The US Department of State has issued a statement declaring that the Greek pyromaniacs belonging to the Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei are now terrorists.

And That’s Official!

(Unlike, say, the United Islamic Front/Northern Alliance, who are not. Or…)

Actually, it could be argued that the members of the Conspiracy are pretty amateurish when compared to the many professionals who’ve graduated from the School of the Americas. Not that the State Department would agree, of course. According to it, “the training provided by the School is intended to be a long-term investment in a positive relationship with Latin America”. By the same token, one might argue that the illumination provided by the Conspiracy is intended to be a long-term investment in a positive relationship with PASOK…

Anyway.

Terrorist Designation of Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

October 13, 2011 The Department of State has designated the Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei (SPF), also known as Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, Synomosia Pyrinon Tis Fotias, and Thessaloniki-Athens Fire Nuclei Conspiracy, under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. SPF is a Greece-based extremist group. It has targeted civilians and government officials, both Greek and foreign, in an attempt to spread its violent anarchist ideology. The group first emerged in January 2008 with a wave of fire-bombings against car dealerships and banks in Athens and Thessaloniki. Four members of the group were arrested in 2009 following the evolution of the group’s tactics to employ more sophisticated bombs. In November 2010, SPF attempted to mail parcel bombs to EU government offices in Germany and Italy, as well as foreign embassies in Greece. The Government of Greece has made important strides in countering the threat posed by SPF and other terrorist organizations based in Greece. Earlier this year, for instance, Greek authorities arrested two SPF members for their involvement in the 2010 mail parcel bombings. Today’s designation complements the efforts of Greek authorities dealing with the threat posed by anarchists. SPF is the third anarchist group designated by the Department of State since 2009. The consequences of this designation include a prohibition against U.S. persons providing material support or resources to, or engaging in other transactions with SPF, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons. The Department of State took this action in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury. PRN: 2011/1712

Note that the police investigation into the parcel bomb campaign of November (and other activities) has resulted in waves of arrests of suspected members of Synomosia Pyrinon (Tis) Fotias, the first such arrests taking place in September 2009. In July 2011, the first trials of real or alleged members ended with the imposition of severe prison sentences.

Precisely what importance the State Department designation has for social struggles in Greece (let alone US citizens providing material support or resources to, or communicating with, the Conspiracy) is an open question, but if nothing else it would seem to provide further public confirmation, if any were needed, of the US state’s support for whatever additional repressive measures are required in order to ensure the country remains solvent. “Member States adopting IMF/EU programmes have to remain firmly committed to very specific measures, which need to be acted upon from the outset. Monitoring has to be strengthened” as they say in the classics.

See also : Left-wing and anarchist terrorism in the EU (2010) (April 21, 2011) | From the Greek Streets.