I'm telling you...I can't keep up with the number of countries that have al Qaeda jihadists or terror groups linked to al Qaed in them. I ran across this story of two Canadian diplomats kidnapped in Niger and lo and behold...a videotape has emerged that basically proves that the kidnappers are al Qaeda. Here's some of the details from The Globe and Mail:
When you take the time to consider the spread of al Qaeda throughout SE and central Asia and the Middle East, and then you throw in this spread going through Africa, it has become apparent that efforts to curtail it just are going to come up empty. At one point in time, I thought that it COULD be contained in the Middle East and in Pakistan/Afghanistan but we are seeing it spread to new strength in places like Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Algiers and now we see it starting in Niger.
It is sobering to say the least and it comes at a time when the Lion of counterterror, the President we knew as George Bush is gone and his replacement has shown no desire to stop terror anywhere.
One of the kidnapped Canadians seems exhausted. The other is still clutching his briefcase. Standing behind them are armed men, posing for the camera - the trademark of the al-Qaeda terrorist group.Now, for those of you geographically challenged like me...Niger is just south of and borders Libya and Algeria but this spread of al Qaeda is disturbing that it is south. Most of the northern tier of countries in Africa have been tainted by al Qaeda but to see this moving south is disturbing.
This is the latest description of a videotape that apparently shows the disturbing fate of Robert Fowler and Louis Guay, the two Canadian diplomats who were kidnapped in December in the West African nation of Niger.
The existence of the video was revealed yesterday in Mali, a desert country bordering Niger. It appears to confirm that Mr. Fowler and Mr. Guay were taken across the border to Mali after being abducted on a highway near Niamey, the capital of Niger.
"Behind him are armed men, which is the signature of al-Qaeda Islamists when they carry out kidnappings," the RFI correspondent said, quoting two sources in Mali who have seen the video.
When you take the time to consider the spread of al Qaeda throughout SE and central Asia and the Middle East, and then you throw in this spread going through Africa, it has become apparent that efforts to curtail it just are going to come up empty. At one point in time, I thought that it COULD be contained in the Middle East and in Pakistan/Afghanistan but we are seeing it spread to new strength in places like Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Algiers and now we see it starting in Niger.
It is sobering to say the least and it comes at a time when the Lion of counterterror, the President we knew as George Bush is gone and his replacement has shown no desire to stop terror anywhere.
Video suggests diplomats in clutches of al-Qaeda
JOHANNESBURG — One of the kidnapped Canadians seems exhausted. The other is still clutching his briefcase. Standing behind them are armed men, posing for the camera - the trademark of the al-Qaeda terrorist group.
This is the latest description of a videotape that apparently shows the disturbing fate of Robert Fowler and Louis Guay, the two Canadian diplomats who were kidnapped in December in the West African nation of Niger.
The existence of the video was revealed yesterday in Mali, a desert country bordering Niger. It appears to confirm that Mr. Fowler and Mr. Guay were taken across the border to Mali after being abducted on a highway near Niamey, the capital of Niger.
The video adds further evidence to the theory of al-Qaeda involvement in the kidnapping. The leading theory among the investigators - including Canadian, American and United Nations security specialists - is that the two Canadian diplomats are being held by a cell of al-Qaeda's branch in North Africa, which is already suspected of masterminding a series of similar kidnappings of Western tourists in Mali, Algeria and Tunisia.
The video, which lasts only a few minutes, was reportedly given to the Canadian government after the kidnapping. Ottawa has steadfastly refused to comment on any aspect of the case.
In the video, Mr. Fowler asks the federal government to "respond" to the demands of the kidnappers, according to a report yesterday from the Mali correspondent of Radio France Internationale.
"Behind him are armed men, which is the signature of al-Qaeda Islamists when they carry out kidnappings," the RFI correspondent said, quoting two sources in Mali who have seen the video.
"On the cassette after Mr. Fowler is the second Canadian diplomat, Louis Guay, who introduces himself. According to our sources, he was rather exhausted. ... Mr. Fowler still had his briefcase, which can lead one to think that the video was filmed a little after their kidnapping."
Officials from the federal government and the UN refused to comment. "We are aware of the reports of such a video but we can't comment further, and we won't comment, because we could endanger the lives of the Canadians," said Catherine Loubier, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.
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