Deadly tentacles of terrorism - The Hindustan Times

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The fount of the recent proliferation in global terrorism and
Islamic fundamentalism is undoubtedly Ayatollati Khomeini who
used terrorist methods to combat terrorist opposition to
consolidate his power after the Islamic fundamentalist
revolution which overthrew the Pehalvi dynasty in Iran in 1979.
The Ayatollah employed terrorism to further Islamic aims, to
destabilise enemy and liberal regimes.

The Iranian experience in toppling a secular government marks
the start of the Islamic revolution in Shia Iran from where it
spread its tentacles to the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan
and now, Afghanistan. If the Taliban succeed in pacifying the
entire country, which they are likely to, and impose their brand
of Sunni fundamentalism, Afghanistan would become the second
counts, after Iran to overturn another secular regime through an
Islamic fundamentalist purge. When it comes to Islamic
fundamentalism, there is little to choose between the Shia and
the Sunni brand.

Islamic Fundamentalism Terrorism - 1979-1995, The Iranian
Connection by Edgar O'Ballance, a British colonel, is an
excellently researched account of global terrorism, fanned by
Islamic fundamentalism. In view of the American missile attacks
on terrorist camps in Afghanistan and Sudan in retaliation for
the Islamic terrorist bombings of US embassies in Nairobi and
Dar-es-Salaam and the resurgence of Saudi dissident and
terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, a peek into this book will
unravel the fabled Iranian connection. Also the advance of the
Taliban, nurtured in Islamic reformatories in Pakistan marching
to the tune of fundamentalist glory will be better grasped.

The latest chapter on the Talibanisation of Pakistan and the
military and Islamic jehad in Afghanistan is missing from the
book and would no doubt be added in the revised edition. Even
so, for an analytical description of the Islamic revolution and
the counter-revolution. O'Ballance's version is a must. In
between there are flashbacks to Iran's eight year war with its
historical enemy Iraq, the aborted American hostages rescue
mission - Operation Eagle Clas, the replacement of SAVAK by
VEVAK intelligence security service and the fatwa on Salman
Rushdie.

In ten years between Khomeini's arrival in Iran and his death,
he succeeded in laying the terrorist lifeline of Islamic
fundamentalism which spread into the Muslim world.

These terror, assassination, hijacking, hostage-taking are
catalogued, highlighting what the author calls "Hijack
Spectaculars" and "1985 - year of the suicide bomber". There is
mention of the broken in 1986 London accord where victim
countries had agreed not to bargain with terrorists fro release
of hostages.

The centre of gravity of the book is Israel, the traditional hot
bed of terrorism. The activities of Hamas, Islamic Jehad and
Hezbollah, all funded by Iran are described in detail. From
Israel the book moves to cover countries with pro-western
regimes with Islamic fundamentalism on the upswing. Included are
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt, Pakistan and the pre-
Taliban Afghanistan. The author's these is: Islamic
fundamentalism is not a united pan-Muslim movement but a
collection of national movements which individually seek to take
over government.

These movements, argues O'Ballance, are linked together by the
Iranian connection. The jehad is over whether it should be ruled
by clergy, like in the case of Taliban(?) or keeping Islam out
of Islam administration. The problem is, the fundamentalists
will not negotiate with governments. For them, it is total
victory or nothing.

The non-Islamic version of such radical ideas is found nearer
home in the LTTE and its leader, Prabhakaran. Like the mullahs
who bless suicide bombers on their mission, so does Prabhakaran,
his Black Tigers. Similarly, for Prabhakaran it is Eelam or
nothing.

Despite the mayhem and murder ritually attending Islamic
terrorism, the future prospects of Islamic fundamentalism,
contrary to US Government's estimates, are not altogether bleak.
The author says: the civil war within the Muslim world may
continue for another generation or so but will eventually burn
itself out or simply dissolve thanks to modern communication
technology." No wonder the mullahs are uneasy about satellite-
weapon. And that is why TV is totally banned by Taliban.

Carlos the Jackal was sold to France by Sudan as he was surplus
to requirements. The author wonders whether Abu Nidal will be
the next one to be put up on auction. But the collector's item
today must be Osama Bin Laden.

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