“Senators pressed top U.S. national security officials Tuesday about the
country’s vulnerability to terrorism from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


September 22, 2021 

 

Bloomberg: Afghanistan Aftermath’s Risk Of Terrorism Cited By Senate Panel
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“Senators pressed top U.S. national security officials Tuesday about the
country’s vulnerability to terrorism from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
and from the thousands of evacuees arriving in the U.S. “These recent events
have put a heightened foreign terrorist threat top-of-mind,” Senator Rob
Portman, an Ohio Republican, said at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs Committee.  FBI Director Christopher Wray said the
bureau is working with state and local agencies to “get in front of any
radicalization” of Afghan evacuees in the U.S., relying on more than 200 joint
terrorism task forces to monitor potential threats. “We’re putting a heavy
focus on community outreach as the evacuees settle here in the United States,”
Wray said. Defending the ongoing vetting of Afghan evacuees, Homeland Security
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said “we continue to screen and vet individuals
seeking to arrive in the United States.”  “We have not relaxed our vigilance
over the years,” Mayorkas added. More than 60,000 people have been brought into
the U.S. from Afghanistan so far, Mayorkas said. About 7% are U.S. citizens, 6%
are lawful permanent residents and 3% are Afghans who have received special
immigrant visas, Mayorkas said. The rest are vulnerable individuals and those
whose applications haven’t yet been approved, he said.”

 

Reuters: New Zealand Steps Closer To Tighter Terrorism Laws After Supermarket
Knife Attack
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“New Zealand's parliament took a step closer on Tuesday to making it easier to
arrest and prosecute terrorists planning attacks, just weeks after an Islamic
State-inspired assault by a knife-wielding assailant wounded seven people at a
supermarket. The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill passed its second reading
in parliament with the ruling Labour Party and the main opposition National
Party voting in favour, while smaller parties like the Greens opposed it. The
bill, an amendment to the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act and other related
laws, will be enacted once it clears a third reading. The government said the
legislation addresses a major gap in the law by criminalising planning or
preparation for a terrorist act. Enforcement agencies have long recommended the
change. The new law also gives police the ability to apply warrantless powers
of entry, search, and surveillance to stop the planning and preparation of a
terrorist act and criminalises weapons training or combat training for
terrorist purposes. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the legislation brings
New Zealand in line with laws in countries like Australia, Britain and Canada.
“This is a change which bring us into line with laws in other countries and
strengthens our laws to fight the changing nature of terrorism where we are
seeing more threats from lone actors rather than terrorist organisations,”
Faafoi said in a statement.”

 

United States

 

Reuters: Pharma Companies Defend Dismissal Of Terror Case At D.C. Circuit
Hearing
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“Major pharmaceutical companies urged a Washington, D.C., federal appeals
court on Tuesday to uphold the dismissal of claims that their medical-goods
contracts with Iraq's health ministry helped finance terror activity in the
country that injured or killed American service members between 2005 and 2011.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit heard oral arguments for nearly two hours over whether the drug
companies, represented at the hearing by Kannon Shanmugam of Paul, Weiss,
Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, can be held liable under the federal
Anti-Terrorism Act for certain deliveries of drugs and medical equipment.
Tuesday's hearing raised questions about how and where courts can draw a line
around the Anti-Terrorism Act to protect humanitarian aid that benefits people
in distressed areas plagued by terror activity. Last year, U.S. District Judge
Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., ruled for named defendant AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals LP and other companies, concluding the plaintiffs had not made
a viable “aiding and abetting” claim under the Anti-Terrorism Act.”

 

