Terrorism: Here to Stay

It depends on who you talk to, but many would consider America’s war on terrorism to be somewhat successful. With not a single terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, some could even argue that the war has been highly successful. Is terrorism on the ropes?

Under pressure from the militaries of America and its allies, al Qaeda and other Islamic terrorist groups have been severely handicapped in their efforts to overthrow moderate Muslim governments and establish militant Islamist regimes. Their longed-for global Islamic caliphate is still just a dream.

Analysts at think-tank Stratfor recently noted the dilapidated condition of al Qaeda: “The primary intent of the radical and militant Islamists, which is to create a caliphate based on at least one significant Muslim state, has been completely thwarted. This point has not been missed in the Islamic world. At this point, al Qaeda needs to launch a counteroffensive on a global scale that is designed to demonstrate its viability as a paramilitary force. … Al Qaeda badly needs to re-establish its credibility and recapture its earlier momentum by mounting an attack on the scale of 9-11 or beyond. … The pressure is on for al Qaeda to act as quickly and as effectively as it can” (July 26).

According to Stratfor analysts, the credibility and reputation of al Qaeda in the Muslim world is waning, thereby severely impacting the support base underpinning the world’s most popular terrorist organization. Again, the question beckons, is terrorism being defeated?

Until recently, this question could have been argued in the affirmative. But consider the state of terrorism over the past two months. Note that we are not even addressing the state of terrorism in Iraq.

On July 7, a series of four bombs exploded in London’s underground transportation system, killing 56 people and wounding 700. These were the worst terrorist attacks in Britain’s history. Two weeks later, a second series of four explosions erupted in the London underground and on a bus.

On July 12, Islamic Jihad assumed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed five people in Netanya, Israel.

On July 23, a series of car bombs exploded in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm al-Sheikh, killing around 90 people and wounding more than 150. These were the worst terrorist attacks in Egypt’s history.

In Bangladesh two weeks ago, more than 400 bombs were simultaneously exploded within a half-hour period. While the bombs were relatively ineffective, only killing two people and wounding 140, “the spread and sheer volume of the bombings indicates that local Islamist militants are responding to al Qaeda’s call to establish an Islamic state and expel Westerners from the Muslim world” (ibid., August 17).

U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia were closed for most of the week of August 8 because of the threat of terrorist attacks from al Qaeda. The security alert sparked concern throughout Saudi Arabia and drove up oil prices.

On Friday, August 19, the same al Qaeda-related terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the attacks in Egypt on July 23 also took responsibility for failed rocket attacks on U.S. Navy ships in the port of Aqaba in Southern Jordan. While these attacks missed their mark, it is clear that al Qaeda has gained some momentum recently and is looking to expand its theaters of operation.

Although the number of Islamic terrorist attacks has not risen sharply over the past two months, the variety of locations in which attacks took place or were thwarted reveals that al Qaeda and its related groups have retained their ability to conduct operations in virtually any location in the world.

The July attacks in England and Egypt were the worst in the history of these nations. Evidence proves that al Qaeda has made significant inroads into Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Central Asia. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip opens up new opportunities for al Qaeda. As Stratfor noted two weeks ago, “Without the watchful eye of Israeli troops, territory controlled by Palestinian militants could make an ideal training and recruiting ground for the transnational jihadist network [al Qaeda] in a quest to open a new theater against the Zionist enemy” (August 18).

The war against terrorism has had its successes, but the unpleasant fact remains that terrorist attacks on Western soil are as much a threat now as they were before 9/11.

Although it has become more difficult for terrorists to conduct large-scale, high-fatality 9/11-like attacks on Western soil, their ability to conduct frequent, low-fatality attacks in a large variety of theaters remains stubbornly strong.

While the attempts by Islamic terrorist organizations to overthrow Muslim governments and establish radical Islamic regimes and to establish a global Islamic caliphate have failed so far, the war, in the minds of militant Islamists, is far from over.

Meanwhile, global support for America’s war against terrorism is steadily waning. Terrorism is directly impacting the U.S., systematically bankrupting the economy, eroding national morale and tearing apart national unity. The national will of the people of America, as well as its two main allies, Britain and Australia, is being compromised.

Who is really winning this war?

Yes, the terrorists have lost a few battles; leaders have been captured, large-scale attacks have been thwarted; it has become harder for them to launch attacks. But their will to attain their goal hasn’t waned one iota. Islamic terrorists are more driven and fervent than ever to eradicate Western influence from Muslim nations and to wipe out America and the West.

It is America’s decline and the terrorists’ sustained willpower, fervency and desire that has become the defining quality in the war against terrorism.

As long as the will of the U.S. and its allies to eradicate terrorism from this world continues to wane, Islamic terrorism will prevail.

Bible prophecy proves that terrorism will continue to strike fear in the West, particularly Britain and America. In the book of Leviticus, God says, “I will even appoint over you terror” as a result of your sin. Only God can save America and its allies from the terror of the terrorist bombs! (Read our free booklet Repentance Toward God to learn more about this possibility.)

In the coming months and years, the radical Islamic movement will come across a foe with a willpower and passion for its cause that surpasses even that of the Islamic terrorists. A clash between a Catholic-dominated, united Europe and an Islamic-dominated, Middle Eastern bloc of nations is already building. The demise of Islamic terrorism is just around the corner, although a far darker and more dangerous enemy lies in wait.

To learn more about the coming defeat of terrorism and the rise of an even more dangerous force, read The King of the South and Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.