American Commander Details Al Qaeda’s Strength in Mali

[alp227]

Source: NYT

Al Qaeda’s affiliate in North Africa is operating terrorist training camps in northern Mali and providing arms, explosives and financing to a militant Islamist organization in northern Nigeria, the top American military commander in Africa said on Monday.

The affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, has used the momentum gained since seizing control of the northern part of the impoverished country in March to increase recruiting across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Europe, said the commander, Gen. Carter F. Ham.

General Ham’s assessment is the most detailed and sobering American military analysis so far of the consequences of the Qaeda affiliate and associated extremist groups seizing the northern part of Mali to use as a haven.

“As each day goes by, Al Qaeda and other organizations are strengthening their hold in northern Mali,” General Ham said in remarks at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University. “There is a compelling need for the international community, led by Africans, to address that.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/world/africa/top-american-commander-in-africa-warns-of-al-qaeda-influence-in-mali.html

[John2]

1. Other facts,

this General should have made known to the American public:

Nigeria has over 170 million people divided up into states. They have a military consisting of an Army, Air Force and Navy. Nigeria is also an Opec Country which was formerly part of the British Empire. Eleven of the states in Nigeria have governments under Sharia Law. So, he is not talking about just waging war against one province but millions of people. This is the dam crusading I'm talking about under the disguise of protecting human rights atrocities, that have been going on for Centuries in Africa. So why the concern now by this U.S. General? Is it the resources or the people? So again, that is the justification for neglecting people at home for spending money on their crusades. You also have the Country of South Africa on the lower part of the continent with their Armed Forces, with nuclear capability, that has been monitored. What makes this different than getting into Afghanistan or Iraq? I see this as just an excuse, to expand American Imperialism. I think the United States Government need to stay out of others affairs under the disguise of Human Rights. And they want to point fingers at the Deficit? We are still in Afghanistan because of Generals like this.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. The bogeyman has been spotted in West Africa!

[dipsydoodle]

5. Thats to help disguise

corporate investment within their land sector. Their people want their land back - it was effectively nationised by their government and then dished out for sugar plantations whatever.

Edit to add : thats with regard to Mali.

[Ash_F]

3. The US is just supporting the side the French support in a ethnic conflict.

Which is also the side that was their puppet during the colonial era. It is a complicated issue of self determination and land ownership, exacerbated by the drought and there are no clear bad guys.

But I see our media is doing their best to accurately report on it. ie: TERRA, TERRA, ALQUEDA FUNDAMENTALISM!!!!

[FarCenter]

4. Mali has lots of gold and uranium