ATLANTIC TREATY ASSOCIATION
Volume 4- Issue 2 February 2014
Syria: 3 Years of Civil War
Chemical Weapons Disarmament, Geneva II and the Threat of Foreign Fighters The recently concluded Geneva II conference made apparent that the warring parties have solidified their positions and that any form of negotiation has turned into a strenuous effort. Having missed the opportunity for a military engagement of Western forces in the conflict over pressure from Moscow and capitulating in the face of the inability to bring the opposing parties to the negotiation table , it is now up to the Western community to contemplate the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Disarmament initiative. In light of the first delays in the dismantling process and the continuously rising death toll throughout the country, the question of to what extent the CW disarmament has any actual potential to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people is at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Rebel fighter in close urban combat (Photo: The Guardian)
Contents: A Syrian Solution: Chemical Weapons Disarmament & The Hopes of Geneva II Jozef Kosc interviews Amb. Prof. Bolewski on the situation in Syria prior to Geneva II with regards to the effect of NATO, EU and UN
As the war continues, the European intelli-
actions and gives a brief analyses of the current state of affairs and what to expect.
gence community is considering the potential
Coming Home: The Syrian Civil War and Europe’s Jihadi
threat that returning foreign fighters may pose
Fighters
after hostilities have ended.
Alexander Corbeil examines the migration of European fighters to the
- Leonard Rauch and Klaudia Tani Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
Syrian theatre and the implications of their potential return to their former home countries.
1
A Syrian Solution Chemical Weapons Disarmament & The Hopes of Geneva II
I
n the weeks following a chemical weapons attack on civilians in Damascus on August 21st 2013, US President Barrack Obama considered a US-led military
missile strike against al-Assad’s regime, with the allied assistance of UK and French forces. Although Obama’s deliberation was lauded by independent policy experts and humanitarian ponents
pro-
of
The Security Council resolution 2118 sets out the deadline of June 30th, 2014 for the destruction of production facilities and the removal of chemical weapons through transportation out of Syrian territory. With the exception of a few armaments to be destroyed within Syrian borders, the then removed chemical weapons are to be destroyed at sea, with maritime secu-
the
“Responsibility
rity for the mission
to
provided by Russia,
Protect”, diplomatic opposition
China, Denmark and
from
Norway. In January
Russia swiftly fol-
2014, the OPCW
lowed suit. After Russian
Foreign
Minister
Sergei
announced its first major success in the transportation
Lavrov accused re-
destruction of chem-
bel forces for the
ical weapons. Alt-
attack, US Secretary
hough ample support
of State John Kerry and Minister Lavrov began an intense
for the project has Geopolitical Map of Syrian Civil War (Photo: ACAPS)
series of negotiations over alternative methods of intervention and protection in the region. Eventually, the US and Russia agreed to opt for an ambitious project of chemical weapons disarmament across the Syrian state as an alternative to military intervention. This decision was solidified in a UN Security Council resolution on September 28th 2013, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been on the ground in Syria since October 1st. The destruction of some of the chemical weapons production facilities in Syria began shortly afterwards on October 6th.
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
and
come in the form of
financial assistance from the European Union and the Canadian government, amongst other sovereign state partners, the project is not expected to finish by the aforementioned deadline. By late January 2014, merely 4 percent of the chemical weapons stock had been handed to the UN-OPCW mission by Syrian authorities, giving rise to calls of incompetence and unclear motives from US officials. On their part, Syrian authorities blame slow progress on technical issues arising from the violent instability of the region. Others suggest an intentional slowdown on the part of the alAssad regime, desperate to secure itself as a key and legitimate partner in the eyes of the world throughout the Gene2
va II rounds of negotiation over peaceful settlement. The presence of the OPCW since last October, however, has not deterred conventional weapons violence in the region. More than 5000 people have been killed each month, on average and without stop, since July 2012. The official death count now includes over 7000 children and 5000 women. Be-
gion. Last year witnessed the bloodiest loss of life in Iraq since 2007: nearly 9000 deaths as a result of sectarian attacks and suicide bombings. The Western-backed Free Syrian Army has seen recent violent confrontation with ISIS and other al-Qaeda-backed militias in northern Syria, with fighting centered in-and-around the city-stronghold of Aleppo. Merely one month into the New Year, fighting between
tween October 2013, and February 2014, an additional 25,000
moderate and radical Sunni groups has claimed almost 700
people have perished as a result of cross-fire between insur-
lives.
