Afghanistan
I. Background and Update
Afghanistan is a country located in central Asia. Afghanistan has been a center for radical Islamic organizations (i.e. Al-Qaeda, Taliban). Terrorist organizations that are considered illegal by the United Nations find Afghanistan an ideal location to be operate out of because of the many remote locations in the country and the government is unstable. Following the 2001 September 11 attacks, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, a campaign to remove Taliban (radical Islamist group) dominated camps in Afghanistan. Since the repression of the Taliban, the organization has reformed itself as an insurgent group against the Afghani government.
Afghanistan has taken the position of combating international terrorist networks that run rampant throughout the country. In 2009, the Obama Administration shifted its policy in Afghanistan geared towards a strategy of “counter insurgency” or fighting the terrorist in Afghanistan.
In recent years, however, the Taliban have once again become increasingly successful at recruiting youth to join their ranks, and have executed a number of acts of terror in the state (including four in 2011). President Barak Obama has committed to a withdrawal of all US forces from Afghanistan by 2014, and the Western world continues to promote the legitimacy of the new government of Afghanistan under President Hamid Karzai.
Major events surrounding terrorism and policy in Afghanistan most prominently include the assassination of Osama Bin-Laden on May 2nd, 2011 figure head of Al-Qaeda and America’s most wanted political threat, as well as the elimination of Al-Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki in September of last year.
II. Foreign Affairs
The current Afghani government, which is led by a President who was put in place largely by western international support, is highly friendly to western support and security, such as that provided by the United States. Afghanistan believes Pakistan to be somewhat cooperative with terrorists, and thus strongly encourages them to work to dispel terrorist actors from Pakistan, who often spill into Afghanistan. Afghanistan is largely tolerant of helpful foreign intervention, but is wary of pressure to intervene exerted by Russia in the region.
United States of America
I. Background and Update
On September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon near Washington D.C., causing nearly three thousand deaths. In 2001, President Bush launched a War on Terrorism campaign. In October 2001, the USA invaded Afghanistan removing the Taliban government and dismantling Al-Qaeda training camps. Lacking a UN mandate for military intervention in Iraq, President Bush organized a Coalition of the Willing: allowing the United States to strike Iraq and remove President Saddam Hussein from office. The United States has taken a hardline policy approach to combating the issue of terrorism. With its War on Terrorism campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan, a lot of US resources are funneled into military aid in combating terrorism in these regions. Human Rights violations have been a major criticism by the international community towards the United States. With its abuses and violation facilities in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib Prison, there has been a track record of reported torture and maltreatment of inmates in these facilities. The United States has been hands-on in its policies of stopping any reoccurrence of such violations of human rights.
II. Events and Foreign Relations
Major events surrounding terrorism and the United States were aplenty in 2011. The Arab Spring called upon the US to intervene to usher the freedom and democracy of six nations. On May, 2nd, Osama Bin-Laden was killed in Pakistan. Since then, drone attacks and skirmishes along the Afghani border between Americans and Pakistanis have intensified relations, including a failed drone attack by the US that killed 30 Pakistani soldiers. The United States continues to call for the delegitimizing of the Iranian government and their involvement in nuclear technology, perhaps with militaristic intent, as it poses a threat to their Middle Eastern ally Israel, which has been subjected to acts of terror by Hamas and Hezbollah, two organizations known to be funded by Iran and Lebanon. The United States can continue to trust on their western allies, but as nations such as China and Russia assist in weapons deals with terrorist sponsors in Iran, Syria, and Pakistan, a rising conflict of interest appears to be increasingly prominent.
Colombia
I. Background and Update
Colombia is a South American Country with coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Colombia has been plagued by drug cartels and paramilitary groups which have engaged in a violent internal conflict in Colombia. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the oldest terrorist organization in Colombia. They have engaged in illegal drug trade, and arms supply. Another rebel organization is the National Liberation Army (ELC) is devoted to fighting for the peasantry of Colombia against the social injustices of the established government.
