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New York Times: Relax — Jihadists returning from Syria are no problem

Jul 29, 2014 9:26 am By Robert Spencer

free-syrian-army-2011-11-2Yeah, what could they do? A jihad mass murder attack or two — what’s the big deal? What are you — some kind of Islamophobe? Chams Eddine Zaougui and Pieter Van Ostaeyen base a large part of their argument here on the fact that a jihadist from the Netherlands, Yilmaz, “said he had no intention of going back to the Netherlands unless it was to see his family — and certainly not to commit an attack in Europe.” Very well. But on the other hand, Abu Dugma al-Britani has threatened to carry out Sharia executions in Trafalgar Square. To downplay this threat because some jihadists have declared that they have no intention of returning to their homes in the West is ridiculous, as all of the jihadists have not made such a declaration, and it only takes one to sow havoc and mayhem. But fostering complacency about the jihad threat is what the New York Times is all about.

“Overblown Fears of Foreign Fighters: Don’t Fear Jihadists Returning From Syria,” by Chams Eddine Zaougui and Pieter Van Ostaeyen, New York Times, July 29, 2014 (thanks to Twostellas):

BRUSSELS — Since the start of the Syrian civil war, the phenomenon of foreign fighters has been watched warily by Western governments. This is no surprise: Syria is the No. 1 destination for jihadists. Over the last few months, the fear that foreign fighters will return to the West and carry out terrorist attacks has crescendoed.

Two events have fueled that fear. Mehdi Nemmouche, a French citizen who had fought with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is accused of shooting four people in the Jewish Museum here on May 24. And ISIS, encouraged by its lightning military successes in northern and western Iraq, recently asserted its ambition to establish a global caliphate by changing its name to the Islamic State — a significant gesture likely to attract more Western jihadists to its ranks.

To many Western policy makers and security services, these developments underline the fact that ISIS is a dangerous terrorist group, and that it is only a matter of time before further attacks against Western targets occur. Senior European military officials and politicians say that the threat of returning jihadists is, in the words of Manuel Valls, the prime minister of France, “the greatest danger that we must face in the coming years.”

It is impossible to rule out new attacks by returning foreign fighters, but we believe these fears fail to take into account the facts on the ground. The foreign fighters we’ve contacted said that they left their home countries to fight for the “Umma” — referring to the saying often attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that when a single member of the Umma, or Muslim community, is hurt, all are hurt.

What draws these young men — and, to a lesser extent, women — to fight are what they regard as the indiscriminate killings of Muslim children, women and men in Syria. The use by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime of industrial-scale torture, barrel bombs and chemical attacks evokes a strong desire to defend fellow Muslims.

This is the motive described by a former Dutch soldier known to us as Yilmaz, who became well known after being interviewed for a Dutch television news program. He said he had no intention of going back to the Netherlands unless it was to see his family — and certainly not to commit an attack in Europe. We, too, affirmed this by communicating with Yilmaz in Syria via his social networking account. Another Dutch fighter in Syria we contacted, the producer of the Dutch-made jihadist video “Oh Oh Aleppo,” is equally clear about his reasons for fighting in Syria; he expressed no intention of attacking the West.

Both men would consider themselves jihadists, but does that make them terrorists?

The number of Belgian fighters in Syria now exceeds 350. About 30 have been killed; some 25 have returned home. Relatively few who have gone to fight in Syria would qualify as radical Islamists from the outset; most started as idealists. And they come from a wide variety of backgrounds: engineers, unemployed, ex-prisoners, teenagers. Some are simply reckless young men; others are veterans from Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia or Iraq.

What most have in common, apart from their wish to help fellow believers, is a disillusionment with the West’s attitude toward Muslims. In Belgium, many Muslims object to the face-veil ban — a heavy-handed measure since only a handful of women wear the veil — when little is done about minorities’ more pressing concerns like discrimination, unemployment and economic deprivation. They are also critical of the West for, as they see it, standing idly by over Syria.

Unlike most of the fighters, the networks that recruit them are rooted in radicalism. In Belgium, the now disbanded Salafist group Sharia4Belgium was significant. Another network, operating from Syria, is Suqur as-Sham, a more moderate Islamist rebel group. An important figure is Abdelkader Hakimi, once considered the leader of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group. He served eight years in prison in Belgium on terrorism charges and settled in Brussels on his release in 2011; reportedly, he has been active in Syria this year.

Enter ISIS. Here is a jihadist group that is not only fighting to topple Mr. Assad but also boasts of creating a caliphate based on strict Islamic law — an important pull factor for foreign fighters — stretching from Syria to Iraq. While Al Qaeda never came close to establishing a caliphate, ISIS now controls a territory almost as large as Britain.

When the caliphate was announced by ISIS Twitter accounts, we received celebratory messages from several jihadists welcoming us to the Islamic state. “You saw our Caliph now,” wrote one, who joked about the tax non-Muslims must pay: “I will come over to collect Jizyya tonight.”

