Al-Qaeda Targeting Ireland?
posted at 11:48 am on March 1, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Irish authorities arrested three Afghan nationals at a hostel for asylum seekers last night on suspicion of terrorist activity. It calls into question the common wisdom that terrorists exist because of Western oppression or cultural arrogance:
Three Afghan men remain in Garda custody in Co Kerry on suspicion of terrorist activity.
It follows a raid on a hostel in Tralee last night, during which suspected bomb parts were found.
A team of twenty Gardai swooped on the Atlas House apartments in Tralee at around half-six last night, acting on intelligence from the Special Branch.
The premises houses all-male asylum seekers.
Inside they discovered what’s being described as possible bomb-making equipment including electrical devices and remote controls.
Why target the Irish? They don’t participate in our operations in Iraq or in Afghanistan. They have argued against the Iraq mission vociferously, and haven’t been especially supportive of the NATO mission against the Taliban in Afghanistan. In short, they have been one of the most pacifist nations in Europe during the war on radical Islamist terrorists.
A jihadi mission against Ireland would destroy the self-blaming explanations that many in Europe and the US offer regarding the nature of Islamist terrorism. It would show that the terrorists don’t target the West because of American foreign policy, or because of Western support for Israel. They target the West because of its secular governments and Christian cultures. In that context, Ireland makes a perfect target, especially since they might have been caught napping if they actually bought the we-brought-it-on-ourselves meme.
However, the Irish know a few things about terrorism. They have dealt with it for decades and know the warning signs. If the jihadis thought they could sneak something past the Garda, they apparently have not studied much about the Troubles and the success the Republic had in protecting themselves from the conflict. The jihad came up against a nation that has always had to be vigilant against violent nutcases, and in this case these nutcases tended to stick out a lot more than those the Irish have had to find in the past.
Blowback
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Remember this one the next time “Tommy” Obama essentially steals an ahistorical line from Bluto’s script and his adoring followers say “Forget it, he’s rolling.”
Blackacre on March 1, 2008 at 11:56 AM
One word. Shannon. A common, and often debated, layover/refuel point for troop deployment aircraft. I know it is a stretch, as we could use other locations, but this is about all I could come up with.
When I talk to my relatives in Limerick, Bruff, and Dublin all I ever hear about is the Eastern European immigrants. It sounds just like a conversation about open borders here.
Limerick on March 1, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Took me a few clicks but good to find you here, Captain Ed. My blog-reading day used to start with Captain’s Quarters, it will be starting here now…
Clavius on March 1, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Maybe they were just making the bombs in the safety of Eire to take over on the ferry to use on the Brits in order to punish them for Harry?
profitsbeard on March 1, 2008 at 11:59 AM
The jihadists will learn quickly, they do NOT want to f*&% with the Irish.
bigred on March 1, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Ireland is a very soft target and has been most hospitable to asylum seekers. I did find an Indymedia source (grain of salt, of course) over there indicating a St. Patrick’s Day attack was in the works as well as an attack on Shannon Airport.
Linked in the trackbacks.
JammieWearingFool on March 1, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Just a matter of time till they succeed. They don’t mind the loss of a few foot soldiers when they’re caught. If they start going after soft targets like malls and sporting events, I would think their chances of success would be greater. The other thing to consider is the short sentences a lot of these yahoos receive, although the Irish may not be as forgiving.
a capella on March 1, 2008 at 12:10 PM
One of my friends in the UK tells me that when anyone just arrives on an airplane from a Muslim country, he merely has to say the words “political asylum” and is he assured entrance into the UK. The “asylum seeker” is neither watched nor given any other restrictions. Usually he just slips into a Muslim part of London or elsewhere and can quickly apply for and receive full medical and dental coverage and often receives a housing allowance or allowed to live in public housing. He never has to do anything or report to anybody. He just stays in the UK for the rest of his life. My friend tells me that the “asylum seeker” is then allowed to bring “family members” to the UK solely on the basis of being a “relative” of an sylum seeker. The “extended family” is then entitled to the full panoply of social benefits and public health care. My friend tells me that the same situation goes on in Ireland.