gents, rebels and Syrian state military forces. These official figures do not account for over 7000 detained or kidnapped
The Sunni-Shia struggle, lately manifest as an undercurrent to the Syrian civil war, has long
persons, nor for the countless unreported victims—their names intentionally undisclosed as both rebel and government forces attempt to keep casualty numbers artificially low. Such rampant violence continues to
Merely one month into the New Year, fighting between moderate and radical Sunni groups has claimed almost 700 lives.
divided the Middle East on ideological and political grounds. NATO-friendly countries including the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia have pledged their support of rebel Sunni forces in Syria, whereas Shiite Iran,
give rise to great humanitarian concerns; as
Iraq and Lebanon have henceforth strongly backed the al-
the number of internally displaced persons continues to in-
Assad regime. A wave of greater sectarian violence is also
crease, tens of thousands of fugitives continue to seek shelter in
not out of the question in Lebanon—where the radical Shi-
refugee camps as far away as Northern Kurdistan and Turkey.
ite terrorist group Hezbollah is engaged in a small civil war
Most recent reports from the UN Office for the Coordination
with the Sunni Nusra Front.
of Humanitarian Affairs suggest that approximately 9.3 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian relief, including access to water, adequate sanitation and health care.
Recent European intelligence reports confirm that Hezbollah has amped its recruiting efforts across Europe, facilitating the travel of hopeful militants from Lebanon into contested Syrian territory. More than 5000 European citi-
Sectarian-Regional Violence: The Role of Iraq, Leba-
zens have joined militant groups and jihadist networks in the
non & Emerging Security Issues
struggle for Syria. No doubt, European countries now face the dual-dilemma of protecting their citizens abroad, and
Even worse, violence in Syria is now spilling over sovereign borders. The context of civil war has provided uncon-
dissuading them from potential radicalization upon their return home.
tested cover for the free movement of terrorist cells between Syria and neighbouring countries. The al-Qaeda affiliated Is-
NATO’s Response
lamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) operating across Western Iraq and the Eastern provinces of Syria, is attempting to
In an attempt to protect NATO and NATO-allied
unite radical Sunni opposition forces under the banner of a new
powers from spillover violence, the alliance provided the
and unified Islamic Emirate. Unsurprisingly, ISIS militants are
south of Turkey with Patriot missiles in 2012. The possibil-
the largest cause of terrorist attacks in both states. As violence
ity of NATO military intervention in Syria under the
continues to tear apart the Western Iraqi province of Anbar,
“Responsibility to Protect” doctrine of international rela-
raising the black flag of al-Qaeda from Falluja to Ramadi for
tions is not presently on any diplomatic negotiation table.
the first time since the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2007,
Nevertheless, as the world looks to the Geneva II series of
NATO’s former top military commander, James Stavridis, has
negotiations for a resolution to civil strife, Western powers
warned of an escalating wave of sectarian violence in the re-
ought to consider the security concerns of Turkey and its
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
3
Near Eastern allies in the Gulf—if violence does not
Ambassador Bolewski: The pre-conditions for a
cease to escalate. Other geopolitical concerns such as
military intervention in Syria under the Responsibility to
increasing security efforts alongside regional borders
Protect (crimes against humanity) were and still remain
ought to remain a secondary—yet nevertheless crucial-
fulfilled: more than 100,000 people killed by the Assad
ly important—task, alongside the primary drive to
regime in conventional civil strife, 4 million internally
open access for refugees and increase humanitarian aid
displaced, 2 million trans-border refugees, more than
across the region.
1,400 people killed through attacks by Government activi-
Interview With Ambassador Bolewski I had the privilege of asking former Ambassador
ties, recognizable in the UN Inspectors Report by the origin of weapons and ballistic trajectory.
and now Professor Wilfried Bolewski about his per-
The (limited) legitimate aims of such an interven-
spectives on the ongoing Syrian civil war, the legality of
tion would be to neutralize or destroy the infrastructure
foreign military intervention, and the process of chemi-
and organs of the regime responsible for the commitment
cal weapons disarmament in the context of peace nego-
of the said atrocities and to prevent, deter and incapacitate
tiations. Ambassador Bolewski has led a long and varied career in international law and diplomacy. He gained practical experience in International Security Policy at
any future use of Chemical and Conventional Weapons, preferably against 3 C installations – Command, Control, Communication.
the UN Conference on Disarmament – including Chemical
Do you think that the deadline for
Weapons –, NATO’s Nuclear
foreign military intervention has passed?
Planning Group, NATO De-
What if Damascus fails to comply with
fense College and at the NATO
OPCW requests?
desk of the German Foreign
Ambassador Bolewski: Con-
Ministry. Ambassador Bolewski
trary to the immediacy of a reaction in
now teaches diplomacy and in-
the case of self-defence there is no time
ternational law at the American Graduate School in Paris and the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).
limit to the duty to protect civilians as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign
long as the threat to their lives persists.
Minister Sergei Lavrov agree to push for chemical weapons disarmament process in Syria. (Photo: Getty Images)
Thank you very much for your time Ambassador; it has been a busy past few weeks in the world of international relations, and with an array of various media perspectives, it helps to have some clarity from an expert. My first question. When Obama proposed a coalition armed strike against the Syrian regime in early September, sentiments were mixed—both within the domestic sphere of the
Since the UN-SC Resolution of September 28, 2013 does not include
any automatic sanctions in case of non-compliance any new UN-SC Resolution would be faced with the same veto unless the recent French proposal of self-restraint in case of mass crimes would apply to the P 5. What makes the use of chemical weapons so much more grievous than other forms of violence? Is there an international law outlining strict prohibition?
United States, and at the international level of diplomacy. In
Ambassador Bolewski: Syria ratified in 1968
the context of international law, was there ever a legal justifi-
the 1025 Geneva Protocol on the Protection of the Use of
cation for military intervention?
Chemical Weapons in war and it recently signed the
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
4
Chemical Weapons Convention of 1003. The use of
Recent reports indicate that as many as 19 rebel groups
Chemical Weapons has been recognized as a Crime Against
are actively opposing political negotiations with al-Assad at the
Humanity in International Customary Law.
proposed upcoming Geneva II peace talks. Are you optimistic? Ambassador Bolewski: The success of future
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces criticized the US-Russian decision on disarmament, noting
Geneva II negotiations will depend on:
that “Chemical weapons use is just one of the many crimes against humanity Assad is committing against the Syrian people...” General Salim Idris,
“The inclusion of Iran and its recognition as a leading regional power seems to be a condition sine qua non to any sustainable solution
head of the Supreme Military Council
A cease-fire,
•
Inclusive participation of
all regional fractions,
•
Protection of minorities
•
Eventually, an out-of-the-box, innovative approach,
of the rebel Free Syrian Army, also criticized the resolution for failing to hold al-Assad accountable for any crime. Do you think
•
and
that chemical weapons disarmament will do anything to stop the
including a rethinking of the State in the Middle
ongoing civil war?
East along ethnic, linguistic and sectarian communities. This could lead to new sovereign states build-
Ambassador Bolewski: The political criticism
ing transnational stability among neighbours in re-
against this CW Disarmament initiative is based on the
gional groupings.
following: •
Final question. Iran’s new President, Hassan Rouhani, The Assad regime is elevated to a partner in disarmament and it thus regains a new legitimacy for at least one year.
•
side the destruction of chemical weapons. Would Western leaders benefit from including Iran in the upcoming negotiations?
The International Community seems more concerned about weapons than the protection and assistance for civilians under continuous attack,
•
has called for the expulsion of terrorist groups from Syria, along-
Disarmament seems to take priority over crisis
Ambassador Bolewski: The inclusion of Iran and its recognition as a leading regional power seems to be a condition sine qua non to any sustainable solution of the regional conflict.
management of underlying causes and expectations. In fact, the disarmament initiative as a shield against
Thank you once again for your time and for your assistance.
military intervention is seen as a deceptively attractive
About the author
manoeuvre of diversion and a diplomatic pipe dream in
Jozef Kosc is a Junior Research Fellow at the NATO
relation to the need for the topical crisis management be-
Council of Canada, and Lead Editor of The Paris Globalist
cause it is:
Foreign Affairs Magazine. He has represented Canada at
•
•
Technically impracticable to destroy CW stocks in
UNESCO and at the NATO Post-2014 Conference. While
war-time,
studying at the University of Toronto and Sciences Po Paris, he is co-authoring a book on international development
Inefficient to stop conventional as well as chemical war crimes.
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
policy with the International Association for Political Science Students and Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
5
Coming Home The Syrian Civil War and Europe’s Jihadi Fighters
I
n Syria, nearly three years of violence has transformed
of participating in a foreign jihadist conflict. By doing so it
a protest movement for democracy into a protracted
becomes clear that preventative measures, both in terms of
civil war. As is common with many drawn-out con-
social outreach and policing, are best suited to both curtail
flicts, issues of identity have replaced the initial causal fac-
the flow of Europeans to Syria and to thwart experience
tors; obscuring the conflict’s true nature. Into the vacuum
fighters from carrying out attacks on European soil.
created by violence, a lack of central authority and communal hatred, there have emerged
Joining The Mujahedeen
a number of radical Islamic groups. Better disciplined, armed, financed
“I didn’t travel across the
and more experienced than their
world, spend a lot of money and leave
moderate and secular counterparts
my comfortable life style just to come
they aim to create an Islamic cali-
here and blow up some kids. I could
phate in or including Syria. To do
have done that back home.” – Ibrahim
so they must first topple the gov-
al-Mazwagi, now deceased British
ernment of Bashar al-Assad, a task
national with the Katiba al-
for which they have increasing en-
Muhajireen.
listed the help of foreign fighters, a
Foreign Fighters in Syria (Photo: alalam.ir)
shockingly significant amount of which are from Western Europe.
One of the main questions that continually plague those researching foreign fighters is why some Muslim men
According to The International Centre for the
chose to participate in conflicts overseas instead of perpe-
Study of Radicalization (ICSR) there are between 396 and
trating attacks at home. Given increased monitoring and
1,937 Western Europeans fighting in Syria, representing
more vigilant techniques of security services, in addition to
18% of the 3,000 to 11,000 foreign combatants. This
the West’s post-9/11 obsession with securitizing travel,
three-fold increase in the number of Western European
domestic attacks would seem to be the easiest way in
fighters since the ICSR’s first estimate in April has primari-
which to target the “enemies of Islam”.
ly fed the ranks of al-Qaeda’s official Syrian affiliate, Jabhat
Instead, analysts such as Thomas Hegghammer,
al-Nusra; the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a
Director of terrorism research with the Norwegian De-
now disavowed al-Qaeda spinoff; and to a lesser extent,
fence Research Establishment, have noted that an over-
the Syrian Salafist alliance the Islamic Front. Not only do
whelming number of jihadists prefer to take their struggle
these fighters present a security threat to the Syrian people
to foreign battlefields. According to Hegghammer, out of
and an affront to their struggle for democracy, some Euro-
the 689 Islamist fighters from Europe between 2001 and
pean jihadists may return home to carry out domestic ter-
2010, 500 took to participating in conflicts overseas.
rorist operations.
While this 3:1 ratio of foreign to domestic fighters repre-
To understand the threat posed by Europeans
sents a drastic reduction from the 1990-2001 level of 13:1,
fighting in Syria it is important to evaluate their motiva-
estimates of Western Europeans fighting in Syria have
tions for fighting overseas and the transformative process
pushed the ratio further in favor of foreign fighters.
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
6
While Hegghammer’s analysis precedes the beginning
This narrative has been bolstered by the evolution of
of the Syrian uprising many of his conclusions remain relevant
al-Qaeda and like-minded groups. While terrorism was
and can be built upon to partially explain the popularity of Syr-
once the bread and butter of radical jihadists, they have in-
ian conflict among Western European fighters. As alluded to
creasingly become involved in warfare against state authori-
previously, the expansion of anti-terrorism units, increased
ties in the wider Muslim world in their attempts to establish
technological oversight and the quick reaction of security ser-
localized or global caliphates by creating facts on the
vices to terrorist attacks do play a role. Though, in a manner
ground. The capture of territory and the overthrow of a
that would surprise many. The opportunity for multiple at-
secular or Western-aligned regime in view of establishing an
tacks is greatly reduced when perpetrated in Europe, given the
Islamic state resonates more with these foreign fighters.
competence of security officials and a variety of technological
In the age of information technology the narrative is
advancements and tracking mechanisms.
further enforced from the battlefield.
In comparison, participation in a foreign
Syria is the most video recorded conflict
conflict where there is an absence of central authority and in many cases jihadi groups present the only governing struc-
Foreign fighter experience one of the strongest predictors of individual involvement in domestic operations...
in history, thanks to the proliferation of cellphone cameras and the aforementioned social media platforms. Various jihadist belligerents post tailored and
ture that allows participants to fight for a much longer period of time. For many fighters martyrdom is
extremely professional videos on pro-al-Qaeda forums such
the end goal, though they would rather make their name on
as al-Fida and al-Shamukh and on a number of Twitter ac-
the battlefield—a process that takes time—and die as heroes
counts. Within these video series, such as ISIS’s Messages
among their mujahedeen brethren. Viewed in this light, Syria
from the Land of Epic Battles, now in its eighteenth install-
presents an immeasurable opportunity for European fighters to
ment, jihadist fighters are portrayed in a heroic manner;
participate in a perceived holy war for an extended period.
combatants who have gained the support of Syria’s Sunni
While opportunity partially explains why Europeans are drawn
polity. Absent from the carefully manufactured narrative are
to foreign conflicts, it is not likely the driving factor. Rather,
the constant human rights abuses perpetrated by ISIS and
the present narrative of the conflict allows fighters to justify
the recent widespread rejection of the group in Northern
their participation. Given the ongoing atrocities committed by
and Eastern Syria.
the Assad government—the direct targeting of civilians; the indiscriminate use of chemical weapons and recently, mass
The Radicalization Process In Syria
starvation—it can be argued that there is a clear rational and even morally defensible line of argument for participation in
“The environment here will change the people, they will
the conflict. Furthermore, the protracted nature of this civil
think in a different [way], because they lived in Europe and
war and the involvement of pro-government Shiite fighters
[Europe is safe], you don’t see the things you’ll see here.” – Abu
from Hezbollah, Iraq and Iran, allow the Syrian conflict to be
Abdi Rahman, a now deceased Swedish fighter in the Katiba al-
presented through the lens of sectarianism.
Muhajireen
Islamic clerics, both within Europe and those who have taken to social media, (particularly YouTube, Facebook and
Joining the fight in Syria should not be seen as synon-
Twitter) are keen to push this sectarian narrative. In this man-
ymous with the will to perpetrate attacks at home. Many of
ner the foreign fighter is not seen as a terrorist but rather a
those who enter the fray in Syria would not have taken part
volunteer participating in an existential battle against a defined
in plots on home soil. A lack of religious clarity on targeting
and importantly, armed foe, whose goal is to subjugate fellow
civilians coupled with a probable moral apprehension to-
Sunnis. Unlike those who commit violent acts at home, foreign
ward such acts most likely played a role in the decision to
fighters are praised for their protection of their coreligionists
fight overseas. It is once these fighters enter a theatre of
and with this religious stamp of approval, justify their involve-
jihadi combat that they become more prone to perpetrating
ment.
acts of terrorism upon their return. According to Hegghammer, there is a one-in-nine radicalization rate, which makes,
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
7
“…foreign fighter experience one of the strongest pre-
high-ranking militants in Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS are ca-
dictors of individual involvement in domestic opera-
reer jihadists. The latter have cut their teeth in a number
tions…” Out of these foreign-turned-domestic fighters
of conflicts, and given both groups’ Iraqi groups, fought
there have been two noticeable trends which led to
against American and British troops or have trained direct-
their recruitment: those that set out to fight but instead
ly under those that have. Unlike their Western counter-
are made central members of a foreign plot, with their
parts they espouse a more fundamentalist version of Islam
implicit consent and those who become radicalized by
which views the United States and its European allies as
their own accord.
the, “Far Enemy”; the near enemy being secular and sup-
As of the writing of this article there are no
posedly apostate Arab regimes. Their worldviews, particu-
credible indications that terrorist groups based in Syria
larly those in favour of operations against the West may
intend to carry out attacks in the West in the near fu-
leave their mark on impressionable Western Europeans
ture. Though, as the conflict continues and radical
who have joined the campaign in Syria.
groups are allowed to flourish in ungoverned spaces,
Also of great importance is the religious guidance of
the possibility of global terrorist attacks emanating in
brigade clerics. While in the West potential fighters have
Syria increases. For the time being, the most grave se-
access to a variety of religious leaders in their communi-
curity concern is the radicalization of individual fight-
ties—and thus opinions—in Syria they are relegated to the
ers, who alone or in tandem with other Europeans may
religious doctrine propagated by the fighting group and its
seek to carry out domestic plots.
leaders. In this context, and particularly true in the case of
process
ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra,
occurs within Syria.
militants are taught that
Potential foreign fight-
self-sacrifice in the form
ers must first establish
of suicide bombing is
contact with radical
religiously condoned. A
groups or their repre-
suicide truck-bombing by
sentatives, raise the
a British jihadist in Jabhat
required funds and pay
al-Nusra during the siege
for their travel to Tur-
of Aleppo’s central pris-
key; the primary entry
on on February 6 high-
point
jihadists.
lights the issue at hand.
They are then kept in
Known by the nom de
safe houses in prepara-
guerre Abu Suleiman al-
This
for
tion for their entrance
British suicide bomber Ibrahim al Mazwagi (Photo:Channel4 news)
Britani, he is believed to
into Syria. Then, the combination of Turkey’s loose
be the first British fighter to carry out a martyrdom opera-
border control policy and the porousness of the coun-
tion, and is proof of the effectiveness of radical indoctrina-
try’s 910 kilometer-long shared boundary with Syria
tion. The worry is that these same groups will both influ-
allows fighters to slip undetected into the conflict.
ence and provide the operational knowhow for Western
Once in Syria, these fighters are subjected to an
Europeans to conduct attacks at home.
intense regimen, both in terms of military training and religious indoctrination. It is here that the radicalization
What Should Be Done?
process continues, one which may hold the possibility of inspiring fighters to return home and carry out at-
The current focus of extremist groups on conflicts
tacks within Europe. Isolation plays a large role in this
within Muslim lands, particularly within Syria, has allowed
process, as fighters are constantly surrounded by other
them to recruit fighters hesitant or unwilling to carry out
militants. Unlike the first timers, many of the mid- to
domestic attacks. A morally justifiable struggle, backed by religious doctrine and presented in an existential light,
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
8
Syria has been a recruiting goldmine for Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS. Western European fighters now flock to Syria to defend their coreligionists, become heroes and, both implicitly and explicitly, in search of adventure. While many step on the battlefield as naïve young men it is the participation in a jihadist conflict that may set them down the path towards participation in or masterminding of domestic attacks. Viewed in this manner it is apparent that preventative methods must be employed in a robust fashion. Required is a multi-pronged approach, one which enlists the resources of security organizations, police, social workers and most importantly, community and religious leaders. Those at risk of joining the Syrian conflict must be educated about the reality of the Syrian civil war and the atrocities committed by jihadists groups, not just those of the Assad regime—a job well suited for community leaders. Social workers must help Muslim families adjust to life in Western Europe, help young men find jobs and smooth the integration process. Police and security agencies need to be proactive, to ensure that those who intend to fight in Syria are dissuaded from doing so and are kept under close watch, given the threat to domestic security. The recent Cities Conference on Foreign Fighters in Syria held by the European Commission showed the willingness of representatives of 23 European cities to tackle the issue at hand with the participation of community leaders, social workers and police and security forces. While important, an articulated common strategy, the result of a sustained multi-pronged initiative, is required to tackle the issue at hand. Furthermore, the tracking of Western European fighters and their detainment for evaluation and possible persecution upon return is crucial to protecting the continent from domestic attacks.
Atlantic Voices, Volume 4, Issue 2
About the author Alexander Corbeil is a senior Middle East analyst with The NATO Council of Canada and a blogger with the Foreign Policy Association. Alexander focuses on the role of radical Islamic groups in the Syrian conflict and neighboring Lebanon.You can follow him @alex_corbeil. Bibliography Berger, J.M. . War on Error: We're fighting al Qaeda like a terrorist group. They're fighting us as an army. February 5, 2014. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/ articles/2014/02/04/ war_on_error_al_qaeda_terrorism (accessed February 5, 2014). Channel 4 News . Britons fighting with Syria's jihadi 'band of brothers'. June 13, 2013. http:// www.channel4.com/news/syria-war-rebelsjihadi-ibrahim-al-mazwagi (accessed January 30, 2014). Daloglu, Tulin. Turkey-Syria Border Remains Vulnerable . February 5, 2014. http://www.al-monitor.com/ pulse/originals/2014/02/turkey-syria-borderstill-vulnerable.html (accessed February 5 , 2014). Gander, Kashmira. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ home-news/first-british-suicide-bomber-in-syriabelieved-to-have-struck-aleppo-prison-9115530.html. February 7, 2014. http:// www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ first-british-suicide-bomber-in-syria-believed-tohave-struck-aleppo-prison-9115530.html (accessed February 7 , 2014). Hegghammer, Thomas. Should I Stay or Should I Go? Explaining Variation in Western Jihadists' Choice Between Domestic and Foreign Fighting . February 2013. http://hegghammer.com/_files/Hegghammer__Should_I_stay_or_should_I_go.pdf (accessed January 10 , 2014). Irujo, Jose Maria. The martyr who changed his mind. January 28, 2014. http://elpais.com/ elpais/2014/01/28/ inenglish/1390903303_246409.html (accessed February 1, 2014). Jihadology. al-Furqan Media presents a new video message from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham "Messages from the Land of Epic Battles #18". February 7, 2014. http://jihadology.net/2014/02/07/al-furqanmedia-presents-a-new-video-message-from-theislamic-state-of-iraq-and-al-sham-messages-fromthe-land-of-epic-battles-18/ (accessed February 7 , 2014). Sherlock, Ruth. Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses . October 30, 2013. http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ middleeast/syria/10415935/Al-Qaeda-recruitsentering-Syria-from-Turkey-safehouses.html (accessed January 30, 2014). Zelin, Aaron Y. ICSR Insights: Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria, Steep Rise Among Western Europeans. December 17, 2013. http://icsr.info/2013/12/icsr -insight-11000-foreing-fighters-syria-steep-riseamong-western-europeans/ (accessed December 19, 2013). 9
ATA Programs The Norwegian Atlantic Committee hosted its 49th annual security conference from 3-4 February at the Leangkollen Hotel in
Atlantic Voices is the monthly publication of the Atlantic Treaty Association. It aims to inform the debate on key issues that affect the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, its goals and its future. The work published in Atlantic Voices is written by young professionals and researchers.
Asker, Norway. This year’s event was titled: The Rise of East Asia:
The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) is an international non-
Implications for Great Power Relations and the Transatlantic Relationship.
governmental organization based in Brussels working to facilitate global
The conference was introduced by the Norwegian Minister of For-
networks and the sharing of knowledge on transatlantic cooperation and
eign Affairs, Mr. Børge Brende and Ms Ellen Laipson, President
security. By convening political, diplomatic and military leaders with
and CEO of the Stimson Center, NATO.
academics, media representatives and young professionals, the ATA promotes
From 18-20 March, the ROSE-ROTH seminar on
the values set forth in the North Atlantic Treaty: Democracy, Freedom,
“Security and Democratiza-
Liberty, Peace, Security and Rule of Law. The ATA membership extends to 37
tion in the Western Bal-
countries from North America to the Caucasus throughout Europe. In 1996,
kans: Consolidating Stabil-
the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) was created to specifially
ity, Pushing Reforms” will
include to the successor generation in our work.
take place in Sarajevo in
Since 1954, the ATA has advanced the public’s knowledge and
cooperation with the Par-
understanding of the importance of joint efforts to transatlantic security
liamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
through its international programs, such as the Central and South Eastern European Security Forum, the Ukraine Dialogue and its Educational Platform.
This years annual ATA Washington trip will take place from
In 2011, the ATA adopted a new set of strategic goals that reflects the
the 24-27 March. Bureau members and senior ATA leaders use the
constantly evolving dynamics of international cooperation. These goals include:
opportunity to meet with US officials, senior representatives and
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North American Think Tanks.
security issues.
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Atlantic Voices is always seeking new material. If you are a young researcher, subject expert or professional and feel you have a valuable contribution to make to the debate, then please get in touch. We are looking for papers, essays, and book reviews on issues of importance to the NATO Alliance.
the establishment of new and competitive programs on international
the development of research initiatives and security-related events for its members.
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the expansion of ATA’s international network of experts to countries in Northern Africa and Asia. The ATA is realizing these goals through new programs, more policy
activism and greater emphasis on joint research initiatives.
For details of how to submit your work please see our website.
These programs will also aid in the establishment of a network of
Further enquiries can also be directed to the ATA Secretariat at the
international policy experts and professionals engaged in a dialogue with
address listed below.
NATO.
Editor: Leonard Rauch Images should not be reproduced without permission from sources listed, and remain the sole property of those sources. Unless otherwise stated, all images are the property of NATO.
The views expressed in this article are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Atlantic Treaty Association, its members, affiliates or staff.
This publication is co co--sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization