Algeria Situation Remains Unclear, Most Foreign Hostages Still Unaccounted For

Loading

Patrick Brennan @ NRO:

After Islamist militants linked with al-Qaeda took at least 41 foreigners (though according to Reuters, possibly as many as 130 or so) and many local employees hostage at a petroleum facility in Algeria on Wednesday morning, the Algerian military launched an attack on the facility on Thursday. This involved bombing several of the vehicles the terrorists had armed and were using to hold hostages, leading to a number of hostage deaths — the Algerian government has stated that they know of four hostage deaths (two Britons and two Filipinos), while a spokesman for the militant group claimed that the attack led to the deaths of 35 hostages and 15 militants. The Daily Mail cites “French sources” saying that Algeria decided to attack because the terrorists had begun executing hostages. The BBC summarizes what various countries have said about the fate of their citizens:

Japanese officials were meanwhile quoted as saying that at least 14 Japanese nationals were still missing. At least three managed to escape. . . .

Norway said eight of its nationals were currently unaccounted for. One is being treated at a hospital in In Amenas, while four escaped unharmed.

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said two French workers were safe. It was unclear if another two were involved, he added.

One Irish citizen, an Austrian and five Americans have been freed, according to officials.

The British and Japanese governments have expressed their anger at not being informed of the operation on Thursday, with British prime minister David Cameron publicly railing this morning in Parliament against the Algerian government’s rebuffing the U.K., with a spokeswoman later confirming, though, that they respected the Algerians’ decision.

As of yesterday, the White House and the State Department have not expressed similar sentiments, declining to comment at all on whether the U.S. was even informed of the attack beforehand, and whether the U.S. had offered any assistance, offering only assurances that they remain in communication with the Algerian government (the Associated Press quotes an anonymous administration official saying the U.S. did make an offer of assistance).

Read more

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
6 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Infidels should NOT even be in Islamic countries unless they are surrounded by fellow INFIDEL security.
They cannot trust Muslim security.
They should not trust their Muslim neighbors.
As long as they are volunteers and feel paid well enough to even be killed, fine.
Each one must make that choice.

I did not follow Nan’s recommendation while in Algeria in 2006. I was the lone Westerner in the area for days. I stayed behind to resolve issues when my associates relocated. They begged me to not stay by myself. When I later rejoined my associates they were greatly relieved. Even before the attack last week in Southern Algeria I decided I would use better judgement in the future. It was difficult for me to buy that Westerners were killed by explosives on the highway I travelled in the capital when in that city. It looked like most cities with the hustle and bustle. A week after I left – boom.

Coming from a trusting, helpful, cooperative culture reduces the quality of my judgement on such matters. I often wonder if my culture makes it difficult for Westerners with my background to go from a relatively wholesome environment into the likes of the Middle East and then back home. I saw the stats/trend on vet suicide rates this week.

Side bar: My Algerian contacts were very good to me, very knowledgeable, knew very well that the USA MSM is aligned tightly with the Left and my contacts, even though they despised President Bush, they recommended he get on TV and counteract the Left/MSM.

In a bloody finale, Algerian special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the Sahara desert on Saturday to end a standoff with Islamist extremists that left at least 19 hostages and 29 militants dead. Dozens of foreign workers remain unaccounted for, leading to fears the death toll could rise. The slut hillary and pancetta just looked dumber and dumber as they tried to explain complete failure.
Just think, 4 more years of crap and international degradation. Now the criminal kerry is going to head the state department-what a joke.

Wait until we withdraw from Afghanistan. It will be perceived as a huge victory for AQ given their ongoing activities demonstrating that contrary to the propaganda being put out by this administration, they have not been defeated.

So true

another vet
yes but OBAMA WANT TO LEAVE A USA PRINT IN THERE THAT IS PUTTING
THOSE MILITARY IN THE VULNERABLE SITUATION,
IT SHOULD BE A TOTAL EXIT AND RIGHT AFTER THEY BOMB THE FIELDS OF POPPY
ALL OVER WHERE THEY ARE,
THOSE RED POPPY FIELD TO ME REPRESENT THE BLOOD OF VALIANT WARRIORS,
THEY MUST BE BLOWN UP BEFORE THE AMERICANS ALL LEAVE,