Has Algeria Spoiled U.S. Counter-Terrorism Strategy In North Africa?

Algerian Stance Spoils U.S. Strategy For Region -- Washington post

LONDON — The hostage crisis in Algeria has upended the Obama administration’s strategy for coordinating an international military campaign against al-Qaeda fighters in North Africa, leaving U.S., European and African leaders even more at odds over how to tackle the problem.

For months, U.S. officials have intensively lobbied Algeria — whose military is by far the strongest in North Africa — to help intervene in next-door Mali, where jihadists and other rebels have established a well-defended base of operations. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other high-ranking U.S. officials made repeated visits to Algiers in the fall in a bid to persuade the oil-rich country to contribute troops to a U.N.-backed military force in Mali.

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My Comment: The Algerians are acting in their own self interests .... and they are making it clear that what is important to the U.S. is not important to them. But this week's attack on an important Algerian gas plant by Al Qaeda linked militants is probably giving the Algerians some pause .... and I would not be surprised if they are right now re-evaluating their strategy.

Update: Terror Threat Prompts U.S. Rethink on Africa -- Wall Street Journal