Colombia has a hard-line policy about combating terrorism and these rebel organizations. It has its own funded military projects to apply enough military pressure on these criminal groups. Some security indicators have improved, showing a decrease in reported kidnappings (from 3700 in the year 2000 to 800 in 2005) and a decrease of more than 48% in homicides between July 2002 and May 2005 and of the terrorist guerrilla itself reduced from 16.900 insurgents to 8.900 insurgents.
II. Foreign Relations
A diplomatic crisis occurred in 2010 when Venezuela was accused of harboring FARC guerillas in their nation, allowing them to slip easily into Columbia to commit acts of terror. Relations continue to be tense between Venezuela and Colombia. But, Colombia does have a strong relationship with the United States of America, due to a trade partnership and echoes the sentiments of the United States’ views on terrorism.
Egypt
I. Background and Update
Egypt is located in North Africa with coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, Egypt has been very active in eliminating terrorism. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic group has been the main oppositional group to the Egyptian government. They espouse an ideology of establishing an Islamic state within Egypt. After its creation, the Muslim Brotherhood engaged in armed conflict with the government. Presently, the brotherhood has shifted its scope to supporting oppositional groups and has retracted from violence. During the Presidency of Hosni Mubarak, he banned the Muslim Brotherhood from political activity in Egypt. In 2011, a revolution happened within Egypt that saw the toppling of longtime President Mubarak, and the legalization of the brotherhood in parliamentary elections.
Egypt has been criticized by many international human rights organizations about its violations and abuses of detainees accused of terrorist activity. In 2007, human rights group Amnesty International released a report criticizing Egypt for torture and illegal detention. The report alleges that Egypt has become an international center for torture, where other nations send suspects for interrogation, often as part of the War on Terror.
II. Foreign Relations
Egypt continues to be an ally of both the United States and Israel, even though it is considered the only country in the Arab world that is allied with Israel. Egypt would likely support any policy ideas presented by the United States. Because of its relationship with the United States, Egypt considers countries such as Iran and Lebanon to be enemies of the Egyptian government because they are openly hostile about Egypt’s relationship with Israel and the US. Egypt would not agree with any counterterrorism policy presented by Iran or Lebanon.
India
I. Background and Update
India is located in South Asia. India has taken a firm stance about countering terrorism and minimizing the amount of terrorist activity within its borders. There are two extremist groups that are very active within India: Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET) and Indian Mujahideen (IM). In November 2008, there was a string of 11 shootings that occurred throughout Mumbai (India’s largest city). The lone gunman who survived confessed to Indian authorities that LET was responsible for the attacks (164 people were killed). A major disputed territory is Kashmir; a region that is situated between India and Pakistan. Respectively, both states have interest in the region and have military presence in the area. Kashmir has been subjugated to terrorist bombings by Islamic militant groups, and it continues to be a bedrock for terrorist activity.
II. Foreign Affairs
India’s relationship with its neighbor Pakistan is extremely weak, due to the fact that both India and Pakistan claim the Kashmir region to be part of their country. Because of this dispute, India does not agree with Pakistan’s stance on anything, including terrorism and would be incredibly opposed to any suggestions the Pakistani government might give on the subject of terrorism. On the other hand, India has good relationships with the nations of the European Union and the United States. India has contributed extensively to the War on Terror, including doing joint exercise with the American military. India, the European Union, and the United States all agree on what the UN should do to combat terrorism.
Iran
I. Background and Update
Since the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, the Iranian government has used terrorism as both an aspect of their foreign policy and domestic (national) policy. Other countries have criticized Iran for using state-sponsored (government-sponsored) terrorism, but the Iranian government does not believe that tactics the Security Services use are terrorist tactics. Iran feels that these tactics are necessary to maintain order at home, as well as abroad. The government of Iran really does not care about what other countries think about their policies and will continue to do whatever they see fit, no matter how the rest of the international community feels.
