Osama bin Laden may be dead, but al-Qaida is alive and well in Germany. Each month, an average of five Islamists leave the country for terrorist training camps in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area. Recent arrests in Düsseldorf show just how dangerous homegrown terror has become.
It isn't easy being a militant Islamist, as Dieter Abdeladim el-K. and Hans Jamil S. learned on a Tuesday two weeks ago. The two men were sitting in a two-room apartment on Witzelstrasse in the German city of Düsseldorf, complaining to each other about how complicated it is to build a functioning bomb. "Bomb is not so difficult as detonator," said Abdeladim el-K., "because detonator more dangerous than bomb."
The al-Qaida handbooks make it all sound so easy. You buy charcoal lighters and extract the hexamine, and already you have a component for a bomb. Apparently the method works everywhere, except possibly in Germany, where charcoal lighters have a different chemical composition than in other countries. In Düsseldorf, investigators would later discover a cooking pot the two men may have wanted to use to boil down the lighters.
The apartment was under surveillance, as were the men's phones and computers. The police had been listening in on the two men's conversations for weeks, except when the sound of the television or the washing machine drowned out what they were saying. On Wednesday, when the men, speaking in broken German, began discussing "making an attack at bus stop" or possibly on a bus, the federal prosecutor's office decided to move in rather than wait until the would-be terrorists had built their bomb and were ready to use it.
On the morning of Friday, April 29, police arrested Moroccan national Abdeladim el-K., 29, German-Moroccan electrician Jamil S., 31 and German-Iranian student Amid C., 19, who was on the verge of taking his final examinations prior to graduating from high school.
At the center of the investigation in Düsseldorf was Abdeladim el-K., who investigators believe was the leader of the cell. He had allegedly brought the virus of Islamist terror from Afghanistan to Düsseldorf and had been in contact with Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, a senior member of al-Qaida. The two men had apparently met in an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan, and it appeared that el-K. was al-Qaida's man for the Rhine-Ruhr region of western Germany.
Most Have Attended Training Camps
Much has changed in the Islamist terrorist scene in Germany in the almost 10 years since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but one constant has remained. Like the 9/11 attackers, the overwhelming majority of militant jihadists in Germany have attended training camps run by al-Qaida or affiliated groups.
In these camps, would-be terrorists receive instruction on terrorism techniques and are given orders to be carried out in Europe. The camps are still in the Hindu Kush region that straddles Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, but now they are somewhat farther to the south than before, in the border area between the two countries. The Western invasion of Afghanistan did not change that. Neither have countless military offensives or US drone attacks.
Osama bin Laden is dead, as are many of his closest associates. But the recruitment of new blood is still going strong. The terror network has been continually transforming itself, as new terrorists have come up through the ranks, running individual camps and smaller organizations, before disappearing from view again.
Al-Qaida today resembles an army whose battalions were torn apart after the invasion of Afghanistan and whose surviving troop units are now operating more or less autonomously. But there are still many soldiers willing to fight, including some from Germany. "So many people arrive every month that there are problems finding places for them to stay," says Rami Makanesi, a suspected al-Qaida member from Hamburg who also attended a training camp in the Hindu Kush region.
Paradoxically, the new structure, with its many splinter groups, makes it easier for Islamist fanatics to latch onto one of the organizations. "In the last few years, the threat level in Germany from al-Qaida has actually increased," says German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, a member of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU).
Excerpt from the first part of a two-part report in the German magazine Der Spiegel.
President Barack Obama, set to visit Warsaw this month, will announce the details of a permanent move of U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets to Poland from the Aviano Air Base in Italy, the Polish press reports today. If the plan becomes reality, the move will irk Russia and may become a serious test of the quality of the reset in relations between Washington and Moscow, as well as those between Moscow and Warsaw.
The White House announced last December that it would station U.S. military personnel in Poland to support periodic rotation of U.S. military aircraft into the country to assist with the training of the Polish air force. U.S. officials said the training was aimed at improving interoperability of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
A U.S. defense official said the F-16s going to Poland would be part of the temporary training and would not be permanently stationed in the country.
Poland has long wanted a permanent presence of U.S. military on its territory. It isnt currently threatened by a foreign power, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said in his inaugural speech last year. But the memory of occupation and foreign rule by the Habsburg empire, Prussia, Russia, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union at various points between the late 18th century and 1989 lives on in this country, as does the memory of abandonment by European allies when Hitler attacked in 1939, igniting World War II.
