Interviews
Washington DC, Algiers,
In his remarks on Algeria State TV, Dr Walid Phares said “what is inescapable in north Africa is the need to have a full coordination between Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger against al Qaeda in the Sahel, and on the other hand a coordination between Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia against al Qaeda in the Maghreb.” Phares, the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies was participating in the round table “Fi Da’irat al Daw” (In the spotlight) along with academics from France and Algeria. “It is wrong to negotiate politically with Terrorists but Governments often have contacts with them as enemies to discuss issues such as prisoner trade and other humanitarian matters. But to elevate the contacts to a political level as was the case in Mali, and particularly pay a ransom to al Qaeda in order to free hostages, will only strengthen the Jihadists,” underlined Phares.
“The United States has no intention on sending troops to wherever al Qaeda is omnipresent. Those countries that are targeted by the Terror groups must engage in the fight at their level, in their areas and with their resources. They need to form a regional consortium to coordinate and isolate the radicals. The US and Europe can and should assist the various countries of the Sahel and the Maghreb but not replace them in the fight.” Phares who advises the Anti-Terrorism Caucus of the US House of Representatives and is one of the coordinators of the Transatlantic Legislative Group on Counter Terrorism said: al Qaeda and the Jihadists coordinate worldwide and regionally, why wouldn’t their victims do the same. For example if Mali has a problem with al Qaeda, it should not be left alone; all of its neighbors must help. If hostages are taken in one country, other countries can put pressure on al Qaeda for the release of the hostages. Al Qaeda is international, so should the struggle against it be.”
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