Roots of terrorism

THE assault by terrorists on a naval aviation base in Karachi has once again demonstrated the amount of the roots of terrorism in the country.
Even if the attackers did not have sympathizers and informants inside, the way they carried out the assault shows they had an active network in neighboring areas and an operational cell through which they managed to procure heavy weapons and carry them into the naval base. The same can be said of other high-profile terrorist attacks targeting safety forces throughout the country, including the October 2009 attack on GHQ in Rawalpindi.

The spread and reach of terrorists in Pakistan has become a critical challenge for the state. The attacks that they have launches have shown that they are capable of striking anywhere in the country. And yet ambiguity remains pervasive in society on the issue of terrorism. The group mindset reflects a state of out-and-out denial.
Almost every religious organization, whether its ambitions are political, sectarian or militant, maintains wings with a specific focus on women, lawyers, traders, doctors and teachers, among others.

International terrorist organizations, such as Al Qaeda, have also benefited from this level of radicalization, by generates financial and human resources as well as cultivating favorable perceptions among the populace in some parts of the country. According to an Asia Online report, numerous hundred students from Karachi affiliated with the student wing of an offshoot of a religious political party have joined Al Qaeda training camps in North Waziristan Agency in Fata. The report described that as a more hazardous development for Pakistan than any previous Al Qaeda alliance, as student wings can boast Al Qaeda’s recruitment drive and enhance its political power. In mainland Pakistan, however, terrorism has its roots in the ideological, political and sectarian narratives developed by the religious parties, aggressive groups and, at times, by the state itself.

Terrorism live on after Osama bin Laden

Nine and a half years ago, District Chronicles printed our first version. Our goal: tell compelling stories about people and events the big newspapers unnoticed. The first day of our first version was Sept. 11, 2001-9/11. All the enthusiastic joy and excitement of creating and producing the area's newest publication, quickly faded as haunting images of the World Trade Center dominated the airwaves; thick, black smoke billowed from the western wall of the Pentagon, and a anxious city scrambled, searching the skies, as another hijacked plane headed to Washington. As our title read back then, it was a 'Terrible Tuesday.'

The announcement by President Obama that Navy SEALs carried out a death-defying mission in Pakistan last week that ends with the death of Osama bin Laden brought back memories of how our world has changed since Sept. 11, and how so much of that change was in response to one man.

While many people took to the streets with American flags here and in cities across the country to rejoice bin Laden's demise, the sad truth is that the trillions of dollars spent on the wars have not done much to? stomp out terrorism against our state, even with bin Laden dead. In fact, officials say members of worldwide terror groups may want to avenge his death by attacking here or someplace abroad.?

The killing of the world's most elusive terrorist won't bring back the 3000 souls lost on that "Terrible Tuesday' here, in New York City and in Pennsylvania nor the courageous soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice pursuing him.

New terrorism alert system goes into outcome Wednesday

The federal government Wednesday is implements a new terrorism alert system that replaces the color-coded alerts put in position after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The new system only has two levels of alerts - compare to the previous system's five levels.

"The National Terrorism Advisory System, which was urbanized in close collaboration with our federal, state, local, tribal and private sector partners, will provide the American public with information about credible threats so that they can better protect themselves, their families, and their communities," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement ahead of the official statement at 11:30 a.m.

She'll make the announcement in New York, where more than 2,700 people were killing when two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers.
The two alert levels of the new system will be "elevated threat," which "warns of a believable terrorist threat" to the United States; and "imminent threat," which "warns of a credible, exact and impending terrorist threat," according to a Department of Homeland Security statement.

Any alert will routinely expire after a specific time, although they could be extended if new information shows a threat persists, DHS said.

United States is backing terrorism: IRGC commander

TEHRAN- Iranian Brigadier General Hossein Salami has criticize the United States’s response to the Iraqi government’s crackdown on the MKO terrorists based in Camp Ashraf.

“The Westerners indicated their obvious support for a veteran terrorist group by the recent stance they adopted,” Salami, who is a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution guard Corps, told reporters on Sunday.

The Mojahedin Khalq Organization, listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, began a campaign of assassinations and bombings in Iran shortly after the conquest of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The group moved to Iraq in the early 1980s and fight Iran from there until the United States invaded the country in March 2003.

30 years for British Airways terror plotter

A British Airways computer professional, who had access to offices in Newcastle, has been jailed for 30 years for plotting to launch a 9/11-style terror attack from the UK.

Rajib Karim, 31, wanted to use his place at the airline to plant a bomb on a plane as part of a "chilling" conspiracy with Anwar Al-Awlaki, a disreputable radical preacher associated with al Qaida.

Among several plots to bring the airline to its knees, Karim hoped he could exploit industrial action by staff to become a cabin crew member and cause a blast on a US-bound flight.

He was found guilty last month of four counts of planning terrorism.
The judge recommended that Karim be automatically deport after he has finished his sentence.

He told Karim that he "worked incessantly to further terrorist purposes" while leading a quiet and unobtrusive lifestyle.

The judge said: "You are and were a committed jihadist who understood his responsibility to his religion involves fighting and, God-willing, dying and then being rewarded in the afterlife."

He accepted that Karim was a bit more of "a follower than a leader".

Faisalabad – terror tactics

Faisalabad, the country’s third main city, has faced its largest terrorist attack in many years. Up until now, the crowded textile-manufacturing centre had not been hit - blasts in Punjab, for the most part, took place in Lahore or Rawalpindi that houses the military headquarters. The blast in Faisalabad resembled those that have occurred in other places in terms of its cautious planning and execution. A car packed with explosives blew up at a CNG station, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 100 others with the numbers of both dead and injured expected to increase.

This latest blast indicates a development in the ring of terrorism. The menace has expanded beyond the tribal belt and into cities all over the place. It is possible that terrorists chased out of their strongholds in Khyber-Pakhtukhwa have set up bases elsewhere. It is also possible that they are working with activists based in Punjab. We require developing a broad-based strategy to tackle terrorism and hunt down those behind it wherever they may be in the country. The Punjab chief minister has already suggested that a national conference be held to talk about this growing crisis. The Faisalabad blast should help eradicate any doubt as to the require to call one and devise a plan to stop terrorism from growing and taking a still greater toll on lives.

It is only when the answers are found that we will be able to work out what methods to use against them and to stop the trail of destruction which winds its way through the country from extending out any further than is already the case.

FBI: Bomb found on MLK March way

A backpack found along the way of the Martin Luther King Jr. march in Spokane contained a bomb "capable of inflicting multiple casualties," the FBI said Tuesday, described the case as "domestic terrorism."

The FBI said the Swiss Army-brand backpack was originated about 9:25 a.m. PST on Monday on a bench at the northeast corner of North Washington Street and West Main Avenue in downtown Spokane.

A bomb disposal unit was called in and neutralizes the device with a robot. The FBI said in a statement on Tuesday that "the backpack contained a potentially deadly critical device, likely capable of inflicting multiple casualties."

The FBI has not established an official motive, but Harrill told NBC News "the timing and placement of the backpack (along the March route) is unavoidable."

"At that point, it falls straight in the realm and sphere of domestic terrorism," Harrill told the Associated Press. "Clearly, there was some political or social plan here."

No risks or warnings were issued before the march.