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Recent news amply demonstrates that all metropolitan areas of Western Europe are in jihadists' crosshairs, but Germany is certainly high on the list of targets, with one imminent attack thwarted in September. Once again, however, authorities appear to view the potential of native German converts to Islam or other Muslims in Germany to become "radicalized" as dependent on the propaganda of al-Qaeda and its allies, as if that movement invented Islamic teachings on jihad, or distorted a "just war" concept that would be considered benign by Western standards. And, ignoring the broader ideological context and refusing to address its basis in Islamic texts and teachings leaves authorities open to being blindsided by an attack that may occur with little or no apparent link to the al-Qaeda brand name. And it will also leave them baffled with respect to public sympathy for al-Qaeda in the Muslim world, and Muslims who passively or actively enable the group's operations, whether in Berlin or Quetta.
"Al-Qaeda has moved Germany up on hit list," from Agence France Presse:
BERLIN - GERMANY has become a prime target for Al-Qaeda, whose commanders in Afghanistan and Pakistan have ordered terror attacks on the country, senior government officials said.
'Germany is at the centre of Al-Qaeda's attention and in their line of fire. The facts have changed since last year,' interior ministry spokesman Stefan Paris told reporters on Friday, confirming a press report.
A state secretary in the interior ministry, Mr August Hanning, told Die Welt newspaper that Al-Qaeda leaders based in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan had 'decided to carry out attacks in Germany'.
'We are worried that we will not be able to foil every plot,' he added.
Die Welt said Germany's domestic intelligence agency and police had established that Germany's six-year-old military mission in Afghanistan had prompted Al-Qaeda to move the country 'much higher' on its list of targets.
Mr Hanning linked the 'high risk' to the volatile situation in southern Afghanistan, saying Al-Qaeda's 'operational capacity' in the region had recovered.
In September, two German converts to Islam and a Turkish man were arrested in the western Sauerland region on suspicion of planning to blow up United States installations in Germany, including the south-western US military airbase at Ramstein.
The men had stockpiled some 700 kilogrammes of chemicals to use in 'massive' attacks to coincide with the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 suicide hijackings in the United States, the security services said.
The plotters are believed to belong to the Islamic Jihad Union, a group with links to Al-Qaeda.
The deputy chief of the federal police, Mr Bernhard Falk, told Die Welt there were clear indications that Al-Qaeda had ordered other attacks and that its cadres were preparing to strike.
'There is a high probability that besides the Sauerland plot, several other operations have been planned,' he said.
Germans in Afghanistan, often young men of Turkish origin or German converts to Islam, were recruited to become 'holy warriors' and sent back to Germany to carry out attacks, he said.
Al-Qaeda was increasingly and successfully recruiting Germans via the Internet, he added. The group posted propaganda in German and had set up 'virtual terror training camps' for supporters.
Die Welt quoted officials as saying that the security services are investigating charges against 184 suspected Islamist extremists in Germany and that 70 were deemed so dangerous that they were under constant surveillance.
Posted by Marisol at February 9, 2008 1:05 AM
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Don't miss this:
* Turks mock Holocaust victims
* Erdogan demands Turkish Schools & Universities in Germany
http://sheikyermami.com/2008/02/08/germany-turks-mock-holocaust-victims/
* The hide! The hubris! These swine deny the holocaust on the Armenians but in Germany they demand special rights and treatment because they wanna ride on the guilt complex towards Jews. And then they turn around and kill Jews and firebomb the synagogues and desecrate the cemeteries.
Posted by: sheik yer'mami![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 9, 2008 1:54 AM
"Germans in Afghanistan, often young men of Turkish origin or German converts to Islam, were recruited to become 'holy warriors' and sent back to Germany to carry out attacks, he said."
They travel to Bosnia, are given new passports, then travel on to Pakistan, Afghanistan: receive their training for a couple of months: fly back to Bosnia: pick up their real passports and go back to Germany.
According to their passports, they never left Bosnia.
Nice 'n' easy.
Fine post SheikYM
It's way beyond chutzpah. A new word is called for.
Posted by: ewha1 at February 9, 2008 6:46 AM
http://personenschutz.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/islam-kritiker-mit-personenschutz/#comments
A list, in German, of persons in the West who are under threat by islamists. Robert Spencer among them.
