Germany says battle-hardened Iraqi fighters being smuggled into Europe

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB8DN21Q3E.html

AP Enterprise: German Authorities Say Islamic Militants Behind Allawi Assassination Plot Are Sending Fighters From Iraq to Europe

BERLIN (AP) - Islamic extremists accused of plotting to kill Iraq's prime minister in Germany are smuggling battle-hardened fighters from Iraq to Europe, raising a potential new terrorist threat on the continent, according to German officials.

More than 20 alleged supporters of Ansar al-Islam have been arrested in Europe in the past year as authorities move against the group that has links with al-Qaida and Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who's been leading bloody attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq.

Ansar al-Islam is suspected of spiriting dozens of fired-up young Muslims to Iraq to join the insurgency, but the latest raids in Germany - the most spectacular yet against the group - heightened concerns that the organization also could pose a menace outside Iraq, too.

Acting on intelligence suggesting the group planned to attack Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi in Berlin, police on Dec. 3 arrested three Iraqis believed to be Ansar al-Islam members.

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[roughandtumble]

1. We can finally get the Europeans involved.

[RC]

2. Gee, thanks George.

I wonder how long it will take for this country to up to our eyeballs in real terrorests... Other than those in the White House, that is.

[vpigrad]

3. Was this Bush's plan?

To encourage attacks on Europe? It's a closer and and easier target than the US, so it's not hard to guess that it would have happened.