Iraq Draws Muslim Militants From Europe

Security officials are concerned that Iraq is becoming a magnet and proving ground for young Muslims from Europe angered by the U.S. occupation of a Muslim land and encouraged by a string of deadly attacks on American soldiers. In interviews with The Associated Press, some European experts said they have evidence that young militants are being drawn to the struggle — not hardened al-Qaida fighters, but men with no experience of Afghan training camps and little apparent connection to established terror groups, making them hard to track. “Since the end of the war, there has been a large movement of people motivated by Islamic extremism from Germany and the rest of Europe toward Iraq,” said a German security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They’re people who want to fight a jihad (holy war),” said the official. “They see bleeding and dying American soldiers on television every day. It makes the Americans look vulnerable.” Full Story