U.S. terror warning could hurt Europe's economy

This will be a cat and mouse game for a long, long time. The USA and Europe will have to be like a very smart mouse, looking at emails, evesdropping on Arabic, Urdu etc...phone calls, then BINGO, you have a Mouse who can go back and forth between French and say Arabic, trying to get other angry Muslims to say, blow up the pretty tower in Paris, France that looks like Tokyo Tower but not orange.

When is someone going to stand up and say enough is enough of this rhetoric putting fear into the people.The media is the worst offender. What we have "government leaks" "information gained from a person who can't be identified for security reasons"The governments are the one starting the rumours and they know the media will respond. The terrorists read and watch the media just like everyone,they get prior warnings.Just maybe, if the terrorist didn't know this information before hand ,the security agencies might have a better success rate. Bin laden is being turned into a folk hero among his own thanks to the media . I mean after 10 years no one has seen him,the guy is 6ft 6ins ,how do you hide a 6ft 6ins guy,they seem to have all the information about their plans ,but no Bin Laden. There are enough problems in the world without this fear mongering amongst the people. War is big business,the war machine ,those manufactures,the generals,those politicians who don't want an end to all this. Well I do,and I don't think that I'm on my own with these thoughts.

So suppose they don't warn and an attack happens? You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

“The terrorist threat exists, and could hit us at any moment,” the French defense minister, Herve Morin, was quoted as saying in the daily Le Parisien

Europeans are so paranoid. Think I will forego a vacation in France next year, and try somewhere else; somewhere more tolerant and humane.

First they make it difficult to travel to the US. And when they allowed it, people were welcomed with humiliating body searches. Businesses were hurt because a lot of businessmen could not travel to the the US to attend meetings, trade-shows etc.

While in the background Europe prospered. For countries like Germany, business actually flourished and trade grew during the recession. This is ofcourse not acceptable by the Americans hence the news above.

While in the background Europe prospered. For countries like Germany, business actually flourished and trade grew during the recession. This is ofcourse not acceptable by the Americans hence the news above.

The French minister of defense is not an American.

I will avoid going to europe completely. They refuse to take America's lead in being tolerant toward muslims. I'll go back when the europeans decide to join us here in the 21st century.

RR

I think this warning is the US gov't spreading fear to it's subjects (citizens) to bring justification to the war on terror.

The truth is that the US itself is more dangerous for Americans than foreign travel. Find yourself on the other side of the tracks in a big US city and your toast.

porter: You're really naive to think the war on terror has to be justified. I suppose all those people who have died in 9/11, Bali, Spain England, India were justifications to spread fear.

I had read that the official British statement is that this alert is not based on any specific information. Has that changed?

"When is someone going to stand up and say enough is enough of this rhetoric putting fear into the people."

I have been standing and saying this so long I am hoping somebody will get me a barcalounger and cough drops.

"So suppose they don't warn and an attack happens?"

That assumes that a warning is costless. If 120 million people take five minutes out of their lives to worry about this, that is 600 million minutes, or 10 million hours or 1142 years. Assume a 40 year remaining life span for people who are likely to worry, and this announcement effectively "killed" 29 people. Thanks US. It is not as bloody to kill people with false alarms, but it is just as effective. You can do similar math for airport searches and calculate the "death toll" imposed on freedom loving peoples by the TSA too.

Look at what the warning says. "Be vigilant." Gee thanks for that. The warning is going to scare people and make them cancel plans and take more sedatives, and change their votes in the next election. Otherwise, it is meaningless. Who even knows what an ORANGE ALERT is anymore? This whole script is so blatantly plagiarized from 1984 that somebody ought to be suing.

"I think this warning is the US gov't spreading fear to it's subjects (citizens) to bring justification to the war on terror. "

Gee, one would almost think that an election is coming up in the US.

"I think this warning is the US gov't spreading fear to it's subjects (citizens) to bring justification to the war on terror. "

"Gee, one would almost think that an election is coming up in the US."

Klein2: There's one problem with your logic. The war on terror and in Afghanistan is one of the few issues Republicans and conservatives support the current US administration on. In fact, it's vote loser for democrats. So the election isn't of consequence here.

Gee, one would almost think that an election is coming up in the US.

So you are saying Obama is drumming up support for the Democrats by telling Europe to raise its security alerts? Intriguing stuff. Can you elaborate?

One conclusion that can be drawn from this: Europeans want Americans to visit Europe.

Don't they have this a bit backwards??? It is not the warning from the US that may hurt their economy, but rather the threat posed by the islamic terrorists. Lets get things in proper perspective here.

Keeping the fear fires on. Fear keeps everyone nice and passive.

Life is dangerous. From the day you are conceived you are at risk. More people will die today from simple things like falling in the shower, a car accident, tripping over something, choking or just having some random accident that have or will die from terror attacks for the next several years.

We cannot and should not live in fear. Just get on with life until you can't. If you are one of the .000001% of people subjected to terror, then that is sad. But most of us will die from much more mundane and simple things. Many at ages well before our wishes.

We already had an entire decade of terror fear. I am not saying ignore the threats, the government should their best and we should all be smart about how we live day to day. But let's stop being so afraid.

The alert is misleading, Muslims are not targeting French people, but the British and people of Spain.

The French are very peaceful and have a wonderful, and rich culture.

I don't think Muslims are targetting anyone. A tiny hand full of criminal nut jobs with martyr complexes are targetting anyone they don't like.

Let's call terror in the 21st century what it really is. It is criminal activity by a very small minority of evil people. True revolutionaries, real religious people and true Muslims don't resort to killing innocent people to make a point. Only criminals do so.

porter: You're really naive to think the war on terror has to be justified. I suppose all those people who have died in 9/11, Bali, Spain England, India were justifications to spread fear.

You are the naive one. Spending lives and depleating recources should always be justified. If the gov't can't sell reason, they resort to spreading fear. 9/11 terrorists got their training in Florida. They were from Saudi. Yet the US entered a war with Iraq and people continues to link the Iraq with 9/11.

Do you really believe Europe is dangerous for US tourists? If so, how much more dangerous would it be for those same tourists to visit slum sections in their own US city?

Anyway, who knows what are those few terrorists fighting for? What is it that they want?

"If so, how much more dangerous would it be for those same tourists to visit slum sections in their own US city?"

You think foreign tourists aren't aware or warned about high crime areas in any city in the world?

I don't think Muslims are targetting anyone.

I don't think you are the least bit informed about things in Europe.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, the author Ayan Hirsi Ali, the author Salman Rushdie, Danish cartoonists (to name but a few) have all had to have police protection and even safe houses for the crime of outraging Muslim sensibilities with words and acts that Jews, Christians or Buddhists would just shrug their shoulders at. In Ali's case her neighbors were so uncomfortable she basically went into exile (The US accepted her).

Warnings are fine. Spreading fear isn't. A blanket warning that all countries may be dangerous due to the global rise in terror is fine. But everyone has to take this will a certain degree of reality checking.

Ask yourself "how likely am I to be a victim of a terrorist attack?" Then look at the statistics and you will quickly find that the answer is "I am not likely to be the victim of a terrorist attack in most of the world's countries and cities."

Then carry on with your life, free from unnecessary fear and worry. Just exercise good common sense and you will be fine.

TimRussert. Happy Mon. Always happy to help with your debate fix. :)

I think I am very well informed Tim. First of all, the actions of a few radicals hardly represents the majority of Muslims or the Muslims as a whole. If I apply your reasoning, then all Christians are dangerous right wing neo-nazis as their Wyoming, Idaho and Eastern Washington state minorities demonstrate.

I am sure you, or other Christians would find this association with a minority of those who share you faith, somewhat uncomfortable and more likely offensive. After all such radical nazi Christians do not represent the whole of Christianity any more than radical Islamists represent the entirety of Muslims.

Now, we also know that the one shouting the loudest is often the one heard most clearly. Some people in the Islamic world have found the actions of cartoonists and such very offensive and have made a very loud noise about it. Some acting out violently. But again, we are talking about a minority of a religion that contains a very substantial percentage of the global populuaton.

So again, I stand by my statement that Muslims are not targetting anyone.

There are cultural gaps here between western culture and traditional Islamic culture. That needs to be considered. You should also consider the fact that many people in Islam feel that the west is unduely targetting their faith for criticism and attack. All based upon the actions of a tiny minority who they see with equal disdain as a Christian may view their Neo-nazi fellow believers.

You should be much more balanced and fair in how you see this conflice. It is only black and white in the media on both sides. More rational voices exist on both sides that are simply not shouting loudly enough to put down the sensationalist and reactionary images the media espouses.

Do try again with a new argument. :)

tkoind2 - you just close your eyes and keep wafting the patchouli incense stick of denial. Geert Wilders is leader of the third biggest political party in a European nation that for hundreds of years has been a model of tolerance. Yet he has to change his place of residence every few days. It is not a handful of extremists who want him dead. Polls in the UK show large percentages of immigrant Mohammedans there believe violence is justifiable. Your insistence that 'neo-Nazis' are Christian is laughable.

tkoind2: We cannot and should not live in fear.

The article says, "American visitors were not letting the alert disrupt their travels." Stop playing the whole "living in fear and paranoia" card. It's useless, inaccurate, and overplayed.

Just so all are clear what the Muslim fight is about, before 9/11 it was about their fellow Muslim brothers in Palestine. Why America? For their continuous support of Israel and their only Veto power that vetos every resolution against Israel for the past 30 or more years. Why Europe? For their support of America in the Iraq/Afgani war. ALMOST NOTHING to do with cartoonists etc. Thats just fuel to the fire that has been burning for decades. If you want an End to terrorism by muslims, End to occupation of countries like Palestine, Iraq, and Afganistan is a must.

Despite concerns that the alert could cause a European travel slump, there was no strong opposition to it from European leaders

It appears the European leaders recognize the threat of Islamic terrorism within the EU. Perhaps the progressives, who are blaming everyone but the terrorists, need to take a lesson from these leaders.

"If you want an End to terrorism by muslims, End to occupation of countries like Palestine, Iraq, and Afganistan is a must."

So then no more Islamic terrorists and everything will be peaceful. Right

And by the way, where is "fear" or the "spreading of fear" anywhere in this article? I only see a travel advisory and warnings by US AND European officials to continue with travel plans but be cautious.

Good point paulinusa. But i still think finding a solution to the ROOT of the problem is the best way to bring an end to this kind of terrorism.

lovejapan: If you want an End to terrorism by muslims, End to occupation of countries like Palestine, Iraq, and Afganistan is a must.

But terrorism by Muslims was occurring before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was occurring in the Middle East before the state of Israel even existed. And it occurs in countries that have absolutely nothing to do with the US or Israel. It's completely naive to believe "If we just (fill in the blank), then Islamic terrorism will end." One has to first recognize that terrorism is tied to the religion of Islam wherever it exists.

Another terrorist attack like the 7/7 bombings or the Madrid bombing would be a disaster for any of these European nations teetering on the brink of insolvency. I hope Europe can get its house in order.

Paulinusa. You underestimate the impact of continuous fear from a purely psychological perspective. For a decade now we have all had to live with the constant reminders that terror is a threat. Yet in this time less people have been subjected to terror than have been subjected to the violence that takes place in American cities.

Sure many people are becoming anesthesized to the warnings. But the constant reminders reenforces concern and worry. And this is something I think we need to be concerned about.

As for TimR and his anger at the Muslim world. I am neither Christian or Muslim. But I see the extremists in both worlds as cut from the same vine. The fascist groups in Eastern Washington state speak loudly about their devotion to Christian values, yet their behavior is criminal and hate filled. The same applies to Muslim extremists and their brand of hate and anger.

From a non-religious point of view there is no real difference between them. Neither represent the whole of their faiths. And both are, in the end, criminals.

LoveJapan21 is correct in wanting to look to the root of the problem. Terror did not start in a vacuum. And the US was not targeted for no reason. US policy in the middle east, add the UK to this, has been misguided for decades. Our actions have generated the hate behind these attacks. This is blowback plain and simple.

It does not justify these acts, but it certainly explains a large part of how they would come to pass. Add now the unwarranted war in Iraq and the failure in Afghanistan and we have invited yet more danger.

I would add that we created the conditions that led to Al Quaida's rise with our short sighted anti-Soviet policies that created and fueled Islamic extremism in Afghanistan during the Soviet war. We armed, trained and supported the very people who would later go to war with us. Why? Because we did not consider the long term picture. As we continue to fail to do today.

Just more fear and paranoia from the American Islamophobic government. "We need to keep this war going so we got to spread fear to legitimize our invasion and our terrorism."

Islam terrorism in Europe between 2006 and 2008 was at a whopping 0,4% of all terrorist activities. In contrast 84% was from Separist groups such as ETA in Spain and France.

Reuters - - "Few details of the conspiracy are known. But the plot appears to be of the kind that Western officials believe poses the most significant danger today -- the use of so-called self-radicalized militants with no previous record of extremism."

"Al Qaeda's leadership, increasingly restrained by missile strikes from U.S. drones in northwest Pakistan, prizes such "home-grown" recruits as they have Western passports and can travel overseas easily, experts say."

IOW - it appears these guys would be native (white) European converts to Mohammedism. That would end once and for all the ludicrous charge that if you oppose the creeping Islamization of the West you are a "racist."

Helter Skelter. Your argument has some substantial holes in it. Sure terrorism of some form has existed forever. It predates Islam too. So why pin it on Islam? This doesn't make sense.

People will retaliate if treated badly. This is an equally ancient reality. People with armys will march them into your land to carry out their political will or to achieve revenge. But people without military power have long resorted to attacks of some form. Often with raids against weaker innocent targets. This is equally ancient behavior.

What you need to care about is the current threat of terror. And that root leads back to colonial policies by the English and others in the MidEast, it also leads back to post WWII collapses of Imperialist power that often led to the impossition of repressive puppet states. Add to that years of misguided policies and a lot of people have suffered and died because western objectives were in conflict with the best interests of the people of the MidEast. And continue to be so.

If you applied the same conditions to Europe or America, you would have terrorists from there striking back too. In some cases, Basque and Right Wing groups in the US, we have examples of this. Even Japan has had her terror groups.

You cannot lay this behavior only on Islam.

Forgot to add the IRA to this example.

As for TimR and his anger at the Muslim world. I am neither Christian or Muslim. But I see the extremists in both worlds as cut from the same vine. The fascist groups in Eastern Washington state speak loudly about their devotion to Christian values, yet their behavior is criminal and hate filled.

I too am neither Christian or Muslim. And yes, both groups have extremists. But only one group is a religious and political ideology founded by an individual who was, and the record is clear, an advocate of violence.

TimR. There is as much justification of violence in the Bible as there is in Islam. And it has rationalized violence for ages. Need I remind you of the religious wars, struggles between Catholics and Protestants, the Inquisition, the Crusades, the N. Ireland conflict, Religious violence in Africa and South America? There are endless examples that pin violence on Christianity as much as Islam. Your indictment of Islam is wrong unless you include Christianity in the same condemnation.

Politics are almost always tied to religion, or at least rationalized by some belief that "god" is on the side of the struggle.

No one group has a monopoly on violence. It is unfair to judge Islam in any way differently than Christianity in this case. Both have long histories of blood on their hands. And both have long modern histories of having a vast majority of their followers live as peaceful and gentle individuals. It is this better light that we should judge both faiths.

And yes, both groups have extremists. But only one group is a religious and political ideology founded by an individual who was, and the record is clear, an advocate of violence.

Bush told the world that god gave him directions, so you could say his terrorism was religiously motivated. Wasn't the Oklahoma bomber a Christian?

neogreenjapan. Well stated.

Bush told the world that god gave him directions,

Uh, no, he didn't. The Palestinian rep who claimed to hear him say that later retracted his b.s. claim.

Moderator: All readers stay on topic please. Please comment on what is in the story.

It is only through sensationalism and fear mongering that the topic of Islamic terrorism is being discussed by American right wing extremists. When confronted by such lunacy, people should respond to the fear mongering with the facts and the truth. Islam terrorism in Europe count for less than 1% of all terrorist activities in Europe.

Why have a warning if there is not substantial threat? And why have a threat if there is no rationale for it.

Futher, with recent conflicts between European states and the precepts of Islam (France and veils, Belgium and others with other cases) there are some considerations for why Europe is being targeted. This is extremely relevant as the converstation here demonstrates.

Finally, every time such a topic comes up Islam is universally attacked for terror, when facts in Europe and in Europe's past policies are a large part of why this is the case.

neogreenjapan - you forgot to tell us who you copied your last post from. It's clear that English is not your first language, so posts like that are easily shown to be something you copied. Please provide the source.

Agreed. Terror in Europe is hardly limited to Islam. Basque, IRA and other separatist movements are far more commonly responsible for problems. Not to mention economically motivated terror carried out by criminal groups.

If you expand the definition of Europe to include Russia and the European East, that expands further to include many more examples of local terror.

"US terror warning could hurt Europe's economy but prove to be substantially beneficial to the DoD and all of the filthy defence companies which line their pockets with kickbacks

It is only through sensationalism and fear mongering that the topic of Islamic terrorism is being discussed by American right wing extremists. When confronted by such lunacy, people should respond to the fear mongering with the facts and the truth. Islam terrorism in Europe count for less than 1% of all terrorist activities in Europe.

Neogreeninjapan - The material above appears on sites called muslimvillage / loonwatch / englishbaby / bishmillahnews and chasingevil . So which one did you copy it from ?

Basque, IRA and other separatist movements are far more commonly responsible for problems.

No one fears the Basque, IRA, neo-Nazis and environmental terror groups of uniting. Nor does anyone imagine them going so far as to detonate dirty bombs in major metropolises. None of them have a record of highjacking planes and flying them into skyscrapers, nor have we uncovered plans of theirs to carry out suicide missions in which they detonate bombs on trans Atlantic flights.

Tim. I beg to differ. I am sure no one expected the Oklahoma bombing either. We don't know what radical groups of any persuasion are capable of. To say that you do is absurd and rather arrogant.

You point to the actions of a hand full of extremists on 911 and try to lump the entirety of Islam into the same pot. This reeks of prejudice and xenophobia.

I won't argue with you that the actions of these few are extreme and should be broadly condemned, but you take it too far when you try to apply the same brush to color all of Islam with the actions of these few.

Are all Catholics bombers because of the actions of the IRA? Are all Protestants terrorists for their attacks in Ireland. Both have bloodied their hands in considerable numbers over the years.

Does the world have a problem with terror. Yes. Is it the pandemic that the media makes it out to be. No. Does it color all of Islamic people as terrorists and threats. No. Is terror exclusive to Muslims. No. Are threats for the future limited to Islamic terrorism. Certainly not.

As for Uniting. Who is afraid of anyone uniting now? More Fox News fear tactics.

If you really want to point fingers at the cause of terrorism, countries like the US, UK and others need to look to their history and policies to see the roots. Again I raise the fact that we created the training, arming and empowerment that Mujahadin needed to beat the Russians and that is now turned on us. 911, started with our williness to do anything to win against the Soviets. When a longer term point of view could have anticipated problems with arming and training potentially dangerous groups.

We don't arm and train neo-nazis, IRA, Basque. But we have largely funded and paid for criminal and political terror in S. America and Mexico. First through our support of right wing groups there in Nicaragua and El Salvador. And ongoing through our society's support of drugs in Mexico. All these conflicts out do Muslim related terror by tens of thousands of deaths. Not so dramatic as one big attack, but long term horror for ordinary people living there.

No one group on earth has a monopoly on violence. To blame one group for making the world dangerous is wrong. I could list countless groups here who threaten the peace and safety of people in this world and in communities in every corner of the world.

Let's stop blaming all of Islam for the actions of a few. And let's measure the threat of terror in rational terms. Terms that free us from unwarranted fear and instead open us to rational consideration of the problems that rest at the roots of conflicts. And try to solve those problems as a means of making the world a little more safe for everyone.

Let's stop blaming all of Islam for the actions of a few. And let's measure the threat of terror in rational terms.

Looks like tkoind2 missed British emissary of the Religion of Peace yesterday, Anjam Choudary, informing CNN's Christine Amanpour - and the entire US - that

CHOUDARY: we do believe, as Muslims, the East and the West will one day be governed by the Sharia. Indeed, we believe that one day, the flag of Islam will fly over the White House.

How did a radical like this make it to the top of a religious organization like Islam4UK ? It's a well-known outfit, and their leader is on national and international TV spewing the most provocative, hate-inciting garbage imaginable.

tkoind2, you need to tighten up your points or else they become watered down and irrelevant.

As I've explained to you many times, you only want to see terrorism through the lens of the US/UK. But Islamic terrorism is global and kills far more Muslims than any other group. Are you saying that they are killing other Muslims in other countries because of US policy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel? Is that why they planted bombs in Turkey and attacked India? Is that why they're killing Africans in places like Somalia?

No one group has a monopoly on violence. It is unfair to judge Islam in any way differently than Christianity in this case.

How about this. We'll choose a 30-day period. During that period, if any terrorism is done in the name of Islam you have to pitch in $5. If any terrorism is done in the name of any other religion I'll pitch in $5. At the end of the month we'll tally up the records and the person that pays least gets the whole pot. Send me your email if you're interested.

People will retaliate if treated badly.

Then I suppose a vast majority of the people in the world who are currently being treated badly must be this tiny group of Islamic radicals. The others, if they aren't using terrorism, just aren't being treated as badly, I suppose...?

I'd be willing to have a discussion about the root causes of terrorism, and I'd even be happy to discuss problems the West has created in the world. But on the other side you must be willing to discuss and accept the fact that terrorism can sometimes be done because of greed, brainwashing, and sometimes just by people who don't know any reaction other than violence. And you must at least be honest with yourself and accept the fact that a vast majority of terrorism today is committed in the name of Islam. You don't have to blame Islam, but you can't keep up this silly charade of, "no different than Christianity" bullshit.

Tim. It is interesting that you bring this up, but you aren't cracking the code properly:

Reuters - - "Few details of the conspiracy are known. But the plot appears to be of the kind that Western officials believe poses the most significant danger today -- the use of so-called self-radicalized militants with no previous record of extremism."

Translation: We don't really know anything. Maybe it is some scary thing involving the guy who lives next door to you. The enemy is not Muslim. It is someone just like you. Rush on down and buy a package of PARANOIA (TM) to go along with your FEAR & XENOPHOBIA (TM).

"Al Qaeda's leadership, increasingly restrained by missile strikes from U.S. drones in northwest Pakistan, prizes such "home-grown" recruits as they have Western passports and can travel overseas easily, experts say."

Translation: You might think we are winning taxpayer, and thnx for all the DRONZ, but this is an election season, so make sure you vote for the party that guarantees your security best, even if they have nothing else to offer but witchraft. And remember, that person from the other political party might look Merikun. Might even be Merikun. But it is what in his heart that counts. Be fearful, and send more DRONZ.

And if it seems incongruous that this announcement is being made by the Obama administration, you are forgetting the events of January this year. Obama and his administration were cowed on TSA matters because of that Nigerian guy, so if some TSA exec. tells Obama that they need to make this announcement during election time, despite no clear information whatsoever, Obama can only roll his eyes and say ... oh... ok. Obama promised no more slip ups on his watch, so he has to go through the motions on this whether he likes it or not.

In fact, I BET nothing comes of this. If it did, then Obama could take the credit, and we can't have that, can we? Nah. The lack of any credibiility to this will leave Obama open to some other criticism from the left and right, which is what this whole charade was designed to do.

MisterCreosote, what can I say, but "lame." There is always going to be some whacko equivalent to Ishihara Shintarou spouting nonsense. CNN gave him an audience for some old reason. If he really represented anything, we would not be issuing orange alerts from air conditioned offices, we would be dodging bullets. Why do you listen to this Choudary? I think you are the only guy on the planet still watching CNN, but I guess they give you what you crave.

Who is being paranoid and defensive?

Klein2 is

And if it seems incongruous that this announcement is being made by the Obama administration, you are forgetting the events of January this year.

Quite a memory. Is it the fear ?

Obama and his administration were cowed on TSA matters because of that Nigerian guy,

What religion him, btw ?

so if some TSA exec. tells Obama that they need to make this announcement during election time, despite no clear information whatsoever, Obama can only roll his eyes and say ... oh... ok.

Quite an imagination. Anonymous TSA people are twisting poor Mr President's arm! Paranoia is like that they say...

US terror warning could hurt Europe's economy but prove to be substantially beneficial to the DoD and all of the filthy defence companies which line their pockets with kickbacks

And what - European defense companies aren't profiting these days?

American right winged extremists like to spread false information, good old fear mongering, xenophobia. The best way to deal with these people is to educate them. It is not very difficult. You just have to tell the truth and come with facts.

Ah, yes. The vague warning of a threat of an action that may or may not happen based upon intelligence supplied by the friend the cleaner of a chiropodist of a brother of a disgruntled ex-Taliban informant.

Death toll in Afghanistan since the US invasion: ca. 500.000; Total Death toll in Iraq since the US occupation: 1.2 milliom. Total 9/11 deaths: ca. 2752.

Ever wondered who the REAL terrorist organisation is?

Ever wondered who the REAL terrorist organisation is?

Mormons?

TimRussert:

" Neogreeninjapan - The material above appears on sites called muslimvillage / loonwatch / englishbaby / bishmillahnews and chasingevil . So which one did you copy it from ? "

It also appeared to "pakistanpal", another muslim blog. He could have copied it from anywhere.

I went to some of neogreens agitprop sites and tried to find out where the claim that "less than 1% of terrorist activities in Europe come from muslims" come from.

It seems they are based on an FBI report, which lumps together things like South American drug crimes, as well as activities by organisations like "animal liberation front", mostly vandalism... apparently kids break in labs to sent monkeys free.

And this gets all lumped together as "terrorism". Talk about obfuscation!

I got my stats from Europol and FBI. Look it up and educate yourself. Ignorant Americans start to face reality and facts. Knowledge is the key.

I live here in USA now and when the news channels speak of heightened UK terrorist threats and warnings about travel, it hurts the USA economy. What happens is that people travel less. It the USA travel industry first, then has a lesser but still noticeable effect on the tourism trade in the countries that Americans are asked to either avoid or be extra careful in. How any of that can actually HELP the Obama administration is some thing that only a fiction writer could dream of.

From a political perspective it would be FAR better to report that the terrorist threat was lessened and that the current administration was responsible for making the world safer ne?

I have no wish to feel paranoid, but there is nothing wrong with being aware of potential terrorist threats, and if there is reason to think that the threat is greater in one place than another then i am very happy that we have the warning system in place. The terror warning system has become as common here now as the air quality report or the weather report and that is a GOOD thing. That means that we are learning to cope with the threat, instead of giving in to fear and jumping at shadows.

As far as the terror warning is concerned, you probably have a better chance of being hit by a bus. Best to iggy the whole thing and just keep your normal street smarts going. No point living in fear.

caticat:

" People seem to forget that Bush took the fight back to the Arab / Afghan lands after 9/11 so that more American civilians weren't killed. The army is much better set up to cope with the "religion of peace" than civilians are. "

No, it is not. In particular not, because Bush insisted that the religion of peace is A-OK, and that was needed to "liberate" the poor people.

As a result, instead of a relatively secular Baathist dictatorship, we now have an emerging Shiite mullah state in Iraq, and Afghanistan is still a shariah hell-hole, only now the Americans keep pouring endless ressources in it.

Insanity!

Mikanojo: From a political perspective it would be FAR better to report that the terrorist threat was lessened and that the current administration was responsible for making the world safer ne?

I've often wondered the same thing. Maybe someone in Washington is giving this speech right now:

"Hey boys, we've just done too good of a job with terrorism and it's just not a threat anymore. But we can't let people know that. We need the fear. Let's issue another warning. We must do whatever it takes to make sure people don't know about our success. I can't think of anything positive that could come of that."

Man one travel advisory to be vigilant and all the "fear mongering" conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork. So what if it hurts Europe's economy? Europe should heighten it's own security. Now all the conspiracist can say that Americans are paranoid but with their own conspiracies they sort of look a little more than a little paranoid themselves. Funny that isn't it?

Klein2: You might think we are winning taxpayer, and thnx for all the DRONZ, but this is an election season, so make sure you vote for the party that guarantees your security best

See, now that's paranoia to me. I don't hear people saying they're worried about being killed by a terrorist. What I do hear is people such as yourself talking about your fear of the government. That's the paranoia that these warnings generate, and they're all on your side.

Big sites like Drudge Report link to photos of European airports where overweight soldiers in French berets and camo gear are shouldering with obvious difficulty huge assault rifles and trying to look as professional as soldiers from nations that have real armies. I don't think terrorists are deterred by part-time sgt. rock wannabes...

Interesting that Britain's warning is to their citizens to be vigilant when visiting Germany and France...

Interesting that Britain's warning is to their citizens to be vigilant when visiting Germany and France...

That's because the British are so paranoid. I'm not sure if it's their government or their natural friendliness that causes it.