That's a prison in Germany?! Sign me up!
2
@MC USA
The great news is that ISIS has 168 more days before America puts her gloves back in the box.
The great news is that ISIS has 168 more days before America puts her gloves back in the box.
3
...and what? Bomb the region to make radicalization of the lost Muslim youth in the west easier? I just listened to an interview with an Afghan who was an active supporter of the US military until their family members were bombed, then he started asking for a suicide vest... Bomb the villages and towns and you'll kill the families and compatriots of the young Muslims in the West - that will protect the business of the arms manufacturers and politicians, not you and me...
2
I have no doubt that these brutal nihilists will eventually be brought to heel. It will take some time, and more people will die, but it will happen. And I don't mean to be callous, but we should maintain some perspective--more people will die from disease, domestic fights, car accidents, and probably even lightning than ISIS will kill.
We'll beat them with good police work, electronic surveillance, information campaigns and appropriate punishment schemes.
They're doomed. And so is the retrograde ideology that motivates them.
We'll beat them with good police work, electronic surveillance, information campaigns and appropriate punishment schemes.
They're doomed. And so is the retrograde ideology that motivates them.
7
Good article....but most readers would probably like to know more about Harry's very obvious "migration background." As Harry is an English name, it's probably some anglophone African country (which one?), or he is an Afro-American (?). Another reason why "Harry" sounds odd is that it is not an Islamic name. It sounds like he was born a Christian, and later converted to Islam (?) Because if he had joined ISIS, he would have converted to Islam first, and would have adopted an Islamic name.
I don't think it's a good idea to release him from confinement, not only because he might re-radicalize himself, but even more so, because he may be attacked by Islamists who want to take revenge on him.
Somebody here suggested guys like him should be stopped from moving back to Europe. But people in Syria don't want them either, as they also don't want to be blown up. So there is unfortunately no other option than to keep them in confinement - for their own sake, for the sake of Europeans - and of Syrians as well !
I don't think it's a good idea to release him from confinement, not only because he might re-radicalize himself, but even more so, because he may be attacked by Islamists who want to take revenge on him.
Somebody here suggested guys like him should be stopped from moving back to Europe. But people in Syria don't want them either, as they also don't want to be blown up. So there is unfortunately no other option than to keep them in confinement - for their own sake, for the sake of Europeans - and of Syrians as well !
1
@angelika
Danke. But you do realize that most readers here are able to figure out that Herr Sarfo is not "German" -- aside from having a BRD passport.
And he's not "Afro-American, otherwise he would be in prison HERE.
Noch was -- another thing.
I am one of the people who suggested that people like him should NOT be allowed back in Germany.
Please feel free to read my comment in the NYT Picks section to understand why.
Danke. But you do realize that most readers here are able to figure out that Herr Sarfo is not "German" -- aside from having a BRD passport.
And he's not "Afro-American, otherwise he would be in prison HERE.
Noch was -- another thing.
I am one of the people who suggested that people like him should NOT be allowed back in Germany.
Please feel free to read my comment in the NYT Picks section to understand why.
2
ISIS: a Frankenstein monster created by the US and Israel
Kevin Barrett August 25, 2014 and Other Writers
ISIS is terrorist organization controlled and financed by the US and Israel in order to destabilize the Middle East and advance Israeli interests.
They call themselves Islamic State (IS). They pretend to be a new caliphate.
But their behavior is radically un-Islamic… even satanic. And their so-called caliphate is actually a false-flag operation against Islam.
Kevin Barrett August 25, 2014 and Other Writers
ISIS is terrorist organization controlled and financed by the US and Israel in order to destabilize the Middle East and advance Israeli interests.
They call themselves Islamic State (IS). They pretend to be a new caliphate.
But their behavior is radically un-Islamic… even satanic. And their so-called caliphate is actually a false-flag operation against Islam.
4
ISIS is analogous to a malignant cancer and spreading rapidly.
There is no good news and America better wake up and close our borders and stop assault rifle and gun sales
There is no good news and America better wake up and close our borders and stop assault rifle and gun sales
1
This level of information is only the spooky fringe of the problem.
There are some names and locational data revealed here, but this fringe exposes little of the resources and the funding and ideological sources that area t the root of this jihad.
It seems reasonable to suspect that the ideological base, funding, and likely physical source of propaganda media are located in the Wahhabi centers in Saudi Arabia.
Our efforts should concentrate on finding the roots and eliminating them at the source. Combating them at the current level means an unending effort that aids them in their goal of terrorizing our peoples into rash responses.
There are some names and locational data revealed here, but this fringe exposes little of the resources and the funding and ideological sources that area t the root of this jihad.
It seems reasonable to suspect that the ideological base, funding, and likely physical source of propaganda media are located in the Wahhabi centers in Saudi Arabia.
Our efforts should concentrate on finding the roots and eliminating them at the source. Combating them at the current level means an unending effort that aids them in their goal of terrorizing our peoples into rash responses.
3
Great article and spot on.
Sadly though, if someone said or wrote these things a year ago, he was usually lambasted as a dreamer or or sometimes as a Right wing nut who only wanted to make a people afraid.
So people lost a year for not listening.
Sadly though, if someone said or wrote these things a year ago, he was usually lambasted as a dreamer or or sometimes as a Right wing nut who only wanted to make a people afraid.
So people lost a year for not listening.
3
The number of ISIS operatives in the US with the motivation and weaponry to carry out major attacks is less than 100. Some are self radicalized like the loser in Orlando. Basic problem is placing high explosives into vests with reliable detonation devices. They do have all the small arms and ammo they need. US gun laws are lax. Manhattan and DC remain primary targets. Shopping Centers, Churches, gay bars and the like are very easy. They will hit from time to time. And we will hit them back.
Not exactly a wise idea to allow ISIS soldiers to return to the USA or Germany. Bombing them in Libya is helpful - thank Obama for that, but the ISIS sadistic killers will continue to terrorize and there is no conceivable end.
Not exactly a wise idea to allow ISIS soldiers to return to the USA or Germany. Bombing them in Libya is helpful - thank Obama for that, but the ISIS sadistic killers will continue to terrorize and there is no conceivable end.
More of Obama's White House Office of Digital Deceit.
2
@bloviana
Where are the facts?-- and what is your news source???
Where are the facts?-- and what is your news source???
3
Reporting does not get any better. We see it all. The motivations are on display: we have brutal sex by rape of children. Profit by plunder. Dystopia by direction. Tribal slaughter by nihilists. Banality as a way of life.
And fear itself a greater enemy then the slaughter itself. Which is exactly what they want. So why gratify them?
And all this in the name of a religion seemingly gone mad.
Still too shall pass. Freedom will prevail. Decency will prevail.
It may take a while. Our values need refreshing.
Wars like this are won with values and disclosure, love and the wellness to take them out.
Let's not alter what makes us Anericans.
Let's repair ourselves and fix what's wrong at home and, with help, abroad.
Lots to do.
Many tipping points.
Needed: sound leadership.
Now.
And fear itself a greater enemy then the slaughter itself. Which is exactly what they want. So why gratify them?
And all this in the name of a religion seemingly gone mad.
Still too shall pass. Freedom will prevail. Decency will prevail.
It may take a while. Our values need refreshing.
Wars like this are won with values and disclosure, love and the wellness to take them out.
Let's not alter what makes us Anericans.
Let's repair ourselves and fix what's wrong at home and, with help, abroad.
Lots to do.
Many tipping points.
Needed: sound leadership.
Now.
6
Rukmini Maria Callimachi is among our best.
Be safe, Rukmini.
Be safe, Rukmini.
8
"For America and Canada, it's much easier for them to get them over the social network, because Americas are dumb - the have open gun policies." That's right. With no prior record, a recently radicalized person can go a buy as many guns as they want, then carry out a mass shooting, and ISIS can claim credit. A perfect storm.
4
Let this be a clear lesson as why the concept of "real Americans" is so dangerous. In France and other European countries, people that are two or three generation immigrants are treated as second class citizens. In the US the prevailing mantra of e pluribus unum (out of many, one) is what makes everyone here an American first.
The important lessons for the young Muslim teenagers and refugees should be the ones from Barack Obama. This is the country when the son of a Kenyan immigrant and a white mother can be president.
If we want to see homegrown terrorism take hold in the US then start building walls and banning Muslims, then grab a seat while you watch the fabric of this country tear apart.
The important lessons for the young Muslim teenagers and refugees should be the ones from Barack Obama. This is the country when the son of a Kenyan immigrant and a white mother can be president.
If we want to see homegrown terrorism take hold in the US then start building walls and banning Muslims, then grab a seat while you watch the fabric of this country tear apart.
8
“They said, ‘Would you mind to go back to Germany, because that’s what we need at the moment" Well, I'm not sure that ISIS corporate language is so empathetic. Looks more like the club was setting up a migration filter to curtail the unvettable, western born. self assigned jihadists. Perhaps Mr. Sarfo, for whatever reason didn't make the cut. It makes me wonder if he had served or attempted to join the German military first? Many enter military service without the "innate capacity to escape gravity". Perhaps gullibility is more valued on the Western frontier? Why was he outsourced so shortly after such a pilgrimage? Please, NYT, publish the rest of the notes, please. #NomoreHillarynarratives
I did not read it all because the first paragraph indicates something not true. Recruiting is not that simple. It took him4 days to drive to Syria when he made it he has been told we need you not here. Why they did not tell him before he take the burden or traveling. I bet he was in contact with them before he arrives to Syria. Second, recruiting is not that simple there must be training and building trust. The guy said the moment he and his friend arrived he was told by masked man we need you in Germany. I do not think ISIL would uncover very sensitive issue to someone just met.
Still find it hard to believe
Still find it hard to believe
4
It appears that the J.V. team is actually a very sophisticated Varsity. We're still waiting for Obama to recognize that fact.
9
And what gives you any reason to think that he hasn't? -- Have you seen anything NEAR what's happening all over Europe, here???
3
Yes.
2
@bloviana
You're on.
Where???
You're on.
Where???
1
I like how the author threw in some american gun control propaganda. Smh They want to take freedom and rights of Americans away soon badly. They use any and every opportunity. Smh
5
There are already too many out-of-control people with too much ready access to guns already...Or, do you find human lives less insignificant than your right to shoot them?
2
Funny, how it always occurs in gun free zones.
@bloviana
NOTHING "funny" about it, wherever it occurs when it results in deaths.
NOTHING "funny" about it, wherever it occurs when it results in deaths.
1
One thing puzzles me about Sarfo's account of his escape. Where di he get the money to buy a plane ticket home to Bremen?
8
There are plenty of details missing from Mr. Sarfo's accounts here and in "The Independent." By informing us that ISIS considers firearm accessibility by non-criminals useful to their cause, however, his purported words become sacrosanct to many dumb Americans.
1
My guess, treasure freed up when that nondescript cargo plane with a load manifest of $400m, in assorted international currencies, landed on an Iranian tarmac, it made his return untraceably possible.
2
I watched the interview last night. Germany is allowing it to hopefully wake up some governments in the world. The fact he said repeatedly that America is a joke because it's so easy to get guns here said a ton. This should go viral again and I'm looking forward to the GOP denying gun control measures (ones that work - not the foo foo ones).
It's a super interview and has lessons for all of us.
It's a super interview and has lessons for all of us.
5
This kind of journalism is nothing more than irresponsible scaremongering, playing right into the hands of Donald Trump and his hateful, Islamophobic minions. Shame on you, NYT.
2
Which members of Daesh are not psychotic killers?
6
In the current race for president, who should be blamed for ISIS? To the Democrats it is Bush and the Republican Party now including Trump.
Obama & Hillary covert policy was to help their Middle East allies hire and train terrorists to overthrow Syria's government to get a gas pipeline from Qatar to EU, not Iran as Assad wants. US trained terrorists ended up joining ISIS, which could have never become what they are today without US help.
In 2013 Fox News referenced US-led training program in Jordan aimed at strengthening the Syrian opposition against Assad.
March of 2013, Reuters reference the German magazine Der Spiegel published an account by organizers of the Syrian rebellion claiming that US trainers, were seen providing anti-tank training in Jordan to anti-Assad forces.
2014 The Washington Post reported ISIS just released a new propaganda video touting its American-style military tactics.
In Nov 2012 The Wall Street Journal reported that the State Department presence in Benghazi "provided diplomatic cover" for CIA to send heavy weapons from Libya to revolutionaries in Syria.
It is difficult to prove ISIS fighters training occurred by the US in Jordan, though we know insurgents/terrorists been trained on US bases in this country. ISIS military tactics look distinctly American. The US supported the training of the Taliban and Obama and Hillary were involved in a very similar situation to Syria, with the TAPI pipeline through Afghanistan.
Obama & Hillary covert policy was to help their Middle East allies hire and train terrorists to overthrow Syria's government to get a gas pipeline from Qatar to EU, not Iran as Assad wants. US trained terrorists ended up joining ISIS, which could have never become what they are today without US help.
In 2013 Fox News referenced US-led training program in Jordan aimed at strengthening the Syrian opposition against Assad.
March of 2013, Reuters reference the German magazine Der Spiegel published an account by organizers of the Syrian rebellion claiming that US trainers, were seen providing anti-tank training in Jordan to anti-Assad forces.
2014 The Washington Post reported ISIS just released a new propaganda video touting its American-style military tactics.
In Nov 2012 The Wall Street Journal reported that the State Department presence in Benghazi "provided diplomatic cover" for CIA to send heavy weapons from Libya to revolutionaries in Syria.
It is difficult to prove ISIS fighters training occurred by the US in Jordan, though we know insurgents/terrorists been trained on US bases in this country. ISIS military tactics look distinctly American. The US supported the training of the Taliban and Obama and Hillary were involved in a very similar situation to Syria, with the TAPI pipeline through Afghanistan.
8
Amazing. Even in the face of hard evidence that a "network" is not necessary to inflicting terror, some still believe that there is no real danger, just paranoia, unhappiness, Bush aversion or whatever. Now they come for us and we are supposed to welcome them and make them happy so they'll stop terrorizing, butchering and murdering us. Really? Or, they are too stupid to be able to function without their leader, so get rid of the leadership and they go away. Droning has not stopped these people, so how does that theory work? Is it willful ignorance, naivete, denial or what? that allows people to basically ignore the bloody facts right in front of them along with repeated and determined words detailing plan, goal and intent? You don't believe what they say? Then how about believing what they do?!
6
"He was a regular at a radical mosque in Bremen that had already sent about 20 members to Syria,"
That "mosque" is a terrorist organization and should not be allowed to exist.
That "mosque" is a terrorist organization and should not be allowed to exist.
16
"Handed $2,000 in cash"
Imagine what can be done with $400,000,000 in cash! Nah, Iran was just going to pay utility workers with it.
Imagine what can be done with $400,000,000 in cash! Nah, Iran was just going to pay utility workers with it.
10
The tribalism of men. If you don't feel you belong, create a tribe. Make it hard to get into (as with boy the tied up with stakes) and keep it alive through the myth that others are "against" you. This is nothing more than primitive hierarchical male social bonding cloaked in false ideology. The way to combat it is make fun of it. Hard to do when people are dying. Stupid doesn't mean you can't kill. But it's still stupid.
11
...."they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.”
Open gun policies, easy radicalization AND a porous border..... Coming to your area soon?
Open gun policies, easy radicalization AND a porous border..... Coming to your area soon?
12
Easy radicalization AND a porous border--Europe. It is only due to a rather rigid control of guns, fast being circumvented by criminal gangs from Albania, Serbia, that the EU has been spared even MORE carnage. The EU is slowly being overwhelmed by people taking advantage of its open borders. And wasn't Trump the one calling for better controls for muslims trying to enter the US? Doesn't seem so wrong, in retrospect. A pity to see him get "punked" by a misogynist muslim immigration lawyer trying to build up his business.
8
Why do we spread all this paranoia? First it was Britain then Britain again then the United States Government against part of the country, then Spain then Germany twice after that AlQueda, ISIL ISIS it doesn't make any difference other than people getting killed. Isn't paranoia a great thing and great way to make a difference?
2
I find it odd that the one guy says the man he talked to after being told by a Saudi man to just walk, he said they then stopped in front of an apartment building and the man told him "Daesh trusts you." I thought Daesh was an Arabic acronym for the group that they hated and using it was almost like a slur against ISIS. Is he saying that they call themselves Daesh?
2
"I thought Daesh was an Arabic acronym for the group that they hated and using it was almost like a slur against ISIS. Is he saying that they call themselves Daesh?"
Is that their "D" word?
Is that their "D" word?
2
In Europe, America is getting a good look at what it too will look like unless we stop the flow of middle eastern refugees with no documentation into America. Although Mr. Obama's goal is to bring in as many as he can before leaving office, America must stop his push.
10
It's not ONLY a case of stopping refugees -- Otherwise how do you account for the number of "home-grown" terrorists that seem to be springing up both here and in Europe?
2
This is it, Europeans. Concentrate on the last three paragraphs. Smugglers controlling your borders, bringing in well-trained muslim murderers across your open borders. And your politicians deny the problem and continue to let young muslim men flood in and make bogus "asylum" claims. And your politicians continue to allow men who have been in this cesspool and pledged allegiance to these animals return to their home countries. Why is this even a question? If you go to Syria and join Daesh, you lose your citizenship. END OF STORY. YOU have chosen your new nationality. And hopefully, you will die there.
13
Mr. Sarfo and the Times have done a great service in shedding light on the inner workings of this organization. The only thing more horrifying than their acts is the unsettling brilliance of their strategy. The ability to blend into civilian populations is a critical part of ISIL's offense and defense. ISIL's sick genius is in figuring out how to weaponize our own virtues, namely our determination not to give in to prejudice, become a police state, or put civilians in harm's way in our pursuit of the enemy. It's lose-lose: either they operate as they are making us paranoid and crazy or goad us into taking extreme measures, which only drives up their recruitment. Western nations are essentially fighting a phantom, and it seems likely we're going to have a hard time winning this war by any conventional means.
The new military theatre is mostly going to be people's hearts and minds, a war fought with more with ideas and fresh thinking more than drones or Kalishnikovs. Look at how much time and energy is spent on crafting and reviewing propaganda materials, or social media presence. Propaganda is their nuclear arsenal, and ours is of little use in this kind of fight. We have to modernize. Now more than ever is the time to open our hearts and social media dialogues to people everywhere and fight to let people know who is and who is not the enemy. By the time people are booking "resort vacations" to Turkey, we're back to fighting the phantom, and that's a fight we'll never win.
The new military theatre is mostly going to be people's hearts and minds, a war fought with more with ideas and fresh thinking more than drones or Kalishnikovs. Look at how much time and energy is spent on crafting and reviewing propaganda materials, or social media presence. Propaganda is their nuclear arsenal, and ours is of little use in this kind of fight. We have to modernize. Now more than ever is the time to open our hearts and social media dialogues to people everywhere and fight to let people know who is and who is not the enemy. By the time people are booking "resort vacations" to Turkey, we're back to fighting the phantom, and that's a fight we'll never win.
6
How many Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Atheist recruits have been found?
Islam ahs made its religion synonymous with terrorism.
Islam ahs made its religion synonymous with terrorism.
11
Since Islam is not a religion, its time it becomes illegal. Just as the Moonies and Manson were shut down its time to end Islam, by any means neccessary.
4
Not discussed at any length in this article is the fact that many returnees to Europe made the trek within the flux of illegal migrants. The most gaping hole in the story, in my opinion, is no mention that a similar human smuggling train exists and is being used all the time to transport such migrants all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border. New academic research substantiates in great detail how these bridges create a solid capability for ISIL terrorists to, as they have to populate their European terror networks, accomplish the same inside the United States: https://www.hsaj.org/articles/10568
9
Looks like a "real" high security prison cell this terrorist is in, what with the flat screen TV on the wall and nice garden view. What a joke!!!
9
The prison structure is much different in Germany its to rehabilitate humans.
You need to understand that the harsh system in the US is obviously not working
You need to understand that the harsh system in the US is obviously not working
1
No, it's only more humane than in U.S. prisons. If governmental institutions aren't role models who else should it be? Germany is a much less violent place than the U.S..
1
And the German system is likewise not working! Sorry for disappointing you.
2
“They (ISIS) know it’s hard for them to get Americans into America” once they have traveled to Syria, he said."
It's hard? Nah!
Who misinformed ISIS it's hard? Was it Homeland Security's "prosecutorial discretion" Unit? Or an NGO claiming Honduras has a higher murder rate than Chicago, so open the gates?