Poland has for years vied for a U.S. military footprint on its soil to complement the guarantees of mutual military assistance given by allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But Russia reacted angrily to even plans for such presence because it would result in NATO military infrastructure on the territory of one of the former Soviet-led Warsaw Pact countries in central Europe.
Russias military doctrine still sees NATO as a threat and the country said it would direct its missiles at Polish targets when under George W. Bush the U.S. said it would place elements of its missile shield in Poland. Naturally, Russia has no reasons to fear a NATO-led attack from Poland. But a permanent presence of NATO and U.S. military infrastructure in the country and the region could be a decisive step in reducing Russias current and future influence here.
When Mr. Obama scrapped the plan for the Bush-era missile shield with Polands participation, Polands leadership didnt hide its disappointment. Russia welcomed the decision, seeing it as the key condition for a warming of ties with the U.S.
A renewed effort to permanently place U.S. military infrastructure in Poland would be a stabilizing factor for a country that has spent the past two decades reintegrating with the West. Hosting U.S. soldiers on its soil would abate its old fears, making it more relaxed toward Russia.
Russia for its part has done all it could to keep U.S. soldiers from moving closer to its borders. Its likely to resist this time, too.
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#4
...well, up to a point of transition where the GDPs and population could offset the need for an American presence, there was some need for a ratio of forces. Since the 80s, its been political both as hostages and welfare for the 'host' countries. Remember the South Vietnamese were never given the chance to attain that transition point as the Donk Congress cut the financial and force support from under them.
FRENCH police have captured seven suspected Islamist militants in raids in Paris and its suburbs, officials say, as France tightens security in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden.
Six suspects were detained yesterday but the main target of the operation, an Indian national who recently arrived from Algeria, was taken today, according to officials close to the inquiry.
Interior Minister Claude Gueant had said yesterday that France had no concrete evidence of a specific attack being planned, but security forces were in a heightened state of vigilance over the Jihadist threat.
The first arrests were made in Paris in two largely immigrant suburbs: Stains, where searches continued, and Garges-les-Gonesse, officials close to the inquiry told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Indian who was arrested today was "the main target" and had "links with Pakistan", an official said, also on condition he not be identified.
Continued on Page 47
h/t Gates of Vienna
Researchers found cash pumped into North Africa and the Middle East by the European Union over the last 15 years to encourage "good governance" has made little impact. Of course, it only a waste if you ignore two factors.
(a) The personal payments (consulting jobs, campaign contributions, etc...) from Arabs to their "friends"---not just in Europe.
(b) The pathological hatred that Europeans---not just the elites---have for Israel and, to a lesser extent, USA.
Britain has suddenly started demanding effectiveness from their foreign donations, so it's likely they, at least, will demand the same from their donations to the P.A.
Investors in Greek debt may have to write-off 50pc of their loans "or more" if financial stability is to be restored to the beleaguered country, a leading rating agency warned.
Standard & Poor's said that "there is increased risk that Greece will take steps to restructure" its 110bn (£97bn) bail-out package which would result in a "distressed exchange" for bondholders.
At the same time, the rating agency cut Greece's credit rating from BB- to B, dragging its debt further into junk territory to reflect its more gloomy views.
Greece hit back at the downgrade, angrily denying any imminent restructuring. The Greek finance ministry said that there have been "no new developments or decisions since the last rating action" by S&P a month ago so the agency's views were "not justified."
In a statement, the ministry added: "Decisions by ratings agencies must be based on objective data, policy makers' announcements and realistic assessments on the conditions facing an economy... When such decisions are based simply on rumours, their validity is seriously cast in doubt".
The fresh fears were sparked after it emerged over the weekend that secret talks had taken place in Luxembourg on Friday between Athens and some of the key European financial leaders. Rumours quickly spread that Greece had said it will not be able to raise 22bn by next year to meet its repayment schedule and was seeking a re-negotiation of the rescue package.
Continued on Page 47
#4
If Greek finances don't stabilize, foreign investors in Greek debt will write off 100% of their loans. Greek finances shows an extremely low probability of stablizing. S&P ratings reflect this. Greek anger is about being found out.
