Algeria Isn’t Targeted

The United States intends to send an emissary to explain the American procedure.

Algeria isn’t targeted by the aviation security measures taken by the United States. President Barack Obama and upper-level officials are aware of the role played by our country in the fight against terrorism, and at no time have they considered Algerians to be “terrorists.” That’s what a diplomatic source revealed to the press. Decidedly aware “of the diplomatic anger” that the United States’ decision to include Algeria on the list of dangerous countries aroused, and ten days after the failed attempt on the Amsterdam-Detroit flight, the United States decided to react. Special American envoys will soon visit several countries, including Algeria, to “explain the American initiative and discuss the necessary measures to strengthen cooperation against the terrorist menace.”

The message of the special envoys from Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, our source specifies, is the following: “The directive isn’t addressed against any single country. Our only concern is to strengthen aviation safety and to protect Americans and the world against terrorist attacks,” before adding that American officials were aware of Algerian efforts to defeat terrorist during difficult times.

One should know that the USA decided to strengthen screening at airports, notably when it concerns passengers born in or coming from 14 “at-risk” countries, including Algeria. The list also includes Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Cuba, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The Algerian political authorities, as well as those in charge of the fight against terrorism, perceived the measure badly, especially due to the excellent cooperation between the two countries in this field. During his trip to the U.S., Mourad Medelci, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside his counterpart, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, mentioned the means to reinforce this collaboration. With extensive experience in the fight against terrorism, Algeria, according to observers, constitutes a strategic ally for Americans who are making this position the basis of their external policy.

So will the American initiative affect bilateral relations? Monday, Algeria officially expressed its embarrassment while summoning the U.S. ambassador to Algeria, Mr. David Pearce.

According to our source, the diplomat “sent a report that same day to the State Department to convey Alger’s concerns.” Furthermore, our source is convinced that bilateral relations remain excellent. “The USA and Algeria have a common enemy: terrorism.” Starting with this act, “our cooperation,” continues our interlocutor, “will strengthen not only the counter-terrorism field, but also the political and economic. A real sense of goodwill exists between the two countries.” One must recognize that the USA relies greatly on Algeria’s support to hold back the terrorist menace in the strip of the Sahel. Our source sent us a speech by President Obama from January 7th in which he affirms his conviction that the majority of Muslims reject Al-Qaeda. “The United States stands with those who seek justice and progress,” he declared.

Algeria fits into this category. On each side, we aren’t prepared to sacrifice the ties built over the past fifteen years. Bouncing on the measures taken by the American authorities to strength aviation security, our source affirms that American officials aren’t attempting to shoulder the responsibility of the attempted attack on any single country. “We are shocked by the weaknesses in the internal security system which almost caused the worst,” confides our interlocutor, who concludes that, “the American procedure isn’t perfect. By itself, the procedure cannot stand in the way of the menace. But in the USA, we’re convinced of its necessity in similar situations.”