Pierre Leblanc and Joachim de Villiers

Modern Tokyo Times

President Hollande of France is gradually implementing the second stage of supporting the nation of Mali. This applies to reducing the armed forces of France in the knowledge that Islamists have been forced back to the margins. At the same time, France played a major part in obtaining enormous funds for Mali and helped to push the United Nations (UN) to provide a very adequate peacekeeping force. Also, it is clear that a contingency of French troops will remain until the job is completed.

Therefore, Malians witnessed many military vehicles pulling out of a base near the capital of this nation. Apparently they left the base on the outskirts of Bamako and headed for the Ivory Coast. This follows on from some French troops leaving in April and it is believed that by September the forces will be dwindled down to 2,000 soldiers from the height of 4,000.

The role of France throughout the region remains clear because French Special Forces helped Niger to quell a hostage crisis. Events in Niger will be watched closely and the same applies to other regional nations. After all, Islamists are known for hit and run tactics after they flee a major military offensive.

It must be remembered that while you have genuine issues related to certain ethnic groups, notably the Tuareg; the Islamist terrorist threat was all too real. Islamist forces, just like in Somalia, began to attack traditional indigenous Islam by destroying Sufi shrines and notable black African Islamic architecture in Timbuktu. This destruction took place alongside brutal Islamic Sharia law punishments by individuals not fit to apply any code of law given their brutality.

France took a very responsible position towards the crisis in Mali despite being hypocritical when it comes to Syria. However, in Mali this nation responded quickly because Islamists had threatened to move further south in order to control the country. If France had not intervened alongside other nations which participated in the early period, notably Chad before pulling forces out; then one can only imagine the bloodletting and carnage which would have befallen Mali.

During a powerful donors conference to obtain economic support for the nation of Mali the BBC mentioned past issues related to international support that went pear-shaped. Modern Tokyo Times counted this by stating that “In the BBC article they are relating Mali to similar donor support which happened in Afghanistan and Somalia. However, this is not valid in many ways, after all the vast majority of people in Mali share similar values of pluralism and religious tolerance. Also, unlike in Afghanistan and Somalia the French led forces were welcomed with open arms by the overwhelming majority of Mali people. This reality means that providing the Islamists can be crushed then economic support can genuinely make a difference providing “the heart of the government is sincere.”

The BBC also comments about the support given by France to the people of Mali. This applies to stating that “Within weeks of launching their offensive, French and Malian soldiers, backed by fighter jets and helicopters, forced the rebels out of urban areas. However, some fighters retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they have launched isolated attacks.”

“The BBC’s Alex Duval Smith in Bamako says the French intervention has been immensely popular, and most Malians have dreaded the beginning of the withdrawal.”

Islamists will continue to pose a threat to parts of Mali and it is always dangerous to predict the long-term reality of any conflict. However, it is clear that France and the people of Mali must be pleased by the impact of international forces in quelling the Islamist threat in the short-term. Despite this, recent events in Niger and the current failed state of Libya means that many serious issues remain throughout the region. Therefore, it is clear that France will continue to play a powerful role within Mali and regionally for the foreseeable future.

Lee Jay Walker gave guidance to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22664484

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Murad Makhmudov and Walter Sebastian

Modern Tokyo Times

America, France and the United Kingdom gave the green light to Qatar and Saudi Arabia to destabilize Syria. Turkey became the essential binding force in the chain of events because of geography whereby covert operatives, mercenaries, terrorists and the forces of sectarianism would be given a free reign. Military equipment would flow in several directions and Islamist organizations in Libya and Tunisia became “play grounds for inciting hatred and helping the flow of military arms and terrorists.” The Balkans would also emerge based on past conflicts. Therefore, Croatia and Kosovo became a chain in the terrorist ratlines being pulled by the CIA, MI6 and various other intelligence agencies. Parts of Lebanon in the Sunni heartland would also become a conduit for supplying military arms, covert operatives and terrorists. Meanwhile, Jordan would face enormous pressure to join the anti-Syrian, pro-terrorist and pro-sectarian alliance. However, given the fear of Islamist political forces in Jordan then clearly this nation is worried about the bigger picture.

Major Western and Gulf powers are utilizing the media to the maximum in order to sell their “dirty terrorist and sectarian war.” Elites within America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom became over confident after the overthrow of Gaddafi in Libya. This reality meant that they believed that Syria would succumb to external pressure. Therefore, the more Syria united under the Bashar al-Assad government – then this forced outside nations to up the ante in the terrorist arena, covert operatives on the ground, manipulating the mass media and utilizing al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist networks. When it became clear that the Syrian armed forces were holding their own then the Chechen and Caucasus angle became increasingly powerful by the middle of 2012 because of past failures. Despite this, the many massacres by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist terrorist organizations against the people of Syria – and captured soldiers – meant that even sympathetic forces were being repulsed by such barbarity.

The more outside nations increased their terrorist and sectarian ratlines against Syria then Iraq felt these convulsions with the upshot being that this nation is once more facing a sectarian crisis. America, France and the United Kingdom know full well that Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq, are all blighted by terrorism and the weakness of central forces. However, despite not being able to contain the forces that they helped to unleash with willing partners in the Sunni Muslim world; the same forces of destabilization then set about spreading chaos to Syria. At no point did Gulf and Western powers consider the knock on effects to Iraq and likewise the deaths of vast numbers of people doesn’t enter the equation. In Libya the only motive now appears to have been killing Gaddafi brutally and to destroy the old order at all costs. Issues related to stabilization are soon thrown out of the window because the same axis of evil then moves on to another nation. Therefore, the flow of failed states is increasing while miraculously Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are immune from all the upheaval because all three nations belong to the intrigues of Washington, London and Paris.

Indeed, the main reason why the conflict in Syria is continuing is because Gulf and Western powers alongside Turkey are afraid to fail. After all, they know that failure will lead to powerful divisions throughout the region based on two powerful blocks. Not only this, it is clear that the government of Iraq is disillusioned with America, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Gulf powers for their destabilization policies throughout the Middle East. This reality means that Iraq may decide to view Iran with a more favorable light because the very future of the power of the central state is at stake. It is abundantly clear to the Baghdad government that nations opposed to Syria care zilch about spreading terrorism and sectarianism in order to defeat the government of Bashar al-Assad. This in turn means that the same nations think nothing about igniting sectarianism once more in Iraq. After all, it is obvious that al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist forces in Iraq have become willing stooges of Qatar and Saudi Arabia which in turn emboldens them once more to attack central forces in Iraq.

Under the watch of President Obama and willing political fools in France and the United Kingdom the influence of al-Qaeda is spreading and the same applies to Salafi Islamist political forces. Therefore, the entire Levant, North Africa and parts of West Africa have become caught up in the terrorist, sectarian and Islamist agenda of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This means that America and the United Kingdom have become willing partners in the Islamist agenda of the Gulf while France is caught in the middle because political elites in Paris want to protect Algeria, Mali and Tunisia from the threat of militant Islam. Yet, when it comes to Syria the nation of France is doing the opposite by supporting the whims of Gulf powers, America, Turkey and the United Kingdom. France should rethink this policy because in history this nation favored more secular forces in the Middle East unlike America and the United Kingdom which always sided with conservative feudal monarchs and despotic leaders.

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “It is clear that meddling in Syria related to international terrorism, sectarianism and sedition are being employed against this secular nation. Yet this could back-fire big time? After all, the mosaic of Lebanon is being threatened by sectarianism which is being funded by outside powers in order to support the FSA, Al-Qaeda and various Islamist factions against secular Syria. Meanwhile, major issues persist in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, and other nations, which have been hit by the so-called “Arab Spring.” However, if Syria unravels then the patchwork of the Levant and the Middle East may suffer from the consequences – and this notably relates to the “failed state domino system” which swallowed up Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations after outside meddling.

