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Terrorist Attacks In Brussels

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 07:03:20 AM EST
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NYT:

Brussels was virtually shut down on Tuesday after explosions rocked its main airport and a subway station in the heart of the city. The attacks occurred four days after the capture of Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected to be directly involved in the Paris attacks on Nov. 13.

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    Terrorist Attacks In Brussels | 90 comments (90 topical)

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    I would hazard a guess (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:38:55 AM EST
    that these attacks may have been accelerated in their execution due to the capture of Salah Abdeslam. They may have acted before they were ready afraid that Salah Abdeslam would give up information the impending attacks.

    Slight disagreement (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by FreakyBeaky on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:23:29 AM EST
    Maybe before they'd planned, but not before they were ready. It's clear they were quite ready.

    Parent
    Agreed. (none / 0) (#8)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 10:42:08 AM EST
    This thought occurred to me, as well.  My guess, too, is that the capture of Salah Abdelsam has disrupted the radicalized fanatics infrastructure. Not in time to avoid this horror, but, maybe, reducing the potential in the future.

     The Mollenbeek section of Brussels is an Islamist community that seemingly migrated wholesale with its customs, loyalties and language in tact--not unlike the Banilieus surrounding Paris. There is little effort to assimilate, and little effort on the part of the Belgians to facilitate assimilation. (Belgium, itself, is an uneasy coalition of Dutch and French speakers).

      Salah Abdelsam was finally caught about 100 yards from where he had been hiding after fleeing from the Nov 13 attacks in Paris. His whole life, essentially, was spent about a mile from his mother's house in Brussels. Some new links were found when friends and relatives attended Salah's brother's funeral 18 weeks after his suicide bombing death in Paris.

     The Belgian counter-terrorism units seem to require greater efforts to penetrate the Muslim cultural establishment (and any code of silence) and re-think, at least on a emergency and temporary basis, the ban on nighttime raids, based on WWII genesis, so as not to lose track of suspects as they disappear into the night.

    Parent

    Mollenbeek was incorrectly reported as the (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:14:59 AM EST
    Location.  It was actually Malbec which is nearer the center of the city.

    Parent
    Not that you were saying (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:17:17 AM EST
    It WAS the location.

    Just sayin

    Parent

    Yes, sorry if (none / 0) (#13)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:29:28 AM EST
    I added to any confusion (Brussels needs no more confusion today).  Mollenbeek is the community I was discussing, and where Salah Abdelsam was captured.  One of the bombings was at the Malbec section of Brussels.

    Parent
    It's all quite the mystery (1.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:15:40 AM EST

    It's all quite the mystery.  This will likely be another case of no particular people doing this for no particular motivation.

    My (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:01:18 AM EST
    youngest son woke me up this morning to talk about this.

    So sorry Ga (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 05:21:52 AM EST
    I kind of ignored it most of the day. When we were in Germany for Thanksgiving there were travel restrictions on Belgium for active duty. I remember the State Dept was upset that the European Command restricted soldiers from traveling within Belgium, they thought it either made the Stare Department appear uncaring about the safety of US citizens or it made the DOD appear to be frightened children.

    My husband grieves though, his two best friends outside members of US forces are two soldiers from Belgium

    Parent

    So sorry (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 07:14:36 AM EST
    for your hubby Tracy. Much like Josh his entire life has been full of this terror stuff. He was five weeks old when 9/11 happened.

    Parent
    It's easy to forget (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 10:55:10 AM EST
    That we got a different childhood sometimes. Josh did talk about 9-11. He talked about having strange vague memories when he was not quite 4 yet, and then seeing the replayed news reports at a much older age and contrasting those experiences. They are growing up under different conditions than we did.

    Parent
    Terrible, terrible, terrible, (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:28:46 AM EST
    Poor lady I work with is a nervous wreck, her grandson is studying abroad in Amsterdam and was supposed to go to Brussels tomorrow.  Crazy.

    My niece also uses Brussels (none / 0) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 10:58:05 AM EST
    Airport, though her father has been discouraging it for about a year. It isn't like DOD didn't know there were issues there. This probably ends all their family travel through that particular area.

    Parent
    As usual Obama (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 09:22:07 AM EST
    can't bring himself to say "radical islamists."

    But at least he didn't call it "work place Violence."

    The Usual (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Repack Rider on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:40:08 AM EST
    As usual Obama can't bring himself to say "radical islamists."

    To his credit, he doesn't refer to Christian terrorists as "radical Christofascists" either.

    Parent

    What is Jims Point... (none / 0) (#16)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:12:59 PM EST
    ... the right would sleep better if Obama spoke more like Trump ?  No surprise there, not sure what difference it makes other than not inflaming billions of people.

    It's a real burr in Jim's side that I don't get and why he brings it up here, again and again, I will never understand.

    Parent

    The GOP (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:21:54 PM EST
    just is about words. Actions don't matter only words do and they have magical meanings and can deliver any result just by using words.

    Parent
    As usual (none / 0) (#19)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:33:23 PM EST
    Scott makes things up about me. But even as a Social Liberal who is very strong on defense I would sleep much better if Obama would just admit that the problem is radical islamists committing acts of terrorism.

    Obama's comments are like a doctor saying,"You have a disease," and not saying what it is. How can he treat it if he won't admit what it is???

    BTW - There are not  billions of Muslims. But you would think that the 1.6 billion that are could control the small number that is causing the world so much pain.

    Parent

    I Was Right... (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:49:13 PM EST
    ... Jim will sleep better if Obama insults muslims, just like Trump does.

    I don't know Jim, why can't 300 million people control the small number of people right here and stop mass shootings.  

    Pretty sure you are the same religious group as most mass shooters in the US, you tell us why you can't stop your fellow christians from killing people with guns in mass and you will find that to be the same answer you asked above.

    Parent

    Really? You actually want to (none / 0) (#33)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 04:05:20 PM EST
    say that the US, and most of the western world, is morally equivalent to the radical islamists??

    Do not you understand the difference between mentally ill mass shootings and the ones inspired by a tragic and deadly misunderstanding of a religion that drives the killers to kill not only non believers but members of another sect all in a desire to establish a theocracy?

    And I do not see how pointing out that the problem isn't Muslims, but radical islamists, can be taken as an insult.

    And, as usual, whenever a discussions starts about radical islamists, there is this claim that "christians" are just as bad. Really, who are these christian terrorists that have launched all these succesful attacks and failed in these attacks while drawing support from from 21% of these people??


    Parent

    Question Remains... (none / 0) (#36)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 04:59:05 PM EST
    ... unanswered.

    Jim does not know why he cannot stop mass murders in the US committed by Christians, but can't figure out why muslims don't stop muslims from committing mass murder, but he most certainly knows why one is really bad and the other isn't so bad.

    Funny if it weren't so sad.  But I am curious as you how you know suicide bombers aren't mentally ill.  Or is just just that they can't be cause you know, what they do is different than what we do ?  

    This notion that one is worse than another doesn't really make sense considering that the odds of a US citizen being killed in America by a muslim are almost non-existent, whereas mass shootings happen every day, and while the odds are very low, they are like 5000 timers greater.

    Yes the odds of me getting killed by a christian are infinitely greater, and just because you don't want to face that reality, doesn't make the odds any different for me.

    So you tell me, who should I be more scared of, christians or muslims ?

    For the record, not scared of either, but I am scared of people who think bombs and guns are best way express themselves.

    Parent

    That is really silly (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:33:24 PM EST
    Mass murders in the US, are usually by deranged individuals with their own specific agendas,
    NOT based upon a religion belief

    Islamic terrorism is real, with a basic unified purpose

    Parent

    Thanks for coming in (none / 0) (#46)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 09:31:12 AM EST
    You will discover that, for whatever reason, any nasty words said about radical islamists always draws attacks on Christians or such comment as Scott just made.

    Parent
    It Only Comes After... (none / 0) (#48)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 09:50:12 AM EST
    ... you start whining about the President not degrading muslin to your satisfaction.

    When you go into hiding Jim, it doesn't get mentioned.

