121Contact

Research Methods in Terrorism: 4—the major problems.

Three major problems, and many lesser ones, exist within the field of terrorism research. First: The problem of compartmentalization. Magnus Ranstorp’s ‘Mapping Terrorism Research’ opens John Dewey quote that succinctly captures the major problem facing this research today: “One of the chief practical obstacles to the development of social inquiry is the existing division of social phenomena into a number of compartmentalised and supposedly independent non-interacting fields.” This compartmentalization has carried through to the study of terrorism, resulting in a wide range of ‘fields’ that have, so far, little integration.

    One of the more serious separations of research concerns motivation. There is a great divide between the motivations for scholarly research and non-academic research. Scholarly research seeks factual explanations that are devoid of bias. Governments, policy makers, law enforcement agencies, and the media each have their own justifications for distorting research methods and findings. Official bodies tend to approach terrorism in order to effect immediate mitigations, increase popularity and acceptance of policy, and garner public support for decisions.

    This official blindness has led to biased analyses including the rejection (without scientific reason) of consideration of political motivations of terrorists. The media, having shown that sensationalism increases readership and profits, is often guilty of distortion. All these are contradictory to the aims of academic research, and hinder  understanding.

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Ranstorp M. (2006). Mapping Terrorism Research. State of the Art, Gaps

and Future Direction. Sweden, Routledge.

"Friday No Deception". Protesters to Maliki: Stop Cheating and Go Away

The American media gleefully writes of the horrors in Iraq but rarely lets us see the Peace Movement that is growing there.We can't support the non-violent actors under Maliki's thumb if we don't even know they exist. Eman Kamas has written an enlightening article and it deserves a broad audience. Please share this piece as widely as you can.                                                

"Friday No Deception". Protesters to Maliki: Stop Cheating and Go Away  [full article]

by Eman A. Khamas and Brussells Tribunal on 18-01-2013

[Excerpts] Millions of Iraqis in different parts of the country have taken part in the continuing protest for the 27th day today within the framework of the Iraqi revolution, insisting that the government responds to their demands positively and without any deception or delay (hence the slogan “No Deception”).

The biggest demonstration gathered north of Ramadi (capital of Anbar governorate), where more than two million people continued their protest...this protest does not belong to any political party or a group, that it only belongs to the unified Iraqi people. [Click to enlarge photo]

The committee invited all Iraqis from all parts of Iraq to join a millions’ march next Monday 21^st in the Square of Dignity and Honor.

Meanwhile Al-Maliki is using the army to prevent demonstrations in Baghdad from escalating outside mosques, especially in Al-Adhamiya were the demonstrators are kept inside Abu Hanifa mosque.

[The full article]

January 19, 2013 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact

Zero Dark Thirty vs. Guantanamo: guess who wins...

Google it, my friends. There are ten times as many hits for Zero Dark Thirty (239,000,000 results) as there are for Guantanamo (34,900,000 results).

More people know more about a fantasy movie than they do about a critical site in today's global interactions. Guantanamo, if you study it a bit, is a site for:

• illegal detentions,
• illegal torture,
• evasion of the Rule of Law,
• excuses for hiding information from the American public,
• a feable means to try and terrorize Islamists, and
• an unparalleled recruitment tool for 'al-Qaeda' groups.

It's that last one that really bothers us. Americans are deaf, dumb, and blind when it comes to understanding the dangers that Guantanamo generates...not for the prisoners held there, but for us! We are the ones who will be attacked with Guantanamo as a critical component of the justification of the terrorist attacks to come. Read the terrorist literature and you'll see how often it is mentioned.

We wish we knew how to educate U.S. citizens about the realities of the world they live in and about the truth concerning how the actions of the Obama administration generate waves of hatred that will continue to build the ranks of 'al-Qaeda' groups and create more and more terrorism. And some of that terrorism will be directed at us! If we all understood, we'd close that place down in a day.

Yes, it's not Obama alone, of course, and his drones, lies, blind-eyes toward corruption, support of vicious regimes, and ..well, you know, all the bad stuff. Other administrations before and probably after will continue to behave in long-term-self-defeating ways. But as the Commander in Chief, as the most powerful political leader on the face of the earth (as I am sure he likes to think of himself), as Mr. President he could be doing a lot more to change the way America is percieved in the world, and the level of anger directed toward us, and the consequent damage we will have to endure.

'Revenge' shows 238,000,000 results.

January 14, 2013 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact-dedicated to steering all of us toward more peaceful tomorrows.

What do you say about the War on Islam? Is al-Qaeda right?

