The argument that Sirajuddin Haqqani or Abu Muhammed al Jolani must be American agents since the US doesn't launch drone strikes against them is pretty shallow.
The US is actually legally bound not to use military force except with congressional authorization or...
/1
The US is actually legally bound not to use military force except with congressional authorization or...
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...in case of self-defense.
This is somewhat similar to Israel's policy vis-a-vis Hamas, where they directly retaliate to any hostilities, by tracking rockets and launching air strikes on the locations they are launched from. It's a tit for tat policy.
/2
This is somewhat similar to Israel's policy vis-a-vis Hamas, where they directly retaliate to any hostilities, by tracking rockets and launching air strikes on the locations they are launched from. It's a tit for tat policy.
/2
The policy of the rebel groups from early on in the Syrian civil war was to avoid confrontation with the US and NATO, because they understood Assad was the most present threat, and that he was backed by Russia.
This exemplifies the tension between global and local outlook.
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This exemplifies the tension between global and local outlook.
/3
This tension was highly visible in the dynamic between Mullah Umar and bin Laden as well.
Mullah Umar asked bin Laden to avoid media interviews, but media was key to the type of psychological warfare bin Laden had decided it was necessary to leverage against the West.
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Mullah Umar asked bin Laden to avoid media interviews, but media was key to the type of psychological warfare bin Laden had decided it was necessary to leverage against the West.
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He also agreed in principle with the struggle against America, but wanted to prioritize consolidating power in Afghanistan first rather than launching attacks immediately.
This is why he authorized building training camps, but asked bin Laden to avoid attacks...
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This is why he authorized building training camps, but asked bin Laden to avoid attacks...
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...after the bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya and the bombing of the American navy ship off the coast of Yemen.
In other words, bin Laden wanted to prioritize the global struggle, while Mullah Umar was focused on the local.
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In other words, bin Laden wanted to prioritize the global struggle, while Mullah Umar was focused on the local.
/6
These two dimensions are interdependent. Having a safe haven in Sudan and Afghanistan was critical for the growth of al Qaeda and the success of the organization in striking US interests.
At the same time, these activities brought backlashes against the host states.
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At the same time, these activities brought backlashes against the host states.
/7
Both dimensions are necessary. Establishing Islamic authority requires striking the West, because they will never allow a true Islamic state to rise and consolidate power if it is in their power to prevent it.
At the same time, organizing offensive operations requires...
/8
At the same time, organizing offensive operations requires...
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...some level of territorial control and stability.
The appearance of moral legitimacy is an important element of the US's claim to hegemony, and if they start bombing whoever they want with impunity, they will lose this, and lose standing within the liberal world order.
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The appearance of moral legitimacy is an important element of the US's claim to hegemony, and if they start bombing whoever they want with impunity, they will lose this, and lose standing within the liberal world order.
/9
This is why they gradually removed Omar al Bashir from power through sanctions and political and psychological programs inside of Sudan and within the Sudanese diaspora rather than just invading the country. There is some proportionality to response.
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It's also about expense. Geopolitical actions have consequences and cost both financial and political capital.
States will generally avoid expending these scarce resources unless there is a need.
Part of the loss of political capital caused by drone strikes...
/11
States will generally avoid expending these scarce resources unless there is a need.
Part of the loss of political capital caused by drone strikes...
/11
...is growing resentment among the populations of target countries about perceived violation of their sovereignty, and collateral damage which turns more people against the US. This is why they try to minimize these actions and resort to measures like the development...
/12
/12
...of the R9X missile to reduce collateral damage. Like all the altruism of hypocrites, there is a political calculus behind this appearance of adherence to some kind of moral principles.
The point here is that just because one Muslim is targeted by drone strikes and...
/13
The point here is that just because one Muslim is targeted by drone strikes and...
/13
...another isn't does not mean that the one who isn't is an "agent of the West," or has somehow allied with them.
If someone thinks so based on suspicion, and then makes takfir and starts attacking them based on this suspicion, then it becomes a "self-fulfilling prophecy."
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If someone thinks so based on suspicion, and then makes takfir and starts attacking them based on this suspicion, then it becomes a "self-fulfilling prophecy."
/14
The one who prioritizes the global struggle rather than local consolidation of power finds himself fighting the one who prioritizes local consolidation, and then perceives this one as an opponent to the global struggle, even though this may not be the case.
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/15
Fighting against those who prioritize local consolidation will just make matters worse, because both local consolidation and global struggle are essential and complimentary.
These two tendencies need to remain united and balance each other out.
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These two tendencies need to remain united and balance each other out.
/16
If those who value global struggle leave a group, the factions focused on local consolidation will gain more sway over the group. If those favoring global struggle dominate a group, they will alienate the common people by being unable to fulfill their needs, and end up...
/17
/17
...fighting the common Muslims who are ignorant and/or have weak faith rather than fighting the real enemy.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite other to share their food." Someone asked "Will that be...
/18
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite other to share their food." Someone asked "Will that be...
/18
...because of our small numbers at that time?" He replied "No, you will be numerous at that time, but you will be froth and scum like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take the fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and cast al Wahn into your hearts."
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/19
Someone asked "O Rasulullah ﷺ, what is al Wahn?" He replied "Love of the world and dislike of death."
This is to say that most of the ummah being unwilling to offer up their life and wealth for the sake of a global struggle does not make them kuffar.
/20
This is to say that most of the ummah being unwilling to offer up their life and wealth for the sake of a global struggle does not make them kuffar.
/20
Nor does it make them kuffar if they believe it is first necessary to gain more strength before fighting, and they then resist a group which believes fighting must be immediate and attempts to impose that view by force. This is because they are not resisting sharia, but...
/21
/21
...rather have a different understanding of sharia, and whether this understanding is wrong or not is to be settled through referring to the Quran and sunnah and calling to the truth, rather than takfir and killing.
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