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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARTICLE 01 – A Salute to the Marines from an Air Force Serviceman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Paul Connors Regardless of inter-service jokes and rivalries, let it never be said that the U.S. Air Force doesn't respect and admire the United States Marine Corps. Like so many other Americans since Sept. 11, I found myself wondering which service would be the first to put troops on the ground in Afghanistan once the Air Force and naval aviation completed the bulk of their bombing missions. I found myself pondering the history of several Army units and the Marines and tried to determine which one would get the nod. Would it be the 82nd Airborne or the 10th Mountain Division? Or, would it be “the few, the proud, the Marines?” As of Nov. 26, Americans at home and people around the world found out that the world's pre-eminent and most historic fighting force had once again answered its country's call and headed for the sound of the guns. The Marines now on the ground in Afghanistan have a lengthy and proud history. They have served in every one of this country's conflicts back to Nov. 10, 1775, and they have never, ever failed us. From the foretops of “men o' war” to Belleau Wood, and from Wake Island, Saipan and Iwo Jima to Hue, they have stood up when counted and made their Corps and their country proud. After Vietnam, the Marine Corps continued to serve as America's fire brigade, a service with unique capabilities, an unequaled esprit de corps and standards that they would not betray or diminish. They were there again in Grenada and Beirut, where 242 Leathernecks died carrying out their nation's foreign policy. Marines returned to their classic amphibious roots in Operation Desert Storm and while the Clinton Administration sought to “de-militarize” the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard with lower standards and integrated basic training, the Marine Corps alone, refused to bow or buckle to the winds of political expediency. Marines have a system that works and they know it. They are also proud of that fact, just as they are justifiably proud of their achievements and the many hard-fought battles in their 226-year history. And now, as the United States faces one of its most difficult military campaigns, it has once again called on its fabled Corps to go in harm's way to do a job the average American would probably rather not think about. It is dangerous and ugly work. The hours are long and the working conditions are less than pristine. But U.S. Marines never shirk or complain or balk when given a difficult task. Unlike the average spoiled American, these “grunts” have willingly accepted the challenges they face. I have always marveled at one seemingly simple observation: the tougher the job, the more the Marines like it. So, in this first year of the new millennium and at the very beginning of the Corps' 227th year, they have once more landed on “foreign shores.” They have done so quickly and with a minimum of fanfare. But they are there and in control of the situation. I would hate to be Osama Bin Laden or another member of Al Qaeda knowing that the “devil dogs” were hunting me. Despite the fact that their numbers on the ground in Afghanistan are not great when compared to their past battlefields, the combination of unequaled training and technology will allow them to excel and prevail in this most difficult of campaigns. The Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists are facing men who, while not immortal, are on a crusade. The Marines are in Afghanistan to avenge the murder of their innocent fellow countrymen and to restore balance and justice to a chaotic part of the world. As our Marines go about our nation's business, let us not forget their dedication, perseverance and sense of mission. And as this chapter in the annals of Marine Corps history is written, it should be remembered by Americans everywhere that this latest generation of Americans proudly upheld the honor of their corps and lived up to their motto, “Semper Fidelis.” Paul Connors is DefenseWatch Air Force Editor. Table of Contents ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARTICLE 02 – Terrorist ‘Sleepers’ – An Ancient Threat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Robert G. Williscroft Terrorism is the indiscriminate use of force and coercion against innocent, uninvolved individuals. In today's world, terrorism seems to be divided into three distinct types. One type concerns itself with “internal” affairs – directing its terrorist activities against fairly well defined “opposition” elements. Most notable among these are the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Timothy McVeigh types, several African tribal groups, several Southeast Asian and South American “political” organizations, and at least two related to drug-trafficking. The second type is typified by the now defunct Baader-Meinhof Gang in Germany – it is entirely commercial, supplying services to the highest bidder. The third type is strictly religious, owing its allegiance to several Islamic orders. “Internal” terrorists should be handled by the authorities in the countries wherein they