[inquest]

The biggest problem with the Balkans is that weak governmental control over some areas combined with organized crime, corruption and established smuggling routes make it a place where terrorists can stage and move into and out of with less fear of interdiction.

So does this mean you're not denying that al-Qaeda is active in the Balkans?

[mark502inf]

The biggest problem with the Balkans is that weak governmental control over some areas combined with organized crime, corruption and established smuggling routes make it a place where terrorists can stage and move into and out of with less fear of interdiction....you're not denying that al-Qaeda is active in the Balkans?

It only makes sense that they would use this area as a gateway into Europe. We know the Albanians have killed and captured terrorists from Islamic Jihad, which is closely linked to Al Qaeda. Islamic "charities" associated with channeling money to Al Qaeda have been shut down in the region. And there have been the well known incidents in Sarajevo.

However, if Al Qaeda & the various Mid-East terrorist groups never existed, the fighting in the Balkans would have happened anyway with the same results as we see today. Balkans conflicts are based on Balkans problems, not Al Qaeda. And Al Qaeda has very limited involvement now; mostly based on extracting charity donations from the gullible & exploiting the chaos to move people and money--and its getting harder and harder to do that. We're getting good cooperation now even from Belgrade and adopting a much more comprehensive approach to tracking funds and sharing information--multi-national & multi-agency intelligence fusion centers in the region, multi-national law enforcement liaison teams in Balkans capitals, and so on.

So is there Al Qaeda in the Balkans? Sure, but not nearly as much as many here say. Especially those who conflate Al Qaeda & Islamist ideology with such organizations as the UCK or Bosnian Muslim military.