Highly organized, ISIS recruits foreign fighters via Twitter, publishes glossily produced propaganda videos, provides social services in the areas it controls and even issues annual military reports. Contrary to what many counterterrorism experts believe, however, ISIS has so far shown no interest in Western targets.

The group’s overarching objective is to consolidate its dominion in the Levant, a place of great religious significance. Some foreign fighters have proved their devotion by burning their passports; others reportedly have had their passports taken from them. The one thing that might change the attitude of foreign fighters is the United States’ launching military action against them.

There is always the possibility of other individuals who, like Mr. Nemmouche, may pose a terrorist threat in the West. Western governments should monitor returning jihadists closely, but they should also keep a watchful eye on homegrown extremists: The fact that they have never set foot in Syria or had any contact with ISIS does not make them less potentially dangerous. Policy makers’ unrealistic obsession with foreign fighters could be a distraction from a more serious domestic terrorist threat.

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Comments

  1. Jaladhi says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 9:35 am

    These idiots in NYTimes do not understand Islam and Muslims. Period! Why these people love Muslims and jihadis?? They must live in some parallel universe ruled by multi-culti kings!!

    • Centurion_Cornelius says

      Jul 30, 2014 at 6:27 am

      NYT and most all “Progessives” and Liberals=DEATH WISH.

      near as my feeble brain comprehends, their self-hating and loathing of their own identity produces a virulent form of self-destruction at all levels–men quite literally want their throats cut by these savages.

      ….only problem, these sick people want us to join in their Culture of Death.

      nope! I, for one, ain’t joining that party.

  2. tpellow says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 9:41 am

    “AFP posts warrants for the arrest of Australian jihadists who posted sickening pictures posing with decapitated heads”

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2709278/AFP-issues-arrest-warrants-Australian-jihadists.html#ixzz38rMqHWEn

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Jul 30, 2014 at 7:06 am

      I wouldn’t bother with an arrest warrant.

      I just don’t want him back on Australian soil, ever.

      Speaking as an Aussie, what *I* want is for this creep to be stripped of his Aussie passport and citizenship status, which are for him merely a tactical and temporary convenience, and to be declared Exile and Outlaw;

      and then all relevant known identifying details about him, to be circulated to the gatekeepers of all majority non-Muslim infidel-governed countries, so that they know *not* to admit through their gates anybody answering to his description…with the advisory note that if he *does* sneak in, then the moment this is discovered, he should be tossed right back into the lands already blighted by Islam. Unless, of course, he’s encountered whilst engaging in attempted or actual jihad terror raiding, in which case, just shoot to kill.

  3. jihad3tracker says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 9:42 am

    I have not yet looked up the bios of these two “opinionators” — but doubtless they swim in the NYT’s barrel of naïve, non-expert mackerel ready with yards of text for the Time’s ineradicable case of Western Privilege Guilt.

  4. somehistory says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 9:52 am

    If one says he has no interest in anything outside Syria, he might be lying.
    And didn’t the guy with the expensive watch say he would “see you in New York” when he was allowed to leave captivity?

  5. Sam says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 10:09 am

    This does not make sense even by liberal mind. This world was irrational yes. But this love of enemy, namely Muslims and Islam is sick, sick,sick.

  6. Jovial Joe says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 10:34 am

    Criminal complacency. Did you notice the usual grievances trotted out? ‘Economic deprivation, unemployment’; like all unemployed people vent their frustrations by smuggling themselves into Syria and chopping a few heads off. Also mentioned were ‘moderate Islamists’; that’s a new one on me. At least there is an implicit acknowledgement that these guys place their umma before their country, which makes them traitors of course and at best wholly untrustworthy as regards their intentions towards us. But now I’m just being Islamophobic.

    • Richie says

      Jul 29, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Yes, the writer painted Muslims as the victims

  7. Beagle says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 10:48 am

    “The group’s overarching objective is to consolidate its dominion in the Levant”

    Yeah, you don’t know what you’re talking about, NYT boneheads.

    Their “overarching” objective is to make the entire world Islamic, sharia the only law, and Muslims the only leaders of anything important. Before that, Rome. The Levant is their short-term objective.

    • Beagle says

      Jul 29, 2014 at 10:59 am

      To be fair, they mention “global caliphate” at one point. Not sure how someone makes that sort of error in one place while partially acknowledging the reality in another.

      Capturing the Levant is a critical and historically significant first step. Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi clearly associates himself with the early Baghdad Caliphate, the earlist caliph, and does consider Baghdad a critical early objective.

    • JoePk says

      Jul 29, 2014 at 1:47 pm

      “The group’s overarching objective is to consolidate its dominion in the Levant”

      If I were running a newly formed caliphate, that’s exactly what I would do … in the beginning.

      After attracting enough fighters, gathering weapons, etc., I would begin to expand the caliphate militarily. Expansion appears to be a requirement under Islamic law. If I don’t do it, there would soon be a new Caliph and I might be dead.

