Unlikely target for Islamic retaliation.

last updated 8 January 2015

Austria

Manfred Seeh

Austrians thought they’d escaped the wrath of the Islamists, said Manfred Seeh in Vienna’s Die Presse. Our contribution to the war on terror consists of a paltry five soldiers in Afghanistan, all in noncombat positions. Yet these five have now attracted attention. The Islamist Web site “Voice of the Caliphate” has threatened Austria (and Germany, which has 3,000 troops deployed) with “unspecified consequences” if the soldiers don’t leave Muslim territory. In a video posted on the site, a masked man said it would be “unfortunate” if anyone happened to feel moved to attack our country. “Do not destroy the security of a whole country for the sake of five soldiers,” said the speaker. “Decide quickly and withdraw your soldiers.” The Austrian government says it is taking the threat seriously and has ordered the officers in Afghanistan not to wander outside of NATO headquarters in Kabul. Here at home, the damage may already be done. Even an unrealized threat can “scare away tourists.”