Iraq and Syria are facing the blunt reality of outside meddling and for the people of Iraq this is yet another cycle of sectarian violence whereby the usual players care little about the horrendous death toll. Al-Qaeda, radical Salafism and the Muslim Brotherhood have all collectively gained from the policies of Washington and London in recent times in the Levant, North Africa and parts of West Africa. Ironically, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia care little about destabilizing Iraq and Syria it is clear that both feudal monarchs are at odds about supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. This sums up these two callous nations and it also says everything about the current governments of America, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom which are partaking in the unfolding chaos. Therefore, it is essential that Iraq and Syria move closer together and work with nations which support stability in order to defeat the forces of chaos.

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers

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Paul Joseph Nzeribe and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Nigeria is currently using helicopter gunships and fighter jets against the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram. At the same time, President Goodluck Jonathan is leaving a channel open by providing an amnesty for members of Boko Haram. Given the mass complexity of Nigeria in relationship to religion and ethnicity then clearly the Islamist threat is putting enormous strains on the people of north-eastern Nigeria, which is the epicenter of the crisis. Therefore, the current military offensive by the armed forces of Nigeria is being watched carefully because of the delicate situation.

Since the emergence of Boko Haram several thousands of people have been brutally murdered by a terrorist group which thinks nothing about attacking Christian churches and Muslim mosques. Islamist militants desire to rule the country by implementing Islamic Sharia law in its entirety. This reality means that indigenous Islam is also threatened because mainstream Muslim leaders are vehemently opposed to Gulf inspired Islamism, which is extremely alien to the usual way of life in Nigeria.

All Nigerians are deeply concerned about corruption, income disparity and the blatant abuse of natural resources which have been squandered in the past. Therefore, the Islamist leaders of the insurgency can easily manipulate disenfranchised Muslims to join Boko Haram. Christians and other faith and non-faith individuals also face the same issues related to poverty, corruption and income disparity. However, while ethnic disputes break out from time to time it is clear that only Boko Haram and the Islamist movement is a threat to the central nation state.

Overtures of a genuine amnesty have been flatly rejected by the leadership of Boko Haram. More problematic for the political leaders of Nigeria is that the term “amnesty” is worrying many religious figures. After all, countless massacres by Boko Haram have been beyond the pale and granting amnesty to terrorists and religious militants seems too weak. Despite this, it is clear that President Goodluck needs to quell the crisis and if he doesn’t look at all possible angles then he will be failing the people of Nigeria.

The president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Nigeria, Dr. Moshood Fashola, is skeptical about the amnesty. He comments that the “Amnesty presupposes that the one you grant amnesty to is ready to show remorse for his actions and is ready for peace…[and] to stop all this carnage…there is no such situation.”

Of course, it is clear that Islamists are anti-Ahmadiyya Muslim in other nations like Pakistan and Indonesia. Therefore, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is worried about Islamist militancy because they know that their community will suffer if the Boko Haram terrorist movement spreads.

Julius Babatunde Adelakun of Oyo, a retired Christian bishop, commented that it is “like granting amnesty to terrorists, it is unthinkable.” The Archbishop of Ibadan, Felix Alaba Job, shares similar logic. He states that Boko Haram are “…vandals of human souls and bodies” in reference to the murder of so many civilians by this terrorist organization.

Currently you have a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. However, the worry for the military is that Boko Haram may try to melt away and move to other parts of northern Nigeria – or move into regional nations which share a border with Nigeria. In this sense, it is essential that the military attack against Boko Haram makes quick inroads and causes disarray within this terrorist movement. If not, then hit and run tactics will become a reality and Boko Haram may try to spread discord to areas which have previously escaped bloodshed.

Militant groups are nothing new to Nigeria but Boko Haram is different because they want to usurp the nation state. The nature of the Boko Haram movement also means that fear is endemic therefore in such a climate the security forces are bound to overreact. This is what Boko Haram hopes for because they want to create a wedge between Christians and Muslims and to create divisions within the Muslim faith based on their draconian thought patterns.

http://www.americamagazine.org/issue/nigeria-new-fighting-amnesty-plan-boko-haram-provokes-outrage

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Murad Makhumdov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Saudi Arabia funds Islamic education, media groups, proselytization, building of Islamic mosques and so forth all over the world. So-called puritanical Islam from Saudi Arabia, which incidentally allows old men to marry young little girls, is unleashing fresh divisions within nations and spreading hatred within the Muslim world and non-Muslim world. America and the United Kingdom, and virtually all major nations, are allowing this in the full knowledge that converts to Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and so forth, face the death penalty. Therefore, once Gulf petrodollars from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other feudal Gulf nations funded opposition terrorist forces in Syria the upshot was anti-Christian, anti-Shia and anti-Alawite hatred.

Of course, radical Sunni Islamism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and other nations, hates all and sundry therefore mainstream Sunni Muslim clerics have been killed by Gulf petrodollars. America and the United Kingdom did little to stem the religious cleansing of Christians and other minorities in many parts of Iraq after Allied forces unleashed vacuums that they couldn’t contain. Likewise, the cleansing of Orthodox Christians in Kosovo happened on the watch of European nations and America. This brutal reality meant that the Christian community in Syria was easily sacrificed by political elites in London and Washington. Sadly, France now appears to have sold “its soul” to these two twins of evil. In the past France had favored secular forces in the Middle East unlike America and the United Kingdom which supported conservative feudal Sharia states in the Gulf and conservative leaders in Egypt. However, the last two leaders of France have sold their “soul” and now this nation is in the troika of Western powers which is in league with feudal Islamist powers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In Syria under the current government the people of this nation had freedoms that were unimagined in Saudi Arabia and Qatar before outside nations decided to crush pluralism and secularism. Also, unlike Saudi Arabia which will not tolerate one single Christian church; the land of Syria is blessed by a mosaic of faiths and political leaders in Syria look favorably towards Christianity. Indeed, President Bashar al-Assad married a Sunni Muslim lady who happened to go to a Christian school when she was younger. However, the Gulf petrodollars which are spreading a militant version of Islam based on supremacy and hatred – and where they stifle all notions of democracy; are now somehow concerned about freedom in Syria. Of course, in the real world it is a farce because they should clean up their own “intolerant houses” instead of spreading sectarianism and terrorism to Syria.

Currently two archbishops and two priests are being held by forces which are being supported by America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This applies to the plethora of factions within the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist factions. Often forces within both groups fight side by side and they are complicit in many brutal terrorist attacks and massacres against anyone deemed to be pro-Assad.

Archimandrite Haddad of the Greek Melkite Catholic Basilica is a Christian rector who speaks his mind because he fully understands the hatred being unleashed against Syria. Fr. Haddad stated that the rebels (terrorists and mercenaries) “want to show that there is no more coexistence between Christians and Muslims but this isn’t true.”

Fr. Haddad also stated that “The Syrian war is not a crisis between Muslims and Christians or Muslims and other Muslims and it’s not a Syrian civil war from and for Syrians….This is a war imported from outside and we have traitors who have sold themselves to outsiders for a bit of money.”

Msgr. Dankaye is another Christian leader who is trying to open the eyes of the agents of hatred. He also attacks media outlets in the West and in the Gulf region which are spreading sectarianism, terrorism and sedition by their extremely biased reporting.

Msgr. Dankaye comments about the mass media by stating that “the international community’s 600 TV channels broadcast the exact same version, while the only Syrian TV channel that exists and broadcasts daily news in English has been blocked.”

“People against the regime are outside Syria….War always has its reasons and its logic, and the true reasons for it are always hidden.”

The Catholic News Agency reports that the “Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim were kidnapped by rebels on April 22 and are still being held in a village northwest of Aleppo.”

“Gunmen pulled the two Christian archbishops out of their car and shot their driver, a deacon.”

