Richard,
Obviously, you make a strong case about the relationship between local guides and car batteries. On the other hand, a French friend of mine who runs Raids 4x4 Globe-Trotter returned from that area shortly after the first abductions. When I discussed the situation with him, he was quite positive about local guides making a big difference to the safety of desert travel. I can imagine if something is brewing in a hotspot such as Algeria, these guys are usually quick to spot it and can often save you from trouble. You can't sniff out such news just by talking to people in the market place and as a stranger will always be treated with a degree of suspicion.
Rgds,
Roman (UK)
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Roman (UK)
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