Winslowalrob Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Terrorism’s Dubious ‘A’ List Terrorism’s Dubious ‘A’ List The Taliban has never appeared on State Department terrorist list. (Photo: AP) April 27, 2006 Prepared by: Eben Kaplan At about this time each year, the U.S. State Department issues its Country Reports on Terrorism, which lists groups the United States officially regards as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations," as well as those countries deemed to be "State Sponsors" of terrorism. These lists are closely watched, as a position on (or removal from) them bears substantial political ramifications. A new edition of the report is expected this week, and terrorism experts, foreign governments, and lobbyists who try to influence the list, are awaiting the yearly results. Criticism of recent editions of the report focused on inaccurate statistics, though a new Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center, has addressed that concern. Past history suggests the terrorist list is viewed as an important policy tool at the State Department. New groups or state sponsors are added as attacks are attributed to them, and, sometimes, groups with a long history on the list can make their way off of it, as cfr.org's Michael Moran explains in this Background Q&A. For instance, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was dropped from the terrorist list following the 1998 Good Friday Accords (BBC) and a cease-fire of several years. This year, Spain's Basque terrorists, ETA, declared their own cease-fire and might hope to be similarly removed. Spain's government opposes that possibility, however, and experts see it as unlikely before a peace accord is in place. An Iranian group on the list, Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK), which has been linked to terrorist attacks on the current clerical regime in Tehran, has been the subject of an intense lobbying campaign in Washington to have it removed. Advocates in the United States, like the Iran Policy Committee, argue the MEK's tips on Iran's nuclear program have proven invaluable, and that the group should be seen as an American ally (MSNBC). Bush administration officials have rejected that argument repeatedly, though the stalemate over Iran's nuclear program could cause them to reassess the Iraq-based group, which has been confined to an old army base there since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Libya, meanwhile, was a charter member of the state-sponsors list when it first appeared under CIA auspices in 1979. Yet Libya hopes recent concessions will get it removed. Just after the 9/11 attacks, the north African nation moved to settle international claims for its role in blowing up Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. Libya also provided detailed evidence to IAEA officials that led to the shutdown of a massive black market in nuclear weapons technology run by Pakistani physicist A.Q. Khan. But subsequent evidence of involvement in a 2004 plot to kill Saudi's Crown Prince Abdullah (CNN) (now King Abdullah) may keep Libya on the list. Conspicuously absent from the report for years has been the Taliban—prime candidates for inclusion as a state sponsor before 2001, when they harbored Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda and other groups, and since being driven from Kabul, for adopting terrorist tactics in their rearguard actions. Yet the Afghan religious extremists have never made either list. A new CFR background Q&A examines the current resurgence of the Taliban and how the group is viewed in Washington. http://www.cfr.org/publication/10552/terrorisms_dubious_a_list.html The site itself has a bunch of links in-text. Why didn't the Taliban make the cut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 no Taliban on the list? Probably becasue if you where gonna make a list of the worst terrorists in the world, you only need one name: George W. Bush. maybe that guy who had have his face blown off would put Chaney as a close second. Here's to you Americans who are treated like mushrooms....kept in the dark and feed s**t all day long.:2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissU28 Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 no Taliban on the list? Probably becasue if you where gonna make a list of the worst terrorists in the world, you only need one name: George W. Bush.maybe that guy who had have his face blown off would put Chaney as a close second. Here's to you Americans who are treated like mushrooms....kept in the dark and feed s**t all day long.:2cents: oh please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 no Taliban on the list? Probably becasue if you where gonna make a list of the worst terrorists in the world, you only need one name: George W. Bush.maybe that guy who had have his face blown off would put Chaney as a close second. Here's to you Americans who are treated like mushrooms....kept in the dark and feed s**t all day long.:2cents: Well, this is not going to go over well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURGUNDYBLEEDER Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 no Taliban on the list? Probably becasue if you where gonna make a list of the worst terrorists in the world, you only need one name: George W. Bush.maybe that guy who had have his face blown off would put Chaney as a close second. Here's to you Americans who are treated like mushrooms....kept in the dark and feed s**t all day long.:2cents: Wow brainwash much in your free time? Enjoy your socialist paradise that teaches you that Bush is the world's greatest terrorist. Who is the greatest non-terrorist? Bin Laden, Castro, Chavez? But good point and I respect your opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Wow brainwash much in your free time? Enjoy your socialist paradise that teaches you that Bush is the world's greatest terrorist. Who is the greatest non-terrorist? Bin Laden, Castro, Chavez? But good point and I respect your opinion. I actually studied brainwashing under three of the greatest brainwashers of all time. CNN, FOX NEWS and the US government.:laugh: I knew this was gonna start some backlash, there is nothing more dangerous then telling an american that his country might not be the best in the world. For those who want to bash me for my views, have no fear, Im sure the next time I cross the border some men in dark suits will take me in a room, hold me for no reason and do all kinds of nasty things to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 Anyhoo, the terrorist list thing is kinda bizarre. The Taliban has NEVER made it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURGUNDYBLEEDER Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I actually studied brainwashing under three of the greatest brainwashers of all time. CNN, FOX NEWS and the US government.:laugh: I knew this was gonna start some backlash, there is nothing more dangerous then telling an american that his country might not be the best in the world. For those who want to bash me for my views, have no fear, Im sure the next time I cross the border some men in dark suits will take me in a room, hold me for no reason and do all kinds of nasty things to me. No see we don't care whether or not a Canadian knows that our country is the best in the world. That is what makes us American's. Do you see