It has fought, or is fighting, against ‘rebels’, ‘terrorists’, ‘islamists,’ in Iraq (though as under occupation it is a case apart), Yemen, Pakistan, Lybia (to depose Kadafi), now Mali (and previously Algeria) and we leave Palestine out.

In between, the ‘Arab Spring’ in Tunisia and Egypt, the W wanted to hold on to the old order, Moubarak, Ben Ali, but you have to go with the flow, and eventually support the new order (these two are big countries.)

As for ‘rebels’ in Bahrein, Quatar, Saudi, elsewhere, hush hush, that is under the radar.
Nothing to do with Islam or terrorism or anything like that.

It is cynical pick and choose who you fund, arm, support in function of short term aims, biz deals, personal contacts, power grabs, looming Big Corp Deals, and the like.

Google Rita Katz. It’s a hoot.

A interesting article David,
…and Nicholas your link to Andy Morgan’s piece was really helpful. It was an excellent grounding and I look forward to his book.

Suddenly the immense back story which comes out …and all the dots coming from the Libyan uprising, Gaddafi’s games in Africa, the environmental disaster in the Sahel, Chinese involvement in African resources and even the destinations of Rendition victims… start to link up. I had little idea of the extent of American involvement with the Algerian government, its notorious secret service and its struggle with the Islamists.
Now and then you get a predictable shock all over again of just how stage managed the normal media news is….
I stayed in Matmata in South Tunisia where those Austrian tourists were kidnapped just the year before…wonder how much the British government would have paid for me…lol

Both names do seem apt.

Scramble for Africa, anyone?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-scramble-for-africa-another-u-s-battleground-to-challenge-supplant-china/32270

Now that’s interesting .Thank you.

it’s certainly my recollection that during the period when the Taliban had control of Afghanistan that the production of opium in their territories fell dramatically.

For organisations like the CIA which have often in the past seen the profits from drugs as a way of financing operations without the need for budgetary approval from Congress this was obviously a situation which couldn’t be allowed to continue indefinitely.

for example

http://www.gulfoilandgas.com/webpro1/MAIN/Mainnews.asp?id=16924
http://www.afrol.com/articles/24339

recent events in Libya may have destabilised the region but in my opinion its the natural resources in that area which are the real issue here.

it may also be significant that one of the key players in Mali (Sonatrach) is one of the companies involved with the gas refinery in algeria which has been so in the news recently