THE CONFRONTATION

Dr. Walid Phares from Berlin and the European Union discusses Iran / Hezbollah and the Nuclear Threat - on The Right Balance Radio Show hosted by Greg Allen

Phares on the Right Balance: “Stop them now or in the Next Generation”

Dr. Walid Phares on WDYT Charlotte: “The international community must stop a Khomeinist nuclear weapon to avoid a disaster in the region”

Israeli air exercise over the Mediterranean Sea

Think Mornings - 1220 WDYT AM - Charlotte  

Dr. Walid Phares discusses “Define or not Define the enemy in the War of Ideas” - on The Right Balance Radio Show hosted by Greg Allen June 20, 2008

CBN - The 700 Club - What is real Jihad? with Dr. Walid Phares

From Fox News Terrorism expert Walid Phares, this is a frightening look into the future of jihad. Though an alarming new picture of what we can expect from terrorists in the future, Walid Phares reveals how the United States can win the war.

Phares on al Hurra TV: “The future of US role in Iraq will be determined by US policy towards Tehran and Damascus”

Building a New Middle East - Dr. Walid Phares on the Mimi Gerges Show

How do we win the war against jihadists and preserve our way of life? Author and terrorism expert Walid Phares, The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad has written the third in a trilogy of books. He offers a multi-pronged global strategy to defeat jihadism. Then …

Should America be engaged in democracy building in the Arab world? Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution Tamara Cofman Wittes, Freedom’s Unsteady March: America’s Role in Building Arab Democracy says that the Arab world is changing rapidly, and the U.S. had better play a part.

“The ideological factions which basically reject democracy as a concept. They’re not shy about it. But they control the microphone. … Those freedom seeking, liberal, democracy forces in the region simply don’t have a microphone. And when they do have a microphone, you’re going to listen to a very different message.”

- Walid Phares

[ Listen Here ]

VOA News - On The Line: Dr. Fadl Recants - with Dr. Walid Phares.

A leading theorist of violent jihad has renounced terrorism. Sayyed Imam al-Sharif, better known as “Dr. Fadl,” was a founding member of the Egyptian terrorist group Al Jihad, along with Ayman al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri would go on to found al-Qaida by merging Al Jihad with Osama bin Laden’s group. One of the key ideological texts used by al-Qaida was a book written by Fadl in 1988, “Foundations of Preparation for Holy War,” which claimed that jihad and fighting with nonbelievers is the natural state of Islam. And in 1994, al-Qaida published a massive and even more ruthless text by Fadl, “The Compendium of the Pursuit of Divine Knowledge.” That book declares that the blood of infidels is legal and defines as infidels not only non-Muslims but any Muslims who disagree with al-Qaida’s radical vision of Islam.

Jailed in Yemen after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Dr. Fadl was extradited to Egypt, where he remains in prison. From jail, he has published a book of “Revisions,” recanting his earlier views. In an interview with the Arabic daily newspaper “Al Hayat,” Fadl now says Islam does not allow Muslims “to kill civilians, foreigners, and tourists or destroy property and commit aggression against the lives and property of those who are inviolable under the pretext of jihad. All of this is forbidden,” Fadl said.

What is behind Dr. Fadl’s change of heart, and what does it mean for the future of al-Qaida?
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

How the Jihadi Propaganda Machine Will Win the Guantanamo Trials

Dr Walid Phares

Family Security Matters, Counter Terrorism Blog, June 12, 2008

Jihadism in the 21^st century has plans for all types of situations, including Mujahada (Jihadi activity) in a courtroom when needed.

This is now what the world will witness during the trials of the al Qaeda detainees in Guantanamo, Cuba. Both the inmates on the inside and the Jihadi-mates on the outside were waiting for this moment to strike, politically and psychologically, using the media as their weapon. To the well-trained and -indoctrinated five standing trial, the objective is not to gain as many rights and freedoms as possible under current U.S. and international law; rather it is to resume what they began before 9/11 which they deeply wish to fulfill - as they said in their own words - using the trial as a global media opportunity.

This attitude has been anticipated by most experts who have followed the Guantanamo “ideological” battle, particularly the al Qaeda-Jihadist treatment of the issue. It was fully predicted that at least Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and Ramzi bin al Sheeba will take the lead in counter-prosecuting the United States and all its allies. Unlike in other comparable cases, analysts know how important it is for al Qaeda and their supporters around the world to bash the United States - and any other democracy that prosecutes Salafi terrorists - when the trials are ongoing. At that juncture, three elements will converge into one powerful force, all determined to score points against America.

