Some of the Berabish I've met around Timbuctu see themselves as part of the Touareg community

Sahara Passion woman's web pages certainly go even further in supporting that interpretation. I read it as simply good for her business, because every LP backpacker loves a real Tuareg but thinks 'Bera... who?'.


If there's a real threat of death, then they may as well have a go.

You'd think so but until Edwin Dyer was killed (we were not even given his name until after he was dead) there had been no precedent for execution in Sahara so maybe FCO/whoever assumed the captors were bluffing as before.
This time they weren't and so it's all changed - but even then I can't see any sort of rescue happening, as with 2003 Group 1.

When these dramatic ops go well it's a PR coup like Group 1 or Iranian embassy siege 1980 or recent French thing (didn't follow it) - but when they dont (as often off home turf: US Iran hostage rescue 1980) - it's a disaster.

Disregarding the US base in Gao (could be wrong here), you'd think Algeria, Mali's new friend in the GWoT, must have some killer desert unit gagging for action. And what happened to this co-operation we heard about in May, or was that more talk to give the impression 'we're on it'?
BBC NEWS | Africa | Algeria and Mali target al-Qaeda

"...The aid includes fuel, weapons and sleeping bags, according to reports in the Algerian media... the operation could start within the next month or two."

The location of this camp must be known, as they must have known with the Austrians and 2003 Group 2. We're even told the same Abdelhamid Abou Zeid is involved in all three events (though he could be an 'MBM-type' general purpose bad guy).

Once an exchange is completed and the hostages are safe, go after them with everything you have, it's not the Hindu Kush out there. Or have I been watching too many films? It never happened after 2003 or 2008, I don't suppose it will happen this time.

Does a govt have a duty to help it's citizens in trouble abroad? You'd think so buy I would not take it for granted - it could even come down to cost/benefit.

It strikes me there is no will/desire to finish off the AQIM unit roaming around in Mali (you could say the same for OBL I suppose) but then that idea leads in a whole new direction...

Either way, I hope that Werner Greiner, the Swiss guy whose wife was released earlier, comes out of it unharmed.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail