Al Qaeda In North Africa Is Becoming A Permanent Fact

Photo supplied by the Gerardmer-Tidarmene association shows Pierre Camatte (R) posing with an unidentified man. Photo AFP

Terror Threat in N. Africa: Kidnapping Foreigners -- Time Magazine

In the three years since allying itself with Osama bin Laden, North Africa's al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) militant group has worked hard to align its terror activities and communications with those of its radical parent organization. Topping the list of the techniques AQIM has borrowed from its brothers in the Middle East and South Asia is kidnapping Westerners to net big-money ransoms — or carefully choreographing their executions to shock the world. As the fates of several hostages hang in the balance in Mali and Mauritania, Western governments are grappling with how to deal with the growing problem: should they pony up hefty ransoms time and again to save their citizens, or stand by the time-worn policy of refusing to negotiate with hostage takers?

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My Comment: Giving money to these kidnappers would only make a bad situation into something much worse. One only needs to look at the other end of the continent at Somalia to see what happens when pirates/kidnappers are paid to release their ships and crews .... the problem has only multiplied to a level that is now almost unsustainable and dangerous for all those who must use these shipping lines.