The United States is training Algeria's military and security forces to
fight Islamic militants.
U.S. officials said the Bush administration plans to expand its aid to
Algeria in the military and security field. They said the aid will include
the transfer of equipment and accelerated training for Algerian special
forces.
Washington relayed its pledge to increase military and security aid to
Algeria during a visit by U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman last
week to Algiers. Grossman was said to have outlined a range of proposals to
increase cooperation between the two countries.
"We are doing that with some joint training and also with other help
that we can provide," Grossman told a news conference in Algiers last week.
"And I believe that that assistance will grow."
Grossman said the U.S. help would focus on counter-terrorism. He did not
elaborate but said the assistance would also seek to enhance Algeria's
judicial system.
Officials acknowledged that Algeria has complained of what it has termed
the low level of U.S. assistance to the North African country. They said
U.S. equipment has been minimal and slow in arriving.
But the Bush administration, officials said, has pledged to accelerate
military and security aid. They cited visits over the last month by senior
U.S. military commanders. They included NATO Supreme Allied Commander for
Europe Gen. Joseph Ralston.
"Algerians of course have suffered from terrorism for a very long time
and that is something that binds Americans and Algerians," Grossman said.
