What IR means to me

International Relations is the cross cultural understanding of foreign affairs. It is looking at events and issues from different perspectives, rather than from a biased American view. It is the global interaction between states in the international system. It fosters cooperation and understanding of things beyond what simply affects our own country. Through international relations, we gain a better sense of what starts conflict and the different ways to deal with such conflict. From analyzing events from the different theories, we have learned to view certain events from different perspectives, allowing us to expand our own convictions and opinions. 

International Relations is exemplified in our participating in global markets: for example buying cars, furniture, clothes, and other goods used in our lives every day. Our culture is also influenced by international relations, as we have adopted music, foods, movies, and electronics produced in other countries. International Relations embodies our everyday lives. 

Fight Against the Funding of Terrorists

Following the events of 9/11, President Bush and the US Treasury Department blocked the financial assets of individuals and organizations connected with Al Taqua and the Al Barakaat, two terror-supporting financial institutions. Al Tacqua has been linked with helping Al Qaeda, and Al Barakaat is owned by a friend of Osama Bin Laden. These two institutions raise money for Al Qaeda, provide terrorist supporters with internet service, and arrange for the shipment of weapons. In blocking such financial transactions, The United States has sent a message to global financial institution that they will face consequences if they support terrorists. 

The United Kingdom has also taken substantial steps in cracking down on money laundering.  UK Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed the issue in October of 2006.

In his latest pronouncement, Mr Brown has focused on three aspects of the fight against the funding of terrorism.
Firstly, he has reiterated the need to safeguard legitimate organisations such as charities and money transfer businesses from being abused for terrorist purposes.
Secondly, he is keen to harness the strengths of the private sector, in the shape of forensic accountants, financial institutions and investigators.

And thirdly, he says that existing powers to freeze the assets of alleged terrorists are nowhere near strong enough

Our aim is simple: just as there be no safe haven for terrorists, so there be no hiding place for those who finance terrorism  Chancellor Gordon Brown Terror finance: warning signs

 

 

 

Ends- based/ Rules- based

The rules- based and ends-based distinctions can be applied to the United States response to actions taken by terrorist organizations from the Middle East. As applied to the current situation, an ends-based analysis of the torturing of suspected terrorists at Guantanomo Bay and other torture camps overseas might be that the United States views that they are working to prevent future attacks and saving many more lives in the process. The United States works to contain and prevent terrorism. From a rules-based analysis the United States has responded to the attacks by declaring a war on terror to demonstrate that violent actions made by terrorist organizations are not morally acceptable in the eyes of the United States or the greater international community.

Terrorist Organizations in the Middle East and International Relations Theories

Political terrorism has been prevalent in the Middle East politics with various terrorist organizations acting in the region. Al- Qaida, for example, is the organization we often hear most about. It is the militant Islamic Organization responsible for the attacks on the United States on September 11. The group is lead by Osama bin Laden.Hezbollah or Hizbollah is a Shi’a organization formed in 1982 following Israels invasion of Lebanon.  They were resisters of the Israeli occupation.  Hezbollah aim was to construct a government after Iran.  Hezbollah like many other terrorist organizations has called for the destruction of Israel.  In 1983 Hezbollah was responsible for the bombing of a U.S. military building leading to the death of 241 U.S. marines.  In recent years the group has been linked with countless terror attacks including the assasinations of prominent Lebanese politicians causing unrest within the country. The United States has labled the qroup a terrorist organization but in Lebanon they are viewed as freedom fighters or part of the national resistance movement. Hezbollah support comes from a large group of Shi’a muslims which make up approximately 40% of the counrties population.  However, Christians within Lebanon believe that Hezbollah’s existance is destabilizing the country.   In relation to the International theories, the groups Al-Qaida and Hezbollah embody both the Realist and Radical Perspectives. Realist, in the sense, that their view of the individual is “power-seeking, selfish, and antagonistic” (Mingst 74).In addition, the key actors would be the states and international system, which are bother power seeking, with nationalistic prosperity as their goal.  However, they denounce capitalism as represented in the 9/11 attacks on our institutions and therefore exhibit Radical ideals. 

Terrorist Organizations and the International System

With the recent death of Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyeh the Lebanese are participating in a national day of mourning.  Mughniyeh was killed by a car bomb in Damascus, Syria late tuesday night. Hezbollah is a radical Shi’a dominated party created in the early 1980′s in Lebanon. The group has especially strong ties to Syria and Iran.  Chief Hassan Nassrallah of Hezbollah issued a statement blaming…

 ”Israel for his death and said its war against the Jewish state was not over.“Zionists, if you want this sort of open war, then let the whole world hear, so be it!” he declared. Nasrallah said that Israel thought that Mughniyeh’s death “would lead to the destruction of the resistance… but they are wrong” 

 

