September 17:
London’s Telegraph reports that a “new generation” of fighters has reinvigorated the Taliban, providing the ousted Islamist movement with a new rationale to wage war. This “new breed” of fighter, the British paper says, is reminiscent of the mujahideen who fought the Soviets during the Afghan jihad, and are motivated by money and the desire to drive foreigners out of their lands. NATO is now fighting an uphill battle against these new well financed Taliban fighters, who have access to new military technology and tactics and enjoy major support from abroad. "The money's coming in from all Islamic countries. All over the world,” says one Talib. “But in particular we are getting plenty of money from Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia"
September 18:
In response to bombings in major cities around the country, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved new security measures designed to deal with what he has termed “vast gaps” in intelligence. Although India’s counter terrorism resources are typically dedicated for combating groups originating in Pakistan, the Agence France-Presse reports that the Indian government is now developing units to deal specifically with indigenous terrorists – such as the group “Muslim Militancy,” which claimed responsibility for the recent New Dehli bombing.
The fight between the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka military has taken to the sea, as battles raged off the North West coast of Sri Lanka. BBC News reports that the Sri Lankan Navy was engaged in a 40 boat battle with the separatist terrorist movement.
September 25:
North Korea recently barred international inspectors from its nuclear reactors and threatened to begin reprocessing plutonium at its Yongbyon nuclear complex – a move that violates the disarmament agreement recently struck with the Bush administration and places the Stalinist state back on the path to creating more nuclear weapons. Officials with the International Atomic Energy Agency confirm the move. "There are no more seals and surveillance equipment in place at the reprocessing facility," the International Herald Tribune reports an IAEA specialist as saying.
The paper cites three primary reasons for North Korea’s noncompliance. First, it is a response to the Bush administration’s hesitance to remove the DPRK from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, as agreed to under the deal struck between Washington and Pyongyang several months ago. Second, Pyongyang believes it has more leverage with the U.S. now because America is in the middle of a financial crisis. Finally, North Korea needs to demonstrate its strength and stability, despite recent reports that “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke – something that would potentially affect his ability to govern.
September 27:
Pakistani tribal members, increasingly infuriated with the terrorist attacks by the Taliban in the North-West Frontier Provinces (NWFP), have decided to take matters in to their own hands. The Guardian equates the Pakistani villagers newly formed anti-Taliban resistance to the “Sunni Awakening” in Iraq, when tribal groups fought back against al-Qaeda. "There's going to be a civil war," said Asfandyar Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National party, which runs the provincial government in NWFP. "It will be the people versus the Taliban."