the irony in that we are talking to one another because of AMERICA'S greatest football team? Now why don't you invite me to a CFL message board, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissU28 Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I actually studied brainwashing under three of the greatest brainwashers of all time. CNN, FOX NEWS and the US government.:laugh: I knew this was gonna start some backlash, there is nothing more dangerous then telling an american that his country might not be the best in the world. For those who want to bash me for my views, have no fear, Im sure the next time I cross the border some men in dark suits will take me in a room, hold me for no reason and do all kinds of nasty things to me. so let's all cross the border into liberal hell to go smoke pot legally....then maybe we'll understand where your thoughts come from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Weirdo Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I don't think America is the "best" country in the world but you're certainly not helping your case by going out and attacking it outright. Next time just be a little more civil about it artmonk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Weirdo Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 BTW What makes a country the "best" in the world? Is this a ****ing contest or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Force Cane Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Wow- how will we ever survive without you? And tell all those in the rest of your country trying to move down here- to stay up there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailYeah Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 so let's all cross the border into liberal hell to go smoke pot legally....then maybe we'll understand where your thoughts come from. Whats the difference if its smoked legally or illegally? Thats an idea though, all people who are not from this country and say that we are not the greatest country in the world must be high. Its the best explanation I can think of too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailYeah Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 BTWWhat makes a country the "best" in the world? Is this a ****ing contest or something? Man we make everything else a contest, so yes it is a contest. And we are gonna bring home the gold, son. GOLD! But seriously, I love America as much as anybody but I also find it humorous the way people react to foreigners' opinions. We really got to start taking the nationalism thing less seriously. People are gonna hate us. We might as well get used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsHokieFan Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 People who have travelled around the world know America is by far the best nation on Earth to live and thrive No other spot I have been to (Pakistan, Canada, most of Europe, Mexico) even compares to what we have here Likewise, if we showed one iota of humbleness it would help us, because America isn't the center of the universe and we have to realize that people in Rome don't give a **** if you are American, they will treat you like they treat everyone else Hope I found a middle ground for our Canadian friend As far as the Taliban not being on the list. That is very bizzare, but considering they are hiding in caves between Pakistan and Afghanistan right now, well maybe that had something to do with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 No other spot I have been to (Pakistan, Canada, most of Europe, Mexico) even compares to what we have here I wouldn't mind living in Italy. What a beautiful country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsHokieFan Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I wouldn't mind living in Italy. What a beautiful country. Agree with you there. It really is However I wouldn't want to make a living in Italy. That is not so beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 However I wouldn't want to make a living in Italy. That is not so beautiful yeah, can't argue with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailYeah Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Agree with you there. It really isHowever I wouldn't want to make a living in Italy. That is not so beautiful You got it right SkinsHokie, As Americans it is not in our nature to be humble, at all. It is also not in our nature to take lightly people calling us out on our not-so-humbleness. We could benefit from a change of culture in that regard. In a related note, my girlfriend is Italian and I will be spending three months there this summer in northern Italy. It is beautiful there and the people are smart, poingant, skeptical, creative, gorgeous, etc., etc. They really keep you on your toes, put your life in perspective and make you reevaluate whats important. But a lot of this comes from a history of scraping to get by, something that many of us, or at least myself, have never truly experienced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurd Cudins Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Where's Asian Dawn? I read about them in Time magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailYeah Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Wow this was an interesting link pulled from the article. We have terrorists on OUR side? Heresy anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Harris Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 so let's all cross the border into liberal hell to go smoke pot legally....then maybe we'll understand where your thoughts come from. you have some serious misconceptions about pot. i've seen pictures of you drunk. nobody on pot would act like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Harris Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 People who have travelled around the world know America is by far the best nation on Earth to live and thriveNo other spot I have been to (Pakistan, Canada, most of Europe, Mexico) even compares to what we have here Likewise, if we showed one iota of humbleness it would help us, because America isn't the center of the universe and we have to realize that people in Rome don't give a **** if you are American, they will treat you like they treat everyone else Hope I found a middle ground for our Canadian friend As far as the Taliban not being on the list. That is very bizzare, but considering they are hiding in caves between Pakistan and Afghanistan right now, well maybe that had something to do with it does the period (.) key not work on your computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gchwood Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 no Taliban on the list? Probably becasue if you where gonna make a list of the worst terrorists in the world, you only need one name: George W. Bush.maybe that guy who had have his face blown off would put Chaney as a close second. Here's to you Americans who are treated like mushrooms....kept in the dark and feed s**t all day long.:2cents: Hey only american's can insult the leader of our country!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 One reason might be they allowed terrorist bases ,but were not actualy supporting them?...Maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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