      A requirement for military expansionism is successfully capturing items needed to recoup losses and continue the expansion. And so, my first attempt at all-out foreign conquest would be a small nearby country that has income, food and/or weapons. Preferably all three. Let’s see .. Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon … wow. Three easy pickings right there. It’s as if somebody has been working to put my plan in place, since before I even knew I had a plan.

      I won’t attack Iran right away. It’s too big. Too well armed. The Saudis are safe, because nobody messes with the Saudis. They control almost everything they want to control, including the caliphate. Israel is safe for now, but the USA will continue to weaken it under close supervision from the Saudis.

      I would also be assisting jihadis around the world to increase their numbers and influence. That way, when the time comes to invade the next country, agents would already be in place.

      It would all just get easier, until those in charge of the USA, China and Russia decide to work together to wipe us out. That won’t easily happen, though. Somebody has been arranging things that keep them all angry at each other. Probably the Saudis. Those guys are great.

      Disclaimer: This has been a kind of satire. I actually don’t run a caliphate, nor do I want to. I’d much prefer to see Islam disappear completely from human thought.

  8. Beagle says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 11:12 am

    Robert:
    “But fostering complacency about the jihad threat is what the New York Times is all about.”

    Now.

    http://boingboing.net/2013/02/04/nyt-1924-hitlers.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial_of_the_Holodomor

  9. Oliver says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

    The NY Times has often printed Pro-Muslim, anti-US (except for Obama’s screw ups-which they deny–he is the Great One) and anti_Israel peieces.

    Their editorials are even in their ‘news stories”.

    The good thing is, nobody reads the paper–except some of their own true beleivers.

    Somewhat over a year ago, I believe (read it in a WSJ blog) Obama is supposed to have said, to the effect–if he wants to know how great he is, he reads the NY Times. If he wants the news-with the facts, he reads the Wall Street Journal.

    I think that summs up the NYT—their facts, regardless if in reality, have a basis in reality.

    My view.

    They are going broke, (sold and leased back theor buiding a few years ago; and sold their Boston paper and other assets). Could not happen to more deserving people.

  10. mary_gonzales says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    Sometimes we need a real impact to make us wake up and see reality. If media like NYT doesn’t see any threat, so please step back and let the threat come… maybe they have choosed one of Iraq choice to let them breath : convert, pay jizya, leave, or die.

  11. Mirren10 says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    These idiots sound as stupid as the Pelosi bint:

    “And we have to confer with the Qataris, who have told me over and over again that Hamas is a humanitarian organization,”

    According to Chams Eddine Zaougui and Pieter Van Ostaeyen,

    ”The use by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime of industrial-scale torture, barrel bombs and chemical attacks evokes a strong desire to defend fellow Muslims.

    This is the motive described by a former Dutch soldier known to us as Yilmaz, who became well known after being interviewed for a Dutch television news program. He said he had no intention of going back to the Netherlands unless it was to see his family — and certainly not to commit an attack in Europe. We, too, affirmed this by communicating with Yilmaz in Syria via his social networking account. Another Dutch fighter in Syria we contacted, the producer of the Dutch-made jihadist video “Oh Oh Aleppo,” is equally clear about his reasons for fighting in Syria; he expressed no intention of attacking the West”

    Does it not occur to these fools that maybe, just maybe, they are being **lied** to ?

    Or are they just cynical manipulators, who believe everyone else is terminally gullible and stupid ?

  12. David Goff says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    I think any attacks with significant loss of life on European or US soil will finish them, any tolerance to Muslims will be gone in an instant. In Britain a strong anti-Islamic sentiment is growing.

    • Oliver says

      Jul 29, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Mr. goff,

      I think that you are wrong.

      In the US we had 911 and the loss of over 3,000 lives; in Britain-was it a subway or bus terror–I forgot.

      (Not counting the Boston Bombing).

      Spain had one also.

      AND WHAT DO WE SEE? ANTI ISRAEL AND ANTI JEWISH MOB SCENES.
      ‘

      In New York, where the WTC was destroyed; Boston where the Boston Marathon had bombs at the finish line. In britain. (And France, Belgium, etc.).

      The sheep are too easily (mis)led.

      “Just a few misguided souls”.

      I am not counting the Pakistani Muslim who tried to blow up a car in midtown Manhattan.

      But, that was over a year ago.

      It seems everyone, when it comes to Muslims and terror has ADD (Attention Defific Disorder) an cannot rememebr anything from more then 10 minutes ago. (Unless it is useless sports or movie star trivia and who was screwing whom).

      My views.

  13. Thomas Wells says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    After participating in the Spanish civil war, Hitler’s troops returned home.

  14. islamforbids.com says

    Jul 29, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Contrary to what many counterterrorism experts believe, however, ISIS has so far shown no interest in Western targets. XXXXXX So that I”ll see you in NY was just a show tune thing ?

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