-Qaeda ideologue Osama bin Laden had called for Muslims throughout the Arab world to launch a revolution against their governments.
Bin Laden prophesized that there will be a time when Arabs would wrest control of power against their hegemons and establish pure, Islamic states at its stead. In Islam, there is neither a concept of monarchy nor of dictatorship. Islamic states only follow the laws of the Qu'ran and the Tafseer and the Shari'a.
Four hundred people have died and about 2,000 injured as rebel forces fought government forces led by the son of Libyan president Moammar Khaddafy. The fighting is being staged town by town, inch by inch, as anti-Khaddafy forces fight for territory to assume power.
Libyan president Khaddafy vowed to "fight to the death", and accused those who oppose his rule as "rats" and as "lackeys of foreign powers out to get Libyan gas and land." He also threatened US forces with war, saying that Libyans will fight these forces to the death should they enter Libyan territory.
While fighting continues in Libya, a series of protests again rocked Yemen and other Arab states. The Yemeni president is seeking a quiet solution to popular demands that he step down.
Fears of the revolt spreading into Saudi Arabia are affecting world crude oil prices, as speculators speculate on prices reaching the crazy levels of US$ 120 per barrel. This early, pockets of protesters have been seen calling for the downfall of the Saudi monarchy.
IN Egypt, thirteen people died after fresh fighting broke out between the former regime die-hard sympathizers and pro-government forces. The Egyptian government warned of a "counter-revolution" against pro-democracy forces who continue to camp out inspite of the installation of a new government.
The winds of revolt is spreading like wildfire throughout the region due mainly to economic reasons. People are starving due to higher prices of goods and the lack of jobs for locals. While all of these are happening, oil speculators and legitimate investors are raking in millions of dollars worth of profits.
Will Saudis heed the regional call for jihad against monarchical and despotic regimes rule? Or will it remain traditional?
Scores of Muslims throughout the world are not entirely surprised with what is happening in the Arab world. Decades ago, the fugitive Al-Qaeda ideologue Osama bin Laden had called for Muslims throughout the Arab world to launch a revolution against their governments.
Bin Laden prophesized that there will be a time when Arabs would wrest control of power against their hegemons and establish pure, Islamic states at its stead. In Islam, there is neither a concept of monarchy nor of dictatorship. Islamic states only follow the laws of the Qu'ran and the Tafseer and the Shari'a.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Breaking News--ABU SAYYAF KIDNAPS FOREIGNERS ANEW!
Shortly after the announcement of Al Qaeda spiritual leader Osama bin Laden's call for jihad against the so-called " US-Zionist" alliance, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, led by a certain Albader Parad kidnapped two foreigners and one aide member of the International Red Cross.
The kidnapping happened right under the noses of authorities, as accounts reveal that the kidnap victims were seized at gunpoint near the Sulu capitol building in Patikul town just this morning.
Sulu police director Senior Supt. Julasirim Kasim identified the kidnapped victims as Andreas Notter, 38, the Swiss head of the ICRC Office based in Zamboanga City; 62-year old Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina engineer Jean Lacaba, 37 of Davao City. Reports say they were seized at the Area Coordinating Center (ACC), a conference hall between the provincial capitol and provincial jail.
They were taken at gunpoint along with three other ICRC staff members. Witnesses say at least eight men with high-powered firearms emerged out of nowhere and nabbed them.
The suspects then ordered the victims to board an ICRC vehicle, leaving behind Dr. Richie Sorilla, ICRC medical field officer; Ramon Catacutan, senior field officer; and Mohamad Shihata Jikiri, field officer.
Brigadier General Eugene Clemen, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade based in Patikul, said the victims were on their way out of the capitol compound when the armed men ordered them to board the ICRC vehicle.
Immediately after the kidnapping, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered for a full manhunt against the kidnappers. Sulu governor Abdulsakur Tan meanwhile vowed to retaliate against the families of those who kidnapped the foreign aid workers.
It will be remembered that the same Albader Parad led the team which kidnapped ABS-CBN News Anchor Ces Drilon and her team. After the release of Drilon, no news as to the whereabouts of Parad. However, AFP press statements said that they continued hot pursuit operations against the group of Parad.
This caps a series of insurrectionary activities in Mindanao, which has killed scores of others. Fighting rages in the hinterlands of Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao and Cotabato.
Question---will this affect the ongoing efforts by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to return to the negotiating table soon? Will this also turn into a scenario similar to the Sipadan hostage crisis?
This is the most recent high profile kidnapping done by the ASG. The last time that the Abu Sayyaf Group, a known international terror organisation, held a high-profile kidnapping was in 2000, shortly prior to the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada.
This kidnapping is significant for two things: First, it involves an international organization. And second, the terror group could use this as a propaganda stunt. Given the attention in the Middle East brought by the Israeli-Palestinian clash in Gaza, this kidnapping could get worldwide attention or condemnation. This could also be misinterpreted as a coordinated effort by global terrorist groups under the ambit of the Al Qaeda.
The kidnapping happened right under the noses of authorities, as accounts reveal that the kidnap victims were seized at gunpoint near the Sulu capitol building in Patikul town just this morning.
Sulu police director Senior Supt. Julasirim Kasim identified the kidnapped victims as Andreas Notter, 38, the Swiss head of the ICRC Office based in Zamboanga City; 62-year old Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina engineer Jean Lacaba, 37 of Davao City. Reports say they were seized at the Area Coordinating Center (ACC), a conference hall between the provincial capitol and provincial jail.
They were taken at gunpoint along with three other ICRC staff members. Witnesses say at least eight men with high-powered firearms emerged out of nowhere and nabbed them.
The suspects then ordered the victims to board an ICRC vehicle, leaving behind Dr. Richie Sorilla, ICRC medical field officer; Ramon Catacutan, senior field officer; and Mohamad Shihata Jikiri, field officer.
Brigadier General Eugene Clemen, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade based in Patikul, said the victims were on their way out of the capitol compound when the armed men ordered them to board the ICRC vehicle.
Immediately after the kidnapping, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered for a full manhunt against the kidnappers. Sulu governor Abdulsakur Tan meanwhile vowed to retaliate against the families of those who kidnapped the foreign aid workers.
It will be remembered that the same Albader Parad led the team which kidnapped ABS-CBN News Anchor Ces Drilon and her team. After the release of Drilon, no news as to the whereabouts of Parad. However, AFP press statements said that they continued hot pursuit operations against the group of Parad.
This caps a series of insurrectionary activities in Mindanao, which has killed scores of others. Fighting rages in the hinterlands of Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao and Cotabato.
Question---will this affect the ongoing efforts by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to return to the negotiating table soon? Will this also turn into a scenario similar to the Sipadan hostage crisis?
This is the most recent high profile kidnapping done by the ASG. The last time that the Abu Sayyaf Group, a known international terror organisation, held a high-profile kidnapping was in 2000, shortly prior to the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada.
This kidnapping is significant for two things: First, it involves an international organization. And second, the terror group could use this as a propaganda stunt. Given the attention in the Middle East brought by the Israeli-Palestinian clash in Gaza, this kidnapping could get worldwide attention or condemnation. This could also be misinterpreted as a coordinated effort by global terrorist groups under the ambit of the Al Qaeda.
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