Posted by: miira at February 9, 2008 7:25 AM
"Don't miss this:
* Turks mock Holocaust victims
* Erdogan demands Turkish Schools & Universities in Germany
"Germans in Afghanistan, often young men of Turkish origin or German converts to Islam"
Germany = Turks
Britain = Pakistan
France = Algerians
Are you seeing the trend here? ie; The folly of European colonialism.
Posted by: leonthepigfarmer at February 9, 2008 8:08 AM
Germany = Turks
Britain = Pakistan
France = Algerians
Are you seeing the trend here? ie; The folly of European colonialism.
Posted by: leonthepigfarmer
Add Holland = Moroccans and the picture gets even more complete.
Why noone but us lone voices here gets the picture is simply mind-boggling.
The islamist PM or Turkey Erdogan now wants to send turkish teachers to teach Turks in Germany to speak Turkish before they learn German.
Hey, he may as well demand to station Tyrkish troops in Germany while he's at it..
.. and get the EU to pay for it on top of everything.
HOW FAR is TOO FAR? When will everyone see that the line has long been crossed?
Posted by: Allah Schmallah at February 9, 2008 8:43 AM
Dear German Kuffar,
Do you feel guilty about the Holocaust? Well, here's your chance to really make ammends. Once you understand that the Jewish Nazis are persecuting the poor Palestinians, you won't feel guilty anymore. Instead, you'll realize that by becoming Muslim and joining Al Qaeda, you will be able to kill Jews with a clear conscience!
So, don't hesitate, just pick up the phone and dial 1-800-holy-war and speak to one of our friendly representatives. Special introductory rates for applicants with Down's Syndrome.
at February 9, 2008 8:44 AM
To most (not all) liberals, invading Afghanistan was OK because of 9/11 and the Taliban's co-dependence with al Qaida and terrorism. Germany apparently goes along with this line of thinking.
However, refusing to help America in Iraq was supposed to be a great virtue and provide them with a magical shield against being hated by Islamists -- er, I mean victims of Bush's colonialist war-mongering, victims whose anger has NOTHING TO DO WITH ISLAM -- how could it, islam is a religion of peace, etc etc etc...
Germany's cell phone reads: '01 Wake-up Call Missed'
how many more can they afford to sleep through?
Posted by: Goob at February 9, 2008 8:53 AM
In September, two German converts to Islam and a Turkish man were arrested in the western Sauerland region on suspicion of planning to blow up United States installations in Germany, including the south-western US military airbase at Ramstein.
from the article
Apart from those who benefit directly from its presence, how many Germans would really have cared if Ramstein had been blown up? Would Germans take personal offense at this attack on their soil or would too many of them think the US had it coming?
It would fit the pattern.
Did Saudis care when the US barracks were bombed?
Did Tanzanians or Kenyans care when the embassies were blown up (except for those who lost loved ones, that is)?
Did the attack on Bali cause many Muslims to think twice? Not that I can see.
People in too many countries where al qaeda (I use that term as shorthand) operates simply aren't bothered by it. If they were, it would be well on its way to becoming a bad memory.
Posted by: PMK at February 9, 2008 9:22 AM
Interesting, particularly in the light of Germany's kowtowing to terrorists. How long ago was it legal for terrorists to plan any horrible activity they wanted, so long as the target was not Germany?
Germany’s playbook for dealing with Islamic terrorists has, up until very recently contained only one rule: give the terrorists everything they want. Thus their disgraceful behavior regarding Black September and the Black September terrorists, etc., etc.
But, you play with fire, you get burnt…
Posted by: Rachel at February 9, 2008 9:44 AM
70 people under 24 hour surveillance. That´s a minimum of 210 full time surveillance officers. If each one earns an average of, say, $35,000 per year, that´s a cost of about $7,000,000 per year. That doesn´t include the part-time surveillance costs of all the other suspects, nor the costs to pay those who supervise the surveillance officers, nor the cost of all the surveillance technology involved, nor of vehicles and fuel and so on. Would $20,000,000 per year be a reasonable estimate of the cost of those 70 people under 24 hour surveillance? Probably the estimate is too low.
