What's the difference between Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban?
filed in News & Events on Feb.19, 2011
The only thing I think I understand is that Israel is more concerned about Hamas and Hezbollah, and the United States is more concerned about Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Is this correct? I’m just curious.
Wow! Mattapan, what a great, informed answer…exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!
February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
Hezbollah is a Shi’ite militia in South Lebanon. It is supported by Syria and Iran and has strong political support. Its outlook is fundamentalist Muslim in a country that otherwise would be more modern than the surrounding countries like Syria and Iraq. Hezbollah is opposed to Israel and is armed to the teeth. In 2006 Hezbollah fired thousands of short range rockets at Israel on an indiscriminate basis.
Hamas is the movement that controls Gaza. It is intractably opposed to the existence of the State of Israel and has indicated that it will never negotiate with Israel even if that means that Israel will have to blockade all of Gaza and cause misery for its residents. Hamas has fired thousands of home made rockets at southern Israel, principally at the city of Sderot.
Al Qaeda is the underground Muslim militant movement founded by Osama bin Laden to resist anti-Islamic forces, as defined by him and his leadership. Al Qaeda used to operate openly in Afghanistan until 9-11. Now it operates under the guise of fundamentalist madrashas (Islamic religious schools) in Pakistan. It may be behind the current unrest in Kyrgistan. A branch of Al Qaeda in Iraq is responsible for numerous suicide bombings of mosques as well as Allied military targets. Al Qaeda also operates openly in Yemen and Somalia. Cells of Al Qaeda likely exist throughout Western Europe and the United States and Canada.
The Taliban worked hand-in-hand with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. It is now conducting an insurgency against the Karzai government and the Allies in Afghanistan.
Hope that helped. The bottom line is that all four consider America their enemy and under a fatwa by Osama ben Laden, anyone paying taxes to the United States is an enemy combatant. Don’t buy into the argument that they will all love us and sing Kumbaya if we just abandon Israel. Their goals have always been "First Saturday, then Sunday," meaning first the Jews, then the Christians.
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
They’re all murdeous moslems whose ultimate intent is to secure islam’s eventual domination of the Free World.
Well, you asked….
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
They are all basically the same. Many, many years ago Muslims said they will not stop until the entire world becomes Muslim. They do all they can to make us into them. When they think they have accomplished it, then they will kill all unbelievers they find. America has always believed (since the founding fathers anyway) that all people are entitled to believe their own way.
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
They are all organisations which oppose the US for various reasons. Israel=US.
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
No real difference except geography. All are muslim terrorists.
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
Hamas and Hezbollah are fighting against an illegal occupation of their country just as the French resistance did against the Nazis in WW2. There is no comparison with them and the Taliban and A-Quaeda although one could argue that the Taliban are fighting against an occupation of Afghanistan.
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February 19th, 2011 on 2:59 am
to mattapan -get a life.
to whomever asked the question- theyre all muslim terrorist groups commited to the downfall of western culture and the Jewish people. Yes, they have different leaders, but as aforementioned by somepne alse, it’s all geographical. If in the event of bringing down their enemies, they gladly work together. unless the sunni-shiite conflict messes things up-that can often interfere.
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