begin quote from:
The current crisis has
been some time in the making. A U.S. diplomatic cable from 2009 quoted a
senior Algerian official, Abdelmalek Guenaizia, who complained that
"the nexus of arms, drug and contraband smuggling in northern Mali
created an enabling environment" for terrorists, who would "use any
means available to finance their activities, including corruption and
hostage-taking."
Guenaizia warned then
that AQIM was increasingly capable. They "use the best explosives, have
honed their bomb-making expertise and use sophisticated means to deploy
explosives against their targets," he said.
AQIM comprises largely
Algerians, Mauritanians and Malians. Experts say its total strength is
probably in the hundreds rather than any more. But the fall of Gadhafi
opened up a black market arms bazaar across North Africa, and western
intelligence agencies believe AQIM may have acquired anti-aircraft
missiles along with other heavy weapons, as well as plenty of vehicles,
essential in a region of few (and dilapidated) roads.
As jihad became more
difficult elsewhere -- from southern Yemen to the tribal territories of
Pakistan -- foreign fighters also began appearing in Mali. Reports from
the northeastern town of Gao in recent months said Pakistani and Saudi
militants had been seen there.
There is the risk that global jihad's center of gravity could shift from South Asia to North Africa.
end quote from:
Though it might seem unrelated at first look, I believe the unemployment picture worldwide of 40% to 50% of under 30 year olds worldwide is partly precipitating this problem. Think about young people without jobs or the financial ability to get married and to have a family. Especially young males would get angry and often resort to crime to stay fed. Once a young man has resorted to crime he might be able to be talked into almost anything including terrorism, especially in places like Africa and the Middle East.
No comments:
Post a Comment