Soldier’s Killing Spree Likely to Incite Violence

www.homelandsecuritynet.com

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force has confirmed that an American soldier recently turned himself in, and admitted to leaving his base in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and went on a rampage from house to house in villages adjacent to his base, killing 16 Afghan people in their homes.

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai immediately demanded an explanation from the United States, for the senseless killing of 16 people, including nine children and three women, while the Afghan parliament, demanded a public trial for the suspect, adding new tensions to a relationship that was already severely strained.

While the motive for this atrocity is unclear, there is speculation that the soldier, who had served three tours in Iraq and was on his first deployment in Afghanistan, might have suffered a mental breakdown. Regardless remember that extremists are masters of using major news events and controversies for recruiting, and as justification for their violent actions. After the incident the Taliban released a statement claiming that 50 people had been killed, calling U.S. forces “sick-minded American savages and they would mete out punishment for the “barbaric actions.” Analysts have long warned that the radical Islamist militia, regularly exaggerates casualty figures, a fact coupled with this appalling occurrence is likely to further inflame tensions in the area and beyond.

Be aware that this tragic incident comes on the heels of the killing of six NATO service-members by Afghans in response to the burning of Korans by American troops last month, potentially adding another chapter bloody story line again proving that radical Islam poses a challenge in the modern world, which is like that of no other radical religious movement. Despite the myriad terrorist plots executed and thwarted over the last few years, and the warped belief that there is a united Islamic movement hostile to everything we value, we must understand that most Muslims are not terrorist sympathizers, but recent events and history offer proof that there are radical Islamic elements within their ranks that pose a danger to our security, demanding vigilance, resources, and in some instances, military action. Remember that some time ago, the repercussions from a cartoon controversy led to protests across the Muslim world, some of which escalated into violence resulting in a total of more than 100 deaths, and setting fire to the Danish Embassies in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. In addition consider of the plight of Ayaan Hirsi Ali a 40-year-old Somali immigrant, former Muslim, survivor of child genital mutilation, and author of books critical of Islam. She now lives her life in constant fear due to multiple death threats.