September 19, 2007: So far this month, there have
been four terrorist bombings, leaving over fifty dead. The police have made
arrests, and believe that a group of Islamic radicals based in mosques, which
had been recruiting suicide bombers for Iraq, is largely responsible. The
government doesn't like to go around raiding mosques and arresting clergy, but
it's obvious that there are still some imams who believe violence is the only
way to fix the countries problems. The government isn't making much progress
with the economy, with most young men (under 30) are unemployed, and there's a
severe housing shortage. The sad thing is, that a religious dictatorship
wouldn't help. Iran has one, and still has the unemployment and housing
problems. The clergy are as corrupt as the politicians, once they are in
power. It's the corruption and lack of civic spirit that causes the
economic stagnation. That's why West European corporations prefer to establish
new factories in East Europe or Asia. The Middle East and Africa are too
corrupt and chaotic for businesses to flourish. The leaders in Algeria, and the
rest of Africa, refuse to recognize this, that they are the problem.
Meanwhile, down in Mali, a
rebellion by Tuareg tribesmen, who refused to accept a peace deal last year,
continues out of control. One army base, near the Algerian border, is cut off
because the rebels have mined the few roads in the area. But the army is slowly
moving in, while the besieged base is re-supplied by air. The government calls
the remaining rebels "bandits," and there's a certain truth to that.
The Tuareg have long lived by their own law, and smuggling and raiding. It is
feared that some of the tribes have helped Islamic terrorist groups, either for
money, or just to further antagonize the government. The Tuareg tribes
are present throughout eastern Mali, southern Algeria and western Niger. The
rebellion is centered in Mali because the government there has regularly lied
to the Tuareg, and reneged on promises.
