Militant Islam's global reach: Network includes well-financed recruiting efforts in Europe

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, October 24, 2001 | By Toby Westerman

[JohnHuang2]

---

WAR ON TERROR
Militant Islam's global reach
Network includes well-financed recruiting efforts in Europe

---

By Toby Westerman
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

As the forces of the anti-terror coalition continue to close in on Osama bin Laden and his Taliban supporters, an international web of money and violence supporting militant Islam continues to operate with impunity.

A phony import/export corporation, a "shadow navy," questionable relief agencies and bribery of regional officials all combine to allow the nearly free flow of terrorists and the money to support them, according to an article in the widely respected Italian daily, Corriere Della Sera.

While documenting the movement of Islamic fundamentalists across Italy to assist the Afghan Taliban regime, the writer of the article "Al Qaeda recluta 'nuovi taenti' in Italia" (translated: "al-Qaida recruits 'new talent' in Italy") reveals a tangled network of clandestine activities across Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

One of the methods Islamic militants use to reach Taliban-controlled territory includes traveling across Albania in the Balkan Peninsula, through Turkey, and then across the Iranian plateau. Corrupt officials who are "disposed to closing both eyes" frustrate the Iranian government's expressed cooperation with the anti-terror campaign, according to Corriere Della Sera.

Other militants travel by a "shadow navy" operating from a base in the United Arab Emirates. The ships sail using an import-export corporation as a front.

An ominous development, described in the article as a "new phenomenon," is the move by al-Qaida to avoid contact with other known terrorist groups. These groups are considered to be "asleep" – but only for "a brief period" – until "the opportune moment" arrives, the article stated.

The money to finance the long journey of the militants, as well as other secret activities within the terror network, is believed to originate in the Gulf region and circulate among individuals who are known to that network but not directly linked to any part of it.

These "so-called independents" are located "in numerous localities in Western Europe" and are to persuade their "brothers" to join "the resistance against the Anglo-American forces."

Financial backing for these "independents" comes from as yet unidentified sources, described in the article as "mysterious funds."

The monies the "independents" receive finance a campaign to turn moderate Muslims into militant fighters, as well as to pay the expenses of those militants who are currently in transit.

The Balkan Peninsula plays an important role in the terrorist network. Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia not only are transit points for the passage of militants, but also are recruitment areas for Islamic fighters – some of whom are well-seasoned from the past decade of warfare in the region.

For years, observers have noted the central role Islamic fundamentalists have played in the most recent Balkan wars. The goal of the militants has been identified as a "greater Albania" – a fundamentalist Islamic state that would nearly bisect the Balkan Peninsula and re-awake memories of 500 years of harsh Ottoman rule.

Most recently, a rebel movement in the Balkan nation of Macedonia, with close connections to Islamic militants in Kosovo and Bosnia, has won important concessions from the Macedonian central government.

While Muslim rebels in Macedonia state that they only seek fair representation, their opponents depict them as part of the "greater Albania" movement.

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan is considered to be the source of much of what is the present militant Islamic movement. The forced withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in 1989 provided militant Islam with a valuable victory, expert weapons training – sometimes at the hands of U.S. instructors – and, after the ultimate Taliban victory over other Afghan factions, a secure base for future operations.

Militant Islamic movements in Algeria, Chechnya, India, China, Uzbekistan and even the Philippines have been directly linked to, or influenced by, the Taliban regime, and a variety of terrorist activities – including the Sept. 11 attacks – to the Taliban's ally, Osama bin Laden.

For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.

[JohnHuang2]

ping....

[truth_seeker]

I listened to an expert on Islam call the fundamentalists "Islamists." He said it is a totalitarian movement. Elsewhere it has been estimated that 10 to 15 percent of world Muslims make up the extremist faction. My intuition tells me that the percent is probably higher.

"Clash of Cultures" has been predicted for years. Prominent authors include Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson, Jossef Bodansky, Samuel P. Huntington, Norman Podhoretz and Francis Fukiyama.

George W. Bush and his senior advisors probably know all about this world threat. So do the leaders of nations, who object to the movement.

Hopefully if it unfolds into WWIII, our alies will include Russia, China and India from among the big countries.

The US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy by now must very much regret allowing immigration of these dangerous people. Hopefully efforts will be underway to oust many of them, one way or the other.

[Ron C.]

Though we currently hear of a war that could go on for years - it might not. If we play our cards right, it could well be that the extended pause after the Afghanistan campaign, needed to allow time to gird for the next target, could effectively end the ‘war.' But that has two very BIG if's attached to it.

IF the US and its allies do their job, and IF the larger Arab nations do theirs - both aimed at elimination of terrorism threats, there might be a chance. If not, and should the US continue to see attacks from those already within, and those who cross our wide-open borders - we'll see ourselves thrown into a war footing where our existence will have no resemblance to what we see today. I doubt that most larger Arab nations really want to see that any more than we do, as they should know perfectly well what the consequences could be for them.

The possibility of a much wider war does not just depend on correction of poor approaches to national security within the US. It depends heavily on whether a few nation states can see the danger of allowing terrorists to work within their borders, and with their support, should the US be attacked in a more deadly fashion than it has already.

It is conceivable that current US actions amply demonstrate a high degree of danger to nations like Iraq, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia enough so to cause them to backtrack - for self preservation. Places like Algeria, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and the like, are in no position to threaten the security of the US in any fashion, economically or militarily. Though they are hot-beds of terrorist activities, and might long for an expanded war, they could be forced by their larger allies to avoid further confrontation or antagonism aimed at the US.

We can pray that a swift elimination of Bin Laden and his Taliban gives sufficient deterrence and pause to any escalation, and it could happen that way - if a few nations want it bad enough. The keys are Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. But, God help them all if not. A much wider war and far more dangerous future will not be that far away if these nations misjudge us, or act in any way foolishly.

[unending thunder]

Strangely, prior to 9/11 the UK TV news shows were reporting every day of the flow of young, fit, swarthy dark haired young men attempting to enter UK from their Red Cross camp (funded by the French Government), at Sangatte on the outskirts of Calais.TV footgae showed swarms of up to 300 such men trying to get on ,in trains, through the Channel Tunnel.

Since 9/11 not a squeak about it in Press , TV. Some get through, no papers, no history, no identity, then just disappear.

This Bomber Blair of Belgrade and Baghdad's way of "fighting" international terrorism. That and letting out 400 assorted terrorists, bombers, torturers, psychopaths and sociopaths out of jail prematurely. Despite knowing who the Omagh bombers are and refusing to bring them to justice. He is not alone the Irish Government are complicit in this policy.

[IronJack]

IF the US and its allies do their job, and IF the larger Arab nations do theirs

Neither of these is a given, but the latter shows no sign of materializing. I would trust the Islamic moderates more than I would trust our so-called Arab allies to crush these extremist sects. And I wouldn't trust a moderate Muslim any farther than I could throw a dromedary.

No, I'm afraid that we're on our own on this one. And it truly is a matter of Islam against the West. China may be there to exploit the fallout (pardon the pun), but it will be of no assistance to us during the fight. And the Russians will expect quid pro quo, so we'll give something up for their help, probably territory in Afghanistan once we've cleared out the rats.