    Still about three unanswered questions that you neglected to address, don't worry Jim they weren't asked with the expectation that you would be able to think past your small-minded, social liberal, hatred.

    Parent

    Questions? When will you quit defending Obama (none / 0) (#53)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:00:22 PM EST
    24/7 and admit that he, for whatever reason, won't admit that the attacks came from radical islamists?

    Trying to play the "Christians" just as bad as "radical islamists" card is laughable. And comparing crime rates within the US to a terrorist movement that is killing hundreds of thousands is even worse.

    Try to grasp the difference between a society that preaches tolerance, punishes people who kill others and one that preaches intolerance and celebrates killing.

    Parent

    What's your underlying issue, Jim? (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:21:27 PM EST
    I mean, besides the fact that when the right wing hive is all saying the same thing, you have to repeat it whether you want to or not..

    Do you think Obama and three three other people in the U.S don't already know the attacks came from radical islamists?

    Parent

    You ready to condemn Cruz's pastor yet? (none / 0) (#55)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:28:25 PM EST
    can't bring yourself to do it, can you..

    I mean, what would all the deep thinkers over at Breitbart say?

    Parent

    I've tried to give him some new material (none / 0) (#56)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:36:44 PM EST
    but he doesn't seem interested.  On the Jimbo bus, you either say the shibboleth* or you're with the terrrrrrrrrrrrorists.

    * just ignore the unrelenting bombing and droning of virtually anyone the U.S. has IDed as IS, al-Qaeda, or al-Whatever - behind the middle-Eastern and middle-African curtain.

    Parent

    I think as CiC Obama (none / 0) (#57)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:38:40 PM EST
    should identify the problem.

    I mean FDR didn't just ID Japan and the Japanese as "terrorists" or "war mongers" or "invaders from the far east." But hey! FDR was a leader who led from the front.

    Obama, and you, has bought into the idea that we must walk on egg shells so as to not __ (insert favorite excuse... Inflame, insult, enrage) the Muslim world. What nonsense. Our Muslim friends know, actually much better than we, that radical islam exists and radical islamists kill and they don't mind if we acknowledge that fact.

    It's the whole mindset that if you keep running away the bear will eat those who are behind you. Guess what. Sooner or later you are the one.

    And know what? If something is correct it doesn't matter who says it.

    Parent

    You really think Obama (none / 0) (#59)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 03:00:12 PM EST
    hasn't identified "the problem" yet?

    0r is this just an excuse for yet another talk radio rant about political correctness?

    You guys are getting really frustrated these days, what with all the problems in not being able to use the n-word, greaser, and k*ke any more. It's getting so you all are being forced to relearn the art of speaking in complete sentences.

    Parent

    So Your Real Objection... (none / 0) (#63)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 04:51:51 PM EST
    ... is not using two words ?  

    Good to see Fox News viewer giving FDR some solid props.

    And I am pretty sure the war would have went down the exact same way had FDR called Japanese, Japanese or Radical Shintoists.  The notion that a label is going to change the dynamic is really funny, guess that's why your defacto response is name calling, in your mind that changes the entire dynamic of any conflict.

    Parent

    Words have meaning (none / 0) (#69)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 08:04:29 PM EST
    Remember how the neighbors of the San Bernardino radical islamists were afraid to report what they saw as unusual activity??

    Might they have been less restrained if Obama had been using the term radical islamists rather lecturing us on not being an islamophobe??

    Let me see... how many died in the mass shooting you like to dither over... 14 wasn't it?? Political Correctness at its worst. And then we had "work place violence" at Fort Hood.

    Why is the Left so reluctant to call a spade a spade? Don't you see that the radical islamists consider that de facto support? What message does that send to teenagers leaning towards joining ISIS???????

    And yes, I remember FDR quite well. He was on the radio the day my Dad went off to war. I remember seeing people crying when he died. FDR was a great leader. He'd never get the Demo nomination today.

    Parent

    FDR..lol as you well know (none / 0) (#71)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 08:47:00 PM EST
    today as yesterday, your conservative friends would be working overtime smearing and red-baiting FDR as a Big Government socialist, and in keeping with your consistent m.o, you'd no doubt be doing your part by regurgitating verbatim every unwarranted attack and every cheap smear.