Newsweek: Islamic Terrorists Or Chinese Dissidents? U.S. Grapples With Uyghur
Dilemma
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“President Joe Biden and his administration are grappling with a new foreign
policy dilemma: how to deal with Uyghur separatists seeking to take on the
People's Republic of China and establish an independent Islamic state in the
northwestern Xinjiang region at a time when Washington is also increasing
pressure on Beijing. The U.S. stance for the last two decades since the “war on
terror” was declared after 9/11 has been to view groups such as Uyghurs
factions as enemy actors, due to their reported links to Al-Qaeda. One such
organization, a Uyghur separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic
Movement (ETIM), was added to the Terrorist Exclusion List, a Patriot Act
measure designed to disallow suspected militant group members from entering the
United States. Over the course of the past 20 years, however, Washington's
foreign policy priorities have shifted dramatically, a change marked most
notably by Biden's military exit from Afghanistan. That exit was set in motion
by Donald Trump, whose focus throughout his tenure in office was on another
national foe, China. In addition to confronting Beijing on trade, political
unrest in Hong Kong and tensions over Taiwan, the Trump administration endorsed
allegations that China was conducting a “genocide” in Xinjiang, the
northwestern province that is home to the Uyghurs.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Reuters: Taliban Say No Al Qaeda Or ISIS In Afghanistan
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“Afghanistan's Taliban rulers said on Tuesday there was no evidence of Islamic
State or al Qaeda militants being in the country, days after Islamic State
claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in the eastern city of Jalalabad. Since
toppling the Western-backed government in Kabul last month, the Taliban have
faced pressure from the international community to renounce ties with al Qaeda,
the group behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. At the same
time, they have had to deal with a series of attacks claimed by an affiliate of
Islamic State, with which they have been in conflict for several years over a
mix of economic and ideological disputes. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid
rejected accusations that al Qaeda maintained a presence in Afghanistan and
repeated pledges that there would be no attacks on third countries from
Afghanistan from militant movements. “We do not see anyone in Afghanistan who
has anything to do with al Qaeda,” he told a news conference in Kabul. “We are
committed to the fact that, from Afghanistan, there will not be any danger to
any country.” The Taliban were ousted from power by U.S.-led forces in 2001 for
refusing to hand over al Qaeda leaders responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks.”

 

Reuters: Exclusive: Taliban Names Afghan U.N. Envoy, Asks To Speak To World
Leaders
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“The Taliban have asked to address world leaders at the United Nations in New
York this week and nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as
Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, according to a letter seen by Reuters on
Tuesday. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made the request in a
letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday. Muttaqi asked to
speak during the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, which
finishes on Monday. Guterres' spokesperson, Farhan Haq, confirmed Muttaqi's
letter. The move sets up a showdown with Ghulam Isaczai, the U.N. ambassador in
New York representing Afghanistan's government ousted last month by the
Taliban. Haq said the rival requests for Afghanistan's U.N. seat had been sent
to a nine-member credentials committee, whose members include the United
States, China and Russia. The committee is unlikely to meet on the issue before
Monday, so it is doubtful that the Taliban foreign minister will address the
world body. Eventual U.N. acceptance of the ambassador of the Taliban would be
an important step in the hardline Islamist group's bid for international
recognition, which could help unlock badly needed funds for the cash-strapped
Afghan economy.”

 

Lebanon

 

Politico: Hezbollah’s Grip On Lebanon Is Weakening. Here’s How Washington Can
Help.
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“In a televised speech last week, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah outlined
a detailed plan for how a U.S.-sanctioned militia will send tankers of
U.S.-sanctioned fuel to be distributed by a U.S.-sanctioned company. Hezbollah
is planning to use a subsidiary firm to sell Iranian fuel in Lebanon amid
severe shortages of fuel and diesel. This violation of U.S. sanctions could
trigger penalties on Lebanon, which is already buckling under a historic
economic crisis. Yet Lebanon’s brand-new government did not say a word. Not a
single minister from the new governing coalition — formed earlier this month
after over a year with no government — commented on how the country would
address Hezbollah’s defiant and arguably illegal plan. Hezbollah, long
designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been effectively
running Lebanon for years. The group maintains a marriage of convenience with
the country’s political class: Both sides benefit from a status quo in which
political elites are protected and Hezbollah can continue regular violence
against Israel and regional warfare on behalf of Iran, while ordinary Lebanese
people suffer. None of this is surprising. But what is surprising is that
Hezbollah’s iron grip on Lebanon’s politics and economy is starting to loosen —
which gives the Biden administration a chance to change an approach that’s long
been failing.”

 

The National: Lebanon's Public Prosecutor Demands Answers Over Hezbollah Blast
Probe Threats
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“Lebanon's public prosecutor called on the judge leading the investigation
into last year's explosion at Beirut port to clarify allegations that a senior
Hezbollah official threatened proceedings. Ghassan Ouidat took to Twitter to
ask judge Tarek Bitar to respond in writing to allegations that he had been
threatened by Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa. The requested followed a
local media reported that Mr Safa had threatened to remove the judge from the
investigation, claiming Hezbollah was “fed up” with it. Also on Tuesday, dates
were set for the questioning of several former ministers and MPs after some of
them failed to show up for inquiry sessions as part of the investigation into
the explosion, which killed more than 200 people on August 4. Mr Bitar summoned
former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil for September 30 and former
agriculture minister Ghazi Zeaiter and former Interior Minister Nouhad Al
Machnouk on October 1. The three have claimed to hold parliamentary immunity
throughout the investigation. But under Lebanese law, the immunity does not
apply between the confirmation of a government and the start of the
parliamentary term. Parliament will resume on October 19 after the new
government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati was confirmed on Monday.”

 

Africa

 

Voice Of America: Nine Chad Villagers Killed In Jihadist Assault
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“Nine people have died in an attack on a village in the Lake Chad area that is
plagued by violence led by jihadist groups, a local governor and an NGO said
Tuesday. The region borders Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, and fighters from Boko
Haram and a rival splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province
(ISWAP), have used it for years as a haven from which to attack troops and
civilians. “Elements from Boko Haram attacked Kadjigoroum and killed nine
people and set fire to the village” on Sunday night, regional governor Mahamat
Fadoul Mackaye told Agence France-Presse by telephone. Chadian authorities use
the Boko Haram label to refer to both militant groups. The head of a local NGO
confirmed the attack and death toll at the village, asking not to be
identified. In August, 26 soldiers died in a Boko Haram raid on marshy Lake
Chad's Tchoukou Telia island, about 190 kilometers (120 miles) north of the
capital, N'Djamena. In March 2020, 100 Chadian troops died in an attack on the
lake's Bohoma peninsula, prompting an offensive the following month led by
Chad's then-President Idriss Deby Itno. After pursuing the militants deep into
Niger and Nigeria, Deby said there was “not a single jihadist anywhere” on the
Chadian side of the lake region.”

 

All Africa: Mozambique: Defence Minister Unaware Of Landmine Use By Isis
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“Mozambican Defence Minister Jaime Neto said on Monday in Maputo that he was
not aware of the use of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by
ISIS terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Answering a question
posed by AIM, on the sidelines of the launch of the National Armed Forces
commemorative week, Neto declared that he was not yet aware, but if the
terrorists are now resorting to landmines and IEDs it is a matter of great
concern. “I know nothing about the use of landmines by the bandits, but if they
are really doing so, you know what such a move represents,” he stated. He added
that if ISIS terrorists are adopting the use of such explosive devices, it is a
serious material breach of the international treaties that Mozambique has
ratified. “If they are using landmines, first, we have to know where they come
from and who is supplying them,” he stressed. According to a report in Monday's
issue of the South African daily “Business Day”, forces of the Southern African
Development Community's (SADC) mission in Mozambique (Samim) are facing a new
and deadly threat of landmines and IEDs.”

 

France

 

Arab News: French Court Lengthens Jihadist’s Sentence On Appeal
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“A French appeal court on Tuesday increased an extremist’s sentence for his
senior role with Daesh group in Syria from 30 years to life in prison.
Frenchman Tyler Vilus had already been convicted for his work with the Daesh
group there between 2013 and 2015. On appeal, the court also ordered that the
31-year-old serve a minimum of 22 years in jail. He was deemed a “major risk”
to re-offend and still denied some of the charges. Vilus led the
“Al-MuHajjireen” (the immigrants) brigade, a squadron that tortured and carried
out summary executions. He was deported to France after being arrested at an
Istanbul airport with a Swiss passport in July 2015 en route to Europe to carry
out an attack. His mother, dubbed “Mama Jihad” in the French press, traveled
three times to Syria in support of her son and was sentenced to 10 years in
prison in June 2017 for her “unfailing commitment” to jihad. Among the charges,
Vilus was found guilty of taking part in the public execution of two
blindfolded prisoners, which was filmed for a propaganda video. Vilus stood,
head bowed, behind a glass screen to hear the verdict after an eight-day
hearing under tight security in central Paris.”

 

Technology

 

The Washington Post: Huge Hack Reveals Embarrassing Details Of Who’s Behind
Proud Boys And Other Far-Right Websites
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“Epik long has been the favorite Internet company of the far-right, providing
domain services to QAnon theorists, Proud Boys and other instigators of the
Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol — allowing them to broadcast hateful messages
from behind a veil of anonymity. But that veil abruptly vanished last week when
a huge breach by the hacker group Anonymous dumped into public view more than
150 gigabytes of previously private data — including user names, passwords and
other identifying information of Epik’s customers. Extremism researchers and
political opponents have treated the leak as a Rosetta Stone to the far-right,
helping them to decode who has been doing what with whom over several years.
Initial revelations have spilled out steadily across Twitter since news of the
hack broke last week, often under the hashtag #epikfail, but those studying the
material say they will need months and perhaps years to dig through all of it.
“It’s massive. It may be the biggest domain-style leak I’ve seen and, as an
extremism researcher, it’s certainly the most interesting,” said Megan Squire,
a computer science professor at Elon University who studies right-wing
extremism. “It’s an embarrassment of riches — stress on the embarrassment.”



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