Thousands braved heavy rain to remember Hariri Enlarge Image

  Unlike the Lebanese the Israelis and Americans view Narallah’s death as a victory in the war on terror.  Mughniyeh has been on the United States “Most Wanted” list for many years.  Imad has committed many atroscites over the years.  Perhaps one of his most well known attacks occured in 1983 when he allegedly helped bomb the U.S barracks in Beirut killing hundreds of servicemen.  He has also been linked to the the  1985 TWA hijacking and the 1990 Buenos Aires bombing.  Imad has led the Lebanese secretive wing of Hezbollah for many years and was involved in the fighting against Israel in 2006.   The murder of such a prominent leader has only heightend the already tense relationship with neighboring Israel.   The day proves to be even more significant as it is also the three year anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Rafick Hariri.  The Lebanese government was sent into termoil upon his death and has never recovered.  Lebanese presidential elections were scheduled to take place in November but the unstable political climate has made elections impossible.  The entire Lebanese Muslim population rallied around the death of Imad.  His death conveys the spilt within the international system. The United States and Israel view his death as a victory, whereas on the contrary, the Lebanese and those in the Middle East view it as a great tragedy.

Morality in Terrorist Organizations

From the perspective of the United States, terrorist organizations in Middle East act in ways that contradict morality in international politics.   Questions raised about morality:1) How to terrorists justify the killing of innocent people in the name of their religion when the Quran does not preach murder or violence? 2) Why do terrorists claim that western influences are corrupting their culture, yet cities such as Dubai and Beirut have become westernized on their own and still retain their national identity?3) What is moral about the Al Queda suppressing their fellow Afghan people? Through their immoral acts, terrorist organizations are hindering the spread of islam by committing acts of terror. The rest of the world looks at the actions as barbaric and therefore draws negative connotations  of islam

State-sponsored Terrorism

The fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979 gave rise to a new government run by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  Following his rise to power, Iran became a state-sponsor of terrorism. 

“In March 2006, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said,” ‘Iran has been the country that has been in many ways a kind of central banker for terrorism in important regions like Lebanon through Hezbollah in the Middle East, in the Palestinian Territories, and we have deep concerns about what Iran is doing in the south of Iraq.’

“A few months after Hamas won the Palestinian Authority (PA) elections in early 2006, Iran pledged $50 million to the near-bankrupt PA. The United States, among other nations, has cut off aid to the PA because of Hamas’ terrorist ties.” “Yes. Iran has hundreds of Scuds and other short-range ballistic missiles. It has also manufactured and flight-tested the Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of 1,300 kilometers—enough to hit Israel or Saudi Arabia.”  (http://www.cfr.org/publication/9362/state_sponsors.html)

 

 

 Iranian Terror Timeline 

 

1. Iran Hostage Crisis 1979-81— American Embassy siege by Iranian Revolutionaries ordeal lasted 444 days.
2. Bombing in Beirut 1983— A blast In June of 1983 leveled a building killing 241 U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. After the bombing occurred the U.S. found out that Iranians had been driving the vehicle that was used to carry out the attack.
3. TWA plane hijackings 1985— TWA flight 847 from Athens to Rome was hijacked in 1985 with seven NAVY divers aboard.  The plane flew to Beirut and released most of the women and children.  Next the plane went on to Algiers.  Upon arrival it circled back to Beirut.  Hijackers beat the American and Jewish hostages. They then shot and killed an American and proceeded to throw him out of the cockpit window. This ordeal lasted two weeks and the American hostages were eventually released to the Syrians.
4. Khobar Towers 1996 — In June of 1996 Iranians (in conjunction with the terrorist group Hezbollah) bombed the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. The Khobar Towers complex was being used to house foreign military personnel, including Americans. Hezbollah exploded a fuel truck into one of the eight-story buildings that housed U.S. Air force personnel.  In all, 19 U.S. servicemen and one Saudi were killed and 372 others were wounded.
5. Links to IMU 2002-present—- In 2002 the U.S. acquired information that Iranians were providing training and logistical support for insurgents from the radical al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).  The Iranians helped to coordinate IMU activities. Iran’s influence in post Soviet countries was undermining strategic partnerships the Bush administration had built.  These were the areas critical in the war on terror.
6. 9/11 connection—Shortly before the 9/11 Commission Report was released, documents were uncovered describing in detail Iran’s ties to al-Qaeda . The report outlined Iran’s ties with the major terrorist group Hezbollah (based mainly in Beirut and southern Lebanon).  Intelligence information also revealed that top Iranian officials were directly involved in the 9/11 plot. Iran gave al-Qaeda members passports, intelligence assistance and a safe haven.

Terrorist Organizations in the Middle East

Many terrorist groups have originated in the Middle East causing widespread conflict domestically and internationally.  We will foucs on groups such as Hizbollah, Al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad and Hamas and the implications these groups have on foreign policy.  

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