    So-called "political correctness" had nothing to do with the people in San Bernardino being killed, unhinged violent fanaticism did. Shame on you and your compatriots for scrambling to exploit a tragedy in order to stir up the yahoo's and
    to score a few cheap political points.

    But then I remember that you guys are the ones who peeped into Clinton's underwear, burglarized Watergate, and sabotaged the Paris Peace Talks. Nothing is beneath you.

    Parent

    So In Other Words... (none / 0) (#86)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 28, 2016 at 12:18:12 PM EST
    ... you have to make up stuff in order to validate your point.  Maybe they didn't call the cops because, like his co-workers, they had no fricken idea that they were in the mist of a terrorist.

    The notion that it's Obama fault no one called the cops on them is beyond silly, it's what I would call lunacy.  You actually believe that Obama using two words would stop a terrorist attack.  That is seriously funny and F'ed up.


    Parent

    And Obama never never never (none / 0) (#20)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:34:55 PM EST
    says, "Chrostianphobes."

    Parent
    Incisive grasp of the obvious, cont'd. (none / 0) (#22)
    by Repack Rider on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    And Obama never never never says, "Chrostianphobes."

    Correct.  Mr. Obama uses words that have an actual meaning.  This is very disconcerting to GOP crazies, agreed?

    Parent

    And Obama usin' all them polysyll-- polysylli- ... (none / 0) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 04:10:43 AM EST
    ... oh, you know, long words with lots of letters 'n'stuff that're hard to pernounce, why can't he talk like us real Merikins?

    Parent
    Words (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:05:49 PM EST
    apparently have magical meaning to you. Saying "radical Islamist" is not going to conjure up anything.

    But then conservatives and/or Republicans are obsessed with words.

    Parent

    I Get the Impression... (none / 0) (#18)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 12:22:35 PM EST
    ... that Jim thinks if he inflames all muslims that it will be step one in ending terrorism.  Much like how invading Iraq would bring democracy to the middle east, words please the man, and the actual repercussions are irrelevant, at least he would have the satisfaction of insulting all muslims.

    Parent
    I expect no more out of the (none / 0) (#24)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 01:09:38 PM EST
    Muslim populace that I do any group that has some members that run around killing people.

    And it is rather obvious that Obama's decision to leave Iraq threw gasoline on the flame. Just as his decision get rid of Qaddafi destablized Libya and caused the death of 4 Americans and almost lost Egypt.

    Parent

    Way to go, Jim. (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 01:04:11 PM EST
    The blood's not even dry in Brussels, and already you're lunging at President Obama's throat over semantics or whatever, I'm beyond caring at this point. You've made it pretty clear where YOUR priorities are in this, and you're all about naked political opportunism.

    Parent
    I am all about facts (none / 0) (#25)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 01:17:18 PM EST
    and people dying because of Obama's lack of action and his posturing.

    Why can't he say the words, "radical islamists?"

    Parent

    Maybe because it is a vague stupid (5.00 / 4) (#26)
    by ruffian on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 01:19:59 PM EST
    meaningless phrase? That would be my guess anyway.

    Parent
    Of Course it is... (none / 0) (#29)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 02:39:56 PM EST
    ... like Jim has any actual insights, doesn't matter anyways, he would just mangle any serious definition to meet his own paradigm.

    Like Social Liberal, which has somehow been warped in Jim's head to mean a blood thirsty republican with a tea party kicker who panders the idea of single-payer insurance and gay rights at Talk Left, but condones the killing of children, proclaims the Earth is cooling, and a hundred other nonsensical ideas that are in direct conflict to actual social liberal positions.

    Jim needs words to redefine them for his own selfish political, what he views, as gains.  When in fact, all he really does is bother people and take up bandwidth with absurdities.

    Parent

    I see that you have again (none / 0) (#34)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 04:15:08 PM EST
    chosen to do off subject and make false claims.

    Please, don't run and hide. Go to a Open Thread, when there is one, and I will prove you wrong.

