Strife engulfing the Islamic world also jeopardizes global geopolitics. Such a conclusion by the experts indicates multitude of threats. Analysis of the process becomes imperative, in light of the terrorist acts being committed by radical religious groups, because fabrication of a terrorist image of Muslims may entail grave dangers.
Radical religious groups: who are the clients?
Radical religious groups are one of the pressing subjects of global geopolitics. There are many organizations operating in the name of Islam that are accused of terrorism. Does it really reflect the reality? Do really Muslims think of achieving any political goals through killing? What if it is some sort of a game introduced by others?
Indeed, answers can be different. Some claim that "Islamic terrorism" exists. Others attempt to substantiate the objectiveness of a trend of politicizing the religion. In the meantime, there are some who believe that some powers are employing the Muslim token for their own objectives. Interesting conclusions derive from the study of various publications and real political events. Many experts point to some thought-provoking aspects and "jihad" is one of those that deserve profound analysis.
This word denotes fighting, working, struggling and trying in the name of Allah. It is inaccurate to hold it equal to armed fighting as it really implies a struggle against one’s moral and social defects, namely, that every person must always attempt to subdue temptation. It refers to a perpetual struggle of the individual against self. Nevertheless, in the modern age it is more relevant to armed clashes based on religious ideology aimed at different objectives. For example, Muslims must rise against colonization, unfairness, injustice or confront who prevent dissemination of Islam.
Still, there are evident trends of purporting "jihad" as something totally negative, thus belittling Islam itself. The principal method of achieving this goal is to inculcate the idea that organizations conceived in the name of Islam are engaged with terrorist activity. Is this process valid?
According to most experts, big powers are behind the radical groups disguised under the banner of Islam. Al-Qaeda for example, is said to be introduced by the U.S. (see: Дмитрий Минин. Под знаменем Джихада / "Столетие", 1 October 2013). As of the 1980s, American intelligence has tried to establish Muslim resistance movement in Afghanistan that led to the emergence of "Taliban" and "Al-Qaeda". Having succeeded in pushing Soviets out of Afghanistan, the Islamist forces turned their guns against the very U.S.
However, this is the obvious side of the issue. Experts believe that "Al-Qaeda" is an instrument of terror in advancing America’s geopolitical plans in different regions of the world (see Леонид Савин. Сирия: Сетевая война / "Столетие", 23 April 2013). This is the role "Al-Qaeda" presently plays in Syria. In this context, the U.S. sponsors other organizations as well (Liwa al-Tawhid, Liwa al-Islam and Sukour al-Sham) (see: previous source). According to "Washington Post", as a result of U.S. support, 75% of present Syrian opposition is made of Islamist groups.
"Network war" and "jihad"
Under the disguise of Islam, the notion of "jihad" is aggressively exploited in nurturing radically-minded combatants. Social networks are fertile grounds for mustering such individuals in numbers. The term "network war" has emerged in the wake of the process (see: Дмитрий Седов. "Исламский" терроризм американского разлива / "Фонд стратегической культуры", 23 September, 2012). Indeed, "Al-Qaeda" had amazingly diverted its course of activity towards Syria. It is happening as the West considers its mission in Afghanistan accomplished and engages in negotiations with "Taliban". There are forecasts that, after 2014, the group will target China, Central Asia and Russia (see: previous source).
Moreover, "Muslim brotherhood" is said to be the brainchild of British intelligence while speculations are that "Hamas" is sponsored by the Saudi Arabia and "Hezbollah" enjoys financial support from Iran. Apparently, there is an external power behind every organization active on the political scene in the Middle East. In the meantime, the events are unfolding based on the Western script.
If indeed the information is accurate, one surely gets an impression of a game played on a vast geopolitical space with "jihad" taking center stage. While utterly conflicting to the nature of Islam, the process, administered from outside, is having disastrous ramifications for the Muslim world. One after another Islamic countries are plunging into turmoil and organizations akin of "Al-Qaeda" are emerging as leading actors. There surely has to be some logic here.
The point is that Muslim nations are projected to be the ones with the greatest potential in the future. While writing about the prospects of civilizations, S. Huntington predicted the Islamic world to take a leading role in the world by 2020. Demographic and social-economic criteria were selected as underlying factors.
Surely, the West had to implement a policy against that in order to preserve global leadership. It is thought-provoking that for several decades already the Muslims are used to that end (see: Сергей Василенков. США всех посчитали по двойным стандартам / www.pravda.ru, 26 April, 2013). This method serves two objectives. First, negative image of Islam is created. Second, an impression is made that Muslim nations need intervention for democracy to be established there. Eventually, they dismantle existing social-economic infrastructure and form a system conformant to the interests of outside forces. Events develop on the backdrop of sharp restriction of access to natural resources for upholding the national interest of a given country.
In the modern history, the "jihad" is abused to serve the interests of certain political quarters, namely the West. For ensuring enduring leadership the U.S. is employing well-elaborated geopolitical schemes and is attempting to manipulate the global processes (see: Евразийский джихад, триумф и крах США. Часть вторая: планы США по захвату планеты, Арабская весна и Сирия / www.ancvictory.org? 11 October 2013).
It all leads us to some pessimistic geopolitical conclusions. First, there are big powers that nurture sordid plans in modern global geopolitics that only adds to the uncertainty in the world. In the meantime, the system to emerge in the wake of the crisis in the Muslim nations is yet unclear. Third, these processes are conducive to the Third World War. In the event of the wave of terrorism to hit China and Russia, the outcome would be beyond projection. Chaos would engulf a vast geopolitical space, entailing mass casualties, while situation in the developing countries would also have to be taken into account.
Those employing "jihad" for their political needs are obviously playing with fire, fraught with dire consequences for the rest of the world.
Newtimes.az