It does not take a lot of deductive reasoning to figure out why France's President Nicolas Sarkozy was so eager to lead a coalition of nations in the "liberation" of Libya. Realpolitik may have played a far greater role than matters of the heart in the case for intervention. The politically disastrous prospect of tens of thousands of North African and Sub-Saharan migrants pouring into France is untenable from Sarkozy's perspective, given the electoral threat posed by the country's far-right. For the same reason it is also clear why Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was compelled to join the Western chorus protesting Libyan aggression against its citizens, even though the Prime Minister has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with Col. Muammar Gaddafii. African migration is the bete noire
See how clever that is? 'Cause noire means black, get it?
of Europe and migrants of every shade are boogeymen to be feared. However, Sub-Saharan Africans and Muslims, according to a multitude of polls on European attitudes toward immigration, are especially feared.
Too many of the ones previously migrated to Europe are causing problems. More to the point, no society can look with equanimity upon the native population being swallowed up by a tsunami of newcomers, even were they of the same hue and culture.
Continued on Page 47
#2
The "bete noire" problem is not found in Japan, unless of course, you are not Japanese. Thinking a bit outside the box so to speak, could it be the general absence of Jackass Penguins in Kansas City has it's roots in something larger than migratory habits?
#3
The French have long memories. They have never recovered from the Frankish invasion and takeover of their country, and don't want anything like that to ever happen again.
#5
Somebody a while back had told me that by reaching Spain, Spaing having a policy similar to Cubans reaching Florida, they could get their Spanish ID which allows for travel within the entire EU, and I have not been able to confirm or deny this claim.
We come from the land of the rocks and sands
From the crescent moon and wipe shit with hands
The holler of allan will blow our boats to new lands
To cover the whores, collect our welfare: Marseille, we are coming!
[Iran Press TV] The export volume of Germany, the world's second-biggest exporter after China, has shown a 7.3 percent increase in March the highest monthly number since 1950. Y'know, I'll bet if we made stuff we could export it, too...
Europe's economic powerhouse drove its trade surplus up to 15.2 billion euros (USD 22 billion) in March, official data showed on Monday.
The calendar and seasonally adjusted trade surplus had come to 11.2 billion euros in February, according to figures published by the national statistics office, Destatis.
Germany exported goods worth a nominal 98.3 billion euros in March while taking in imports worth 79.4 billion euros, the data showed.
"That was the highest monthly figure recorded for both exports and imports since the collection of foreign trade statistics had started in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1950," a Destatis statement said.
On a monthly basis, exports were 7.3 percent stronger and imports were up by 3.1 percent.
"The 'made in Germany' brand is extremely popular abroad," Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle was quoted as saying by AFP.
On an annualized basis, the value of goods shipped abroad by Germany gained 15.8 percent in March, while imports were 16.9 percent higher, Destatis said.
The German government now expects the economy to expand by 2.6 percent in 2011, and by 1.8 percent next year.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
05/10/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Ok, the 'Service Economy' thing has not worked out. We have proven that you cannot have a viable economy if all you do is either make and sell burgers to each other or send and read memos about making burgers.
We have to reindustrialize and actually make and sell stuff. Why hasn't either party produced just one candidate or officeholder who sees this and calls for it?
Posted by: Bill Griling5080 ||
05/10/2011 1:20 Comments ||
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#2
Because our political class consists of men and women who don't know how stuff is made and brought to market. Even those of our politicos who have business experience are basically just service providers, dealmakers, other intermediaries or trust funders who don't understand the logic and processes behind creating and selling a P R O D U C T.
#3
We have to reindustrialize and actually make and sell stuff. Why hasn't either party produced just one candidate or officeholder who sees this and calls for it? Posted by Bill Griling5080
The above, while the only hope for our standard of living and (western society as we know it) to survive, is unlikely to happen. Those who hold power owe no real allegiance to this country, they are internationalists, the globalists. They've monitored the demographics and went "all in" for China many years ago. The chips are on cheap labor and the economic growth engine of China, not the US. We are now mortgaged to the Chinese through loans and commerce. How long will it be before we default on the paper and see Chinese oil rigs off our costs drilling into their collateral? The only questions which remains is how dreadfully low will these people, with Obama at the helm take us, and will anything remain? The American diaspora has already begun. It began with the wealthy and their international investments.
We are now rushing toward Zimbabwe. Our immigration policy and open border to the south is clearly a demographic tool and further proof of intent of the globalists. The denial of the Global War on Terror and radical Islam is yet another signal of a culture and society in peril. We are to be homogenized into multi-cultural, politially correct, egalitarian oblivion. Decades of half-wars and meaningless 'nation building' among sixth century cave dwellers drain our economy and line the pockets of the military industrial complex. Western society stands on the brink. Rome 400 A.D. is us. I am not hopeful.
