Every action has equal and opposite reaction is a well known law of Physics. Hence also comes the relation between action and counter-productive and so on !
Experts have long debated the efficacy of eliminating the 'terrorist leaders' of violent extremist groups, with some suggesting the strategy is often counter-productive. Is that really so ?
 |
| Yahya Sinwar |
Israelis and others have welcomed the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and the mastermind of the 7 October 2023 attacks, as an “Osama bin Laden moment”.
This reflects how many in Israel feel about the death of a man responsible for the murder of 1,200 people, mostly civilians and their compatriots. However, a few related questions also ought to be answered !
"When the Mossad killed Wadie Haddad, leader of a breakaway faction of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and responsible for a string of spectacular terrorist attacks in the 1970s, probably with poisoned chocolates, his group disintegrated. Hijackings and bombings continued, but were carried out by others," says Jason Burke, International security correspondent of newspaper 'The Guardian'.
He cites the example of Afghanistan and Taliban to prove his point. "In Afghanistan, the killing of a series of Taliban leaders was lauded at the time but did nothing to change the circumstances, regional and local, that ultimately lent the movement its strength. “Hunting man is a difficult game,” one British brigadier blithely said in Kabul in 2006," he writes.
Burke further stated:
"It was also a futile one. The Taliban were undoubtedly hurt by their losses, and some studies show their capabilities suffered, but they were still able to retake power in 2021."
He cites another glaring example Iraq and also refers to the emergence of a much dreaded IS.
"In Iraq, the US killed successive leaders of Sunni extremist jihadist groups. The elimination in 2006 of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the first prominent leader of al-Qaida’s affiliate there, merely cleared the way for competent, low-profile local men to rebuild.
These too were killed, eventually allowing the little known but ruthlessly effective Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to take over. He unleashed Islamic State on the region and eventually western Europe too," argues Burke.
Blogger in insurgency-hit North East India
Israel is now at war for last 379 days !!
Now there are versions also emerging. A blogger writes in 'Times of Israel'
:: - "Events in Iran could unfold at any moment. However, the Marxist and Islamic leftists who took part in the 1979 revolt have now positioned themselves as peace advocates, actively promoting it. Nevertheless, their primary concern is the collapse of the mullahs’ regime, as they recognize that the majority of Iranians have rejected the destructive ideology of Khomeinism and the actions of the 1979 communist and Islamic terrorists who committed numerous crimes against Iran and the late Shah, resulting in their humiliation and loss of credibility in Iran’s future.
Iranians are not free, living under a religious dictatorship known as the Guardianship of the Jurist. For 45 years, this historical nation has endured extreme tyranny. Life in Iran resembles slavery, marked by severe repression and exploitation," says Erfan Fard.
Fard also noted: '
"Despotism, autocracy, repression, censorship, and widespread poverty have plunged the country into a deep crisis and decline.
Yet, the government remains proud of its military prowess—boasting missiles, drones, and a network of terrorism—and is increasingly eager to announce a nuclear capability. This ambition drives its hostilities and antagonism towards the entire Middle East and the Western world, further intensifying global tensions with war rhetoric and threats."
'The Guardian' artile by Burke also says:
"Al-Qaida is still around, though it does not pose much of an international threat at the moment. This is less true of IS, which is gaining ground in Africa, active in Afghanistan and continues to inspire attacks elsewhere.
Israel has of course already killed many of the leaders and most capable operatives of Hamas in the past 20 years. Each death has forced change, but rarely that anticipated. If the chequered history of decapitation strategies tells us anything, it is that it is almost impossible to predict what effect killing a leader will have.
This may not matter to those who order the killings or to those who rejoice at the news of a successful assassination. Politics and entirely understandable desire for retribution and justice are important factors.".
 | |
| British journalist and author - Burke |
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment