Geopolitics Afghanistan Muslim terrorism

Geopolitics, day by day

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Updated on December 16, 2001

November 22, 2001. Here is a series of maps, extracted from a issue of Nouvel Observateur, illustrating the global spread of Muslim populations. The presence of approximately six million Muslims in North America has not been represented. Elevators will allow you to explore the entire map. You will notice that the Muslim community's location roughly corresponds to the "South." Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and until recently Afghanistan, are all Islamic republics where Sharia law is either integrated into the constitution or serves as the constitution.

Below are two detailed maps.

November 27, 2001: The Americans landed 1,600 Marines at an airport near Kandahar. They are under pressure to end the campaign before winter and also wish to strengthen their position as a meeting takes place in Germany with various Afghan ethnic groups. Rumors circulate that Mullah Omar and the infamous Bin Laden are in Kandahar. The latter reportedly named his successor and indicated he had ordered that he be killed before falling into the hands of the Northern Alliance or the Americans. In turn, American officials, through one of their representatives, declared, "We would prefer him dead rather than alive." One can understand why. Otherwise, this creature might have some very unpleasant revelations to make about... his former patrons.

In passing, there is one thing I fail to understand from journalists, particularly French journalists. It's all very well to present raw information, without commentary. But one might still make simple connections, offer basic observations. With his oily voice, dear Bin Laden has sent countless young Muslims to their deaths, using suicide squads and casually declaring, "Allah will take care of them." We have always seen him, in his photos or on video cassettes, mechanically handling a Kalashnikov, an weapon that seemingly never leaves his side. One might suspect he even sleeps with it. With such a powerful weapon, it would be very easy to shoot oneself. Method: Remove the safety catch, place the barrel in your mouth, aimed toward the skull's roof, where the bone barrier separating it from the brain is thinnest. Then pull the trigger while intensely thinking, "Allah is the Greatest." It seems within reach of any fool or clumsy person. But then a question arises: Would Bin Laden, who has sent so many men to voluntary death, have the courage to perform this act himself? The bets are open. It's not certain the answer would be yes.

December 11, 2001: Kandahar has fallen. The Taliban surrendered without fighting to the "Afghan forces." Meanwhile, during the Bonn conference, Afghan partners had agreed on appointing a political representative. This individual promptly rushed to negotiate surrender directly with the Taliban, behind the Americans' backs (in order to gain political initiative). At first, the press reported (though can we truly trust the press?) that the Taliban were willing to lay down arms (to the Alliance forces) in exchange for a general amnesty, including Mullah Omar, who could then continue living in dignity. The Americans reacted with disgust, through their spokesperson. So, who actually won this "Afghan war"? Answer: The American B-52s. Jihad is fine. We're willing to die "on the path of Allah," but not under tons of bombs.

The surrender did indeed take place, but the infamous one-eyed Mullah vanished into thin air. Several hypotheses: He may have genuinely slipped through the net. Another possibility: The Taliban followed through on their surrender plan (their position under bombardment had simply become untenable), but only on the condition that the "Alliance" ensure Omar avoided the immediate judicial prosecution the Americans would have demanded.

The border with Pakistan is "in principle" sealed, but, under the cameras' eyes, any citizen of this ethnic group can apparently cross, provided they pay a bribe of... 15 francs. A captured Taliban fighter also declared: "This is only postponed. If necessary, I and my comrades will return to resume the Jihad in Afghanistan." This political situation is enough to bewilder the Americans, who have built an internment camp where they have no one to intern...

December 16, 2001

Yesterday, I visited a prisoner camp. Surprise: these are "old" prisoners, incarcerated during the Taliban regime. So, where are the tens of thousands of men who "surrendered en masse," Taliban and members of this "Arab Legion"? Have they vanished into thin air? It's simpler to suppose they were simply "sent back home." A perplexed journalist questioned one of the Alliance members about Mullah Omar. His reply:

• Omar? He's a good guy, a true Muslim!

Perplexity. Meanwhile, the world discovered a video tape on which Bin Laden congratulates himself on the success of the attacks on the World Trade Center, outright. He enters and bows to kiss an elderly sheikh seated on the ground (who, not rising upon his entrance, was apparently a high-ranking religious figure, Saudi, it is said). The little sheikh appears ecstatic, beaming with joy. Finally, these Americans are bleeding! Bin Laden delivers his expert debriefing: "I knew the jet fuel would weaken the towers' structure, causing the upper floors to collapse." They give the impression of being at the beginning of a great global movement. Sometimes, one wonders what is going on in these people's heads. Their forces have no rear bases, no technical support. They do not manufacture their own weapons, nor can they resupply ammunition. Their communications, including phone calls, depend on Western satellites. Their only strength lies in the suicidal determination of their extremists. But will that be enough? The kamikaze attacks have impressed only the Muslim world. They have angered the rest of the world, including Russians and Chinese. One recalls this phrase from the Old Testament, referring to Ishmael:

He will be a wild donkey among men: his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him.

If this refers to Israel, it seems the Hamas hopes that Israelis will agree to return to negotiations, believing the noise of suicide attacks creates pressure. But this misjudges the people. Nothing can happen while weapons remain silent. Alas, the fever of suicide bombings resembles a mental illness. The attack in Jerusalem's pedestrian zone left lasting scars, even if Israelis did not rush to display the bodies, the radios of the wounded filled with bolts, nor the mothers writhing in pain before the cameras. In response, cannons and missiles crush homes and lives.

Only the United States could previously exert pressure on the Israelis. The Europeans have tried, but the delegate...