NATO commander: some members of terrorist groups are still in Bosnia
Tue Apr 2, 9:32 AM ET
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - There are still some members of terrorist groups inside Bosnia, the commander of NATO (news - web sites)-led peacekeepers said Tuesday.
Gen. John Sylvester, the commander of the international peacekeeping force deployed in the country, met with the Bosnian prime minister, Dragan Mikerevic, to discuss matters related to terrorism and the security situation.
"The security situation in Bosnia is stable, but still fragile," said Sylvester, the commander of the 18,500-strong NATO-led force from 34 countries, after the meeting in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
Gen. Sylvester said his troops review intelligence reports on the situation in Bosnia and around the world on a daily basis and then decide upon security measures.
"There are a number of international terrorist organizations and individuals who periodically transit Bosnia. In fact, there are international terrorist organizations which have individuals within Bosnia," he said. "There have been some al-Qaida members here."
"What we have to determine is whether or not the individuals involved are here for the purpose of planning operations, or are here for the purpose of something else_being supported, being provided documentation, seeking respite or whatever," Sylvester said.
He said that as soon as it is clear that these individuals represent a threat to the country, joint operations of international peacekeepers and government institutions are taken against them.
"I am pleased to say that such activities have been led quite often in the past," he said.
Bosnia was home to dozens of Islamic fighters who stayed on after coming to help local Muslims in the 1992-95 war. Bosnian authorities handed over six Algerians accused of terrorist activities to U.S. military custody in January. Officials have continued to uncover plots to strike at U.S. interests in Bosnia and have made several arrests since Sept. 11.
NATO-led troops deployed in Bosnia have taken an active role in helping to fight terrorism.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo closed for several days due to a terrorist threat suspected to have been made by al-Qaida members. Security was increased, one person was arrested but no incidents occurred.
(asd/br/rp)
One of the key reporters who debunked the "KLA is good" nonsense was a wall street journal reporter named Daniel Pearl, recently kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan.
Kind of makes you wonder whose side we're on and exactly who is winning as the US lurches from small war to small war, changing sides so fast it makes your head spin. One day Iran is good, the next day Iran is bad. One day Israel is justified; the next day it is condemned. One day bin laden is bad, the next day he is good. Doesn't seem to matter who is in the White House at the time.
Any freepers out there know who the next "enemy" will be? Unfortunately the US policy of the last few years is becoming closer and closer to that in Orwell's book "1984" where the government regularly switched enemies and propaganda at will.