Rehabilitating the jihadists
Quote:
Rehabilitating the jihadists – Volume 14, Issue 5 – May 2008
Saudi Arabia tackles the radical threat from within
A programme aimed at reintegrating jihadists into society forms an important and innovative part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to deal with radicals. So far, it appears to be a success – albeit a qualified one.
http://www.iiss.org/publications/str...the-jihadists/
Wicked problems - a fundamentalist fix?
120mm,
It is an add feature, in the UK and possibly elsewhere that some Salafist groups tackle extremism with their theological / ideological methods and thoughts. It came as a surprise to me to learn after 7/7 that in the UK some such groups had been opposing extremism / terrorism long before the state did.
Try an article by ex-Met Police SB officer, Bob Lambert in this journal: http://www.thecordobafoundation.com/...ue_02x_Web.pdf
Yes these groups have a particular viewpoint, which we'd not have much in common with, but they can be effective against extremism.
On the Saudi angle and what is done in Saudi Arabia I remain sceptical (not helped by watching 'The Kingdom' this week).
davidbfpo
Recycled the Saudi experience
Once again the Saudi rehab programme for extremists via art gets an airing, last appeared in April 2008 with a showing at The Frontline Club, London (on this thread: http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...frontline+club
and now in Foriegn Policy: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/...jihad_to_rehab . Do I detect a shortage of materiel or astute PR by the Saudis?
Incidentally the links on the FP link are betterm for e.g. John Horgan being interviewed: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/ep...nts-quit/3833/
Muslim prisoners in Washington State
Not earth shattering, but the figures on the numbers involved were new to this faraway observer: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/200...905&news01ad=1
How the US CT regard such a trend has been commented upon before, IIRC not on SWJ.
davidbfpo
UK prisons and radicalisation
This issue appears fairly reglarly, usually with a lurid news headline and then disappears. The link goes to an article which takes a longer view, the author works in a London "think tank" IISS: http://raffaellopantucci.wordpress.c...rism/#more-112
davidbfpo
True, but it has to be both
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bob's World
First, it is founded in the popular, but baseless "Pied Piper Theory of Insurgency" (My name for it, I'm sure it has a more official name elsewhere), that presumes that some dynamic leader comes along with a magical flute of ideology and that he somehow bewitches (radicalizes) young men to follow him to their doom. Now if we simply expose the Pied Piper as a fraud, they will see the light and settle down and become good citizens once again.
First, this totally absolves the government giving rise to these young insurgents of any responsibility for contributing to the causation for the insurgency through their failures of governance.
We have to do both, push the governments that restrict human rights and opportunity (pick any gov't in the Middle East as a prime example) to change as well as deradicalize the environment. Radical Imams do in fact gather followers by building layers of legitimate-sounding religious discourse on the substrate of resentment against the effects of those governments until the followers believe violence is not only their sole option but their sacred duty.
Many non-violent (I hate the word moderate) Imams simply do not have the education in Islamic jurisprudence to counter radicals in a manner that appeals both intellectually and emotionally to the target population. The radicals have built an intellectually solid, albeit narrowly based, argument that justifies violence against both infidels and innocents, who are tools in that fight. Deradicalization efforts have to tip the radical argument off that narrow base by exposing its nihilism and by promoting alternative, broader interpretations that attract wider support.
Midnight basketball won't do it. We have to both change the underlying conditions and undermine the efforts that capitalize on the resentment. Neither is sufficient by itself.
Cause vs Cause - Narratives & Motivation
We agree that leaders are important. So are cadres (we middle-rankers) and also the mass of the populace. I believe a fair generalization (yes, there are exceptions) is that leaders are more motivated by ideology, cadres more by perceived opportunity, and the masses more by perceived security (or more realistically in these screwed-up environments, the better perceived insecurity - credit: M-A Legrange).
I believe that COL Jones has refined his position on Causation, Motivation and Causes (as contained in the Narratives) - see Distinguishing "Causes" from "causes" and Agreed as to what a cause is.
