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Zarqawi: The New Face of Al Qaeda |
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reviewed by Gokce Arslan |
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Author: Jean Charles Brisard and Damien Martinez |
ISBN:
1-59051-214-6 |
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Publisher:
Other Press |
Page:
206 |
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Type:
Paperback |
Price:
$13.95 |
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Review: |
Jean Charles Brisard is a French counterterrorism expert and author of many publications including Bin Laden: The Forbidden Truth. He had been appointed as the head of the international investigation on behalf of the families victimized by the September 11 events. Currently he is the director of JBC Consulting International that provides business and strategic intelligence. Damien Martinez is an expert on Islamic terrorism.
The book opens with a preface indicating the originality and credibility of the documents and information that Brisard receives and declares through the course of the narration. The book consists of four main parts which are divided into chapters. Beginning with the first part titled as “Genesis”, the author analyzes the portrait of the terrorist as a young man. In accordance with his early life, the emphasis is on the socio-political background of Jordan in 1990s. The increasing fanaticism in Zarqa that is at the crossroads and the unrest in the region due to the legalised Islamist parties are depicted in detail. The following chapters deal with Zarqawi in his youth. The comments on his drinking habit, weird tattoos on his body and his mediocrity in terms of education are given as the effects on his personality and stands for the evidence of lack of a blind sense of belief in Islam and its teachings. He was surrounded by New Palestinian refugees living in Zarqa and he easily adopted the role of a leader. The personality of a fighter flourished when he visited Afghanistan soon as the Soviet regime is completely over and he attained military training of a mujahidin in Sada, Afghanistan. Before he returned Jordan Maqdisi, the founder of many Sunni terrorist organizations, and his ideologies were influential on Zarqawi. Brisard continued to shed light to the activism of the Afghans who denounced Jordan’s involvement in the American talks. The veterans were now taken seriously by the Jordan authority because the rhetoric of “Jihad” was on the forefront: “Democracy is a religion that is not the religion of Allah.”
Zarqawi soon later got arrested in 1994 in connection with illegal documents and false passports as well as Maqdisi, who provided the supporters with religious instruction, condemnation of Jordanian regime and celebration of Salafist ideology (one should lead his life in accordance with the teachings of Koran.) Zarqawi showed his anger and hatred on every account. He objected having a lawyer and even refused to listen to the judge. Yet the prison was a new light for him since his comrades in prison were following the rigid body of rules set by Zarqawi. The 5th chapter echoes Zarqawi’s reconciliation with Allah and teachings of Koran by shedding mirror to the clash between the early years of Zarqawi and his years in prison.
The second part depicts the occupation of Zarqawi as a full-time terrorist. The succession of King Abdullah to the throne in 1999 was a significant climax in the history of Jordan. The new king was a westernized leader, having a desire to liberate Jordan. The domestic policy was to compromise with Islamists including Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, which began controlling social institutions. This new milder policy of the king demanded Jordanian officials to release Zarqawi and other 12 militants. This release on the other hand gave way to Zarqawi’s moving to Pakistan since the government kept on investigating him and eventually his entering Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. A new holy war was in the offspring when he took the oath of allegiance to Bin Laden:
“The oath of God is mine, to listen to and obey the superiors, who are carrying out this work with energy, vision and difficulty or ease for the man who is superior to him, so that the voice of God may be strongest and his religion victorious”
At this point, Brisard provides the reader with a general profile of Al Qaeda as having three levels: the top-including Bin Laden and right men, a managerial staff and the members trained in the camps. In accord with the documents proposed in 1999 Zarqawi joined the second circle thanks to his charisma and perfect knowledge of Jordanian networks. From then on, he received financial and material support from Al Qaeda
The 8th chapter opens with his moving to Herat in 2000 and the emphasis shifts to the strategic significance of Herat as opening the way to Iraqi Kurdistan via Iran. Later on, Zarqawi attempted terrorist attacks yet the suspects were captured in Van, Turkey in 2002. Settling down his dominance in the organization, Zarqawi was beginning to get free from Bin Laden. He even controlled some strategic roads to Kurdish camps. He made himself a reputation on the regional level.
The second part of the book also includes the deeds of his supporters. Supporting this, one of the followers of Zarqawi, Suweid prepared an attack against the U.S. on October and an American diplomat was killed in his garage. This action was the first of its kind directed against a foreign diplomat so that Zarqawi not only put his ideology into practice but also became the concern of international agenda. For the first time, “threat and fear” as the two dimensions of terrorism was created and felt among the public.
Being the most notable terrorist attack in the history of U.S., September 11 opened to way to the U.S “Operation Enduring Freedom” that aimed at destabilizing Al Qaeda in the region yet Zarqawi managed to flee. At this point, Brisard claims that Zarqawi’s escape was organized by Iran as he is believed to be equipped with false passports, radio and other stuffs enabling him to survive.
