Mali, Al Qaeda, and the US Neo-Colonial Agenda
Recent developments in Mali illustrate both the way in which the Unites States and its Western allies directly project military and political power, as well as the role of terrorism as a necessary pretext for imperialist, neo-colonial domination. Beginning with the establishment of AFRICOM (US Africa Command) in 2007, incorporating the war in Libya and the military coup d’etat in Mali, and up to today’s consolidation of power by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), it has become clear that the United States has managed to successfully destabilize West Africa and achieve many of its long-term strategic objectives in the region.While the Western media portrays the situation in West Africa as an “unintended consequence” of the imperialist aggression against Libya, the incontrovertible fact that the United States has, for years, attempted to expand its control of the region, has been made all the more apparent by the current instability and the “decisive action” that it necessitates. The spread of AQIM, which has now consolidated control over a vast swath of land in the Sahel region, rather conveniently provides the US with the crucial cover it needs to expand its military presence.
Recent Developments
Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, Mali has been embroiled in a fierce civil war that has torn the country apart. The Tuareg fighters, who had fought on the side of Gaddafi and the Green Resistance, began to return home armed, battle-hardened, and bearing a grudge. This was, understandably, a recipe for war in Mali where the central government was seen as little more than a US puppet regime,touting democracy as it bowed to US military and corporate interests. The rebels began waging war against Bamako in hopes of creating their own independent state of Azawad in Northern Mali, a goal which has been stifled since Mali gained its own independence in 1960.
As the war continued to intensify, the Malian military became increasingly frustrated with what they perceived to be a lack of support from the civilian government. This anger and resentment was then channeled by a small clique within the Malian officer corps into a coup d’etat to overthrow the government in Bamako. The coup was lead by Captain Amadou Sanogo, a US-trained mid-level officer, heading an assortment of lower-level military officers who claimed to be patriots seeking to quell the rebellion in the North. In reality, the move was a cynically designed ploy by Sanogo and his US sponsors to destabilize Mali. As anticipated, the overthrow plunged the country into political turmoil, and with no legitimate government in the capital, opened the door to a much more dangerous enemy in the North.
Enter: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
In the midst of the fighting between the Touré government and the Tuareg forces, there emerged a new threat in the North, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). This offshoot of Al Qaeda, once seen as a marginal threat with little to no chance of establishing a significant presence in the region, began to make its presence felt through an alliance with the rebels. Really no more than a marriage of convenience, the two forces fought side by side to defeat the weak Malian military which, despite years of training and advanced equipment from the United States, was unable to inflict any significant damage on the rebels or terrorist fighters. However, once it became clear that the North was going to be “freed” from the control of the government and Malian military, the divide between rebels and AQ fighters became evident.
Eyewitness accounts from Mali describe the AQIM fighters as having arrived in Land Cruisers with advanced weapons and communications equipment, ostensibly acquired through defeating the Malian and other military forces in the region. This highly organized and well-funded contingent emerged in Mali after having been roundly defeated by the military and other government forces in Algeria, where the group originated. This fact should not be lost on keen observers who note that, due to their failure to destabilize that oil-rich country in the interests of Western imperialists, AQIM migrated to Mali where they successfully hijacked the civil war there and turned it into another staging ground for terror and destabilization, like its corollary in Libya.
AQIM, US-AFRICOM, and the Destabilization of the Sahel
As with other Al Qaeda offshoots, AQIM’s history is directly related to that of the US intelligence and military presence in the Sahel. The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) was established by the Bush Administration in 2007 in order to, in their words, “defend US national security interests by strengthening the defense capabilities of African States... and defeat transnational threats.” However, within months of the establishment of AFRICOM, the Algerian group known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (SGPC) was rebranded AQIM and immediately became a much more serious threat with international capabilities, something it had never had before that point.
One can only wonder how, within the span of a few short months, as US military and intelligence presence is dramatically increased, such a group can immediately spring up. It would be logical to assume that the two events are not merely coincidence. Rather, AFRICOM, in order to legitimize its own presence in the region needed an enemy. So, it took an obscure terror organization, gave them the Al Qaeda banner, and thereby created the conditions for a military presence. AFRICOM was then able to install so-called “advisers” in the militaries of the region, ostensibly to combat the threat posed by this new organization while, in truth, creating dependence of those militaries on the United States. These developments were part of the broader mission known as the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnershipwhich enabled the United States to penetrate the militaries of the entire region and thereby make them into clients or proxies of the US military. It is precisely this dependence which was so evident in the routing of the Malian military at the hands of the rebels and AQIM.
With the defeat of the Malian forces and the de facto establishment of the state of Azawad, AQIM now controls a large portion of the Sahel/West Africa region, allowing it to menace neighboring states and continue to legitimize the AFRICOM presence. This military presence, though, is not entirely visible. In fact, it is now confirmed that US commandos and other Special Forces have been actively engaged in Mali since before the coup in late March. According to mainstream media and military spokespeople, the commandos were purely communications experts providing technical assistance to the military. While this is undoubtedly true to a certain extent, the news indicates a much broader engagement in the country, one that likely includes all manner of covert operations engaging with terrorists, rebels, and the military forces. Essentially then, the situation in Mali, and the wider region, has to be understood as being directly and cynically manipulated by the United States.
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OTM: Senate Republicans and Democrats vote to deny felons food assistance - 5:00PM EST
May 24, 2013 from 5pm to 6pm – Occupy The Microphone
5:00PM EST Senate Republicans and Democrats agree to pass Farm Bill that includes an amendment attached by Republican Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) which would exclude people who have selective felonie…
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The C.O.W.S. THE EDUCATION OF A BRITISH-PROTECTED CHILD Part II
May 24, 2013 from 8pm to 11pm – http://tiny.cc/RWSWJ
Friday, May 24th 8:00PM Eastern/ 5:00PM Pacific The Context of White Supremacy hosts the second study session on legendary author, Chinua Achebe's 2009 publication, The Education of a British-Protec…
Organized by Gus T Renegade | Type: discussion
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Black Talk Radio News
British soldier hacked to death in UK, Rebellions in Sweden, Devontae Sanford update
A video posted to youtube shows a Black Muslim who had just hacked an alleged British soldier to death. He issued a warning to others before being shot by police.
War in these streets and our soldiers seem to be MIA
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There is a war going on in these streets and as we just celebrated the birthday of Malcolm X, I would hate to know what he would think about the lack of response of our young women and men being killed in these streets by thug ass murderous cops and thug ass murderous criminals in our communities. Children don't feel safe walking to school let alone going to school and yet there has been very little response from the community to meet the security needs. Union City cops shoot a brother 8 times in the back of the head and we ain't heard nothing from the people about it in corporate media.
How do you feel about the NOI bringing in white men from Scientology to teach their members non-African concepts and spirituality? What the hell is going on with them brothers and sisters? After seeing photos of one of these Scientology creeps taking the podium at a NOI meeting, many people are saying WTF!
An article came out today about the Mexican activist whom brother Malcolm Shabazz was with when he was murdered. It may answer some questions about who this man is but it does not answer the questions about what exactly happen that day and many have problems with his version of events.
BTR News: Stop the Genocide Now w/ Carl Dix
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Tonight revolutionary brother Carl Dix joins the broadcast to inform us about an upcoming event he and Cornel West will be hosting in NYC to stop the maddening mass incarceration going on in the United States.
"Mass Incarceration + Silence = Genocide. Act to STOP it Now!" Monday May 20, 2013, 7:30pm, The Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew 263 W. 86th St (between Broadway and West End Ave), #1 train to 86th, For tickets: 212-691-3345 or online @ http://revolutionbooknyc.org
In 1996, Dix co-founded the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of Generation. Most recently, Dix has been a central figure in the campaign to Stop "Stop and Frisk" aimed at opposing the New York Police Department's efforts to stop hundreds of thousands of people in New York City and frisk them for weapons, drugs or other items. Dix has long addressed questions about imperialist war, revolutionary struggles and the oppression of Black people.