operate, unless these authorities request outside assistance. Terrorism for hire and drug-related terrorism are international scourges that ought to be handled like any other heinous criminal activity. Islamic religious terrorism, on the other hand, should be examined more closely, since this has become the next great international crisis. Islam spread throughout the world after the conquests by the Caliphs in the 7th and 8th centuries. Around 1000 AD, an offshoot of the Isma'ili Islamic sect took root in India under the leadership of Mohammed Agha Khan. Known as the Nizaris, they were reputed to partake immoderately of hashish, so that they were also called hashshashins. In fact, these hashshashins became well known for the carefully planned murder of enemies of their sect – hence the word, assassin. The Isma'ilis developed a well-deserved reputation of being prepared to sacrifice themselves in the service and for the cause of Islam. They became the legendary swords of Imams (Moslem clerics) the world over. There is a lot of intellectual controversy concerning the origins of the Nizari assassins, and much of the recorded history may well be more the stuff of legend than historically accurate. Nevertheless, in the early 19th century, the Isma'ili Imam received the official title of Agha Khan from the Shah of Persia, harking back to the [mythical] origins of the sect. This enterprising representative of Allah actually issued his assassin followers letters of introduction to the angel Gabriel in order to secure for them a good place in Paradise. This ploy has not been lost on modern Islam leaders – especially the late Ayatollah Khomeni of Iran and his successors, and more recently Osama bin Laden – who routinely dispatch assassins throughout the world, promising them a place in paradise. When you are a soldier of Allah Himself, guided by the hand of his holy Imam, you are unlikely to be impressed by international decrees outlawing terrorism. Today, radical Muslim assassins are located throughout the world, set to destroy target unbelievers upon a signal from their Imams. The killings of Israeli Olympic athletes, the suicide car-bombing of the American compound in Lebanon, the downing of the Pan Am flight over Scotland, the destruction of several U.S. Embassies, the attack on the USS Cole, the attack on the Pentagon and destruction of the World Trade Center Towers – are all verified examples of this activity. The danger is very real to anyone anywhere who publicly undermines or appears to undermine fundamentalist Islamic beliefs and actions. Several years ago, I personally experienced this danger. The Ayatollah Khomeni had just issued his death sentence on Salman Rushdie for his book, Satanic Verses. I carried the back page of a national magazine, and I dedicated that page to a condemnation of the Ayatollah. I also wrote a weekly column that was carried in papers across the Northwest. In that week's column I exposed the nature of the assassins from the past and their very real danger in today's world. Shortly thereafter I was the object of demonstrations by masked mid-eastern college students, and have received periodic telephonic death threats for the past ten years. The danger to everyone is all the more real because these assassins jealously guard their identities and association with the sect controlling them. Their services are available to any Imam, and the vast wealth of the oil-rich Arab region is indirectly available to finance their activities in much the same manner that the wealth of western corporations can be tapped by Christian church authorities, except that Islam has more direct access because of the fuzzy distinction between Moslem church and state identities. Hamza Hendawi writing in The Washington Times on Nov. 24, said that current assassin cells are populated by hundreds of al Qaeda-trained soldiers. They no longer pump themselves up with hashish, but are filled instead with an unflagging belief in their spiritual righteousness and the certainty of their heavenly reward. They are taught to blend in completely, and to await the call of their Imam to Jihad – holy war. Terrorism in the guise of religion is far more insidious than terrorism for hire. We must deal with it decisively and completely – at the source. These cells won't work without initializing orders. We need to identify and bring stern justice to bear on those Islamic Clerics who -- as opposed merely to expressing viewpoints in opposition to American policies in the Mideast and South Asia -- are found actually to control and direct these terrorist cells, or who issue clear death threats or exhortations to violence by their followers. The U.S. government should not hesitate to use its expanded anti-terrorism powers to monitor and surveill all Islamic Clerics who support Muslim extremists. Any non-citizens residing in this country should not be exempt from the full power of the law aimed at thwarting future terrorist strikes, including tribunal hearings and immediate summary executions following conviction of terrorist actions. And the U.S. government should not hesitate to press upon foreign governments to put the same effort to bear on such clerics operating in foreign countries. Furthermore, where such cooperation is not forthcoming, we