http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Wed, 22 May 2013 20:58:02 +0200 Wed, 22 May 2013 20:58:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/former-osama-bin-laden-bodyguard-living-in-germany-a-848668.html#ref=rss A man who was part of Osama bin Laden's team of bodyguards has been living in the western German city of Bochum for years. Authorities say the Tunisian man is a "dangerous preacher," but attempts to expel him from the country have so far failed. Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:59:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/former-osama-bin-laden-bodyguard-living-in-germany-a-848668.html A man who was part of Osama bin Laden's team of bodyguards has been living in the western German city of Bochum for years. Authorities say the Tunisian man is a "dangerous preacher," but attempts to expel him from the country have so far failed. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-former-fbi-agent-ali-soufan-we-did-exactly-what-al-qaida-wanted-us-to-do-a-785558.html#ref=rss Former FBI agent Ali Soufan successfully interrogated captured Islamist terrorists after 9/11 without resorting to "enhanced' techniques. In a SPIEGEL interview, he revealed how he got jihadists to talk using tea and trucker magazines and explained how 9/11 could have been prevented. Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:30:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-former-fbi-agent-ali-soufan-we-did-exactly-what-al-qaida-wanted-us-to-do-a-785558.html Former FBI agent Ali Soufan successfully interrogated captured Islamist terrorists after 9/11 without resorting to "enhanced' techniques. In a SPIEGEL interview, he revealed how he got jihadists to talk using tea and trucker magazines and explained how 9/11 could have been prevented.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-arrest-of-younis-al-mauretani-on-the-trail-of-the-al-qaida-phantom-a-784724.html#ref=rss Secret service agencies from around the world have long been searching for him. On Monday, the ISI in Pakistan finally managed to apprehend top al-Qaida operative Younis al-Mauretani. New details about his true identity have also begun to emerge. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:28:35 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-arrest-of-younis-al-mauretani-on-the-trail-of-the-al-qaida-phantom-a-784724.html Secret service agencies from around the world have long been searching for him. On Monday, the ISI in Pakistan finally managed to apprehend top al-Qaida operative Younis al-Mauretani. New details about his true identity have also begun to emerge.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-unique-perspective-on-sept-11-the-last-sunrise-between-the-twin-towers-a-784089.html#ref=rss He came to New York for vacation, but became a witness to the most devastating terror attack the world had ever seen. <i>Reinhard Karger</i> documented the disaster from a marina across the water from the World Trade Center and shared his story with SPIEGEL ONLINE. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:31:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-unique-perspective-on-sept-11-the-last-sunrise-between-the-twin-towers-a-784089.html Reinhard Karger documented the disaster from a marina across the water from the World Trade Center and shared his story with SPIEGEL ONLINE.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/charisma-deficit-loss-of-bin-laden-threatens-al-qaida-brand-a-783655.html#ref=rss For years, the charismatic Osama bin Laden was the undisputed face of al-Qaida -- internally as well as externally. But for the last four months, the terror network has had to get by with the relatively boring Ayman al-Zawahiri at the top. Experts believe the lack of an inspiring leader puts the jihadists under pressure. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:41:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/charisma-deficit-loss-of-bin-laden-threatens-al-qaida-brand-a-783655.html For years, the charismatic Osama bin Laden was the undisputed face of al-Qaida -- internally as well as externally. But for the last four months, the terror network has had to get by with the relatively boring Ayman al-Zawahiri at the top. Experts believe the lack of an inspiring leader puts the jihadists under pressure.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-trail-of-said-bahaji-9-11-conspirator-reported-to-be-living-in-pakistan-a-783097.html#ref=rss Ten years after 9/11, the Moroccan-German Said Bahaji is one of the last remaining members of al-Qaida's Hamburg cell who is still at large. Now, German jihadists have told investigators that Bahaji is living in Pakistan's Waziristan region, where he works for al-Qaida's propaganda wing. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:04:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-trail-of-said-bahaji-9-11-conspirator-reported-to-be-living-in-pakistan-a-783097.html Ten years after 9/11, the Moroccan-German Said Bahaji is one of the last remaining members of al-Qaida's Hamburg cell who is still at large. Now, German jihadists have told investigators that Bahaji is living in Pakistan's Waziristan region, where he works for al-Qaida's propaganda wing.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-new-path-for-al-qaida-zawahiri-confirmed-as-bin-laden-s-successor-a-768849.html#ref=rss It is now official: Ayman al-Zawahiri is the new leader of al-Qaida. The uncharismatic surgeon from Egypt is hardly a carbon copy of Osama bin Laden. But the terror network seems interested in testing new strategies. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:40:53 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-new-path-for-al-qaida-zawahiri-confirmed-as-bin-laden-s-successor-a-768849.html It is now official: Ayman al-Zawahiri is the new leader of al-Qaida. The uncharismatic surgeon from Egypt is hardly a carbon copy of Osama bin Laden. But the terror network seems interested in testing new strategies. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/al-qaida-video-zawahiri-vows-to-continue-bin-laden-s-work-a-767430.html#ref=rss First he praised Osama bin Laden, and then he issued threats to Pakistan and the United States. One month after the al-Qaida leader was shot dead in Abbottabad, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri has promised that the group will stay the course. But he remained silent about the group's new leadership. Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:17:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/al-qaida-video-zawahiri-vows-to-continue-bin-laden-s-work-a-767430.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-peaceful-city-scratching-beneath-the-surface-in-abbottabad-a-762763.html#ref=rss Is the city of Abbottabad, where Osama bin Laden was found and killed by US Special Operations forces on May 1, really as bucolic as it has been described? The al-Qaida boss, as it turns out, was far from the only Islamist who sought refuge in the town. Wed, 18 May 2011 09:08:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-peaceful-city-scratching-beneath-the-surface-in-abbottabad-a-762763.html Is the city of Abbottabad, where Osama bin Laden was found and killed by US Special Operations forces on May 1, really as bucolic as it has been described? The al-Qaida boss, as it turns out, was far from the only Islamist who sought refuge in the town.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/terrorists-have-rights-too-what-international-law-says-about-the-killing-of-bin-laden-a-762417.html#ref=rss The elimination of al-Qaida figurehead Osama bin Laden earlier this month was widely celebrated. But was it the right thing for the US to do? International law expert <i>Kai Ambos</i> argues that killing him was both illegal and morally dubious. Fri, 13 May 2011 15:34:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/terrorists-have-rights-too-what-international-law-says-about-the-killing-of-bin-laden-a-762417.html The elimination of al-Qaida figurehead Osama bin Laden earlier this month was widely celebrated. But was it the right thing for the US to do? International law expert Kai Ambos argues that killing him was both illegal and morally dubious.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-richard-clarke-capturing-bin-laden-was-not-one-of-their-big-priorities-a-761458.html#ref=rss In an interview, former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke discusses Washington's effort, long unsuccessful, to track bin Laden, missteps made by the Clinton and Bush administrations in the search and how the CIA and Air Force resisted deploying drone aircraft in the war on terror. Tue, 10 May 2011 18:54:15 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-richard-clarke-capturing-bin-laden-was-not-one-of-their-big-priorities-a-761458.html In an interview, former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke discusses Washington's effort, long unsuccessful, to track bin Laden, missteps made by the Clinton and Bush administrations in the search and how the CIA and Air Force resisted deploying drone aircraft in the war on terror. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/ottrando-s-tears-a-new-york-fireman-and-osama-s-death-a-761526.html#ref=rss It didn't take long for John Ottrando, a New York fireman, to arrive at the north tower on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Now, almost 10 years later, images from that day have become his constant companion. But he has mixed feelings about the death of Osama bin Laden. Tue, 10 May 2011 17:43:39 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/ottrando-s-tears-a-new-york-fireman-and-osama-s-death-a-761526.html It didn't take long for John Ottrando, a New York fireman, to arrive at the north tower on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Now, almost 10 years later, images from that day have become his constant companion. But he has mixed feelings about the death of Osama bin Laden.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-search-for-bin-laden-s-cave-fifteen-minutes-of-fame-for-a-tiny-pakistani-village-a-761436.html#ref=rss The Pakistani village of Chak Shah Mohammad has never attracted many visitors from abroad. But ever since Osama bin Laden's wife reportedly said the al-Qaida leader had hid in a cave there, the global media has descended on the tiny settlement. The inhabitants claim never to have seen him -- but are fascinated by their encounters with foreigners. Mon, 09 May 2011 15:14:44 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-search-for-bin-laden-s-cave-fifteen-minutes-of-fame-for-a-tiny-pakistani-village-a-761436.html The Pakistani village of Chak Shah Mohammad has never attracted many visitors from abroad. But ever since Osama bin Laden's wife reportedly said the al-Qaida leader had hid in a cave there, the global media has descended on the tiny settlement. The inhabitants claim never to have seen him -- but are fascinated by their encounters with foreigners.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-jihad-homegrown-terror-takes-on-new-dimensions-a-761391.html#ref=rss Osama bin Laden may be dead, but al-Qaida is alive and well in Germany. Each month, an average of five Islamists leave the country for terrorist training camps in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area. Recent arrests in Düsseldorf show just how dangerous homegrown terror has become. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:22:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-jihad-homegrown-terror-takes-on-new-dimensions-a-761391.html Osama bin Laden may be dead, but al-Qaida is alive and well in Germany. Each month, an average of five Islamists leave the country for terrorist training camps in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area. Recent arrests in Düsseldorf show just how dangerous homegrown terror has become.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-head-of-german-intelligence-al-qaida-faces-difficult-times-ahead-a-761374.html#ref=rss Ernst Uhrlau is the head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND. In a SPIEGEL interview he talks about the consequences of Osama bin Laden's death for al-Qaida and his expectation that the organization will carry out terror attacks in the near future. Mon, 09 May 2011 08:54:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/interview-with-head-of-german-intelligence-al-qaida-faces-difficult-times-ahead-a-761374.html Ernst Uhrlau is the head of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND. In a SPIEGEL interview he talks about the consequences of Osama bin Laden's death for al-Qaida and his expectation that the organization will carry out terror attacks in the near future.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-time-of-great-testing-for-al-qaida-bin-laden-s-death-and-the-future-of-violent-jihad-a-760938.html#ref=rss He is best known for his 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the rise of al-Qaida and the September 11 attacks. In a piece for SPIEGEL, <i>Lawrence Wright</i> argues that Osama bin Laden's death -- at a time when peaceful Arab youths are delivering what jihad has been unable to -- has drastically diminished al-Qaida's standing. Sun, 08 May 2011 16:10:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-time-of-great-testing-for-al-qaida-bin-laden-s-death-and-the-future-of-violent-jihad-a-760938.html He is best known for his 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the rise of al-Qaida and the September 11 attacks. In a piece for SPIEGEL, Lawrence Wright argues that Osama bin Laden's death -- at a time when peaceful Arab youths are delivering what jihad has been unable to -- has drastically diminished al-Qaida's standing.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-former-bush-adviser-andrew-card-obama-has-pounded-his-chest-a-little-too-much-a-761162.html#ref=rss Andrew Card served as the White House chief of staff for the first five years of George W. Bush's presidency. In a SPIEGEL interview, Card speaks about Bush's failed efforts to get bin Laden, how President Obama "has pounded his chest a bit too much" and why it's OK to celebrate a terrorist's death. Sat, 07 May 2011 12:10:54 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-former-bush-adviser-andrew-card-obama-has-pounded-his-chest-a-little-too-much-a-761162.html Andrew Card served as the White House chief of staff for the first five years of George W. Bush's presidency. In a SPIEGEL interview, Card speaks about Bush's failed efforts to get bin Laden, how President Obama "has pounded his chest a bit too much" and why it's OK to celebrate a terrorist's death.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/outdated-ideologies-does-bin-laden-s-death-mark-the-end-of-jihadism-a-761177.html#ref=rss Osama bin Laden's violent ideology may have once garnered support in the Arab world, but his death this week came at a time when the burgeoning pro-democracy movement in the Muslim world had rendered his ideas and his international terror network al-Qaida irrelevant. Sat, 07 May 2011 11:53:22 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/outdated-ideologies-does-bin-laden-s-death-mark-the-end-of-jihadism-a-761177.html Osama bin Laden's violent ideology may have once garnered support in the Arab world, but his death this week came at a time when the burgeoning pro-democracy movement in the Muslim world had rendered his ideas and his international terror network al-Qaida irrelevant.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-terrorism-expert-bruce-riedel-the-battle-for-the-soul-of-pakistan-has-begun-a-761049.html#ref=rss Many thought Osama bin Laden was hiding in the mountainous Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. But he was just a two hour drive from Islamabad. US terrorism expert Bruce Riedel spoke with SPIEGEL about how bin Laden's death will affect al-Qaida and how the US should respond to Pakistan's "double game." Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-terrorism-expert-bruce-riedel-the-battle-for-the-soul-of-pakistan-has-begun-a-761049.html Many thought Osama bin Laden was hiding in the mountainous Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. But he was just a two hour drive from Islamabad. US terrorism expert Bruce Riedel spoke with SPIEGEL about how bin Laden's death will affect al-Qaida and how the US should respond to Pakistan's "double game." ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/us-pakistani-relations-a-forced-marriage-plagued-by-ever-deepening-distrust-a-761190.html#ref=rss America's relationship with Pakistan has always been one of ups and downs. Although they teamed up to fight terrorists after 9/11, their mutual trust has been steadily eroding ever since. And, now, suspicions about whether Pakistan knowingly harbored Osama bin Laden will usher in a new era of difficult -- but necessary -- relations. Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/us-pakistani-relations-a-forced-marriage-plagued-by-ever-deepening-distrust-a-761190.html America's relationship with Pakistan has always been one of ups and downs. Although they teamed up to fight terrorists after 9/11, their mutual trust has been steadily eroding ever since. And, now, suspicions about whether Pakistan knowingly harbored Osama bin Laden will usher in a new era of difficult -- but necessary -- relations.]]>