Gee ISIS, just fly your US stoofs to Mexico, to jump the US border as 11-33 million illegal aliens (nobody knows the accurate # still here) have amply already done.
Once inside the US, then go to the nearest Mexican Consulate (44, ready to serve anybody!) claim you're a Mexican, and the Consulate will promptly issue you a "matricula consular", a very handy ID document that is certainly illegal to use in Mexico, but does wonders in Sanctuary Cities (google it).
(Illegal alien Ukrainians in the US have received them, so why not you?)
No Spanish skills required, but then a large % of Mexican and CentAm illegals are illiterate in Spanish, preferring native Indian languages; so who cares? Not Mexico.
After that, we already know getting the guns needed, are readily available at a local gun show.
For the Politically Correct acolytes monitoring this site, engage brain, check the above facts, before clutching in frothy emotion...
Stop illegal immigration (i.e. so only 250K estimated illegals are here).
It's not just your cheap source of nannies and lawn maintenance at risk here, whether Irish, Bosnians, Nigerians, Chinese, or those brusk Canadians...
It's hard? Nah!
Who misinformed ISIS it's hard? Was it Homeland Security's "prosecutorial discretion" Unit? Or an NGO claiming Honduras has a higher murder rate than Chicago, so open the gates?
Gee ISIS, just fly your US stoofs to Mexico, to jump the US border as 11-33 million illegal aliens (nobody knows the accurate # still here) have amply already done.
Once inside the US, then go to the nearest Mexican Consulate (44, ready to serve anybody!) claim you're a Mexican, and the Consulate will promptly issue you a "matricula consular", a very handy ID document that is certainly illegal to use in Mexico, but does wonders in Sanctuary Cities (google it).
(Illegal alien Ukrainians in the US have received them, so why not you?)
No Spanish skills required, but then a large % of Mexican and CentAm illegals are illiterate in Spanish, preferring native Indian languages; so who cares? Not Mexico.
After that, we already know getting the guns needed, are readily available at a local gun show.
For the Politically Correct acolytes monitoring this site, engage brain, check the above facts, before clutching in frothy emotion...
Stop illegal immigration (i.e. so only 250K estimated illegals are here).
It's not just your cheap source of nannies and lawn maintenance at risk here, whether Irish, Bosnians, Nigerians, Chinese, or those brusk Canadians...
8
Excellent reporting here on crucial information. Thank you. Understanding the exact nature of the ISIS threat is a crucial conversation for us to be having in an open, clear eyed manner. We need to the info to talk about how to intelligently fight a real threat, and to neither overinflate the threat nor play it down, but show it at the size and shape that it is.
Editors: this is a top story, above the fold, 60 pt headline material. Put this conversation in the balance against "Mike Pence Endorses Paul Ryan" or "Unfiltered Voices From Trump’s Crowds" and it's pretty obvious that this is 1000x more consequential. Please allocate space and column inches accordingly.
Editors: this is a top story, above the fold, 60 pt headline material. Put this conversation in the balance against "Mike Pence Endorses Paul Ryan" or "Unfiltered Voices From Trump’s Crowds" and it's pretty obvious that this is 1000x more consequential. Please allocate space and column inches accordingly.
5
Profile. Until the Muslim community wants to take a stand against this, all Muslim males and covered women between 18 and 45 are suspect. My home, France, had the right idea about hiding. People who have nothing to, do not.
13
So he became disillusioned not when he saw innocent people being beheaded on camera, not when he read about 13 year old girls being raped and traded, not when he heard about entire towns full of Shi'a and Yadizi men and boys being executed. He became disillusioned only when he saw a fellow Sunni Muslim volunteer being treated harshly. Why am I not impressed?
Mr. Sarfo is basically saying that he never cared about the humanity of anyone outside his narrow religious group. So why should anyone outside his group care about him?
Mr. Sarfo is basically saying that he never cared about the humanity of anyone outside his narrow religious group. So why should anyone outside his group care about him?
27
Exactly!
Maybe Sarfo deserves credit for escaping---which took courage & perseverance---before he did anything worse (as far as the article lets us know)....
......but he also deserves more than 3 years in a "maximum security" cell nicer than some New York studio apartments. What, is his flat-screen TV smaller than those in the general prison population?
Contrast this treatment with the ISIS recruit who failed to meet standards. They're cruel, savage, inhuman monsters---but they respect their own [warped] values more than can be said for many in the West.
Maybe Sarfo deserves credit for escaping---which took courage & perseverance---before he did anything worse (as far as the article lets us know)....
......but he also deserves more than 3 years in a "maximum security" cell nicer than some New York studio apartments. What, is his flat-screen TV smaller than those in the general prison population?
Contrast this treatment with the ISIS recruit who failed to meet standards. They're cruel, savage, inhuman monsters---but they respect their own [warped] values more than can be said for many in the West.
4
The article is somewhat difficult to follow. I don't think it states what nationality his parents are or if he is a convert to Islam. It states he was born in Germany and went to college there and while learning construction he learned English. I think there is a lot of drug involvement that is left out of the story or not but this man's ability to reject Isis and escape the Isis State as no longer radicalized is the reason for this article. I recently got Showtime as a promotion and just started watching Homeland, the series. Based on catching up and binge watching the show one day-I think , being that the series began in 2011, the pattern this fellow reported or is being reported is known since 2011 and is not so unknown. I think if I binge watch another few days, I'll find out the rest of the twists and turns and the follow up articles the N.Y.Times will print. People who watch t.v. shows instead of cable news all day are ahead of the game. Honestly, I don't know how people manage to do everything-youtube,Facebook,all the hottest series ,or sports shows,music , newspapers, books then work or go to school, be with friends and family, and get sleep. I guess there is also video games. That is why a survivor type game show host, named Donald Trump, can possibly be elected President. I rarely saw the show but a lot of folks have and they want to become the next millionaire apprentice to the Trump and so called empire.
2
An entire terrorism article without a single mention of Donald Trump or the Republican party. Great job!
Yes, there was that one gun availability bit, but there's a difference between getting in a good jab and beating a dead horse. Solid journalism, NYT. You can do it. :)
Yes, there was that one gun availability bit, but there's a difference between getting in a good jab and beating a dead horse. Solid journalism, NYT. You can do it. :)
5
My takeaway from this article and other insights into ISIS/ISIL: this group of thugs is much closer in nature to the Mafia than it is to a political or religious group. An extension of this article should examine the sources of financial support for this group -- its heavy taxation and tithing practices, its involvement in slave trade, prostitution and black market dealing and the like.
Another interesting angle would be, if possible, profiles of the backgrounds and personal lifestyles of the group's leadership. Do they practice, daily, the teachings of the Quoran? Why haven't they become suicide bombers themselves? What are their previous links to Saddam Hussein's Baathist Party?
I believe that, although this article is a good start, much more insight is needed by the public in general to understand this enemy. Is it really the Viet Cong/FARC or similar insurgent groups or is it really simply a criminal organization dressed up to look like a political movement.
Another interesting angle would be, if possible, profiles of the backgrounds and personal lifestyles of the group's leadership. Do they practice, daily, the teachings of the Quoran? Why haven't they become suicide bombers themselves? What are their previous links to Saddam Hussein's Baathist Party?
I believe that, although this article is a good start, much more insight is needed by the public in general to understand this enemy. Is it really the Viet Cong/FARC or similar insurgent groups or is it really simply a criminal organization dressed up to look like a political movement.
30
I heartily agree. Our own home-grown (Euro-American) Mafia is indeed the proper analogue. And hopefully the trove of information we are now getting from their hard drives and former recruits like Mr. Sarfo, we'll be able to track their backers and their finances, and take them down.
2
The JV team is deadly - we need proactive leadership
7
Thanks to Wayne Lapierre, these potential American terrorists will be able to purchase all the guns they need right here pursuant to their 2d Amendment rights.
9
"Thanks to Wayne Lapierre, these potential American terrorists will be able to purchase all the guns they need right here pursuant to their 2d Amendment rights."
i didn't know that Lapierre was around back when the Second Amendment was written. Give credit to the 100's of millions of gun owners over the centuries that it is still here.
i didn't know that Lapierre was around back when the Second Amendment was written. Give credit to the 100's of millions of gun owners over the centuries that it is still here.
3
Thanks to spineless politicians these potential terrorists can just lallygag through our porous borders, commit crime after crime and remain in our idiotic sanctuary cities protected by bleeding heart liberals.
7
Mr. Sarfo's testimony is a bit odd, in that he said that he was revulsed by a beheading, and yet it is well known that ISIS brutally beheads people and their propaganda videos are rife with them.
"Back in Germany, when he had been inspired by similar videos, he had always assumed they were real, not staged."
...
"... in Bremen where he is serving a three-year sentence ..."
Since he had completed 10 levels of training to the highest level, has it been verified that Mr. Sarfo didn't participate in executions, combat, or killings, from sources other than his own testimony?
If he is truly innocent of perpetrating any horrors while training as a terrorist recruit, then good luck to his rehabilitation. But the question raised is one of credulity by the German authorities.
"Back in Germany, when he had been inspired by similar videos, he had always assumed they were real, not staged."
...
"... in Bremen where he is serving a three-year sentence ..."
Since he had completed 10 levels of training to the highest level, has it been verified that Mr. Sarfo didn't participate in executions, combat, or killings, from sources other than his own testimony?
If he is truly innocent of perpetrating any horrors while training as a terrorist recruit, then good luck to his rehabilitation. But the question raised is one of credulity by the German authorities.
17
Witnessing a deliberate, calculated institutionalized killing "live" is a very different experience from watching one on film and an experience that is more likely to result in revulsion.
To me, the more important question than any German "credulity" is at what point will our societies have given up so much of value in our quest for "safety" (e.g., presumption of innocence, guilt by association, guilt for thinking the 'wrong' thoughts, stripping of citizenship rights, illegal 'targeted killings') that there'll be little left worth protecting from ISIS's barbarism?
To me, the more important question than any German "credulity" is at what point will our societies have given up so much of value in our quest for "safety" (e.g., presumption of innocence, guilt by association, guilt for thinking the 'wrong' thoughts, stripping of citizenship rights, illegal 'targeted killings') that there'll be little left worth protecting from ISIS's barbarism?
1
Very good points. I wish deportation back to Syria was an option. Dump all this scum off in the desert, or let Cuba run Guantanamo as a for-hire prison cell for these animals. Cuba could earn some hard currency and this filth would be kept out of society. Was extraordinary rendition so wrong? Or ineffective? And 3 years confinement in Germany, with flat screen TV and window? Not too bad. If this guy went through 10 levels of indoctrination and training, I am sure he was required to slash someone's throat (or worse) sometime during his training. Get them out of German/European/Western society. Once they have committed themselves there--there should be no "way back home".
8
There has been no mention of beheading in this article, just in your comments:
"Syrian captives were forced to kneel, and the other German fighters shot them, showing an interest only in the cinematic effect.
One turned to Mr. Sarfo immediately after killing a victim and asked: “How did I look like? Did I look good, the way I executed?”
Mr. Sarfo said he had learned that videos like the one he acted in were vetted by Mr. Adnani himself in a monthly meeting of senior operatives."
"Syrian captives were forced to kneel, and the other German fighters shot them, showing an interest only in the cinematic effect.
One turned to Mr. Sarfo immediately after killing a victim and asked: “How did I look like? Did I look good, the way I executed?”
Mr. Sarfo said he had learned that videos like the one he acted in were vetted by Mr. Adnani himself in a monthly meeting of senior operatives."
It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that there isn’t a successful, dynamic Muslim nation anywhere. Where there has been mass immigration of Muslims—to the UK, Europe and Australia—Muslim communities show up disproportionately on social welfare rolls and in prison populations. Why is this so? I spent years living in a Muslim country and my money’s on a combination of deep seated misogyny that removes women from public life and a profound anti-intellectualism that results from too much religion, whether it’s practiced or not. This is pretty much confirmed by the UN’s annual Arab human development report without using the word “Islam”. There’s a lot more going on here than “discrimination” or "alienation". For people who take religion far more seriously than you can ever know and are convinced of Islam's superiority, there are deep feelings of resentment and jealousy that it is they who are beggars and supplicants in Christian/secular lands.
37
Where is the data to support your contention that Muslim immigrants to western countries are disproportionately represented on welfare rolls and in prisons?
You don't define what might qualify a nation to be classified as "successful" or "dynamic" so your claim that there is no Muslim nation that does qualify is really untestable. However, by most commonly accepted notions of success and dynamism, Indonesia, Malaysia, & India would qualify, Indonesia having the largest population of Muslims in the world (over 200m) with India having nearly 200m muslims (tho' the latter is Hindu-majority so may not qualify under your unstated criteria for being a "muslim country".
You don't define what might qualify a nation to be classified as "successful" or "dynamic" so your claim that there is no Muslim nation that does qualify is really untestable. However, by most commonly accepted notions of success and dynamism, Indonesia, Malaysia, & India would qualify, Indonesia having the largest population of Muslims in the world (over 200m) with India having nearly 200m muslims (tho' the latter is Hindu-majority so may not qualify under your unstated criteria for being a "muslim country".
Malaysia is one of these nations. I'm not sure the sample of nations to study is big enough to determine that Islam will ruin you.
Has it every occurred to anyone that the issue could be social outreach to new immigrants as they arrive and on-going so they are made to feel and understand that they are considered welcome in their new countries? Rather than simply allotting financial support, if they are assisted in settling in decent housing, outside the ghettos that have been allowed to form, with proactive and welcoming neighbors, and to locate meaningful employment based on their backgrounds and experience, rather than starting at square one to rebuild their professional lives as is common here and abroad.
People who feel discriminated against, rather than valued for who they are and how they can contribute, leads to the kind of resentment and alienation. Will it stop every single instance of radicalization? Likely not, but working from a base of our common humanity can go a very long way in stemming a rising tide. And we can and will rise with it's decrease in the process.
People who feel discriminated against, rather than valued for who they are and how they can contribute, leads to the kind of resentment and alienation. Will it stop every single instance of radicalization? Likely not, but working from a base of our common humanity can go a very long way in stemming a rising tide. And we can and will rise with it's decrease in the process.
I am fearful that some of these men who are turned back by European countries may decide to try and enter our nation instead. If they can't achieve it legally or claiming 'refugee status', we have a southern border with gapping holes to walk through. We must start being a bit more concerned about the lack of zero security at our borders. ISIL is well aware of this fact and could easily bring more willing sleeper cells and perhaps dirty bombs into the US this way.
Inviting more and more Muslims into the US will result in the prospects and chances of more terroristic acts, it is inevitable. Those who are quick to defend Muslims and call out racist! will be eating their responses in the future, mark my words. And no, I am NOT a supporter of Trump.
Inviting more and more Muslims into the US will result in the prospects and chances of more terroristic acts, it is inevitable. Those who are quick to defend Muslims and call out racist! will be eating their responses in the future, mark my words. And no, I am NOT a supporter of Trump.
17
The rate of homicides in germany is 0.9 per 10000,
in the US it more than 4 times as much.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_...
If you try to find a correlation of muslim migrants and homicides, this would be a strong evidence, that muslims make your nation more secure and less violent.
Or you just admit, that other factors are a bigger contribution than faith, like very liberal gun laws. But that would be ridicolous, even for non Trump supporters. Islamic terrorists is a much more suitable explanation.
in the US it more than 4 times as much.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_...
If you try to find a correlation of muslim migrants and homicides, this would be a strong evidence, that muslims make your nation more secure and less violent.
Or you just admit, that other factors are a bigger contribution than faith, like very liberal gun laws. But that would be ridicolous, even for non Trump supporters. Islamic terrorists is a much more suitable explanation.
5
For more than a century the Reformed Church In America and the Presbyterian Church In The USA have run a cooperative mission to the Chiappas Indians in southern Mexico.
About 10 years ago I read in the RCA's membership magazine that Muslims had entered the community ad that there had been a number of converts to Islam. This despite a century of care and evangelism.
The roots for Jihad I'm sure have been planted. With our porous border it is possible for one of these people to make the trip in unseen and commit an act of terrorism because they'll look like the rest of the border crossers and we'll be looking for men from the Middle East.
About 10 years ago I read in the RCA's membership magazine that Muslims had entered the community ad that there had been a number of converts to Islam. This despite a century of care and evangelism.
The roots for Jihad I'm sure have been planted. With our porous border it is possible for one of these people to make the trip in unseen and commit an act of terrorism because they'll look like the rest of the border crossers and we'll be looking for men from the Middle East.
4
Brace yourself for when Hilliary Clinton wins. She seems almost as delusional as Merkel when it comes to massive illegal migration. Watch also for this "Kahn" man, who stood beside his wife wearing a hijab HE requires her to wear while lecturing us about the constitution, to get a place in her administration. He is an ambulance-chasing immigration lawyer so Hilliary will have a job for him. He (and the DNC) ran an effective "punk" job on Trump, one must admit. Deliver an insult, hide behind your slain son's casket to avoid any response, repeat the DNC mantra "UNFIT". Masterwork in political sleaze. And Trump fell for it. Like the old Colson and "tricky Dick" days. Which means you (as Americans) better keep your eyes open when Hilliary starts to mumble about "open your hearts". We have heard this crap from Merkel. Shut it down when you hear it.
3
We face an evil, determined, but clever enemy. We can defeat them only with a combination of meticulous intelligence work and surgical operations. And we must sustain a fight against them for a long time to come, like 10 or 20 years. The dumbest thing we can do is to send hundreds of thousands of troops to anywhere in the middle east. "Bombing it until the sand glows" would be really stupid.
10
Who decided to take out Sadam Hussein without a plan to rebuild Iraq?
Who decided to promote democracy throughout the middle east and northern Africa without a plan?
Who decided to sit on the sidelines while Syria imploded?
Boy did we open a can of worms...
Who decided to promote democracy throughout the middle east and northern Africa without a plan?
Who decided to sit on the sidelines while Syria imploded?
Boy did we open a can of worms...
24
Oh my! Masked men in Syria recruiting expatriates for ISIS attacks in other countries!
Well, you know what? We have tattooed thugs in the junior high schools of America recruiting vulnerable kids for MS-13. You know, the international street gang whose 70,000 members outnumber ISIS three to one. At least 10,000 of their members are currently in America.
I don't worry at all about ISIS. They would have a long way to go to intimidate, kidnap, drug, rape, prostitute, and murder as many as MS-13 has in this country. Perhaps our news media should focus on threats more pressing than the ISIS bogeyman.
Well, you know what? We have tattooed thugs in the junior high schools of America recruiting vulnerable kids for MS-13. You know, the international street gang whose 70,000 members outnumber ISIS three to one. At least 10,000 of their members are currently in America.
I don't worry at all about ISIS. They would have a long way to go to intimidate, kidnap, drug, rape, prostitute, and murder as many as MS-13 has in this country. Perhaps our news media should focus on threats more pressing than the ISIS bogeyman.
20
All under the nose of Western governments. Who is all knowing? Who, competent?
Maybe there's a better, decentralized way.
Maybe there's a better, decentralized way.
3
Headline reduces what is probably a good piece of investigative journalism into a cartoon show. Wouldn't know; it was too off-putting to read.
Needless to say, the useless idiots of "ISIS" must be very pleased with the characterization so reminiscent of the American movies and comic books they grew up on.
Needless to say, the useless idiots of "ISIS" must be very pleased with the characterization so reminiscent of the American movies and comic books they grew up on.
5
Not to make light of the ISIS threat, but we grow our own quite deadly US-born terrorists. Remember? Timothy McVeigh (168 dead Oklahoma City), Harris and Klebold (13 dead columbine HS), James Holmes (12 dead Aurora CO), Adam Lanza (20 schoolchildren, 6 school employees and his mother, Sandy Hook Elememtary, CT), Omar Mateen (49 dead Orland Florida), stayed Frook (14 dead San Bernardino CA), Dylan Roof (9 dead Columbia SC), and many more.
We need to be careful not to let ISIS send us terrorists. What are we doing about the ones who are already walking among us?
We need to be careful not to let ISIS send us terrorists. What are we doing about the ones who are already walking among us?
31
One of the first things we could do about "the ones who are already walking among us?" is to destigmatize mental health care and reopen our mental health facilities. I have read that 30% of our populations is mentally ill at any one time. Well, geez guys, maybe we should begin by talking about what good mental health is, finding a consensus and getting help for those that want it or especially for those that don't.
Our mental health system is virtually nonexistent. All the people mention by @Joe From Boston were known to be mentally unstable before they attacked any person or group.
Yes, Americans are naive...we live in a virtual fairy land compared to the mid-east. And our borders are porous like sieves. Who wouldn't want to destroy us since we are not going to share with the Islamists? I am not willing to do that under conditions of their religion.
