Germany's near-miss

Chicago Tribune ^ | August 23, 2006 | Masthead Editorial

[neverdem]

Two bombs in two crowded trains. Neither bomb, though, exploded. It would have been one of the most lethal terrorist attacks since Sept. 11, 2001. And it was planned not for Britain, not for Indonesia, not for the U.S., but for Germany, of all places. Suddenly the threat to the people there seems very real.

German authorities say two people placed suitcase bombs on regional trains that departed from Cologne's main station on July 31. One suspect, a Lebanese student enrolled in a prep program at Kiel University in northern Germany, has been arrested. Police are searching for the other suspect, who apparently has fled the country.

And Germans are left to wonder why they are the latest target. Why the country's strong opposition to the invasion of Iraq and overthrow of Saddam Hussein didn't inoculate it from terrorism. In short, their question is, "Why us?"

One possibility: Although Germans (and their government) vociferously opposed the war in Iraq, the nation is engaged in the war against terror. German forces are taking over more responsibilities in the protection of Afghanistan from the resurgent Taliban. Germany cooperated with the investigation of Sept. 11, which was engineered in part by terrorists living in Hamburg.

But the more likely and more sobering reason for the attempted train bombings is this: Islamic terrorists don't really differentiate between "good" and "bad" Western governments and nations. There is no appeasing nihilists.

Since the belated disclosure last Friday of the terror attempt, politicians from all parties have been trying to come up with new ideas on how to fight, to prevent, terror in Germany. Because Germans now have little choice but to confront what's evidently a sophisticated threat.

That means Germany is having the kind of debate the U.S. has had, wrestling with how to balance personal...

[Schweinhund]

You forgot beer-gurgling.

[Starboard]

But the more likely and more sobering reason for the attempted train bombings is this: Islamic terrorists don't really differentiate between "good" and "bad" Western governments and nations.

All western nations are seen as roadblocks in the way of the ascending Islamic Caliphate. Germany had better wise up.

[Earthdweller]

"Your husband sounds like a reasonable man ^^"

No comment. LOL.

Really, yes he is. He comes across exactly as you do (tough guy). But he cares more about the people around him and how they are than anyone else I have ever known.

I remember when we first realized the threat to us. At first it was the questions and then disbelief.

I pray for you and Germany that you will be safe.

[uncbob]

Hell we had a NEAR MISS on the Twin Towers in 93 and Clinton did NOTHING

[pierrem15]

Corrected:

"Because they're fat, lazy, fornicating, pork-sausage eating, beer-gurgling infidels?"

[Schweinhund]

Yup, they and my ex-girlfriend.

[redgolum]

When are the leftist idiots going to realize that the problem lies NOT with the behavior of Britain, India, Indonesia, Germany and the US, but with the behavior of Islamofacists.....

In the minds of a convinced relativist, that is not possible.

[Schweinhund]

I wouldn't say that. A relativist can still decide on what side he wants to be.

[redgolum]

True, but many I have met have decided to be on the side of "anyone against the West".

[Schweinhund]

That's not relativism, that's a guilt complex :)

[GoLightly]

Oddly missing from that article, mention of Ahmadinejad's letter to PM Merkel. Planting some suitcase bombs isn't the jihadist way, is it? If they were state sponsored, would planting them be a *clear* case of an act of war? What if they were not set to go off?

I don't think we're getting the wrong picture from the article. A good portion of Americans see the whole WoT as a case of Orwell's permanent state of war. I'd expect about the same in Germany.

[Prince Charles]

German authorities say two people placed suitcase bombs on regional trains that departed from Cologne's main station on July 31. One suspect, a Lebanese student enrolled in a prep program at Kiel University in northern Germany, has been arrested. Police are searching for the other suspect, who apparently has fled the country.

Is this the same Germany who released the killer of US Navy diver Robbie Stethem (sp?) after also paying a huge ransom, in an effort to gain the release of a radical leftist hostage in Iraq? Could that filthy lucre have been used to finance these terrorist acts?

Naw. Enlightened europeons always make the right move.

[piasa]

Oddly missing from that article, mention of Ahmadinejad's letter to PM Merkel. Planting some suitcase bombs isn't the jihadist way, is it?

An Iranian shot across the bow?

I think the 2001 anthrax incidents were a shot across our bow- the effort to blackmail just didn't work.

[GoLightly]

Have your read his letter?

An Iranian shot across the bow?

IMO, yes. Merkel didn't preserve Ahmadinejad's *honor* by refusing to taking him seriously enough to respond directly to him. Allowing the content of it to become public set him up for ridicule & added insult to injury.

I think the 2001 anthrax incidents were a shot across our bow- the effort to blackmail just didn't work.

You could be right. I'm not sure. It kinda had Iraqi fingerprints on it, didn't it? I read that it was from the same line that some American bio-tech firm sent to Iraq ages ago, but I don't know how reliable that information was.