In the aftermath of the Bosnian conflict, Europe has both Iranian political elements and Al Qaeda affiliates just a short train ride from Vienna. This short video by Sky News summarizes the situation pretty well. Experts estimate that between 1,000 and 6,000 foreign fighters made their way to Bosnia and Kosovo to fight alonside fellow Muslims. Many of these fighters were battle-hardened veterans of the Soviet-Afghan conflict.
Al Qaeda's presence is of course a politically-loaded issue and the truth has no doubt been skewed in the process; Serbs tend to over-exaggerate the problem and many Bosnian and Kosovar Muslims deny it exists. But discoveries like this last month in Novi Pazar, show that there is legitimate reason for concern.
The growth of Sunni fundamentalism in the Balkans was encouraged (in some instances, directly supported) by Saudi Arabia in an effort to counter-balance the influence gained by Iran (see my previous post ). So far, nothing suggests that these influences have been put in check, making now an especially absurd time for the EU to take a lower profile in the region.
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May 4th, 2007
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