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December 29, 2008
Exclusive: CRC Open-Source Intelligence Briefs
Maj. W. Thomas Smith Jr., Director of the Counterterrorism Research Center
GAZA: If you read nothing else today, take a moment and read Jed Babbin’s “Gaza as Microcosm” in Monday’s Human Events.
Babbin, a former deputy undersecretary of Defense now editor of Human Events, writes:
“The Gaza Strip is just a microcosm of the threat posed by Islamic terrorism. Unless and until nations such as Iran and Syria are forced to end state sponsorship of terrorism, any victories we or the Israelis achieve will be short-lived. The longer we and the rest of the civilized world deny that fact, terrorism will succeed. …”
(more here)
INDIA-PAKISTAN: Tensions continue ratcheting up between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the wake of last month’s terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai.
The attacks – believed to have been carried about by Pakistan-based Lashkar e-Tayyiba, an al Qaeda-linked terrorist group – resulted in the deaths of 172 people (including nine terrorists).
Pakistan claims it is not responsible for the attacks. India, which certainly has a right to defend itself against terrorism, claims Pakistan is not doing enough to stop terrorist activity in Pakistan which in-turn threatens India.
Since the attacks, Pakistan has accused the Indian air force of violating its airspace. And Pakistani troops have been shifted from the Afghan to the Indian border.
Still, analysts believe war between the two states is unlikely.
(more here)
LEBANON: Hizballah continues to smuggle weapons and equipment into Lebanon and into Hizballah’s “security squares” via Beirut airport, according to Lebanon’s Naharnet and Kuwait’s Alseyassah.
(We’ve been reporting this – and the details of it – for well over a year. Additional analysis here.)
The recent Naharnet report says: “Hizballah also continues to smuggle arms via positions under its control along the coastline stretching from Ouzai in Beirut to most of the southern Lebanese seashore. … small- and medium-size jets owned by several arms dealers and middlemen, including some from Gulf states, land at Rafik Hariri International Airport to unload supplies and military gear into civilian trucks and from there to Hizballah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs [al Dahiyeh].”
According to reports, Hizballah’s weapons-smuggling operations have increased “six-fold” since Hizballah launched a series of armed attacks (with impunity) against the Lebanese government in May.
According to reports, Hizballah’s weapons-smuggling operations have increased “six-fold” since Hizballah launched a series of armed attacks (with impunity) against the Lebanese government in May.
(more here)
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
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