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| Terror Networks | ||||
| The Supreme Council of Global Jihad? | ||||
| 2003-08-13 | ||||
| In April 28th 2003, a forum of 225 Islamist clerics, scholars, and businessmen established in Makkah, Saudi Arabia a new body of supporters of global Jihad against the United States and the "Crusader" West. They opened a special web site — www.maac.ws — in both Arabic and English, and published their existence through the Al-Jazirah TV channel. The new forum was meant to be the first global Islamist reaction to the American war against Iraq. Actually, I think the first reaction was jumping up and down, rolling their eyes and having gun sex. This would be the second. The secretary General of the forum is the known Saudi Dr. Safar al-Hawali, who is regarded by many scholars as one of the main mentors of Osama bin Laden. The campaign is not limited by time, and according to its founders "The Campaign will continue as long as necessary to achieve its goals. Any projects or committees issuing from it will only be endorsed or developed after consultation with and study by the thinkers and scholars of the Islamic World." By reading the English translation of the official announcement, it seems that the founders are attempting at establishing a non-violent global front against what they primarily perceive as Western cultural imperialism, led by the Jewish-American alliance. The key element, as stated by them is: "To repel the aggression of our enemies with all possible legitimate means".
I had a look at their list of founders, and although the English spelling of a lot of their names didn’t look very accurate, I did recognise Qazi, Fasl, Sami and Shamzai in the Pakistan section. The other country sections also seem to be full of pious holy men, politicians and ’intellectuals’, most of whom would undoubtedly become part of the governing Shura when the Khilafah finally makes its come back. Some of the interesting persons are Islamic figures from Western countries. The most prominent phenomenon, though not surprising, is the dominancy of the Arab origin of the vast majority of them. 15 of the founders are from Australia, and 9 of these are Imams in Australian mosques. Only one of the founders is from the United Kingdom, and he is not a known figure there. There is no one from the quite large Saudi Islamic opposition in London, what might hint for us that there is no linkage between these two parts of this opposition. There are two Americans of Arab origin, quite known figures - Dr. Ahmad Sharbinia lecturer in the American Open University in Colorado, of Egyptian origin, and Sheikh Walid Manisi, the Imam of the mosque in that university. The Belgian "representative" is quite known, Sheikh Muhammad al-Tijkani, of Moroccan origin. Another "European" is Sheikh Ahmad Abu Laban from Denmark. It should be noted that there are no Islamists from France and Germany. In any case, the core of the list of founders are persons who are known for supporting the anti-Western Islamist struggle of the school of global Jihad. Some of them are very popular among the generation of young supporters of Al-Qaeda in the Arab world. And some of them are likely part of the "brain trust" behind al-Qaeda and the rest of the cannon fodder. The combination of the letter of al-Hawali, in addition to his known positions, and the list of founders where the Saudi oppositionist element is dominant, seems to be a potential of a supreme council to back politically and ideologically a global struggle, either against the West and its presence in the Muslim world, or the Muslim governments that cooperate with the United States. It might mark also a further step in the march of the Saudi Islamist opposition, which seems to act with growing freedom in the kingdom, with almost no steps taken by the authorities to limit it, not to mention to block it. It is difficult to say whether it is a result of weakness, or part of the double game the Saudi regime is playing. This was written before the May attacks in Riyadh, so it remains to be seen what the Saudis will do, but I tend to think that the government will crack down on the hard core Jihadis and the young clerics who rile them up, rather than the big fish behind the scenes. The Jihadis probably jumped the gun, with Hawali and the rest willing to wait a few more years before making their big move. The new forum might also mark a further step in establishing the united Salafi-Jihadi trend in radical Islam, that will use the tremendous sympathy and support it gained through Al-Qa’idah operations. It might be premature, but it might also be an attempt to promote a political-ideological anti-Western struggle, as a result of the operational difficulties of Al-Qaeda to launch attacks against Western target, as was expected from it following the war in Iraq. In any case, the fact that this global forum is led by Dr. Safar al-Hawali should be worrying and a test case for assessing the new body. Hawali is known also for his writings about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the endless effort to link between the various Islamist fronts.
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| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #10 There are two Americans of Arab origin, quite known figures - Dr. Ahmad Sharbinia lecturer in the American Open University in Colorado, of Egyptian origin, and Sheikh Walid Manisi, the Imam of the mosque in that university. A mosque? An Imam? Ya don't say?! Hopefully, dear old AOU has been wired for sound since about April 29th. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-8-13 9:44:21 PM |
| #9 Ned: It's Western Samoa. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-8-13 8:33:43 PM |
| #8 Anyone know where the '.ws' in the address is? Could be 'Wahabbi Sh*#hole' but I doubt it. Western Samoa? Western Sahara? |
| Posted by: Ned 2003-8-13 7:33:47 PM |
| #7 Another issue to note is the absence, so far, of persons from Jordan, Algeria, Syria, and Lebanon, and the very few from the Gulf States. There aren't any blank spaces on the Arabic founders page. I wish I could read it... I hope that someone a lot smarter than me at the CIA or Mossad is. Did anyone see the poll? If click on "Oppose," do they send a suicide bomber to your home? |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-8-13 1:59:02 PM |
| #6 Sounds like it's time to re-introduce the hantavirus into Saudi fleas, and ensure there are PLENTY of fleas around this group of nutcases. These dorks are providing all the ammunition the rest of the world needs to come down on them with several million tons of ordinance. Now if we can only find a few guys on this side willing to take the proper steps... Keep getting together in one place, guys, and keep spewing. The spittle-chasing missiles are in the final stages of development. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-13 1:46:18 PM |
| #5 Thanks, Paul. The site sounds like the anti-Rantburg! |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-8-13 12:14:50 PM |
| #4 If I were the Mossad I'd make exactly this type of webpage and try to get some of these fellas to post on the bulletin boards and stuff. I'd also promote infighting that way. Nothing like a little internal squabbling to distract the bad guys. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-8-13 11:12:14 AM |
| #3 They're too spread out -- and some of them hidden -- for that. This is a glimpse of the enemy high command. |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-8-13 10:40:47 AM |
| #2 How 'bout a stray cruise missle followed by our most heartfelt sympathys and apologies for such and unfortunate happening. |
| Posted by: Jim K 2003-8-13 8:53:28 AM |
| #1 thanks, Paul! very interesting. I want to note down those 15 Aussie Islamists and keep a watch list on them for mentions in the media, quotes, transcripts of speeches, articles etc. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-8-13 7:11:06 AM |