North Africa--The New Front on WOT - Political Forum

CHUQ · 04-18-2007, 05:47 AM

With the bombings in the past couple of weeks, N. Africa is becoming a hot spot.

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- North African authorities say a wave of suicide attacks in Morocco and Algeria over the past week may be the first phase of an al Qaeda plot drafted in Sudan three years ago.
The plan calls for a reign of terror, implantation of guerrilla units in mountain hideouts, a paralysis of Algerian oil supplies and of tourist resorts in Tunisia and Morocco, a senior North African official said.
Other officials said last week's bombings in Algiers, which killed 33 persons and wounded 22, and a series of suicide explosions in Casablanca, Morocco's main port, may signal the start of the campaign.

Attacks likely first part of al Qaeda plot, officials say*-*World*-*The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Yeah, the world is becoming a safer place since the invasion.

Brother Oz · 04-18-2007, 07:20 AM

These places have always had their Islamist terrorists. In Algeria, the old group simply changed its name to Al Quaeda. It's like a brand, and everyone wants to look cool by wearing it.

CHUQ · 04-18-2007, 09:20 AM

Let's talk about Algeria, the violence really began in the early 50's and until 1962. The "terrorsists" were more freedom fighters for independence than anything else. I am sure their were some Islamists in the ranks, but independence was more the aim than some religious one.

Then in 1990, elections were held and Islamists parties made a really strong showing. The govt alluded the election results and a state of emergency was installed. This is when the "Islamists" began their assaults and a bloody civil war ensues with 80,000 or more casualities.

The Islamists since 1990, have been operating with little support other than moral support from some countries. I think the switch to al-Qaeda is more to having access to a worldwide organization, than trying to be cool.

Futurewise2007 · 04-19-2007, 03:51 AM

CHUQ, i think I have to agree with you on that point, that the Islamists terrorists in Algeria have joined ranks with them. Which is very worrisome indeed. Did President Mubarak of Egypt warned of that if you cut one head of, you get two in its place. I think this what happening now. Al-Qaeda is now spreading its war in Africa.

CHUQ · 04-19-2007, 05:42 AM

Agreed and their recruitment program is very successful. This is a story that shows how they are going about business.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Al-Qaeda-linked militants are winning recruits from the margins of Algerian society for a new strategy of high-impact attacks, details emerging from last week's bombings in Algiers suggest.

The methods of al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa have been condemned, however, by former leaders of the Islamic insurgency that peaked in the 1990s and left up to 200,000 people dead.

Al-Qaeda recruiting from Algerian fringes - USATODAY.com