Al Qaeda into Africa

Washington Times ^ | 3/22/04 | Arnaud de Borchgrave

[DoctorMichael]

There now are 40,000 U.N. blue helmeted peacekeepers in six black African countries. Most of them are "volunteered" by other African countries. The best troops are from South Asian countries - Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Soon Sudan, emerging from the nightmare of a 30-year civil war, will need 8,000 to 10,000 more. But before the first peacekeepers could get there, a new insurgency erupted in the west - the Chad-based Darfar rebellion. Khartoum hit back ruthlessly with scorched-earth tactics and ethnic cleansing.

[DoctorMichael]

One of the most unrelentingly depressing articles I've read in a while.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

More depressing is the influx of Arabs into South America.

[DoctorMichael]

A little long but REALLY lays out the conditions in the Dark Continent quite well.

There are a number of articles here and there at FR documenting the US military presence there, but it seems that the Pentagon wants to keep a low profile as to the whereabouts of our troops and bases.

[DoctorMichael]

Arnaud de Borchgrave Bump.

[DoctorMichael]

"...influx of Arabs into South America...."

Yes! This is another area thats not on the radar screen......or at least no one really is talking about.

....yet.

[Jim Noble]

The remote south of the North African Islamic belt is an ideal location for these maggots to set up shop...

Wait!

Who's that guy behind the tree wearing Ray-Bans with a sat phone?

And where did he go?

[sheik yerbouty]

There are at least a million potential jihadists there.

[DoctorMichael]

From the article:"......Gone are a modern highway system, a network of airports with daily air service between major cities, guest houses in national parks, plantations, water and sewage treatment plants - in short, all the components of the former Belgian colony's infrastructure......"

These people were better off under colonialism. As you said....

"....Who's that guy behind the tree wearing Ray-Bans with a sat phone?....

There is this thin veneer of civilization there.......and even the little bits that ARE present seem to be twisted, contorted and corrupted.

[DoctorMichael]

This area becomes even more important with the potential of undeveloped oil fields that are present in some countries. I'm sure AQ would love to hide behind the disguise of a popular anti-colonial revolution.

[backtothestreets]

"...influx of Arabs into South America...."

"Yes! This is another area thats not on the radar screen......or at least no one really is talking about.

....yet."

Here's a link to the CIA World Factbook on Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.  Under the heading "Transnational Issues", read the next to last paragraph titled "Disputes - International" for each country.

The "harbors Islamist militants" phrase has been listed for a couple years.

People are talking about the insurgency.  The problem is getting our elected officials to listen.  This is a cancer.  It's in our backyard, not half way around the world.  Even more unsettling to me is this nagging sense that the number of Islamic militants within our own borders has gone unchecked.

CIA World Factbook Links:

Argentina:  http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ar.html
Brazil:  http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br.html
Paraguay:  http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pa.html

[zimdog]

From the article:"......Gone are a modern highway system, a network of airports with daily air service between major cities, guest houses in national parks, plantations, water and sewage treatment plants - in short, all the components of the former Belgian colony's infrastructure......"

These people were better off under colonialism. As you said....

---

Gone also are the Belgian forced labor, their arbitrary justice and rubber workers' fear of getting their hands chopped off when they don't meet their quota.

Yeah, colonialism was real good. I prefer freedom, in my country and in Africa.

[zimdog]

This article breezes over the facts so lightly, even its French author misspells "marabout".

[endthematrix]

"This article breezes over the facts..."

WOOOOSH! And you have read the mush that combines costly and ineffectual UN peacekeeping, social welfare, infrastructure repair and Islamist terror potential. What's not listed is the address to where to send the check. Stop fueling the violence and sending them weapons of war!