In an article by Krishnadev Calamur published in the Atlantic after the Taliban announced his death in 2018 Jalaluddin Haqqanni was described as a “murderous thug…but that those who knew him respected him as a true scholar-warrior, a rareity among militants operating in Afghanistan.” The article also notes “for many Afghans, the word Haqqanni invokes fear and horror.”
Haqqanni gained notoriety for founding the Haqqanni Network, which has been labeled as terrorist organization by the United States government. He was also key player in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
Seth Jones notes in his book In the Graveyard of Empires that Soviet intelligence described Haqqanni as a “cruel and uncompromising person.”
In Ghost Wars Steve Coll notes: “Haqqanni emerged in the late 1980s as the ISI’s main anticommunist battering ram around Khost. Celebrated as kind of a noble savage by slack-bellied preachers in Saudi Arabia’s wealthy urban mosques, Haqqanni became a militant folk hero to Wahhabi activists.”
Haqqanni was able to develop deep ties with the CIA and the Pakistan intelligence service ISI. He was viewed as a prized asset of the CIA.
Steve Coll notes in Directorate S that “The Haqqani’s did more than any other commander network in Afghanistan to nurture and support Arab volunteer fighters, seeding Al Qaeda’s birth.” He personally knew Osama bin Laden and interacted with him often.
As the Taliban came to power he joined with them although he maintained some level of autonomy. After the attacks on September 11, 2001 the United States government again tried to recruit him to fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He refused.
Haqqanni noted “We will retreat to the mountains and begin a long guerilla war to claim our pure land from infidels and free our country like we did against the Soviets.”
The Haqqani network carried out many successful attacks against United States personnel. They were also responsible for many other terrorist attacks including the July 7, 2008 bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul.
Haqqanni founded a militant Islamic group that has claimed many victims. His ability to lead these fighters from his base of operations made him a formidable warlord.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
John Newton (1725–1807)
John Newton was an English sailor, slave trader, Anglican minister, and eventual opponent of the transatlantic slave trade.
He is best remembered for writing the hymn Amazing Grace, which reflects his understanding of human failure, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption.
Newton's early life was characterized by recklessness, personal difficulties, and participation in the brutal transatlantic slave trade. In 1748, while aboard a ship caught in a violent Atlantic storm, Newton experienced a religious awakening that profoundly influenced his understanding of his life. Yet his transformation was neither immediate nor complete.
Despite his developing religious convictions, Newton continued participating in the slave trade for several years, eventually commanding slave ships himself. Only later did he become an outspoken opponent of the institution in which he had participated.
In 1788, he published Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade, describing its cruelty and acknowledging his own ...
“Can I not save you, Mr. Carton?”
Lucie and Carton have both experienced hardship, yet their experiences have shaped their outlooks on life in remarkably different ways. Lucie has endured loss and discovered resilience. Carton has experienced disappointment and surrendered himself to despair.
Having grown up believing both of her parents were dead, Lucie nevertheless maintained her capacity for hope. When she discovered that her father was alive after eighteen years of imprisonment, she devoted herself to his recovery. Through patience, compassion, and perseverance, she helped restore a man whose life had seemingly been destroyed. Perhaps this experience helps explain her response to Carton.
After professing his love for Lucie, Carton explains why he believes a future together is impossible. He describes himself as a man beyond redemption, convinced that his life will only continue to deteriorate. Lucie listens, but she does not accept his assessment without question. Just as she helped her father ...