I have no position about the Saudi program cuz I don't have enough knowledge about it and no experience with it. I do know that the Saudi ideology is not that far removed from UBL's; but the "Causes" in their "Narratives" are quite different. As you correctly state:
Quote:
The jihadis are actual a threat to the Saudi's existence. The jihadis want nothing more than to rule over their holy land.
The Powers That Be in the Kingdom are betting that their Narrative will beat AQ's Narrative. In confined conditions, that probably is a good bet; but whether that will stick once people are out of the program is something else.
In a way, this reminds me of our Socialist allies in the Cold War (certainly Marxist-based, but with a different Narrative than the Coms). That alliance won a few political battles and avoided some military battles.
Regards
Mike
I can't define "good governance"
in any sort of generalized way that would make that term useful for doctrinal guidance.
To me, the quality of governance requires reference to the specific context and some measurement (even if only qualitative and a "fuzzy pattern") of the People's perception of that governance.
What goes on with suicide bombers has to end up with a belief strong enough to die for - with the certain knowledge that no possibility exists for survival. How they get there must be by varied paths (probably too many or too deep to apply any sort of generalized preventive program).
In any event, focusing on them is akin to focusing on a cruise missile (9/11) or mortar shell (suicide bombings) - they are the means to project explosive power (as well as personalizing the attack - to create a Wind of Hate in Dave Grossman's terms). So, I'd look to the people that send them.
As to them, kill, detain or convert are the options. Convert is probably not a good option for leaders; possibly an option for middle-level cadres; and probably an option for many low-level doggies. As I said, I've little knowledge and no experience with the Saudi program.
Regards
Mike
everyone is never on board
Quote:
While I don't doubt there are many Saudis- even in the royal family and government- who are legitimately trying to do their part, I'm not quite convinced everyone is on board.
Agreed, there are very few instances where everyone is on board in any country, which is why I think the good governance will solve all problems card is danagerously over played.
In the U.S. there was huge opposition to both WWI and WWII, and more recent time while it was official policy not to support terrorists, many Americans donated money to the IRA. In any democracy you have left leaning, center leaning, and right leaning groups and individuals and variations within those groups. Each has their own interpretation of good government, and some will resort to violence to pursue their ideal form of government.
What does the average American, the average German, the average Mexican, the average Nigerian, really think about various issues? I think the term average used in this fashion is an illusion at best. For those who accept the argument that good governance is the cure for all global ills, it would seem that they would accept that the government should fold everytime an armed group challenges its policies. Obviously it must be a "popular uprising". Seems like a receipe for chaos and failure to me. Principles are worth fighting for, and groups opposed to my and perhaps our principles feel the same way. If there are groups out there opposed to a particular government, then it is highly probable that there are groups opposed to those groups (as both Afghanistan and Iraq "clearly" demonstrate).
Eventually you have to take a stand, and "sometimes" the political process will be violent as it has been throughout the history of mankind.
Terrorist Dropouts: Learning from those who have Left
CT Blog pointer to a WINEP report starts with:
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In December 2001, Sajid Badat and Richard Reid, two young Muslims from England, were scheduled to blow up two U.S.-bound planes by using explosive-laden footwear, Jacobson writes. Reid -- like Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, al-Qaeda's most recent alleged plane bomber -- made the attempt and failed. Badat, however, abandoned the plan, later telling prosecutors he wanted to "introduce some calm" into his life. What led Badat to choose an alternative path? (My emphasis)What can we learn from his case and from the many other terrorist "drop outs" who have left al-Qaeda? In a newly released Washington Institute study, I explore these difficult but important questions.
I have asked about those who have given up the fight, not necessarily the cause and few academics appear to have considered this - so even if I've not read the report yet - I welcome this and will return when read.
The link to full report:
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/p...-who-have-left
After Yemeni AQ surge, the KSA responds
I suppose this was to be expected and appearing in The Daily Telegraph is no surprise.
