In Washington Post there was a live Q & A session open for its readers in July 2011 where I have participated and asked more than couple questions to Dr. Richard Bloom (Terrorism Expert) . Thought I can record that here. Earlier I shared it on my Facebook time line .
ABOUT THE TOPIC
According to U.S. officials, al-Qaeda could be on the brink of collapse. Terrorism expert Richard Bloom answered your questions about the current state and future of al-Qaeda, as well as other terrorism organizations around the world.
MY QUESTION :
FUNDING
In the wake of binladen's absence and Zawihiri assuming the new role it apparently appears to a normal man like me that the business as-usual is not affected at all. For any such terror network to sustain the money is instrumental and it is understood that funds are flowing unaffected. What are the effective steps you still think the global power like US should take to make jihadis suffocate financially.
DR BLOOM’S ANSWER :
Unfortunately, financial suffocation is extremely unlikely. This has to do with the small amount of financial resources needed for successful terrorism and the limited even if increasingly sophisticated methods to identify financial sources and processes.
MY QUESTION :
PAKISTAN'S SANCTUARIES
It is an open secret that pakistan has the safest sanctuaries on the earth for the aspiring and residual Jihadis, as we know binladen could live safely for many years under the shelter of pakistani army/ISI. Is it not the right time to label ISI as a terrorist organization ? As we know the civilian government is simply a puppet.
DR BLOOM’S ANSWER :
Formally labeling ISI as terrorist may feel good and be accurate at last referring to one of its capabilities and to its history, but positive consequences for the U.S. would be unlikely.
MY QUESTION :
LADEN - GODLY FIGURE ?
What should the international community be doing to avoid the situation where laden is considered as a godly figure in many muslim countries. How should we educate them that he is not the saviour of islam but a mass murderer.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
A very good question. I believe he's a "godly" figure among fewer and fewer people. However, his history and image can be used for various terrorist pursuits. I do not think its prudent to use significant resources in an image-changing effort. I think more and more people are already buying into the mass murderer aspect. In turn, this does not mitigate the continuing threat from terrorism.
MY QUESTION :
TOP BRASS
As we know Alqueda is formation of the core group of some 30 members. Considering that US is successfull to kill or capture them dont you think that there is still a possibility of an important affiliate (like LET) succeeding that position ?
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
We need to be careful not to be constrained by the usual ways of thinking about organizations when confronting terrorism. Whether so-called affiliates arise or not, terrorist ways of thinking, relevant technologies and inenuity in using technologies, and the increase and decrease in terrorist intent among various people will continue. Virtual terrorists joing others anonymously are one sort of increasing threat for the future.
There was another question asked by other participant based on my earlier question (Laden – Godly figure GODLY FIGURE)
Question - Regarding an earlier question about Bin Laden being seen as a godly figure by some. Isn't part of that due to the way the US picks just one guy to represent so much that we end up making person more than he really is? Seems with did with leader of Al Quida in Iraq also.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
The use of public communications and language and images to help create the "image of the other" can work both ways....to strengthen or weaken a terrorist threat. I beleive that the bin Laden image/figure constructed by US political leaders has not helped the counterterrorist effort. The coherent and systematic effort to use public communications against terrorism has been a significant US failure.
My Question :
ALQAEDA IN AP - AQAP
Awlaki has indeed been a night mare to US for quite some time. As he remains to be a very good preacher and has a good following in the internet space. How close is US in getting him.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
Based on my own analysis of public sources, there have been near misses and I believe significant efforts continue to be made to "neutralize" him either through killing or capture. On the other hand, public discsussions and images of this individual conveyed by some US political leaders have not helped the effort.
My Question :
SAFE HAVENS
The visible safe havens we know is somalia,pakistan,yemen,Afghanistan etc. Apart from these do you think there are any other sleeper cells which missed the US radar.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
I believe it is more useful to think not in terms of "sleeper cells" but in terms of geographically dispersed and online threats beyond the locations you mention. Given that there are psychological bases to terrorism, these psychologies may be anywhwre at any time--a difficult reality for counterterrorists.
MY QUESTION:
MILITARY AID
Do you think there is a co-relation (either positive or negative) between military funding to selective countries and decrease/increase in terrorism?
