Mali and Algeria: And So It Spreads
Terrorism in Algeria and war in Mali shows the increasing reach of Islamic extremist spreading in the Sahara. It is being reported that Al Qaeda is shifting its focus to Syria, Libya, Iraq, Algeria, and Mali.
The orgin of the Mali conflict is not global but local. Rebel Islamic fighters have held most of northern Mali, roughly the size of France, for almost a year.
France is working with the Organiza of African Union to aid Mali.
France says it will leave when the African forces can take over.
The U.S. has begun to assist with troop lifts and air refueling.
The Algerian natural gas plant where 37 foreign workers were executed has had a problem with locals who are thought to have helped the attackers.
This is a site in the middle of nowhere, with 700 people on site and 600 are Algerian. The Algerian army is hard to explian how 40 heavily armed rebles could crossed from Libya to seize the plant.
The West cannot turn its back on another Al Qaeda advance in Africa,