America boosts effort against Al-Qaeda affiliate in response to Libya's US consulate attack
The Obama administration is planning a stepped-up counter terrorism campaign against Al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa in response the attack on the American consulate in Libya, which killed four US officials, it has emerged.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/America-boosts-...
According to current and former American officials, the Obama administration is considering additional deployments of Predator or Reaper drones to supplement those already in the region.Officials said the military also is considering ways to increase counterterrorism training with North African militaries, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports.
Although the drones can carry missiles officials said the aim would be to provide enhanced surveillance and to help armies in the region combat Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) and its affiliates such as Mujao. American troops who were fulfilling an advisory role in Mali prior to the coup by the Junta remain in Mali although no training took place after the coup according to the WSJ. The US had been training and advising some Malian troops for sometime prior to the coup. US officials stressed that the aim would be to train troops in the Sahel region to take effective action against AQIM and its affiliates .
The Obama administration has come under pressure from the Republicans in Congress over its analysis that the attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi which cost the lives of the Ambassador and 3 US consular staff, was a result of a spontaneous demonstration against the video of"'The Innocence of Muslims". The administration and President Obama have now confirmed that members of AQIM were responsible for the attack and they have been able to identify them as coming from Mali. It said that it had no evidence that Al Qaeda in its central base in Pakistan was involved although Jihadi's from Pakistan and elsewhere have been reported in Mali.
Whilst there is a desire to respect Mali's sovereignty the pressure to act on AQIM and Mujao on both the the US ,because of the Benghazi Consulate, and the French, because of the hostages, is mounting. It will take time to train the Malian army and reequip it so that it is able to engage AQIM. The need to address the growing AOIM
presence is becoming urgent. Although the US officials told the WSJ that the Benghazi attack against the consulate should not be seen as a victory for AQIM, the fear had been that they would mount an international terrorist attack from Mali. This they have now done and the implications for President Obama facing reelection are compelling. He has said the United States will bring those resposible for the Benghazi consulate attack to justice .
Although the drones can carry missiles officials said the aim would be to provide enhanced surveillance and to help armies in the region combat Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) and its affiliates such as Mujao. American troops who were fulfilling an advisory role in Mali prior to the coup by the Junta remain in Mali although no training took place after the coup according to the WSJ. The US had been training and advising some Malian troops for sometime prior to the coup. US officials stressed that the aim would be to train troops in the Sahel region to take effective action against AQIM and its affiliates .
The Obama administration has come under pressure from the Republicans in Congress over its analysis that the attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi which cost the lives of the Ambassador and 3 US consular staff, was a result of a spontaneous demonstration against the video of"'The Innocence of Muslims". The administration and President Obama have now confirmed that members of AQIM were responsible for the attack and they have been able to identify them as coming from Mali. It said that it had no evidence that Al Qaeda in its central base in Pakistan was involved although Jihadi's from Pakistan and elsewhere have been reported in Mali.
Whilst there is a desire to respect Mali's sovereignty the pressure to act on AQIM and Mujao on both the the US ,because of the Benghazi Consulate, and the French, because of the hostages, is mounting. It will take time to train the Malian army and reequip it so that it is able to engage AQIM. The need to address the growing AOIM
presence is becoming urgent. Although the US officials told the WSJ that the Benghazi attack against the consulate should not be seen as a victory for AQIM, the fear had been that they would mount an international terrorist attack from Mali. This they have now done and the implications for President Obama facing reelection are compelling. He has said the United States will bring those resposible for the Benghazi consulate attack to justice .
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/America-boosts-...