Published: October 05, 2005
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War: Malaysian Groups Radicalize Islamic Communities in Macedonia
By Willard Payne
"According to Macedonian security sources surveyed recently by Balkanalysis.com, Malaysian nationals in groups of 10-20 at a time have been periodically stopping over in the country for the past 2 years. They, along with other 'traveling salesmen' from the international Islamic community, are seeking to radicalize select Muslim-populated areas, offering influence, directions and cash to villagers in some of Macedonia's most isolated areas, as well as in Skopje and Tetovo." [ Balkanalysis.com ]
When they arrive at Petrovec, Skopje International Airport, they say they are tourists and leave after a couple of weeks. But an official observed, "But when they stop here, they bring money and instructions." Officials in Kosovo have made the same observations..."they are offering payment to those villagers who grow their beards long, who completely veil the women etc. So it seems the people supporting this are associated with these radical Wahhabi and Salafi sects." [ Balkanalysis.com ]
As their influence increases so will the control of the Balkans by Islamic capitals, Ankara-Riyadh-Tehran. Foreign Islamists are no strangers to the area and there is a definite Balkan connection to the Madrid and London bombings.
There is at least one known case where Kuala Lumpur hosted planning for a major terrorist attack, the al-Qaeda (Iran) January 2000 meeting that was attended by two of the 9/11 hijackers, the Saudi Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhazmi. The meeting also planned the attack on the U. S. S. Cole off Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000. It was held in the hotel room of Yazid Sufaat, a former army captain and businessman in Kuala Lumpur Hotel. The meeting was from January 5-8, 2000.
With Malaysia being a modern, apparently moderate nation, providing stable banking networks and internet access, it is an ideal place for planning and has long attracted Arabs. Beneath the facade of moderation is a very real support network for the Jihad. Attacks against Thailand are known to have been planned here and Malaysia is at the center of the Islamic world's acquiring nuclear weaponry.
Night Watch Information Service
http://www.crossfirewar.com
Based in Flossmoor,IL 60422.
ph:708-957-9651/fax:708-798-2929.
e-mail:III82100@aol.com
This story was inspired by a report at
Balkanalysis.com.
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