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Monday, July 30, 2007

Democrats will be known for Iraq surrender; Time now for homeland defense

7-21 AL QAIDA OPENS 'FRANCHISE' IN N. AFRICA WASHINGTON — The United States has determined that Al Qaida has targeted North Africa and established a network to undermine Arab regimes in the region.

Officials said Al Qaida has succeeded in merging a range of Islamic insurgency groups under the new umbrella group Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. They said in the first nine months, the umbrella organization has conducted suicide and other attacks in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

"There has basically been a merger or whatever you want to call it of several terrorist groups there under the rubric of Al Qaida in the Maghreb," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. "I think that's probably the newest area where it has emerged as a reasonably coherent organization."

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At a July 13 briefing, Gates said Al Qaida has built a global network. He said Al Qaida operates cells in some countries. In other states, Islamic insurgency cells have become affiliated with the movement led by Osama Bin Laden. In other countries, the secretary said, Islamic insurgency cells have sought but not achieved affiliation with Al Qaida.

"The Maghreb was an area in the second category [insurgency cells affiliated with Al Qaida]," Gates said.

The United States has been fostering regional cooperation against Al Qaida. The Defense Department has met with military leaders in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

"In North Africa, we are working with our partners to counter Al Qaida's expansion into the Maghreb, evident in the emergence of Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb," Fran Townsend, the White House's homeland security adviser, said. "This group has claimed responsibility for recent terrorist bombings in Algeria, including the April 11th and July 11th attacks. As you know, at the president's direction, I am just back from discussions with our allies in Morocco, Algeria and Libya to discuss these very concerns."

In a briefing on July 17, Ms. Townsend said she was sent to Libya by President George Bush to discuss security cooperation. She said the Bush administration expressed concern over Libya's reluctance to cooperate on counter-insurgency issues.

"The Libyans have agreed to accept an ambassador," Ms. Townsend said. "But there are more issues, and we need more progress. And I think it's fair to say that both the Libyans are frustrated and we're frustrated because we both want more out of that relationship. But it's going to take time."

Officials said Al Qaida has become a franchised organization. They said Bin Laden's movement evolved from a centralized to a series of autonomous networks under the Al Qaida umbrella.

"We have pretty good evidence that, for example, Al Qaida in Iraq takes strategic guidance and inspiration from the Al Qaida in the western part of Pakistan," Gates said. "They get advice, they clearly are connected, but they also have substantial autonomy."

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