Terrorists' Strategy for Europe?

I ran across an intersting article and one mention [below and in bold] struck me as possibly having great validity and plausibility.

The continuing London bombings starkly highlight the homeland security implications of Europe's growing population of disaffected Muslims. Despite the prominence of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, Islamic extremists have long identified Europe as the weak link in their putative "Crusader-Zionist" adversary.

Al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorist groups have relied heavily on recent Muslim immigrants to Europe to conduct attacks there and provide support networks for extra-European operations. More recently, they have sought to circumvent strengthened anti-terrorist measures by recruiting members from among Islamic converts and second-generation Muslim immigrants. Besides the London bombings, this strategy's effectiveness became evident in 2003, when two second-generation British Muslims (also of South Asian descent) carried out a successful suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. As EU citizens, these operatives can more easily travel within Europe and to Israel, the United States, and other EU partner countries.

The terrorists' strategy for generating additional European recruits is simple: launch vicious attacks and count on the resulting harsh government crackdown to alienate the local Muslims.

Facing Europe's Islamic Challenge

Considering that much discussion and debate has been given concerning 'why' the UK was hit by acts of terrorism, considering that the UK and the EU are now making significant anti-terrorism measures, considering that in the scope of Europe, France is probably cracked down on on the Muslim populace more so than any other European nation, and considering that there has been given much talk over racial profiling, after reading the above quoted section [in bold], perhaps Al-Qa'eda and other terrorists' organization, groups, cells, etc are hoping that Europe will become a new recruiting ground for more terrorist-wannabe's?

Perhaps the recent terrorists' acts in the UK, and Europe, are a 'hidden' strategy of hoping that the Muslims that do live in these European countires will be slighted ansd alienated to the point of causing some to be swayed by the fundamentalism offered by such terrorists' organizations, groups, and cells, etc.?





seekerof

Certainly a strategy that might work. Alot of muslims in the Uk and i guess the rest of europe are alienated already. this cant help.

Surely It would not be the primrary objective of the bombings, if it is then what is the primrary objective of muslim terrorism, to bomb westerners or to recruit more supporters. I think it has to be the first one, otherwise what are they recruitng them for.

No doubting in my mind that it is a secondary effect.

Of course the question is, is it a strategy or just a resultant, Is there a serious Al-Qaeda organization/Army which employs strategies and tactics, or is Al_Qaeda just a word to describe random terrorism unrelated except in its anti-western feelings.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire

I believe it would be fair to allow some educated assumptions on this topic.

What better place to attract and develop ‘fanaticism’ or ‘extreme’ ideological development than where a segment of a population can individually relate to ‘victimization’ (or potential victimization) and the influencing external forces (as well as internal) can manage a collective belief system by which to deflect ‘internal’ conflict to external tangible targets in the form of violence.

Make, create, foster then fully support ‘victims’ add the constant element of ‘religion’ (core belief); then defense is human, natural and self justifiable, even if under and offensive conventional light, it is relative, the ease in bringing this to fruition is better abroad, where the target ‘recruit’ is a minority in a culturally differing environment and is introspectively viewed as a ‘victim’ than inside land of source(s). Deadly, but intelligent in simplicity.

This article touches on some of this.
Europe's Angry Muslims.

Marginalization, and how the existing terror networks have already infiltrated europe, made use of forces like the serbs an pre-exsting muslim groups to recruit and arm, and then carry out attacks from populations of seemingly well adapted, 'european' muslims. And this is before the london attack from "anglozised' second generation muslim immigrants with connections to global terror groups thru militant mosques that were permited to operate unrestricted.

I think this is very likely. Al-Qaeda and similar terrorist groups know what to expect in the way of reaction, and they use this to their advantage. As an example on a larger scale, consider the statements of Sayf Al Adl, a military commander of Al Qaeda, described below. I'll post the related paragraph as well, since it's relevant and the statement is appended as a footnote in the original source.

Reflecting on the subsequent U.S. response to the attacks, Bin Laden and others have described the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq as new “crusades” and highlighted both the considerable economic impact of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent costs of the U.S. military response as indications of Al Qaeda’s effectiveness. Al Adl and others have conceded that the attacks on New York and Washington were not totally successful, while arguing that the September 11 attack “was enough to prompt the Americans to carry out the anticipated response” — namely direct military action within the Islamic world.

...

In his May 2005 statement, Sayf Al Adl argues, “What we had wished for actually happened. It was crowned by the announcement of Bush Jr. of his crusade against Islam and Muslims everywhere.”

Source: CRS Report, "Al-Qaeda: Statements and Evolving Ideology" available here.

They know they cannot fight great nations directly, so they provoke responses they feel will benefit them, whether it be invading a Muslim nation or cracking down on Muslims at home. This is why our response must be subtle and considered, as well as swift. Targetting innocent Muslims, while it may seem necessary, will not work to "our" benefit in the long run.

-koji K.

[edit on 28-7-2005 by koji_K]

Originally posted by Nygdan
Marginalization, and how the existing terror networks have already infiltrated europe, made use of forces like the serbs an pre-exsting muslim groups to recruit and arm, and then carry out attacks from populations of seemingly well adapted, 'european' muslims.

I don't quite understand that.

Who would serbs recruit, and for what purpose? Who or what would be their targets?

Can you elaborate on this please?

Thnx in advance.

[edit on 29-7-2005 by yanchek]