I read with amusement and incredulity the piece by Edwin Stratton-MacKay, and have decided to correct most of what he wrote.
He first assumes that only ISIL is sending islamic terrorists into Europe, using the migration crisis as a cover. There are many such groups doing this, and there will be individuals who aren’t linked to any such organisation who will be planning acts of terror once they are safely in Europe.
He claims: “ISIS is extremely wealthy, which means it can afford fake passports, first-class air-fares, hotel rooms and automatic weaponry.” And this stops ISIL from using migrants as cover? If so, he doesn’t explain why.
“The refugee line is months long, and provides uncertain results” And this stops ISIL from using migrants as cover? If so, he doesn’t explain why.
He claims: “A terrorist from Raqqa would have to walk hundreds of miles, find a people-smuggler, cross the Mediterranean without being apprehended or drowned, trek through Southern Europe, dodge the authorities, get over the razor-wire at the Serbian border, travel to Calais, scale the Eurotunnel fence without being arrested, cling to the underneath of a truck without falling off and being killed, and then land in the UK.”. Firstly, not all migrants will be aiming for the UK. Most will be settling in Europe. Secondly, more than one million last year successfully entered Germany, which shows that the obstacles in question are not insurmountable by those who are determined.
He claims: “The refugee line gives no guarantee that expensively-trained fighters, primed and ready to die for the cause, will even get to their target country alive, let alone before their martyrdom-zeal wears off.” The zeal doesn’t wear off. It is their reason to live, and reaching a target country will only increase their desire to kill and maim.
He claims: “Daesh strategy is to inspire home-grown fighters; and failing that, to ensure their terrorists are in the target country legally. To risk an operation on the grounds of visa problems or illegal immigration would be ridiculous.” He has no idea what ISIL’s aims are or what its operations look like. At least one of the Nov 13 killers travelled regularly across Europe’s borders.
He states: “We must remember that the 7/7 bombers and the murderers of Lee Rigby were British, the Paris terrorists were EU citizens, the Charlie Hebdo killers were French, and the 9/11 attackers were in the United States legally.” And how does this relate to ISIL? Islamist terrorists arise from all communities and hardly any of them are part of or inspired by ISIL. They share ONE thing…..adherence to the religion of hate, which they use to justify their vile acts.
Nigel Smith
