Putting forward a set of proposed rules for an insurgency means nothing without concrete recommendations with respect to how said Rules can be applied within the confines of the currently existing environment. This is due to the fact a thorough understanding of how they may be applied in an existing hostile environment is critical to developing a campaign plan. Particularly … [Read more...]
Saudi Women and the War on Terror
Saudi Women and the War on Terror by Mike KelvingtonIn the masculine-driven nation of Saudi Arabia, women are subordinate men and the state, yet, in the eyes of both, they serve as an important role within their society. Historically and contextually, the Saudi government sees women as weak and “depicted as needing to be protected, controlled, and guided within an … [Read more...]
Modern Insurgency as a Lingering Effect of the Industrial Revolution
The industrial Revolution, late 1700’s through the early 1800’s, was the incidental, if not intentioned, result of the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, 1648, which collectively are known as the Peace of Westphalia. Arising from and concluding the Spanish and Dutch 80 years’ war and the Dutch and Germany portion of the 30 years’ wars, the Peace of Westphalia established the … [Read more...]
Importing the Muslim Brotherhood: Creation of the “Sahwa” in Saudi Arabia
Importing the Muslim Brotherhood: Creation of the “Sahwa” in Saudi Arabia by Mike KelvingtonA movement known as the Islamic Awakening (al-Sahwa al-Islamiyya) or Sahwa quickly established itself as a counter-culture to the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia over the course of only a few decades, starting in the mid-1950s.[1] During this time, the Muslim Brotherhood … [Read more...]
13 Rules for the Counterradical
Let’s face it, the insurgency as articulated in the 13 Rules for Radicals of Saul Alinsky, has not only succeeded but has succeeded to a degree never before seen in any insurgency in all the long history of humanity. Right now today, the powers which have been developed within the insurgency are in almost total and irrevocable control of all levels of government, to include all … [Read more...]
Hong Kong: Harbinger Of The Future Of Southeast Asia
Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Aaron McGill, an American teaching in Hong Kong. As the world continues to focus on terrorism and the Middle East, it is important to aware of international relations in Asia. The views expressed here are his own. This article was first published in the Havok Journal on 3 April 2016. _____ Police forces march in on crowds during the … [Read more...]
National Identity Crisis in the Gulf States? A Puzzle For The Future
In reading a chapter titled, “The Oil-Driven Nation-Building of the Gulf States After the Second World War” from The Emergence of the Gulf States, I was struck by how fast the Gulf States have changed and evolved since 1971. By that year, all the Gulf States had earned their independence, mostly from Britain.During that same period, there was an oil boom beginning in … [Read more...]
Ikhwan: Harbingers of ISIS
Ikhwan: Harbingers of ISIS by Michael KelvingtonAn adage often attributed to Mark Twain states, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” As the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS, swept into Iraq from Syria in 2014, they employed grisly tactics and conducted atrocities which harkened back to the horrific techniques used by Al-Qaeda in Iraq, … [Read more...]
“Shirk:” Why the Islamic State Hates Shrines (and Kills Those Who Worship There)
"Shirk:" Why the Islamic State Hates Shrines (and Kills Those Who Worship There) by Michael KelvingtonOn 16 February 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device that killed at least 83 Pakistanis at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a Sufi shrine in Sindh Province. It was a catastrophic attack which also wounded over 200 other innocent worshippers, and has already been … [Read more...]
“Never Forget”: Rising Up to Call Genocide ‘Genocide’
I’ll never forget standing outside the gates of the Mathhausen concentration camp to tour the prison camp at noontime. The tour guards said, “We’re closing for lunch. You can come back after lunch or if you want to tour Mathhausen right now, we’ll lock you in while we go eat lunch.” On a tight deadline to arrive at our evening destination, we said, “That works for us.” We … [Read more...]