Tackling Islamism, Hezbollah, JeM and the Muslim Brotherhood into the 2020s

Today I’ve announced the banning of three groups - including Hizballah. We will continue to outlaw terrorist organisations that threaten our safety & securityhttps://t.co/KMuYXmmu39

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) February 25, 2019

Following World War II, the collapse of former colonial empires across the Middle East and Africa, rapidly led to the development of anti-colonial movements.

These anti-colonial movements developed into a number of organizations that began to operate politically but developed as military organizations as well.

The shift heralded the rise of Pan-Arabism.

Some movements were largely focused on combating the gross barbarism of Colonists. In the case of Algeria it was French barbarism that led to some of the first Arab developed guerrilla warfare units in northern Africa.

Further North, into Egypt, Pan-Arabism developed into a political ideology that grew to encompass military responses to British Colonialism.

The creation of the Ikhlan or “Muslim Brotherhood”, evolved from Pan-Arabism, to eventually became a political and social services organization that also operates militarily (Terror).

As the Muslim brotherhood developed in conflict zones from Egypt into the occupied Palestinian territories as well as Jordan and Lebanon — their influence in the community organization and on the political stage grew.

The closest approximation to an organization like this that we have in the west goes back to the Irish Republican Army — who also provided social services as well as military operations across Northern Ireland.

The difference with Muslim Brotherhood and organizations like Hezbollah and JeM (Jaish-e-Muhammad) - while the IRA laid down their guns in the last century — These organizations continue to operate as either insurgent or terrorist organizations in the countries that they operate.

Recently Britain made a move to strike Hezbollah, as a political party in the UK.

Hizbollah to be banned by UK Government as soon as this week

This move is significant as it underscores the role that British Muslim Conservatives have in leading counter terrorism as well as preventing radicalization for political means.

In the United States, There are many of us that are either working on research or to help develop faith based solution that can help aid in continuing to leverage the American Muslim population as a deterrent to these terrorist groups from encroaching on America.

How Generation Z is Most Vulnerable to Antifa and ISIS

In order to continue to work with Muslim countries, that stand against terrorism, as well as the 34 Country Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition — we need to work with our political leadership to restrict these groups from our shores.

Further, As the war on terrorism closes on ISIS, in Syria, Diplomatic solution that would allow for a Two State or Three State solution for Palestine should be explored.

Longer term, this would allow for the de-militarization of Hamas and the development of a Palestinian Authority — That actually has the authority to work with Israel.

As for Lebanon and Syria there are larger complications of challenging Hezbollah — which still operates as an Iranian backed political, social service and military organization responsible for a number of terrorist activities.

The steps to disband these organizations — as well as challenge them on the international stage — are the only opportunities that we have to mitigate the challenges of militant Pan-Arabism — that evolved into Islamism.

Stabilizing Yemen and helping securitize Pakistan — potentially with a strange mix of regional partners — will also lead to a de-escalation of conflict between India and Pakistan, as well as Pakistan and Iran.

Note: Both India and Pakistan have briefly allied together recently — holding Pakistan responsible for terror attacks carried out within India (JeM) and Iran’s(Jaish-ul-Ad) respective borders.

Lastly, a final concern, as these groups are tackled in the real world — is the concern for online radicalization.

Combatting the Rise of ISIS 2.0 and Terrorism 3.0 on JSTOR

While ISIS will be eradicated on the ground in Syria, the longer-term challenge of terminating their online networks and online radicalization efforts will continue.

Online propaganda seeded by ISIS and Al Qaeda — has made it into numerous online forums and venues — which without ISIS recruiters, could easily lead to a next generation of the decentralized actors. Actors that move away from pure political or terror ideals and act on insurgent goals alone.