“They were on their way to Aleppo from the Turkish border in an effort to negotiate the release of two priests, Armenian Catholic Father Michel Kayyal and Father Maher Mahfouz, a Greek Orthodox Christian.”

“The priests had been abducted on Feb. 9 when the bus they were riding on from Aleppo to Damascus was stopped. They are still being held captive.”

Fr. Haddad also took a swipe at the feudal Islamist states which are funding sectarianism, terrorism and sedition. He states that “Our petro-dollar Arabic neighbors have bought some Syrians and it’s a surprise to me when a Syrian is happy to see a Syrian soldier murdered.”

Ironically, one can claim that Saudi Arabia is consistent because this nation supports institutional hatred and religious persecution. Of course, on top of this is keeping women in the shadows and allowing child marriage to very old men. Therefore, you don’t expect religious tolerance and morality from a nation which supports killing apostates and which allows old men to marry little girls. Given this reality, Islamist forces in Syria are “a true mirror” to the institutional state of hatred in Saudi Arabia. However, why are these anti-Christian, anti-Shia, anti-Alawite and anti-secular forces are being supported by political elites in London, Paris and Washington?

It must also be stated that in Egypt the Coptic Christian community is facing a new wave of Islamist hatred under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood and various Salafi groups. Despite this, America and Europe keep on supplying economic lifelines to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Also, America is continuing to supply major military hardware to the anti-Christian and anti-secular Muslim Brotherhood. Therefore, the forces of hatred which seek to impose conservative Sharia states on the people of Egypt and Syria are being supported by the usual players which are destabilizing Syria.

Mainstream Sunni Islam in Syria is also under threat because killing moderate Sunni clerics means little to Gulf nations which are funding sectarianism, the Salafi message of hatred and indoctrination. In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “The democracy of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist factions was once more made clear in Damascus. This applies to the targeting and murder of a prominent Sunni religious cleric while he was teaching people about Islam. However, for the FSA and various Islamist factions Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti was a danger because he denounced the traitors and enemies of Syria. Therefore, his only crime was to speak from the heart and to denounce the so-called opposition which beheads, kills journalists, cleanses areas of minorities, murders pro-government Syrians, indoctrinates children to hate, destroys the infrastructure and other brutal realities.”

Further down in the same article it is stated that “Early 2012 and late 2012 are ending in the same way in Syria when it comes to killing Muslim religious leaders. In the early part of 2012 Sheikh Mohammad Ahmad Ouf Sadeq was brutally murdered by Islamist terrorists. Sadly, in late December 2012 another religious leader was also shot in the head by Islamist terrorists. These Islamists follow the thought patterns of Saudi Arabia and other draconian Gulf nations.”

The Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) stated about the killing of Sunni clerics “that the terrorist attacks against scholars and directors of Awqaf directorates prove that the war launched against Syria is a war led by Takfiri and terrorist organizations against the moderation and tolerance of the Syrian religious thought.”

Fr. Haddad also stated that there are “terrorists and non-terrorists from Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan who have gone to fight in Syria saying they want to liberate Jerusalem…But can one liberate Jerusalem from Aleppo?…We all know where the path to Jerusalem is.”

Prior to outside nations meddling into the affairs of Syria it was clear that this nation represented a mosaic whereby various religious communities co-existed. However, today terrorism, sectarianism, Salafi indoctrination and sedition are all being supported in order to crush independent Syria. At the same time covert operatives who played such an important role in Libya are also working in tandem and NATO Turkey is a major conduit of international terrorists, covert operatives, mercenaries, Salafi fanatics and military hardware.

Christian priests and churches are not being destroyed by government forces. On the contrary, Syrian soldiers and the government are trying to protect the Christian minority just like they are trying to protect their motherland from a plethora of enemies. Therefore, it is essential that the friends of Syria continue to support this nation and for the mass media to wake-up and ask serious questions in order to shame political elites in London, Paris and Washington. After all, you can’t shame Saudi Arabia because it is beyond reproach and Qatar is a feudal monarchy which just “buys silence” and “propaganda.” If the enemies of Syria succeed then spare a thought to what happened in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya – then ask the simple question – are these nations now free and flourishing?

http://www.eurasiareview.com/12052013-mass-held-in-rome-for-kidnapped-syrian-bishops/

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Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Many important Christian leaders in Syria and throughout the Middle East want a halt to the funding of terrorism and sectarianism. Regional Christian leaders fully understand that the West is morally bankrupt when it comes to human rights and religious pluralism. They also know that countries like America and the United Kingdom often “play the tune” of Saudi Arabia where not one single Christian church is allowed. Also, in Saudi Arabia converts to the Christian faith face the death penalty and openly carrying any non-Muslim religious text equates to prison and persecution but this doesn’t worry the political elites in London and Washington.

At the same time, in Kosovo, northern Cyprus, Iraq, and now happening in Libya, the Christian faith plummets dramatically either on the “watch” of America and the United Kingdom – or, in the case of Libya where the Christian faith was very small then fresh persecution begins after Western and Gulf meddling. Likewise, while Coptic Christians in Egypt face fresh bouts of persecution at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists the United States does little apart from providing financial assistance and more military arms to this country. Similarly, in West Papua in Indonesia you have a covert Islamization process happening including converting young Christian children to Islam and then indoctrinating them to hate their own culture. Once more, the United States and United Kingdom care little and Gulf petrodollars are also inciting religious hatred in this country.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reports that “Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi of the Maronite Church in Lebanon and All the East called for halting violence in Syria and starting a national dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis.”

“During an honoring celebration held by the Syrian and Lebanese community in Brasilia, al-Rahi appealed (to) the international community and the countries which support the war in Syria to stop supporting and financing murder operations and to halt arming terrorism and destabilizing a secure country and to sit (at a) dialogue table.”

Sadly, the arrogance of political leaders in America, France and the United Kingdom means that powerful Christian leaders in the Middle East are ignored just like the cleansing of Christianity is ignored on the watch of America and the United Kingdom. Trillions of dollars have been spent on Afghanistan but the upshot of this is continuing hatred towards all non-Muslim faiths, women being put firmly in the shadows and an abundance of heroin. Therefore, after over 40 years of meddling in Afghanistan the only outcome is terrorism, narcotics, more religious hatred, chaos and women are in chains.

Iraq today is another failed state and because of the policies of powerful Western and Gulf nations then sectarianism is once more on the rise in this country based on the destabilization of Syria. Political leaders in Iraq have condemned regional nations and others for supporting sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against Syria. However, just like major regional Christian leaders are ignored the arrogance of powerful Western and Gulf nations also means that they don’t consider the opinions of Iraq.

Archbishop Atallah Hanna of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox faith condemned some Arab countries for “being a part of the colonist scheme against Syria and the region, particularly those which are funding and supporting the foreign opposition.”

It must be noted that Christian churches dot the landscape of Syria unlike the friends of America and the United Kingdom in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan whereby Christianity is persecuted under a strict Islamist inquisition. Also, vast numbers of Christians from Iraq fled to Syria under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad because they were protected from international terrorism and religious persecution. The government of Bashar al-Assad took in untold numbers of Christians and Muslims fleeing the carnage in Iraq which erupted once outside nations unleashed many vacuums. Indeed, the nation of Syria opened its door to Palestinians being forced out of their homeland because this nation is independent and outside the control of Gulf and Western powers.

Therefore, it wasn’t Israel or Saudi Arabia which came to the rescue of refugees from Iraq. On the contrary it was the nation of Syria which gave much needed breathing space to refugees fleeing terrorism, religious persecution and sectarianism. Ironically, today many refugees in Syria from other nations are now fleeing this nation because of the barbarity of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various al-Qaeda supported Islamist terrorist groups which are fighting on the side of major Western and Gulf powers. This reality would shame most nations but of course when 50% of Christians fled Iraq on the watch of America and the United Kingdom then neither nation batted an eyelid.

Michel Aoun, a powerful Christian leader in Lebanon, comments about the kidnap of two Christian bishops by FSA Islamists in Syria. He states that “These acts do not represent in any way a struggle for freedom, but rather terrorist acts committed by hate-filled, malicious terrorists who feed on the blood of innocents and the lives of civilians … while attempts to justify this terrorism under the pretext of seeking to oust the regime have become ridiculous and pathetic.”

It must be stated that Bashar al-Assad is married to a Sunni Muslim lady who went to a Christian school when she was younger. Also, at no point was religion a point of issue whe it came to taking in over one million refugees. However, today the enemies of Syria are fueling sectarianism and Salafi ideology in order to weaken the unity of this nation.

Many Syrian Christian clergy and regional leaders are alarmed by the destabilization of Syria. After all, another Iraq is on the horizon if the government of Syria is defeated by terrorist and sectarian forces. Christians in Syria, just like Muslims in this country, will all have different political beliefs. However, the vast majority of Christians in this nation fully understand that outside meddling by major Gulf and Western powers throughout the region normally leads to women being put in the shadows, religious minorities fleeing and this is followed by religious bigotry and “the failed state domino system.” Afghanistan, northern Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, and others, all point to the same direction for Christians and this applies to greater marginalization which is then followed by outright religious persecution.

Sister Agnes-Mariam de la Croix who is a Christian nun comments that “The free and democratic world is supporting extremists…They want to impose Sharia Law and create an Islamic state in Syria.”

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Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

France, United Kingdom and United States have been in the forefront in Europe and North America of agitating against independent Syria. These nations have thrown in their lot with Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations which have directly and covertly supplied international jihadists with military equipment. At the same time Gulf nations and Turkey have joined forces in spreading sectarianism and sedition in Syria with the knock-on-effect being a fresh wave of sectarianism and terrorism in Iraq.

Recently the enemies of Syria and a largely compliant media in the West and Gulf region have tried to accuse the government based in Damascus of using chemical weapons. At all times the government of Syria remains adamant that this smear campaign is solely aimed at supporting international terrorism against this nation and laying the foundations for a no-fly-zone and then future military intervention. However, instead of the “red line” being crossed by the government of Syria, it now appears that this “red line” was done by forces which are being supported by the axis-of-evil in Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington.

Human rights investigators from the United Nations (UN) have taken medical testimonies from Syrians which clearly imply that terrorists in Syria have used chemicals against the people of this nation. This applies to sarin nerve gas therefore will the enemies of Syria bomb and agitate against the so-called Free Syrian Army (supported by outside nations and agencies like the CIA)? Of course, individuals like John Kerry (US) and William Hague (UK) will try to squirm their way out like usual and a future “false flag” is sure to be raised. Despite this, it is clear that the “chemical issue” is “dead and buried” because at worse the side of Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington have been involved in using sarin gas. Of course, with America using Agent Orange against Vietnam and dropping this agent on Cambodia and Laos despite not even being at war with Cambodia and Loas – then clearly the information released by the UN human rights investigators isn’t shocking.

The independent commission of inquiry set up by the UN according to Carla Del Ponte can’t find any incriminating evidence against the government of Syria. Del Ponte states that “investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated.”

“This was use on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities.”

This investigation is separate from the one which is currently stalled under Ban Ki-moon who is the UN Secretary-General. It is worth pointing out that Ban Ki-moon comes from South Korea where you have vast numbers of American military personnel. Therefore, it is apparent that no political intrigues can be pointed at Del Ponte and irrespective of any future conclusions it is now apparent that the paid opposition used sarin gas.

It appears that the axis-of-evil against Syria will tolerate beheading people, daily terrorism, religious cleansing, killing journalists, kidnapping Christian bishops, taking UN personnel and making them hostages, killing mainstream Sunni clerics which support the independence of Syria, throwing people from rooftops and destroying Christian churches and Shia mosques. Will political elites in Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington now “see the light” and acknowledge that their “terrorist and sectarian freedom fighters” are simply barbaric? Or, will the mass media peddle more lies in order to brush the latest news about sarin gas under the carpet; in order to meet the demands of political elites which have various agendas in destabilizing and crushing the last major secular Arabic speaking nation in the Middle East?

http://www.agentorangerecord.com/agent_orange_history/in_cambodia_laos/ US and Agent Orange

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/05/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE94409Z20130505　

http://rt.com/news/un-syria-rebels-chemical-weapons-854/　

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Helmet Joachim Schmidt and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Syria continues to remain steadfast despite open intimidation from Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Other enemies of Syria including America, France, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, all prefer a more underhanded approach. This isn’t surprising given the many joint military alliances between al-Qaeda linked terrorist groups and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) despite all the words of denial coming out of Washington. After all, various FSA units work side by side with al-Qaeda linked groups and it is difficult to split them given the reality on the ground. Of course, the Islamists are “useful tools” just like they were in Bosnia when Bill Clinton gave them the green light. However, in time the United States would squeeze them out of the picture in Bosnia once their evil deeds had served the purpose of Washington.

Last year it was the turn of NATO Turkey to try and entrap Syria by not only allowing the FSA and various Islamist groups to reequip and manipulate the border areas; but also because Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey had hoped to ensnare the Syrian armed forces into open hostilities in the border areas between both nations. The Syrian government is fully aware about the real motives of Erdogan therefore they have no intent on assisting his plans. After all, it is not in the interest of Syria to become involved in a conflict on another front. Therefore, with internal discontent increasing in Turkey because of the policies of Erdogan towards Syria, then now it is the time of Israel to play the devil’s advocate for Washington.

President Obama pulled American forces out of Iraq and then supported a policy of the destabilization of Syria in the full knowledge that al-Qaeda and other sectarian forces would be reinvigorated in Iraq. Obama knows that it is a very hard sell to openly fight on the same side of al-Qaeda. Therefore, the CIA is being “pimped out” just like MI6 in the United Kingdom in order to do the dirty work from a distance. Prudently, it is wise for Obama to do this because the FSA Islamists have committed horrendous atrocities and currently two Christian bishops are being held by forces which are allied to the causes of Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington.

America’s “war on terrorism” in Syria is clearly a war on allowing Saudi Arabia and Qatar to openly support terrorism, sectarianism and sedition. The embassy debacle in Libya, the recent terrorist attack in Boston and the Saudi connection to September 11; means that it is a hard sell for Obama to openly side with the forces of al-Qaeda and sectarianism in Syria. This also applies to the fact that thousands of American troops were killed in Iraq but today because of the policies of Obama – and regional nations which are against the government of Syria – then the same forces of al-Qaeda are once more thriving in Iraq and now they can reach deeply within the Levant.

In recent weeks it is clear that the armed forces of Syria have been reinvigorated and Jordan appears to have taken a step back based on self interests because the ratlines couldn’t be covered-up no more. Also, the elites in Jordan know that the Muslim Brotherhood will not stop at Syria because many ardent members want to take over the leverages of power within this country. Jordan should look at modern day Pakistan and how this nation helped to destabilize itself by giving birth to the Taliban and then fighting a brutal war with the same forces that were unleashed in Afghanistan. Islamists were “adorable killers” of Orthodox Christians for American in Bosnia because once they had dutifully served the interests of others; then they could be dismantled because their powerbase was weak internally. Yet in Jordan the Palestinian and Muslim Brotherhood questions are very real therefore some elites in Jordan are worried about ensnaring themselves.

Turkey likewise backed down when NATO balked at becoming fully involved because just like the European Union it is clear that many members don’t buy into the hard sell of America, France and the United Kingdom. Also, with the Russian Federation remaining firm and internal discontent growing within parts of Turkey towards the policies of Erdogan; then his rants and goading of Syria have died down despite the menace still existing. The recent attack by FSA Islamists against Turkish border guards is also a reminder that Erdogan is playing a dangerous game because you have major religious, political and ethnic divides in this country.

However, Israel doesn’t have to worry about a widespread Palestinian uprising because Hamas is increasingly in the pockets of Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Also, despite anti-Christian persecution increasing in Egypt this isn’t stopping America from supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt both financially and militarily. Therefore, Israel doesn’t currently face an internal threat and with sectarianism growing in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria; then this may be an opportunist moment to weaken Hezbollah further in the knowledge that the “Lebanese street” is extremely divided.

The bombing by Israel also may highlight the death knell of FSA Islamists forces which are being pushed back in many areas by the Syrian armed forces. It seems inconceivable that Syria would be arming any other entity given the range of enemies against this secular nation. Similarly, the involvement of Israel makes a mockery of al-Qaeda because Islamists are not attacking NATO Turkey in the north or Israel in the south. On the contrary, Islamist terrorists are only focused on destroying Syria which is the last major independent state in the Arabic speaking world.

Syria will be faced with a major dilemma if the bombing of this country by Israel becomes more frequent. After all, the Syrian armed forces can’t afford to be drawn into a conflict with either Israel or Turkey. Therefore, Israel may be goading Hezbollah in the knowledge that if Syria and Iran do reply then it will most likely come through south Lebanon and the heartland of Hezbollah. Also, with FSA Islamists attacking villages along the border between Lebanon and Syria and with Sunni Islamist militancy growing in Lebanon; then does Israel see an opportunity to entrap Hezbollah during a time when this organization may become over stretched?

The government of Syria is the most stabilizing entity within the region because clearly this nation doesn’t seek to become embroiled with hostile nations. Israel can’t justify their attacks against Syria on any grounds because the government of Syria is not behaving in a hostile manor unlike Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Therefore, it is imperative that Syria is supported by friendly nations against all the dark forces which are against this country.

Syrian TV stated that “The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups, which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army.”

Ironically, the opposite will most likely happen because the more nations are pushing against Syria – then the more united the armed forces are becoming. Likewise, all major religious leaders in Syria from the entire spectrum remain firm against the meddling of outside nations.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Walter Sebastian and Pierre Leblanc

Modern Tokyo Times

The international community is responding to events in Mali and this can be seen by the promised 12,600 United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force which is planned from July. In a short-period of time France and regional African nations have contributed to forcing Islamist militants from much of their strongholds throughout the north of the country. Therefore, it is hoped that the new peacekeeping force named MINUSMA (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) will continue with the progress once their mandate starts.

It is also essential that the international community provides major economic support whereby business investments, developing the infrastructure and other related areas are given a proper boost. At the same time, great attention must be given to centralization processes and strengthening all major institutions related to education, law, the political system and other vital areas. Of course, the ethnic make-up of Mali is very diverse and the same applies to lifestyle therefore areas of alienation need to be addressed in order to embody the spirit of “One people, one goal, one faith.”

Al-Qaeda and other Islamist forces threatened to turn Mali into a nightmare Taliban styled Islamist state whereby indigenous African Islam would be supplanted by draconian Islamic versions emanating from the Gulf region. Amputations for petty crimes and the destruction of ancient African Islamic architecture, holy places and the indigenous way of life were all threatened by draconian Islamists. France therefore stepped in once Islamist forces began to move further south and clearly international troops were welcomed with open arms by the people of Mali because the threat was very real.

If Islamists had taken control of Mali then the entire region would have suffered greatly. Islamists would have firstly sucked the life out of indigenous African Islam in this country and then turned the clock back to “year zero.” After this, terrorist bases and other brutal realities would have engulfed the Mali people and clearly much bloodletting would have ensued. However, France galvanized regional nations to partake in safeguarding Mali from a brutal foe.

Another essential area is that nations with expertise in the military field must train elite forces within the army of Mali. This applies to the entire spectrum and obviously the military needs to modernize in terms of arms, logistics, coordination and other vital areas. In the meantime, it is essential that France maintains a military presence in Mali until everything is put into place.

The BBC comments about MINUSMA by stating that “The 12,600-strong force is intended to incorporate some 6,000 West African soldiers already in the country.”

“The resolution was proposed by France, which intervened militarily in January to drive out Islamist militants from Mali’s northern desert region.”

“The UN force is to deploy at the beginning of July before planned nationwide elections.”

“A French force of 1,000 soldiers will remain, in case they are needed to fight the al-Qaeda-linked groups.”

It is hoped that MINUSMA will provide a genuine breathing space for Mali and that international nations will focus on the economic arena and other important areas. Mali is blessed with a rich culture therefore it was essential that the international community intervened. In the long-term it is hoped that the international community will focus on a whole array of areas in order to help the people of Mali.

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22296705

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In Kosovo and Iraq under the watch of America, the United Kingdom, and other allies, the Christian communities suffered greatly. At no point was their suffering addressed properly and because the Christians of Iraq had no militia to protect them, then over half of the Christian population fled. Likewise, the Orthodox Christian population in Kosovo plummeted alongside the destruction of churches, monasteries and many things connected with the indigenous faith. The same scenario is now happening in nations which are being supported by major Western powers and of course Northern Cyprus is another “cleansed” Christian area. Indeed, Northern Cyprus connects the past with the present anti-Christian policies of Washington, London and other nations which appease Islamist forces.

In Egypt the indigenous Christian faith is once more facing another bleak future because of ongoing Islamization. Despite this, and the fact that secular forces face being crushed by the current government of Egypt; the United States, the European Union and Gulf nations are all working together in order to help the Muslim Brotherhood survive financially. Simply put, Christian blood isn’t “only cheap” it doesn’t even enter the radar to any significant degree. Therefore, apartheid Sharia Islamic law is threatening to engulf Egyptian society. Also, the indigenous Christians don’t fit the false history of the Middle East because it was their land which was colonized by invading Islamic armies. This colonialism is forgotten and the same applies to many areas of the Middle East whereby the indigenous Christian faith struggled for survival because of jizya policies, slavery, dhimmitude and enormous discrimination within Islamic Sharia law.

Alarmingly, in the modern world you still have several Islamic Sharia law states which support killing apostates and killing non-Muslim males for merely marrying a Muslim woman. Therefore, while old men in Saudi Arabia can marry young 8 and 9 year old girls legally under Islamic Sharia law; the hatred within this apartheid legal system can be seen by the fact that non-Muslim males face the death penalty for an act of love in several Islamist nations. Of course, if Christian law supported the same barbarity in the modern world then the media would cover this from head to toe.  Instead, in Saudi Arabia women must cover-up from head to toe and non-Muslims must stay in the shadows without any holy places to visit.

The latest clash between Coptic Christians and Muslims took place after a Muslim woman named Rana el-Shazali is believed to have converted to Christianity. It appears that a normal romantic relationship is deemed to be a threat to the Muslim community because the reaction was violence and intimidation. While in the West the term “Islamophobia” is being manipulated in order to crush genuine debate. It is noticeable that the same people who cry “Islamophobia” say little about Islamic Sharia law having “a real legal phobia” against atheists, Christians, minority Muslim groups like the Ahmadiyya, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, Sikhs, and all non-Muslim faiths.

Anti-Christian attacks have taken place in the Beni Suef province where the romance began to flourish in the town of Wasta. AP comments that “Muslims have attacked churches there and forced Christians to close their shops for nearly eight days last month and members of the Christian man’s family have been arrested, including his mother and father, after a prosecutor accused them of collaborating in hiding the woman. The woman’s family issued an ultimatum for the church to bring her back early this month, but when it didn’t, violence erupted anew.”

