Al-Qaeda recruits Iraq war veterans in Algeria
2009-11-20
Algerian militants who fought in Iraq are joining AQIM upon their return, warn Algerian security experts.
By Safa Salah Eddine for Magharebia in Algiers – 20/11/09
 [AFP/Getty Images] Security sources say AQIM is recruiting Algerians who fought in Iraq, like Muaz Bin Jabal, above, who took part in the 2007 Algiers attacks. |
The al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is recruiting militants who fought in the Iraq war, according to Algeria's local press and security sources.
Sixty fighters have been recruited from Oued Souf, Batna and Msila following their return to Algeria, the Arabic-language daily Ennahar claimed in a November 11th article. However, security sources who spoke with Magharebia put the number at 56, and say small groups of five or six have been returning to the bush since 2007.
Military sources confirmed that the majority of the combatants recruited for AQIM – formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) – hail from Oued Souf. Several students are believed to be among the recruits.
"These individuals can be very dangerous in more ways than one, because they have acquired considerable experience on the ground and have knowledge that [AQIM] stands to benefit greatly from," said Hichem A., a journalist who specialises in security issues.
An Algerian military source with experience in counter-terrorism said the recruits could "serve as a prop for Droukdel's criminal organisation."
"They can contribute strategic support and contribute to an overhaul of AQIM, which would change the current situation, especially since further attacks cannot yet be ruled out," said the source, adding, "This organisation, which deals in violence and devastation, is capable of causing more surprises."
There are also concerns that Libyan terrorist networks are funnelling militants from Iraq into the Algerian bush. Algerian Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni warned as early as 2008 that foreigners were joining AQIM ranks with the help of the "king of the desert", Mokhtar Ben Mokhtar, a criminal kingpin who specialises in smuggling people and weapons.
Zerhouni claimed that 40 AQIM militants were originally from Libya, Tunisia, Mali and Morocco.
To counter AQIM's recruitment drive, Algerian and Iraqi leaders will soon co-operate by sharing counter-terrorism information. Morocco and Algeria have also agreed to work together and share their knowledge.
"I think it's to be expected that these young men who have returned from a war will head off to the bush," said a psychologist who works with jailed terrorists. "Several terrorists who are being treated here have managed to re-establish their links with other terrorists despite being imprisoned, and went back down the road of resistance after being lucky enough to be among those to benefit from the laws on the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation."
"These individuals have lost all concept of life," said the psychologist. "Now they hide out in the bush, where they only know the law of violence – so inevitably, they've become addicted to blood."
However, some experts are confident that AQIM is weakening, and cannot meet its goals even by finding new recruits.
"[AQIM] continues to menace parts of the Maghreb and the Sahel but has failed to meet its objectives," the co-ordinator for counter-terrorism at the US Department of State on Tuesday, Daniel Benjamin, said on Tuesday.
"[AQIM] is financially strapped, especially in Algeria, and is incapable of achieving its objectives in terms of recruitment," added Benjamin.
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moroccan patriot Posted 2009-11-20
Maghrebia is in the process of losing all of its journalistic integrity. When someone who calls themselves a journalist writes, "security sources who spoke with Magharebia...", they make it clear to one and all that they are either a liar or very very lazy. Real journalists vett their sources. They actually go to the trouble of confirming that their, "sources" information is based in reality. They look for independent verification. It seems interests are at play in this story that have nothing to do with the truth. You quote a state department employee who has a vested interest in spreading misinformation, then you quote a journalist who claims to specialize in writing on secutiry issues. Now you can quote me, "Bullocks". I say Bullocks to your whole story. It is nothing more than more fear mongering. Can you even prove that an organization called AQIM even exists? Can you prove that they are recruiting? If so? How much do they pay? What are the Dental benefits like? Do they offer paid leave? How about the working conditions? How long is lunch time, and what kind of stock options are available? If you think I am making fun of your report, then you are not quite as dim witted as your writing would have me believe. For Years now, various govts would have us believe that this "Al kidding" organization props up franchises the same way McDonalds does, you should be asking the questions any true journalist would ask, "who benefits from scaring people?", "how is it that there is no Al kidding franchise in Togo, Finland or Grenada?" I can field that question for you, there are no natural resources that imperialist nations can plunder under false pretenses in any of these regions. The writer of this article should be working for Fox (faux) news, then again maybe they are.