Part of Al-Qaeda’s master narrative is “the War on Islam”. The narrative of this war has 5 major components and they are cleverly presented to prospective jihadi recruits in widely varying formats including, but not limited to: graphic novels, personal and classroom teacher/mentor training, speeches, private and public websites, and leaflets. The War on Islam narrative looks something like:

1-The West plunders Muslim resources,
2-Zionists (with great help from their Western allies, mainly the U.S.)
    slaughter Palestinian brothers and sisters,
    steal Palestinian homes, and
    steal Palestinian livelihood,
3-American infidels drop bombs on Muslim women and children,
4-Lies attack  Islam, to make it weak, by manipulating people’s ideas through media propaganda, and
5-The West wants a “moderate” Islam, weakened by dilution, secularization, and,     demilitarization.

Therefore: Muslims must take up the call to jihad and crush the forces conspiring against the umma.

Suppose a young Muslim, perhaps a student, who believes these 5 points comes to you and indicates a strong desire to join the mujahedeen, and become a fighter for ‘what is right.’

What do you say?

Matt Zeller, Afghanistan, and a dream of peace

Matt Zeller, Afghanistan, and a dream of peace
December 9, 2012 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact

I was ready to dismiss Matt Zeller's "Winning the War on Terror One Child at a Time" as just another fanciful dream. 'Pencils', indeed! But then I remembered to listen to what he was saying and I remembered how powerful new thinking can be.

He writes about the importance of education in derailing the terrorists efforts at recruiting new members. Zellers says, "Literacy is not only the path to social mobility in Afghanistan..it is also the only truly effective long term weapon we have against...the Taliban and al Qaeda."

He speaks of pens as a 'key element' in a land where most cannot afford even this simple communication tool. It's a symbol, maybe.But maybe it's not. And maybe the simple act of providing pens to young people can make a difference.

What makes a greater difference is that Matt Zeller is not thinking about yet another violent response to terrorism. He has found a frame in which to picture a peaceful means to reach young people's hearts and minds.

Of course he is not alone. There are many NGOs that attempt non-violent solutions. But the amount of money we spend on such projects is minuscule compared to what terrorist organizations spend to indoctrinate the very same young people we are talking about.The Taliban in Afghanistan raise over a hundred million U.S. dollars each year from their drug businesses alone! And they are not stupid.

As the NATO forces began to cut into the drug trade the Taliban began to diversify, mainly into kidnapping and extortion,  so that their money flow remains uninterrupted. Haroun Mir, director of Afghanistan's Center for Research and Policy Studies, says  "between $150 [million] to $200 million every year reaches directly to Taliban via this network of charities that exists in the Gulf countries."

Fighters earn hundreds of dollars a month. Billions of dollars of heroin are already stockpiled.

It is this kind of thinking, this kind of solution search, that will help deal with terrorism. It will take many projects, working in tandem, working all at once to make a difference. It will take enormous amounts of money to accomplish this but it is money we will have available if we stop spending it on invasions, wars, and occupations.

And one more thing: it's not just the amount of aid money we spend in Afghanistan, how we spend it also maters a lot. Building schools only to have them destroyed before a student can set foot in them wont accomplish much. The answers aren't simple, but at least we can start asking the right questions.

We don't have to blindly run in the unending cycle of violence. We can think differently and act intelligently to enable this world to move toward more peaceful tomorrows.

 

Love Stories by Rachel Berger

Love Stories by Rachel Berger

An 18-year old Writopia playwright performs her own original, spoken-word monologue about her first kiss, her family history borne of Romanticism and Latin poetry, her identity as a lesbian in a world of heteronormative love stories, and the allure of true love.

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Writopia Lab is a national community of young writers, ages 8-18. Founded in New York City in 2007, Writopia Lab has now spread to Greater New York, Greater Washington, and Los Angeles. The environment they create for young writers

"Writopia Lab" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in New York City in April of 2007. We run creative writing workshops for kids ages 8 to 18. All of our workshops have a maximum of six students and are led by a published writer who has been fully trained in our time-tested methodology. In each of the past three years, more kids from Writopia Lab have been recognized on both the regional and national levels by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards than from any other school in the nation.

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The environment they create for these young writers is open, safe, and nurturing. And it works!

 

Nov 8 2011 121Contact needs a classroom full of young artists

Hi.

We are looking for a classroom of grade school artists to exchange paintings and words with a group of Iraqi students.

