Know Your Enemy - the Three Branches of Terror Part 2: The Political Groups

In the previous article, the militant factions such as Hamas, al-Qaeda, and Hezbollah were discussed, highlighting the factions' leadership, styles, and a brief history of each. While these are indeed the most obvious and potentially immediate threat to both Western interests and safety, it should be noted that the ability of many of these organizations to operate is due to the material support given to them through internationally recognized nations. While the world worries itself over the manner in which Israel defends its U.N. recognized borders from Palestinian suicide bombers, nations such as Iran and Syria continue to offer material support to Hezbollah and other such factions in much the same way that the Taliban supported al-Qaeda.

While it would be pleasant to believe that the Global War on Terror is a simple fight between the United States and Osama bin-Laden's terror cells in al-Qaeda, the truth of the picture indicates that there is a growing Global Jihad Movement (GJM) that is exemplified in many countries across the Middle East and beyond. Seemingly antagonizing this above all else is the revolutionary Shi'ite nation of Iran - hoping to become the dominant Middle Eastern power in the absence of Iraq.

In order to effectively put out the threat of militant Islam to the West, it must be understood who the enemy nations are, and to disable their ability to aid those who would use five year old children and Boeing 757s as missiles in their arsenal of terror.

Iran
Leader(s): President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini
Religion: Shi'a Islam
Population: 70,049,262
Army Size: 545,000 / 350,000 Reserves