Islamist Terrorism, Terror and Iraq

A briefing by Shimshon
Issaki
April 30, 2009

http://www.meforum.org/2136/islamist-terrorism-terror-and-iraq
(includes
an audio recording of this talk)

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Shimshon Issaki is a leading expert on Islamic terrorism.
He served for 44 years in the IDF and other Israeli security agencies as
an intelligence analyst and operations officer, retiring with a rank
equivalent to brigadier general. His new book, Terror
and Iraq: How We Can Better Combat Islamic Terrorism, evaluates
al-Qaeda's strategies and tactics. On April 30, Mr. Issaki addressed the
Middle East Forum via conference call.

Shimshon Issaki opened with a holistic overview of al-Qaeda,
from its roots in the battle against the Soviets in Afghanistan to its
far-reaching terrorist activities during the past two decades.

According to Mr. Issaki, al-Qaeda opposes Christians, Jews,
and even other Muslims who do not subscribe to Osama bin Laden's Wahhabi
ideology; it seeks to attack and "overthrow all regimes that are
non-Muslim," or that adhere to an unacceptable brand of Islam. Its
preferred instrument is terrorism.

Mr. Issaki claimed that 9/11 could have been averted "if
things had been done in the right way," but he sees similar barriers
hindering intelligence work seven years later. In particular, he stated
that Barack Obama's release of documents on enhanced interrogation
techniques has done "irreversible damage to security because [terrorists]
are learning how to behave" during questioning.

Asked whether American-Israeli intelligence cooperation has
changed since President Obama took office, Issaki reported that it remains
"very good," since "the interests [of the U.S. and Israel] are the same
interests, the targets are the same targets, and the experience is the
same experience."

However, he noted that significant differences of opinion
between the United States and Israel have emerged over Iran, Hamas, and
other strategic issues. Mr. Issaki said that the Obama administration may
be "correct to explore all the possibilities. But where is the time limit?
For how long?" He lamented that nothing has been done to deal with Iran
since the U.S. election.

Finally, Mr. Issaki warned that al-Qaeda's demise in Iraq
has been greatly exaggerated. Recent events show that the organization
still is capable of generating chaos there, to the undisputed benefit of
Iran.

Summary account by David Rusin.

Related Topics: Iraq, Radical Islam, Terrorism

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