Interview with Chryssoula Katsikoudi Director of International Relations and Middle Eastern Affairs at GSFC
The Ridgewood blog spoke with Chryssoula Katsikoudi Director of International Relations and Middle Eastern Affairs Geostrategic Forecasting Cooperation – (GSFC) to get her take on the Boston Bombers
TRB : We wanted to get you take on the Boston Bombers
Chryssoula , Yes, I have lot’s of thoughts on the Boston Bombers. First, the one thing that bothers me the most is this feeling I have that something is not right with this whole story. After careful research of the two suspects, I find it very,very hard to believe that someone like the younger Brother, who seemed so normal, grew up in the States, wasn’t really that religious, and after looking at his twitter account; that he would suddenly turn within the last two years into a terrorist, or some radical “jihadist.”
Chryssoula , I do believe that his brother brainwashed him, after his trip to Russia, and I am also highly convinced the Russians are somehow involved in this.
Chryssoula, After the attacks, I have done a lot of research on Chechens, their religion, and their resistance against Russia; Chechens are Sufi Muslims…Sufism is not necessarily associated with radical Islam, it is a more spiritual,and peaceful version of Islam…
Chryssoula , I also do not believe these attacks were religious related…some form of “jihad” like so many now say…furthermore, what I found really interesting, was that a couple days before the bombings occurred, the Boston Globe had reported on their Twitter account that Boston Police or officials were going to have the bomb squad out practicing and having detonations going on near the Library which was right at the finish line…
Chryssoula , I am not saying that the suspects are completely innocent, but until the younger one confesses or there is hard core evidence that he was the one who placed the bag with the explosives on the ground; I believe there is more to this story than we know. After all, we had NEVER had an incident were Chechens had any reason to attack the US JUST because they’re Muslim? Sounds a little off to me. Or maybe I’m just all into conspiracies 🙂
TRB : Were not the Chechen Rebels the group that took over a Russian school under the guidance of al Quada ? Did not they follow the al- Quada play book? I do agree with you that the younger brother at lest not on face value appears not to fit any profile at all , but what was the influence of his older brother and it seems like they had NO parental guidance what so ever .
Chryssoula , Yes, you are right about the school take over, however, whether they were following the al-Qaida play book or not, has not been determined 100%, it was assumed that they were. Chechens after the Russian resistance had found their faith in Islam again after many centuries, and have turned back to their religious roots.
Chryssoula , But, like I said, they are Sufi Muslims…I don’t see Sufi Muslims be radical towards the US, at least not in the last three decades. Therefore, I do believe they have been brainwashed, at least the older brother, when he visited Russian a year before that.
Chryssoula , Chechens don’t have any beef with the US, at least not on religious grounds. I could see them doing an incident like this in Russia…but I don’t know..I don’t see a motive.