The Threat of Islamist Terrorism in Europe and how the U.S. Should Respond


Book Description

As recent events in Nice and Ansbach demonstrate, Europe faces an ongoing threat from Islamist terrorism. The United States also remains a key target for ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their supporters. The U.S. and Europe have a shared enemy and must assist each other in the defense of liberal and democratic values. For its part, the U.S. must take the fight to ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Middle East and Africa and be willing to kill or capture its enemies. The U.S. must also take a multifaceted approach to trying to halt the flow of foreign fighters. In Europe, several countries blighted by terrorism not only have devoted scant resources to tackling this problem, but also have taken an insufficiently robust line on terrorist activity. The U.S. should encourage its European allies to reverse this trend. It can also assist Europeans in breaking down intelligence firewalls that exist within individual nations while trying to improve pre-existing intelligence-sharing arrangements.




Freedom Or Terror


Book Description

In September 2001, Europeans might have felt comfortable thinking that Al-Qaeda was only a scourge to the United States; some indulged in the unkind speculation that the United States had only itself to blame for 9/11. That innocence is now gone in the wake of attacks in Madrid and London. Since then Europe has oscillated through a range of stances in relation to Islamist terrorism, varying from country to country and across the political spectrum. In Freedom or Terror, Russell A. Berman offers an analysis of Europe’s ambivalence toward jihadist terror and the spread of aggressive Islamism, with particular emphasis on the European responses—or lack thereof—to Islamist terrorism. Berman describes how some European countries opt for appeasing and apologizing for terror, whereas others stand up for freedom. In individual chapters he examines the responses of England, France, Germany, and the smaller nations: Belgium, Holland, and Denmark. He also analyzes the dialectic of genocide and terror in Bosnia. Each country addresses the issues in light of its particular institutions and national history. Ultimately, the author argues that the European responses to Islamist terrorism involve the confrontation of contemporary postmodern European culture with the extremist values of jihadist radicals. Whether Europe is truly up to the challenge will only become clear in the struggles of the next decade.




Europe: The future Battleground of Islamic Terrorism


Book Description

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict, Security, grade: excellent, University of Miami (FL. And Brookings Institution Washington D. C.; Security And Terrorism Studies), course: Homegrown Terrorists And Their Future Goals In Europe, language: English, abstract: On November 28th 2009, referendum, a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new minarets was approved by 57.5% of the participating voters in Switzerland (based on their direct-vote system). The outcome of such a referendum angered not the moderates but all radical Muslims throughout Europe, the Middle-East, Asia, Africa and Pakistan.Do those radicals do the same if Vatican venture to construct a Church in Riad or Istanbul? The reason is simple, the people of Switzerland (57%)were afraid by the dramatic development of Islamic institutions and the Europe-wide agitation of radicalists’ through their mosques and forums. As you can read in this book, the radical Muslims were angry because one of their strategic pillar that carried their future goals has failed, hidered or doomed. The initial strategy targeting Europe as the future battleground for radical Islamic terrorists, was born in Geneva,Switzerland. Their goal is “to get back Europe, the continent once belonged to them”. For that purpose, they have laid down the groundwork that has been in process since the 1950s. Early in 1950, most members of Islamic Brotherhood (Ikwans, together with those retired Arabic soldiers who fought alongside Nazi-Germany, planted their Mosques in Geneva and Munich. Today,the Ikwans; allied with the Turkish (Milli Goerues) and Asian Islamic fundamentalists, succeeded (with oil Dollars from the Wahabists) in establishing hundreds of Mosques, Research Institutes and diverse business firms throughout Europe. Radical Muslims in Europe operate with a new under-cover strategy -attracting educated youngsters; immigrants, students and converted Europeans to execute their hidden agenda. The bombers of Madrid and London are not the radicals who travelled from the Middle East or Afghanistan to launch their terror actions; they originate from Europe or- mostly home-grown. In the future, as it is today, most of the Islamist terrorist threat to the United States will largely originate from Europe(due to visa waiver). As it is imagined, the graduates of Middle Eastern madrassas who are functional idiots and can do little more than read the Koran, will not travel to Europe or the US to launch their attacks. Miami, FL October, 2009




Islamist Terrorism in Germany


Book Description

This Policy Report examines the nature and the scope of the terrorist threat in Germany, a country whose Muslim population does not share the same characteristics as that in France or Great Britain, and how terrorist organizations sought to engage German Muslims in their cause. It discusses how the refugee crisis made the flow of terrorists from the Middle East to Germany easier, and how terrorists appealed to refugees fleeing to Europe to take up their fight. Finally, it looks at government responses to terrorism, identifying where new strategies are needed and where transatlantic cooperation is neces- sary. In the end, the author identifies five elements that will allow the German government to overhaul its domestic security and counterterrorism efforts: limit refugee numbers, centralize the security archi- tecture, improve border controls, strengthen intelligence, and carry the fight to the enemy.







Perfect Enemy


Book Description

On September 11, 2001, America's 700,000 law enforcement officers were forcefully introduced to a new era in policing after Islamist terrorists perpetrated the most savage and horrific terrorist violence ever on American soil. In spite of the post 9/11 proliferation of information about Islamist terrorism, many law enforcement officers remain uninformed about the nature, scope, and reality of this threat. Even the FBI (America's lead law enforcement agency in the struggle against Islamist terrorism) fails to arm its agents with accurate and comprehensive information to understand this patient, merciless, and fanatical foe. This manual was prepared to address this knowledge void by explaining the underlying politico-religious motivations that drives Islamist terrorism. It contains chapters that explain Islamist terrorism and describe the history of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The tenets of Islam and the ideology used to justify terrorist atrocities ranging from suicide/homicide bombings in Israel to the slaughter of school children in Beslan, Russia are documented. The history of Jihad, the oldest and most successful international Islamist group in the world, and how this group has established an effective subversive apparatus in America that works tirelessly to dismantle our democratic freedoms is described. The text explains that by using a “soft” form of Jihad, this group seeks to destroy Western ideals and democracy with the goal of replacing them with a fascist totalitarian ideology to obtain world domination and the forced imposition of a seventh century politico-religious system of law. The radicalization process that can lead apparently well-integrated Muslim citizens to terrorism is discussed, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist groups. A summary of comprehensive information detailing the Islamist groups active within America and the dangers they pose to Homeland Security is provided. In addition, the Appendices contain an Arabic Name Analysis, Ritual Prayer-Salat, Jihad Holy War Verse in the Koran, Jihad campaigns in history, “The Last Night” letter by Muhammad Atta who was the leader in the 9/11 attacks, and an explanatory memorandum on the general strategic goal for the Muslim Brotherhood in North America. Perfect Enemy provides unbiased and accurate information to acquaint our law enforcement officers and Homeland Security officials with the Islamist mindset and threat. Knowing our adversaries is a fundamental first step in defeating their violent intentions and ensuring our survival, peace, and safety. (Publisher)




Radical Islamic Terrorism in America Today


Book Description

Today's radical Islamist terrorist could be just a breath away from you now: a fellow student, a fellow employee or even the soldier in the next bunk. Americans today are facing an alarming new terrorist threat: 'self-radicalized' terrorists. Unlike previous 'sleepers' like the 9/11 hijackers who infiltrated the United States from abroad, this new breed of 'self-radicalized' terrorists come from within. Many are natural born Americans or immigrants to the U.S. who over time 'self-radicalized' themselves through radical Islamist internet propaganda and undertook terrorist action on their own initiative with little or no guidance from overseas terrorist groups. Unpredictable and often disguised in their previous identity as loyal American university students, government employees, or even members of the US military, this new 'franchise style' of terrorist is difficult to detect. RJ Parker documents in a single volume some of the prominent and frightening recent cases of self-radicalized terrorist strikes in the United States. This book provides a review of: Introduction by Dr. Peter Vronsky - "Why They Hate Us: A Politically Incorrect History of Global Islamist Terrorism"San Bernardino Shootings in California The Boston Marathon Bombings Fort Hood Shootings Sniper Attacks in Washington, D.C Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Attack, Canada Parliament Hill Shooting, Canada Radicalization Islam versus the West Islamic Terrorism Influence of ISIS Self-Radicalization Recruiting through Social Media WARNING: SOME PHOTOS ARE GRAPHIC




The West at War


Book Description

Argues that Europe has become one of the most important battlegrounds in the global fight against Islamic terrorism, and asserts that what happens there has a direct impact on US national security. This title calls for transatlantic cooperation on counterterrorism issues, particularly in the realms of law enforcement and legislative reform.




Rethinking the Threat of Islamic Extremism


Book Description

"The new Trump Administration, as well as our European allies and Arab partners, need to fundamentally rethink key aspects of their struggle against terrorism and Islamic extremism. They need to see it as an enduring threat that will be present for at least the coming decade, regardless of what happens to ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh. They need to consider how this threat is tied to the confrontation between Iran and most Arab states, and the growing tensions between Sunnis, Shi'ites, and other minorities. They need to stop thinking largely in terms of terrorism and consider the threat posed in terms of insurgency and efforts to seize control of largely Muslim states. They also need to address the fact that any strategy based on counterterrorism alone will fail unless they also cooperate in addressing the causes of terrorism, insurgency, and unrest. The United States has made progress in improving its homeland defenses and international counterterrorism efforts. It has restructured its security partnerships with largely Muslim states to help give the same emphasis to counterterrorism that they have given to military security. The United States is also making major progress in defeating the ability of ISIS to hold territory, act as a protostate, and provide a sanctuary for training fighters and efforts to widen its grasp and number of affiliates. The threat of Islamist terrorism within the United States and Europe has been all too real, but it has only been a limited aspect of a far more serious series of threats it poses within the Islamic world. The fight is primarily a fight between moderate governments and popular majorities committed to Islam's traditional values and extremists seeking to use almost any form of violence -- and mix of terrorism and asymmetric warfare -- to seize power. It is a 'clash within a civilization' and not a 'clash between civilizations'"--Executive summary.




Understanding Islamist Terrorism in Europe


Book Description

This book argues that guilt, shame, and remorse, associated with a history of substance abuse, explain why a minority of Islamist extremists carried out suicide terrorism in Europe between 2001 and 2018. Since 9/11, Islamist terrorism has dominated the European security landscape, but there has been little systematic analysis of either the attacks or the men responsible. This book addresses that gap, drawing on terrorist discourse, court transcripts, elite interviews, government reports, and three years of ethnography to provide an exhaustive account of how and why Islamist terrorism has occurred in Europe. Making a detailed analysis of 48 terrorist attacks carried out by 80 suicide terrorists, the book introduces two new theories. The first argues that most of these men first engaged in Islamist extremism as an alternative to substance abuse. The second contends that, following a five-stage process of radicalisation, cognitive dissonance triggered guilt, shame, and remorse over previous misconduct. From this emotional distress, suicide terrorism emerged as a rational choice ahead of either suicide or a return to active addiction. This book argues that the root cause of suicide terrorism in Europe is not so much politics or religion but is more about personal crisis and a search for redemption. This book will be of great interest to students of terrorism/counterterrorism, de-radicalisation, political Islam, and security studies in general.