Western forces to blame for rising violence in Afghanistan: Karzai
- Thread starter Praxius
- Start date
S Asia 'focus for al-Qaeda fight'
US-led forces patrol the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan
Washington has pinpointed the frontier areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan as the most pressing central point in which to win the war on terror.
Michael Chertoff, the US secretary for homeland security, told the BBC that successes against al-Qaeda should not lead to a weakening of resolve.
He warned that militants in Pakistan were training recruits who could mix inconspicuously in Western society.
He questioned whether Pakistan's rulers had the right strategy to respond.
Mr Chertoff said the US had succeeded in pushing back al-Qaeda in Iraq and argued that Muslims in Iraq were now reacting against indiscriminate militant violence.
But he warned that: "If we lose our resolution, we could find ourselves actually losing ground."
'Freely and inconspicuously'
While the threat from al-Qaeda remained global, he said, there was no specific intelligence now of an imminent attack.
Michael Chertoff has led the homeland security department since 2005
He did not want people to be over-anxious but he warned that al-Qaeda and associated groups were still intent on carrying out attacks on the US, Europe and elsewhere.
"[Al-Qaeda] are using their platform in the frontier areas of Pakistan to train operatives, including operatives who don't fit what perhaps the public believes is the normal profile of a terrorist," he said, during a visit to the UK.
"They are looking for people who can operate freely and inconspicuously in Western society."
He said the "jury was still out" on the strategy of Pakistan's new democratic government to combat the militants.
Addressing Oxford University students during his visit, Mr Chertoff said extremists had "hijacked the language of Islam to mask an ideology that in some respects has more in common with the fascist organisations of the 1930s".
Washington has pinpointed the frontier areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan as the most pressing central point in which to win the war on terror.
Michael Chertoff, the US secretary for homeland security, told the BBC that successes against al-Qaeda should not lead to a weakening of resolve.
He warned that militants in Pakistan were training recruits who could mix inconspicuously in Western society.
He questioned whether Pakistan's rulers had the right strategy to respond.
Mr Chertoff said the US had succeeded in pushing back al-Qaeda in Iraq and argued that Muslims in Iraq were now reacting against indiscriminate militant violence.
But he warned that: "If we lose our resolution, we could find ourselves actually losing ground."
'Freely and inconspicuously'
While the threat from al-Qaeda remained global, he said, there was no specific intelligence now of an imminent attack.
He did not want people to be over-anxious but he warned that al-Qaeda and associated groups were still intent on carrying out attacks on the US, Europe and elsewhere.
"[Al-Qaeda] are using their platform in the frontier areas of Pakistan to train operatives, including operatives who don't fit what perhaps the public believes is the normal profile of a terrorist," he said, during a visit to the UK.
"They are looking for people who can operate freely and inconspicuously in Western society."
He said the "jury was still out" on the strategy of Pakistan's new democratic government to combat the militants.
Addressing Oxford University students during his visit, Mr Chertoff said extremists had "hijacked the language of Islam to mask an ideology that in some respects has more in common with the fascist organisations of the 1930s".
Homeland security chief: no al-Qaida negotiations
Sun Jun 1, 2:52 PM ET
LONDON - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in an interview broadcast Sunday that negotiations with al-Qaida would be futile.
In a television interview with Britain's Sky News, Chertoff said al-Qaida's ideology was one of total antagonism toward democracy and toward other religions.
"Nobody wants to negotiate their own demise or their own surrender so it strikes me as a kind of academic exercise," he said.
Chertoff was responding to a question about Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde, who said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper published Friday that officials should consider negotiating with al-Qaida.
Chertoff said he did not believe such talks were possible.
"Their (al-Qaida's) interest is in the destruction of the West, and unless you are prepared to negotiate about how you want to be destroyed, it strikes me as a totally speculative and unrealistic exercise," he said.
He added that al-Qaida has grown stronger in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past year but has weakened in Iraq.
Chertoff said he's not aware of any specific terror plots, but said people should be vigilant during the summer months, as terrorists tend to operate during periods of high travel.
Sun Jun 1, 2:52 PM ET
LONDON - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in an interview broadcast Sunday that negotiations with al-Qaida would be futile.