In the third part of the book, Brisard underlines the growing importance of Zarqawi by referring to him as transforming into reality from a myth. Also, the tone of the narration echoes the speculation of the author. For instance, a comparison is created between Iraq and Al Qaeda to prove that Bin Laden was in touch with Iraqi officials who financially supported him. The speculations further suggest that there was clear and convincing evidence that chemical weapons were being manufactured in Iraq and Bin Laden was equipped with those weapons. Another comparison between Iraq and Al Qaeda apart from the interest in chemical weapons is revealed as the common hostility toward U.S. Declarations of Saddam Hussein was considered to be no stranger to the attacks of 9\11.
Zarqawi on the other hand renewed alliance between autonomous Islamist groups of Kurdistan headed by Barzani and Talabani apart from Afghan and Chechen fighters in the region. However, in 2003 the Islamist groups were at unrest and members of Ansan Al-Islam fled to Iran. It is also suggested that Iranian officials refused a request for the extradition of Zarqawi who was imprisoned in Tehran during his flight to Iraqi Kurdistan. However, anti-American attacks were on the increase in the region as Brisard suggests. On April 9, an American was kidnapped and executed by Zarqawi’s followers and the video type of the murder was released on the internet. Although Zarqawi was in the prison, there began a long series of kidnapping and executions. Following his escape from the prison, Zarqawi introduced the notion of “Tawhid and Jihad” meaning unity and holy war. Brisard quotes from Iraqi intelligence services and claims that Tawhid and Jihad consist of nearly 1500 fighters and more than 20000 sympathizers. Significant names including Omar Yussef Jumab and Abu Ashraf were given with their titles and positions in the organization. Further information about this organization suggests Zarqawi was directing the group’s actions from a foreign country such as Iran and Syria as well as the kidnappings that are 150 in number.
In the 18th chapter Brisard focuses on Zarqawi’s attitude toward the minorities. Although Al Qaeda has always dealt carefully with Iran and the Shiite community, Zarqawi advocates a state of chaos in Iraq. He condemns the Shiites as “the weak link of the Islamic Nation” and provokes resistance against American troops.
In the fourth part of the book, the focus is on the global network of the terrorist group. It is suggested that religious centres in Europe including France, Italy and Germany were affective in fight with terrorism. As a matter of fact, it is stated that the terrorists just obtained the status of political refugees in a particular country then ended up in extremist groups. European countries have tried to arrest these cells one by one and certain home searches turned out to be success. For instance as Brisard states thanks to Italian antiterrorist police DIGOS, most members of the terrorist group Ansar Al Islam were arrested in Italy. Meanwhile, in France an Algerian origin group was arrested and found possessing vials of chemical which foreshadows possible chemical bombings in near future. To sum, the author concludes the book with a quick reminder of the history of Al Qaeda in connection with the life of Zarqawi.
In terms of the content and the organization of the story the book is open to discussions. To begin with it can be suggested that although the scope of the narration as a biographical account is narrow, the chronology is hard to follow. There is no unity and coherence within the course of the narration. The dates, identities and the events referred mostly leads to confusion since the author uses flashbacks and foreshadows unsuccessfully. The reason behind this confusion lies on the fact that Brisard uses a “copy and paste” technique in order to provide the reader with the documents he received as much as possible however, these abstracts and flashbacks become irrelevant since the events are not chronologically explained. With regard to content it can be concluded that no matter how surprisingly detailed and “realistic” evidences and documents Brisard includes in the story, ironically the facts he referred ends up in thesis only. He comes to a conclusion that Iran and Syria are the countries housing and supporting Zarqawi and his sympathizers however other European countries like Germany and France although housing if not supporting the same number of these terrorist organizations are not condemned by Brisard at all. His “selective omniscience” refers to Iran as receiving and concealing terrorists while appreciating Germany and France for their fight with terrorism. In this respect, his perspective and revealing of factual accounts fade into that of a subjective one since he is mostly preoccupied on account of his occupation post 9\11.
In light of this, it can be put forward that Jean Charles Brisard deals with a detailed overview of Zarqawi’s life and his relation with Al Qaeda as well as other specific organizations and names. And with the comments on his character as a leader and a fighter, Brisard enables the reader to see the psychology of one of the most significant terrorists of this millennium.
Note: This book review was previously published in the Review of International Law and Politics.
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about book: |
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has now assumed the role of successor to Osama Bin Laden. This Jordanian terrorist has been designated Public Enemy Number 1 in the United States, with a bounty of over twenty-five million dollars on his head. Zarqawi's group, Tawhid wal Jihad, has imposed a reign of terror in post-Saddam Iraq, a bloodbath running the gamut from deadly street attacks to the beheading of hostages. Emerging in the Iraqi conflict as the new leader of Al-Qaeda and casting a shadow throughout the Middle East and Europe, Zarqawi is now the dominant force in the jihadist network.
In Zarqawi: The New Face of Al-Qaeda, Jean-Charles Brisard, international expert on terrorism and terrorism financing, traces Zarqawi's career from its origins to today's headlines, detailing the unprecedented threat he poses to the world. Brisard presents a disturbing and challenging view of United States policy in the Middle East and the war on terrorism. Against the background of an intensive on-the-ground investigation, he reveals the astonishing details of inside intelligence sources, including previously unpublished official documents and photographs, and witness testimonies. 8 page 4-color insert with photos and maps.
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