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Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America Cut along dotted line Circle, MaxwellAFBAL36112–6428. to CADRE/AR,Building1400,401Chennault caustic––will begratefullyappreciated. Mailthem orsmall,complimentary comments––large give usyourfrankopiniononthecontents.All After youhaveread thisresearch report, please Thank youforyourassistance. Impact on Latin America Impact onLatin Understanding IslamandIts Connell COLLEGE OF AEROSPACE DOCTRINE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AIR UNIVERSITY Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America CURTIS C. CONNELL Lieutenant Colonel, USAF CADRE Paper No. 21 Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 36112-6615 March 2005 Air University Library Cataloging Data Connell, Curtis C. Understanding Islam and its impact on Latin America / Curtis C. Connell. p. ; cm. – (Cadre paper, 1537-3371 ; 21) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-58566-133-3 1. Islamic fundamentalism. 2. Terrorism—Latin America. 3. Islam—Latin America. I. Title. II. Series. III. Air University (U.S.). College of Aerospace Doc- trine, Research and Education. 303.625/09/8––dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Cleared for public re- lease: distribution unlimited. This CADRE Paper and others in the series are avail- able electronically at the Air University Research Web site http://research.maxwell.af.mil and the AU Press Web site http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil. ii CADRE Papers CADRE Papers are occasional publications sponsored by the Airpower Research Institute of Air University’s College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education (CADRE). Dedi- cated to promoting the understanding of air and space power theory and application, these studies are published by Air University Press and broadly distributed to the US Air Force, the Department of Defense and other governmental organiza- tions, leading scholars, selected institutions of higher learn- ing, public-policy institutes, and the media. All military members and civilian employees assigned to Air University are invited to contribute unclassified manuscripts that deal with air and/or space power history, theory, doctrine or strategy, or with joint or combined service matters bearing on the application of air and/or space power. Authors should submit three copies of a double-spaced, typed manuscript and an electronic version of the manuscript on removable media along with a brief (200-word maximum) abstract. The electronic file should be compatible with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word—Air University Press uses Word as its standard word-processing program. Please send inquiries or comments to Chief of Research Airpower Research Institute CADRE 401 Chennault Circle Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6428 Tel: (334) 953-5508 DSN 493-5508 Fax: (334) 953-6739 DSN 493-6739 E-mail: [email protected] iii Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER . ii FOREWORD . vii ABOUT THE AUTHOR . ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . xi 1 INTRODUCTION . 1 Notes . 2 2 UNDERSTANDING “ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM” . 3 Perspectives of Islam . 4 Islamic Anti-Western Rage: Historic and Strategic Explanations . 8 Islamic Angst: Psychological and Religious Struggles . 11 Clash or Collusion of Islamic Fundamentalists? . 16 Notes . 17 3 ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN . 19 Muslim Demographics in the Region . 20 Islamic Terrorist Attacks in the Region . 21 Islamic Terrorist Support in the Region . 23 Muslims’ Geographic Connection with Terrorism . 26 Notes . 28 4 TODAY’S ISLAMIC THREAT . 31 What, Who, and Where is the Islamic Terrorist Threat? . 31 Potential Islamic Terrorist Target . 34 Notes . 35 v Chapter Page 5 POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS . 37 Perceptions of the Primary Threat Facing the Region . 37 Regional Engagement and Cooperation . 37 Improve Rule of Law and Eradicate Criminal Activities . 39 Conclusions . 40 Notes . 41 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 43 vi Foreword Lt Col Curtis C. Connell hits a sensitive key in his observation that Islamic terrorism became one of the most important Ameri- can security concerns after the attacks of 11 September 2001. Having spent three years as assistant air attaché in Buenos Aires, he sought to combine a fresh interest in Latin America with his desire to learn more about the nature of radical Islamic fundamentalism and its virulent association with terrorism. His fellowship year at Harvard University and guidance of his pro- fessors encouraged him to coalesce interests into a combined study of Islamic fundamentalism and its manifestation in Latin America. At the end of the term, he produced this very useful and attractive monograph, Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America. The initial question of this study concerns the debate between those who believe in a general Islamic threat, as defined most eloquently by Samuel P. Huntington in The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, and others who see a small