First, there is the Bin Laden organization which thrives on fiery declarations issued by its members on trial. Their goal is, of course, to maximize the propaganda dividends. Every word in the statements made by KSM and al Sheeb, and the others as well, will become gold for the as Sahab machine, the maker of the video and audio material. To al Qaeda, the fate of the men in Guantanamo is not the issue, for in their Jihad they don’t count. Rather, it is the amount of Jihadi propaganda material they can get out of this “battlefield” that really matters to them.

Second, and more importantly, there are the other Jihadists worldwide. These are the Jihadists who still have their freedom and will be able to carry out virulent attacks against the trials and the United States. In doing this, a political price will be paid by America, even for trying the most obvious terrorists - the planners and backers of the 9/11 operation. Organizations, movements, parties, ideologues, militants and a vast constellation of Salafists - and also Khomeinists - are and will continue to attack Guantanamo itself while ignoring the defendants.

The goal of these other free Jihadists is to deter Washington - and other Western countries - from trying the incarcerated Jihadists. Their thinking is that if the U.S. gets condemned in the global media for prosecuting and trying and eventually sentencing the worst of the worst, America will be intimidated when it tries to prosecute non-al Qaeda Jihadists. In addition, other “hidden forces” sympathetic to the goals, but not the methods, of Bin Laden will support the campaign against the trial by enlisting their resources in the media to serve the “anti-trial” campaign (even though this is not a pro-al Qaeda trend).

Third, the conglomeration of all anti-American political forces, including many radical circles within the United States, will unleash its attacks against Guantanamo and what it represents, meaning the existence of the “War on Terror”. A significant ideological segment of the political establishment in America has been pushing the slogan of an “orchestrated war” which must be ended. To them, the trial of the terrorists in Guantanamo is an opportunity to bleed U.S. efforts in the confrontation, thereby enhancing their own domestic political fortunes and agendas.

These three elements are converging into (what is to them) the Battle of Guantanamo. Here is how it will take place.

First, the “team” on the inside of the courtroom will unleash any and all statements needed to create the environment for a martyrdom case: istishaad. They will claim the tribunal is not legitimate, the Guantanamo process is not legal, the procedure is not acceptable and that they want to receive the death penalty so they may become shuhada, or martyrs.

Then, the “production” will be picked up by al Qaeda and other Jihadi-Salafist entities around the world and will reappear in videos, audio and texts, as well as circulate around the world of militant networks.

The in-court “drama” will also be used by the Wahhabi and Muslim Brotherhood networks, that is the long term Jihadists, not praising the defendants but rather promoting some of the arguments made by the al Qaeda detainees. This stealth use of the “production” will serve to produce more incitements and solidify the Jihadi agenda.

For example, the campaign will target American credibility and the concept of a war on terror. Some of the statements by the defendants will be stressed, such as “we do not recognize your laws, but only Sharia.” In short, a control room is already in place to feed off the Guantanamo trials and turn it into a victory in the War of ideas. The al Qaeda detainees will make their statements and will be sentenced, but the international Jihadists will thrive on these words.

Meanwhile in America, we have two indicators that we aren’t really winning yet on this front. One indication is that elements within our government bureaucracy are now using the absolute wrong words (the so-called “lexicon”) to fight this battle. The second indication is the stunningly paltry coverage of what should be known as the trials of the century, in favor of hyped coverage of trials much less significant.

Until these indications change, we are not contenders.

Dr. Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the author of “The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad.”

Dr Phares delivered this lecture on the Confrontation with Jihad on April 23, 2008 at George Washington University and it was posted on Fora TV (the equivalent of C-Span online)

It was watched since, by thousands of viewers. It is important to have a maximum of Americans viewers watch it so that they can familiarize with the counter arguments regarding the topic. Especially in this season of great debates on the War on Terrorism.It would be very helpful if your readers, viewers and listeners would register on Fora TV and post their comments under the video. This would help tremendously in shaping the debate.  They can use this registration to post  comments  on other lectures, thus participating in the exchange of ideas. This would be a little step in the greater effort to win the war of ideas.

Walid Phares on the Mitch Albom Show: “Don’t bring the Jihadists inside the American Legal System”

Dr. Walid Phares on the supreme court decision concerning the gitmo detainees