The article “Russia accuses
al-Qaida of 'forest jihad' in Europe” was written by Mariam Elder and published
on October 3, by the newspaper Guardian. The article discusses the difficult
situation caused by conflagrations in many European countries and the reasons
of it. Giving appraisal to the
situation, it is necessary to point out that Russia's top security
official has alleged that al-Qaida was
waging "forest jihad" in Europe by
sparking the wildfires that have
ravaged the continent in recent summers. In confirmation of her words,
the author makes Alexander Bortnikov’s quotation, the head of the Federal
Security Service: “"Forest fires in EU countries should be considered one
of the new trends in al-Qaida's 'thousand cuts' strategy”. Explaining his opinion about the situation,
he said that this approach allows them to inflict significant damage on the
economy and morale without any serious preparation, technical equipment or
financial losses. He cited talk of "forest jihad" on various
extremist websites and forums as evidence of the strategy. Analyzing the
situation, it is necessary to point out today’s condition of the problem - this
year tens of thousands of hectares of land were set ablaze across Spain
Portugal, the Balkans and southern Europe. The author also describes It
with such words as “a yearly phenomenon”. Then Mariam Elder cites Nikolai
Shmatkov’s opinion, a forest expert at the Moscow office of the World Wildlife
Fund, about the fires and the possible participation of al Qaida in it : “How
involved al-Qaida is in this, how much they need to focus their forces not
against the Americans, but against the Greeks and Spaniards, I can't say. I'm skeptical”.
There are every reason to believe that many specialists take the statement
about al Qaida’s complicity with the skeptical view. Thus Anton Orekh, a
journalist at the liberal radio station, Ekho Moskvy suggests as a joke:
“And when Russia's forests and peat
bogs were burning in 2010, what was that? Also al-Qaida? And this summer in
Siberia – was that also part of this 'thousand cuts' strategy?”. The author
concludes her article with soma facts which may show the possibility of a
connection between the conflagration in the European countries and al-Qaida: “the
summer issue of Inspire, the online propaganda publication run by al-Qaida in
the Arabian Peninsula devoted 11 pages to starting forest fires in Nato countries,
including instructions. “Fire is one of the soldiers of Allah, it said”".
Mariam Elder concludes the article with the quotation on al-Qaida’s speakers: “Imagine
that, after all the damage is caused, if a jihad organization were to take
responsibility for the forest fires," it said. "You can imagine the
dread it would cause people in the United States, Europe, Russia, and
Australia.”
As for me, I agree with Anton Orekh, that it is
strange at least to blame all the nature disaster on al-Qaida. We all know the real
reasons for the fire 2010 in the European Russia and there is no mention about
al-Qaida. I don’t know exactly about the real cause of the Europeans fires but I
am sure that it is more usual and typical one than a such kind of a terrorist attack.
It is also open secret for me such al Qaida’s reaction to this situation. So heightened
attention to this organization and some opinions about its participation in it
flatters it, thus making it more considerable and frightening organization.
Good.
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Slips:
... published by the Guardian on October 3 ...
... the reaons FOR it ...
... appraisal OF ...
Then Mariam Elder cites Nikolai Shmatkov, a forest expert (opinion is not an expert) ...
We all know the real reasons for the fire 2010 in ... European Russia and there is no mention OF al-Qaida. I don’t know exactly ... the real causeS of the Europeans fires but I am sure that THEY ARE more ORDINARY and typical othan such kind of a terrorist attack. al Qaida’s reaction to this situation IS WELL KNOWN. ... making it A more considerable and frightening organization.
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