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Algeria seeks closer ties with U.S.
UPI ^ | 11.08.04

Posted on 11/08/2004 4:41:38 AM PST by 4kevin

The warm welcome Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika afforded George W. Bush's re-election contrasted sharply with the cool public reaction in his country. Most people felt that Bush had no positive plans for the Arab and Muslim worlds in particular, or the rest of the world in general. The Algerian president appeared unperturbed by Bush's victory last week, several months after the U.S. president helped Bouteflika cement his rule by recognizing the integrity of the elections that granted him a second term in office. Bouteflika seemed to have forgotten the 1960s and 70s, when he toured the world as foreign minister representing a one-party socialist government, blasting "American imperialism and brutal capitalism." Abdul Aziz Rehabi, Algeria's former culture and communications minister, said he was surprised by the official satisfaction with the Bush victory.

(Excerpt) Read more at interestalert.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abdelazizbouteflika; algeria; bushsreelection
The advantages of 4 more years keep manifesting themselves :)

see more breaking news

1 posted on 11/08/2004 4:41:39 AM PST by 4kevin
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To: 4kevin


Algeria - The law prohibits public assembly for purposes of practicing a faith other than Islam. Non-Islamic proselytizing is illegal, and the Government restricts the importation of non-Islamic literature for distribution.


2 posted on 11/08/2004 4:42:20 AM PST by 2banana (They want to die for Islam and we want to kill them)
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To: 4kevin

Algeria has has vast numbers of civilians brutally murdered by local IslamoFascists in a completely unreported (in the US) civil war for the last 10 years.


3 posted on 11/08/2004 4:43:12 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2003. United States Department of State, June 2004.
Comments on the content of the material should be sent to the U.S. Department of State

Description
An Islamic extremist group, the GIA aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state. The GIA began its violent activity in 1992 after the military government suspended legislative elections in anticipation of an overwhelming victory by the Islamic Salvation Front, the largest Islamic opposition party. First designated in October 1997.

Activities
Frequent attacks against civilians and government workers. Since 1992, the GIA has conducted a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres, sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation, although the group’s dwindling numbers have caused a decrease in the number of attacks. Since announcing its campaign against foreigners living in Algeria in 1993, the GIA has killed more than 100 expatriate men and women—mostly Europeans—in the country. The group uses assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to favor kidnapping victims. The GIA highjacked an Air France flight to Algiers in December 1994. In 2002, a French court sentenced two GIA members to life in prison for conducting a series of bombings in France in 1995.

Strength
Precise numbers unknown, probably fewer than 100.

Location/Area of Operation
Algeria and Europe.

External Aid
None known.


4 posted on 11/08/2004 4:49:43 AM PST by Straight Vermonter (Liberalism: The irrational fear of self reliance.)
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To: Straight Vermonter

Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is one of a number of bloodthirsty IslamoFascist groups operating in Algeria.


5 posted on 11/08/2004 4:51:43 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Free Republic is 21st Century Samizdat)
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To: 4kevin
When Algeria took my passport away from me to try to force me to go to work for Sonotrac (Algerian oil company), we did not have diplomatic relations with Algeria.
After raising h*ll with everyone who would listen, one person told me to go to the Swiss embassy.
I walked in the gate of the Swiss embassy and the first sign I saw said "American School".
The American charge of affairs played golf with a VP of Sonotrac and he called him and my passport was returned that day and I was able to get out of that sh*t hole the next day.
6 posted on 11/08/2004 4:53:19 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Dan Rather called Saddam "Mister President and President Bush "bush")
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To: 4kevin

What, they are dissatisfied with the French?


7 posted on 11/08/2004 4:54:49 AM PST by snopercod (Inflation, it's how wars are paid for.)
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To: snopercod

I'd almost say its worth it, just to piss off the french!

See how they like us arming a radical islamic country to their south.


8 posted on 11/08/2004 5:03:17 AM PST by ruiner
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To: 4kevin

"Most people felt that Bush had no positive plans for the Arab and Muslim worlds in particular..."

Here's a crazy thought: how about the "Arab and Muslim world" produce some positive plans for itself, instead of waiting for outsiders to do it for them?


9 posted on 11/08/2004 5:25:10 AM PST by Gefreiter ("Flee...into the peace and safety of a new dark age." HP Lovecraft)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Algerians are also heavily involved in Islamic terrorism outside of Algeria. The attack in Spain, as well as a recent planned attack on the Spanish courts, involved Algerians.


10 posted on 11/08/2004 5:27:40 AM PST by livius
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To: 4kevin
Under French domination and tutelage for so long, we shouldn't welcome this much.

It's like France without the veneer of Western civilization and with shari'a law.

I would hope we'll have nothing to do with them.
11 posted on 11/08/2004 5:31:46 AM PST by George W. Bush
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Why were you over there in the first place? Working? I heard one time that it was the armpit of the world...not exactly a tourist mecca. :o)


12 posted on 11/08/2004 5:38:05 AM PST by daybreakcoming
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To: daybreakcoming
We had agents in Europe that were supposed to take care of problems in Europe and Africa.
The agents from Europe went to the same school we had with the Algerians. The people in Europe were qualified and good people but the Algerians sent sons and nephews to the school, none should have been sent to a highly technical school.
The equipment was sent by boat and it had minor problems.
Our agents went to Algeria but were not allowed to work on the instruments. The excuse was the Algerians went to the same school and they knew nothing so our agents knew also.

The VP of the area called me on a Sunday and I went to Paris for my visa.

When I arrived in Algeria, I fixed the problems in about an hour, very minor problems that our agents could have fixed as fast.

I went to the field with the crew and had no problems.

When I went back back to Algiers to get back to the USA and that is where my problems began. It is worse than a sh*thole country.
13 posted on 11/08/2004 6:04:57 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Dan Rather called Saddam "Mister President and President Bush "bush")
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

So what you are saying is the Saints will win the Super Bowl before you touch Algerian shores again. :o) Could be these "sons and nephews expertise" contributed to that gas plant explosion over there - was it last year?
Did you ever see one of the Desert Rose "rocks" while there?


14 posted on 11/08/2004 6:23:10 AM PST by daybreakcoming
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To: daybreakcoming

A lot longer then that.

Do you remember when the Saint fans wore paper bags over their heads and called the team the AINTS?

I have only seen Rock Roses from the southwest and Mexico.


15 posted on 11/08/2004 6:33:40 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Dan Rather called Saddam "Mister President and President Bush "bush")
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
Oh yeah - I was one of those fans, the Aints must hold the world record for choking. Their games just turned into an excuse to go to New Orleans. The Landry Era Cowboys are my all-time favorite.

I have two of those "rocks" from Algeria. Good size but slowly losing sand - heavy as 'ell tho.

16 posted on 11/08/2004 7:01:15 AM PST by daybreakcoming
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To: daybreakcoming

Have you heard of Indian paint rocks?
These are small rocks about 1/2 inch round.
They are hollow and have a powder inside that ranges from yellow to red.


17 posted on 11/08/2004 7:13:13 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Dan Rather called Saddam "Mister President and President Bush "bush")
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