“On Friday, ultraconservative Salafis distributed flyers accusing the church of “proselytizing Christianity,” according to a copy of the flyer posted on a social networking site. It called on residents to rally inside a mosque located meters (yards) from the church to “rescue a Muslim soul and bring her back from the deviant path.”

Somehow, the Salafists and Muslim Brotherhood are so concerned about this “one Muslim soul” because it threatens their apartheid worldview whereby non-Muslims are unequal in law. Of course, the Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t mind taking money from major Western nations but equality is out of the question.

The Investigative Project on Terrorism highlights the naivety and duplicity of important institutions in America because James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, commented in 2011 that the Muslim Brotherhood is “largely secular” and that this organization “eschewed violence.”

In the same article it was stated that “Some Islamists, such as Wagdy Ghoneim, who enjoyed close relations with the Council on American Islamic Relations while he lived in the United States, have issued calls for genocide against the Copts.”

“The day Egyptians — and I don’t even mean the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafis, regular Egyptians — feel that you are against them, you will be wiped off the face of the earth. I’m warning you now: do not play with fire!” Ghoneim said in a Gatestone Institute report. “I want to remind you that Egypt is a Muslim country…. if you don’t like the Muslim Sharia, you have eight countries that have a Cross on their flag [in Europe], so go to them. However, if you want to stay here in Egypt with us, know your place and be respectful.”

In the New York Times it was stated by Roger Cohen that “Perhaps the most radical change in U.S. foreign policy under President Obama has occurred here in Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood, long shunned as a collection of dangerous Islamist extremists, is now the de facto object of American support….. Not only that: Ultraconservative Salafist politicians, who make the Brotherhood seem like moderate pragmatists, are now regular visitors to the U.S. Embassy and, on the theory that it is better to have them inside the tent than out, they are able to visit the United States to learn how things work in the land of Jeffersonian democracy.”

Modern Tokyo Times meanwhile commented about the recent visit of John Kerry to Egypt by stating that “The only conclusion to come from Kerry’s trip is that you have no unity and that now it is Islamists which welcome Washington in Egypt. After all, important moderate leaders within the National Salvation Front refused to meet Kerry in person – because they seek “a real broad church” within the government of Egypt – and not the chains of a “theocracy.”

In another article published on the Investigative Project on Terrorism it was stated that “In Egypt, the Obama administration is asserting a moral equivalency between actions by government forces and the Coptic Christian minority, said Shea, director of Hudson’s Center for Religious Freedom. She noted that the State Department failed to forcefully condemn the Egyptian government for sending tanks and bullets after Copts protested the burning of their churches in October 2011.”

“The massacre left 24 Copts dead and 272 injured.”

“The U.S government put out a response condemning it and asking for both sides to refrain from further violence,” Shea said. “Sam Tadros said in NRO at the time that I should tell the military to stand down and tell the Copts to stop dying.”

Gulf petrodollars are spreading militant Islam which hates not only non-Muslim faiths but also religious diversity within the Muslim faith. In Egypt it is clear that the Muslim Brotherhood hopes to usurp power at the expense of pluralism. Therefore, this movement is backing up the “theocratic dream” by manipulating many dark forces including ruling by fear and spreading sectarianism. Given this reality, then why did President Obama openly celebrate when Hosni Mubarak fell but the same leader refrains from tackling anti-Christian forces within the corridors of powers in Egypt?

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3877/opposition-leader-obama-administration-downplayed

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3959/hudson-panel-us-ignoring-increasing-christian

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/director-of-national-intelligence-james-clapper-muslim-brotherhood-largely-secular/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

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Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The Syrian government is fighting international Islamic jihadists which are funded by feudal Gulf monarchs and whereby NATO Turkey is a friendly participant in the destabilization of Syria. Indeed, it is amazing that America, France and the United Kingdom are playing the “international jihadist card” against Syria after the deplorable reality of what happened in Afghanistan. This applies to America, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, openly funding terrorists throughout the 1980s and 1990s in Afghanistan and clearly this reality existed long after the demise of the Soviet Union. Indeed, when America needed help after September 11 it was the Russian Federation supported Northern Alliance which helped Washington against its former Islamist friends.

However, under the Obama administration the terrorist ratlines which existed pre-September 11 have once more been re-opened. This can be seen by events in Libya where many Islamic jihadists which were fighting in Iraq suddenly fused together with powerful Gulf nations, America, France and the United Kingdom. Clearly this “unholy alliance” resembled the reality of Bosnia whereby international jihadists went to this part of the former Yugoslavia in order to slit the throats of Orthodox Christian Serbs. America under Bill Clinton marched in step with international jihadists, Iran, Saudi Arabia and an array of different nations which supported the jihadist banner against Orthodox Christians in Bosnia. Like usual, the media was at its compliant best because somehow all the beheadings, international jihadists, covert ratlines linking the CIA and Iran, and so forth, were conveniently missed.

Modern day Syria resembles the political spin of Bosnia because international jihadists, supporters of sectarianism and outside nations have been given the usual free ride. The real “David” is Syria which faces many “Goliaths” which seek to crush the independence of this nation. America, France and the United Kingdom have geopolitical ambitions but just like in Afghanistan the long-term will be won by Gulf Islamist indoctrination if Syria is crushed. It matters not that Islamist terrorists on the ground are cleansing minorities, killing mainstream Sunni Muslim clerics and putting women in the shadows. After all, elites in London, Paris and Washington know full well that secular Syria will be crushed by sectarian Islamists if the government of Syria falls.

Chechen Islamists and Caucasus Jihadists

Islamic jihadists from all over the world are flocking to Syria and clearly NATO Turkey is “pimping itself out” in order to enable Islamist to enter the north of this country. At the same time, Gulf petrodollars are helping to arm international jihadists against secular Syria alongside spreading Islamist indoctrination by manipulating charities, refugee camps and by spreading media propaganda throughout the Middle East. The Chechen and Caucasus Islamist angle is also increasing and given the notoriety of Chechen fighters then clearly the allies of America are enabling this to happen – this applies to Turkey and Georgia.

In a past article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “It is known that Turkey and Georgia have given either tacit approval of safety to Chechen Islamists in the past, or both nations have been involved in covert operations aimed at the Russian Federation. Either way, it is clear that Chechen Islamists were given breathing space in parts of Turkey and Georgia. Georgia could claim that the internal convulsions which continue to cause problems in several parts of this nation, is a valid reason why they couldn’t prevent Chechen Islamist intrigues in the past. Yet, Turkey can’t provide any such excuse and given the nature of this nations support for sectarianism, terrorism and sedition within Syria, then clearly the “Chechen connection” may be based on the intrigues of Ankara.”

In 2012 Bill Roggio, The Long War Journal, stated that “The Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group that is fighting Bashir al Assad’s regime in Syria, has claimed credit for yet another suicide attack as well as another joint operation with Chechen fighters.”

Murad Batal al- Shishani wrote in the Jamestown Foundation on April 19, 2013, that “A video posted on YouTube in the last week of March documented the unification of two Syrian armed groups; the Katibat al-Khattab (Army of Khattab Brigades) and the Katibat Jaysh al-Muhammad (Army of Muhammad Brigades), with the Katibat al-Muhajireen (KaM – the Brigade of Migrants). [1] The video showed armed men giving their bayat (allegiance) to the amir of the Katibat al-Muhajireen, Abu Omar al-Shishani, an ethnic Chechen from Georgia’s Pankisi valley. The newly unified groups announced their incorporation into a new movement using the name Jaysh al-Muhajireen wa’l-Ansar (JMA – the Army of Migrants and Supporters) and under the command of al-Shishani (“The Chechen”). Like its components, the new movement will continue to be dedicated to helping Syrians topple the rule of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. [2]”

He continues by stating that “The KaM was formed in the rural areas of Latakia (northwest of Damascus) in mid-2012 by Libyan volunteers who joined the Syrian revolution after toppling Mu’ammar Qaddafi’s regime in Libya. However, the leadership of the group is currently dominated by Chechens. With a membership of roughly 1,000 fighters, the Muhajireen operate in various areas of Syria and have seen action primarily in the Aleppo area (Kavkaz.tv, March 26). The KaM also coordinated attacks with other armed groups in Syria, especially with the jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), which renewed its allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in mid-April (al-Shorfa.com, April 15). One of the best known of these joint attacks was the assault on Air Defense Brigade 602’s base in the Handarat district of Aleppo (Jabhat al-Nusra, Statement No. 166, November 21, 2012; as-ansar.com; al-Jazeera Arabic TV, November 6, 2012).”