And that $20,000,000 is surely just a very tiny fraction of the security costs to any society that admits millions of Muslims into its borders. Polls of Western Muslims suggest around half would prefer to live under Islamic law, and between 4% and 8% agree with terrorist jihad against their own Western societies. 1% are interested in directly participating in that violent jihad. In any society with even a modest number of Muslims, 1% is a very large number of would-be terrorists to accommodate. If you have, say, 3 million Muslims, as is estimated for the U.S., 1% of that is 30,000 people. The costs of identifying those 30,000 and their sympathizers and possible supporters, who may number close to a quarter million, is surely an astronomical cost. Yet we continue to admit immigrants to the U.S. from countries where significant percentages agree with the use of terror and desire to live under Islamic law. This is suicidal, an politicians must find constitutional ways to stop it.
Posted by: traeh at February 9, 2008 1:12 PM
Oh yes, now muslims want to blow up German civilians and other soft targets.
I can hear the Leopard tanks warming up now heading for every mosque.
If civilians are slaughtered by islamic bombers, than watch the German reaction and see what they do best.
Posted by: Hungarian Crusader at February 9, 2008 1:36 PM
than watch the German reaction and see what they do best.
You mean like how the Germans handled the "Muncih Massacres"?
I doubt that the present German army is even capable of invading and defeating a small thrid world nation.
Posted by: leonthepigfarmer at February 9, 2008 3:33 PM
People in too many countries where al qaeda (I use that term as shorthand) operates simply aren't bothered by it. If they were, it would be well on its way to becoming a bad memory.
Posted by: PMK
Let's not forget they are active world-wide. ever heard of CAIR and Islamberg?
There are many more.
Because of the cosntant drumbeat of Germany-bashing they simply keep quiet, even though most Germans were appalled at the Munich massacre and the hijacking of the Landshut.
The unique situation in Germany has made it an ideal fertile ground for the slow jihadists to play the "Nazi" card and to play on historic guilt.
This historic guilt has als enabled the Loony Lefty Moonbats right into the highest seats of Power and of Office. They control the state-run media lock stock and barrel. They have effectively moved the "center" far to the left. Ordinary people are loath to speak up for fear of the "N"- word. And even fear of losing your job or being put in jail and ostracized in general for speaking one's mind.
It does Western interests no good at all to keep on doing that. An islamicized Germany would be an insufferable bridgehead in the Heart of Europe.
I cannot image that is anything that anyone on this forum would want.
The reason they are working feverishly on Germany is that time may be running out before ordinary Germans finally regain their confidence to speak up.
Unfortunately the leftist have just had huge election gains in Germany, buyoed by so-called passport-Germans. Passports given them courtesy of the very left-wing parties they now helped into power.
Time is running out for a change by the democratic means of the ballot box. Just like the rest of Europe I doubt that an islamist takeover will take place without resistance.
It is time for all Europeans and Westerners to start standing together. The islamists sure DO know how to play us off against each other.
Let us not play into their hands.
at February 9, 2008 6:12 PM
"Die Welt quoted officials as saying that the security services are investigating charges against 184 suspected Islamist extremists in Germany and that 70 were deemed so dangerous that they were under constant surveillance."
--- from the article above
What is the manpower required, what is the expense, of keeping "under constant surveillance" this large and growing number of Muslims "deemed so dangerous"? And with each new Muslim arrival, or with the overbreeding by Muslims already in Germany, or with the new converts made through systematic and relentless campaigns of Da'wa among the economically and psychically marginal, how many will there be to put under "constant surveillance" next year? In five years?
Why are these 70 simply booted out at once? Are they German citizens? If so, were they naturalized and, in the process of being naturalized, did they lie about their loyalties?
The situation cannot continue. It is absurd. And the Germans, like all others in Western Europe, should not be overly solicitous, because of misdirected guilt over the persecution, and looting, and murders of European Jewry, of those who are now the greatest threat to that same European Jewry -- that is, European Muslims.
Posted by: Hugh at February 9, 2008 8:59 PM
Let's not forget they are active world-wide. ever heard of CAIR and Islamberg?
Of course. The thing is they can't attack an American target without AMERICANS getting angry and demanding action. How many targets in other countries were just shrugged off because the people of those countries weren't themselves the targets? Were that many Indonesians offended by the Bali bombings? The Saudis didn't care that our barracks were attacked. But they suddenly found religion (pardon the pun) when they were attacked by the terrorists. The people in Iraq weren't bothered when American forces were the targets of suicide bombers. But suddenly the Sunni tribes got serious about fighting al qaeda when THEY became the targets. I only suggest that the German people who don't directly benefit from Ramstein won't particularly care about it and won't want to ruffle anyone's feathers in the Muslim world.
