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| Africa: North | |
| Terror Suspect Said to Be Held by Algeria | |
| 2004-06-05 | |
| NYT via Instapundit Algerian forces took custody on Friday of a man believed to be one of North Africa’s most powerful Islamic terrorists in a highly unusual multinational operation The Algerians can do multinational, why can’t the US?, asks the NYT deep in the desert of Niger, according to an official from one of the countries involved. "From everything we’re hearing it is Al Para," the official said, referring to Amari Saifi, a terrorist with ties to Al Qaeda.
So whose side is he on? both last year. Not a bad year. Germany paid Mr. Saifi nearly $6 million in ransom for the hostages’ release, American and Algerian officials say. Suckers! He is reported to have used the money to recruit fighters and buy weapons for the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Algeria. The Germans were shocked, Shocked!, I say, to hear that he did not donate the money to Oxfam In March, Chadian rebels captured 17 members of the group after a battle near the border with Niger. And didn’t kill them? Smart. Mr. Saifi is believed to be among those captured. The rebel organization, the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, approached the United States and other countries involved in the American-led campaign against terrorism in hopes of delivering the prisoners and reaping a political benefit from its good deed. These guys could be a source of CIA recruits. But the group’s leaders insisted that someone go to them to retrieve the terrorists, complicating negotiations because the group lacks internationally recognized legal jurisdiction over territory in Chad. Is there legal jurisdiction over anything in Chad except at the end of a gun barrel? The controversy may have contributed to a split that erupted late last month among the Chadian rebel forces. Bwana, we have a split erupting. Take shelter. One commander took the three most senior members of Mr. Saifi’s group, all Algerians and including the man believed to be Mr. Saifi, and disappeared. At least they didn’t bury him in a secret location to be dug up after the coast had cleared. That set off a scramble by all parties involved to get Mr. Saifi from the Chadian commander. Thus the classic party game, "Where’s Saifi?" Other rebel leaders, the Algerian government and representatives of the Islamic group each negotiated with the commander by satellite telephone. Thinking that the NSA coverage area didn’t extend to Africa. But now they do. The Islamists are believed to have offered a substantial payment for Mr. Saifi’s release. It is not clear what the Algerians offered, but they appear to have No Christian name. according to his associates, agreed to a secret rendezvous with the Algerians in Niger on Friday. Hundreds of troops were involved in the operation, according to a rebel official who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the chief of the Algerian Army, Gen. Muhammad Lamari, had directed the transfer. No doubt he, or his soon to be widowed wife wil soon be e-mailing me regarding another lucrative transfer. The remaining 14 members of the Islamic group who were caught are Sounds like a UNICEF fundraiser. Does Kofi get a cut? If Mr. Saifi is indeed in custody, he is expected to Must have held him in Abu Ghraib How far the Germans have fallen. First to pay ransom, then to issue a warrant to the kidnapper. How will they convince the next kidnapper a warrant won’t be issued? | |
| Posted by:Mr. Davis |