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
I'm sure one could demonstrate some correlations both decreasing and increasing terrorism. Military funding is one of many foreign policy and national security tools...there are lessons learned of cases furthering and harming U.S. interest
According to U.S. officials, al-Qaeda could be on the brink of collapse. Terrorism expert Richard Bloom answered your questions about the current state and future of al-Qaeda, as well as other terrorism organizations around the world.
MY QUESTION :
FUNDING
In the wake of binladen's absence and Zawihiri assuming the new role it apparently appears to a normal man like me that the business as-usual is not affected at all. For any such terror network to sustain the money is instrumental and it is understood that funds are flowing unaffected. What are the effective steps you still think the global power like US should take to make jihadis suffocate financially.
DR BLOOM’S ANSWER :
Unfortunately, financial suffocation is extremely unlikely. This has to do with the small amount of financial resources needed for successful terrorism and the limited even if increasingly sophisticated methods to identify financial sources and processes.
MY QUESTION :
PAKISTAN'S SANCTUARIES
It is an open secret that pakistan has the safest sanctuaries on the earth for the aspiring and residual Jihadis, as we know binladen could live safely for many years under the shelter of pakistani army/ISI. Is it not the right time to label ISI as a terrorist organization ? As we know the civilian government is simply a puppet.
DR BLOOM’S ANSWER :
Formally labeling ISI as terrorist may feel good and be accurate at last referring to one of its capabilities and to its history, but positive consequences for the U.S. would be unlikely.
MY QUESTION :
LADEN - GODLY FIGURE ?
What should the international community be doing to avoid the situation where laden is considered as a godly figure in many muslim countries. How should we educate them that he is not the saviour of islam but a mass murderer.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
A very good question. I believe he's a "godly" figure among fewer and fewer people. However, his history and image can be used for various terrorist pursuits. I do not think its prudent to use significant resources in an image-changing effort. I think more and more people are already buying into the mass murderer aspect. In turn, this does not mitigate the continuing threat from terrorism.
MY QUESTION :
TOP BRASS
As we know Alqueda is formation of the core group of some 30 members. Considering that US is successfull to kill or capture them dont you think that there is still a possibility of an important affiliate (like LET) succeeding that position ?
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
We need to be careful not to be constrained by the usual ways of thinking about organizations when confronting terrorism. Whether so-called affiliates arise or not, terrorist ways of thinking, relevant technologies and inenuity in using technologies, and the increase and decrease in terrorist intent among various people will continue. Virtual terrorists joing others anonymously are one sort of increasing threat for the future.
There was another question asked by other participant based on my earlier question (Laden – Godly figure GODLY FIGURE)
Question - Regarding an earlier question about Bin Laden being seen as a godly figure by some. Isn't part of that due to the way the US picks just one guy to represent so much that we end up making person more than he really is? Seems with did with leader of Al Quida in Iraq also.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
The use of public communications and language and images to help create the "image of the other" can work both ways....to strengthen or weaken a terrorist threat. I beleive that the bin Laden image/figure constructed by US political leaders has not helped the counterterrorist effort. The coherent and systematic effort to use public communications against terrorism has been a significant US failure.
My Question :
ALQAEDA IN AP - AQAP
Awlaki has indeed been a night mare to US for quite some time. As he remains to be a very good preacher and has a good following in the internet space. How close is US in getting him.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
Based on my own analysis of public sources, there have been near misses and I believe significant efforts continue to be made to "neutralize" him either through killing or capture. On the other hand, public discsussions and images of this individual conveyed by some US political leaders have not helped the effort.
My Question :
SAFE HAVENS
The visible safe havens we know is somalia,pakistan,yemen,Afghanistan etc. Apart from these do you think there are any other sleeper cells which missed the US radar.
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
I believe it is more useful to think not in terms of "sleeper cells" but in terms of geographically dispersed and online threats beyond the locations you mention. Given that there are psychological bases to terrorism, these psychologies may be anywhwre at any time--a difficult reality for counterterrorists.
MY QUESTION:
MILITARY AID
Do you think there is a co-relation (either positive or negative) between military funding to selective countries and decrease/increase in terrorism?
DR. RICHARD BLOOM :
I'm sure one could demonstrate some correlations both decreasing and increasing terrorism. Military funding is one of many foreign policy and national security tools...there are lessons learned of cases furthering and harming U.S. interest
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