Squawking Terrorists

Fire of Liberty

James S. Robbins has an excellent article over at National Review Online on the song-bird qualities of the various terrorists the US and our allies have caught. While the mere capture of these terrorists causes massive chaos in the organization, it makes it even tougher on these people when these captured thugs start chirping on their associates. Just look at what these terrorists are willing to do if they're captured:

But don’t any captives protect their fellows? Don't they show devotion to their comrades and their cause? Take Azmi Jayousi, a Jordanian loyal to Zarqawi, currently on trial with a dozen other terrorists for plotting a chemical attack in Jordan last year. The courtroom has been a daily scene of defiance as Jayousi denounces the court, the king, and others on his personal list. "Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi will chop off your heads and stuff them in your mouths, you enemies of God!" Jayousi pledged from the dock, throwing his shoes at the judge. Co-conspirator Ahmad Samir added, "The blood of our brothers will not go wasted!"

Oh, but if Ahmad only knew what kind of person he was keeping company with. Moments after these outbursts, Jordanian security officers took the stand and blew the whistle on Jayousi. Despite his bluster in the courtroom, the terror leader had in fact been instrumental in taking down his entire band. When counterterrorist forces raided his hideout just before the planned chemical attack was launched, Jayousi did not fight to the death, he did not resist at all. He began cutting side deals on the spot. No torture, no coercion — Jayousi rolled right away and gave up the locations of all the other safe houses. Later in court when Jayousi denounced the story as a lie, the Jordanians, who videotape all their operations, released footage to the press showing the entire thing. It must have been an uncomfortable scene back in the holding cell that night. Say it ain't so, Azmi.

I guess their loyalty stops when they get pinched by the US and its allies. This just goes to show you that the terrorists can only trust each other as far as they can throw them. Hopefully this will continue well into the future. The only thing we can do is to continue to seek out these mongers of terror and hope they chirp like a bird (I suspect the terrorists expect this even if they're not talking). Or we can just continue to launch various operations like Matador and kill the terrorists on location. Either way is good for me.