It is therefore abundantly clear that the wave of Libyans, Tunisians and other North Africans were unable to topple the government of Bashar al-Assad. Therefore, Gulf petrodollars and the connivance of the Erdogan government in NATO Turkey are intent on funding greater professionalism within the Islamist jihadist ranks. Not surprisingly, the Chechen and Caucasus Islamist angle became most appealing given the links between Turkey and Chechen jihadist groups.

Interestingly, the Chechen angle to the Boston terrorist attack in America witnessed the “crocodile tears” of President Obama. After all, “real Chechen Islamist terrorists” in Syria are being supported by the allies of Washington. Indeed, even after the terrible events of Boston the government of America announced more funding to various factions in Syria in order to further destabilize secular Syria. Therefore, it appears that the United States isn’t interested in the real picture and this echoes the reality surrounding September 11 whereby nearly all the jihadists came from Saudi Arabia.

The Chechen and Caucasus Islamist angle in Syria continues to develop because in the early stages this reality was negligible. Yet from the middle of 2012 it became apparent that Islamists from the Caucasus area were increasingly going to Syria. This reality can be seen today because Chechens and others are playing a more important role within the international jihadist terrorist movement in Syria. Indeed, in the last 24 hours it was reported that two Orthodox Christian bishops were kidnapped in Syria and once more some reports are pointing the fingers at the Chechen angle. Irrespective, if Chechens are involved in the kidnapping of two Orthodox Christian bishops in Syria; it is clear that only “good terrorists” exist in the minds of the governments of America, France and the United Kingdom.

In the past the Gulf petrodollars funded Islamist terrorism and indoctrination throughout the Caucasus region and clearly this reality is still ongoing. Therefore, the Russian Federation should be doing more in Syria to counteract Gulf nations, Turkey and the ratlines which exist within MI6, CIA and other intelligence networks. If Moscow doesn’t send covert operatives into Syria – or at least fund Syrian intelligence units and provide greater arms and intelligence knowledge; then clearly this will come back to haunt the Russian Federation.

Modern Tokyo Times stated in a past article that “The Russian Federation should be very worried about this angle because in recent times several Sufi Muslim leaders have been killed in Dagestan and Tatarstan by Sunni Islamist terrorists. Not only this, these new ratlines could trigger more bloodshed in the Caucasus region and in other parts of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the situation in Chechnya could be reignited in the future if bases become obtainable alongside fresh armaments and capital.”

Lorenzo Vidino stated back in 2005 that “On September 1, 2004, a group of Chechen terrorists took hostage and two days later murdered at least 335 schoolchildren and parents in Beslan, a town in the Russian republic of North Ossetia. The atrocity focused world attention on Chechnya. The Russian government used the event to reiterate its arguments that Chechen terrorists and foreign jihadists supporting them have ideological, financial, and operational ties with Islamist terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda.[1] Although President Vladimir Putin and top Russian security officials provided evidence of links between Chechen fighters and Al-Qaeda, European politicians and mainstream Western journalists focused instead upon the Russian army’s brutality and dismissed Putin’s claims as an attempt to gain sympathy in the West and deflect criticism of Russia’s handling of a nationalist insurgency.”

“Putin may have been opportunistic, but he was also correct. A close examination of the evolution of the Chechen movement indicates that Islamists and followers of Al-Qaeda have increasingly sought to co-opt the Chechen movement as their own.”

In Syria in 2013 it is clear that Chechens and other Islamist jihadists from the Caucasus region are hand-in-hand with al-Qaeda. It is also known that the Russian Federation notified America about the individual involved in the Boston terrorist attack way back in 2011. Clearly, both times the Russian Federation fully understood the reality on the ground while major Western powers just closed their eyes.

Today NATO Turkey is a major conduit for many Islamist terrorist ratlines and clearly Chechens and Caucasus Islamists have entered Syria via the connivance of the Erdogan government. The government of Syria insists that it is fighting international terrorism which is being sponsored and supported by America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. On top of this, Jordan is playing a murky role and clearly parts of Lebanon are involved in supporting international terrorism and sectarianism. It is therefore incumbent on the friends of Syria to help this nation much more and for major Western powers to take a long look at September 11, the shackling of women in Afghanistan, daily terrorism in Iraq, the failed state of Libya, the collapse of parts of Pakistan, the destabilization of Mali after the Libya debacle – and other brutal realities like 50% of Christians fleeing Iraq after the US led invasion. After all, why are the same nations supporting the side of international terrorism and sectarianism against secular Syria? Similarly, how come NATO Turkey is a springboard for international jihadists like the Chechens and so many more ethnic groups given their brutal future objectives?

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/11/al_nusrah_front_clai_8.php

http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=40749&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=228&cHash=c3e3cff3cb8c85aa5a70815db7c3871e

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_05_10/74299416/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

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Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The Nigerian armed forces have been involved in heavy clashes with Islamist militants near the border of Chad in the last few days. Estimates vary about the numbers of people killed but irrespective of the final death toll it is clear that the town of Baga was badly hit. Also, the armaments used by suspected Boko Haram Islamists is highlighting a worrying trend because their military arsenal is growing.

Meanwhile the nation of Mali needs to know that France and the international community will continue to support central forces in this nation. Also, given the knock-on-effect from the demise of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya then nations like America and the United Kingdom have a responsibility to assist Mali. After all, the changing dynamics of Libya witnessed many vacuums. This applies to a plentiful supply of military arms which have been used in Mali, the Algerian hostage crisis and of course many ratlines are being used in order to destabilize Syria. Therefore, Mali is a victim of the whims of America, major Gulf powers, France and the United Kingdom because of their short-sighted objectives which often lead to many new nightmares.

In Nigeria the issue is internal but given the nature of international terrorism and the many ratlines in the Gulf whereby petrodollars are supporting Islamist indoctrination through many angles; then events in Libya and Mali can soon become interconnected either to a major degree like in Mali – or based on growing terrorist networks because of failed states. The destabilization policies of America, France, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and major Gulf powers; are always short-sighted and often their policies create major chain reactions which can’t be contained.

The civilizational war is equally important in Mali and Nigeria because Gulf petrodollars and international jihadist groups want to destroy indigenous black African Islam. In Mali the rich cultural norms of Islam in this country were attacked ideologically and physically. This applies to destroying Sufi shrines, indigenous Islamic architecture and then enforcing barbaric Gulf Islamist norms on society. Indeed, this fresh colonialism is not only abhorrent but it highlights the reality that Gulf nations and Islamist terrorist networks hate religious diversity within the Muslim world alongside despising the non-Muslim world.

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “In modern day Mali you currently have multinational forces being led by France which are attacking Islamist forces. Much of the chaos in Mali was instigated by genuine ethnic concerns in the north, the internal political chaos, weakness of central forces and other important factors which enabled many vacuums to take place. Thereby, the failed state of Libya became the” negative icing on the cake.” The Libya angle applies to enormous military hardware being available and the failed state reality whereby ethnic and religious forces entered the failed political landscape of Mali. Therefore, once Islamists got the upper hand against ethnic forces in Mali and decided to consolidate their powerbase further south; then Islamists “crossed a line” that France wasn’t willing to accept. However, given the nature of Islamist tactics in Afghanistan and Somalia, and other parts of the world; then it would appear that the proposed pull-out by France is too soon. After all, multinational forces and the central government still appear weak without France playing a leading role despite the professionalism within elite Chad military units.”

