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EUROPE IS STILL “a focus of terrorist plots”, according to a new security report released by the US State Department.
The document warned that “affiliates” of al-Qaeda grew stronger across the world in 2010, even as the terror organisation’s “core” in Pakistan was weakened even before the death of its figurehead Osama bin Laden earlier this year. Groups linked to al-Qaeda are also becoming better at sharing knowledge and terrorist “capabilities”, the report added.
Noting a series of attempted attacks in Scandinavia, including the Stockholm suicide bombing in December 2010, the US Country Reports on Terrorism 2010 said a number of countries in Europe had raised their terrorist threat level during the year. However, it added that “the year was marked by counterterrorism successes” as police and security forces foiled a number of plots, and noted:
The continuing effectiveness of European security services, close cooperation between and among European countries, and the sheer technical capabilities available to most partner countries enabled authorities to prevent any major terrorist plot from coming to fruition in 2010.
In the North, the number of terrorist bombing incidents soared by 80 per cent against 2009, with 87 such bombings between January and November 2010 alone. At least 90 people were casualties of paramilitary assaults or shootings during the same period – while the report also warned that violence in the North could be “traced back to support” provided by people living in the Republic.
On a global level, the report also warned that the al-Shabaab militias – who currently hold power in famine-hit Somalia – were gaining in strength across East Africa, and were a powerful lure to Westerners tempted by terrorist ideologies.
It also noted that al-Qaeda was stepping up its information campaign in English, noting that English-speaking militants are increasingly connected via online forums and video-sharing sites. The year saw al-Qaeeda in the Arabian Peninsula launch its first English-language magazine, called Inspire, which offered articles including “What to expect in Jihad”.
Fear fear fear fear fear ….. That’s all they want to do is frighten people to spend ridiculous amounts of cash on protecting themselves
I think the US state department is more qualified to comment on this than you are Dave. Go work on another conspiracy theory.
Piss off America
America responds: “We protect you.” Enda nods his head, and the public mood is brushed under the carpet.
The journal has more journalists in it’s office then al Qaeda has TERRORISTS in Europe. Perhaps even the world.
#KEY WORD #TERROR
Does this mean we should spend more money on Defence forces instead of schools and hospitals? Or give up a few more basic freedoms to feel safer? ……… Seriously. America is invading half the planet right now. I wonder how those Children killed by their smart bombs feel about the terrorist threat.
On a more serious note, Louise is right: The US State Department has the most experts in the world on terrorism. But that’s the problem – we need America to fix a problem, that it played a large (and rather unwitting) role in creating.
Global capitalism, liberalism and its aggressive policies in the middle east (which stem from the cold war period – long before Al Qaeda) managed to disgruntle certain Sunni Muslims enough to found militant and terrorist groups. This is not a conspiracy – it’s doubtful that America realised what the result of their actions would be the “War on Terror”. In fact, the foundations were being set for this long before George W. Bush was even cutting his political teeth. He may not have even known what the middle east was. The “blame” for creating a situation where terrorist groups were able to flourish, has to go collectively to all the presidents that served prior to 9/11.
What is however completely clear is that George Bush, after 9/11, managed to make a bad situation an utterly catastrophic one: Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Pakistan destabilising. And to make matters worse for us, he managed to drag Toff 2 into almost every single part of it: Tony Blair. In fact Blair played a huge roll in legitimising the WoT to European Audiences. He articulated the arguments in favour of those policies far better than Bush ever did. Had Bush been running a solo project, we would never have been fooled.
Yet while Blair ran an effective propaganda machine, the War on Terror was mostly an American project. Although the British Army and British Intelligence did play a major role in it, the Americans always had the dominant role. While the war in Afghanistan is technically a NATO operation, the commanders, Generals McChrystal (resigned/fired) and now Petraeus, are American.
The biggest consequence to the citizens of Europe, due to their involvement in Afghanistan through NATO, is their becoming potential targets of terrorist attacks. That of course means that we, as citizens of Europe, require American experience to help prevent them. The obvious result of that is that our intelligence services work closer with the CIA. That in turn makes us even greater allies to America, in the eyes of Islamic Terrorists, and that in turn makes us greater potential targets.
It’s a never ending vicious circle, that can only be broken by Europe ceasing to take part in the WoT. Yet even then, it is completely uncertain if we would be less of a target to Al Qaeda. If we are to renounce our ties to America’s war, we have to integrate our own intelligence infrastructure, and create our own independent body of knowledge regarding these terrorist cells. To put it simply, we need to stand on our own two feet.
How was it Bush’s fault? Are the Arabs somehow immune to individual responsibility?
Yes Louise I am more qualified than a bunch of terrorists called the USA … An here is a another conspiracy theory for you… The catholic church was a fairy tale that grew horns and now allows the buggery and rape of children world wide and you the mass goer are indirectly responsible or those rapes and buggeries by your support of aforementioned religion…. How’s that for a CT??
how is the evil of the Catholic Church related to US intelligence gathering?
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