    Parent

    Jim Always... (none / 0) (#88)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 28, 2016 at 03:43:12 PM EST
    ... with the jokes that he doesn't seem to be in on.

    But that was hilarious.

    Parent

    Actually the term (none / 0) (#35)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 04:18:15 PM EST
    radical islamist is preferred by Jeralyn.

    You may want to express your disagreement with her.

    I find it useful and accurate because it describes a radical member of Islam.

    Link

    Parent

    Be sure and let us know (none / 0) (#38)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 07:39:15 PM EST
    when she starts trolling her own site with claims about Obama refusing to recognize radical islamists as a problem.

    Parent
    Obama probably doesn't want to offend (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 02:30:18 PM EST
    the people that your hero Bush knowingly let scurry out of the country before official the 9/11 investigation began.

    Parent
    ITA (none / 0) (#30)
    by RCBadger on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 02:43:35 PM EST
    I think most people see the difference between your garden variety Muslims and Radical Islamists who commit acts of terror.

    Parent
    Why (5.00 / 3) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 03:29:27 PM EST
    not just call them terrorists?

    Parent
    Yeah, because that's SOOOO important right now. (none / 0) (#32)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 03:45:01 PM EST
    Jeez, Jim, you're outdoing even your usual ridiculous standards. But then, you're obviously taking your cue from the GOP's "L'Outrage du Jour," and since everybody over there at the Party of Lincoln Logs currently has their panties in a bunch over "Islamoprotofascists" or whatever nonsensical label you guys are using, well, so much for all that posing about your "political independence."

    Parent
    So you believe that agreeing that (none / 0) (#37)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 07:09:20 PM EST
    radical islamists are a problem makes me a slave to the Repubs??

    Are you saying that they are not??

    Wow.

    Donald, to first solve a problem you have to admit there is a problem. And a failure to identify the problem will always insure failure.

    Insult all you want. I'm dealing in facts.

    So let me know when you no longer feel you have to defend Obama's lack of leadership and are ready to admit that this disease is deadly.

    Parent

    Way to be a reactionary, Jim (none / 0) (#6)
    by Dadler on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 09:42:55 AM EST
    We drop bombs and kill people by the thousands, but that's cool. I guess you never say radical Westerners, cuz radicalism must not matter to you in its murderous nature.

    Parent
    We have had this (none / 0) (#7)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 10:25:16 AM EST
    discussion before. I recognize your right to be a pacifistic. But as Popper said:

    "Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them."


    Parent
    So, what? (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 02:21:00 PM EST
    does that mean the country as a whole should be more intolerant of your theocratic religious right compatriots as well?

    For a self-proclaimed "social liberal", you've certainly been thunderously silent about Cruz's pastor calling for gays to be killed and arrested.

    Parent

    And they (none / 0) (#42)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:38:05 PM EST
    Call us the Great Satan

    That still makes them Islamic terrorists
    They have a unified goal, based upon a common religion.

    And it doesn't make you evil to say radical Islamic terrorist,
    They are what they are


    Parent

    ISIS (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 11:19:50 AM EST
    claims responsibility

    So What Will Belgium Do? (none / 0) (#39)
    by RickyJim on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:19:32 PM EST
    It said Belgium was targeted as "a country participating in the international coalition against the Islamic State", although the country only carried out a limited bombing campaign confined to Iraq before stopping its air strikes in June 2015.

    More than 100 supporting troops and military advisers are believed to remain in the country.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Belgium withdraws its token forces from the Middle East just like Spain withdrew its forces from Iraq after terrorists struck in Madrid in 2004.

    Parent

    No idea (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:24:09 PM EST
    But I'm thinkin European leaders understand ISIS has them in their crosshairs.  


    Parent
    Europe (none / 0) (#43)
    by TrevorBolder on Tue Mar 22, 2016 at 08:47:18 PM EST
    Is completely unprepared for what is unfolding there.
    They now have 2nd generation Arab and North African immigrants, instead of assimilating, are travelling to Syria and Libya and getting warfare training.
    As has been stated often today, Europe has no budget to fight terrorism, Belgium has too many suspects to track, they cannot do it. I suspect it is the same in most European countries.

    Parent
    Europe is reaping what they have sown (none / 0) (#47)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 09:36:25 AM EST
    You cannot have assimilation when you preach and teach diversity.

    People are dying on the cross of political correctness.

    The US has had just a small taste. More is on the way.

    Parent

    Reaping What US Repulicans... (none / 0) (#49)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 09:51:35 AM EST
    ... namely GWB, have sown, as in knocking out Saddam and unleashing the Baathist party on Europe.

    Parent
    Actually (none / 0) (#61)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 04:23:38 PM EST
    It is the mistakes of Libya and Syria that has caused this massive amount of refugees,
    Which became the perfect Trojan Horse for ISIS

    And they gladly used it

    Parent

    Yeah... (none / 0) (#64)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 05:14:26 PM EST
    ... the refugees are the problem, not the former Baathist Party members currently running ISIS(aka Saddam loyalists).

    Trojan horses that haven't materialized aren't really trojan horses, more like beliefs.

    Parent

    Yup (none / 0) (#65)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 05:26:25 PM EST
    The total disintegration of Libya and Syria created the massive refugee situation, and more terrorists.
    And they have entered Europe in the hundreds using that Trojan Horse.
    ISIS metastasized due to the opportunity to grab all the available land..in Syria and Libya

    The refugee crisis has also stretched the tolerance of Europe towards the Muslim world, perhaps a culture clash, as there have been too many incidents with young Muslim men and women.


    Parent

    Ridiculous (none / 0) (#67)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 07:55:52 PM EST
    They formed from Saddam's army when Bush disbanded it. Their main territory is Iraq and these were the insurgents of a decade ago. they have just kept morphing to what they are now.

    You can't rewrite history until it absolves conservatives of what they unleashed. Yes, I know Frank Luntz has said if you repeat a lie five times people will believe it.

    Parent

    Obama (none / 0) (#70)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 08:21:45 PM EST
    Is responsible for Libya, and Syria.

    Bush left Iraq in relative peace, until Obama decided to remove all US troops, against the advice of every military adviser, and what they predicted occurred.
    Those are the facts , and years from thats what historians will be writing.

    Parent

    Bush (none / 0) (#72)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 09:31:50 PM EST
    left a smoking disaster in Iraq and I know you cannot handle the truth. Bush may have well set off WWIII. No, things were not peaceful when Bush left office though this is what conservatives will repeat over and over trying to make a lie into the truth. You have to take responsibility for what Bush did before you can start to hold Obama responsible. Responsibility for thee and not for me as most conservatives believe is very tiresome.

    Parent
    OMG... (none / 0) (#87)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 28, 2016 at 12:27:23 PM EST
    ... would you actually read the news.  Trojan Horse are not citizens who lived there their entire lives.

    You are talking about a recent phenomena with refugees in Syria and Libya, these attacks are not refugees, there are citizens.

    Your trojan horse is a right wing mirage that does not exist.  And please don't shift from terrorism to incidents, they are not one in the same by any means.

    The main terrorists in Brussels where born and raised in Brussels.  Same with Paris, born and raised in Europe decades before Syria was in civil war.

    You knowledge of the ME is lacking any substance or accuracy and sounds more like a child's like grasp of right-wing talking points, than anything linked to current events.

    Parent

    Sigh (none / 0) (#89)
    by TrevorBolder on Mon Mar 28, 2016 at 06:53:08 PM EST
    Trojan Horse, made famous by Homer, and my favorite Greek hero, Odysseus.

    Embed your troops among a gift or present to the enemy.
    In this case ISIS sending trained followers to Europe with the wave of refugees.

    Per James Clapper,
    The refugee crisis in Syria that has forced more than 4 million people to flee the chaos there and has displaced even more internally now provides a prime opportunity for the Islamic State group to attack Western targets, the top U.S. spy said Wednesday.

    "It's a disaster of biblical proportions," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said, while speaking at the Intelligence and National Security Summit in Washington, D.C.

     The massive flow of people out of the Middle East now provides an opportunity for the group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, to disperse fighters on a larger scale, Clapper said.


