A joint Arab force against Terror is needed

A joint Arab force against Terror is needed
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2010/02/a_joint_arab_force_against_ter.php


from Counterterrorism Blog by Walid PharesIn a discussion with American and European legislators as well as with counter terrorism experts from the Arab world I suggested the formation of an "Anti-Terror Joint Force" as appropriate response to the expansion of Terror organizations both al Qaeda and Iranian backed, throughout the region. Over the past few years I gave briefings to the Anti-Terror Caucus of the US House of Representatives as well as to several defense agencies on how can such an initiative start among Arab Governments and expand later to Muslim countries. These countries in the Arab world are already fighting Terrorism in general and al Qaeda in particular. Yemen, Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, and several Gulf states. They are already confronting al Qaeda and Jihadi Takfiris in their homelands and in some cases they are fighting networks backed by the Iranian regime, as is the case in Yemen, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Hence an Arab leadership on counter terrorism is the best idea to put all these resources together. The creation of an Arab special forces corps would benefit all countries involved and would be backed by many Western countries.

An Arab joint effort against terrorism is not only beneficial on military and security levels but also and mainly on ideological levels. For Arab intellectuals and NGOs, when approached and supported seriously, can be efficient in countering radicalization and indoctrination by Jihadi Salafis and Khomeinists.

Furthermore, such a Trans Arab effort against Terrorism would enhance the image of Arab countries and societies in the West and at the international stage. After 9/11 connections were made between the Jihadists and entire Arab societies. With the rise of a common Anti Terror Arab force, these connections will be reversed as the international public opinion would then see these important efforts on behalf of several countries coming together to defeat a common enemy, al Qaeda and resist a global threat: Terrorism.

The new Iraq particularly, if successful in resisting al Qaeda and Iranian penetration, can become a leading regional force against Terrorism. This is a country which is attacked every week by al Qaeda and constantly infiltrated by Iranian networks. In a sense Iraq is at the forefront of the War with the Terrorists, particularly the Jihadi Salafists and the Khomeinists. Hence as US and Coalition forces are withdrawing, Iraq must be enabled to defend itself and resist future attacks. If such a regional Arab force against Terror is established, Iraqi forces from all ethnic groups should take center stage in the missions to come. For Iraqi society and armed forces have been battling this menace on a daily basis for many years now

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Dr Walid Phares is an advisor to the Anti-Terror Caucus of the US House of Representatives and the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is the author of The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad.