European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, discussing Friday’s attack on Paris and speculation about ISIS using refugees as infiltrators, reiterated that all of the identified attackers so far were European nationals with valid EU passports.
Indeed, most of the identified attackers appear to be either French or Belgian nationals, and while some indeed had gone to Syria to fight with ISIS at some point, they were the sort of returnees the Western intelligence community has been warning about, Western nationals with access that most jihadists simply wouldn’t have.
There were some conflicting reports in the early wake of the attack about an Egyptian passport holder, as a passport was found at one of the attack sites, though Egyptian officials have since insisted it belonged to one of the victims, not one of the attackers.
The attack and speculation about a refugee being involved, despite no real evidence to that effect, have sparked a new wellspring of xenophobia across the region, with nations that were already struggling to come to grips with an influx of civilian refugees suddenly believing they’ve found a tailor-made excuse to block their entry as a “national security” issue.
The fact that the terrorists were all EU passport holders is even more damning, in that the Muslim problem in Europe is far worse than just the recent arrival of the migrants. France alone has over 10,000 people on their terror watch list.
The problem is the Muslim population of Europe, and terror is only one aspect of the problem.
Stupid people will disagree and froth.
There are two things wrong with your way of thinking. One, Europe has Moslem populations that are by now in Europe several generations. Europe is not all nice and pleasant — and in fact, it is really hard in Europe, unless you happen to be white, become part of the society no matter how many generations grew up there. In US, it is very different, as people can identify as American, and have a life, education, jobs, leisure. In Germany, you cannot really become a German — unless you are German. Same goes for France, and others. As a result, European countries were not prepared to deal with this new era of re-colonizing venture in the Middle East. One way to be prepared would have been developing strong bonds with its Moslem population through both institutional and civic collaborations, that would have made it impossible for alien elements, with radical and totally unpatriotic message to succeed. But instead of tapping into its own population for strength — just the opposite occurred, demonization across the board. I would say — very stupid and very provincial.
Second important reason I disagree with you is the virtual PROPAGANDA that all Western governments and media lavished on "rebels" and the "Assad must go" war cry. How many times have you seen the seductive stories written in mainstream media about the "rebels", the "opposition", etc. Why do you blame then the youth that is facing the prospect of working in a grocery store, or a prospect to fight for the cosmic justice and "criminal Assad". Why do you think that ISIS is having all these media savvy recruitment tools, and no Western countries has moved a pinky to get then off the air. Or did we find out who pays their telecom bill? Chances are — me and you. And we will blame stupid youth for being seduced into the adventure, adventure we — without saying so — encouraged. While at the same time — wringing our hands about those that will "return". We are arming them, by training and equipping so called "moderates", that are "moderate" only until they cross the border into Syria, and then join either Al-Qaeda Nusra front, or ISIS. The two are cooperating, what Russian mission has proven. They run from the area of attack, and seek shelter, arms, ammunition and paycheck in the other group.
In G-20 meeting Russia has shown picture of a convoy of oil trucks several miles long, stretching across the desert terrain from Syria into Iraq. How is it possible that our air force, or the planes belonging to other members of coalition — did not see them all those years? And destroy — as Russia has done now several times. It was necessary also to take out the bridge to prevent them from moving freely from Iraq to Syria. It will be very interesting to know who the buyers are — but we will have to wait for Russia to get the information out. Those byers are getting crude for $15 a barrel, so — who is profiting, who is refining it, and who is then reselling it? It is hard to imagine that poor Sunni areas of Iraq are the buyers. They may be the beneficiaries — getting it for their own use, but where are the "for profit' buyers?
There is a problem with Muslim population in Europe, and it has everything to do with Europe not being able to transition to an inclusive society. In the climate of multigenerational exclusion, now set to fire with the European adventures in Libya, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan — and adding to it the bloody intervention in Ivory Coast, Mali, etc. — it is the combination of systemic causes and contemporary overload that is doing the damage. If the outcome is to rethink, DO NO (FURTHER) HARM, and opt for STRENGHTENING the sovereign states, then there may be a relief in a decade or so. Because many refugees will opt to go back to their country if there is no war, government is able to run basic services, and kids can go to school. Unlike many Europeans, people from the Middle East are very good at small business start up. They will be easier to repatriate. Our collective Western management of the world's affairs is a gross failure, and is time to rethink. Destroying — for the sake of controlling, neocons' favorite "creative destruction" is not only destroying them but our economy as well. When we are told that Social Security is in trouble, they are really saying to took money from it, and cannot return it back. We spent it on armies of NGO to pave the way — presumably for our domination — and then for the armies of groups that we now cannot control. We need to CONGRATULATE OURSELVES, then, stop the BS, and listen to what the world is saying. And the world has been saying a lot — we just chose not to listen. Let us then just go back to September and listen to some speeches at UN General Assembly.
Thank you for the excellent rebuttal, Bianca. Spot on. I am curious, and it in no way detracts from the truths you posted. Some of your language constructs seem like English is not your first language, and you seem quite knowledgeable about Europe, but you refer to Social Security as would an American who has paid into the system for many years and is aware that the real issue is that the warmongers and 1% have borrowed the money and don't want to pay it back. What is your background?
The problem is not so much Europe's Muslim population but the reaction of that population to Europe's support for Israel and the privileges Jews are perceived as enjoying, which is particularly pronounced in France. If you insult Islam or the Pope, it's free speech. If you inslut the Jews, you're prosecuted. People who've come into Europe since WWII see no reason for this. They don't perceive the Jews as a persecuted minority but as the persecutors of their co-religionists and/or fellow countrymen. Thus, the only way to end Islamic terrorism in Europe is a complete break with Israel. That's a tall order politically and I don't see it happening anytime soon, but it's the only way.
OMG, I agree with Michael Kenny.
Europe is a series of territorial monocultures. The common European housing estate, you might say. Each ethnic group wants to have its own house and come together only in so far as necessary to protect common interests. The latter finds its present-day expression in the EU and it explains why ethnic groups that don't have their own state, such as the Scots or the Catalans want to have their own EU Member State and not just be regions of another Member State. That also explains why ethnic groups that can claim no land in Europe, such as the Jews, have never been really welcome and the same is true of more recent immigrants. Thus, inevitably, the European ethnic groups close ranks against the outsiders. Merkel's mistake was not to understand that and the Paris attacks have become just one more weapon to try to oust her from power..
OMG, two in one day. Is it possible Kenny has actually read the links we have provided and has learned some things?
I can't find this story in any of the mainstream media….and I've been looking.