Disturbing news is emerging from Nigeria as the local Al Qaeda has approached the country's muslims offering weapons, training and defense. The offer comes after the recent riots in Jos, which increased Christian-Muslim tension in the area, and the speech was riddled with the usual religious rhetoric.
"You are not alone in this test. The hearts of Mujahideen are in pain over your troubles and desire to help you as much as possible, in the Islamic Maghreb, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Chechnya," said the local emir (Al Qaeda leader) Abu Mus'ab Abdel-Wadoud.
While the offer is stated as being a way of helping defend the Muslims in the area, Al Qaeda's gaining of another stronghold in Africa would definitely come as a boon to extremists who specialize in melting into the chaos of underdeveloped countries. The grandmasters of the current global conflict: the West and Al Qaeda, are making moves reminiscent of the cold war. At the time, the Soviet Union and the United States had made motions to gain footholds everywhere they could, essentially wielding the third world countries as puppets.
If Al Qaeda gained a strong loyal base in Nigeria, they would have made a significant movement south from the Middle East. With their generally diffuse location, they would doubtlessly appreciate a solid hold in Africa.
Let the games begin...
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This is all speculation though. I feel that no such judgments can be made about the situation in Nigeria without understanding the extent to which Nigerian Muslims are griped by extremism. Nigeria is very different from the typical stomping grounds of Al Qaeda (Middle East and North Africa).
ReplyDeleteThat would be why I was using the hypothetical tense words of "if" and "would". Whether or not it actually happens will remain to be seen. I doubt the military groups already present in Nigeria would be pleased to share the power with some religious extremists.
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