« In the beginning was Al-Aqsa - Muslim Scholars Practice Revisionist History | Main | The Word 'Marriage' - no better definition than that defined by nature itself! »

November 27, 2005

On Islam and 'Net-centric' Warfare

Topics: War on Terror - the issues.

That Islam traditionally had no fixed hierarchy helped it adapt more readily to networked war. For the Jihadi the requirements of public policy and international law not only proved no hindrance, in a fundamental sense they did not apply: things like the Geneva Convention were the impedimenta of nation-states.

Holy warriors were accountable only to Allah, which in practice meant they answered to no one but themselves. This circumstance exculpated the Jihadists from a multitude of sins in the eyes of a Western media capable of recognizing only state actors.

Attacks against hospitals, schools, churches; and the use of children as combatants excited no opprobrium because these were understood to be acts of individuals; unfortunate to be sure, but ultimately insubstantial. Only states could commit war crimes, so that Jihadi atrocities, even on the scale of September 11, were only the subject of police action.

You 'Do' want to read more...

Posted by Richard at November 27, 2005 9:22 PM

Articles Related to War on Terror - the issues.:

• On Islam and 'Net-centric' Warfare - Nov 27, 2005