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Dutch cell linked to filmmaker's murder slipped net
Reuters ^ | 11/17/04 | Mark Trevelyan

Posted on 11/17/2004 1:12:25 PM PST by rang1995

Dutch cell linked to filmmaker's murder slipped net By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent

BERLIN (Reuters) - European countries were on the trail of militants linked to the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for months before the murder, but lacked evidence to break up the cell until too late, security sources say.

The murder of Van Gogh, who had directed a film about violence against Muslim women, has heightened ethnic tension in the Netherlands and led to a series of tit-for-tat arson attacks against mosques and churches.

The fact that the alleged killer was known to the authorities as a suspected Muslim militant has raised questions as to whether the security services were asleep on the job.

"Probably because of lack of resources, the Dutch services didn't maintain very sure, precise, serious surveillance of this group. It's clear a mistake was made," said security analyst Claude Moniquet.

But security sources said that even though they were monitoring the cell now suspected of plotting the murder, there was little they could have done to stop them.

The cell had no name, was not engaged in terror finance or acquiring explosives, and until Van Gogh was shot and stabbed while cycling to work on November 2, it had apparently committed no crime.

"If these people had been trying to buy precursors to build bombs in their kitchen or brew sarin gas, and they had not been spotted, you would say there was a blind spot in the mirror," a European Union security source said.

"But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"

INTELLIGENCE FAILURE?

(Excerpt) Read more at sg.news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 911; bushdoctrineunfold; dutch; holland; homelandsecurity; islam; jihadineurope; netherlands; terror
this is what happens when you WAIT (re kerry)to be attacked..we must all be on the offense
1 posted on 11/17/2004 1:12:26 PM PST by rang1995
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To: rang1995
"But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"

Kill them first.

2 posted on 11/17/2004 1:17:35 PM PST by HaveGunWillTravel
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To: rang1995

Sure they did. The EU funds these Islamic Nazis.


3 posted on 11/17/2004 1:17:59 PM PST by Diogenesis ("Then I say unto you, send men to summon ... worms. And let us go to Fallujah to collect heads.")
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To: HaveGunWillTravel; Grampa Dave; NormsRevenge
That is preemption...the thing the Euros and French are all upset with relative to President Bush and Iraq....
4 posted on 11/17/2004 1:24:13 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: rang1995
European countries were on the trail of militants linked to the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for months before the murder, but lacked evidence to break up the cell until too late, security sources say.

That's what happens when you treat terrorists as ordinary criminals to be apprehended by police and prosecuted by the criminal justice system.

5 posted on 11/17/2004 1:29:56 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Arlen Specter's got to go!)
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To: rang1995

But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"


A "bunch of guys"? Nothing.

A bunch of ISLAMICS? Plenty. Kick them out of the country and ban their satanic religion.


6 posted on 11/17/2004 1:32:26 PM PST by TalBlack
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To: rang1995
European countries were on the trail of militants linked to the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for months before the murder, but lacked evidence to break up the cell until too late, security sources say.
Too bad they didn't have a Patriot Act, eh?
7 posted on 11/17/2004 1:34:00 PM PST by bikepacker67 ("This is the best election night in history." -- DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe 11/2/04 8pm)
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To: bikepacker67
"But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"

That theirs is a religion of peace?

8 posted on 11/17/2004 1:38:02 PM PST by ReadyNow (When you see the eye, expect a lie!)
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To: TalBlack
Kick them out of the country and ban their satanic religion

Right-o.

9 posted on 11/17/2004 1:46:17 PM PST by Regulator (And Don't Waste Time Chatting About It)
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