You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa: West
AL QAIDA QUIETLY RELOCATES TO ALGERIA
2003-11-26
Al Qaida operatives have been relocating to the southern Sahara Desert in Algeria and have prepared secret bases near the border with Mali.
We knew that...
Western intelligence sources said the Al Qaida effort was detected in early 2003 and has been aided by the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call. They said the Salafist leadership has provided Al Qaida with hideouts and logistics in the mountain region. "The area is ideal for Al Qaida training and command functions," an intelligence source said. "The area is isolated and is located along the border with Mali, where there is no trace of government control." The sources said the Al Qaida operatives use the Sahara as a base to move into neighboring countries as Libya and Mauritania. The focus of the Al Qaida presence is the Mali desert near the Algerian border.
Wonder how Muammar is going to take to outsiders moving in on his territory?
Posted by:TS

#8  I doubt they'll be able to hide for long. There are NO permanent settlements to speak of in that area. There are a couple of former French Foreign Legion posts about 40 miles north of the border, but unless they're in the mountainous area in the far southern tip of Algeria, they probably stick out like a sore thumb.

There are two major problems with establishing a headquarters in that area: there are NO indigenous people to hide among, and resources are pretty poor (if there were resources, there would be people). Too many people, and you over-burden what few resources are available. Also, that's an extremely LONG, open supply line. Not just easy to cut, but depends on a lot of people. The more people, the less chance of keeping anyting a secret.

As for finding them, give me ten people and control of a satellite, and I'll find them. May take a month, may take six, but I'll find them.

THEN we can draw circles!
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-11-26 10:49:14 PM  

#7  First y'gotta find them. There's an awful lot of sand around there...
Posted by: Fred   2003-11-26 9:02:49 PM  

#6  Amazingly cooperative - pick a spot W-A-A-A-A-Y out in the middle of nowhere (how far can it be from Timbuktu?), and set up where there's almost no chance of collateral damage. Now, if we could just get them to lay out a nice, big bulls-eye.....
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2003-11-26 8:19:16 PM  

#5   Not anymore, Hattab was deposed and replaced by Nabril Sahraoui last month, when the GSPC formally merged with al-Qaeda. Sahraoui brought back 15 mid-level al-Qaeda leaders with him and is the brains behind this African safety net of sorts for the organization.
Posted by: Dan Darling   2003-11-26 7:40:21 PM  

#4  BTW - on the same page - Ex-Al Qaeda Caves are on sale! Cheap!
Posted by: Frank G   2003-11-26 7:34:54 PM  

#3  new MOAB test range?...and if it's on RB, they aren't really all that secret, are they....should've shopped VillainSupply.com for the best in secret lairs
Posted by: Frank G   2003-11-26 7:26:59 PM  

#2  The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC),which is led by Hassan Hattab, held at least 31 European tourists hostage from about February of this year. Seventeen were freed by Algerian commandos in May. Fourteen more hostages were released in August. CNNs August story is here.
Methinks these tourists got too near these secret bases. I hope someone debriefed these folks with that in mind.
Posted by: Gasse Katze   2003-11-26 7:05:31 PM  

#1  Sounds like a good place for a few hundred Tomohawks to dump some serious bomblets on the shitballs.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-11-26 6:15:17 PM  

00:00