So far today, the news includes a report that all of the remaining terrorists and hostages have been killed in an assault on the energy plant in Algeria where they were being held as well as another report about the failed attempt to assassinate the leader of an opposition party in Bulgaria. The killing in Algeria was done with assault weapons used by the Algerian military. The assailant in Bulgaria used a hand gun.
Obviously, the title of my post is not serious. These two events are of major importance and not just because guns were used in the commission of crimes. The attack and subsequent kidnapping by terrorists in Algeria shows the strength of the al Qaeda movement on the African continent. Indeed, the fighting between terrorists and French troops in Mali as well as the mass murder at the energy plant in Algeria clearly demonstrates that the terrorists have grown in strength and number to become a major fighting threat in the Western Sahara region. These attacks coming the week prior to the second term innauguration of president Obama are reminders of the failure of Obama's policy for dealing with terror. Sure, Obama told us during the campaign that al Qaeda was essentially destroyed by the death of bin Laden, but that sure seems wrong. Add in the killing of the American ambassador to Libya in Benghazi by terrorists and the renaissance of al Qaeda in Africa is clear. Indeed, I was speculating that the press may use the issue of gun control in Algeria to change the subject away from the failure of Obama's anti-terror policies.
The failed assassin in Bulgaria was an ethnic Turk who was targeting the head of the largest Turkish party in that country. Fortunately, the gun jammed and the politician was uninjured. Nevertheless, it is yet another instance of violence coming to the forefront. For what it is worth, Bulgaria has many fewer guns on the streets than in most countries around the world.
Obviously, the title of my post is not serious. These two events are of major importance and not just because guns were used in the commission of crimes. The attack and subsequent kidnapping by terrorists in Algeria shows the strength of the al Qaeda movement on the African continent. Indeed, the fighting between terrorists and French troops in Mali as well as the mass murder at the energy plant in Algeria clearly demonstrates that the terrorists have grown in strength and number to become a major fighting threat in the Western Sahara region. These attacks coming the week prior to the second term innauguration of president Obama are reminders of the failure of Obama's policy for dealing with terror. Sure, Obama told us during the campaign that al Qaeda was essentially destroyed by the death of bin Laden, but that sure seems wrong. Add in the killing of the American ambassador to Libya in Benghazi by terrorists and the renaissance of al Qaeda in Africa is clear. Indeed, I was speculating that the press may use the issue of gun control in Algeria to change the subject away from the failure of Obama's anti-terror policies.
The failed assassin in Bulgaria was an ethnic Turk who was targeting the head of the largest Turkish party in that country. Fortunately, the gun jammed and the politician was uninjured. Nevertheless, it is yet another instance of violence coming to the forefront. For what it is worth, Bulgaria has many fewer guns on the streets than in most countries around the world.
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