We do need to read the Qu'ran and we need to understand Sharia Law. We are just a chicken ready to roast until we understand what we are dealing with in terms of ISIL or Daesh and the whole of Islam.
Our mental health system is virtually nonexistent. All the people mention by @Joe From Boston were known to be mentally unstable before they attacked any person or group.
Yes, Americans are naive...we live in a virtual fairy land compared to the mid-east. And our borders are porous like sieves. Who wouldn't want to destroy us since we are not going to share with the Islamists? I am not willing to do that under conditions of their religion.
We do need to read the Qu'ran and we need to understand Sharia Law. We are just a chicken ready to roast until we understand what we are dealing with in terms of ISIL or Daesh and the whole of Islam.
6
"How a Secretive Branch of Terrorists Built a Global Network of Killers," Aug. 3, 2016.
Ms. Rukmini Callimahi, your correspondent, has done a great job in researching and assembling the material for this almost book-length report. Her journalistic courage in writing it deserves high praise. But, alas, the knowledge she imparts, though immensely valuable, about a global killer-network can only fill her readers with despair. Think of the amount of intelligence, planning, military training, and money ISIS leadership spends on killing innocents whose only crime is that they were born as humans. This killing game can go on forever, with killers getting killed producing more killers who would never have to say there are no more humans to kill.
I surely know Ms. Callimachi's intent: It's not to fill me with despair, it is to inspire me to do what little I can to reach the hearts of the merchants of death and to impress on them the futility of their killing enterprise.
I am sure Ms. Callimachi would like me to tell them the story of "Saint Julian the Hospitaler," by Gustave Flaubert, in which Julian undertakes the infernal project of killing all animals, only to discover the more he killed the more there wee to kill. I do not expect ISIS leaders to become saintly as Julian does. But I do want them to learn that Allah didn't give them the gift of life to kill innocents but to love them, and realize that killing does not solve poverty, alienation, and discrimination.
Ms. Rukmini Callimahi, your correspondent, has done a great job in researching and assembling the material for this almost book-length report. Her journalistic courage in writing it deserves high praise. But, alas, the knowledge she imparts, though immensely valuable, about a global killer-network can only fill her readers with despair. Think of the amount of intelligence, planning, military training, and money ISIS leadership spends on killing innocents whose only crime is that they were born as humans. This killing game can go on forever, with killers getting killed producing more killers who would never have to say there are no more humans to kill.
I surely know Ms. Callimachi's intent: It's not to fill me with despair, it is to inspire me to do what little I can to reach the hearts of the merchants of death and to impress on them the futility of their killing enterprise.
I am sure Ms. Callimachi would like me to tell them the story of "Saint Julian the Hospitaler," by Gustave Flaubert, in which Julian undertakes the infernal project of killing all animals, only to discover the more he killed the more there wee to kill. I do not expect ISIS leaders to become saintly as Julian does. But I do want them to learn that Allah didn't give them the gift of life to kill innocents but to love them, and realize that killing does not solve poverty, alienation, and discrimination.
19
With the information from the thumb drives from leadership of all these clients around the world our agencies should be able to clean up and eradicate the operatives and their directors in Syria. No excuse not too.
4
Let's not forget who advocated for regime change in Libya? Anyone remembers Hillary Clinton saying about Khadaffy, "We came, we saw he died".
It was a sad mistake as Khadaffy had become scared enough to pay damages to the kin of the Lockerbie airline bombing he'd instigated and had stopped financing Jihadis. His cached store of arms disappeared during the struggle and is now in the hands of radicals. There were photos of all the empty crates in the news.
It was a sad mistake as Khadaffy had become scared enough to pay damages to the kin of the Lockerbie airline bombing he'd instigated and had stopped financing Jihadis. His cached store of arms disappeared during the struggle and is now in the hands of radicals. There were photos of all the empty crates in the news.
7
Isn't it nice to know that ISIL appreciates our lax gun laws because it makes their job so much easier. Just another thing for which we can thank the NRA and its Congressional supporters.
29
"How a Secretive Branch of ISIS Built a Global Network of Killers?"
Here's the kicker. They didn't need to build a thing. The "Global Network" was already in place.
Classic counterterrorism is directed at organizations. It’s inadequate for stopping individual Muslim terrorists like Omar Mateen who was able to murder 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando or closely related duos like the Tsarnaev brothers in Boston or the husband and wife team who carried out the San Bernardino terrorist attack which took the lives of 14 people.
That's why "Lone wolf" terrorism is the biggest trend in Islamic terrorism. Unlike classic Islamic terrorism, it requires no cells stretching across countries the way that 9/11 did. The perpetrators don’t even need to enter the country under false pretenses the way that the World Trade Center bombers did. In many cases, they are already citizens. Some were even born in their target country.
Why is "Lone wolf" terrorism happening more and more often?
The reason is simple. Unlike classic Islamic terrorism which required organization and infrastructure, the new brand of Islamic terror only needs one thing… Muslims.
Lone wolf terrorism operates entirely off the existing Muslim population in a particular country. The bigger the Muslim population, the bigger the risk. Any Muslim or Muslims who have settled in a particular non-Muslim country can answer the call of Jihad at any given time without warning.
The source of the problem is Islamic immigration.
Here's the kicker. They didn't need to build a thing. The "Global Network" was already in place.
Classic counterterrorism is directed at organizations. It’s inadequate for stopping individual Muslim terrorists like Omar Mateen who was able to murder 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando or closely related duos like the Tsarnaev brothers in Boston or the husband and wife team who carried out the San Bernardino terrorist attack which took the lives of 14 people.
That's why "Lone wolf" terrorism is the biggest trend in Islamic terrorism. Unlike classic Islamic terrorism, it requires no cells stretching across countries the way that 9/11 did. The perpetrators don’t even need to enter the country under false pretenses the way that the World Trade Center bombers did. In many cases, they are already citizens. Some were even born in their target country.
Why is "Lone wolf" terrorism happening more and more often?
The reason is simple. Unlike classic Islamic terrorism which required organization and infrastructure, the new brand of Islamic terror only needs one thing… Muslims.
Lone wolf terrorism operates entirely off the existing Muslim population in a particular country. The bigger the Muslim population, the bigger the risk. Any Muslim or Muslims who have settled in a particular non-Muslim country can answer the call of Jihad at any given time without warning.
The source of the problem is Islamic immigration.
18
Jerry, you write "Unlike classic Islamic terrorism which required organization and infrastructure, the new brand of Islamic terror only needs one thing… Muslims."
In America one other thing that this new brand of Islamic terror needs besides Muslims. They need guns...serious firepower that is always extremely easily accessible in the USA. This is the easiest place on earth to get all the weapons and ammo your need.
In America one other thing that this new brand of Islamic terror needs besides Muslims. They need guns...serious firepower that is always extremely easily accessible in the USA. This is the easiest place on earth to get all the weapons and ammo your need.
3
Right. Because the Muslim terrorist in Nice wasn't successful enough with a truck...
How about the Muslim attack on the Bataclan? Where did they acquire their automatic weapons while the un-armed French Civilians were slaughtered like sheep and tortured?
How about the Muslim attack on the Bataclan? Where did they acquire their automatic weapons while the un-armed French Civilians were slaughtered like sheep and tortured?
4
If this is how bad it is when Muslims are only 1% of the population, what happens when the Muslim settler population doubles and then doubles again?
The end result will be far more successful Muslim terrorist massacres taking place on a constant basis.
The only way to reduce the growth of the lone wolf Islamic terrorism problem is to reduce or end Muslim migration.
Muslim immigrants are already inherently privileged when it comes to their ability to enter this country ahead of far more peaceful and far more deserving groups. For example, the vast majority of Syrian refugees admitted to this country are the Muslims who perpetrated and are perpetuating their religious war in the region rather than their Christian and Yazidi victims who face slavery and genocide at their hands.
This Islamic immigration privilege must be withdrawn. Muslim immigration must at the very least be scaled back to a level that law enforcement can cope with. At best it must end entirely until the Muslim world can peacefully co-exist with non-Muslims.
There will be endless arguments over what percentage of Muslims support terrorism, but our own experience of recent attacks shows that many of them came from attackers who overtly appeared to be “moderate” and “ordinary”. For every Islamist activist dressed in Salafist fashion and tweeting praise of ISIS, there are many whom you would pass on the street without a second look.
That is how it is.
Muslim immigration makes Muslim terrorism worse.
The end result will be far more successful Muslim terrorist massacres taking place on a constant basis.
The only way to reduce the growth of the lone wolf Islamic terrorism problem is to reduce or end Muslim migration.
Muslim immigrants are already inherently privileged when it comes to their ability to enter this country ahead of far more peaceful and far more deserving groups. For example, the vast majority of Syrian refugees admitted to this country are the Muslims who perpetrated and are perpetuating their religious war in the region rather than their Christian and Yazidi victims who face slavery and genocide at their hands.
This Islamic immigration privilege must be withdrawn. Muslim immigration must at the very least be scaled back to a level that law enforcement can cope with. At best it must end entirely until the Muslim world can peacefully co-exist with non-Muslims.
There will be endless arguments over what percentage of Muslims support terrorism, but our own experience of recent attacks shows that many of them came from attackers who overtly appeared to be “moderate” and “ordinary”. For every Islamist activist dressed in Salafist fashion and tweeting praise of ISIS, there are many whom you would pass on the street without a second look.
That is how it is.
Muslim immigration makes Muslim terrorism worse.
21
That's "how it is"? Muslim immigration makes terrorism worse?
Says who, Jerry... you?
Assuming terrorism comes from isolation and alienation, it could also be argued that the more Muslims who are integrated into western culture the less of that there would be.
But since neither of us really knows the answer - and in fact, there may be no real answer - why argue for discrimination?
Says who, Jerry... you?
Assuming terrorism comes from isolation and alienation, it could also be argued that the more Muslims who are integrated into western culture the less of that there would be.
But since neither of us really knows the answer - and in fact, there may be no real answer - why argue for discrimination?
5
All this time wasted for these neaderthals to organize while being dismissed as the JV team by our leaders. Sad
8
Gun lovers against all gun control, do you experience even the slightest feeling you might be wrong when you read this quotation about ISIL operatives?
"They say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies."
"They say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies."
22
No, I feel slimy from the anti-gun propaganda however. You can't kill the terrorists when they attack you if society complies to terrorism by confiscating guns. You stop the terrorism by focusing on the group which has the highest risk of committing terrorist acts - Muslims - and marshall resources against them intelligently while not invading foreign governments.
4
Restrictive rules of engagement led us to this point. Up to 75% of all attack aircraft launched against ISIS in 2014 and most of 2015 landed with all of the munitions they took off. Our rules of engagement did not allow us to have any collateral damage whatsoever, so we rarely took our shots. Then Putin went into Syria with dumb bombs and embarrassed us with the progress he was able to make in a very short time. The Russians don't care how many civilians they kill. The US, on the other hand. would not attack ISIS oil trucks because the drivers were civilians, or a convoy of military vehicles with civilians riding on them. Once we started attacking ISIS oil trucks and military convoys no matter how many civilian shields they had with them, ISIS began to shrink very quickly.
The problem is that we let them make money for two years because we didn't get serious with air attacks until after the Russians embarrassed us. ISIS made hundreds of millions of dollars off oil sales. They used the time and money to set up their terror networks. The lesson is, kill these organizations while they are small, as quickly as possible. If they locate in civilian neighborhoods and use human shields, it's their war crime, not ours. Use our air power to crush them before they can set up a world wide network to kill us. It's our business no matter where in the world they are, because they always get around to us, sooner or later.
The problem is that we let them make money for two years because we didn't get serious with air attacks until after the Russians embarrassed us. ISIS made hundreds of millions of dollars off oil sales. They used the time and money to set up their terror networks. The lesson is, kill these organizations while they are small, as quickly as possible. If they locate in civilian neighborhoods and use human shields, it's their war crime, not ours. Use our air power to crush them before they can set up a world wide network to kill us. It's our business no matter where in the world they are, because they always get around to us, sooner or later.
12
Economic migrants, converts-in-place, young Muslim males desiring a sex-slave, silently supportive or indifferent "communities" and mosques (always shocked, shocked! when one or dozens of their congregation go to Syria or murder people at home), and the Internet. Jihad made paint-by-number; it was a lot harder in the days of the Muslim "prophet."
7
Obama's incompetence, politicization of the war in Iraq and his premature withdrawal from Iraq for political reasons against military advice created ISIS. He followed by failing to act quickly and strongly when they became an open problem, again against military advice.It is an unpleasant but undeniable fact for Democrats, but true nonetheless that Obama is the father of ISIS. The TImes might want to tell that story in the interests of truth and justice.
10
Bush signed the withdrawal agreement in 2008. Iraq would not exempt the US soldiers from Iraq liability, and the US went through the Bush agreement. The leader of ISSL was released from US detention in 2006. He then started ISSL, he was previously a supporter of Sadam Hussain a Bathist. Bush would not allow Bathist to be a part of the new Shia governemt. It was Bush who was the father of ISSL not Obama. Telling stories based on fiction is a right wing stable. Facts are not important to right wing types as they want to create reality in their own image.
1
Office cubicles for American workers are smaller than his prison cell.
17
Stunning article with a lot of valuable insights into the inner workings of the Islamic State.
I should be shocked that this article, based mostly on a german source serving time in a german prison, was published by the New York Times. But why am I not surprised that german newspapers didn't have the necessary interest to uncover and write this story? Better fill the pages with heart-warming stories about refugees! Facts could confuse the people.
I also wonder how the NYT gained access to Mr. Sarfo. My guess is that it was through low-level officials at the prison acting on their own, Merkel and the german political establishment would never want such unsettling news to spread.
I should be shocked that this article, based mostly on a german source serving time in a german prison, was published by the New York Times. But why am I not surprised that german newspapers didn't have the necessary interest to uncover and write this story? Better fill the pages with heart-warming stories about refugees! Facts could confuse the people.
I also wonder how the NYT gained access to Mr. Sarfo. My guess is that it was through low-level officials at the prison acting on their own, Merkel and the german political establishment would never want such unsettling news to spread.
18
Der Spiegel, the German news magazine, published a very similar article in December 2015, based on the same source (full name not given, to comply with German law):
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-jihadist-returns-from-s...
It is astonishing that US news outlets have not picked up on it until now, 7 months later.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-jihadist-returns-from-s...
It is astonishing that US news outlets have not picked up on it until now, 7 months later.
7
And the radicalized in the USA can easily buy guns, thanks to the NRA and cronies. Tragic.
16
Either that or our government will provide them ala operation Fast & Furious.
Criminals can get guns wherever. Bans only prevent honest people from arming themselves. If a law can prevent people from getting things, why don't we pass laws against drugs? Oh, wait.
Criminals can get guns wherever. Bans only prevent honest people from arming themselves. If a law can prevent people from getting things, why don't we pass laws against drugs? Oh, wait.
6
"It's much easier for them to get them over the social network because they say Americans are dumb...they say we can radicalize them easily.." said Sarfo. He also mentioned guns were available in the U.S. So some readers choose to jump on the mention of guns and say "SEE, SEE, SEE". And this is the edited version of the article.
I focus on "much easier to get them over the social network" "Americans are dumb" and "we can radicalize them easily". Do guns make it easy to radicalize people? Do guns contact people over the social network?
How many people do you see each day in a fog holding their smart phones to their noses and communicating to the person next to them via texts? Social media has taken over many peoples' lives.
As for the "Americans are dumb" part, I for one am curious if Sarfo was also referring to practices of our over-the-top zealously protected PC culture. One example, a neighbor of the San Bernardino terrorist killers stated on TV that he saw suspicious activity but did nothing because he didn't want to appear politically incorrect by profiling. And the media still works overtime to blame the murders of 14 people that day on guns to change the narrative away from terrorism.
No wonder terrorists think "Americans are dumb".
I focus on "much easier to get them over the social network" "Americans are dumb" and "we can radicalize them easily". Do guns make it easy to radicalize people? Do guns contact people over the social network?
How many people do you see each day in a fog holding their smart phones to their noses and communicating to the person next to them via texts? Social media has taken over many peoples' lives.
As for the "Americans are dumb" part, I for one am curious if Sarfo was also referring to practices of our over-the-top zealously protected PC culture. One example, a neighbor of the San Bernardino terrorist killers stated on TV that he saw suspicious activity but did nothing because he didn't want to appear politically incorrect by profiling. And the media still works overtime to blame the murders of 14 people that day on guns to change the narrative away from terrorism.
No wonder terrorists think "Americans are dumb".
26
That prison cell looks pretty comfy - garden view, fresh air, big window, TV. Quite different from what a max security cell looks like in the US. I have no opinion on which is more appropriate but the contrast is striking.
14
A cell that looks onto nature or a prisoner who can be outdoors near nature or participate in gardening would definitely yield a calmer prison environment, calmer prisoners. If the goal rehabilitation, nature is healing.
12
That was my first impression. Looks quite nice in comparison to the ibis budget hotels I sometimes use in Europe!!
7
And yet they have no issues getting them when needed in Europe.
1
Short of being brainwashed, disillusioned with life and rife with self hate it is very difficult to wrap my head around the motivation which allows any human being to kill another.
I am not a religious man and, so long as another does not inflict his or her beliefs on others, have no quarrel with those who believe in whatever is chosen by them. My concern is that children who are raised with unprovable beliefs may never escape the brainwashing which in turn may then allow some among them to commit crimes against others.
It does appear that regardless the belief system all require a denial of reason in favor of tenets demanding adherence to claims which when reduced to their origin are in fact reduced to accepting a premise which by its very nature demands adherence to unprovable premises.
My sense is that criticism of Islam has no more valid basis than criticism of any religious belief. They all appear to be based in the fear and subsequent denial of death.
I can only trust that sometime in the future reason will prevail.
I am not a religious man and, so long as another does not inflict his or her beliefs on others, have no quarrel with those who believe in whatever is chosen by them. My concern is that children who are raised with unprovable beliefs may never escape the brainwashing which in turn may then allow some among them to commit crimes against others.
It does appear that regardless the belief system all require a denial of reason in favor of tenets demanding adherence to claims which when reduced to their origin are in fact reduced to accepting a premise which by its very nature demands adherence to unprovable premises.
My sense is that criticism of Islam has no more valid basis than criticism of any religious belief. They all appear to be based in the fear and subsequent denial of death.
I can only trust that sometime in the future reason will prevail.
9
Good reflections Ian
2
This article implies Mr. Sarfo was radicalized in a Bremen mosque, but in an interview with "The Independent," he said he was radicalized in a German prison while serving time for armed robbery of a German supermarket. How he became a "German man" is a mystery. He went to school in London and was a postman for the Royal Mail.
12
He became a German man because he was born in Germany.
2
@brooklyneer
Not exactly --- Unlike the U.S., being born in Germany doesn't grant one automatic citizenship.
He must have obtained a German passport by other means which aren't fully explained.
Not exactly --- Unlike the U.S., being born in Germany doesn't grant one automatic citizenship.
He must have obtained a German passport by other means which aren't fully explained.
6
It all starts in Saudi Arabia.
10
How can you call this black man a German? Harry Sarfo is no German name. He may own a German passport but this piece of paper doesn't make him a German! It's been a terrible fault of our government to ever let those people come into Germany. Now we have to face such a grotesque assertion in the Newspaper of a country that's evidently trying to destabilize whole Europe and especially Germany by various methods, and the flooding with hundreds of thousands of migrants as well as the destabilization of the Ukrain are just two examples out of their malicious plot. And what's the true reason for this kind of silent warfare? To stop at all cost a close economical cooperation between Germany and Russia and subsequently to prevent a further decline of the US.
Take notice of the fact that many people in Germany are reading Obama's and the East Coast's character.
Take notice of the fact that many people in Germany are reading Obama's and the East Coast's character.
11
Harmut: You accuse the New York Times and the U.S. of trying to destabilize Germany? Germany is one of our most important allies. It is in the national interest of the U.S. to ensure that all the countries in Europe, especially Germany and France, remain strong and stable. This article is about the uncovering of the ISIL/Daesh terrorist network that has been planning, recruiting for, and carrying out all the recent ISIL attacks in Europe. The U.S. and the New York Times are trying to uncover how these terrible attacks are being planned so that we can help our allies in Europe - including Germany - to stop the attacks before they happen. If you believe anything else, you have been listening to way too much paranoid right wing nationalist propaganda. Given the long and close ties between Germany and the U.S., think about who would benefit by feeding you dark fantasies trying to undermine the alliance between the U.S. and Germany. Perhaps forces who want you to doubt the U.S. is still your friend, so that you will run into their arms instead. Russia, perhaps?
6
@hartmut
Wie, bitte??? -- Are you actually accusing the U.S. of trying to destabilize Germany and Europe? Sorry. They're doing a good enough job of that themselves.
Und noch was...another thing.
Thank goodness most Germans (and I'm one of them) know what is really going on with President Obama and the "East Coast's character".... and it's not what you think.
Wie, bitte??? -- Are you actually accusing the U.S. of trying to destabilize Germany and Europe? Sorry. They're doing a good enough job of that themselves.
Und noch was...another thing.
Thank goodness most Germans (and I'm one of them) know what is really going on with President Obama and the "East Coast's character".... and it's not what you think.
6
Dear Ellie: We are just drawing our consequences after having discerned the sincere statements of this gentleman, especially 1:40 onward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efAOEExv_e4
He's telling us a lot about the true American history and the present US intentions, doesn't he? It is interesting that an empire although ready to collaps is nevertheless claiming world domination. Mr. Friedman doesn't notice the absurdity. As you can see European people have a critical view on your country. An let me tell you that we appreciate an US author called William Engdahl living in Germany. May be you can get one or the other book from him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efAOEExv_e4
He's telling us a lot about the true American history and the present US intentions, doesn't he? It is interesting that an empire although ready to collaps is nevertheless claiming world domination. Mr. Friedman doesn't notice the absurdity. As you can see European people have a critical view on your country. An let me tell you that we appreciate an US author called William Engdahl living in Germany. May be you can get one or the other book from him.
2
Guessing that they are NOT the JV.
7
Let's see what happens to Mr. Sarfo and Mr. Khweis after being named -- and Mr. Sarfo photographed -- in this revelatory article. I'm sure the NYTimes will follow them.
3
If high-risk people had good jobs and opportunities they be less inclined to engage in deviant behavior? There will always be victims of false prophets.
Once upon a time the Mafia was considered a major threat. They hired 'button men' from the ranks of unemployed and "low educated" immigrants from Southern Italy. As society became more inclusive of ethnic minorities opportunities opened. Jobs that formerly required 'pull' were supplemented by a booming 1950s economy on both sides of the Atlantic. Criminals facing stiff sentences engaged in plea bargains. Witness Protection programs provided safe and secure shelter. Mafia ranks thinned as informants chose DOJ offers to ensure their children, if not themselves, could participate in the changing economy absent of direct discrimination.
Cannon fodder for Daesh seems to be unemployed and easily recruited young men of mostly middle-east descent: what do they have to lose? It doesn't help that many Europeans generally cherish ethnocentric cultural purity. (It is less an issue in the Americas.) It leads to disenfranchisement and lack of grounding for immigrants who feel the pain of discrimination.
As Daesh leaders age and recruits are harder to secure hostilities will progressively wind-down. Cutting deals with informants like Mr. Sarfo look promising. The DOJ is using pay-for-kill rewards but the program results are NOT disclosed. And unless Europeans welcome landed immigrants the future demise of Daesh is uncertain.
Once upon a time the Mafia was considered a major threat. They hired 'button men' from the ranks of unemployed and "low educated" immigrants from Southern Italy. As society became more inclusive of ethnic minorities opportunities opened. Jobs that formerly required 'pull' were supplemented by a booming 1950s economy on both sides of the Atlantic. Criminals facing stiff sentences engaged in plea bargains. Witness Protection programs provided safe and secure shelter. Mafia ranks thinned as informants chose DOJ offers to ensure their children, if not themselves, could participate in the changing economy absent of direct discrimination.
Cannon fodder for Daesh seems to be unemployed and easily recruited young men of mostly middle-east descent: what do they have to lose? It doesn't help that many Europeans generally cherish ethnocentric cultural purity. (It is less an issue in the Americas.) It leads to disenfranchisement and lack of grounding for immigrants who feel the pain of discrimination.
As Daesh leaders age and recruits are harder to secure hostilities will progressively wind-down. Cutting deals with informants like Mr. Sarfo look promising. The DOJ is using pay-for-kill rewards but the program results are NOT disclosed. And unless Europeans welcome landed immigrants the future demise of Daesh is uncertain.
35
Why don't we have counter propaganda? Oh, sorry, it is not politically correct.
5
True, but the fire of dissent is fed by Western attempts to destroy Isis militarily. Maybe the West should allow Isis to exist as a state where it can practice its "pure" religion - and the U.S. should be more welcoming to the refugees it has, to a large part, created through wading into Iraq.
This guy's life isn't worth a plug nickel after revealing this information. It's a wonder they haven't had at him in prison yet. What's interesting is that one day the Times will publish an article about the strong draw virgins in heaven has on these terrorists (hard to believe), and then something like this which is the exact opposite of the love for martyrdom. Their have even been families of self-sacrificing young men who have shrines in their home. They seem to approve their son's own demolition for a faith that is based on hatred for non-believers. A faith that allows followers to lie to them as long as it promotes Jihad. If not for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki how far would the Japanese Kamikaze have taken the Emperor in his quest for global supremacy? Is that what might be the only solution to end this fanaticism? Or will we be on the receiving end of Karma should they get their hands on a supply of dirty bombs? Stay tuned.
8
Individual and/or coordinated attacks in free countries is almost impossible to prevent. But one of the greatest deterrents are the Muslim populations in these free countries who feel loyalty and appreciation to their adopted countries. They may be able to identify these potential terrorists before they strike. But a country does not get the Muslim cooperation if its non Muslim citizens demean, ostracize, verbally attack (sometimes physically) peaceful Muslims for their religion. In order to attack a terrorism that has no country and attacks humanity, we need cooperation with and from all religions, cultures and countries.
What ISIS doesn't seem to grasp is that Freedom is not an outside force to be attacked and defeated, but an intrinsic force that will forever live.
What ISIS doesn't seem to grasp is that Freedom is not an outside force to be attacked and defeated, but an intrinsic force that will forever live.
7
Islamic State In Syria: Brought to you by the Obama Administration's efforts to oust Bashar al-Assad.
Why do Presidents ignore JQ Adams' plea: Go Not Forth In Search Of Monsters To Destroy
President Obama, you are not a Muslim. You are not a Syrian. You are not Middle-Eastern or Arabic. You have demonstrated over and over that you do not comprehend the nature of the Middle East. Yet like a child, you think you can make it better.
Here's a clue you lack: You cannot. You cannot "improve" Syria by bombing either side. If you personally feel an obligation to assist, then go there, by yourself, and join whichever faction you think is best. But leave Americans, and the rest of America, out of your war.
Why do Presidents ignore JQ Adams' plea: Go Not Forth In Search Of Monsters To Destroy
President Obama, you are not a Muslim. You are not a Syrian. You are not Middle-Eastern or Arabic. You have demonstrated over and over that you do not comprehend the nature of the Middle East. Yet like a child, you think you can make it better.
Here's a clue you lack: You cannot. You cannot "improve" Syria by bombing either side. If you personally feel an obligation to assist, then go there, by yourself, and join whichever faction you think is best. But leave Americans, and the rest of America, out of your war.
20
And what's more crazy is the Obama administration already saw and knew how destabilizing removing heads of states was in Iraq with Saddam. But did it over and over in Egypt, Libya, and tried in Syria. The ME is designed for dictators. Not democracy.
9
Best you pass this sage advice on to trumph
@usmc: My goal is to pass this sage advice to everyone. But no one in the Democratic Party - the Party of Drop Bombs On Everyone - is listening. Why do liberals claim to be for freedom when all they demonstrate is a desire to kill?
3
I really cannot understand how an obviously intelligent and well educated person such as Mr. Sarfo would find joining ISIS at all attractive. If he wanted to live under Sharia law, he could have easily done so by traveling to Saudi Arabia or to Iran. I also cannot understand why he claimed to be shocked and repelled by the level of violence he found while training. ISIS never bothered to hide the fact that it was savagely violent and it could be reasonably argued that many ISIS followers find extreme physical violence attractive.
22
I had the same thought. How could someone as seemingly intelligent as he is not realize how barbaric the Islamic State is before joining? It is a bit of a mystery that makes me question his sincerity, although he appears extremely sincere at face value.
6
He doesn't look very german.
11
Last I heard, "German" was a nationality -- not a race or hair style. I guess Hitler tried to make it a race, but failed.
9
This is a direct result of globalization. We can no longer destroy countries in some far off place without expecting to reap the consequences back here at home.
13
There has always been a cost for inviting or urging or bringing foreign workers into one's country to do the hard labor your own citizens do not want to do – Be they migrant workers, gast arbeiters, slaves, auslanders, foreign workers, immigrant workers, spoils of war.
And then guarantee that they are never fully accepted – and in most cases, even partially accepted – into everyday society, becomes, in many minds, criminal!
And then guarantee that they are never fully accepted – and in most cases, even partially accepted – into everyday society, becomes, in many minds, criminal!
4
as always, follow the money to riyadh.
16
Can we please end the non-stop freak out over terrorism? Elevators kill more Americans than terrorists as do lightning strikes, spider bites, and farm accidents involving cows.
6
There's still 3000 girls being held, sold and traded as sex slaves currently Iraq. Children as young as 3.
6
What the heck???? That's his prison cell?? Looks nicer than my college dorm room. Take out the TV at least, for pete's sake!!!
16
Why?
Some countries believe in rehabilitation, instead of creating even more brutal animals that prey on us when inevitably they are released.
Some countries believe in rehabilitation, instead of creating even more brutal animals that prey on us when inevitably they are released.
7
Die now. Play later!
The above is the ISIS marketed panacea for the hopeless, deranged, ignorant and self-isolated who unleash their inner feelings of self-hate upon the world.
To come up with better social marketing for these dregs of humanity is laughable. We need to seriously sever the head of the ISIS Medusa--wherever they are and however they desire to communicate, kill, or threaten.
The above is the ISIS marketed panacea for the hopeless, deranged, ignorant and self-isolated who unleash their inner feelings of self-hate upon the world.
To come up with better social marketing for these dregs of humanity is laughable. We need to seriously sever the head of the ISIS Medusa--wherever they are and however they desire to communicate, kill, or threaten.
4
What is missing here are the parents. Where are the parents and what did they learn at home? What is being taught that a certain segment of people believe the mass murder of others is just another thing to do in the day. This source needs to be stopped. Where they're getting all their money from matters. The true funding sources need to be exposed in the light of day and cut off.
7
So the pictures of Mr. Sarfo in prison...especially the one at the top with him sitting on his prison window sill....this is what passes for a "maximum-security" prison in German?
10
Some day he must be released, some how we have to assure that there is a way back into society. The punishment is 3 years prison, not to be dumped out of society. We germans are different from you americans.
1
@weitz
Not so fast. There is no reason to think that Herr Sarfo will be welcomed back into our German society which has become very
'Auslanderfeindlich' -- unfriendly to foreigners (and foreign-looking) people of late.
There's a reason why the right-nationalist parties like Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is growing in popularity.
In some ways, Germans are not at all that different from Americans.
Not so fast. There is no reason to think that Herr Sarfo will be welcomed back into our German society which has become very
'Auslanderfeindlich' -- unfriendly to foreigners (and foreign-looking) people of late.
There's a reason why the right-nationalist parties like Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is growing in popularity.
In some ways, Germans are not at all that different from Americans.
4
American Muslims are easy to radicalize because they're dumb? This suggests potential immigrants should be given an intelligence test. Or maybe Mr. Sarfo is just telling interviewers what he thinks their media bosses want to hear. This interview is very different from the one he gave the Independent.
Regarding availability of firearms, an estimated 100 million 'Kalashnikovs' have been manufactured in former Soviet states and China. AK-47s and ammunition used in France were manufactured in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia.
Many thousands of AK-47s were "liberated" when Libya was transformed into a failed state, and some of those will likely find their way into Europe. Unlike tactical-style rifles sold in the U.S., these would be full-fledged assault rifles capable of fully automatic fire.
Regarding availability of firearms, an estimated 100 million 'Kalashnikovs' have been manufactured in former Soviet states and China. AK-47s and ammunition used in France were manufactured in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia.
Many thousands of AK-47s were "liberated" when Libya was transformed into a failed state, and some of those will likely find their way into Europe. Unlike tactical-style rifles sold in the U.S., these would be full-fledged assault rifles capable of fully automatic fire.
6
The person speaking on this video, there is no doubt,( from his last name and facial bone structure),like me,may have Ghanaian ancestors. Here in America I have always joked that we Ghanaians are good people and that terrorism has no place among us. Obviously I have been proven wrong by watching this video.
unfortunately terrorism is not limited to some few nationalities.
If the world, especially America, is going to win this war, the minds and hearts of these young men have to change first. Bombs alone are not likely to solve this global menace. We need real leaders who reject hate and embrace love. It's the only way to save our world.
unfortunately terrorism is not limited to some few nationalities.
If the world, especially America, is going to win this war, the minds and hearts of these young men have to change first. Bombs alone are not likely to solve this global menace. We need real leaders who reject hate and embrace love. It's the only way to save our world.
6
But I thought this jihad business was supposed to go away because we elected a black president whose middle name is Hussein and whose father was a Muslim and who voted against the Iraq war, apologized to the Muslim world upon taking office, banned harsh interrogations, promised to close GTMO, will not use the phrase Islamic terrorism, and whose Party's newest star is a Muslim American (Mr. Khan) ... seriously, aren't those kinds of steps supposed to put a dent in jihadi recruiting? seems to be getting worse.
7
These terrorist attacks are a result of a number of issues of which immigration rules or lack of them are only one aspect. Poverty, religious fanaticism and despair all play a part too. The article shows why ISIS and other terrorist groups are so difficult to pin down and so difficult to eradicate. ISIS is not so much a country or a region on the map but rather an ideology that is highly mobile and contagious much like an aggressive cancer. I doubt very much if serious boots on the ground (100,000+ US troops) would really solve the problem and would at best mean a long occupation and the return of the military draft. I think that is what Donald Trump envisions but it's hard to tell because he just spouts clever rhetoric and provides few real details. Leadership is easy to promise but difficult to engineer. I think Trump talks the talk but has no real idea how to walk the walk. And wheeling and dealing in the high end real estate market and appearing on reality TV don't at all qualify you to be President of The United States. You really need some concept of public service and some diplomatic skills both of which Trump sorely lacks. A very successful yet somewhat arrogant businessman with a huge ego but not President of The United States. Trump as President would be a disaster for America, the rest of the world and the Planet Earth.
6
Supplying terrorists with guns is not difficult either in countries with gun control as in Europe or those without as in the USA. The world, not just the USA, is awash in guns and many of them are assault weapons, in particular, AK47s, which cost $50 in some part of Africa. What this article tells me is that we just may need those guns somewhere down the road, perhaps 20 years from now, when European countries will literally be fighting for their existence due to the high birth rates of Muslims compared to Europeans. Forewarned is indeed forearmed.
13
I am tired of all the anti Islam and Muslim rhetoric in our country. I think the US Government and the Media has played a role in fostering these sentiments.
I call on the NY TIMES to print other perspectives and viewpoints. HERES MY VIEW-- I DON"T SUPPORT MY GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY BOMBINGS in the MIDDLE EAST. The US government is responsible for already destabilized the Middle East enough. It seems to me that the Syrian civil war is being aggravated by the clash of the USA and Russia.
DO WE HAVE A FREE PRESS IN OUR COUNTRY ANYMORE where differing perspectives can be printed?
I call on the NY TIMES to print other perspectives and viewpoints. HERES MY VIEW-- I DON"T SUPPORT MY GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY BOMBINGS in the MIDDLE EAST. The US government is responsible for already destabilized the Middle East enough. It seems to me that the Syrian civil war is being aggravated by the clash of the USA and Russia.
DO WE HAVE A FREE PRESS IN OUR COUNTRY ANYMORE where differing perspectives can be printed?
11
Many people around the world, even in advanced economies, are under stress, particularly those tenuously in the middle class or lower classes. Additional factors like discrimination and alienation are also at play. These stresses are strongly filtered through personal experience as well as culture and religion. It doesn't excuse violent behavior but it can produce fertile ground for violence in those easily persuadable that lashing out in a 'noble' cause is the answer. Understanding this doesn't necessarily make it easier to combat violent ideologies, but it has to be considered.
I think those at the top directing terrorism at the west are basically violent thugs unhappy with how Bush's ill conceived war upset the established balance between Sunni and Shia. Cloaking themselves in religion is convenient for stoking murderous ethnic rivalries at home and also manipulating a generation of disillusioned young men abroad.
We should relentlessly hunt the leaders down as violent criminals while exposing their false religious legitimacy. It will probably take a generational political effort in the middle east combined with a law enforcement and ‘hearts and minds’ campaign in the west that recognizes legitimate sources of alienation.
I think those at the top directing terrorism at the west are basically violent thugs unhappy with how Bush's ill conceived war upset the established balance between Sunni and Shia. Cloaking themselves in religion is convenient for stoking murderous ethnic rivalries at home and also manipulating a generation of disillusioned young men abroad.
We should relentlessly hunt the leaders down as violent criminals while exposing their false religious legitimacy. It will probably take a generational political effort in the middle east combined with a law enforcement and ‘hearts and minds’ campaign in the west that recognizes legitimate sources of alienation.
42
Mr Tyndall,
With respect, but I heard that kind of stuff 10, 20 years ago already when I lived in Europe. Educate people, "give" them good jobs and they will be content and not as likely to join a terrorist network like Al-Quaida or Daesh. Except we now know that this isn't necessarily true. There are quite a few among the terrorists of 9/11, Paris or Brussels that are educated and middle class. Sure, some of them aren't. But to try and explain terrorism away by speaking about discrimination and poverty is bypassing the fact that there are other factors that may be even more important that have nothing to do with what you are talking about. First of all, the history of Islam is a violent one. Mohammed was a violent man. The concept of "jihad" is at the very origins of Islam. Secondly, many Muslims, whether they live in Egypt, or Europe-feel victimized by the West, which is, I believe, a kind of jealousy that a society they see as essentially perverted and doomed, is 100 more advanced, economically, scientifically, etc and has a much higher standard of living than most if not all Muslim or Arab countries. Thirdly, there is the history of colonization. And fourthly, there is the silent complicity of some Muslims in Muslim communities in Europe. The terrorists were-and are-able to do their plotting whilst living in ordinary neighborhoods. And nobody turns them in, even though some people know that they have weapons and/or returned from Syria or Iraq!
With respect, but I heard that kind of stuff 10, 20 years ago already when I lived in Europe. Educate people, "give" them good jobs and they will be content and not as likely to join a terrorist network like Al-Quaida or Daesh. Except we now know that this isn't necessarily true. There are quite a few among the terrorists of 9/11, Paris or Brussels that are educated and middle class. Sure, some of them aren't. But to try and explain terrorism away by speaking about discrimination and poverty is bypassing the fact that there are other factors that may be even more important that have nothing to do with what you are talking about. First of all, the history of Islam is a violent one. Mohammed was a violent man. The concept of "jihad" is at the very origins of Islam. Secondly, many Muslims, whether they live in Egypt, or Europe-feel victimized by the West, which is, I believe, a kind of jealousy that a society they see as essentially perverted and doomed, is 100 more advanced, economically, scientifically, etc and has a much higher standard of living than most if not all Muslim or Arab countries. Thirdly, there is the history of colonization. And fourthly, there is the silent complicity of some Muslims in Muslim communities in Europe. The terrorists were-and are-able to do their plotting whilst living in ordinary neighborhoods. And nobody turns them in, even though some people know that they have weapons and/or returned from Syria or Iraq!
9
"False religious legitimacy"? It's right there in the Koran, which, BTW, has its roots in Leviticus.
They don't pray for make-believe. They don't follow Sharia law for fun. They do it because they truly believe their religion justifies their actions.
Very revealing writing by Rukmini Callimachi. It helps us to understand the intricate mechanism that recruits these terrorist actors.
The word "external" is used to identify agents who act outside of some sort of local sphere of ISIS control. It does imply that there is a possibly vulnerable location of ISIS leadership that could be destroyed, perhaps permanently.
The word "external" is used to identify agents who act outside of some sort of local sphere of ISIS control. It does imply that there is a possibly vulnerable location of ISIS leadership that could be destroyed, perhaps permanently.
1
"...left his home in the working-class city of Bremen last year ..."
These attacks are a consequence of indiscriminate immigration from culturally incompatible countries. The French - unlike the Germans or Danes - gave them citizenship, and now they are stuck.
In the long-term, I don;t see other solutions than massive re-patriation (along the lines of what Israel does). In the short term, we have to dismantle the 'multiculturalist' foundation from which these attacks spring.
These attacks are a consequence of indiscriminate immigration from culturally incompatible countries. The French - unlike the Germans or Danes - gave them citizenship, and now they are stuck.
In the long-term, I don;t see other solutions than massive re-patriation (along the lines of what Israel does). In the short term, we have to dismantle the 'multiculturalist' foundation from which these attacks spring.
24
@muezzin
Wait..What?
Go back and re-read the ENTIRE ARTICLE.
“The group has sent ‘hundreds of operatives’ BACK to the European Union,"
This man was a German told to go BACK to his home country! It has NOTHING to do with “immigrants!” People at first were being recruited via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to go to Syria--to learn to fight, to use weapons. The women/girls who went “for adventure,” ended up being married off to suicide bombers and were used terribly...They were British citizens!
NOW ISIS wants the citizens to STAY in their home countries in Europe to attack their fellow citizens.
Let’s not confuse REAL SYRIAN refugees of women and children with ISIS operatives!
Wait..What?
Go back and re-read the ENTIRE ARTICLE.
“The group has sent ‘hundreds of operatives’ BACK to the European Union,"
This man was a German told to go BACK to his home country! It has NOTHING to do with “immigrants!” People at first were being recruited via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to go to Syria--to learn to fight, to use weapons. The women/girls who went “for adventure,” ended up being married off to suicide bombers and were used terribly...They were British citizens!
NOW ISIS wants the citizens to STAY in their home countries in Europe to attack their fellow citizens.
Let’s not confuse REAL SYRIAN refugees of women and children with ISIS operatives!
11
"Mr. Sarfo said he had started doubting his allegiance ... after seeing how cruelly they treated those who could not keep up."
Isn't it a shame when all you want is to join a little group in the desert and indiscriminately kill people across the world, and they turn out to be rude? You'd just assume other people who wanted to indiscriminately kill people across the world would be as nice as you. And now your water's warm, and there's no ice in sight. What a lame little group.
Isn't it a shame when all you want is to join a little group in the desert and indiscriminately kill people across the world, and they turn out to be rude? You'd just assume other people who wanted to indiscriminately kill people across the world would be as nice as you. And now your water's warm, and there's no ice in sight. What a lame little group.
37
Thank you for your post. True.
5
People in politics and media endlessly puzzled at why people join Islamic State so they may participate in the savage murders of innocent people. Once again, Steven Weinberg's wisdom provides insight:
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
That's how the nice young husband and father and university student comes to massacre innocent people. He thinks he's doing good, so good in fact that his dying in the process is absolutely worth it.
Stop pretending that religion is not the motive. Stop pretending that religion has nothing whatsoever to do with it. We won't get anywhere understanding this or stopping it until we face the facts.
People will read this as my saying "all Muslims are terrorists." It happens every time. Those silly people are a big part of the problem too.
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
That's how the nice young husband and father and university student comes to massacre innocent people. He thinks he's doing good, so good in fact that his dying in the process is absolutely worth it.
Stop pretending that religion is not the motive. Stop pretending that religion has nothing whatsoever to do with it. We won't get anywhere understanding this or stopping it until we face the facts.
People will read this as my saying "all Muslims are terrorists." It happens every time. Those silly people are a big part of the problem too.
49
Imagine if the corporate media stirred up as much outrage and fear over the 10,000+ U.S. citizens who are murdered with firearms each year in this country as they do over the hundreds killed by ISIS in Europe.
11
ISIS isn't about Europe. It's about the beta lot of ISIS across their caliphate. Millions are being harmed by ISIS. Spend ten minutes in Iraq or Syria. Talk to the legions of Christian girls who have been captured and turned into sex slaves. The horrors of ISIS aren't just about a few hundred casualties in Europe. Minimizing the importance of the ISIS threat is to ignore the vicious brutality that has affected the region. This isn't about Europe, this is about humanity. Gun crime in the US hardly even registers on the world scale of tragedy and violence compared to ISIS and other Muslim terror organizations across Africa and Asia.
10
Lord knows this man will need protection! Please see that he is in a safe place in prison, not where someone could carry out a fatwa against him. And when he leaves, send him far away from all this. He's been through enough!
2
What makes you think he is safe in prison?
5
Let's open the borders.
2
No wall, weapon or security apparatus will stop this. First, these people need to feel they have a stake in this world--something worth living for. Second, we must discredit any ideology that promises an afterlife. Give people a reason to live, and zero payoff for dying, and the problem will go away.
4
"we must discredit any ideology that promises an afterlife"
So... we encourage Muslims to abandon their faith? Poor choice of words.
So... we encourage Muslims to abandon their faith? Poor choice of words.
3
need to feel they have a stake in this world--something worth living for.
No different than any other ideology that uses fear and violence to subjugate others for the sake of a ruling class. Which even we are beginning to resemble. Granted our religious fundamentalist whack jobs haven't made as many inroads yet to enslave the masses here, but their working on it.
No different than any other ideology that uses fear and violence to subjugate others for the sake of a ruling class. Which even we are beginning to resemble. Granted our religious fundamentalist whack jobs haven't made as many inroads yet to enslave the masses here, but their working on it.
There are very few religions that DON'T promise an afterlife.
2
As many others already noted, ISIS laughs about our open gun policy and wants to take advantage of it. Ironically, Donald Trump is correct when he says our enemies think we are "so stupid" but he could not be more wrong on why they think that and fails to realize that he is part of the stupid.
But again in these comments I see many people smugly pointing out that quote over and over, as if it is the only factor that matters. "See!" they say, "guns ARE the issue, as we've known all along!" Great, but why don't we also zero in on these agents returning or infiltrating our country and Europe? How about calling out Merkel, Obama and Co. for being as pigheaded as the NRA when it comes to a contentious issue. Any criticism or call for moderation on accepting so-called refugees is filed under X for Xenophobia, and we need to change this. Let us not forsake reason for compassion - can't we have both?
What's the NRA's favorite defense? "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." I'm seeing a very similar argument in our media: "(Radical) Islam doesn't kill people, terrorism kills people." It's high time we start listening more to Maajid Nawaz.
But again in these comments I see many people smugly pointing out that quote over and over, as if it is the only factor that matters. "See!" they say, "guns ARE the issue, as we've known all along!" Great, but why don't we also zero in on these agents returning or infiltrating our country and Europe? How about calling out Merkel, Obama and Co. for being as pigheaded as the NRA when it comes to a contentious issue. Any criticism or call for moderation on accepting so-called refugees is filed under X for Xenophobia, and we need to change this. Let us not forsake reason for compassion - can't we have both?
What's the NRA's favorite defense? "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." I'm seeing a very similar argument in our media: "(Radical) Islam doesn't kill people, terrorism kills people." It's high time we start listening more to Maajid Nawaz.
20
Nuclear weapons don't kill people. People who detonate them kill people. So arm everyone with a Nuke. Smart thinking NRA 'No Responsibility Allowed'
2
An excellent report, one of the best I've read in the New York Times in quite a while. What I'd love for a reporter to do is to now ask Mr. Sarfo, Mr. Haddadi and others who considered fighting for ISIL to ask what led to their disaffection, and to LISTEN. Please don't go in with pre-conceived notions. Please don't try to diagnose. Just listen, take notes, and then report.
Perhaps the people running countries across the globe will pay attention and try to address the crises that are drawing these young people to terrorism. One problem we know is the metastasizing war in the Middle East. Another is social, political and economic disaffection and alienation. Another is any fanatical form of any religion spurring people toward violence. We also konw there will be crazy people seeking to foment attacks, but they are few among the vast sea of humanity.
Mr. Sarfo wasn't a born fanatic, nor was Mr. Haddadi. ISIL is admitting it can't get many Germans or Britons to attack their own societies, despite the many crises in each. Let's learn what draws some like these men and others to ISIL. Let's talk to them, and listen, so that we can learn and address the problems in advance.
Perhaps the people running countries across the globe will pay attention and try to address the crises that are drawing these young people to terrorism. One problem we know is the metastasizing war in the Middle East. Another is social, political and economic disaffection and alienation. Another is any fanatical form of any religion spurring people toward violence. We also konw there will be crazy people seeking to foment attacks, but they are few among the vast sea of humanity.
Mr. Sarfo wasn't a born fanatic, nor was Mr. Haddadi. ISIL is admitting it can't get many Germans or Britons to attack their own societies, despite the many crises in each. Let's learn what draws some like these men and others to ISIL. Let's talk to them, and listen, so that we can learn and address the problems in advance.
10
It is naive nonsense that "Mr Sarfo wasn't born a fanatic..." He and his mates are indoctrinated from birth with the vision of pacifying the world by religion. Witness the ever preaching mullahs or the Palestinians denigrating kiddy cartoons or the constant satanism of western values.
5
@macbloom
Given that the majority of Muslims are peaceful, it is silly to believe that one is indoctrinated with the idea of religious conquest just because one is a Muslim.
Given that the majority of Muslims are peaceful, it is silly to believe that one is indoctrinated with the idea of religious conquest just because one is a Muslim.
@Bill B
The accusation by your straw man fallacy "one size fits all" suggests political correctness perhaps even racism where clearly fundamentalist or militant Islamism, even as a statistical minority among world adherents wrecks havoc and misery based on a deeply flawed theistic vision taught and proselytized repetitively to the youth of Muslim cultures.
The accusation by your straw man fallacy "one size fits all" suggests political correctness perhaps even racism where clearly fundamentalist or militant Islamism, even as a statistical minority among world adherents wrecks havoc and misery based on a deeply flawed theistic vision taught and proselytized repetitively to the youth of Muslim cultures.
Thanks for another eye-opening investigative report, New York Times and reporters. This is truly chilling. I still believe that we were put on this earth to make life better for as many as we can and this form of evil is simply beyond my understanding. It's good to know that international intelligence and law enforcement people are getting such good information and it won't be long before these mass-murdering terrorists are wiped from the face of the earth. The sooner the better.
9
During the 50's domestic security agencies became obsessed with communist infiltration in sensitive areas of US society. Communism was the boogeyman threatening the American Way of Life.
A series of sci fi and spy movies were produced by Hollywood movie makers on public fear of communism. The Invasion of Body Snatchers was the most popular sci fi movie on that particular subject.
In 2016, Hollywood should be ready for new versions of the Invasion of Body Snatchers. This time not abstract fear but clear and present danger. Western countries's infiltration by deadly jihadists from the Islamic State.
A series of sci fi and spy movies were produced by Hollywood movie makers on public fear of communism. The Invasion of Body Snatchers was the most popular sci fi movie on that particular subject.
In 2016, Hollywood should be ready for new versions of the Invasion of Body Snatchers. This time not abstract fear but clear and present danger. Western countries's infiltration by deadly jihadists from the Islamic State.
5
I don't see why this is a revelation to anyone who has been following the ways of ISIS/ISIL and the history of these cells in general. Their mission is to terrorize, and it is done in small doses that will, and that can cause people to wonder where it will strike next. What better way than to inflict pain a little at a time all over the world? We do not need boots on the ground, we need ears on the internet, we need super-intelligence, patrolling our social networks, or whatever it takes to stop the recruitment of our young people, especially in the United States where we have been perceived as "dumb", stating that our young can be radicalized easily. We don't need a wall, we need to stop our own people from going over the walls created on line. Perhaps these groups should not be permitted on line. However, it probably would be a against the first amendment to remove them. Could they at least be monitored? Something has to give.
9
This is a great article. One thing I wanted to point out was that this man was radicalized in a mosque in a picturesque German city. I'm not sure what we can do about "lone wolf" attacks caused by people becoming radicalized on Twitter and Youtube, but it seems that for far too long European countries have sat back and allowed radical mosques to preach jihad in their cities. This needs to end.
24
Sarfo's remark about the ability of ISIS to recruit U.S. followers easily through social media who then can acquire firearms without need of an intermediary and carry out attacks is chilling. I never thought I'd see the day when the Second Amendment could be turned against a peace-loving nation in such a sick and twisted way.
4
Are you kidding? Every single one of our freedoms and rights can be used against us. When we are free and equal, so is the enemy within us. Think about it. It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against potential renters based on their religion, race or national origin, so terrorists know they can live anywhere. Same thing for airlines. Same thing for policing agencies -- not allowed to profile. Terrorist know and use it all. In the end, if we do want to live safer, we are going to have to give up some of our own freedoms.
27
No! Hundreds of thousands of people die in car accidents every year. Are going you going stop driving and travelling by car? These murderers need to be caught/stopped/disrupted/etc. Our freedoms are never to be surrended. That would be the ultimate defeat, and betrayal of those that have died already.
20 years ago there was no TSA, no need to remove shoes, and belts at the airport. This extremely inconvenient feature of air travel was imposed by terrorists. People generally accept the inconvenience. Other measures, including broad surveillance that could potentially be very effective in identifying high risk individuals and emerging threats has not been accepted, and in fact has made Snowden into a hero for many people. There is no political candidate advocating for broad surveillance.
1
Again, Trump's policy on blocking Islamic Muslim Terrorists from entering our country is valuable.
23
The only problem with that is ALL Muslims are terrorists to Donald Trump.
6
Some, he'll assume, are "good people". I was disappointed when he didn't unveil his brilliant fail-proof algorithm for identifying a person's religious faith at the airport.
2
@sam
"Brilliant"???....Trump????.....surely you jest.
"Brilliant"???....Trump????.....surely you jest.
1
Very impressive and jaw dropping Reportage.Thanks NYT
A few issues1.The nauseating and utterly horrific description of death manual could well be of CIA's/ KGB's or Mossad's rule book of running the day to day show of espionage with ruthless determination to fight& annihilate the enemy, often the state actors. This manual is from a non state actor called ISIS and is far more about killing anyone and every one than is for espionage of information gathering to devise and bolster a security strategy to maintain the integrity of a nation state, like the US, Israel, Russia etc.
2. What is the end game. What if let' s say there will be a number of terrorists attack ( the possibility is of course there) in the future in EU...then what?? These rogue elements are going to be destroyed...just a matter of time. They cannot achieve any sensible and meaningful goal: no ideology based on indiscriminate killing can achieve anything ever. So why not the US and EU annihilate them right now, today, before they can cause carnage in any western capital or for that matter anywhere on earth?? Why late??
3. We will never know why immigrants of the EU and US are drawn to this violent strategy. ISIS are not communist guerillas of India or South America!! Why is this fatal attraction to nihilism ? Islam?
4. What has Germany done to this death cult? They want to kill Germans because Germany offered refuge to the Syrians?
ISIS defies all logic & should be eliminated without delay & without any logic!
A few issues1.The nauseating and utterly horrific description of death manual could well be of CIA's/ KGB's or Mossad's rule book of running the day to day show of espionage with ruthless determination to fight& annihilate the enemy, often the state actors. This manual is from a non state actor called ISIS and is far more about killing anyone and every one than is for espionage of information gathering to devise and bolster a security strategy to maintain the integrity of a nation state, like the US, Israel, Russia etc.
2. What is the end game. What if let' s say there will be a number of terrorists attack ( the possibility is of course there) in the future in EU...then what?? These rogue elements are going to be destroyed...just a matter of time. They cannot achieve any sensible and meaningful goal: no ideology based on indiscriminate killing can achieve anything ever. So why not the US and EU annihilate them right now, today, before they can cause carnage in any western capital or for that matter anywhere on earth?? Why late??
3. We will never know why immigrants of the EU and US are drawn to this violent strategy. ISIS are not communist guerillas of India or South America!! Why is this fatal attraction to nihilism ? Islam?
4. What has Germany done to this death cult? They want to kill Germans because Germany offered refuge to the Syrians?
ISIS defies all logic & should be eliminated without delay & without any logic!
9
"We will never know why immigrants of the EU and US are drawn to this violent strategy."
One reason is that these people don't feel as if they belong in their societies. They often feel shunned by the societies in which they find themselves, have a hard time finding any jobs, much less meaningful ones, live in undesirable conditions, etc. Radical Islam gives them a sense of belonging and purpose, something to which young men are susceptible.
One reason is that these people don't feel as if they belong in their societies. They often feel shunned by the societies in which they find themselves, have a hard time finding any jobs, much less meaningful ones, live in undesirable conditions, etc. Radical Islam gives them a sense of belonging and purpose, something to which young men are susceptible.
3
You chest thumpers never seem to be able to answer the One Big Question: How?
[[He gave Mr. Haddadi $2,000 in $100 bills, and they were driven to the Turkish border. A man met them in Turkey to take their photographs, and returned with Syrian passports. Another smuggler arranged their Oct. 3 boat trip to Leros, Greece.]]
Trump is an idiot.
But we should be much more vigilant about identity fraud and identity theft in this country. We get so weepy about economic migrants and assume that the same networks who smuggle Mexicans and central Americans into this country and set them up with fake identities couldn't and wouldn't easily switch to outfitting Islamic terrorists if that were a growing market.
Trump is an idiot.
But we should be much more vigilant about identity fraud and identity theft in this country. We get so weepy about economic migrants and assume that the same networks who smuggle Mexicans and central Americans into this country and set them up with fake identities couldn't and wouldn't easily switch to outfitting Islamic terrorists if that were a growing market.
9
You're assuming the coyotes haven't already brought in terrorists for sleeper cells.
4
What a shame.
But they say that guns are easy to obtain in the US...then why have the extensive attacks been done in countries that ban guns? The terrorists will get them anyway, and it has nothing to do with legality. Bombs and infrastructure destruction have been popular and will continue to be, in the US and Europe.
But they say that guns are easy to obtain in the US...then why have the extensive attacks been done in countries that ban guns? The terrorists will get them anyway, and it has nothing to do with legality. Bombs and infrastructure destruction have been popular and will continue to be, in the US and Europe.
14
If you wish to supply home-grown terrorists with guns via no-background-check sales, that is one thing. But have the integrity to admit responsibility for your recklessness toward your fellow citizens.
7
Yes, any criminal should indeed be less reckless and take responsibility for their own actions. It is an inward and individual realization.
Never in history should Americans and foreigners abroad be overwhelming proud of superb journalism such as this article in the New York Times. Governments leave us under informed to pacify and lure the public into believing safety exists. While we have journalists willing to infiltrate, investigate, and report their horrifying findings to an audience of potential victims, who deserve the right to know the dangers at stake while home or traveling abroad. I have the utmost admiration for journalists committed to rising above promoting tabloid fodder and instead report on issues that genuinely matter and provide insight regarding the status of the world today.
7
Kudos to the NY Times for such a thorough work of journalism.
8
Rukmini Callimachi's articles inform. Much of what she writes is truly unsettling and quite alarming. Rukmini is not writing about the Second Amendment, the NRA or the donald. This is indeed a global issue that may grow into something far larger.
5
A chilling article indeed. Now please explain to me liberals......where does Trump's immigration restrictions have it wrong?
22
ISIS isn't using immigrants from other countries, because they know our immigration policies are (already) extraordinarily tough. And they don't need them. If you read the article, or any other article on ISIS's recruitment practices, you'd know that they specifically recruit individuals who are native to the countries they plan to attack so as to get around this difficulty. Thus blanket immigration bans are not only despicable, they're ineffective. We should instead combat ISIS's recruitment efforts by examining exhaustively any American citizen returning to the US from regions where ISIS is present.
None of this is new information. Why is it so hard to grasp?
None of this is new information. Why is it so hard to grasp?
7
I am not a liberal. However, you do not seem to understand one thing in particular, these people have been here or in the case of Bremen, were citizens for a long time. In the case of our citizens, they have lived the American ways and their parents and families are vested interests and American values. For the most part, aside from their religions (which I'm guessing that you and I probably really do not know very much about except that which has been taken out of context - I could do a number on you with the old testament as well!) they are citizens like yourself. However, the younger set are second generation and do not fit in with the established, young white or even black or latino kids. They are disillusioned with life and ISIS is waiting to pounce, ready to take them in, and as with most cults, they LISTEN to messages on the internet, or in those outside groups that beckon to them with comforting invitations. These groups could be monitored by our intelligences (CIA, FBI, whatever we have in place) not walls, not soldiers abroad. If our hands are tied by first amendment rights, etc., we will not win this internal struggle. We need to stop them before they get these kids. As for changing the minds of our young people with regard to hating Muslims because of their religion...well - remember that commercial on TV years ago? "They've got to be taught from year to year, It's got to be drummed in their sweet little ears, it's got to be properly taught."
