| On the terror front, the world's attention has been | | | | German tourists in the Sahara - all later released after |
| trained on Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet recent | | | | a ransom was paid. |
| developments in Algeria suggest that Al Qaeda has a | | | | Just as the GIA morphed into the GSPC, the GSPC |
| renewed interest in establishing a foothold in the | | | | has lately morphed into "Al-Qaeda in the Islamic |
| region, especially in the rough border terrain between | | | | Maghreb". Any doubt that this marked a link to the |
| Algeria, Mali and Mauritania. This is rugged country, | | | | Bin Laden network was dispelled by comments from |
| difficult of access. In many ways a perfect staging | | | | GSPC leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel, who has explicitly |
| ground for terrorism. | | | | confirmed the connection between his mujahideen |
| Algeria been strangely understated in news coverage | | | | and Al Qaeda. It's not as though this was a new and |
| which is remarkable, given the killing spree that has | | | | startling revelation. GSPC leader, Abu Musab Abdel |
| been going on behind the scenes. Information is hard | | | | Wadoud, allegedly corresponded with Al Zarqawi, the |
| to come by, hardly surprising when you consider that | | | | now deceased Al Qaeda leader in Iraq. Wadoud is |
| the government routinely stifles news of terror | | | | also on record lauding the achievements of Zarqawi in |
| bombings. For example numerous attacks in the | | | | a 2005 interview. |
| Kabylei Mountain region have gone unreported. | | | | Why has Algerian terrorism been able to get such a |
| Recently though, two bombings in Algiers did make | | | | foothold? Part of the problem lies with initiatives on |
| the headlines and point to new developments on the | | | | the part of the Bouteflika government with respect |
| terror front that over time could have implications for | | | | to post-civil war reconciliation strategies. Reconciliation |
| Europe. It is precisely the close proximity to Europe | | | | was never a simple proposition in a climate that had |
| that makes it surprising the Algerian situation hasn't | | | | become poisonous and divisive. Following a |
| been put under a lot more scrutiny. Said Saadi, an | | | | referendum for "national reconciliation", an amnesty |
| opposition politician, had this to say about the Algeria | | | | was granted to Islamists from the 1990's civil war. |
| Europe connection ... "It is as if Bin Laden has | | | | Under a new "national reconciliation" law Islamists |
| stationed his people on an aircraft carrier off your | | | | have been released from prison, but a percentage of |
| coastline." | | | | these have drifted back to the networks that |
| Is this overstatement? To what extent do Algerian | | | | support them. It should also be noted that the GSPC |
| terrorist groups pose a threat to Europe? To get a | | | | totally rejected the reconciliation efforts and vowed |
| realistic view of any potential threat it's important to | | | | to continue their jihad. |
| look at the background to the current developments. | | | | Intelligence experts fear that if not checked, these Al |
| Back in 1991, when the Islamic Salvation Army (FIS), | | | | Qaeda affiliated operators may attempt to broaden |
| looked as though it was going to be elected, a coup | | | | the zone of combat into a regional struggle that |
| d'etat ensued. The military takeover was opposed by | | | | could include Morocco and Tunisia. Some even |
| the GIA or Armed Islamic Group, a militia connected | | | | speculate that the combat zone might be extended |
| with FIS. In the civil war that followed some 200,000 | | | | into Europe. This seems far fetched at this point, but |
| lives were lost, in addition to many reports of | | | | there is a danger in underestimating the |
| abductions, rapes and other human rights violations. | | | | resourcefulness of these fighters, as we have |
| The GIA operations at that time included French | | | | recently seen with the surprising determination of |
| targets. In an effort to prevent the French from | | | | Taliban offensives in Afghanistan. Opportunistic terror |
| getting involved in the Algerian struggle, the GIA | | | | bombings though can't be ruled out. |
| hijacked an Air France plane with the intention of | | | | There has been much talk about a new generation |
| flying it into the Eiffel Tower. Their plans fell apart | | | | of terrorists and new theaters of combat. In the |
| when the plane was stormed by French commandos | | | | years following 9/11 Al Qaeda appeared to be on the |
| at Marseilles-Marignane airport. | | | | run, but all the evidence now points to resurgent |
| Further European attacks were attempted with the | | | | activity. American and European intelligence agencies |
| emergence of the GSPC, or Group for Call and | | | | have little doubt that border regions between |
| Combat. Members of this group were implicated in | | | | Afghanistan and Pakistan have become the staging |
| planning a terror attack in France during the 1998 | | | | ground for the new version of Al Qaeda. What is |
| World Cup. A German connection also emerged when | | | | most troublesome about this phenomena, is that |
| four Algerian GSPC members were arrested in | | | | thanks to ill conceived strategies in Iraq, radicalism |
| Frankfurt. Evidence revealed that they were planning | | | | has spread like wild fire and there are now many |
| an attack in Strasbourg. A story that got extensive | | | | more Muslims throughout these regions ready and |
| coverage was the 2003 GSPC kidnapping of 17 | | | | willing to take up arms. |