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The Achievements of al Qaeda: Muslim World, Take Note

A suicide bomber some years back attacked a hotel in Amman, Jordan, killing among others Moustapha Akkad, producer of The Message -- one of the noblest attempts to convey Islam as a faith of good and to elevate and publicize the reputation and character of Muhammad, peace be upon him.  Yeah, that's right: al-Qaeda killed Akkad.  His daughter was also martyred during that attack.  What has Umar Farouk my-last-name-is-haram Abdul-Muttallab accomplished or advanced? 

Well, because he chose his weird-looking underwear as the site of his explosive -- who had to examine that evidence? -- he has now accomplished a similarly offensive feat.  This religion so marked by modesty, which believes dignity comes in part through restrained public dress, is now undone by the introduction of "body scanners."  Soon every airport will have them, I'd guess, because he opened that door and biological security will trump desires for privacy.  Now we'll all be naked before public officials; or, at least, in our underwear on a scanner screen. 

If you thought not being allowed to enhijab oneself and go to a French school was frustrating, well then.

Thanks a lot, jerk.  These people who claim to do something on behalf of Islam only hurt Muslims, only embarrass us and demean the honor of the Prophet and the dignity of this deen.  It is evidence enough that their actions only harm the moralities of Muslims and do nothing to advance any "cause."

But let's not forget.  They also attack Shi'as during Muharram, or just go blow up masjids because they want to start sectarian wars to destabilize governments.  May God save us all from them, and defeat their plans, and undo their harms.  May He give serenity and peace to those who have been hurt by them, and give comfort and shade to those who have been taken from this world.

On Iran

Reports that four protestors have been killed in Iran, today, 'Ashura, though authorities have (amusingly and hypocritically, considering their route to power) demanded that religious mourning not become an occasion for political protests.  Really?  Can they hear themselves doublespeak?  What of the lessons of this day, of oppression in the face of injustice, of faith in divine justice over and against material circumstances and realities?

These protests appear to have spread to cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz and, despite their formal uncoordination, they generate popular protests in various locations.  Consider, for a moment, the morality play: After the defeat of the Taliban and Saddam, it was assumed that this was Iran's moment in the Middle East.  But heavy-handed, ideologically puritanical and strategically unsophisticated leadership clumsily alienated potential allies, suppressed internal dissent and drastically weakened the state.  

Is Iran really considered a dominant player in the Middle East anymore?  

Their allies are weakened (Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria) or understanding the price they have to pay for an exclusive relationship, which is what Iran's increasingly isolated government demands.  Ahmedinjead and Khamenei cannot convince the world they act on behalf of a nation, as opposed to a state, as things stand today.  Meanwhile, Turkey has risen to increased power, in part because of its much more strategically intelligent foreign policy (though, recent obstacles in re-engaging its Kurdish population could point to deeper crises ahead.)

al-Qaeda in Yemen

It seems the Detroit plane attacker, Umar Abdul-Muttalab, went via Dubai to Yemen, where he linked up with a cell that then inspired and probably armed him (though, again, the unsophisticated nature of the device -- which would be obvious to everyone around him -- suggests problems.)  After Awlaki, the Imam linked with Major Nidal and the massacre at Fort Hood, this is the second mention of Yemen in a short period of time.  Authors have suggested the possibility of Somalia as a base for al-Qaeda, though Obama has mentioned Yemen, too: Read this interview by Glenn Greenwald on Yemen's history of al-Qaeda infiltration, violence and successes.

The key for America, the interview suggests, is for Americans to isolate al-Qaeda before going after it indiscriminately, in order to deny it its recruiting base.  The question is -- if a state is sufficiently destabilized, can that succeed?  I'm comparing the situation to Pakistan, where al-Qaeda has grown increasingly unpopular.  This suggests serious challenges to fighting al-Qaeda, because their ability to detach, seek out new bases and take advantage of unstable and underperforming states (including Yemen's, for example) describes a difficult enemy to pin down.  But there is also hope for the Obama strategy, including the apparent wisdom of drawing down on Afghanistan: If al-Qaeda is the main threat, and they are much more mobile than a traditional army, then concentrating on one state will lead al-Qaeda to just slip out and move in another direction, much faster than a traditional occupation can handle -- we are dealing with a non-state insurgency, if you will.

Also, al-Qaeda needs Western-educated operatives who can pass in Western society (at least, until they light their nether regions on fire), but more and more Muslims are alert to their methods.  Mutallab's father alerted authorities.  The five stupid kids who went from DC area to Pakistan were reported missing by their family, and involved CAIR immediately, which quickly reached out to the FBI.  These are good signs, and suggest that al-Qaeda faces numerous informal networks which are increasingly fearful of its actions and implications, not only in the West (which would be obvious) but among non-Western Muslims and more mobile Muslim populations (traditionally their target.)   

Conversion to Islam in Mexico's Chiapas and the Christmas Terror Attack

The story, covered on al-Jazeera and by Radio Netherlands, has also been commented on by the USC Chair in Media and Religion (and Der Spiegel).  This suggests the convergence of Islam as religion and culture(s) with global protest, subalternity and opposition -- an association born of globalization and possibly best recognized in black nationalism within the U.S.  The idea of Islam in Hispanic culture will no doubt excite the anxieties of both Muslims and the Caldwell Madrasa, insofar as the former foresees ditching Toronto's RIS for, perhaps, Rio RIS/ISNA (if the Olympics can, then we can't?), and the latter is panicked about anything Hispanic as it is.

Re: The Christmas Terror Attack.  Disgusting.  The flip side of the association of Islam with the subaltern.  These types of people are, I am glad, idiots, in addition to being immoral clowns.  Placing a bomb between your legs?  And only burning yourself?  

The Next Islamists: Vali Nasr, Ben Simpfendorfer and Jumuah in Australia

My latest review essay has been published on Religion Dispatches: check it out.  In other news, I will be attending the Friday prayer at the masjid on Jeffcott Street in downtown Melbourne.  I heard from the halal kebab guy that there is a proper masjid in a suburb 30 minutes from the city.  But there is no tram that goes there.  Also, can someone explain to me why the temperature just dropped 30 degrees. 

Yesterday I saw a pair of fuzzy brown kangaroos, tiny ones, that were so cute that I had to stop myself from sneaking them back to the Hilton where I'm staying.  I plan on returning to the zoo later and kidnapping them.  They will become part of the community at the IC.  I will be doing a live radio interview with SBS this Sunday at 10am, Melbourne time.  It will be on the Parliament of World Religions.  I will be doing another interview, in Urdu, on Monday Dec 7th. 

For those of you who are interested in my panel, where I will be joined by Hussein Rashid and Wajahat Ali, we are on at 11:30am til 1:00pm, Room 208, on Monday Dec 7th at the Convention Centre.  Would love to see people there.