Algeria: American Diplomats Cause Panic

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April 21, 2007: Police have identified the suicide bombers who carried out the April 11 attacks. The investigation now concentrates on finding the support group that put together the attack. If that group can be broken up, the chances of more attacks is much lower. It's the support group that makes all the difference. The actual suicide bombers are easy to recruit. But finding people who can plan the attack, build the bombs, recruit the bombers and direct the actual attacks, is much more difficult. Several hundred Islamic terrorists are known to be hiding out along the coast, east of the capital. Some are also in the desert, far to the south, but it's much easier to survive near the coast, where there is more water, food, and sympathetic civilians.

April 20, 2007: In Niger, Tuareg rebels attacked a uranium mine near the Algerian border. Three people were killed. The Tuareg are an ethnic group that is widespread throughout the Sahara. The Taureg tend to prefer their tribal government to national ones. The Tuareg are believed to work with Islamic terrorist groups hiding out in this part of the world. For a fee, the Tuareg will do business with just about anyone. In Niger, the French owned uranium mine has become a magnet for Tuareg attacks in the last few months.

April 17, 2007: Several large rallies were held in the capital, protesting the Islamic terrorism. While the terrorists have the backing of only a small segment of the population, that's enough to keep it going. Satellite TV news, like al Jazeera, provide the exciting coverage needed to recruit young men willing to die for the cause (of Islamic conquest of the world.)

April 15, 2007: The U.S. embassy caused a stink by issuing a warning of further bombing attacks against public buildings in the capital. Nothing happened, but the warning caused consternation among Algerians, and the government is not happy. However, the U.S. State Department is obliged to warn its citizens overseas of American counter-terrorist efforts detect the possibility of a terrorist attack.

 

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