    What made it worse? Sunday's revelation that at least one of the Paris terrorists who killed more than 120 people on Friday entered Europe as just another face in the crowd -- embedded in the current wave of Syrian war refugees.

    German magazine `Der Spiegel' reveals Islamic State (ISIS) commander embedded with Muslim refugees that German intelligence totally missed
    The Muslim infiltrator, identified only by his first name "Bassam," was pretending to be a refugee and had been accommodated at the German taxpayers' expense in the picturesque municipality of Sankt Johann.

    Okay, Trojan Horse is in effect

    Parent

    No Refugees... (none / 0) (#90)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 31, 2016 at 04:28:56 PM EST
    ... who haven't done a damn thing are going to Europe, you see terrorists the rest of the world sees people in need of assistance.  

    Please turn off the fox news and join reality where compassion for people with nothing is a virtue of the human race.

    Maybe if the US quit invading countries, normal folks wouldn't have to worry about their kids being killed in a war zones, or there homes being destroyed by bombs from outsiders, and could do what they really want, which is live their lives in their own country without dying.

    I guess that link button just doesn't work for you, or the source is some anti-Islam extremist site.  I tried to google and even link is blocked, but I can see the titles, you are truly in need of medication.

    Google hits on the quote:

    • Allah's Willing Executioners
    • The Counter Jihad Report
    • The Historyscoper's Islam Watch Blog

    Go back under your bed and leave the adults alone.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#50)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 10:30:10 AM EST
    Jim Crow and the Warsaw ghettos need to come back according to you. Right? If we only could go back to using racial slurs all would be right with the world. Right, Jim?

    Parent
    Please tell me how (none / 0) (#58)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 02:43:55 PM EST
    diversity makes "out of many, one."

    You see, celebrating the differences is fine when you are selecting a restaurant for dinner but when you are trying to meld a society together you can't be telling different groups different things. And that's what the Demos have done since the mid 60's.

    Parent

    Different things.. (none / 0) (#60)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 03:13:09 PM EST
    while your party has been busy all this time telling one group the SAME thing: that the only thing that matters is to be a white christian conservative with a lot of money who never questions the word and authority of white christian conservatives with even more money.

    Parent
    Jim (none / 0) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 07:59:17 PM EST
    are you and I the same? Do we think the same? Like the same things? I would answer no to that. So you're still stinging from desegregation back in the 1960's.

    You really should attempt to learn something. your problem is that everybody has to do what you tell them to do and if they don't do what you think they should be doing they are a "problem". Things develop over time. If you'd ever lived in a neighborhood with a lot of immigrants you would understand that but apparently you haven't.

    Parent

    Failure to assimilate everyone into (none / 0) (#74)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 01:18:01 PM EST
    society is what creates ghettos. When you start telling people that they have been wronged and you will make "it" right then you sow the seeds that produce "no go zones" and Compton.

    And that is what the Demos have done for the past 40 years or so. After opposing desegregation since the civil war your party finally joined the Repubs and passed the Civil Rights act.

    And  having claimed to have seen the light and electing a KKK Grand Master as your Senate leader, and a man who couldn't help slipping up and using the N word, you claim that you have changed.

    Heh. You folks make Trump look like a piper.
     

    Parent

    Opposing desegregation.. (none / 0) (#77)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 02:31:50 PM EST
    Gee Jim, what part of the country did the overwhelming majority of the people who "opposed desegregation" -- and bombed churches and abducted and murdered civil rights workers etc --live in back then? It's easy to spot on an electoral map, due to the striking blood-red color.

    Not to impugn your forebears, but the dry cleaners just called and said your sheets are ready.

    Parent

    I find (none / 0) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 07:46:46 PM EST
    that so ironic coming from someone who has a huge cultural boulder on their shoulder. Why do you think Trump is doing so well in the GOP primary? He's moving that boulder around on people's shoulder.

    Rewriting history doesn't make it a fact Jim. You always conveniently ignore how the GOP campaigned against civil rights and Ronald Reagan was against them too.

    Jim, nobody can beat your guys Jesse and Strom. So your attempt is pathetic. You can complain about that when he renounced his membership later on while the GOP continued to embrace the ideals of the Klan for decades.

    Parent

    As you are so fond of reminding us (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 04:43:07 PM EST
    The US "preaches and teaches diversity" better than anywhere.  And we also happen to have the most assimilated and non ghettoized muslim population in the western world.

    So, wrong. Again.

    Parent

    Tell that to the BLM people. (none / 0) (#75)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 01:21:48 PM EST
    As for the Muslim population, I posted the Pew poll in which 21% show some support of extremism in jihad.

    You can accept that as "good" if you like. I see it as a need for improvement to zero.

    Parent

    I'd like to see a study (none / 0) (#76)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 02:04:26 PM EST
    of what % of conservative christians can't bring themselves to condemn Ted Cruz's pastor friend for wanting to kill gays. I'd like to reduce it zero -- by sending them all on a mission to Antarctica.

    Btw Jim, the last time your personal ideal of "leadership" took control in this country, the islamists were so intimidated they went right out and killed 3000 people in NYC -- as a way to relieve all the stress.


    Parent

    And they did it because (none / 0) (#78)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 03:38:04 PM EST
    your Demo Prez, Bubba Clinton, had refused to arrest bin Ladin....

    The day before the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, former President Bill Clinton told a group of businessmen in Australia that he "could have killed" the man behind those attacks, Osama bin Laden, in 1998, but he decided against launching a strike out of concern for civilian casualties.

    CBS News

    Better us than them, eh??

    Parent

    Actually they did it because (none / 0) (#79)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 04:20:45 PM EST
    political geniuses like you voted into office a coterie of ill-informed, corrupt, fumbling, gross incompetents who'd have trouble keeping a rural Home Depot running on an even keel.

    And now you want a Reality TV star for President.

    Parent

    Uh, Clinton was a Repub? (none / 0) (#83)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 25, 2016 at 08:54:24 PM EST
    Really??

    lol

    Parent

    You (none / 0) (#80)
    by FlJoe on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 04:30:08 PM EST
    forgot this .
    "I nearly got him. And I could have killed him, but I would have to destroy a little town called Kandahar in Afghanistan and kill 300 innocent women and children, and then I would have been no better than him. And so I didn't do it."

    and this

    The 9/11 Commission Report, released in the aftermath of the attacks, documented the proposed December 1998 strike on Kandahar, noting that the Joint Chiefs of Staff advised the president against launching cruise missiles at bin Laden and his associates.

    Wow, a President with a conscience who listens to his Generals, no wonder you hate him.

    Parent

    And then the bitterest pill to swallow (none / 0) (#81)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 24, 2016 at 04:43:08 PM EST
    of all: the one who finally got Bin Laden was the same "far left" secret-muslim who, according to Jim, cares more about political correctness than protecting America.

    While the best Bush could do was invade the wrong country and publicly proclaim that Bin Laden wasn't a priority.

    Parent

    Really? Obama was a Seal? (none / 0) (#84)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 25, 2016 at 08:55:44 PM EST
    Golly gee, Batman. That I didn't know.

    No wonder he can tango so well!

    Parent

    I see your point and it opens up (none / 0) (#85)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 25, 2016 at 09:01:42 PM EST
    a very difficult question.

    What should be the ROE's be when engaging a terrorist leader??  In this case it appears that Clinton was willing to sacrifice 3000 innocent Americans for 300 Muslims who are guilty of nothing more than associating with/enabling a terrorist.

    Of course we have several women who didn't receive the same consideration.

    Parent

    One lucky kid (none / 0) (#66)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Mar 23, 2016 at 07:21:43 PM EST
    But he is a magnet

    THIRD brush with terror: American Mormon, 19, left with burns and shrapnel injuries in Brussels attack also survived Boston and Paris bombings
    Mormon missionary Mason Wells, 19,  has survived his third terrorist attack
    Mason was in Paris last year during the attacks and a block away from the finish line of the Boston Marathon during the bombings
    The teen suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, injuries from shrapnel and second- and third-degree burns on his face and hands
    Despite his injuries, his parents said he is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery  
    Terrorist Attacks In Brussels | 90 comments (90 topical)

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