In a television interview with Britain's Sky News, Chertoff said al-Qaida's ideology was one of total antagonism toward democracy and toward other religions.
"Nobody wants to negotiate their own demise or their own surrender so it strikes me as a kind of academic exercise," he said.
Chertoff was responding to a question about Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde, who said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper published Friday that officials should consider negotiating with al-Qaida.
Chertoff said he did not believe such talks were possible.
"Their (al-Qaida's) interest is in the destruction of the West, and unless you are prepared to negotiate about how you want to be destroyed, it strikes me as a totally speculative and unrealistic exercise," he said.
He added that al-Qaida has grown stronger in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past year but has weakened in Iraq.
Chertoff said he's not aware of any specific terror plots, but said people should be vigilant during the summer months, as terrorists tend to operate during periods of high travel.
Who gives a rat's behind whether "America" will negotiate with a terrorist group? It has been the position of the United States that it will not negotiate with terrorists and this is entirely justified in terms of domestic policies. Where the fly in the ointment occurs however is when the United States refuses to acknowledge the behavior (and lack of adequate policing) of its ally...Pakistan.
Like the American nabobs won't eradicate the poppy fields in Afghanistan, they won't act to bring tighter security to Pakistan's borders. One could imagine that the engine of military agression that feeds the military industrial complex of the United States doesn't really have an interest in prosecuting a "successful" campaign...while there's money to be made.
Like every dictator and evil-doer who's ever manipulated a nation to bring wealth and power to the select few...America uses this "war on terrorism" as justification for material like Quandry121 has (extensively) brought to our attention. But as I've said before, no Canadian or any British subject can bring pressure to bear on a government out of control and drunk on the power it's usurped from the people. The population must be willing to accept that their government isn't acting to bring about closure to the nonesense in Afghansitan and the greatest failure of "American" diplomacy and "freedom" in Iraq.
Americans it would appear don't want peace they want to continue funnelling money and maintaining the status quo.....to governments that don't listen to them any more and being held hostage by the petroleum and defense industries.
Either sufficient numbers of Americans support the current regime and the policies of the Bush administration or they're too busy watching American Idol to care....
There can be no peace until what measures need and should have already been taken to destroy the pipeline of drugs for money and the porous border with Afghansitan that feeds hostiles into the region through Pakistan. I sincerely hope that Americans enjoy the prospect of continuing to pour money into the pockets of defense industry contractors while nothing of any significance is produced by the billions upon billions already spent on a ridiculour and pointless war.
Like the American nabobs won't eradicate the poppy fields in Afghanistan, they won't act to bring tighter security to Pakistan's borders. One could imagine that the engine of military agression that feeds the military industrial complex of the United States doesn't really have an interest in prosecuting a "successful" campaign...while there's money to be made.
Like every dictator and evil-doer who's ever manipulated a nation to bring wealth and power to the select few...America uses this "war on terrorism" as justification for material like Quandry121 has (extensively) brought to our attention. But as I've said before, no Canadian or any British subject can bring pressure to bear on a government out of control and drunk on the power it's usurped from the people. The population must be willing to accept that their government isn't acting to bring about closure to the nonesense in Afghansitan and the greatest failure of "American" diplomacy and "freedom" in Iraq.
Americans it would appear don't want peace they want to continue funnelling money and maintaining the status quo.....to governments that don't listen to them any more and being held hostage by the petroleum and defense industries.
Either sufficient numbers of Americans support the current regime and the policies of the Bush administration or they're too busy watching American Idol to care....
There can be no peace until what measures need and should have already been taken to destroy the pipeline of drugs for money and the porous border with Afghansitan that feeds hostiles into the region through Pakistan. I sincerely hope that Americans enjoy the prospect of continuing to pour money into the pockets of defense industry contractors while nothing of any significance is produced by the billions upon billions already spent on a ridiculour and pointless war.
I agree with your point that more people are interested in american idol that the policies of the Bush administration + the fact that main stream media has its own addenda as to what were all told like you say until we start to feel the pinch or something drastic happens (god forbid) blind ignorance will continue and to the decrement of societies