band of religious fanatics who have hijacked Islam from the moderate majority. This question about the source of terrorism has importance to the major Islamic nations as it does for Latin American countries, where Muslims are a largely undistinguish- able minority. The preliminary answer for Latin America is that the United States should not be alarmed at the potential for Islamic fun- damentalism, but sufficiently concerned to keep a watchful eye on future developments. In fact Connell suggests that the demographics do not favor the growth of an effective radical movement. If there are too few Muslims in Latin America to birth radicalism, there is on the other hand, a very active and extensive native, non-Islamic terrorism. The author connects these dots because he sees a latent connection to Muslims in the areas where terrorist organizations and drug traffickers proliferate. It is a potentially easy step for incipient Muslim radicals to get caught up and find beneficial purpose with these criminals. For example, the US dependence on imported petroleum and natural gas and a vulnerable transportation vii system provide an attractive target for Islamic terrorists, one they have used in the past. Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America was written as part of the Air Force Fellows research requirement. The College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education (CADRE) is pleased to publish this study as a CADRE Paper and thereby make it available to a wider audience within the Air Force and beyond. DANIEL R. MORTENSEN Chief of Research Airpower Research Institute, CADRE viii About the Author Lt Col Curtis C. Connell was commissioned in May 1983 as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Officer Training School. His career includes a wide variety of operational assignments. Colonel Connell served as an instructor pilot in three diverse fly- ing missions: T-37 instructor pilot, Laughlin AFB, TX; C-141 strategic airlift instructor pilot, McChord AFB, WA; and E-4B (Boeing 747) command and control chief evaluator pilot, Offutt AFB, NE. Additionally, he has served as commander, 1st Air- borne Command Control Squadron (E-4B), Offutt AFB, and as- sistant air attaché at the US Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Selected as a 2004 National Defense Fellow, Colonel Connell completed studies at the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at Harvard University. He currently serves on the Air Staff as the chief, Asia/Pacific region, Air and Space Operations. Colonel Connell earned his baccalaureate degree in Archi- tectural Studies at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and is a Distinguished Graduate of Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL. He earned the Master of Science degree in Aeronau- tical Science and Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Offutt AFB Extension Campus. He is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, and Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA. His major awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He is married to the former Cecilia Ruiz Calvillo of Guadalajara, Mexico. They have three children, Nina, Natalie, and Seth. ix Acknowledgments For my USAF Senior Developmental Education, I was blessed with a wonderful opportunity as a National Defense Fellow at the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, Harvard University. During the year, my interaction with numerous scholars knowl- edgeable on Islam and terrorism, attendance at lectures and de- bates on the topic, and time spent away from the “regular Air Force” to contemplate and think about the topic were invaluable. Initially I was torn between a desire to focus my research solely on Latin America instead of radical Islam. My three-year assignment as the assistant air attaché in Buenos Aires had given me additional insights about the region that I desired to further develop. I thank Prof. Jorge Dominguez, the director of Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, for suggesting a blending of the two topics, as well as Prof. Monica Duffy Toft, assistant director of the Olin Institute, for her en- couragment. A special acknowledgment goes to Prof. Samuel Huntington, director of the Olin Institute, for his keen insights into culture and his course on religion and global politics. Curtis C. Connell xi Chapter 1 Introduction Since 11 September 2001 (9/11)—that dreadful day forever etched in the memories of people around the world—Westerners have displayed increased interest, curiosity, and questioning of Islam. Numerous books, op-ed pieces, and scholarly re- search have addressed this subject. Many of these works try to explain why Islam—and, in particular, radical or fundamen- talist Islam—is seen as a threat to Western security. Some scholars have suggested the basic problem is not terrorism but one of religion and ideology, at least as perceived by Is- lamic fundamentalists. Pres. George W. Bush said, “Our war is against evil, not against Islam.1” This is true. Unless Islamic extremists are convinced of this reality, the United States may underestimate the threat.
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