BTW, this is the Hillary immigration program for the US.
Larraby on March 1, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Why Ireland? You’ve already answered your own question:
“… they have been one of the most pacifist nations in Europe during the war on radical Islamist terrorists.”
They see the Irish as an easy target. But also as Limey said, Troops going to and coming from the two war zones pass through Ireland, making the righteous target.
Tony737 on March 1, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Indymedia yanked the item. Likely didn’t want to offend anyone.
Here’s the relevant portion I noted.
JammieWearingFool on March 1, 2008 at 12:20 PM
OT…sorry…Dallas Irish Fest this weekend. If any HAbigots, or Islamic fundamentalists, want to find me I’ll be there tomorrow. Just look for the redheaded old man wearing the 3rd Armored Cav cap. The code word is ‘gumballs’.
Limerick on March 1, 2008 at 12:27 PM
This has been coming for a while now, terrorists R us united is a growing business, Afghanis in Northern Ireland is like using the mafia in Chicago to whack a target in Los Angeles.
http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/farc-ira-pr.cfm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010819/ai_n14404022
Speakup on March 1, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Exactly right this demonstrates that the Jihadists are at war with the West because of our Christian and secular heritage- because we are not like them….but of course the anti-war types in Ireland will just blame this on Shannon.
irish_infidel on March 1, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Larraby@12:18PM, does that asylum thingy work for Americans? If not, is that discrimination? I’d just love to spend some time in Ireland and Scotland. Since I can’t afford to do so on my own perhaps they’d like to be generous and foot the bill for me.
JammieWearingFool@12:20PM, you are a busy person. LGF has something up submitted by you this AM. Good stuff BTW.
24K lady on March 1, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Why Ireland? Why not? Allah commands, “Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them . . . .”
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was renting a house on the South Circular Road in Dublin, a short cycle from my house, before he went off to become the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. This is why I’m so adamant that immigration control is the central issue in preventing jihad. I mean imagine if Osama Bin Laden was hiding out in an apartment ten minutes from where you live? Its like some weird joke that I don’t find funny.
aengus on March 1, 2008 at 12:44 PM
They won’t read the Koran that’s for sure.
aengus on March 1, 2008 at 12:46 PM
The Jihadis are at war with any “infidel”. That means Shia against Sunni, Alawite against Wahabist, etc. ad nauseum. Islam is still a “religion” moored in the 7th century – an anachronism.
jimbo2008 on March 1, 2008 at 12:51 PM
It’s in the Koran, man, it’s in the Koran. Why Ireland? Why Bali?…..Sweden…..Norway…..Denmark…..on and on….???? A previous poster got it! “where ye find them” Lock and load, America, Islamorot is coming to a place near you.
b4lucy on March 1, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Islam wants everybody’s stuff. The pseudo religious crap is just part of the MO for parasitism.
BL@KBIRD on March 1, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Part of the reason is that many of the people in the St. Patrick’s Day parades are American. There are several bag pipe bands from American public services, AOH and Irish heritage groups that march in the March 17th parade and visit Ireland during this time of year. This is a perfect target to hit large numbers of Americans overseas with a chance to retreat back to Muslim friendly UK.
Hening on March 1, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Terrorism in Ireland has long had connections with terrorist entities in other parts of the world. Their leaders have often been soft on fascism – remember that de Valera was the only Western leader to send a message of condolence to Goering on Hitler’s death. Many of the worst leftist apologies for Islamism today come from liberal Irish intellectuals, such as Conor Gearty, who believe that the human rights of terrorists are more important than the security of native Europeans. And it is interesting that those who appeased the IRA in the past, like George Galloway and Dems like Chris Dodd, are at the forefront of sympathising with islamic radicals today.
Of course there are very many Irish who stand admirably against Islamism, just as there were many Irish who defied de Valera and fought with the allies against the Third Reich, but Irish leftists are particularly poisonous have created a space where sympathy for radical islam can flourish.
Pax americana on March 1, 2008 at 1:27 PM
This is a very good point!
Wildcatter1980 on March 1, 2008 at 1:56 PM
An Al Qaeda terrorist has already been imprisoned north of the border in Belfast. He was charged with possessing information on how to blow an aircraft up with a bomb.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/dec/20/terrorism.uk
“Detectives in Northern Ireland, the British security services and the FBI along with police in the Irish Republic, France and Holland, were all involved in the intelligence operation that led to Boutrab’s capture.”
Jay Mac on March 1, 2008 at 2:10 PM
It could be argued that they’re targeting the Irish because they’re such a success story for Western culture. Their economy is flourishing in the Internet age, and now they have the 2nd-highest per-capita income in the world. Not bad, considering they used to be considered the toilet of the world. Maybe these Medieval throwbacks just can’t abide that.
But yeah, more likely the jihadis just can’t stand that not everybody shares their dumb religion.
Jim Treacher on March 1, 2008 at 2:42 PM
I don’t think it was an Al Qaeda mission against Ireland, but a launching point against England and other European targets. The IRA has in it’s murderous history taken up sides with other world terrorist and has worked to smuggle guns and explosives. Ireland would find safe haven in the arms of the IRA.
Kini on March 1, 2008 at 2:46 PM
The worst kind of reminder that St. Patrick’s Day will soon be here. You’ll find me in Mainz, the most Catholic city in Germany, wearing a kilt of the US Army tartan. The code is “You’re not really Irish.”
Spc Steve on March 1, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Indeed, but the valient wing of Irish in the tradition of Michael Collins have worked hard to stop them. Sinn Fein/IRA are a pernicious extreme left force in Irish politics, and they have many links with Islamic terrorism, from Libya in the 1980s to Hamas today. Unfortunately, they are a growing force.
Mark Humphrys, whose uncle and great-uncle were past prime ministers of Ireland, has an excellent site here detailing the growing anti-Americanism of the Irish left.
Pax americana on March 1, 2008 at 2:56 PM
If true it is the completion of the circle. The Stern Gang adopted the terrorist tactics of the Irish Republicans to use against the British and UN. These tactics were then adopted by the Palestinians and eventually other Islamists. That this would now return to Ireland is ironic indeed.
crosspatch on March 1, 2008 at 3:02 PM
LOL…sorta left out the Mufti of Jerusalem there didn’t you? To blame the Stern Gang for being the seed of terrorism is pure delusional. 5,000 years of human history is against you.
Limerick on March 1, 2008 at 3:17 PM
NO sympathy for the Irish here. Two years ago, my wife and I visited Ireland, in a reprise of our honeymoon. It seems that the Irish have three passions: rugby, Guiness and mocking America as the world’s bully.
I remember one night in the Bulman pub in Kinsale (just down the street from Charles Fort), listening to a local fellow regale me about all the wrong things the US was doing. He even linked Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo together into one long, run-on sentence of American shortcomings.
What struck me about the Irish arrogance was this: they EXPECT the US to keep it safe. They seem to think that it is our duty to keep the world in which the Celtic Tiger now flourises, policed and peaceful. They seemed upset that, by going into Iraq, we’d dropped the ball and lost sight of our primary duty—keeping the rest of the West safe. Safe to overindulge in social welfare benefits and mocking Uncle Sam.
And they were clearly indignant at us for not doing our jobs. Jobs that, of course, we couldn’t ask the Irish to do themselves.
Once this fellow at the Bulman stopped his lecture to take a breath, I asked him if Ireland couldn’t do more to help with the GWOT. “But,” he replied, “Ireland’s a neutral country.”
Neutral? Against al Qaeda?
The Irish have self-neutered.
smagar on March 1, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Oops! Never mind.
From the same source:
Three Afghan men released, Tralee devices not suspicious
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Saturday March 01 2008
Three Afghan men arrested in County Kerry on suspicion of terrorist activity have been released without charge.
A team of 20 Gardai raided an apartment at Atlas House in Tralee at around 6.30pm last night on intelligence from the Special Branch.
They recovered equipment including electrical devices and remote controls.
Gardai removed the materials to Garda Headquarters in Dublin for technical examination.
However, it is now understood the materials are not malicious.
thegreatbeast on March 1, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Why target the Irish? Because they can!
allrsn on March 1, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Welcome to Hot Air Clavius!
Montana on March 1, 2008 at 5:51 PM
The three men were released because they were not doing anything wrong and they did not have suspicious devices. They were not jihadis and they were not targeting Ireland.
The Irish should know a few things about terrorism. The IRA used to train and cross train with other Arab terror groups. The Republicans there all came back clutching Khadaffi’s little green books.
lexhamfox on March 1, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Not all Irish people are soft on the WOT.
Niall O’Dowd is pretty good on that issue, and is relatively pro-American considering his politics.
I can’t speak for the population at large, but from what I’ve been told they’re sick to death of giving refuge to the world’s detritus. In fact, they enacted a ballot measure to that effect several years ago, IIRC. However, the socialist EUrocrats in that nation will probably ignore them, just like they did with regard to the Treaty of Nice.
Gerard on March 1, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Afghan idiots!
Why would they phuck with the Irish?
If any body knows how build and place bombs…. I’m just saying…
spike on March 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM
De Valera is a complex figure and a proper answer to your comment would take a long essay. If Dev was in office today those three Afghans would hang. He signed the death warrants of hundreds of IRA terrorists.
His condolences over the death of Hitler signify one of the most disgraceful and inexcusable episodes in Irish history but he did it not because of sympathy for fascism but even worse to snub the British. The kind of self-involved parochialism it takes to do that is almost impossible for any modern person to understand yet that was the mentality.
I also want to add that Dev was one of the most philo-semitic Western leaders in history (not that you accused him of anti-semitism). He saved many Jewish (and German) children by offering them asylum in Ireland, a respite from the conflict. There’s a park in Israel named after him. He saved Jews in the same manner as Oskar Schindler who gets a glowing film biopic despite being a member of the Nazi pary and a war profiteer.
100,000 Irish volunteers. But they weren’t defying Dev. He kept Ireland out of the war (wrongly, I think) but that’s not the same as being pro-Nazi.
aengus on March 1, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Ironically Collins invented modern guerilla warfare (he was Che Guevara’s hero). The Marxists/jihadis have to import everything, even their succesful methods of warfare from the West.
aengus on March 1, 2008 at 8:44 PM
You ran into an arrogant jackass in a bar who chastised you so now you’ve NO sympathy for the Irish as potential victims of terrorist attacks?
That’s interesting. Four months ago I ran into an American tourist who was unimpressed with my support for the Republican Party and Bush and let me know it. It didn’t drive me to irrational apathy.
I don’t know you mister but if some jihadist were to murder you tomorrow I’d feel diminished when I read about it in the newspaper irregardless of your political opinions.
aengus on March 1, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Look The Irish know who is Irish and who isn’t, you think Al-Qaede is going to convert Catholics to Islam, really in Ireland, the Pope’s back porch? They may get some fringe anarchist, that have been floating around like European jetsam, inside the European Union but the majority of Irish going all Mecca on the rest of the Ireland…well I think in Ireland, they would say that is really stretching a lark.
Dr Evil on March 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Nice to find you over here, Captain Ed.
I think we are going to see more of the jihadi efforts to look for soft targets. Events like St. Patrick’s Day are ideal for a group with an MO of bombs in crowded locations. Plenty of those kind of events in the US and European nations with troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, so Ireland seems odd, unless the jihadis think it is especially soft. However, I think the Irish are probably one of the world’s police forces with real experience dealing with terrorists on a continuing basis.
Orson Buggeigh on March 1, 2008 at 10:12 PM
No – this is a gross exaggeration. He bears no resemblance to Schindler. De Valera operated one of the most restrictive immigration policies of any nation against Jews fleeing the Nazis. His pro-fascist ambassador for Berlin, Charles Bewley openly glorified the Nazis. Some historians, like Dermot Keogh of University College Cork, estimate that only 60 Jewish refugees were permitted entry by de Valera during WW2 – compared to the tens of thousands who fled to Britain this is an absolutely shameful record. It is probable that the fascist General Franco saved more Jews during the period of the Third Reich than did de Valera. Irish policy did improve a little after WW2 had finished (it was for this later activity that some trees were planted in his name in Israel) but this puny attempt was far too little too late.
Let’s not forget that even worse, de Valera decided to harbour a series of Nazi War criminals, in spite of US pleading that he abstain from such a policy. These included Artukovic and Laine, responsible for the extermination of a million men women and children between them. His moral relativism was a forerunner of the liberal appeasement of fascism that is rampant today.
Every one of those volunteers, half of whom were Ulstermen, was a better man than he. Many of them were ostracised in de Valera’s Ireland for siding with the British – the culture of moral relativism ran deep.
I have no intention to glorify Michael Collins, and certainly not his use of terror tactics. Neither should de Valera’s crackdown on the appalling IRA, who were openly in alliance with Hitler, be discounted. But the rotten roots of the Irish left are deep, and help to explain the now rampant anti-Americanism on that side of the political spectrum.
Pax americana on March 1, 2008 at 11:09 PM
That some historians come up with such bogus estimates is to be expected. 60 Jews? Look it up in 10 years and it’ll be 4 Jews.
Like I said, Dev saved many Jews and is commemerated in Israel to this day. If your only source is a leftist from UCC then excuse me if I don’t swallow what I’m being fed.
aengus on March 2, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Half of them Ulstermen? They are not in consideration. You’re right that a lot of the brave men who volunteered were ostracised but when I said Irish volunteers I meant the 100,000 volunteers from the Republic of Ireland. These figures are not in dispute like the 2 Jews Dev saved.
aengus on March 2, 2008 at 12:19 AM
No it didn’t. Here’s a useful exercise: Name a single aspect of modern liberalism that affects Ireland today that wasn’t imported from the US or Canada.
aengus on March 2, 2008 at 12:26 AM
There has already been plenty of evidence for this that has meant nothing to the masses. Just as in Spain after their bombings, there will be protests against the Americans who brought this on them, a leftward, pacifist move at the polls and stricter conditions for American troop movements.
They are gnawing at the edges and when president barry gets rid of the Patriot Act and starts looking out for the rights of terrorists and illegal aliens we all better start wearing flak jsckets to concerts, football games and the supermarket.
peacenprosperity on March 2, 2008 at 7:24 AM
No – De Valera’s shameful record has been exposed from historians from a variety of political persuasions. He only admitted 60 Jews during the whole of the period of the Third Reich. When he finally relented in the late 1940s after the horrors of the Holocaust were laid open to the world, he also let in a bunch of Nazi war criminals. Most Israelis now recognise his shameful record – unfortunately those many thousands of Jews to whom he refused asylum between 1933 and 1945 died in the Holocaust, so can’t speak up.
The record speaks for itself. De Valera was Eire’s worst ever leader.
My figures come from historian Yvonne McEwan, who divides the 100,000 volunteers equally between Ulster and the south. If you have some objection to her figures, please provide scholarly grounds.
Simple. Let’s begin with one of de Valera’s favorite phrases: ‘Britain’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity’, even, it seems, when it comes to fighting genocidal fascists. Moral relativism has a long and distinct history in Irish politics, and de Valera, perhaps the worst ever leader of the Republic, was one of its champions.
Pax americana on March 2, 2008 at 7:13 PM