Advice or Recommendation for Research Paper
Hello All,
I am starting this discussion in the hopes that I can get some feedback and/or ideas for a possible working group or at least research paper.
I am in the Army Reserves holding the Civil Affairs mos; I also work as a civilian contractor. A portion of my work is research related as I work for the military, the Marines to be exact. OK that's my history.
Now for the question. I am looking to establish a link between coin, women's culture, terrorism and Irregular Warfare. I know it is broad, that is intentional.I will take the suggestions and narrow down a topic. My goal is to establish a link between one or all three, seperately, and Irregular Warfare.
I want to get your thoughts on what would be a viable research topic, something of use to the soldier on the ground and if you can offer a topic that wasn't listed pls feel free. I have gotten feed-back from the Marines as well. I'd use my own experience in Iraq and the 'Stan but it would be extremely biased. That being said any suggestions you offer would be of great use to me.
Thanks
A few ideas come to mind...
How about the cultivation of women to be terrorists such as the suicide bombers for Hamas or the Tamil Tigers or the black widows in Chechnya? I have seen some pretty disturbing videos of their use and there already exists some literature in the field. Or their use in support roles such as being weapon mules in hopes they will not be as closely searched going through checkpoints. I know gang bangers do it all the time here and also have them hold their dope. Just ideas....
Women as a Target in Genocide
Rena,
There are some interesting (poor choice of words but others get too emotional) issues on women with regards to the genocide and Rwanda.
A. Deliberate targeting of women for organized rape; see Linda Melvern's work--1st woman ever convicted for crimes against humanity was the former Minister of Families (or something like that) a woman who led some of the rape gangs; some 250,000 RECORDED/WITNESSED/REPORTED rapes in 100 days
B. Post genocide role of women in Rwanda is dramatically different than pre-war roles Causes:
1. Elimination of males from target groups
2. Rwandan Patriotic Front policies before, during, and after the war have steadily empowered women--the Mayor of Kigali was MAJ Rose who was an RPA combatant and commissar (again lack of a better word)
Look at PBS Frontline, HRW, and USIP for sources
Best
Tom
'Jihad' magazine for women on web
This was back in 2004.
Quote:
'Jihad' magazine for women on web
By Sebastian Usher
BBC World Media correspondent
Radical Islamists have launched a new magazine publication on the internet especially for women.
The aim of the magazine is to show women how to reconcile the apparent contradiction of fighting jihad while maintaining family life.
The magazine is called Al-Khansa, after a famous Arab woman poet in the early days of Islam, who wrote eulogies to male relatives who had died in battle.
It appears to be the first "jihadist" publication aimed exclusively at women.
The magazine says it is published by an organisation called "The Women's Media Bureau in the Arabian Peninsula".
BBC World
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3594982.stm