وحيد سيف المولى Posted 2009-11-26
Wherever there is corruption, opposing forces are more active. The Arab nation has been afflicted with a group of the most corrupt rulers on God's green Earth. Corrupters on Earth, with their different backgrounds, aim to achieve one thing: weakening the nation so it fades away, then fusing it with other cultures. Corruption, with all its forms, is the cause of problems and differences between the regime and people. There are many examples: Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon; administrative corruption, bribery, plundering and deviancy of the security apparati.
Acharif Moulay Abdellah BOUSKRAOUI Posted 2009-12-04
“A Letter from Acharif to Al-Qaeda”- In the eyes of the world you are soiling the image of Islam. Instead of serving as an example of the prophet, you have strayed from the path of wisdom and you have become criminals without pity and without scruples. Thanks to you, in the eyes of the world Islam has become a criminal, Nazi religion. Thanks to you, Muslims have become hunted like animals in China. You have destroyed all hope. Bravo! Not even Sharon could have committed one one-millionth of your atrocities. You are a shame to all Muslims, and that is because you are not Muslims. The truth is that you are only bloodthirsty criminals and mercenaries. To this regard, it is easy to destroy, but have you ever asked the following question: What have you offered humanity besides horror and the spilling of blood??? Your impact has been widows, orphans, beggars and so on in some Muslim countries, and, through your support, Azazel, the great Satan, has found his throne of evil. Your terrorist attacks have made the investors and tourists flee. Women and girls in several African countries are selling their bodies, including even kids age 10 or younger. Do you know why??? Your justifications make no sense! You are unscrupulous. You should be ashamed of your actions, which have made Muslims lose face before everyone. You know that your leaders manipulate you just like puppets. I ask you in the name of God to take another look at your conscience, if you still have them. Since when did our God permit us to kill innocents? Never! All religions teach love and tolerance and peace.
نهىل Posted 2009-12-11
Curse you...
hadi mahdi Posted 2009-12-12
I hope that the brother moderator of the topic change its title in a way that doesn't call for the advertisement and propaganda to these groups because this is their intended goal: advertisement for them and intimidating people from them. Don't forget that they are mercenary rubbish of the society. They are those who were unable to achieve successes in their lives, face and resist the sour life experienced by most young people. So they have transformed this situation into retaliation from society taking religion as a tool.
محمد نجاد Posted 2009-12-14
This group that alleges Islam, where is Islam for them? My brothers, don't listen to these rogue dogs wandering in the streets and mountains, they kill their brothers, sisters, fathers, sons, mothers and say "We are Muslims." By God, what they do is unacceptable - dogs, dogs, Jews, infidels, prostitutes, fear God in your people.
soufian Posted 2009-12-21
Thank you.
النقيب مراد Posted 2009-12-22
There is no al-Qaeda organization in Algeria. It is just a legion of the Algerian intelligence (the remains of Legion 192) corrupting the Earth. They want, through this, to extend the period of the crisis, plunder the resources of the country, extend the state of emergency and protect themselves from prosecution for crimes they committed against the people, honest members of the army, and many misled young people who think they are fighting the state which has oppressed them or the tyrant in their eyes. But they are just unknowing executors of the plans of Taoufik, Touati, Nizar, El Halkine, Faudel Cherif. They are prey to drugs, diseases, starvation...
Moroccan Patriot Posted 2009-12-22
There is No ALQUIDA PERIOD. ALQUIDA is just something govts. all over the world manufacture in order to scare their own populations, or accomplish some other socio economic or geo - political agenda. The real terrorists are the ones who are claiming AL QUIDA did this or AL AUIDA did that. They are the ones who are committing the attrocity and then blaming it on a fictional organization.
الناقد Posted 2009-12-25
To the person who calls himself Naquib Mourad: Better check yourself and fear God, my brother. How can the intelligence services or army battalions fight in a country they have sworn to protect? You are exaggerating a little bit. Algeria is our country and the country of our forefathers, who sacrificed their lives for it. We are following their way until it enjoys tranquillity and peace, God willing. I will struggle to the last drop of blood so that the Algerian people will enjoy total peace. I tell you that nations don’t disappear with the disappearance of men. It is only a matter of days and we will eliminate al-Qaeda, God willing, amen. Where, now, is the case of Bouili in the 1980s? Beware of intervention in the internal affairs of Algeria!
هولاكو Posted 2009-12-25
These groups must be executed because they have destroyed the friendship between us and the rest of the world. It has made Morocco live through an economic crisis. The people must support the Moroccan authorities.
احسن Posted 2009-12-26
Peace be upon all the people of the world. Salam.
adel Posted 2009-12-27
Take a look at the corruption, bribes, pillaging and known deviance going on in the security apparatus. In Algeria, all the state functionaries are working to line their own pockets. It takes getting to the point of a system of mass destruction to jump on the wagon of eradicating Algeria from the map. Why? It's simple: Because the shepherds have become very rich and they are the ones who have redirected the aims of the state. Generally speaking, there is no point in being educated because money is what opens all the doors and puts the corrupt ranks of the state and so on and so on at your service.
محمد Posted 2009-12-27
These groups are agents of Mossad and Zionism. Wherever there is Islam and oil, you will find them. This is the situation of dissidents, they kill Muslims and protect polytheists. If the enemy wants to destroy the Umma, he attacks the security of the state. By God, they won't destroy the Algerian people, which liberated its country in the name of Islam.
جمعة Posted 28 days ago
Oh Lord protect us from the oppressed people.
bahafid Posted 26 days ago
It is this armed group which has power to express its opinion. Most fighters have experience in fighting.
دحه يعقوب Posted 24 days ago
These groups should be executed because they have destroyed our friendship with the rest of the world. Ir has made Morocco live an economic crisis. The people must help Moroccan authorities.
اسامة Posted 24 days ago
I really like this policy. It's in the interests of Arab society.
salam Posted 22 days ago
God guides those He wants. Our hope is to see the law implemented.
الطيب Posted 21 days ago
In the name of God. Praise be to God. Peace and prayer be upon the Messenger of God. The phenomenon of terrorism has dangerous dimensions including the fragmentation of the nation. This is the main objective of these groups. I am sure you will ask me how. I will tell you that as soon as this phenomenon has emerged, the distrust between Arab countries has increased, and the same is even true between figures who have influence on the Arab people. There are very clear examples. The question we should ask is: What is the reason for their emergence? (totalitarian regimes, poverty, marginalisation of the youth; the straw that broke the camel's back is the main cause of the Arab and Islamic people - the cause of Occupied Palestine and inability of the Arab and Islamic regimes to defeat the oppressive Zionist enemy). Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. Taib.
NADA SLIMANI Posted 21 days ago
Is this true?
boumed Posted 18 days ago
Hello everyone- I am not sure about the source from which you get this information, but I am always far happier when my national team has a good game in Khartoum than I am unhappy when I read such statements that try to tarnish the image of my country. Of course we still have terrorism here, but what country is currently sheltered from this phenomenon, which was created by enemies of God and humanity? I completely share Mr Bouskraoui’s opinion on this obscure, evil ideology of these criminals. The amalgam of evildoer assassins and our religion holds all Muslims back. God blinds these criminals to better make the suffer both here and in the afterlife, God willing. -Amen
مهدى Posted 18 days ago
My brothers, fear God in the people who endured miseries so that you would live free.
مروة Posted 8 days ago
God bless the Algerian national team, I'll die for it!
منتصر Posted 5 days ago
Al-Qaeda won't succeed in Algeria because its people have learned the lesson. So don't worry, people of great Algeria. They called it Qaeda but I only consider them Khawarej (dissidents) about which the Messenger, peace and prayer be upon him, informed us. So ask the followers of the Reminder if you don't know who the Khawarej are, and you'll know their quick end. Repent and support Muslims correctly. Those who seek the right, God will assist them. Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
chebbout Posted 4 days ago
I would like to know if there is a website where people can talk about problems affecting their countries, particularly regarding the corrupting and wastefulness in Algeria, which has reached alarming levels. Our opposition does not answer the aspirations or the problems of our people. It is up to us to take our destiny into our own hands. We absolutely need to unite to face this scourge, which has relegated our country to being among the most corrupt countries on the planet. I am sure that with a lot of courage and motivation, we will manage to get our country out of this impasse.
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