Qaeda tells Germany to change government: monitors

[Abdul Alhazred]

Qaeda tells Germany to change government: monitors (AFP via Google)

NICOSIA — Al-Qaeda warned Germans on Friday to change their government in the September 27 election, saying they will face a "bad awakening" if they do not, according to two intelligence monitoring services.

Germany was also told to withdraw its 4,200 troops from Afghanistan or face being attacked at home, the US-based groups said.

In video footage a man identified as Abu Talha the German, and speaking in German, says that if Chancellor Angela Merkel is re-elected, "bitter times await the Germans," according to IntelCenter and the SITE Intelligence Group.

He asks: "Mrs Merkel, what is the logical outcome reaped by the British and Spanish conservatives by their support for the Iraq war?" in an apparent reference to attacks in Madrid and London in 2004 and 2005.

He appears to suggest that if German voters do not heed his warnings, Al-Qaeda will act within a fortnight.

Germany's interior ministry said on Friday there was an increased risk of attacks on German soil ahead of the elections, and said security at airports and train stations had been boosted.

...

Which means (unless they are bluffing), they already have something in place all set up.

I must admit, I didn't previously have any strong opinions about the upcoming German elections.

 

[Dr Adequate]

Well, I never have thought that I'd hope for a conservative to be elected to any position other than footstool, but al Qaeda have changed my mind.

 

[Pardalis]

Maybe this will make Oliver vote this time?

 

[Eskarina]

Well, I never have thought that I'd hope for a conservative to be elected to any position other than footstool, but al Qaeda have changed my mind.

Your hopes might be fulfilled. I certainly feel tempted to vote for the CDU in the upcoming election.

I never thought I could stoop so low.

 

[Brainster]

Erm, far be it from me to intrude on folks talking about voting for the conservative candidate, but it seems awfully odd that Al Qaeda would deliver the German people this warning through "intelligence monitoring services". Isn't it more traditional to release a tape to Al Jazeera?

 

[Floyt]

Aw, I see the "red socks" campaign didn't do the trick this time round - someone must have decided on a reverse psychology approach instead.

...
Nah, probably not. Still, I feel so much in tune with Al Qaeda o this one, it's quite scary!

 

[Chaos]

Your hopes might be fulfilled. I certainly feel tempted to vote for the CDU in the upcoming election.

I never thought I could stoop so low.

Me neither. If the alternative was between them and the commies, I probably would, but last time I checked there were three other major parties besides those two.

 

[Abdul Alhazred]

AQ could claim a win for something that might happen anyway.

After all they did blow stuff up and affect an election in Spain.

If they establish a track record ...

 

[WildCat]

Maybe this will make Oliver vote this time?

 

[Chaos]

AQ could claim a win for something that might happen anyway.

After all they did blow stuff up and affect an election in Spain.

If they establish a track record ...

Isn´t it funny how sleazy conservative scumbags always manage to insinuate the worst kind of motive for anyone not voting for them or otherwise disagreeing with them? Why, it´s almost like they are too stupid or too insane to realize that it is possible for normal, sane, intelligent people to actually, really, honestly disagree with them...

 

[Abdul Alhazred]

The issue is very specific -- Al Qaeda want German troops out of Afghanistan.

I can see where a German could decently want the same thing. For that matter I don't personally see any particular reason from an American perspective for German troops to be in Afghanistan.

But the question remains, is there a terrorist cell waiting for word on the election results?

It might be in the German best interest to catch them before the election, no?

 

[fuelair]

Catch them and peel their skins off - before asking them any questions.

 

[McHrozni]

But the question remains, is there a terrorist cell waiting for word on the election results?

In the past, Al-Queda typically acted first, issued demands later.
They're probably bluffing.

McHrozni

 

[Pardalis]

confirmed: Al Qaeda has no effect on German politics:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Merkel-claims-victory-in-German-election.html

Good job Germans.

 

[Abdul Alhazred]

Also, didn't the German authorities just nab some terrorist lately?

 

[Chaos]

confirmed: Al Qaeda has no effect on German politics:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Merkel-claims-victory-in-German-election.html

Good job Germans.

[ct mode]
I wonder how much the conservatives paid Al Qaeda for them to help produce this result.
[/ct mode]

 

[Floyt]

Drat

Now we've got a "center-right" government. Germany loses its marbles just as the USA manage to find theirs.

Guess I'll be staying at the other end of the world for the next few years.

 

[Darth Rotor]

For that matter I don't personally see any particular reason from an American perspective for German troops to be in Afghanistan.

Article V, NATO treaty.

But the question remains, is there a terrorist cell waiting for word on the election results?

I hope not. I like Germany, and Germans, mostly.

It might be in the German best interest to catch them before the election, no?

If cell exists, yes.

DR

 

[Abdul Alhazred]

Update: More Germans taking care of business.

Suspected Islamists detained for Oktoberfest (AFP via Australian Broadcasting Company)

German police say they have detained two suspected Islamists after video warnings by extremists, and will not release them until after the Oktoberfest beer festival.

Security at the festival in southern Germany, which attracts millions of visitors from around the world, has been tightened because of fears it would be a target for an attack, along with other German tourist attractions.

Munich police gave no details of the two people detained, but city police chief Wilhelm Schmidbauer said that one of them had been in personal contact with German Islamist Bekkay Harrach.

Authorities believe Harrach is the person in videos released ahead of Sunday's election calling himself Abu Talha and calling on Germany's 4,200 troops in Afghanistan to be withdrawn.

Mr Schmidbauer said six Islamic videos have surfaced in the past week and a half, two of which referred to the Oktoberfest.

Authorities have already banned planes from flying over the festival, which ends on October 4.

 

[Chaos]

Update: More Germans taking care of business.

Suspected Islamists detained for Oktoberfest (AFP via Australian Broadcasting Company)

And we manage to do all that without something like Gitmo, without torture, without a Department of Homeland Security, with a Patriot Act.

Strange, huh? You´d think it is necessary to flush the constitution down the nearest toilet to be able to do anything against terrorism.