should take direct action ourselves to eliminate these overt threats. Robert G. Williscroft is DefenseWatch Navy Editor. Table of Contents ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARTICLE 03 – Balkans Stability Remains an Illusion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By J. David Galland The International War Crimes Tribunal gloats over its latest quarry, former Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milosevic, who has finally been indicted for the crime of genocide and just about every crime except playing hooky from school. However, at the same time the endemic pattern of ethnic violence in the Balkans has entrenched itself for another cold winter of discontent. Which of the former provinces of what was once Yugoslavia remains is in the forefront? It is still Macedonia. You remember Macedonia, don't you? Allow me to jog your memory a bit from this past August: peace, cease-fire, disarmament and mutual respect for differing ethnic groups, just to mention a few key points. I am sure the reader can reflect on the lackluster signing of the Ohrid Peace Agreement only three months ago. As well, one can recall many of the critical provisions of the agreement that aimed to save Macedonia from abysmal lawlessness. Perhaps you remember that under its provisions, hostilities would come to a rapid stop and a cease-fire would ensue, NATO troops would come in for 30 days, and 30 days only, with the Albanian rebels then turning in their weapons. Next, Albanian citizens of Macedonia, largely in the Presevo Valley, would then be treated equally and be given more rights by the Macedonian-dominated parliament. What has Macedonia, as a country, or as I predicted last July, a NATO protectorate, accomplished? Not much! Since the marionette strings were pulled taunt on the hapless President Boris Trakjovski, whom NATO and the West bought out for a song, things haven't changed much. That is, if any of the current reports, news stories and tales of terror that emerge into the world media are correct. Only days ago, heavily armed rebels, believed to be the well rested remnants of the Albanian National Liberation Army (known by its Albanian acronym, UCK), took as many as 70 people hostage in the Macedonian village of Semsovo, which is a few kilometers northeast of Tetovo. A few hours before this latest challenge to rural tranquility, a group of about a dozen people, were abducted on a main road in the area. One of the unfortunate ones was Zlate Todorovski, the director of the Macedonian language television station in Tetovo. Local police officials, speaking on terms of anonymity, insisted that the perpetrators were not former UCK members. Even the former UCK commander in the area, readily available for comment and denial, assured Western sources that this was not the work of the now, disbanded rebel group. These abductions brought an immediate response from the NATO-backed police forces. Scores of police in armored personnel carriers streamed into the area around Tetovo, which is viewed, locally, as additional provocation. Resistance to the advancing constabulary was swift on the part of the, "not former rebels". Between Semsovo and Trebos, northwest of Tetovo, a police convoy was ambushed and three policemen were killed, leaving numerous others wounded. The following day, a running gun battle ensued between Macedonian Police and suspected ethnic Albanian rebels near the village of Preljubiste. On the Sunday following these events, a powerful explosion rocked another city in northwestern Macedonia, further shattering the fractious peace that NATO, thinks, is prevailing. A spokesman for the new Albanian National Army was quick to take credit for causing the explosion and promised more similar actions during the next week. Clearly, these incidents and the escalation or violence can be viewed as a response to the political foot-dragging by Macedonian leaders in Skopje, on the promised issues of Albanian autonomy and equality within Macedonia. Two weeks ago, before cozying up to the Russians in Moscow, the ever confident and self-serving NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, while visiting Slovenia, stated that he believed the situation to be stabilized and he urged all involved to show restraint. These would be my recommendations too, but I am not naïve enough to believe such tolerance and bliss between the ethnic factions will prevail. Robertson's declaration followed an apparently illuminating conversation with President Trakjovski and German Brig. Gen. Heinz-Georg Keerl, the NATO Commander in Macedonia. In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the world has largely turned its collective focus to issues other than Macedonia, particularly the ongoing war in Afghanistan. At the same time, Macedonia still simmers with violence waiting to explode. Ant the Balkans continues its ever-familiar downward spiral of violence and hatred, still quite capable of ensnaring the United States and its allies in yet another bloodbath. J. David Galland, Deputy Editor of DefenseWatch, is the pen name of a career U.S. Army senior Non-Commissioned Officer currently serving in Germany *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! 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