#5
That's half of it, Besoeker, especially the part about outcome egalitarianism.
The other half is a public that believes that showing up any job every day for a few hours should entitle them to 4000 square feet, two new cars every five years, a cruise and another exotic vacation every year, enough money to send all their kids to private college, and retirement at 60 expecting 30 years of living just as well if not better with no health care expenses and without having to work at all.
Both factors. You can't fix one and not the other and expect manufacturing to come back here.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
05/10/2011 5:40 Comments ||
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#6
Agreed, lex. But those of us that actually produce stuff have so many barriers up to go into any meaningful office, what to do?
Posted by: no mo uro ||
05/10/2011 5:42 Comments ||
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#7
All economies are service economies. Manufacturing is merely a service. There's a limit to the amount of physical stuff the economy demands.
Germany has you should also not stubbornly high unemployment, so shipping all that wealth abroad for so few imports is not exactly wise.
The wests problem was simple, stupid people believed that falling house affordability was wealth.
They believed that debt induced GDP growth was actual growth.
They believed that there was no such thing as too much credit.
Once the economy is back to reciprocal (i.e. taxes on government created rights and no taxes on trading (selling and buying), working, employing, saving and investing). Then people will start to re-create wealth.
#8
The other half is a public that believes that showing up any job every day for a few hours should entitle them to 4000 square feet,
Correction - they believe that they should get all this just for sitting on their fat ass in front of the T.V. and voting for whoever will give promise it to them.
"Obama's going to fill my gas tank! Obama's going to pay my mortgage!".
That they have a fundemental right to free healthcare (no matter how much they abuse themselves), Plenty of free food, plenty of free clothing and shelter, and 2-3 60" HDTV's and the cars and vacations you mentioned.
#9
Frankly, I've never believed that the fellow showing up to work site with a lunch pale was the problem. I always figured he was the probably the solution! (Read Amnity Slaes, The Forgotten Man) I suspect we could all be conservative Anabaptists, riding around in horse drawn wagons and the outcome would be quite similar. Bottome line...it's a common occurrence and recurring theme throughtout history, we've been betrayed by our betters.
[Al Jazeera] The European Union is considering lowering the interest rates of bailouts for Greece and Ireland, in an effort to avoid debt restructuring. ... thereby demonstrating that neither country can afford even the restructured debt...
A front man for Olli Rehn, the EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, said on Monday that the European Commission was in favour of a rate cut over debt restructuring, following talks over the Greek debt crisis.
The EU's executive arm also said it hoped to see a decision on the rate charged to Ireland, which has a joint EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
The new Irish government's bid for lower interest payments has so far been blocked by Germany and La Belle France, which want Dublin to drop its veto on harmonising the corporate tax base in Europe in exchange or raise its own low corporate tax rate.
A senior German politician has said a further cut in the rate on emergency loans to Greece would be justified if the country carried out further reforms to reduce its debt risks.
The discussion over the eurozone debt crisis comes as Standard and Poor's downgraded its debt rating for Greece by two points, bringing it further into junk territory.
The rating's agency cut its rating for long-term debt to "B" from "BB-" and short-term debt to "C" from "B".
"The downgrade reflects our view of increasing sentiment among Greece's key eurozone official creditors to extend the debt payment maturities of their 80 billion euro ($115bn) of bilateral loans pooled by the European Commission," Standard and Poor's said.
But Athens said the downgrade "placed the agency's reliability in doubt".
Debt markets have become increasingly jittery as Greece has failed to meet targets to cut its deficits as the austerity measures it has introduced has sent the economy into a tailspin.
Under its debt rescue plan agreed a year ago, it had been intended that Greece would return progressively to financial markets in 2012 to borrow the money it needs, but the interest rates demanded on the market are currently prohibitively high and make this outlook appear doubtful.
Leading eurozone finance ministers ruled out a restructuring of debt at an informal meeting on Friday but are looking at whether to increase help to Athens, a European source told the AFP news agency.
EU and IMF officials are to begin this week a review of Greece's progress before deciding whether to recommend it receive a 12-billion-euro instalment under its bailout loan.
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Posted by: Fred ||
05/10/2011 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Al Jazeera] The European Union is considering lowering the interest rates of bailouts for Greece and Ireland, in an effort to avoid debt restructuring.
