West Africa: The next Afghanistan?

MSNBC ^ | April 29, 2005 | Chris Hansen

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - At a time when the United States has thousands of forces hunting Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq, international investigators say the United States is ignoring another terrorist outlaw — former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who's hiding in plain sight in West Africa.

This is a place most Americans and their government haven't paid much attention to. It is war-torn, remote and desperately poor. But that might be about to change. War crimes investigators have uncovered evidence that al-Qaida terrorists — before and after 9/11 — were using West Africa as a hideout and as a place to launder money.

And they say Charles Taylor has been helping them. Taylor, who is allegedly responsible for the murder, rape and mutilation of 1.2 million people, was indicted more than two years ago for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges forced him from power in Liberia.

"Today, I leave you with these parting words, God willing, I will be back," Taylor told Liberian supporters in 2003.

[Brilliant]

"War crimes investigators have uncovered evidence that al-Qaida terrorists — before and after 9/11 — were using West Africa as a hideout and as a place to launder money. And they say Charles Taylor has been helping them..."

War crimes investigators? Hmmmph. Why should we believe anything they say? They've got an agenda.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^Why should we believe anything they say?^^^^^^^^^^^^

Because we all have this little thing called common sense?

Reading the article, nothing seems instantly "out of place".

Besides, just because somebody has an agenda doesn't mean they *always* get it wrong. Just.... most of the time.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Or, it could go like this......

Get more people talking about this topic, more groups will do investigations.

Then you'll get the whole truth.

Sound better?

[Straight Vermonter]

I have been posting stories about this on the Daily Terrorist Round-Up for a few months. The US is giving money and training to the militaries of Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Morocco and others. The governments in the region are US friendly and don't need our troops, only weapons and training.

There have been a few stories that have leaked out about terrorists being bagged in the Sahel. Since this is an area where there is little media or even many westerners the anti-terror forces can operate in great secrecy.

As a side note West Africa is part of the European Command as opposed to Central Command which is running the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. Consequently, this gets the European commanders into the WOT and no resources from Centcom need to be diverted into this region.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Thanks for the reply.

And the info.

However, I wonder if as things get better and better in the greater ME, if things will start to spiral in Africa as terrorists relocate in order to be more effective.

Just a thought.