US Army in Gao

[Chris Scott]

http://www.desert-info.org/forums/in...f0fd623f9a84b9

(Thanks to Reinhart M. for passing this on)

Ch

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com and http://www.adventure-motorcycling.com

[DougHume]

On a loosely related note, and something which hopefully brings wry smile despite the implied gravity. This snippet is from an article in this weeks (UK) Economist, about the political tension in Zanzibar.

"Tourist receipts in Zanzibar fell 30% in the first three months of this year. Things have since improved, but America says the threat of an attack [by terrorists] on Zanzibar remains high, pointing out that two al-Qaeda operatives were born there. Zanzibaris, most of whom are moderates, disagree. "Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar, " said one. "It doesn't make us more likely to become pop stars."

[strongp]

Fantastic stuff, and I'm delighted they've managed to maintain a sense of humour about it.

Seriously though, I've been in E Africa for a few months now, and the US State Department/FCO Advisories are spot on about anti-American/British feeling - but it's arisen as a result of said advisories which have knocked the tourist industry for a six, and it's really hurting them.

I've had nothing but smiles everywhere from Goma to Zanzibar, unlike South Africa where somebody had a go at me about once a month, so come on guys, lets all load up with our tourist dollars and hit the piste...

Peter

[mikebarton]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ld/7695988.htm

The United States is expanding anti-terror efforts to the remote reaches of West Africa's Sahara borders, dispatching troops and contractors to help seal the predominantly Islamic region to al-Qaida and its ...