Light and Dark 12-21-16
Cartoon by Michael P. Ramirez depicts a nativity scene contrasted with a black background with ISIS 12:18 "Kill"
Germany Is in ISIS’s Crosshairs NATIONAL REVIEW
by TOM ROGAN December 20
The terrorist group finds Germany a particularly promising target for its slaughter. This afternoon, Daesh (also known as ISIS and the Islamic State) announced that a “soldier” of its banner was responsible for yesterday’s attack in Berlin. In that incident, an individual drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market. He took twelve innocent lives and wounded 42 others. He also frayed Germany’s Christmas spirit.
In European counterterrorism circles, there’s little surprise that this attack occurred. While all of Europe faces a severe threat from Daesh, Germany has been particularly vulnerable for three reasons.
First, Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the BfV, is overwhelmed. Today, in addition to monitoring thousands of German Salafi extremists, the BfV must also monitor thousands of other suspected extremists. This is because Angela Merkel welcomed 1 million migrants and refugees into Germany in 2015. It was an act of extraordinary generosity, but it also threw a curveball at German intelligence services.
For one, Daesh uses migrant flows as cover to help its officers infiltrate Europe. This summer, after a foiled Daesh plot against Germany, I explained the particular challenge that Daesh poses for counterterrorism services. Relying on encrypted-messaging platforms, robust logistics networks, and impressive operational-security tactics, each credible Daesh suspect — whether directed or inspired — requires human intensive physical surveillance. That takes a team of over 20 people in a 24-hour period. And while the BfV relies on support from federal and local German law enforcement, it has only around 2,500 employees, many of whom are not intelligence officers.
Moreover, BfV is also responsible for counter-intelligence operations against Russia, among other states, and a number of additional national security endeavors. The Russians like to waste as much as test the resources of Western intelligence services (probably in order to facilitate attacks on the West). Regardless, the BfV doesn’t have nearly enough professionals at its disposal.......read more
by TOM ROGAN December 20
The terrorist group finds Germany a particularly promising target for its slaughter. This afternoon, Daesh (also known as ISIS and the Islamic State) announced that a “soldier” of its banner was responsible for yesterday’s attack in Berlin. In that incident, an individual drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market. He took twelve innocent lives and wounded 42 others. He also frayed Germany’s Christmas spirit.
In European counterterrorism circles, there’s little surprise that this attack occurred. While all of Europe faces a severe threat from Daesh, Germany has been particularly vulnerable for three reasons.
First, Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the BfV, is overwhelmed. Today, in addition to monitoring thousands of German Salafi extremists, the BfV must also monitor thousands of other suspected extremists. This is because Angela Merkel welcomed 1 million migrants and refugees into Germany in 2015. It was an act of extraordinary generosity, but it also threw a curveball at German intelligence services.
For one, Daesh uses migrant flows as cover to help its officers infiltrate Europe. This summer, after a foiled Daesh plot against Germany, I explained the particular challenge that Daesh poses for counterterrorism services. Relying on encrypted-messaging platforms, robust logistics networks, and impressive operational-security tactics, each credible Daesh suspect — whether directed or inspired — requires human intensive physical surveillance. That takes a team of over 20 people in a 24-hour period. And while the BfV relies on support from federal and local German law enforcement, it has only around 2,500 employees, many of whom are not intelligence officers.
Moreover, BfV is also responsible for counter-intelligence operations against Russia, among other states, and a number of additional national security endeavors. The Russians like to waste as much as test the resources of Western intelligence services (probably in order to facilitate attacks on the West). Regardless, the BfV doesn’t have nearly enough professionals at its disposal.......read more
A Perfect Christmas Gift
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