I would also broadly agree with this response.

Additionally, the Libyans are unlikely to tolerate what Keenan sees as the driving force behind AQiM - creating a foothold for the Americans to send in their advisers.

The Egyptians, in turn, seem to be generally interested in having the Americans on their western, not southern border. Hence, they are happy tolerating low key smuggling activities, as long as these do not follow any political agenda.

The three incidents over the last few years (all reported as criminally rather than politically motivated) have now produced two, undermanned and undereqipped, small army outposts on the border with Sudan. They can't control the movement of people across the border along the stretch of 350km between Al Uwainat and the army base at Bir Tarfawi, but they can help monitoring the ins and outs of various groups and alert Cairo to any new developements.

It appears to me that as long as the bad guys carry arms for Gazaand drugs and people for Europe, there's noting to worry the Egyptians. But if they start plying their business in the name of jihad, the Egyptians will have to pounce down on them, and the thriving export-import business will suffer.

And finally, perhaps the most important factor, is logistics. It is more difficult in the Western Desert than elsewhere, with very few dissatisfied or unruly local groups around to help organising fuel and water depots.

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Roman (UK)

I am also thinking it (kidnappings & jihad) will come to a halt when it is hurting regular business enough. But isn't that already the case?
Today Aqim claimed the kidnaps and will be back with demands, according to Aljazeera.

Xfiltrate, I would love to possess the faculty of remote viewing but alas I have to be content with using google. You remind me of my dear friend Maciel, who was a mapuche but also a scientolog. Having asado steak & decanter of tinto near calle Florida for all of $1, talking about the strangest things. It was in 1978.

Priffe,

In Egypt, there was another incident which went unreported as it did not involve Westerners. I heard about it from a well informed (but only a singular) source. Perhaps someone could corroborate.

Some time last winter the Sudan/Chad robbers attacked a convoy of smugglers coming from Libya near Al Uwainat and captured one of them. In retaliation, the smugglers mounted a punitive expedition into Sudan and restored order in the region. The Egyptian army outposts along the border followed and now it's all nice and quiet again.

This, and other reports on the relationship between smuggling, drugs and politics, make you wonder about some issues, such as: is the army there to protect the interests of Egyptian tour operators, worth perhaps a million pounds a year, or the interests of the guys who carry goods worth a million on each weekly trip?

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Roman (UK)

Don Priffe, continuing the strangeness, actually Einstein labeled it "strangeness at a distance" when referring to space as a viewpoint of dimension, and the unaccountable (by the accepted laws/mechanics of the physical universe) effects created upon similar molecules "at a distance."

Unexplainably, I knew the "asado" reference would be understood.

As is said upon meeting someone new in Puerto Limón, Costa Rica "May we no longer be strangers."

Interesting that you mentioned the decanted "tinto" Perhaps Google will decant the fate of the 3 Spaniards differently, but my chips are still on the table.

I worked my way through many years of graduate study as a "contracted" sommelier.

Eat, Drink and be Careful xfiltrate

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Brief posting to Xfiltrate -
as you know, The Hubb is a broad community with all manner of views and perspectives. In my experience, opinions are usually well received and alternative explanations normally get reasonable consideration. But it turns out that some of the postings deal with fairly serious issues - kidnapping being one of them. Some Hubb users have asked if you could keep to the point being discussed. I agree with them. You probably know much better than me that there are many, many places on the internet for discussing things like life as a remote viewer but that this isn't one of them. Many thanks -
Richard

Richard Washington: Yes, there are thousands of more appropriate sites for my very brief comment regarding remote viewing , but few as serious. Yes I will refrain from similar comments.

But, on the other hand, the first authentic/verified international release regarding the kidnappers came from (ennahar 08 December, 2009 02:33:00) Menaka (Mali) 3 hours ahead of Buenos Aires time and headlined "Three Spaniards detained by AQIM "hardliners""

You do the math, regarding my post 23 hours before this post agreeing with Priffe that "Your own Aqim desert branch description alleged "close connection to drug smuggling" and as you read further on was the identity of the third party referenced in my previous post.

The location of the hostages is yet to be released. Security Forces in Northern Mali announced the abductors as AQIM, but said nothing about the location of the hostages, I have speculated the 3 Spaniards are not being held in Mali.

Posted by Priffe on another thread:

Ennahar Online - Three Spaniards detained by AQIM "hardliners"

Now, that was some very serious speculating!

Future releases might or might not validate my other contributions to this thread. But, I will immediately exile myself to the HU bar, with any additional comments regarding remote viewing.

My intention here was/is not frivolous, I apologize for comments posted that may have contributed to your misunderstanding of my serious speculation regarding Saharan kidnapping tactics in play at the moment.

Eat, Drink and Be Careful xfiltrate

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Folks,

Another point to be wary of is the 'mafia' environment which exisits among AQIM and their affiliates and suporters: in other words there are a number of terrorists looking to establish credibility and proof of intent and capability by carrying out attacks and kidnappings. The emphasis in the press is often on ideology and that implies a limited set of motivating factors. When you take into account the desire to go one better than your rival that puts another, slightly less pure (by that I do NOT mean I agree with the principles) tinge on the reasons behind what goes on.

There was a very interesting article in 'Jeune Afrique' recently on the power struggle in North African terrorism and the blurred lines between that and banditry. I gave my copy away unfortunately but anyone who reads French would do well do try and get a back copy.

Cheers,

Rich

Xfiltrate, sorry, but I really haven't noticed that you've contributed any non-obvious information to this thread which has since been proven correct based on your supposed capabilities.

So far I think you've said that the hostages were being held underground, had been kidnapped for their knowledge of tunnel construction, and had been taken away by boat.

Anything else we should note for validation by the facts when they emerge? I am profoundly skeptical about your and similar claims but am always ready to consider credible and convincing evidence to the contrary if it is available.