Expert: Islamists "taunting" U.S. in Algeria, Mali

(CBS News) The last time Americans were killed by terrorists was in North Africa. Four died in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The French are fighting Islamic terrorists in Mali, a former colony of theirs. The U.S. is now offering some help.

The U.S. has agreed to airlift a battalion of French troops and tanks into Mali, part of a military intervention which has stirred up a hornets' nest of al-Qaeda linked groups in North Africa.

According to U.S. intelligence, these groups are likely to strike Western targets again.

Rudolph Atallah

/ CBS News

Rudolph Atallah, the Pentagon's former head of counterterrorism for Africa, said this does not come out of nowhere.

"These guys are savvy," Atallah said. "They've been prepared for a fight, like I said, for a long time, and they are not going to take it lying down. They are going to show that they are capable of putting some pain against the West."

The attack on the gas complex in Algeria was carried out by a group whose leader had warned France against intervening in Mali. Other leaders operating under the umbrella of a group called Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb have dared the U.S. to intervene.

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"One of the Islamists was taunting the United States, essentially saying: 'We want the United States to be involved in the fight, like the French.' It's more like: 'Bring it. We're ready for you. So we're prepared to go after you,'" Atallah said.

With U.S. backing, the French launched air strikes and began sending in troops last week when it appeared radical Islamic groups which already control the northern half of Mali were on the verge of breaking through government defenses across the narrow waist of the country and advancing on the capitol.

France's defense minister said the operation was designed to prevent Mali from becoming a terrorist state within range of Europe. Even if France succeeds in stopping the advance, radical Islamic groups will still control northern Mali, an area the size of France itself.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said there are no plans to put U.S. troops into Mali, but that could change if terrorists there start killing Americans.

[zibulki]

What's with these animals?

[quincytodd]

We need to encourage the French to negotiate a truce with Islamists in Mali and simply withdraw from that country. In fact, jumping in there was a big mistake on the part of the French. Let's hope against hope that those idiots in Washington won't be stupid enough to drag us into it too!

[TillMidnight]

The Obama Administration ignored the situation in Benghazi, Libya and four of our people were killed. Now we are in trouble in Mali and Algeria.
When will we wake up and face up to what we have to do in northern Africa?
The election is over, no more campaigning - Obama needs to put up or shut up.

[KPeters_from_UK]

The situation in Mali was a French problem and the Algeria hostage situation was caused BP's weak security.

[KPeters_from_UK]

The hostage crisis was a direct link to the French response to Mali. BP should have known better that their plant is located in a volatile area. BP is responsible for security.

[realtimecoffee]

Everyone at that site knew the risks. Any of them could have left.

[johnlockesghost]

The Islamist militants want to bleed us dry of resources and the best way that they can accomplish this goal is to bog down our military in worthless military expeditions and the more the better. Beware of foreign entanglements.

[realtimecoffee]

Bah. If they REALLY wanted to bleed us they would be hitting oil resources. Not much about that though. Hint: It's about MONEY. The whole women are property thing is just gravy. They are used to that.

[NotLobamatomized]

Terrorists see obama as a moron who keeps our military in check for them.
There is no down side in attacking U.S. interests, Benghazi more than proven that.....

[KPeters_from_UK]

The hostage crisis was a direct link to the French response to Mali. BP should have known better that their plant is located in a volatile area. BP is responsible for security.

[collie61]

ludvig1-2009 - Let me give it a try. The CIA and their informants located him. The U S Navy Seals killed him. How's that. Obama sat on his azz and watched.

[modeloman]

Islamists are taunting us? Where have I heard that before?
oh thats right
Bahgdad Bob
these muslim extremists must make napolean look hung

[Rick_Carter1]

It's called metastasis, either kill it, or it (eventually) kills YOU !!! GOT IT, EVERYONE ???; THEN GO FOR IT, EVERYONE, BEFORE IT GOES FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!! - RC

[modeloman]

I imagine you check under your bed every night before you hit the sack.

[realtimecoffee]

If we were on Mars maybe, you just want blood, lots and lots of blood. No good outcome.

[realtimecoffee]

Hmmm. The American Foreign Legion? Food for thought.

[realtimecoffee]

Maybe the French have just this once, learned a lesson we could learn from. Maybe we saved them for a reason.

[realtimecoffee]

WWI, WWII, WWIII, and MAYBE WWIV, but right now they have taken the lead there on several fronts. Not a bad thing, they have more history in those climes. And since we've spent ourselves bankrupt over almost nothing, thankfully we are not chipping in much.

[bones1944]

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my the great wizard Oz will have to do something about those nasty old al Qaedea flying monkeys. With this administration we are lost. I look for the President to attack Americans before finding any solutions to the middle east.He let Benghazi slide with no retaliation. Damn I don't know whether to become violent or hang my head and cry. We need a real leader and not a Lincoln clone.

[modeloman]

nothing but an ahoe comment. Obama's watch has seen more Al quada leaders killed than 8 years of bushie who said Been laden wasnt important anymore. add some somali pirates to that list too. go peddle your crap to the choir over at fuuxxed news