The Iraqi NGO "Kids and Women Organization" has been providing art classes to grade school students for about one year. The students are between 5 and 14 years old. They live in the city of Numaniyah in Wasit province, in Southern Iraq.

We got to see their wonderfully expressive paintings during our recent trip to Iraq, and in talking with the organizers decided to build an exchange program that will be fun and educational for all involved.

The theme of the first exchange is "Everyday life" and the paintings will be accompanied by words describing one day in the life of the artist.

If you are interested please contact bruce@121Contact.org and we'll arrange the details.

Please pass this on to anyone you think might want to take part in this program.

In loving kindness,
Bruce and Nisreen

October 8-9, 2011 3rd Conference of the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative

Another Iraq is possible, with peace and human rights!

The ICSSI is hosting the 3rd Conference of the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative ans the 1st International Marathon in Iraq for Peace and Nonviolence. October 7-9 will find representatives from each of Iraq's 18 governates as well as scores of international representatives gathering together in support of practical projects that promote human rights and social justice.

They are all committed to inclusive, non-discriminatory, non-corrupt government. Most of all they are staunchly committed to non-violence and change within the rule of law.

These are some of the faces in the driving force that will create a just state from the ashes of years of dictatorship, war, invasion, and occupation. 

(from the 2010 conference of the ICSSI)

 You can join the discussion and support these brave Iraqis:   http://icssi08.ning.com/

Bruce Wallace, of 121Contact, will be facilitating the sessions on Iraqi Youth in the New Iraq, focusing on giving voice to the young Iraqis involved in the new movement, and learning from them what support they desire from international organizations and individuals.

So, be warned. We'll be back to you after the conference to let you know what you can do to help Iraq on its long road to more peaceful tomorrows.

September 9, 2011 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact

If you are able to contribute cash for travel and expenses please contact bruce@121Contact.org

Sept 17 2001 Peace in Hastings-on-the-Hudson

It was a pretty tense day of driving lessons as N has decided to take the wheel. She's really good at it but it is true that there were times my face was pale with fear of eminent doom.

In a gift of relaxation we ended the afternoon at Susan Rutman's beautiful home overlooking the Hudson River, in one of these warm, welcoming gatherings to celebrate and raise a little money for “Sept. 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows” and “Military Families Speak Out.” Peace and Non-violence,  Love and understanding, with lots of activism thrown in for the sake of reality.

We did get a chance to speak (Do we ever miss a chance to tell a tale or two?), but mostly we bathed in the camaraderie of fellow travellers on the long, slow road to more peaceful tomorrows.

Excellent music, dance, sing-alongs, and  food were the ground on which we built new friendships, met folks we knew from other events, and renewed our faith in what for us is 'the American way.'

They were all there. The folk you will find in most of these events. And they were all so very, very nice. I remember coming home from one of these events, it seems like so many years ago, but it was only 10 years in the past, and remarking about the wonderful people I had met. Marilyn said, "So who did you expect to meet at a meeting about Peace and Non-violence?"

From our travels and readings we know that all across the USA there are other small groups of compassionate people, such as the Westchester County Concerned Citizens, that meet regularly, march, write letters to their representatives, and generally include in their lives enough democratic participation to make a difference. Oh, it's slow. we know.

Evolution along the moral/social plane/line is about as fast as land-line-connect-speed, but it is inexorable. The relentless nature of the Peace Movement means we will keep at it, no matter the pace, no matter the nay sayers, no matter the periods of doubt and despair. We will keep coming and our children will follow, and we will reach the inevitable end of a world rich in compassion, poor in violence, and bountiful in its shared treasures.

And if you don't like it you can bury your head in the sand and keep voting Republican.

[More pictures on Facebook]

Sep 14 2011 InterFaith NYC: Faith House Hosts Debbie Almontaser

In yet another showing of the heart of New York City, Faith House hosted an evening of "Discovering the Treasures of Islam in America." Debbie Almontaser's presentation was a personal account of an American woman's awakening to Islam, and how Islam in America holds a special place in the pantheon of religious experience. Readings from the Koran began the event.

No stranger to recent turmoil surrounding American Muslims, Almontaser (founding/former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy and founding board member of The Dialogue Project) brought wit and warmth to the room, enabling the evening’s primary activities of people of all faiths talking in small groups and then together. We shared tales of our different faiths, paths, and then food!

Faith House, I think, succeeded once again in bringing people together and breaking a little more of the walls that divide us. I spoke with 'progressive Muslims' here, got to talk to a rabbinical student, an atheist, and...well, you know, it is New York City after all.

Sept. 14, 2011 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact