A Molotov Cocktail in the Age of Terror: Proliferation of Russian WMD and the Spread of Radical Islamism in Central Asia
Even if Putin acknowledges his folly and corrects his behavior, the Central Asian threat is not removed. On the contrary, it remains elevated due to the gradual rise of Islamism within the former Soviet republics. The United States must realize that the economic and social turmoil that engulfed this region following the collapse of the Soviet Union created optimum conditions for the spread of terrorist doctrine. Though organizations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami currently promote the peaceful establishment of an international caliphate, this tactic may be replaced with more aggressive methods should the Islamist leadership feel that their agenda is not advancing. Admittedly, the advent of these groups is largely due to oppressive regimes that hinder Muslim political involvement. It is imperative that American policy makers address these issues to ensure that “political opposition to unpopular regimes does not by default coalesce into a more militant group” akin to Hamas or al-Qaeda.[31] Should this happen, the United States will face a region overwhelmed by radical Islamists with access to a vast and under-protected nuclear, chemical, and biological arsenal. The result is a veritable Molotov cocktail of cataclysmic proportions.
* These values were converted to U.S. dollars from Saudi Riyals by the author based upon conversion rates accurate as of4:30 pm,16 August 2006.
[1] “Venezuela’s Chavez to sign Russian arms deal.” CNN.com website, https://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/07/26/chavez.russia.ap/index.html, viewed26 July 2006.
[2] “Venezuela’s Chavez to sign Russian arms deal.”
[3] “Venezuela’s Chavez to sign Russian arms deal.”
[4] “Ahmadinejad GivesVenezuela’s ChavezIran’s Highest National Medal.” FOX News website, https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,206266,00.html, viewed9 August 2006.
[5] “Nuclear Threat Initiative Profile: Russia.” NTI website, https://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Russia/print/index_5148.prt, viewed11 August 2006.
[6] “Nuclear Threat Initiative Profile:Russia.”
[7] “Nuclear Threat Initiative Profile:Russia.”
[8] David Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,” The Boston Globe,18 June 2002.
[9] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[10] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[11] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[12] Alex Rodriguez, “Russian arms security lax,” The Chicago Tribune,6 April 2003.
[13] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[14] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[15] Filipov, “Russia’s scattered tactical arms a temptation for terrorists,”18 June 2002.
[16] “Is Radical Islam Inevitable in Central Asia? Priorities for Engagement.” International Crisis Group website, https://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?1=1&id=2432, viewed14 August 2006.
[17] Barnett Rubin, “Radical Islam in Central Asia,” Asian Social Issues Program website, https://www.asiasource.org/asip/rubin.cfm, viewed14 August 2006.
[18] Barnett Rubin, “Radical Islam inCentral Asia,”14 August 2006.
[19] Barnett Rubin, “Radical Islam inCentral Asia,”14 August 2006.
[20] “Radical Islam in Central Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir.” International Crisis Group website, https://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1441&1=1, viewed15 August 2006
[21] “Radical Islam inCentral Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir.”
[22] Lisa Evans, “The Rise of Islamic Extremism in Central Asia,” UCLA International Institute website, https://www.international.ucla.edu/print.asp?parentid=23631, viewed15 August 2006.
[23] Lisa Evans, “The Rise of Islamic Extremism inCentral Asia,”15 August 2006.
[24] Lisa Evans, “The Rise of Islamic Extremism inCentral Asia,”15 August 2006.
[25] “Asia Appendex.” Saudi Fund for Development website, https://www.sfd.gov.sa/english/asia.htm, viewed16 August 2006.
[26] Lisa Evans, “The Rise of Islamic Extremism inCentral Asia,”15 August 2006.
[27] “Is Radical Islam Inevitable inCentral Asia? Priorities for Engagement.”
[28] J.F.O. McAllister and Paul Quinn-Judge, “Defenseless Targets,” Time Europe website, https://www.time.com/europe/magazine/printout/0,13155,901040913-692846,00.html, viewed15 August 2006.
[29] J.F.O. McAllister and Paul Quinn-Judge, “Defenseless Targets,”15 August 2006.
[30] J.F.O. McAllister and Paul Quinn-Judge, “Defenseless Targets,”15 August 2006.
[31] “Radical Islam inCentral Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir.”
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