Syrian conflict putting al Qaeda militants closer to Europe - UK

[cqo_000]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The conflict in Syria has brought al Qaeda fighters closer to Europe and in greater numbers than ever before, profoundly changing the nature of the terrorism threat, Britain's top security official said on Wednesday.

Hundreds and possibly thousands of al Qaeda-linked people had been drawn to the two-year-old uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said Charles Farr, Director General of Britain's Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism.

"They are operating at an intensity which is unparalleled since the events in Iraq in 2005/2006, in other words the peak of the Iraqi terrorist threat. They are much closer to us, in much greater numbers, and fighting with an intensity we have not seen before."

"Groups in Syria aspire to attack Europe and clearly in this chaotic environment have both the capability and the means to do so using, amongst others, returning foreign fighters who are coming back to Europe," he told the conference.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/uk-syria-crisis-britain-qaeda-idUKBRE9620SW20130703

[leveymg]

1. The friends of Friends of Syria aren't our friends. As we'll likely learn sooner or later.

But, Washington, London and Paris never seem to learn about blow-back.

"Who could have foreseen such a thing?"

[David__77]

5. Neither are the Friends of Syria our friends.

The Friends of Syria being London, Paris, D.C., Riyagh, and the 7 other capitals of the "friends" clique. They are fostering terrorism, and have been for over two years. The people of Egypt are indeed protesting the US support of terrorism and Islamic extremism.

[pampango]

2. Good insight from a conservative cabinet member.

He later told Reuters hundreds and maybe thousands of people were involved, but cautioned that not everyone going to Syria was an extremist, with some seeking to join Western-backed rebels and others linking up with the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front because it was one of the most effective fighting forces.

He said the Syrian conflict had also drawn in Lebanon's Shi'ite guerrilla group Hezbollah. Sponsored by Iran and fighting for Assad, Hezbollah was "operating with an openness and an intensity we have not seen before," Farr said.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Blowback is a bitch, ain't it, Mr. Cameron?

He's been one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Syrian rebels.

[John2]

4. We know what

Al Qaeda is fighting for and those backing Assad. What is it Cameron wants now? Don't tell me it is about human rights for Arabs either. He sure it isn't to restore the British Empire?

[formercia]

6. Feh!

al CIAda militants were in Bosnia long ago. It wasn't so long that the Tectonic Plates have moved so much in the interval to put Bosnia South of Syria.

[leveymg]

7. Gold Stars for Geography and Recent History - minor wars of the late 20th Century

that ended up triggering the collapse of the Last Rogue Superpowers.

[Igel]

8. Yes, but that was officially denied.

In a fight between Muslims and non-Muslims, you don't want outsider Muslims coming in. Might make it seem religious. And whatever it was, whatever we needed to call it, there could be and was not any trace of religion involved.

Except on the part of the Serbs. We could say whatever we wanted to about them. What were they going to go? Stop slivovica shipments? ("Your threats do not scare us! Poland makes perfectly fine sliwowice.&quot


Kosovars and Muslims had to be victims, first and foremost, otherwise we couldn't put on our white hats and ride to the rescue. Serbs had to be the bad guys. Islamic militants would just create a mess of political problems.

We sort of forgot about the Croats. Eh, a lot of people can't even spell "Croatian" right. Even on the web about 1 in 8 hits are misspelled.