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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| IMU threatens the US |
| 2005-06-07 |
| It is possible that extremists in Uzbekistan are attempting to take revenge on the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of State, it has information indicating that supporters of extremist religious groups, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), al-Qaeda, the Islamic Jihad and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which operate actively in the region, plan to conduct a series of terrorist acts against "the U.S. state and private interests" in Uzbekistan in the near future. There is nothing surprising in the fact that the threats against the U.S. are coming from religious extremist Islamic organizations. The question is why they are coming from Uzbekistan in particular. Could it be that the Islamic factor in this Central Asian republic is aggressive in its nature? Or may be Tashkent overestimated its role in the recent events in Andijan? Ever since the 1990s, Uzbekistan has been the focus of attention on the part of Islamic religious organizations operating in Central Asia. The reason is simple. The republic occupies a strategically advantageous position in the region; it possesses developed economic potential and boasts high rates of population growth. The events of the 1990s, related to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of new independent states, were accompanied in Central Asia not only by a sharp rise of national self-consciousness, but also by a fast development of the religious factor. It was then that such religious groups and movements as Akromiya (named after its founder mullah Akrom), Adolat (Justice), Islam lashkarlari (Warriors of Islam), Tabliqh (Muslim Mission), Tovba (Repentance), and Nur (Ray of Light) emerged in Uzbekistan. They operated mostly in the Fergana Valley, later becoming part of the IMU or another well-known Islamic organization Hizb-ul-Tahrir. The IMU and the Hizb-ul-Tahrir never attempted to hide their ultimate goal - the creation of the Islamic Caliphate in the region, contrary to the Tajik Islamic opposition, which never spread its interests beyond the borders of the republic. The Fergana Valley, located at the boundary of three republics (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) has always attracted special interest on the part of Islamic organizations. It is quite understandable. If they manage to establish control over the Fergana Valley, the first step toward their coveted dream will be certainly made. The events in Kyrgyzstan and the ensuing tension in the south of the republic threatened the stability in the Fergana Valley. Even then, there were fears that the religious extremist groups operating at the boundary of the three republics would soon, as early as in May-July, attempt to stage civil disturbances in the form of "public discontent" or "public mutiny." The May events in Andijan confirmed these fears. The events in Andijan can be regarded from different angles, and that is exactly what is happening around the world. Europe almost unanimously condemned Islam Karimov for "disproportional use of force" by Uzbek special police units against the mutineers. Recently, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called for the revision of Uzbekistan's participation in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the Partnership for Peace program, and urged NATO members to stop any assistance to Uzbek armed forces. The U.S. also expressed its traditional concern about the violation of human rights, albeit in a less categorical way. At the same time, Muslim countries avoided strong criticism of Tashkent, and the imam of the world-famous Muslim center - the Al-Azhar University in Cairo -- Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi announced his full support of "the irreconcilable position of Uzbekistan in the fight against religious extremism and terrorism." Neighboring republics also abstained from harsh criticism of Tashkent. Apparently, they know better. Bishkek, Dushanbe and especially Tashkent still remember the events the late 1990s in the Batkensky region of Kyrgyzstan, where IMU groups took up arms to proclaim the Islamic state. According to some Russian experts, Uzbekistan, being a central link in the region, will be the target of attacks on the part of extremist groups. The threats against the U.S. might certainly indicate an attempt to retaliate against the leader of anti-terrorist coalition, which conducts successful operations in the neighboring Afghanistan. However, what is really interesting is whether these threats will force the U.S. and Europe to look at the situation in Uzbekistan from a different perspective? |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 Screw them, take a number. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2005-06-07 19:05 |
| #2 The IMU is the largest armed militant Islamic group in Central Asia, and we need to be wary of this threat. These are not easily distinguishable arabs, these people are central asian, and most Americans couldn't tell the difference between any other asians and an Uzbek. Thereby increasing their operational ability within the US...I can hear the news now...some Chinese guy walked into the crowd and blew himself up... I guarantee we will have troops active in Uzbekistan in less than three years,if we don't already... protecting "vital energy infrastructure" aka natural gas pipelines in the area! There is a shitstorm waiting for us in that part of the world friends, and we're just marching into it! Read "Jihad, the Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia" if you doubt these people's ability, they will cause us problems no doubt. Too bad we have been forced into supporting Uzbekistan's asshole dictator and his asshole dictator wannabe daughter. They have one of the most repressive governments in the world, and should never have been labeled "allies" of America. Former soviet Stalin lovin assholes is what they are! No wonder militant Islam is flourishing there with those jackasses running the show; that father daughter combo make Saddam and Uday look like choir boys at a father son picknick. Can anyone say Afghanistan, didn't we learn our lesson about supporting dimwit asshole dictators in this part of the world already? MM |
| Posted by: Mountain Man 2005-06-07 18:18 |
| #1 Yeah, yeah, yea, what fundamental islamic dune loon doesn't want to commit violent acts against America? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-07 16:11 |