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Algerians note al-Qaeda ignorance of their nations history
[Maghrebia] An al-Qaeda video released earlier this week urging Maghreb citizens to support the terrorist organisation provoked a negative reaction in Algeria. To analysts, the video reflects a desperate effort by al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb leader Abdelmalek Droukdel to link his struggling group to al-Qaeda's international organisation.
O stupid, stupid Lions of Islam!
In a video entitled "Algeria Between the Sacrifice of Fathers and Faithfulness of Sons", al-Qaeda spokesman Mohamed Hassan Kaid, alias Abu Yahya al-Libi (the Libyan), called on Muslims to wage "jihad" against Algerian military and government targets. He also made a recruiting call to the broader Maghreb population to join his cause.

The message provoked a wave of criticism in Algeria, particularly because it perpetuates confusion between al-Qaeda's "Mujahideen" and the Algerian Mujahideen who fought for Algerian independence.
Note the correct use of scare quotes in the previous sentence.
The editor of the daily newspaper El Fadjr said the video explains "why al-Qaeda is so desperate to win Algeria". Al-Qaeda "almost managed to realise its objective of founding an Islamic state, but people's reactions stood in its way," he stated. The organisation's determination is a form of "revenge" against Algeria, "which thwarted al-Qaeda's plans".

Daily paper Le Soir d'Algérie, meanwhile, wrote that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb tried to draw parallels between the "chouhadas" -- the martyrs in the revolution for independence - and the terrorists from the Salafist group.

The paper emphasised al-Libi's poor knowledge of Algerian history, as he had stated that "Algeria had a million martyrs", when in reality the figure was more like one and a half million.
Merely a rounding error.
A former Mujahid who fought in the Algerian war of independence remarked to Magharebia that it was the original Mujahideen who defeated terrorism when it appeared in Algeria. "The first self-defence groups, the "patriots", were started up by former Mujahideen such as Haj Al-Makhfi in Lakhdaria, or Al-Haj Zitoufi in Ain-Defla, or Colonel Amirouche's son, Noureddine Ait-Hammouda, in Kabylia," he said."As long as we live and the terrorist threat exists, we shall continue to fight them," the former mujahid added.

Al-Qaeda's media appearance is mostly aimed at legitimising Droukdel's command, at a time his organisation is experiencing some serious disagreements, added Le Soir d'Algérie. This kind of "blessing" from al-Qaeda's Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri is a lifeline for Droukdel's organisation, and a way of masking the innumerable losses it has suffered in recent times.

Meanwhile, Algerian authorities vowed to continue the fight against terrorism. Speaking during the graduation ceremony of three classes of National Gendarmerie officers on Wednesday (June 24th), General Ahmed Boustila during the graduation ceremony of three classes of National Gendarmerie officers that "the fight against the terrorists will continue."

Referring to last week's attack in which AQIM killed 18 gendarmes in Bordj Bou Arreridj, General Boustila said, "This massacre will not discourage the gendarmes or alter their determination to fight terrorism as a top priority, until it is completely eradicated."

"The Salafist group is experiencing a difficult situation internally, but is still capable of doing harm. That's why we have to remain vigilant and step up our information-gathering activities."
Posted by: Fred 2009-06-27
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=272949