Other news out of New York pertaining to the NYPD Gestapo & Frisk campaign against Black people. The newly appointed Black Chief of Department wastes no time in fulfilling his duties as a racially showcased weapon of mass confusion as he goes to a white borough to tell them Gestapo & Frisks is not racial profiling.
Keeping it in NYC, a bronx based Hispanic religious organization shows up to the Gestapo Frisk civil trial to show their support for a suspected racist NYPD Deputy inspector caught on tape telling officers to target Black boys and men.
Republican's outrage over Benghazi is fake
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Conservatives in Congress just won't let Benghazi go and there is talk about impeaching President Obama concerning lies pertaining to a terrorist attack. Hillary Clinton is another one in their sights but again, this is manufactured outrage as well. The answer to why four Americans were killed in Benghazi is very simple, tune in for the answer.
Guatemalan dictator and US ally Efrain Rios Montt was found guilty on charges of genocide against Mayan villagers, some are asking if US officials will be charged in connection to their support of genocide in South America. Ronald Reagan staunchly supported this mass murderer and was complicit in many crimes against humanity.
New information on the killing of Malcolm Shabazz brings more questions and suspicions. Two men have been arrested in the murder of the emerging activist but other activist believe the Mexican labor activist Manuel Suarez had something to do with the murder as his story does not pass the smell test.
Today on May 13, 1985, the City of Philadelphia used its police force to commit an act of terrorism against the Move family by dropping a two pound bomb on their home from a helicopter killing several members of the group including children. The resulting fire destroyed over 60 homes.
Racism is not "accidental" it is conscious activity.
This and probably more tonight on Black Talk Radio News.
Political Prisoner Radio
Health updates for Political Prisoners
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Paulette Dauteuil, General Secretary of the Jericho Movement will be joining us tonight on Political Prisoner Radio to update us on the health of several political prisoners being held by the US government.
Many of our comrades who fought for the social/political/human rights of the masses are now fighting to get adequate treatment for their health issues developed in some cases because of the poor conditions under which they are held. In some cases, they are literally fighting for their lives. We will do our best to give you the latest information.
Political captives we hope to update you on are Mutulu Shakur, Norberto Gonzalez, Mondo We Langa and Lynne Stewart.
Mumia, Assata & Malcolm w/ Zayid Muhammad
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POP is planning another protest at Cineplex 12, Newark’s only major theater which stirred up controversy after it refused to show the new film titled "MUMIA: Long Distance Revolutionary" which focuses on political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal and his contribution as an author and commentator.
We will also get his thoughts on the recent addition of Assata Shakur to the FBI's most wanted "terrorist" list and the erection of the FBI billboards of Assata in Newark.
Finally we discuss the constantly changing stories coming from the media about the killing of Malcolm X's grandson Malcolm Shabazz who was talked into traveling to Mexico by deported Mexican activist Miguel Suarez who many say has holes in his account of what happened.
Malcolm Shabazz murdered and NYC NLG issues statements on Assata Shakur
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Join me for Political Prisoner Radio tonight to discuss the breaking news concerning the tragic murder of Malcolm Shabazz, a political and human rights activist and organizer who reportedly was found murdered today in Tijuana, Mexico.
Earlier today I spoke to attorney activist Nkechi Tiafu who shared statements from the NY National Lawyers Guild and The National Conference of Black Lawyers in reference to Assasta Shakur being labeled a "domestic terrorist" by the United States government.
On A Move w/ Sis. Pam Africa
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Join me for Political Prisoner Radio tonight with Sis. Pam Africa to discuss corporate and state sponsored environmental terrorism, seedless veggies possibly destroying the seeds in our wombs, the Newark, NJ cancellation of Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary and more.
Before we hear from Sis. Pam Africa, I want to share an important update about Sis. Assata Shakur as the United States government, perhaps angry at the attention Cuba received after Jay-Z and Beyonce visited the island which caused a new generation to question why the United States has a travel ban on the country, the FBI has double its reward for her capture and placed her on its "most wanted terrorists" list possibly making her a target for President Obama's drone assassination program.
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