II. Foreign Affairs
According to the former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, the United States of America sparks terrorist acts internationally with its own foreign policy. The Iranian government feels the USA is actually intensifying terrorism worldwide and making the problem worse by fighting terrorism. Iran believes that the USA should abandon the War of Terror and other counter-terrorist policies. Iran considers the United States of America and its allies to be its biggest enemy. On the other hand, Iran is allies with China and the Russian Federation because Iran has trade agreements with both nations.
Lebanon
I. Background and Update
Lebanon is a small country located in the Middle East on the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon is a known haven for Muslim terrorists. After Israel was created in 1948, Palestinians were pushed out, and a large portion sought refuge in Lebanon. Many of these refugees were recruited to join Palestinian anti-Israeli militia groups, the largest being the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Fatah. Attacking from inside Lebanon, a cross-border war had ignited between Israel and these groups by 1968. Israel invaded the Lebanese border twice (first in1978, then in 1982) in order to push out the terrorist threats. In 1985, the Hezbollah, a Lebanese resistance group, formed to counter the invasion. Since then the Hezbollah has grown into its own political party with significant influence over the country. Financially and politically supported by Iran and Syria, it has become one of the largest anti-Israeli militias across the Arab region.
The Lebanese Government, partially controlled by the Hezbollah, has arrested Al-Qaeda members as a sign of cooperation against international terrorism; however it refuses to act against the liberation groups on their border believing them to defend their national sovereignty against Israel.
II. Foreign Affairs
Lebanon considers other Arab countries, such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, to be its closest allies. The Lebanese government considers Israel to be its biggest enemy, due to the fact that Israel has invaded Lebanon militarily many times in the past. Lebanon disagrees with Israel and its allies’ policy on terrorism and does not want to see an Israel and United States driven policy become the United Nations policy on terrorism.
The People’s Republic of China
I. Background and Update
The People’s Republic of China is located in East Asia. Since the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers, China has pushed for international cooperation on a global counterterrorism policy. China likes the idea of global cooperation in the fight against terrorism because it is in the self-interest of China. China gains powerful knowledge and technology from working with more advanced countries like the United States, which China can then use to strengthen and develop its own government and fight terrorism within its own borders. Domestically, China has a zero-tolerance policy on suspected terrorists, and harshly crackdowns on any individual or organization that opposes the Chinese government.
China does not calculate the threat of terrorism based on the number of civilian casualties, like most other countries in the world. China measures the terrorist threat by the potential damage to a country’s stability and development that any terror attack could cause. China views terrorism as primarily a global problem, which needs a global response to combat the issue properly.
II. Foreign Affairs
Since China wants to be the next superpower nation, it has worked hard to create alliances with many countries. China has a strong alliance with the Russian Federation, and China and Russia have similar national policies on terrorism. China also has good relations with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, but does not want to see a US led terrorism policy. China would prefer for a China and Russia led terrorism policy to be the policy adopted by the United Nations.
United Kingdom
I. Background and Update
The United Kingdom is an European nation located off the coast of France in the Atlantic Ocean. Before the September 11th Attacks, the UK government has been extensively involved with counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland since the 1800s. While the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland remains a focus for ensuring public safety, the UK has taken on broad measures to solve the growing trend of transnational terrorism.
While the 9/11 attack did not pose a direct threat to the United Kingdom, its government, closely aligned with the US, placed stringent regulations regarding international terrorism, especially in airports. However, the security forces were shocked during the 2005 suicide attacks in the London transportation system. The government began to realize that some terrorists could be “home-grown” – born, raised, and educated in the UK. Since then, the government has tried to understand the motives of Muslim communities in efforts to address minority experiences. Polices forces have also been deployed to the streets to actively check and detain persons who are suspicious. This policy has raised serious questions regarding such stop-and-searches, because the police could detain people without charging them. In Northern Ireland and other minority communities, residents grew distrustful of local police.