Schäuble: Islamists top threat to Germany

The Local ^ | 15 May 2008

[syriacus]

Presenting the government's annual domestic intelligence report, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble on Thursday said Islamic fundamentalists posed a bigger threat to Germany than neo-Nazis, anarchists or other extremist groups.

Islamist terrorism "continues to be the greatest threat to stability and security in Germany and Europe," Schäuble said in Berlin.

It is only thanks to hard work from German intelligence services and their partners in other countries that there have as yet been no serious terrorist attacks in Germany, Schäuble said. He said Germany continues to be a target for terrorists because of its growing military engagement in Afghanistan and the strengthening of the terrorist network Al Qaida.

[syriacus]

See also Islamic Terrorism Biggest Threat to Germany, Minister Says

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http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3337494,00.html

The report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution said Islamist terrorists are increasingly setting their sights on Germany and view the country as an "operational area."

It said Islamists regard Germany as a Crusader nation and also see it as an ally of the United States and Israel -- two of the biggest foes of Muslim militants.

[syriacus]

How the Muslim News writes the headline Germany: "Islamic Terrorism" (sic) biggest threat to Germany, Minister says"

[Larebil]

islam is a problem EVERYWHERE.

[ishmac]

Wolfgang Schauble is one of the few Euro politicians that Americans would recognize as a conservative. He is a true ally and a brave man.

Personal story: when I was living in Dresden, Germany in the late '90's, the German parlement was debating whether to initiate a tax cut package. The debate was televised and I was watching it to practice my German. Schauble wheeled himself up to the podium and his first words were: "As the great American President, Ronald Reagan, once said..." I thought to myself, "Cr@p, not even our own Congressmen talk like that anymore, and here's this German who loves Reagan!!" I've always thought well of Schauble since then (as well as Kurt Biedenkopf, the then President of Saxony).

Otherwise, very few recognizable conservatives in that part of the world.

[syriacus]

Thanks for relating the story about Schaeuble and for providing the general background.

[syriacus]

Great screen name!!