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Europe
‘Terrorism radiating from Iraq’
2005-08-09
BERLIN - German intelligence fears terrorism is “radiating” from Iraq around the Middle East and expects further attacks across the region, its spy chief said on Monday. “We fear developments in Iraq are radiating outwards,” foreign intelligence chief August Hanning said in brief comments to Reuters.
Dang he's good.
He said it was possible that an intensification of insurgent attacks on Iraqi security forces and the US-led coalition was encouraging like-minded militants to step up attacks in the wider region as well.

Hanning cited bombings that killed 64 people last month in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and security alerts in recent days forcing cruise liners carrying Israeli tourists to divert from Turkey to Cyprus.
Yep, it was the evil war in Iraq, never mind all the plans and plots and happenings the last 30 years ...
Asked earlier at a news conference if Germany had its own intelligence on a threat to the kingdom, Hanning said: “We see the situation in Saudi Arabia in connection with developments in Iraq, Egypt, and not least Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He added: “There are no grounds to give the all clear. On the contrary ... we are reckoning with an intensification of the situation in the region as far as terrorism is concerned.”
Please tell me that this guy is a figurehead and that the #2 guy really runs things ...
Posted by:Steve White

#14  A fine Kona what, Shipman? I can think of two plant products Kona is noted for.
Posted by: xbalanke   2005-08-09 21:31  

#13  I remember a fine Kona, perhaps you're right.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-08-09 15:23  

#12  "Here we were in March 2003 all sitting around drinking lattes with our Muslim brethren when all of a sudden BushHitler for no reason goes off and attacks the peaceful nation of Iraq. This gets the Muslims really angry and then all hell breaks loose."

Not exactly the way I remember it.
Posted by: Matt   2005-08-09 13:36  

#11  Of course, I'd personally count Israel to be the nearest neighbor in Iraq's neighborhood, and look what's happened there...built the wall, and suicide bombings have dropped tremendously. Doesn't mean they're zero (.com's on/off argument), but they are declining and rapidly. Bush's sidelining of Arafish was one of the best things we could do. Of course, if it's Jooooos that're being blown up, it doesn't count in terrorist attacks "in the neighborhood" I guess.
Posted by: BA   2005-08-09 13:33  

#10  Most Germans are so full of their medias anti-americanism and seeing everything in shades of gray instead of the actual black and white they are clueless. Count this fool in that crowd. The facts are he can say anything he wants, it doesn't matter. Germany can't project much more power in the world than it does currently. That being the case what ever he says irreverent. I really do want to know was this guy's claim to fame that of a book store clerk as their foreign minsters was?
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-08-09 05:51  

#9  The best thing Germany can do now, is to continue the reparations to the Jews for their atrocities 60 years ago! Anything short of providing "Boots On The Ground" in Iraq and or Afghanistan or bank rolling some of the operations for the Coalition requires keeping the F*** out of the US's way! And why the hell do we have even ONE soldier in Germany anyway?!
Posted by: smn   2005-08-09 05:10  

#8  Either he's as dumb as a brick and just doesn't get it (the flypaper effect has been obvious even to small children and fools with room temperature IQ's for at least the last 18 months) or he's a fool who can only think in absolutes. On / off. 100% effective or quagmire! Sheesh, wotta 'tard.

Yo, Hanning, the fact that you haven't had 5 or 10 bombings in Berlin and Bonn by now is testament to the fact that the jihadis realize how crucial Iraq is in the Big Picture thingy and have focused much / most of their assets and recourses there. Were that not the case, sonny, you'd be running your ass off trying to catch bombers at home - or you would've been forced to resign, by now. Give that Ozzie ex Intel Chief a call - you guys need to go fishing and leave this terr thingy to folks who have a clue. Ungrateful Jackass.

Boggles.
Posted by: .com   2005-08-09 04:58  

#7  I don't think we are seeing an increase in terrorism in SA, rather its an increase in shootouts as the authorities crackdown.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-08-09 03:50  

#6  To be fair Phil, we have seen quite an upsurge in Saudi Arabia over the past couple of years as well though, IMHO, that has more to do with our cutting off the jihadi export pipeline than anything else.
Posted by: AzCat   2005-08-09 02:40  

#5  If terrorism is 'radiating out' from Iraq as a result of the Iraq war we should have seen an upsurge in terrorism in neighbouring countries. With the notable exception of the failed truck bombings in Jordan which originated in Syria, we have seen no such upsurge. The contention is simply false. A much stronger case could be made for democracy and respect for civil liberties radiating out from Iraq.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-08-09 02:01  

#4  Look. Herrless, why don't you do some skunk huntin' in Iraq so you cut down the radiation.

These fu+kballs are defenseless and spineless.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-08-09 01:12  

#3  Actually, the guy is probably correct, just not in the way that he thinks he is. The most dangerous terrorists over the past decade-plus have been trained, financed or supplied by Iraq. There is hardly a major al Qaeda action that did not have Iraqi involvement at some stage. Generally speaking, the more serious the attack, the more involved the Iraqis were. Bush choses to be very vague, and at times downright deceptive, about Iraq, al Qaeda, and WMDs. So unfortunately support for the war is degrading, and some of our allies are lamentably uninformed about the true nature of the remaining threats. The Brits allowing Omar Bakri Mohammed egress is an example of this.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows   2005-08-09 01:12  

#2  It is the exact opposite, Iraq is the terrorist magnet, that is where all the ferriners are heading to.
Posted by: NYer4wot   2005-08-09 00:46  

#1  Is this guy an ex book store clerk too?
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-08-09 00:16  

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