Death, Confusion and Networks

Added a new source of information to my blogroll.  Great factual information on Counterterrorism Blog.

By Douglas Farah

The recent announcement of the death of Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri in Iraq, and the confusion surrounding the possible deaths of other leaders, highlight the importance of the network-based Islamist insurgencies in Iraq and elsewhere.

As the deaths of Zarqawi and much of the senior leadership of the core al Qaeda and Al Qaeda in Iraq have shown, individual deaths have a short-term impact.

But in the mid to long term, these deaths, while necessary in the struggle, do not do away with the underlying structures that give the groups’ their viability. Al-Jubouri’s alleged direct involvement in the killing of a journalist and others, and his directorship of the propaganda machine make him a valuable target, no doubt. But was likely replaced before his body was cold.

As a (much) younger person covering the cartel wars in Colombia, I initially fully bought the DEA and CIA’s line that killing Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha, then Pablo Escobar, then the arrest of the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers, who have a direct impact on the cocaine trade.

Of course, none of those activities did diminish the flow of cocaine, and it was evident after a while that the structures had almost a life of their own, independent of the individuals involved at any particular time.

The killings and arrests were not useless and they forced the cartels to adapt. But the volume of money in the drug business was such that there was always someone else to step up.

I would argue that, in the _jihadist_ structures, the ideological and theological imperative driving the groups is such that there is little trouble in replacing those that fall. My full blog is here.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

No significo ofender ningún hablando español debido a todas las discusiones recientes sobre la inmigración ilegal, sino que todavía amo el alimento y la cerveza de restaurantes mexicanos. Una gama y una variedad grandes de cervezas se elaboran cerveza en México, y algunas de ellas son tapa que vende las cervezas en mercados con excepción de México, incluyendo los E.E.U.U., el Canadá, la Europa y la Australasia.

De las cervezas de México de que tenga gusto, prefiero las marcas de fábrica tales como el “negro Modelo” o “Bohemia”. Negra Modelo es una cerveza oscura, muy liso y descrito pues un tipo cerveza de “Viena-Munich” por el cervecero. Prefiero generalmente cervezas más ligeras del trigo, pero hago esta excepción. Bohemia compite con Modelo especial y es una luz, cerveza de cerveza dorada rica. Debajo está un pequeño artículo para tu educación de la cerveza.

Grupo Modelo’s Principal Beers

Corona
Corona is a light lager beer, and is the top selling Mexican beer abroad. Corona is widely available in the UK at pubs, clubs and supermarkets.

Modelo Especial
Modelo Especial is a lager beer (described as a Pilsner lager by the brewer) and has a slightly richer taste than Corona.

Victoria
Victoria is described as Pilsner-Vienna type beer by the brewer, and is a cross between a light lager and a dark beer.

Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma’s Principal Beers

Sol
Sol is Corona’s main competitor in the market, and like Corona it is a light, tasty lager beer.

Tecate
Tecate is a lager beer, light, but with a sharper and stronger taste than Sol.

XX
“Dos Equis” is a light lager beer.

Noche Buena
If you are in Mexico during the Christmas period, then look out for this beer that is only sold during the festive season. Translated it means “Christmas Eve”, and is a dark, rich beer.

Below the fold is the English translation…

Remember

“From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered
with the blood of tyrants and patriots.”
- Thomas Jefferson

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy,
forget in time that men have died to win them.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt