A common argument by opponents of the War on Terror is that there is actually no significant enemy, just several small terrorist groups with limited capabilities. They point to the animosity between Shi’ites and Sunnis as proof that one cannot claim that there is an enemy that includes Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and Al-Qaeda. This is one Paul Krugman’s central arguments in his claims that Islamofascism does not exist.
Terrorist groups belonging to the various strains of Islam have always been more than happy to put aside any differences in order to cooperate in attacking their common enemy. This is evidenced in Iranian (Shia) cooperation with Hamas (Sunni) through Hezbollah (Shia) and Syria (Allawite). Of course, upon defeating the West they would almost surely turn on each other, but that does not mean that they do not currently constitute a bloc that the West can refer to as its enemy.
The following translation, from MEMRI.org, is an al-Qaeda member’s account of his stay in Iran that provides another example of the cooperation between Shi’ites and Sunnis in their Jihad against the West.
Al-Qaeda Member’s Account of His Stay in Iran
Columnist Fares bin Hazam, who specializes in issues relating to Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, published in the Saudi daily Al-Riyadh a personal account by a former Al-Qaeda member of Saudi origin. The article, titled “Iran Recruits Members to Al-Qaeda at Tens of Thousands Dollars a Month,” describes the assistance the former fighter and his friends received from Iranian authorities after they fled Afghanistan, as well as Iranian attempts to recruit him as an Iranian agent in Saudi Arabia.The following are excerpts from the account:
“After the disintegration of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan at the end of 2001 as a result of the American attack and the coming to power of other Afghan forces in the country, instructions were received from our leadership to retreat from Kabul in the direction of Kandahar. In the month of Ramadan, we received instructions from our commander to leave for Iran in order to seek refuge there. We arrived in Iran via Pakistan, where we did not stay very long. Our group consisted of about 30 fighters, among them Faisal Al-Dakhil, ‘Amr Al-Shehri [both killed in 2004] and other prominent figures wanted by the Saudi government.
“We were aware that Afghani [Islamist] leader Gulboddin Hekmatyar, who resided in Iran [at that time], was acting as an intermediary and liaison [between us and] Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Hekmatyar promised us accommodation in the border city of Zehdan [in southeastern Iran], where the majority of the residents are Baluchi Sunnis. There we met with Al-Qaeda commander Abu Hafs Al-Mauritani, who had earlier opposed the September 11 attacks. [Al-Mauritani] assured us that we were in a safe place, and that we would be questioned by Iranian intelligence services in Teheran, who would provide for all our needs during our stay in Iran.
“Our numbers dwindled: only 10 of us remained after about two-thirds of our group had disappeared, Al-Dakhil and Al-Shehri among them. We moved to Teheran and met with the interrogators. They proposed that I collaborate with them from abroad, [that is,] from my country [Saudi Arabia], supplying them with information that they would need in the future. Their offer shocked me. I declined, and then was overcome with fear that the refusal would [harm the chances of] my release and return to my country. The interrogator began enticing me: ‘[You will receive] a monthly salary of $10,000, an Iranian passport, and military training with Hizbullah in Lebanon.’
“However, I was firm in my refusal to cooperate in any way. All I wanted was to leave. The [Iranian] officer said: ‘You and us, we are both fighting the same enemy, the American [enemy], as well as everyone who supports him and helps him to remain in the region. Your jihad is our jihad, and a joint jihad operation of this kind is a duty incumbent upon us all. Do not fear, we will release you, and when you [decide to] accept our offer, you will have to contact (…) in your country, and within a few days we will convey to him [instructions for] you.’
“I do not know whether the rest [of our group] received the same offer. We did not speak with one another on this matter, but we were all given travel permits and travel privileges. The intelligence officer told us that he would stamp our passports with a date preceding the September 11 attacks. As far as I can remember, the date was June, while we were already at the very end of 2001. He also explained to us how to act at the airport security checkpoints through which we would be passing en route to our country, so as to avoid being suspected of fleeing the war in Afghanistan.”(1)
Endnote:
(1) Al-Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), November 6, 2007
[…] Augean Stables wrote an interesting post today on A First-Hand Account of Shiâite-Sunni Jihad CooperationHere’s a quick excerpt A common argument by opponents of the War on Terror is that there is actually no significant enemy, just several small terrorist groups with limited capabilities. They point to the animosity between Shi’ites and Sunnis as proof that one cannot claim that there is an enemy that includes Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and Al-Qaeda. This is one Paul Krugman’s central arguments in his claims that Islamofascism does not exist. Terrorist groups belonging to the various strains of Islam have always been mor […]
Pingback by Travel Agent » A First-Hand Account of Shi’ite-Sunni Jihad Cooperation — November 9, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
the point is that the west should exploit the rift but instead facilitates their cooperation.
the iraq war was an almost paralyzing blunder for the US, but if it went ahead and removed saddam, it should have withdrawn immediately and let iran and the shia have it out with the saudis and uae. then whoever came out of that war exhausted would take a while to recover and think of nukes; and even though the price of oil would go up, the money would not go to iran and the saudis, because their production would be down. this would have also shocked the us economically into a sane energy policy.
now the us is trapped in iraq, it unifies shia and sunni, it allows iran to focus on the nukes and the price of oil is up anyway but it enriches both iran and the saudis.
US policies have helped the enemies several folds more than those who think there isn’t any.
fp
http://fallofknowledgeandreason.blogspot.com/
Comment by fp — November 9, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 11/10/2007 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention updated throughout the day…so check back often.
This is a weekend edition so updates are as time and family permits.
Comment by David M — November 10, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Not well researched and taken out of time and context. Prior to the “war on terror”, there are a zillion examples or sunnis fighting shia (shias reluctantly fought in the iraq/iran war). The Palestinian example is a totally different context. In that region the players cooperate against Israel and there is mixing. But sunni/shia is much less an identification in the palestinian area. In Iraq, Hussein held them together through force, and there were neigborhoods where sunni and shia coexisted. But as we can see, that went out the door. If there is any “islamo fascist” conspiracy that all shia and sunni fight as one against the “occupiers” in Iraq, Afghanistan etc- it is a result of desperate decisions to rid themselves of the US. We are no different does the Author know that the BUSH admin is currently arming Sunni groups to prepare for war against Shia Iran sympathizers. So does that mean that we are part of the “islamofascist” conspiracy? No, as the old saying goes “if your enemy today is my enemy then you are my ally”. Dangerous indeed. The whole thing is the result of western manipulation of both of these people.
Comment by Joseph Riboulet — November 11, 2007 @ 8:02 am
joseph, interesting comment, but i’d differ with you on a number of points:
1) the collaboration btw sunni and shii is not “across the boards,” but nonetheless present, and it makes as little sense to generalize about none of them, as it does to speak of all of them cooperating.
2) a significant “jump-over” point is in the realm of apocalyptic beliefs and jihad. (apocalyptic expectations are generally barrier transgressors.) the sunnis borrowed much and worked much with shii apocalyptic jihadis coming out of khoumeini’s iran in the 1980s and 90s.
3) the “old saying” doesn’t work for apocalyptic politics. there it’s my enemy’s enemy is my enemy, and anyone who can help me is my (very temporary) friend. so don’t look for any pattern of consistent rational choices in the behavior of the sunnis and shiis.
4) “the whole thing is the result of western manipulation”? are you serious? these problems existed long before the west showed up.
Comment by Richard Landes — November 11, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Joseph-
You write- “Prior to the “war on terror”, there are a zillion examples or sunnis fighting shia (shias reluctantly fought in the iraq/iran war).”
No one is arguing that point. However, those who claim that there is no enemy against whom to fight often point to Shia/Sunni animosity and violence as proof that Shi’ite and Sunni terrorist groups could never cooperate against the West.
But, as reality proves, they are willing to put aside their differences to fight Israel and America. I’m sure that were they to defeat the West, they would very quickly cease any cooperation. But that fact is wholly beside the point. They have collaborated, and will continue to collaborate, and therefore can be considered part of a Jihadist enemy.
Comment by lazar — November 11, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
it’s not just that the problems existed before the west showed up. it’s also that the arab muslim culture has not changed much since the 7th century.
about the only purpose that unifies shia and sunni is the west and part. israel. that’s why the west should do all in its power to avoid being the target and facilitate and induce conflict between them. which is precisely the opposite of what it does.
fp
http://fallofknowledgeandreason.blogspot.com/
Comment by fp — November 12, 2007 @ 8:42 pm