Ransoming Citizens, Europe Becomes Al Qaeda’s Patron

[NewsSource]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/w...ens-europe-becomes-al-qaedas-patron.html?_r=0

BAMAKO, Mali — The cash filled three suitcases: 5 million euros.

The German official charged with delivering this cargo arrived here aboard a nearly empty military plane and was whisked away to a secret meeting with the president of Mali, who had offered Europe a face-saving solution to a vexing problem.

Officially, Germany had budgeted the money as humanitarian aid for the poor, landlocked nation of Mali.

In truth, all sides understood that the cash was bound for an obscure group of Islamic extremists who were holding 32 European hostages, according to six senior diplomats directly involved in the exchange.

document Document: Al Qaeda Letter on the Importance of Kidnapping RevenueJULY 29, 2014

The suitcases were loaded onto pickup trucks and driven hundreds of miles north into the Sahara, where the bearded fighters, who would soon become an official arm of Al Qaeda, counted the money on a blanket thrown on the sand. The 2003 episode was a learning experience for both sides. Eleven years later, the handoff in Bamako has become a well-rehearsed ritual, one of dozens of such transactions repeated all over the world.

...continued at link...

 

[NewsSource]

A New York Times news article, not opinion, about the EU paying ransom to AQ. Seems like a big deal in terms of what we know about the EU.

 

[Eastoff]

So is that you in front of Mt hood Papa D?

 

[NewsSource]

So is that you in front of Mt hood Papa D?

Mt. McLaughlin this July 4th for my birthday at our cabin.

 

[maxiep]

A New York Times news article, not opinion, about the EU paying ransom to AQ. Seems like a big deal in terms of what we know about the EU.

Fuck Europe. They still think appeasement works.