Since this was stated President Deby of Chad commented that “Face-to-face fighting with the Islamists is over. The Chadian army does not have the skills to fight a shadowy, guerrilla-style war that is taking place in northern Mali…Our soldiers will return to Chad. They have accomplished their mission. We have already withdrawn a mechanized battalion.”

However, the leader of Chad did state reassuringly that military personnel from this country would partake in the 10,000 contingent of forces under the wing of the United Nations (UN) once the military operation changes the baton to the UN. Of course, Chad fears being over-stretched because of possible internal issues, the continuing chaos in the Central African Republic, the recent heavy clashes between Islamists and the army of Nigeria near the border of Chad – and because of other important issues related to regional concerns and economic limitations. Therefore, it is essential that France remains the backbone for Mali irrespective if the military angle is reduced in numbers.

In Nigeria the clash between the military and Islamist terrorists a few days ago is known to have killed many people near the border of Chad. Some reports are claiming extremely high numbers but the military denies such figures. What is known is that suspected Boko Haram Islamists are becomingly increasing better armed. This reality will be setting off alarms bells within the military of Nigeria. It is also unclear if the Islamist assault against Baga was a response to the political overtures currently going on in this nation – or, equally, if Boko Haram will use this attack in their bargaining chip with central forces in Nigeria.

The BBC reports that “Religious and political leaders in northern-eastern Nigeria, the epicentre of the insurgency, recently called for an amnesty….The president responded at the beginning of April by asking a team of security advisers to look into the possibility of granting the militants a pardon.”

Therefore, it would appear that regional internal leaders, the central government in Nigeria and representatives from Boko Haram are talking through various channels. Of course, a possible amnesty will be the start of a long journey providing Boko Haram comes on board. However, if you look at the complex nature of the Philippines, then it is more than likely that several splinter groups will emerge because militants within Boko Haram are very far away from the thinking of indigenous Christian and Muslim communities in Nigeria. Also, like the recent clash a few days ago it is more than apparent that Boko Haram is increasingly becoming better organized and militarily supplied. Indeed, given the nature of various Islamist forces throughout parts of West and North Africa then the growing network may be ushering in a new stage. It would therefore appear that Nigeria is faced by the growing internal angle alongside the shadowy international angle.

Until Boko Haram does decide to enter genuine talks then the words of Brigade Commander Iliyasu Abba should be heeded. He stated that “this is the time to demonstrate courage in the face of naked terror to assist the security agencies overcome the challenges posed by the terrorists in our midst”

Turning back to Mali then the Austrian Foreign Ministry commented that “The creation of democratic institutions is the vital first step for assuring that other additional aid measures will be effective in Mali and the region. The EU training mission for Mali is an important component of European commitment here. The agenda for this initiative is to train the armed forces in Mali and to ensure that they are capable of re-establishing territorial control over the entire country. The maintaining of human rights can only be achieved if appropriate training is given to the army in Mali.”

It is imperative that France, the European Union and regional nations in Africa work together in order to stem the tide of Islamist terrorism in Mali and to give fresh hope to the people of this country. Ethnic issues also need to be addressed. Equally essential is that the infrastructure is given adequate funding because Islamists seek economic, political, educational and religious chaos. Also, the petrodollars of the Gulf need to be cut when it applies to political and religious ambitions which are based on Islamist indoctrination by stealth.

Nigeria and Mali face enormous challenges but both nations need to know that the international community is focused on progressive forces in order to defeat “the forces of death, sectarianism and religious hatred.” In the past, Mali was betrayed by the political intrigues of major Western and Gulf powers which unleashed negative vacuums after overthrowing Colonel Gaddafi in Libya. At the same time, the sinister role of Gulf petrodollars which seeks to destroy indigenous African Islam needs to be watched carefully and this also applies to Nigeria.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22243834

http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/foreign-ministry/news/press-releases/2013/lopatka-mali-braucht-die-unterstuetzung-der-eu-beim-aufbau-demokratischer-strukturen.html

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Pierre Leblanc and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The legacy of the American led invasion continues to blight the people of Iraq. After all, not only did America unleash unforeseen vacuums but after destabilizing Iraq they then cut and run. At the same time American oil companies are bypassing central forces in Baghdad. More alarming, not content with spreading mayhem to Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya; the same combined forces are spreading daily carnage to Syria by using many proxy forces. Therefore, the Middle East is suffering from Islamist adventurism which is aligned with powerful political elites in Washington, London, Ankara, Riyadh, Paris and Doha.

It is clear that the forces of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria alongside various Islamist organizations are intent on changing the power dynamics of both nations. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is also spreading hatred throughout Syria because this movement is a puppet of powerful international players and this notably applies to several NATO powers. It also doesn’t appear coincidental that after American forces pulled out of Iraq; that this was followed by growing Islamist terrorist attacks against central forces in Iraq and Syria after a lull in Iraq.

Turkey’s role in antagonizing Syria by allowing terrorists and the FSA to receive training, military arms and other areas of support is abundantly clear. In Iraq the issues related to Turkey mainly applies to energy deals bypassing Baghdad; demanding the extradition of Tariq al-Hashemi from Turkey back to Iraq; and the military of Turkey violating the sovereignty of this nation when it pleases. Iraq is also alarmed by regional nations which are destabilizing Syria by supporting sectarianism, sedition and terrorism.

The Christian community which suffered greatly at the hands of international terrorism in Iraq after the betrayal of major Western nations which did little to stem the tide of persecution; is now facing the same scenario in Syria alongside all other minorities in this nation. Therefore, Christians throughout the Middle East are looking on anxiously to events in Syria and fearing the worst for their co-religionists.

Mainstream Muslims from all different sects in Iraq and Syria must also be shedding many tears for what is happening in both countries. This is related to the usual players being involved in the destabilization of independent nations. The majority of international terrorists who entered Iraq to kill American soldiers came from Saudi Arabia. This was followed by countless massacres against the Shia throughout Iraq by Sunni Islamists. Currently the same Saudi Arabia alongside Qatar and Turkey are now playing the “sectarian card” against the people of Syria. The knock on effect of this is more terrorist attacks against Iraq because Islamists view the Shia and Alawites to be worthy of being killed in their “Sunni Islamic jihad.” Woe-betide mainstream Sunni Muslims who support the voices of reason because they will also be viewed to be infidels in the minds of Islamic fundamentalists. Indeed, several Sunni Muslim clerics have been killed in the last few months in Syria because they supported the central government against international terrorism.

The same methodology of car bombs are killing many people in Syria and Iraq but despite this Gulf nations and major NATO powers are siding with the forces of terrorism. NATO Turkey is also a major conduit for terrorists and this fact highlights the reality that this military alliance cares little about a fellow NATO member helping the forces of international terrorism. Clearly the brutality and nature of terrorism is inter-locked to some extent in both nations because terrorist funding is supported by wealthy individuals, so-called charities and organizations emanating from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Of course, you also have a sinister role within both corridors of powers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar whereby feudal monarchs control all the power mechanisms.

Sadly, the bloodletting continues in Iraq and Syria because of the same combined forces of destabilization which leads straight to Washington, Riyadh, London and Doha in the case of Iraq. When it comes to Syria the nations of France and Turkey have entered the fray alongside the other four culprits. Therefore, the people of Iraq and Syria are mere fodder for the brutal policies of all the above nations which have ulterior motives. However, despite all the enemies of Syria the armed forces of this nation remain loyal to the central government because they fear the annihilation of Syrian culture by Salafists.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com