I haven't seen CAIR blow up any facility anywhere or call for such attacks or take credit for killing people. The people of Islamberg are being watched. We know about them. Meanwhile there are people in Kenya, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia and many other countries who know full well who is planning these bombings and they go on about their business because they themselves are in no danger. Only when they and their families find themselves in the terrorists' line of fire will they begin to act.
Posted by: PMK at February 9, 2008 9:20 PM
" If so, were they naturalized and, in the process of being naturalized, did they lie about their loyalties?"
Hugh
Europe is dealing with the aftermath of colonialism and European Socialist guilt ie, the "oppression" of their former colonists.
Europeans feel that they owe their ex-colonials something, hence sharia law in Britain, German submission to Turkeys demands and France's jizyah to the Algerian immigrants.
With the entry of 100 million Turks into the EU, plus Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia Europe will truly be screwed.
at February 9, 2008 10:40 PM
Leon the Despaired.
The group of muslim terrorists had 5 of their 8 members killed and 3 captured.....not bad.
How much more do you want?
If it happens again than perhaps we can expect a 100% terrorist, fatality rate courtesy of GSG-9?
Or should I say a 100% success rate?
Nobody at anytime should ever worry of Germany becoming an islamist state.
The memories of WW 2 will not stop Germans from forcibly and convincingly defending themselves from a muslim threat.
Push the Germans hard enough with massive bloodshed of their people and see what they will do in defense.
Any leftist politicians complaints of a Grerman overreaction dealing with a bombing will be met with a swift throw out of their office and be permanately out of a job.
Did anyone notice how Germany has not had 1 car burning while France, Sweden, Belgium, and Holland roast on a regular basis?
Now just imagine the consequences of an Al-Queada attack in Germany.
In that event, we will see complaints of Germans acting on overkill and quickly forgetting their alleged pacifist feelings.
When they do act, nobody should complain and boo-hoo the fate of muslims.
Posted by: Hungarian Crusader at February 9, 2008 11:51 PM
Hungarian Crusader
go watch the munich documentary, the "rescue" was a total abortion. There were only 5 snipers to take out 8 Black September members. The armoured tanks arrived too late and the fighting went on for an hour, long enough for the terrorists to slaughter their hostages.
Rule # 1, never give terrorists time to take others lives, make sure you put them on the defensive and kill them ASAP.
Yes, 3 were taken prisoners but all the hostages were massacred.
A failure.
The German goverment even faked an airline hijacking so they could get those 3 out of Germany ASAP.
"On October 29, hijackers of a German Lufthansa passenger jet demanded the release of the three surviving terrorists, who had been arrested after the Fürstenfeldbruck gunfight and were being held for trial. Safady and the Al-Gasheys were immediately released by Germany, receiving a tumultuous welcome when they touched down in Libya and giving their own firsthand account of their operation at a press conference broadcast worldwide. In both ESPN/ABC's documentary The Tragedy of the Munich Games and in Kevin Macdonald's Academy Award-winning documentary One Day in September, it is claimed that the whole Lufthansa hijacking episode was a sham, concocted by the West Germans and Black September so that the Germans could be rid of the three Munich perpetrators. The view is that the Germans were fearful that their mishandling of the rescue attempt would be exposed to the world if the three Fürstenfeldbruck survivors had ever stood trial."
at February 10, 2008 10:41 AM
Leon,
The 5 dead rats and their accomplices are dead and there wont be a 2nd hostage situation in Germany.
The nation is unified, and the Germans will deal much more harshly with any and all islamic threats inside their borders.
They are much more assertive today than compared in the 1970's.
The Germany of today and yesterday are different as night and day.
Nobody can tell them what to do, Berlin even rejected US calls for non-recognition of Croatia in the 1990's, but Germany did it anyway in spite of protest from all NATO members.
They are a different country now and just keep watching the news as they continue to flex their growing military and economic muscle.
Posted by: Hungarian Crusader at February 11, 2008 12:52 AM
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