2
I found this article and video to be very fascinating and really a breakthrough in our knowledge on terrorism. For the first time ever, there is a first hand account of what ISIS is like coming from a former member. Usually this would never happen because if someone has second thoughts about ISIS and wants to leave, they would be killed first. Mr. Sarfo is the only former ISIS operative that is openly speaking about ISIS. Due to his unique experience, Sarfo is giving exclusive knowledge about what countries or locations there is a heavy ISIS presence. Mr. Sarfo is also a great asset to Europe and all Western countries fighting ISIS because of his knowledge of how ISIS operates from the inside. With this valuable knowledge, Mr. Sarfo provides tremendous help for the war against ISIS and delivers a powerful message that ISIS does not represent any of the beliefs that everyday Muslims believe.
1
[[The unit only admitted single men who agreed not to marry during the duration of their training.]]
Right.
Girlfriend/marriage equates with love and happiness. Someone you want to make happy. So instead of blowing up the flower shop or shooting up the restaurant, you stop by for a present and a meal for the girlfriend.
The funny thing about fanatics - Islamics perching a religious war, whites preaching a race war - is that they are running a cult. Cut off access with the people who would smack you in the head and say "What's wrong with you!?! Smarten up. Meet a nice girl. Get a job!"
Instead they surround themselves with miserable sots who affirm that everyone hates them and is against them.
The boring truth is that no one cares about you. Show up. Do your job. raise your children. Beyond that, no one cares how you pray or whether you pray.
Also, readers, this Harry Sarfo character has been in the media since April. That explains the very posed photo of him with this article.
Right.
Girlfriend/marriage equates with love and happiness. Someone you want to make happy. So instead of blowing up the flower shop or shooting up the restaurant, you stop by for a present and a meal for the girlfriend.
The funny thing about fanatics - Islamics perching a religious war, whites preaching a race war - is that they are running a cult. Cut off access with the people who would smack you in the head and say "What's wrong with you!?! Smarten up. Meet a nice girl. Get a job!"
Instead they surround themselves with miserable sots who affirm that everyone hates them and is against them.
The boring truth is that no one cares about you. Show up. Do your job. raise your children. Beyond that, no one cares how you pray or whether you pray.
Also, readers, this Harry Sarfo character has been in the media since April. That explains the very posed photo of him with this article.
12
What?! Research shows that most of these lone wolf attackers are married/have kids
4
The article refers to a specialized unit and says that members were required to promise not to marry during their "training." Perhaps some of them marry once they return to their home countries. Who knows. But either way, this is indoctrination into a cult and the process is similar to all cults.
This fellow sounds sincere. I applaud him turning away from ISIS's evil and seeking to be a voice of opposition to it. God Bless him for that.
6
Some JV team!
10
Another truly excellent piece of journalism from Rukmini Callimachi. She has done infinitely more to help readers understand the inner workings of the Islamic State than any other writer in print. It's a tragic beat, and must weigh very heavy most of the time, but her writing provides a valuable service to all concerned with this global threat. -With depth of gratitude--may you not grow weary.
24
Thank you, Obama, for helping bring these terrorists to all of the world. Good job. Your girl Hillary did a big part of the work, too.
15
It would be interesting to know which information sources you have that would allow you to come to such an inane conclusion.
7
Thank George W. Bush. He created al Qaeda in Iraq by invading Iraq. This morphed into ISIS.
The invasion of Iraq destabilized the Middle Easst.
The invasion of Iraq destabilized the Middle Easst.
17
He's probably referring to Obama supplying weapons to the Syrian rebels fighting Assad, a number of which split from the original rebel force and became ISIS. This isn't exactly classified info.
5
While these quasi-organized Islamic terrorist groups are barbaric and dangerous they are far less proportionate danger to western civilization. They market fear as thier only real product. No doubt it is sad they will wreck havoc, sorrow and misery among Mideast citizens internally and occasionally externally but we shall devote enoughresources needed to exterminate the pestilence. But like death cults anywhere they will inevitably exhaust and self destruct.
2
They would not be able to accomplish any of this if they had no money. When are their sources of funding going to be cut?
24
Illegal oil trade is one source of funding. And the only country that has dared to point it out and bomb the long columns of oil trucks leading to Turkey is Russia. Also Turkey needs to close that northern border as it is too easy for anyone to cross it as many times as they want. I am sure there are also some donors in the wealthy Sunni stares.
4
To all those in these comments calling for a "Churchill" to take over the "war" and "nuke" the hell out of ISIS: what's Trump going to do that's not being done already? Unleash 140 characters on Twitter?
8
All this good intelligence and no one had to be waterboarded or otherwise tortured. Wow. Perhaps our values really work!
12
When the generals who send the troops or martyrs out to any war know they are targeted and killed with a certainty and regularity they discover the wisdom of peace.
Trump and the Republicans are addicted to terrorism. They live off the suffering and fear it inflicts. They are completely dependent upon it for their support base. In its absence - like Trump with his 'growing crime' faux statistical assertions, they just make it up.
Hello? Where is congress in all this? The Republicans in Congress have been huddled under their desks avoiding debate on this issue and wasting our time and money on post-ops hearings targeting our own State Department instead of ISIS. They support terrorists and are worse and more cowardly because they are entirely motivated by selfish political aspirations in the most despicably hypocritical style of despot dictators.
Trump and the Republicans are addicted to terrorism. They live off the suffering and fear it inflicts. They are completely dependent upon it for their support base. In its absence - like Trump with his 'growing crime' faux statistical assertions, they just make it up.
Hello? Where is congress in all this? The Republicans in Congress have been huddled under their desks avoiding debate on this issue and wasting our time and money on post-ops hearings targeting our own State Department instead of ISIS. They support terrorists and are worse and more cowardly because they are entirely motivated by selfish political aspirations in the most despicably hypocritical style of despot dictators.
13
"Trump and the Republicans are addicted to terrorism."
.
What a disgusting comment... Really... Just disgusting.
.
What a disgusting comment... Really... Just disgusting.
7
In this story, Rukmini Calllimachi has created one of the best sources of information about ISIS as she focuses on the interviewee's humanity, allowing it to provide contrast to the horrors witnessed and carried out, made more believeable and awful by not being demonized or sensationalized. She demonstrates extraordinary skill in creating the elements of the whole picture without a mauldrin sympathy, but also without a tone of indignation and condemnation.
What emerges from her craft is a story, that by its own contrasts and witness, by the power of its narrative and telling connects deeply with readers; we wear the recruit's shoes, are transported to the camp and are repulsed by how easy it is for some to kill--and for others to be attracted. She has entered the zone where the deepest fears and maleficence of evil (the evil of evil) reside so we can glimpse the darkest place of living, the killers liar.
Her courage is as great as her craft and keeps us safe.
What emerges from her craft is a story, that by its own contrasts and witness, by the power of its narrative and telling connects deeply with readers; we wear the recruit's shoes, are transported to the camp and are repulsed by how easy it is for some to kill--and for others to be attracted. She has entered the zone where the deepest fears and maleficence of evil (the evil of evil) reside so we can glimpse the darkest place of living, the killers liar.
Her courage is as great as her craft and keeps us safe.
48
The dealings of various foreign recruits with the Emni, the intelligence unit of the Islamic State reveal its high level of professionalism, which shows how much Saddam Hussein's former top brass and veterans are in control of ISIS.
In order to eradicate the Islamic State, the Shia-led government in Baghdad has to reach out to these disaffected commanders, who were banned from remaining in the army after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
The problem we in the West face, is that the demise of the ISIS will not be the end of Islamic terrorism. Although these jihadi groups have a very ideology, but they are all vying for power and prestige, allowing them to resort to all forms of violence to capture attention. We in the West have to deny them this blood thirst for fearmongering.
In order to eradicate the Islamic State, the Shia-led government in Baghdad has to reach out to these disaffected commanders, who were banned from remaining in the army after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
The problem we in the West face, is that the demise of the ISIS will not be the end of Islamic terrorism. Although these jihadi groups have a very ideology, but they are all vying for power and prestige, allowing them to resort to all forms of violence to capture attention. We in the West have to deny them this blood thirst for fearmongering.
8
please read: very NARROW ideology.......
From what Sarfo is telling us, the building up of an international terrorist organization by ISIS is not really that different from the attempts by the Nazis and fascists prior to and during WWII to establish clandestine espionage and assassination groups in the US, Europe and abroad. I note in reviewing the history of M5 in GB and the CIA in the US, building an effective counterespionage force that could operate throughout the world, as well as building awareness among citizens in the western countries being targeted by the Axis groups (into what to look for in their respective communities), was essential in helping to defeat the efforts of our enemies. I have faith in our current leadership and security apparatus, that they are well aware of the effectiveness of this approach to combating terrorism during WWII, and are in the process of tracking individuals and groups here and abroad that may be susceptible to the terrorist groups appeals. I also, am aware that in our own communities we have very patriotic and hard working ethnic groups, families and individuals who will do everything possible to minimize the influence of the terrorists on members of their own communities.
12
Excellent article and reporting! Great job Rukmini Callimachi.
12
These terror networks, as the last 15 years have proven, cannot be prevented or thwarted by military action in the Middle East. That simply creates more recruits. The only answer, I believe (and I regret having to say so) is a highly effective intelligence network within Western countries that infiltrates mosques and muslim communities to spot those who must be captured and removed without fanfare. They are enemy soldiers out of uniform and fit only to be treated as such.
50
Wow. Some comment posters are quoting that comment about "dumb" Americans and Canadians and the availability of guns as if were some sort of profundity, almost with a measure of "told you so" glee. Does it occur to them that instead of a proof of our shortcomings its the offensive and arrogant statement of a heinous monster and master manipulator? Didn't think so.
The terror attacks are being carried out by guns in nations with strict gun control laws. It may also be that potential recruits in NA are a little more hesitant to sign up because, unlike their European brethren, they know it may not be as easy as shooting fish in a barrel here. But that doesn't fit the agenda in which nothing but gun control matters, does it?
The terror attacks are being carried out by guns in nations with strict gun control laws. It may also be that potential recruits in NA are a little more hesitant to sign up because, unlike their European brethren, they know it may not be as easy as shooting fish in a barrel here. But that doesn't fit the agenda in which nothing but gun control matters, does it?
16
Don't tell me the NRA is not an ISIS enabler: “For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.”
10
So how do we deal with all these secret fighters among us; men who have been convinced by ideas? The answer: With ideas...as well as all of our other means. Within each one of them there is some microbit of doubt about their assignments. They fight against that doubt, but it can be developed and that is why we use the expertise of our media and advertising and personal relations within our country. Let's begin to use those skills again as we did during the cold war when we had radio and tv in every country. Spend billions on increasing their doubts.
4
Much easier to pull the plug on the internet side of this business, which is how it spreads to weak brains ready for the ever present readily available electronic hate preaching.
11
Thoroughly chilling. And as for America?
“For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.”
That about sums it up. Thank you, fervent NRA supporters.
“For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.”
That about sums it up. Thank you, fervent NRA supporters.
12
And yet ISIS has not mounted an attack in the US or Canada or Mexico the way it has in Belgium, Paris, Nice, Egypt, etc.
7
As the author of a novel based on five years of research into ISIS and al Qaeda, this article is far too close to the scenaro I anticipated when "The Ultimate Threat" was published a year ago. The difference, is the setting for my novel is the United States. Make no mistake, like in Europe and Africa, terrorist 'sleeper cells' are in place right now in the US, Canada, Australia and in most other western countries, complacent in the belief they are at a sufficiently safe distance to be in lessened danger. Not so.
7
A sobering article that requires every American voter who plans to vote for Trump and GOP to consider the consequences of (1) reneging on NATO commitments that also provide intel gathering to continue the battle against terrorism (2) the excessive use of military force in the Gulf region that results in civilian losses, thereby stoking Islamic feeling the west on another Christian crusade. Suggested reading: Col Andrew Bacevich's book, Americas War for the Greater Middle East. Suggested viewing: Rory Stewart, Afghanistan documentary and Admiral Stavridis's TED talk about smart use of power
6
This is a very chilling article, and its insights are truly frightening. It is now much more understandable why France, Germany, Belgium, and most of Europe is very reluctant to allow these foreign soldiers (I prefer to call them terrorists, it is a more appropriate term and does not dignify them), into their countries. It also defies understanding why, when some of our politicians propose similar action, they are excoriated in the press, by many politicians, and even by our president. Yes, this exclusionary action might be antithetical to our values, but we are at clearly war, and we should not grant terrorists access to our country, particularly when we know what it is they are coming here to do.
Shouldn't our government feel an obligation to protect us rather that callously suggesting that very few people are actually killed by these terrorists so our values must take precedence and we must let them in? In my book even one unnecessary death is one death too many. Life is full of risk as it is. We do not have to willingly add to that risk. As far as I am concerned, any politician who is willing to allow terrorists into this country in the name of supporting our values should not be in office or to get our vote.
Shouldn't our government feel an obligation to protect us rather that callously suggesting that very few people are actually killed by these terrorists so our values must take precedence and we must let them in? In my book even one unnecessary death is one death too many. Life is full of risk as it is. We do not have to willingly add to that risk. As far as I am concerned, any politician who is willing to allow terrorists into this country in the name of supporting our values should not be in office or to get our vote.
112
The US has a two year vetting process in place for Syrians and others. The problem is homegrown idiots. This is not a war, it's a police problem. The war on the ground in Syria and Iraq is being won. What's Trump going to do that 's not being done already -- unleash Twitter on ISIS?
10
Do you know they aren't? You, I, outside the inner circle of the halls of the NSA; CIA; WH; etc., have no clue what is happening within our country nor that abroad.
If you are not fully knowing of the intelligence happening within and outside the beltway, it should be something you might explore. I cannot imagine the grey hair resulting from knowing all, nope, not my wanting to know.
Lastly, it is difficult to know the outcome of our time on earth, it will happen, no vacuum will be crated with our death, enjoy the time you, I have and leave the grey hair to those who deal with the reality of ...
If you are not fully knowing of the intelligence happening within and outside the beltway, it should be something you might explore. I cannot imagine the grey hair resulting from knowing all, nope, not my wanting to know.
Lastly, it is difficult to know the outcome of our time on earth, it will happen, no vacuum will be crated with our death, enjoy the time you, I have and leave the grey hair to those who deal with the reality of ...
1
Tens of thousands of Americans have sacrificed their lives to protect our values. Without our values, what distinguishes us from the murderers of ISIL?
8
I bet ISIS was stunned when they saw that the door to Europe was open wide by Liberals. No need to sneak in or even to hide, you can just waltz right in because the bleeding hearts triumphed over logic and reason, setting their laws aside and said ‘every one, come on in’.
For years they prepared on how to move operatives into the heart of Europe, plans devised to dodge border crossings and customs inspectors, foiled by efforts by governments to stop them from infiltrating a continent.
And then in a flash of complete stupidity, the soft tender hearts open the door wide, and shamed anyone who tried to enforce the law.
A farmer opening the chicken coop wide and going home, allowing the fox to decimate his chickens. A store owner leaving the shop unsupervised to go have a smoke. A corrupt politician allowing the ignorance of law. Even those traitors do not come close to the level of stupidity that the liberals have shown, by allowing an enemy army to march in, uncontested, invade your continent, and set up shop, all right before your very eyes.
The level of treason will go down in history. Written in the blood of Europeans who were failed by the liberals who they elected to lead them.
For years they prepared on how to move operatives into the heart of Europe, plans devised to dodge border crossings and customs inspectors, foiled by efforts by governments to stop them from infiltrating a continent.
And then in a flash of complete stupidity, the soft tender hearts open the door wide, and shamed anyone who tried to enforce the law.
A farmer opening the chicken coop wide and going home, allowing the fox to decimate his chickens. A store owner leaving the shop unsupervised to go have a smoke. A corrupt politician allowing the ignorance of law. Even those traitors do not come close to the level of stupidity that the liberals have shown, by allowing an enemy army to march in, uncontested, invade your continent, and set up shop, all right before your very eyes.
The level of treason will go down in history. Written in the blood of Europeans who were failed by the liberals who they elected to lead them.
36
And the answer in retrospect, is to take away the guns of the western gun holders? Seems convenient and trite at the same time.
1
Except that the people they recruited weren't refugees, and with good reason. Refugees won't know the lay of the land and won't have local connections. That's why the Islamist attacks have been by people who were born there. Processing refugees has nothing to do with this.
1
"They want to have loads of attacks at the same time in England and Germany and France.”
----------
I may have overlooked any mention of the strategic reasoning lying behind this tactic, and I thought it was by now accepted as fact.
They want to excite public opinion in the west to the point that the Great Unread - ignorant of the effect across the Muslim world of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - work to elect a commander-in-chief capable of ordering the carpet-bombing whatever territory ISIS holds at any given moment. That would kill many civilians and ensure the enmity of a great many more.
It is disheartening to see no mention of that possibility in the plans of the desert's psychopaths, in accounts of their actions, after a decade and a half of their work. Harry Sarfo would have no idea of his role in the greater scheme.
They seem to have struck a broken chord in America's body politic, and their success in this endeavor could be catastrophic for all.
----------
I may have overlooked any mention of the strategic reasoning lying behind this tactic, and I thought it was by now accepted as fact.
They want to excite public opinion in the west to the point that the Great Unread - ignorant of the effect across the Muslim world of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - work to elect a commander-in-chief capable of ordering the carpet-bombing whatever territory ISIS holds at any given moment. That would kill many civilians and ensure the enmity of a great many more.
It is disheartening to see no mention of that possibility in the plans of the desert's psychopaths, in accounts of their actions, after a decade and a half of their work. Harry Sarfo would have no idea of his role in the greater scheme.
They seem to have struck a broken chord in America's body politic, and their success in this endeavor could be catastrophic for all.
7
Why tens of thousands are radicalized? They:
- Have nothing else and martyrdom is preferable to daily living
- Believe the religious propaganda and in their cause
- Desire power and dominance
- Want to be left alone to practice their (perverted) version of Islam
There are no easy answers. Military action isn't the solution. Shunning by all Muslims is...
- Have nothing else and martyrdom is preferable to daily living
- Believe the religious propaganda and in their cause
- Desire power and dominance
- Want to be left alone to practice their (perverted) version of Islam
There are no easy answers. Military action isn't the solution. Shunning by all Muslims is...
11
I find it very telling that France, with its impenetrable anti-religious culture, has numerous radicalized Muslims.
5
Nice reporting. It's hard to get the puzzle into a coherent shape, but you have done it. The ideology of hate of the "other" has a long history; it took foothold in the United States in the 1970s here, Latin America, and in Europe's Red Brigades, the PLF's Carols the Jackal, and in Germany. Today, we have, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, some 892 loosely affiliated, violent right wing groups capable of inflicting mass casualties. I include the Sovereign Movement, thought to be among the most dangerous by law enforcement agencies. We must do more to combat such movements, including teaching tolerance in our schools and communities and by teaching children and families how to peacefully resolve conflicts.
4
I have trouble with you describing Mr. Sarfo as a 'german man'. In the entire article you fail to mention how he came to be living in Germany and this is one aspect that german citizens really don´t understand. People fleeing poverty and war are allowed to live in Germany and are supported with public housing, food allowance, health care and a monthly stipend. Then they turn around and lash out violently against the very people who opened their arms for them. This is leading to a rise of the right in Germany and a new 'close the door' movement. I am living here for 20 years and I can´t say I blame them.
62
JV Team? LOL!!! Anytime any one claims they want to destroy us, Western values, it must be taken seriously, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. There will be much more of this since so many countries decided to be PC.
5
It is an ignorant arrogance that rises to the level of narcissist pathology. Our western liberal values are so superior, just the act of crossing over those borders will raise everyone to their sought for level of western enlightenment values, and welcome relief having arrived to a civilized humanism. If some of that is at play, the enlightenment turns to disgust at the postmodern shape shifting. Reality sets in, seeing the more corrupt (than any third world) hegemony of money and power, the sexualization of everything, and the fact of being poor, broke, and brown as the value images flash constant, more like demons than angels. To a people that are inherently religious, these are the things warned about in their scriptures.
3
Superb reporting, thank you.
5
Began sending fighters abroad two years ago? That is, the middle of 2014? Maybe Hungary wasn't so dumb in building that wall after all.
13
And the USSR spent millions too, to plant and pay operatives to live in the west awaiting the signal. . . !!!!!!
1
While I wish guns could be banned wholesale, I unfortunately do not see that being done any time soon. It is a shame to see so many comments mono focused on the mentioning of guns by the ISIS leadership. Clearly there is a much bigger issue than guns at work here. Terrorist attacks simply are not a function of access to guns. Truck, machete, and pressure cooker attacks have proven that fact time and time again. The Islamic State ideology is clearly the enemy. It is a by the book interpretation of the Quran and the Hadith that a small minority of Muslims find very attractive. I hate guns, but the obfuscation of the problem in their name is simply unhelpful.
2
It's an ominous sign for Bangladesh, and, therefore, the government operatives should be more vigilant to thwart the unscrupulous plots in the name of Islam.
7
There is a sliver of hope in here:
"They told me that there aren’t many people in Germany who are willing to do the job. They said they had some in the beginning. But one after another, you could say, they chickened out, because they got scared — cold feet. Same in England.”
Amid the fear and uncertainty, it's important to remember that getting people to commit heinous crimes is hard -- harder than ISIL wants it to be. It's hard to get people to kill. It's hard to get people to die. And as Mr. Sarfo illustrates, it's hard to get them to do it without getting caught. That's cold comfort when an attack happens, but the perspective matters. They are few. We are many.
"They told me that there aren’t many people in Germany who are willing to do the job. They said they had some in the beginning. But one after another, you could say, they chickened out, because they got scared — cold feet. Same in England.”
Amid the fear and uncertainty, it's important to remember that getting people to commit heinous crimes is hard -- harder than ISIL wants it to be. It's hard to get people to kill. It's hard to get people to die. And as Mr. Sarfo illustrates, it's hard to get them to do it without getting caught. That's cold comfort when an attack happens, but the perspective matters. They are few. We are many.
310
And please explain how our being "many" to their "few" has helped.
One thought: during WWII, German saboteurs landed on Long Island from a German submarine. They were caught before they perpetrated any violence. What happened to them? Why not the same for anybody connected, however loosely, to the "Islamic State", who is caught on the territory of a civilized country?
One thought: during WWII, German saboteurs landed on Long Island from a German submarine. They were caught before they perpetrated any violence. What happened to them? Why not the same for anybody connected, however loosely, to the "Islamic State", who is caught on the territory of a civilized country?
5
Not sure where you found the reassuring parts... did you listen to his subsequent comments on France and how seemingly easy it was for them to recruit people there? So much that they apparently burst laughing at the idea that they would require more helping hands in this country?
Great interview !
Great interview !
3
..."It's hard to get people to kill. It's hard to get people to die."
What makes both activities less hard, is the ISIS drug "Captagon".
It reduces a person's empathy towards the victims, and himself.
And it makes brainwashing easier.
Captagon "enables" the consumer to slaughter his own parents, or children.
On one occasion, millions of captagon pills were found in Turkey.
Now, if that's the new trendy drug smuggled into Europe from Turkey,
with the drug addicts singing Islamic hate songs, swinging ISIS flags,
and organising flashmobs like we witnessed here in Cologne,
I think it's time to review the "freedom" of flashmobs.
I'm serious: Captagon ISIS addicts insist on their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of opinion, and freedom of assembly.
What makes both activities less hard, is the ISIS drug "Captagon".
It reduces a person's empathy towards the victims, and himself.
And it makes brainwashing easier.
Captagon "enables" the consumer to slaughter his own parents, or children.
On one occasion, millions of captagon pills were found in Turkey.
Now, if that's the new trendy drug smuggled into Europe from Turkey,
with the drug addicts singing Islamic hate songs, swinging ISIS flags,
and organising flashmobs like we witnessed here in Cologne,
I think it's time to review the "freedom" of flashmobs.
I'm serious: Captagon ISIS addicts insist on their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of opinion, and freedom of assembly.
2
“He was speaking openly about the situation, saying that they have loads of people living in European countries and waiting for commands to attack the European people ..."
I've read plenty of articles recently claiming that all religions have (and had) some bad seeds. And that we shouldn't condemn the masses for the actions of a few.
The only people in the world that are actively seeking apocalyptic weapons on a daily basis for immediate, offensive use on the West are Islamic terrorists. To equate them with other fundamentalist religious groups is disingenuous. The difference is there, you either see it or you don’t.
I've read plenty of articles recently claiming that all religions have (and had) some bad seeds. And that we shouldn't condemn the masses for the actions of a few.
The only people in the world that are actively seeking apocalyptic weapons on a daily basis for immediate, offensive use on the West are Islamic terrorists. To equate them with other fundamentalist religious groups is disingenuous. The difference is there, you either see it or you don’t.
60
I agree with your assessment with the following exception: we have no idea what level of weaponry is being collected by the white supremacists and extreme Christian groups in this country. Militias I think they call themselves.
5
A little bit of research will make clear ISIS and their like are terrorists who claim to be Muslims. They are not. To be clear, they are not now and have never been a faction of Islam who've become terrorists. There is no such thing. The media created the term 'Islamic terrorist' and ISIS has exploited the myth, and most of us have been sucked in. I'm not Muslim but I've spent five years researching the difference for my own knowledge and for my novel, The Ultimate Threat. The distinction has become elusive but it is most certainly in the best interests of every one of us to understand the difference. Happly, more and more are coming to see that legitimate Muslims are our best allies in the battle against ISIS and other terrorists.
Muslim youth like Sarfo are the perfect ISIS targets. European/American countries and cultures have largely failed to educate, empower, and include these young men - so they turn to the source of identity, self-certainty, and spiritual absolution ISIS offers.
This isn't some holy war between good and evil. It's developmental psychology at its simplest. Let's reach out to Muslim youth with warmth, acceptance, respect, and opportunity, before ISIS has the chance.
This isn't some holy war between good and evil. It's developmental psychology at its simplest. Let's reach out to Muslim youth with warmth, acceptance, respect, and opportunity, before ISIS has the chance.
61
Actually, look back and you will see that before the advent and popular acceptance of the internet and small, easy to obtain telephone service, there was little such international activity. So much less that after the 1994 attack on the World Trade Center with a truck bomb, the GOP and many Westerners, all but laughed the subject out of their offices.
With an ability now to contact virtually all Muslims
in the world, there has been an uptick in both attacks but, mostly, in attempts to immigrate to the "Paradise of the West in Europe". Here most of the people who eventually have conducted attacks have been from among unhappy and often alienated members of the Muslim community. Neither in or out , they fit nowhere. But is all the attacks were counted, they would still amount to very few. Unfortunately, in Asian nations where Islam is the major religion, even educated and intelligent men see suicide as a heroic answer to minor difficulties. Long ago when this became a problem (over a thousand years ago) in Christianity- numerous Christians, desiring martyrdom for the immediate reward promised in Heaven rather than toil in life, caused suicide to become anathema in the Church, ceasing to be looked upon as an expression of religious fervor and becoming instead, a prime reason for denial of all the benefits of the religion beginning with burial.
With an ability now to contact virtually all Muslims
in the world, there has been an uptick in both attacks but, mostly, in attempts to immigrate to the "Paradise of the West in Europe". Here most of the people who eventually have conducted attacks have been from among unhappy and often alienated members of the Muslim community. Neither in or out , they fit nowhere. But is all the attacks were counted, they would still amount to very few. Unfortunately, in Asian nations where Islam is the major religion, even educated and intelligent men see suicide as a heroic answer to minor difficulties. Long ago when this became a problem (over a thousand years ago) in Christianity- numerous Christians, desiring martyrdom for the immediate reward promised in Heaven rather than toil in life, caused suicide to become anathema in the Church, ceasing to be looked upon as an expression of religious fervor and becoming instead, a prime reason for denial of all the benefits of the religion beginning with burial.
7
That is one way to look at it. Yet it doesn't explain the large number of educated professionals who have been successfully recruited.
4
Yes, I agree! And all youth for that matter.
So we learnt that ISIS has indeed mastered the art of smuggling fighters from Syria back into Europe. All they have to do is to take a car into Turkey, where they are photographed and given fake Syrian passports.
As a result, there are apparently hundreds of ISIS fighters in Europe.
Just this week, Angela Merkel reasserted her commitment to welcoming Syrian "refugees."
This is after a string of attacks committed by refugees and asylum seekers, not to mention the Brussels and Paris attacks which also involved ISIS fighters who snuck back into Europe with fake Syrian papers.
One really has to wonder what is going on in Ms. merkel's head. She displays a spectacular lack of judgement and should be made to resign immediately. All of her bullying and trite moralizing has directly led to dozens of dead Europeans.
It is shocking and most baffling to witness from the other side of the Atlantic. Thank goodness that the US is far more cautious.
As a result, there are apparently hundreds of ISIS fighters in Europe.
Just this week, Angela Merkel reasserted her commitment to welcoming Syrian "refugees."
This is after a string of attacks committed by refugees and asylum seekers, not to mention the Brussels and Paris attacks which also involved ISIS fighters who snuck back into Europe with fake Syrian papers.
One really has to wonder what is going on in Ms. merkel's head. She displays a spectacular lack of judgement and should be made to resign immediately. All of her bullying and trite moralizing has directly led to dozens of dead Europeans.
It is shocking and most baffling to witness from the other side of the Atlantic. Thank goodness that the US is far more cautious.
29
On the other hand, despite accepting hundreds of thousands of refugees Germany, according to this article at least, is a target ISIS is having trouble recruiting fighters to target.
2
Except that ISIS isn't recruiting refugees. The people it's recruiting are radicalized natives. That makes tactical sense since natives will no the lay of the land far better than refugees.
3
Speaking as a German I have no problem advocating for the confiscation of passports of those traveling to Syria to join the ISIS network.
NO exceptions.
Of course, no one wants to say this aloud for fear of sounding racist or xenophobic -- but it's very clear that we are now being confronted with an enemy that uses our own humanity against us.
There's no doubt these senseless attacks will continue. Whether it's a "lone-wolf" operation, or an act involving many, the Islamic State has already infiltrated European society in one form or the other.
Denying re-entry to those who feel compelled to join this terrorist organization may not solve the problem, but it might serve as a front-line deterrent.
NO exceptions.
Of course, no one wants to say this aloud for fear of sounding racist or xenophobic -- but it's very clear that we are now being confronted with an enemy that uses our own humanity against us.
There's no doubt these senseless attacks will continue. Whether it's a "lone-wolf" operation, or an act involving many, the Islamic State has already infiltrated European society in one form or the other.
Denying re-entry to those who feel compelled to join this terrorist organization may not solve the problem, but it might serve as a front-line deterrent.
360
I do not believe it is xenophobia to intensely examine, thoroughly vet and possibly monitor persons with Syrian passports entering the West. If intelligence and actual confessions such as this German citizen's reveal, the terrorists are indeed using " our own humanity against us". Along a similar point, this is currently being done in the US for those seeking asylum here.The process takes almost 3 years and involves many federal agencies including the FBI and CIA.
6
@tom
Of course, you are looking at what I've said from an American standpoint -- so you may not understand just how sensitive Germans are about being perceived as xenophobic.
However a cursory knowledge of our history, and the recent events involving refugees and neo-Nazi activity should help to clarify matters.
Of course, you are looking at what I've said from an American standpoint -- so you may not understand just how sensitive Germans are about being perceived as xenophobic.
However a cursory knowledge of our history, and the recent events involving refugees and neo-Nazi activity should help to clarify matters.
2
I agree, but as the Syrian/Turkish border seems to be like a piece of swiss cheese with smugglers in the area, the passports of boys and men up to a certain age (and probably also those of young women) who travel to Turkey would have to be confiscated because how can we be sure that they were not smuggled in and out of Syria instead of enjoing their all-inclusive holiday, or even more difficult to check, their hiking trip through Anatolia?
4
Excellent reporting by the NYTimes, thank you.
I saw an ISIS video for the first time last week and it was all I could do not to vomit. It is beyond me how anyone could see glory in joining these repellent, murderous thugs. I wish they would blow themselves up and leave the rest of the world alone.
This article reveals the hierarchy within ISIS but not their backers. That's where the real dismantling has to begin.
I saw an ISIS video for the first time last week and it was all I could do not to vomit. It is beyond me how anyone could see glory in joining these repellent, murderous thugs. I wish they would blow themselves up and leave the rest of the world alone.
This article reveals the hierarchy within ISIS but not their backers. That's where the real dismantling has to begin.
43
The desire to recruit people with criminal backgrounds repeats a pattern seen in war, everywhere. Criminals are let out of prisons to lead destruction and killing. Anti-social personalities are needed; they crave excitement and assertion of raw power. This is not peculiar to ISIS at all.
Anti-social personalities are cruel personalities. That is it. There is a thin line between war and crime. Under cover of war, many people retaliate and settle scores, but the leadership has to enjoy assertion of raw power with cruelty.
Humanity can be humane, and it can be cruel. How do we tip the balance toward humane relations? It starts with fairness, and a middle class, and a respect for diversity of cultures and ideas. It requires that peoples of all countries have opportunities for advancement and careers of stature and contribution to the community. We will have poor always, but as long as one's entire life trajectory is not poor, and there is hope for the future, people will pursue humane relations. They are more fun, more satisfying. When the vast majority of people in a locale and a country and a world have enough to eat and time to spend with family and friends, to celebrate and to express, to make meaning from collective pursuits that are healthy, then we will be much safer.
Finally, young men need to be able to marry and support their families. They need to be able to sublimate excess testosterone into competitive pursuits that are constructive.
Anti-social personalities are cruel personalities. That is it. There is a thin line between war and crime. Under cover of war, many people retaliate and settle scores, but the leadership has to enjoy assertion of raw power with cruelty.
Humanity can be humane, and it can be cruel. How do we tip the balance toward humane relations? It starts with fairness, and a middle class, and a respect for diversity of cultures and ideas. It requires that peoples of all countries have opportunities for advancement and careers of stature and contribution to the community. We will have poor always, but as long as one's entire life trajectory is not poor, and there is hope for the future, people will pursue humane relations. They are more fun, more satisfying. When the vast majority of people in a locale and a country and a world have enough to eat and time to spend with family and friends, to celebrate and to express, to make meaning from collective pursuits that are healthy, then we will be much safer.
Finally, young men need to be able to marry and support their families. They need to be able to sublimate excess testosterone into competitive pursuits that are constructive.
17
Where is the obligatory "But not all Muslims are terrorists" in this article that all of our leaders, Democrat and Republican, the news media, and organizations like CAIR recite as a mantra? Doesn't this author know that this article inflames Muslims around the world and will itself be used as a recruiting tool for the Islamic State? Where is his condemnation of evil Christianity and Christians — oh, yes, and the Crusades — as the real culprit in the rise of Daesh?
I'm tired of all the excuses. I'm tired of the projections of blame elsewhere. I'm tired of all the appeasement. I'm tired of all the Neville Chamberlains in our government when it comes to the Islamic State. It's time for some Winston Churchills. It's time to grow some courage. It's time to stop cowering in fear if we take the fight to ISIS.
Sorry for the sarcasm. Thanks to Rukmini Callimachi for this wakeup call in the NYT.
I'm tired of all the excuses. I'm tired of the projections of blame elsewhere. I'm tired of all the appeasement. I'm tired of all the Neville Chamberlains in our government when it comes to the Islamic State. It's time for some Winston Churchills. It's time to grow some courage. It's time to stop cowering in fear if we take the fight to ISIS.
Sorry for the sarcasm. Thanks to Rukmini Callimachi for this wakeup call in the NYT.
22
If I could raise Timothy McVeigh from the dead to kill him again, I suppose I'd give that some serious thought. I don't, however, despite the dead in my city, get angry at the idea that not all white men commit mass killings; I know they don't well enough. And I wouldn't think it was "courageous" to blame them all or to call for sanctions against them. Or us, actually. Take the fight to the ones who actually are doing the evils, fine. But don't pretend that your group is holy and other groups are evil, when that's not the case; it's not brave to do that, it's foolish and dangerous, as convenient for posing and threatening as it may be.
3
One thing this expose makes clear is precisely that a tiny minority of a minority of fools does the bidding of Daesh; so, yes, not all Muslims are terrorists. And what are you talking about then? This isn't WWII; ISIS in Europe and elsewhere it's a police problem and as this article makes abundantly clear, the intelligence services are on top of it. Also, in Syria and Iraq where ISIS is on the run; that's where the war is and it's being won. We don't need no Trump for any of this.
1
Nice try with Timothy McVeigh. A sequence of one does not make a pattern. Consider the number of terrorist incidents in Europe just this summer, just in the last month, and tell me that there is not a problem in Islam that contributes to them. And that statement does not impugn all Muslims. I don't claim all Muslims are evil or terrorists. That's foolish, truly. But I can also recognize the cowardice of politicians who will not name Islam with terrorism for fear of inflaming the Muslims. And then most of them have to go back 1,000 years to condemn Christianity for its excesses?
Finally, I don't claim any "group is holy" on its own. I didn't "pretend" it. I don't even "pretend" it of myself, and certainly not of all Christians, sinners every one. However, there is a qualitative difference between the teachings and life of Jesus and that of Muhammed. If you don't know that, then I'd invite you to go and read a bit more.
Finally, I don't claim any "group is holy" on its own. I didn't "pretend" it. I don't even "pretend" it of myself, and certainly not of all Christians, sinners every one. However, there is a qualitative difference between the teachings and life of Jesus and that of Muhammed. If you don't know that, then I'd invite you to go and read a bit more.
5
Wow! ISIS is a superb organization, albeit twisted.
It is only a matter of time before it succeeds in the USA. Unless some drastic measures are taken, such as proposed by Mr. Trump.
As Donald Rumsfeld once said, we have to be 100% correct; the terrorists need to be successful only once.
It is only a matter of time before it succeeds in the USA. Unless some drastic measures are taken, such as proposed by Mr. Trump.
As Donald Rumsfeld once said, we have to be 100% correct; the terrorists need to be successful only once.
5
... and you people on the Left want to take our guns away or regulate them & their use into oblivion. Are you people crazy or just suicidal? Suicide by decapitation. Mindless.
Once we have a real American President who can & will motivate the Europeans to defend themselves we can begin the process of eradicating these jihadist vermin. Then Muslims who don't demand Shari'a can worship in peace and live beside us as good neighbors.
Once we have a real American President who can & will motivate the Europeans to defend themselves we can begin the process of eradicating these jihadist vermin. Then Muslims who don't demand Shari'a can worship in peace and live beside us as good neighbors.
3
Oh, sure, let Donald unleash Twitter on ISIS.
7
I am grateful to Rukmini Callimachi and her colleagues for this powerful piece of superb journalism. Also, the video was deeply moving, terrifying, heart breaking, insightful. I think Mr. Sarfo shows that redemption is a powerful force. I wish him well and thank him for his courage. I hope he can be instrumental in educating others. And, NRA did you hear what he said about how the terrorists view the US? The time to stop the gun madness at home is way overdue.
54
Bad people will always be able to get guns. Don't cloud the issue.
6
No truer words have been spoken by ISIS no less:
"For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “
"For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “
32
This is an excellent piece of journalism. Since we have so much detailed information about ISIS why is it taking so long to put a stop to it...???The intelligence cannot be being used intelligently..
13
So, we American are dumb with the Canadians not too far behind. These are extremely scary people. I am glad, the US does not accept refugees at this moment and they shouldn't.
Quite frankly, I don't care if people around the world call us names. Now more than ever before, we must control our borders . Open borders are an invitation to more violent terrorist attack.
Quite frankly, I don't care if people around the world call us names. Now more than ever before, we must control our borders . Open borders are an invitation to more violent terrorist attack.
12
JG, what I find more scary than anything else in this article is the observation that ISIS does not need to infiltrate US from abroad because they can do better recruiting from within due to 2 primary reasons, at least based on their experience which is what really counts, namely: we, and especially our youth, are easy to recruit on line because they are so dumb (willingly naive may be a better depiction?) and the sea of easy to get guns are already everywhere with no real national set of controls and ownership registrations but instead a patchwork quilt full of holes.
Somehow, I don't'think this is what was intended with our Second Ammendment. The fact that we refuse to insist that our Congress correct it or even try to is as much to blame as the threat posed by ISIS itself and is already a contributing factor in why we lead the civilized world in death by gunshot.
Somehow, I don't'think this is what was intended with our Second Ammendment. The fact that we refuse to insist that our Congress correct it or even try to is as much to blame as the threat posed by ISIS itself and is already a contributing factor in why we lead the civilized world in death by gunshot.
3
The GOP in the Congress should read this article. ISIS practically is thanking them for making guns so easy to get in America. With all of the GOP talk about fighting ISIS- let's start at home with universal background checks and no fly- no buy. The background checks need to be stricter as well.
131
There is a truth lurking out there that folks just cannot accept for fear of being non-PC; not all Muslims are terrorists, but nearly all terrorists are Muslims.
Given the lack of outrage from peaceful Muslims, one has to wonder why some politicians want to bring more into our country.
Given the lack of outrage from peaceful Muslims, one has to wonder why some politicians want to bring more into our country.
3
The "nearly all terrorists are Muslims" is bigoted nonsense. Homegrown right-wing extremists have been as deadly in the U.S. as Islamists.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/tally-of-attacks-in-us-challenges-p...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/us/tally-of-attacks-in-us-challenges-p...
Obviously European and now the United States bringing in refugees and immigrants from these war torn countries will allow ISIS to bring their war to the West. Why are people in Government so blind? These people can not be vetted, to the pint of knowing these immigrants will not be radicalized by the Internet, then be called to attack us from within. It is happening today, yet the immigrants are still allowed to come.
7
So they began sending fighters abroad two years ago, and what's the reason again they haven't been blown to kingdom come? Maybe someone can ask Mr. Obama between golf putts.
19
I'm confused. I thought we were supposed to criticize Obama for acting as the world's policeman.
9
The solution will not come from blowing people to kingdom come. Nor will it come from glib comments that are disrespectful of how difficult the job of President is.
12
Well, let me take a stab at answering the question (disingenuous though it might be), posed in your post. Perhaps they are the same reasons why the 9/11 hijackers weren't blown to kingdom come before 9/11 when W was clearing brush on his ranch. Or, that the U.S. Is just a tad reclucant (not to mention the legal contraints) to intrude on the sovereignty of the European countries to which the jihadists have been dispatched. I have a question for you: did you hear your "question" listening to Rush, or Fox?
22
I hope this article will be a wake up call for Bangladesh Government who had been denying the presence of ISIS in Bangladesh. The presence of ISIS could also be a danger for India because these two countries are so intertwined for terrorist acts. Additionally, West Bengal government is lenient towards Muslims Muslims to create a Muslim Voters Bank for their re-election
8
"Secret service"? "Elite commando units"? Ridiculous. Using these descriptors gives these savage, hypocritical cowards WAY more credit than they will ever deserve for the indiscriminate massacre of completely innocent and defenseless people.
29
The good news is that hierarchical organizations like this can be taken down by coordinated intelligence efforts.
One of Daesh's strengths was supposedly its lack of coordination and centralization, especially compared to Al Qaeda. If their leaders can be located and killed, the network can be taken down. All of their "clean" men will be powerless if they do not have a leader planning attacks from Syria.
Take out the bomb-makers and the strategists and the attacks will fail like Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber.
One of Daesh's strengths was supposedly its lack of coordination and centralization, especially compared to Al Qaeda. If their leaders can be located and killed, the network can be taken down. All of their "clean" men will be powerless if they do not have a leader planning attacks from Syria.
Take out the bomb-makers and the strategists and the attacks will fail like Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber.
101
Wrong!
The internet has decentralized terrorist training camps. Any Muslim can acquire the skills and equipment he needs to kill a few or a dozen or even a hundred if he chooses to follow his religion.
Not every Muslim will shoot up a nightclub or bomb a marathon, but we have no foolproof way of telling them apart. And even many Muslims who would not shoot up an office party in San Bernardino will still sympathize with the perpetrators. And even those Muslims who don’t will often continue supporting the Muslim lobby of organizations like CAIR that stymie law enforcement investigations of Islamic terrorism.
Once we understand this inconvenient truth, then everything else naturally flows from it. The type of terrorism that we are dealing now won’t be beaten by breaking up organizations or droning terrorist leaders in training camps in Yemen or Pakistan. The enemy is right here. He speaks our language. He walks down our streets and he plots to kill us.
He may pledge allegiance to ISIS or Al Qaeda, but he is part of the larger organization of Islam. It is this organization, more than any of its Jihadist factional subdivisions, that represents the true threat.
Lone wolf terrorism is a viral threat that is spread by Islamic migration. We can only end it by closing the door. As long as the door to the Muslim migrant stays open, we will live under the threat that our neighbor or co-worker will be the one to kill us tomorrow or the day after that.
The internet has decentralized terrorist training camps. Any Muslim can acquire the skills and equipment he needs to kill a few or a dozen or even a hundred if he chooses to follow his religion.
Not every Muslim will shoot up a nightclub or bomb a marathon, but we have no foolproof way of telling them apart. And even many Muslims who would not shoot up an office party in San Bernardino will still sympathize with the perpetrators. And even those Muslims who don’t will often continue supporting the Muslim lobby of organizations like CAIR that stymie law enforcement investigations of Islamic terrorism.
Once we understand this inconvenient truth, then everything else naturally flows from it. The type of terrorism that we are dealing now won’t be beaten by breaking up organizations or droning terrorist leaders in training camps in Yemen or Pakistan. The enemy is right here. He speaks our language. He walks down our streets and he plots to kill us.
He may pledge allegiance to ISIS or Al Qaeda, but he is part of the larger organization of Islam. It is this organization, more than any of its Jihadist factional subdivisions, that represents the true threat.
Lone wolf terrorism is a viral threat that is spread by Islamic migration. We can only end it by closing the door. As long as the door to the Muslim migrant stays open, we will live under the threat that our neighbor or co-worker will be the one to kill us tomorrow or the day after that.
Who said this was a hierarchical organization? This article proves that there are bosses, but we know that the main planning strength comes from a whole class of former baathist intelligence officers at the mid-to-high level. If we take out one boss, another equally competent one will take his place, after all, this is only a network of one or two hundred men. This isn't even addressing the main problem of your comment, that you assumed we could acquire intelligence on ISIS, which has been completely impossible up to this point.
Yep our guns may just thwart a murdering animal. So don't start messing with the 2nd. Go after the head of the snake, that is why I pay taxes for B-52's.
19
No, contain the daesh and isolate them.
Let them rule their puny califateon their own account, let them starve, let them die on diseases, we have a simple cure for. Let them go back to the 6th century, without cars, cellphones, electricity and toilet paper.
The best way to crush the daesh is to let them thrive and fail.
Let them rule their puny califateon their own account, let them starve, let them die on diseases, we have a simple cure for. Let them go back to the 6th century, without cars, cellphones, electricity and toilet paper.
The best way to crush the daesh is to let them thrive and fail.
31
After we bomb the caliphate's cities, sir
We have to put the desire to surrender deep in their hearts via fear.
Same as we had to do with the belligerent Germans and Japanese.
Sometimes the only language that blooded people understand is force.
We have to put the desire to surrender deep in their hearts via fear.
Same as we had to do with the belligerent Germans and Japanese.
Sometimes the only language that blooded people understand is force.
4
@ Mathias
The best way to crush Islamic terrorism in the Western world is to stop importing it.
The best way to crush Islamic terrorism in the Western world is to stop importing it.
3
Hillary Clinton was 'wrong' on Iraq invasion; she messed up big time in Ben ghazi, Libya but her stance on Syria was the most 'viable' option for peace in the 'middle east'. Ms Clinton wanted to support moderate/secular groups like FSA with small/medium range weapons and she wanted US to impose a 'no fly zone' in Syria. She also believed that ouster of Assad was a pre-requisite for peace in Syria. Assad could have been ousted 4 years back if FSA was supplied good weapons; extremist groups like Al Nusra and dreadful Da'esh would not have been so strong if 'democratic' and 'secularist groups' were supported by US/'west'. A lackluster/indecisive US policy on Syria lead to internal and external displacement of eight million Syrian civilians. Almost one million Syrians have been butchered predominantly by Assad military and deadly Shabiha backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. Genocides/mayhem have taken place in Aleppo, Huma, Homas and certain other parts of Syria by using chemical weapons. Russia in the guise of 'finishing off' Da'esh has ruthlessly/recklessly bombed moderate Sunni opposition killing tens and thousands of civilians women children alike (bombing hospitals and densely populated areas). Aleppo is facing another human catastrophe where another 300000 folks could perish due to Assad's siege. Da'esh has exported terrorism to Paris, Nice, Brussels, Ankara, Istanbul. Assad and Da'esh are both monsters and they must be stopped at all cost. Save the Syrian children!!
14
Is anyone surprised? We are not. This has been radical Islam's aim since its inception and certainly teh current version of it, is lethal. I remember vividly when the IRA conducted its reign of bombs and terror in the UK, this is worse. We keep hearing about the majority of Muslims who don't support ISIS or Daesh. Well, where are they? Because from where I stand they are conspicuous by their absence. Unfettered immigration and the ongoing influx of "refugees", will only make matters worse, as Western nations truly cannot vet people and have no idea who they are really inviting into their home(s). Instead of dealing with teh problems in Syria, Iran and other countries, those who set off in a flotilla across teh Mediterranean are merely bringing their problems from home, to our shores and solving nothing left behind them.
92
@ gaynor powell: The argument that the peaceful Muslim majority is conspicuous by their absence is often heard and has some value, though the reality is more nuanced than that.
On the one hand, virtually all of the official Muslim leaders in Europe have clearly and repeatedly condemned these attacks, though this doesn't get much coverage (doesn't make for a great story). As a recent example: the local Muslim community is refusing to bury the killer of the priest in France for the shame he has brought over their religion.
On the other hand, these terrorists are perceived as heroes by a small minority within their community and that is unfortunately what they care about. As an example, after the Brussels attack, a Moroccan mother in Molenbeek (the district in Brussels where the attackers were from) got a phone call from her son fighting in Syria asking what people in Molenbeek were saying about the attackers: "Were they celebrated as heroes? Did people say they were lions?" What we desperately need is for that mother to tell her son: "No, they are seen as deranged and heartless cowards." That's the only way this is going to stop.
They don't care what the Western press or the silent Muslim majority says. They only care what their close friends and community thinks about them. But to change that, the broader Muslim community needs to put a lot more pressure on those smaller groups and, for instance, be OK with the closing of the mosque in Bremen that sent 20 people to Syria.
On the one hand, virtually all of the official Muslim leaders in Europe have clearly and repeatedly condemned these attacks, though this doesn't get much coverage (doesn't make for a great story). As a recent example: the local Muslim community is refusing to bury the killer of the priest in France for the shame he has brought over their religion.
On the other hand, these terrorists are perceived as heroes by a small minority within their community and that is unfortunately what they care about. As an example, after the Brussels attack, a Moroccan mother in Molenbeek (the district in Brussels where the attackers were from) got a phone call from her son fighting in Syria asking what people in Molenbeek were saying about the attackers: "Were they celebrated as heroes? Did people say they were lions?" What we desperately need is for that mother to tell her son: "No, they are seen as deranged and heartless cowards." That's the only way this is going to stop.
They don't care what the Western press or the silent Muslim majority says. They only care what their close friends and community thinks about them. But to change that, the broader Muslim community needs to put a lot more pressure on those smaller groups and, for instance, be OK with the closing of the mosque in Bremen that sent 20 people to Syria.
4
“For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.” - I must agree, unfortunately. And we can expect no changes to the status quo...
57
Surely they don't all go to Syria to learn these things?
5
And Rukmini Callimachi carries on her stellar work at the Times with another incredible and terrifying piece on ISIS. You do brave and important work--thank you.
276
Article could have been about the CIA / MOSSAD.
6
this is why we need civics education
13
Great article. One of the best summaries of a complex network of crazies that I have seen so far.
Hopefully we can respond to ISIL like it operates, with cooperative and adaptive networks placed around the globe. We cannot do this with one country responding on its own.
Hopefully we can respond to ISIL like it operates, with cooperative and adaptive networks placed around the globe. We cannot do this with one country responding on its own.
42
From a confirmed ISIS terrorist “For America .... it’s easier for [ISIS] to get [agents] over the social network .... Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies ...we don’t need no contact man to provide guns for them.”
Dear NRA: I rest my case.
Dear NRA: I rest my case.
279
The priest in France was killed with knives. We should move to plastic utensils? Why can't the haters and the trolls in the NY Times see it is the sick mind of the killer and not the instrument they choose? Medical errors kill 440,000 people in this country every year, but we don't round up the doctors and incarcerate them.
Hillary has announced her intention of destroying the NRA and has said that she favors an "Australian style" firearm confiscation program. Be sure to vote for her and her cronies so they can do what Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin, and Hitler did; disarm the civilian populace, after which things get really ugly.
Hillary has announced her intention of destroying the NRA and has said that she favors an "Australian style" firearm confiscation program. Be sure to vote for her and her cronies so they can do what Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin, and Hitler did; disarm the civilian populace, after which things get really ugly.
1
When it was learned that Muslim radicals were planning to bomb the Holland Tunnel in NYC in the 1990s, it was clearly a message that we were going to have global problems with the alienated youth of Muslim societies promoting their angry agenda. Who has the best answers to solve this long-term problem? It's no longer just American postal workers going into McDonald's restuarants and unloading their weapons on uniformed innocents, coining the term "going postal." Our world has been going postal as long as I can recall. We need to have great wisdom to solve this problem, not better weapons.
181
Putting a halt to importing these problems is a first start.
5
Thank you Samantha. I'm referring to the global problem. It's not about isolating America.
These were terrorists claiming to be Muslims. They are not. Saying so does not make them so, despite what the news media call them. ISIS thrives on that myth and everyong who believes that is helping ISIS.
1
Amazing reporting! We need to get such insights into why these young men do the things they do. Some of his statements about the free availability of guns in US is chilling to hear.
I hope we in the US begin to change and believe health care is a right and not to possess arms.
We have the best police force and the best armed forces in the world. We don't need private militias like the past.
I hope we in the US begin to change and believe health care is a right and not to possess arms.
We have the best police force and the best armed forces in the world. We don't need private militias like the past.
53
Convince the NRA.
5
9/11's greatest lesson was that we can never let terrorist have a sanctuary from which they have time and space to launch attacks abroad.
Under Obama, terrorists have an entire state called there Islamic STATE. It is the size of Greece, has a capital, millions of civilians under control, a legal system and courts, taxation and revenues in the billions, an army with a terrorist strike force for abroad.
This is Obama's great failure. There are no excuses for a President - the buck stops with him, esp. since ISIS metasized 5 years into his term. And the thousands of dead abroad and here at home are a result of our failure to heed 9/11's lesson.
Under Obama, terrorists have an entire state called there Islamic STATE. It is the size of Greece, has a capital, millions of civilians under control, a legal system and courts, taxation and revenues in the billions, an army with a terrorist strike force for abroad.
This is Obama's great failure. There are no excuses for a President - the buck stops with him, esp. since ISIS metasized 5 years into his term. And the thousands of dead abroad and here at home are a result of our failure to heed 9/11's lesson.
22
Are you serious? We're talking about Syria, not Montana. Is our President really responsible for wiping out every potential threat that arises every where around the world? If we'd never gone into Iraq or Afghanistan ISIS may never had come into being. Meanwhile, while terrorism is "terrifying," obesity, cancer, and smoking kill hundreds of thousands every year, and natural disasters, likely exacerbated by climate change, destroy people's lives and cost us billions of dollars.
17
And here is one of the great lies popular among non-thinking reactionaries. Mr. Lincoln, ISIS was created out of the remains of Saddam Hussein's forces, who were banned from participating in any rebuilding of Iraq by the Bush administration, which broke Iraq in the first place. You know that had John McCain or Mitt Romney become president, ISIS would exist as it does today.
16
Yes, indeed. When you are the elected president of Syria you should jolly well act like it.
2
We have lots of information. We have very little backbone. Why has the press given up asking the most important question: What are we doing about it?
Easy to say we should give up our 2nd Amendment rights. Then they will have begun to dismantle our constitution.
Easy to say we should give up our 2nd Amendment rights. Then they will have begun to dismantle our constitution.
14
The word "dumb" pervades in reference to America. ISIS believes Americans are "dumb," Americans act "dumbly" on social media and Americans are so dumb that they have the world's most lax and permissive gun laws so anybody with even a sneeze of discontent can self-radicalize enough to go on a shooting spree. American "dumbness" is of course showing through in the current election cycle, with the crazy support for Donald Trump. But the gun lobby--are you listening?
193
The funny thing is that they aren't in the US, but in European countries, and they seem to be the only ones WITH guns. I'm sure that makes you feel much more secure!
17
You do realize that in the last attack the guy just ran through people with a car, right? If your goal is to murder indiscriminately, no guns are required.
2
Are Americans really dumb? Hmm. I don't know. Let's see how many of us believe in UFOs, angels, afterlife, and Mr. Trump.
Excellent article. Very gripping and well-sourced. The level of training, planning and dedication is simply extraordinary, for any organization. This is the meeting of military discipline and religious zeal that makes for a very determined enemy. If we don't get ahead of this strategy and counter it decisively, it could bring down Western Civilization. Think no freedom to travel, no personal privacy at all, internment camps, etc. I hate to be so pessimistic but the termites are in the house and they've been chowing down happily for years.
69
And Hillary wants to increase the number of Muslims let into the country by 500%!
This is nothing less than a clash of civilizations and we had better stop this PC nonsense before we end up with our heads on the block!
This is nothing less than a clash of civilizations and we had better stop this PC nonsense before we end up with our heads on the block!
4
Since 2001, right-wing violence in this country has been as deadly as Islamic violence. Pointing out that the emphasis on Muslims is grounded to some extent in Islamophobia isn't political correctness, just correctness.
1
Daesh want to foment the christians against the muslims.
We can fall for that, than the daesh would have won.
But we are failing in giving the muslims a cause to fight for our system of values. Although for many muslims europe has become a harbor of safety, freedom and prosperity, they are still not willing to connect the dots, to question the reason of their wretched situation. It is not just about syria, from central africa to south asia, in nearly every muslim country, there is misery. And the most looked after countries that can provide reefugee for the muslims are run by christians.
Muslims have to end their lethargy and should start striking back at this islamic nihilists. This is their contribution in this war against the islamic terror, this is their contribution for europe sheltering so many refugees, and it is for their own sake.
We can fall for that, than the daesh would have won.
But we are failing in giving the muslims a cause to fight for our system of values. Although for many muslims europe has become a harbor of safety, freedom and prosperity, they are still not willing to connect the dots, to question the reason of their wretched situation. It is not just about syria, from central africa to south asia, in nearly every muslim country, there is misery. And the most looked after countries that can provide reefugee for the muslims are run by christians.
Muslims have to end their lethargy and should start striking back at this islamic nihilists. This is their contribution in this war against the islamic terror, this is their contribution for europe sheltering so many refugees, and it is for their own sake.
143
Not so fast there.... much of the misery on Muslim countries in recent decades has been a result of actions by so called Christian nations. Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan already a distant memory??
14
Well said. The irrelevant millions of average muslims need to become relevant and point out that The West is not the problem for them.
Saying ISIS isn't Islam is correct but it doesn't matter to me. The US needs to reduce the threat of attacks by any means.
Saying ISIS isn't Islam is correct but it doesn't matter to me. The US needs to reduce the threat of attacks by any means.
13
Disagree with you Carmen. Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 was largely the result of Muslims and Hindus not getting along, killing each other basically. No Americans or Christians in that mess.
3
" “For America and Canada, it’s much easier for them to get them over the social network, because they say the Americans are dumb — they have open gun policies,” he said. “They say we can radicalize them easily, and if they have no prior record, they can buy guns, so we don’t need to have no contact man who has to provide guns for them.” "
No further comment needed.
No further comment needed.
470
So even if the US adopted the gun policies of France, for example, the terrorists would just contact someone who would provide the guns for them. Seems like then only terrorists would have guns, kinda like in France.
8
could such a charge ultimately lead to much needed gun reform? what a thought!
6
Dear SR: I just wrote an identical COMMENT!, right down to your final sentence! Should've read yours first!
6
However, it seems to me that no one is willing to stop this nonsense in a serious way - go to the Mosques and question clerics. They are the start. I know many think this is racist or a break away from church and sovereignty. But it is a fact that killers are amongst us and they care not for anyone, even Muslims, if they don't agree with them.
For those claiming the problem is guns: the US has had guns forever. We have many laws NOW that stop people from buying guns if they have a history of violence, etc. However, one can buy for another - what happens then? I say the answer is not to outlaw guns, but to make each gun tied to an owner, federally licensed. If you give a gun to another and they kill with it, you too are guilty.
Germany, the UK, and pretty much the rest of Europe have no guns. However, they have killers that shoot them, drive over them, hatchet them to death, or merely just blow them up. In the end, it isn't the guns, nor lack of laws - it's the lack of enforcement of existing immigration laws (solid vetting) and gun laws. More gun laws are senseless, unless we're trying to entertain Congress and increase the number of people working for the government, still doing nothing.
Stop the PC and start acting smart.