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Experts Say Iraq Insurgency Has Reduced Terror Threat in West
Voice of America ^

Posted on 06/15/2005 11:55:22 AM PDT by phoenix_004

International terrorism experts say the situation in Iraq has diverted the attention of Islamic extremists away from the West. But they believe the threat to the West will resume, once violence in Iraq subsides.

International terrorism experts say terror networks are focusing on their fight in Iraq, temporarily reducing the dangers faced by Western countries that have been targets in the past. The network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader of insurgents in Iraq, is more interested in fighting the West in that country than in Europe or in the United States.

Retired U.S. army colonel says the American and allied intervention in Iraq has definitely concentrated resistance efforts against the United States in particular and westerners in general.

The focus is elsewhere right now," he said. "The focus is on Iraq. This has caused a diversion in terms of the emphasis that Islamic extremists attribute to targets."

Western countries massively stepped up security measures following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States. Interior Minister Pisanu says those measures are still in place in Italy and preparations are being made for when terrorists active in Iraq come back.

"Prevention measures were tightened significantly throughout Europe," he said. "In Italy, 1,300 sensitive targets are under surveillance and clearly this also discourages potential terrorists."

(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gwot; iraq; progress; terror; waronterror; wot
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It's better to fight terrorists in iraq than in America!!
1 posted on 06/15/2005 11:55:22 AM PDT by phoenix_004
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To: phoenix_004

Bush's fault.


2 posted on 06/15/2005 11:57:30 AM PDT by Trust but Verify
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To: phoenix_004

Liberating Iraq and "better to fight them over there than over here" PING ... unfortunately, it is easier for them to wreck havoc in Iraq, hence the 800 Iraqi civilians dead in May alone...


3 posted on 06/15/2005 11:57:32 AM PDT by WOSG (Liberating Iraq - http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com)
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To: phoenix_004

The terrorists surely know they will never conquer America but they do hope to control oil-rich Iraq....a country to call their own complete with oil wells.


4 posted on 06/15/2005 11:58:03 AM PDT by daybreakcoming
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To: daybreakcoming


"The terrorists ......but they do hope to control oil-rich Iraq....a country to call their own complete with oil wells."

They have no use for oil.....The only reason they want control over these oil wells is because they want to deny oil to america.


5 posted on 06/15/2005 12:02:50 PM PDT by phoenix_004
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To: phoenix_004

By taking the initiative in Iraq, America has chosen the battleground, which any military man worth his salt knows is the first step to winning a war. This will prove to be much easier that trying to explain this simple concept to the likes of Nancy Pelosi or Ted Kennedy.


6 posted on 06/15/2005 12:06:40 PM PDT by Spok
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To: phoenix_004

Just one scumbag getting through to Manhattan could leave thousands dead in the blink of an eye.


7 posted on 06/15/2005 12:15:37 PM PDT by Dilbert56
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To: phoenix_004
International terrorism experts say the situation in Iraq has diverted the attention of Islamic extremists away from the West. But they believe the threat to the West will resume, once violence in Iraq subsides.

Sounds like a good enough reason to keep troops in the Iraq Terrorist Roach Motel so we can continue to lure rich Saudi jihad dilettantes to their deaths instead of crashing hijacked planes into American skyscrapers.

8 posted on 06/15/2005 12:21:35 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws spawned the runaway federal health care monopoly and fund terrorism.)
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To: phoenix_004
The only reason they want control over these oil wells is because they want to deny oil to america.

BINGO - that was my perhaps unsaid point.

9 posted on 06/15/2005 12:21:40 PM PDT by daybreakcoming
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To: phoenix_004
the threat to the West will resume, once violence in Iraq subsides

The dead terrorists will be considerably less able to threaten anybody.

10 posted on 06/15/2005 12:23:13 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Spok

Never enter a land war in Asia.


11 posted on 06/15/2005 12:24:46 PM PDT by clarissaexplainsitall (stewed tomatoes are just plain gross)
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To: phoenix_004

Oh, but the Democrats want us to withdraw from Iraq. Giving the terrorists a chance to regroup and attack us here. The article is good stuff.


12 posted on 06/15/2005 12:27:24 PM PDT by popdonnelly
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To: clarissaexplainsitall

"Never enter a land war in Asia."

You mean like Alexander?


13 posted on 06/15/2005 12:28:51 PM PDT by Spok
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To: phoenix_004

Though I more or less agree with this article, I think there is also another dynamic at work. Al Queda knows that they cannot defeat the U.S. military in Iraq. Therefore their only hope is to keep the U.S. divided and slowly wear us down on the homefront with the help of the media and the traitorous Left. If terror attacks started happening here in the U.S. it would be the most effective way to bring Americans together and stengthen our resolve to fight this war against militant Islam. A united America is precisely what Al Queda does not want. The lack of terror attacks in the U.S. up to this point could mean that our anti-terror efforts have been effective, or it could mean that Al Queda is much more disciplined than we generally think and knows that the most effective tool in its arsenal is the current division among Americans. In any case, if we don't finish the job that we set out to do, it is virtually assured that we will start seeing terrorists attacks in the U.S.


14 posted on 06/15/2005 12:30:21 PM PDT by Avenger
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To: Spok
"Never enter a land war in Asia."

Stated by that wise old soldier, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. They have more cannon fodder than we do. Wonder how he would handle the terrorists.

15 posted on 06/15/2005 12:39:23 PM PDT by Liberty Wins (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of all who threaten it.)
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To: phoenix_004

It's better to fight terrorists in iraq than in America!!

Say that again! America is asleep. Here in Hazleton PA where I work they don't know of any threats nor do they care. "It won't happen in Hazleton". How many times have I written the local rag paper with those words it falls upon deaf ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


16 posted on 06/15/2005 12:43:54 PM PDT by angcat
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To: Darth Reagan

ping


17 posted on 06/15/2005 12:48:23 PM PDT by marblehead17 (I love it when a plan comes together.)
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To: clarissaexplainsitall

Inconceivable


18 posted on 06/15/2005 12:49:33 PM PDT by GreenOgre (mohammed is the false prophet of a false god.)
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To: Avenger



"Therefore their only hope to keep the U.S. divided ..........the help of the media and the traitorous Left."

Al-qaeda doesn't have to do that.....Unfortunately our stupid liberal media and left wing morons are doing it for them!!!


19 posted on 06/15/2005 12:50:46 PM PDT by phoenix_004
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To: Avenger


". If terror attacks started happening here in the U.S. it would be the most effective way to bring Americans together and stengthen our resolve to fight this war against militant Islam. A united America is precisely what Al Queda does not want. "

What you said makes sense but that doesn't mean that Bin Laden wouldn't try ram a ship cont. nuke to the New York harbour. After all that's his last wish!!!!


20 posted on 06/15/2005 12:56:24 PM PDT by phoenix_004
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