In short:
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Saudi Arabia says it will not give up a controversial rehabilitation programme for Islamist radicals heavily criticised in the US after former inmates set up an al-Qaeda cell in neighbouring Yemen.
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...on-scheme.html
Note a 20% recidivism rate is cited by the Saudis (not seen that before).
Ex-Guantanamo inmates 'fail rehab'
The much-lauded and criticised Saudi rehab process has re-appeared after a rare official statement:
Quote:
About 25 former Guantanamo Bay detainees have returned to violence after going through a rehabilitation programme in Saudi Arabia, a senior Saudi official has said.
Abdulrahman al-Hadlaq, the director of the interior ministry's ideological security administration, said on Saturday that about 20 per cent of the 120 repatriated former prisoners have returned to radical activity after graduation from a rehab centre in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
More on the link:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...047249951.html or Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65I22220100619
Hat Tip to The Legal War on Terror Weekly Brief.
From Rehabilitation to Recruitment
Hat tip to a Canadian helper.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute has released a new report entitled ‘From Rehabilitation to Recruitment’, an in-depth look at the problem of prison radicalization – the recruitment and indoctrination of future terrorists within prison populations by fellow inmates. While Canada’s problem with prison radicalization is still limited in comparison to other countries, author Alex Wilner argues that now is the time to stop this phenomenon in Canada before it starts, and offers a number of recommendations for preventative action.
Link:http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/files...ecruitment.pdf
Canadian report (just prisons)
This Canadian parliamentary report has some depth - in the variety of witnesses heard - and the testimony of Professor Andrew Silke (UK) on the effect of prison is important:http://parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/commb...df/09issue.pdf
Quote:
Perhaps another surprising observation is that in the U.K. we have had over 400 al Qaeda-linked extremists convicted of terrorism-related offences since 2001. Approximately 300 of these people have been released already, and many have received relatively short sentences. Most of these people are on the streets in the U.K. One finding is that there does not seem to be any evidence of these people re-engaging in extremism or becoming involved in violence again. The re-conviction rate or the re-offending rate of these individuals is extremely low. It has surprised many people who assumed that if someone was radicalized, chiefly engaged in violence and had spent time in
prison, they would still be dangerous when they came out. From most of them we see that prison represents a transition period where they move on to other issues and away from violence.
Link to report:http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/c...p03mar11-e.pdf
Lessons from Saudi Arabia
Spotted in an ICSR report on the Yemen:
Quote:
At its core are 100 veteran jihadists, who escaped local prisons in 2006 and 2011. The group also counts on 11 former Guantanamo detainees, who returned to terrorism after undergoing "rehabilitation" programs in Saudi Arabia.
See main post (No. 57), with full copy of the ICSR report:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...t=12784&page=3
After Assassinations, Basque Killers Explain
A rare insight into how Spain is accommodating it's violent past, now that the Basque separatist ETA has declared a ceasefire and the brave people on either side:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/wo...&smid=tw-share
Canada's growing problem: rehabilitation
A thoughtful article, from a country with very few convicted terrorism prisoners and if Canada is struggling with a plan and implementation, how will others fare?
Link:http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11...bilitate-them/
Fighting terrorism: Do 'deradicalisation' camps really work?
A long comprehensive article by Jason Burke of The Guardian, which assembles information from around the globe and tries give an answer to this:
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The problem, however, is that nobody knows if they actually work.
Link:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...on-camps-work?
That the Pakistani police have such a programme I don't recall before. One thing is for sure:
Quote:
Equally, success in many places, such as Singapore, may be as much to do with 24/7 surveillance of the released militants as anything else, experts say.
I am sure a week ago I read elsewhere that the Yemen is copying the Saudi model for returning GITMO prisoners; since the Saudis now admit a 20% recidivism rate one wonders if the Yemen will ever admit theirs.
There is an existing thread on 'Terrorist Prisoners and Deradicalization':http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=5219 and the wider 'Studies on radicalisation & comments':http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=7188