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**Chris Scott** · #31 14 Jan 2011

I know the Colonel and I seriously doubt that he's on AQMI payroll!

Yes, I admit that was wild speculation - I am turning into Keenan! ;-)

But I think it works something like that - if not that particular individual.

Ch

**priffe** · #32 14 Jan 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkley

If Col. El Hadj gets a slice of the pay out, no harm done as far as he's concerned.
I know the Colonel and I seriously doubt that he's on AQMI payroll! As a friend in Kidal told me -- AQMI and Kel Tamashek are like the jackal and the lion in the desert. They avoid one another because it wouldn't be advantageous to either.

Chris Kirkley I was thinking of you and how you could stay on for a long time in Kidal unharmed. I've met plenty of americans between Gao and Bamako and Tombouctoo and no yanks have been kidnapped AFAICR (but one shot in NKT)? One would think them to be prime target.
If they can drive for days to take hostages near Nouadhibou or in downtown Niamey where there's supposedly a lot of security how much easier wouldn't it be to do the same in Kidal/Tombouctoo/Gao where there is close to none?
As for Aqmi and Kel T. there has recently been some clashes in the north between touareg and drug smugglers/aqmi with quite a few causalties reported so perhaps the balance is changing? In an opportunistic environment.
Ag Bahanga is back and he must have some sort of mission/agenda?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

Yes, I admit that was wild speculation - I am turning into Keenan! ;-)
Ch

You're not quite Keenan yet.

Six Q/A
Niger : six questions sur l'échec d'une opération (et quelques réponses...)
How about this:

Quote:

During the operation, the French soldiers were stunned to discover that among the dead and wounded in the ranks of the kidnappers, four were wearing police uniforms Niger. These men had opened fire against the three French helicopters which arrived ... One of the kidnappers' vehicles were also a 4x4 of the police ... The Nigerian authorities are obviously very embarrassed by this case. Is it of complicity with AQIM in the country's security forces or has it provided AQIM (how?) with effects and vehicles of the police: the issue is not resolved.