President Obama Calls Algerian Hostage Crisis Another Reminder of Al Qaeda Threat

At least one American killed in an attack yesterday at a natural gas facility

President Barack Obama said the hostage situation that ended Saturday in Algeria is another reminder of the threat posed by al Qaeda and other extremist groups in North Africa.

An attack by Algerian forces brought a bloody conclusion to a standoff with Islamist militants who had taken foreign hostages at a natural gas facility in Eastern Algeria. News reports say 23 hostages, including at least one American and 32 militants were killed. But reports of casualties and the number of hostages involved have varied. Some hostages reportedly escaped over the course of the four-day stand-off, The Hill reports.

President Obama issued a statement condemning the actions of the al-Qaeda-linked group that took the hostages. The group had issued a list of demands including calling for an end to the French military intervention against Islamist rebels in Mali, which has involved some U.S. intelligence, logistics and other military support

"The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out, and the United States condemns their actions in the strongest possible terms," Obama said. "We have been in constant contact with Algerian officials and stand ready to provide whatever assistance they need in the aftermath of this attack."

Obama said the U.S. would continue to work with its foreign partners to "combat the scourge of terrorism in the region, which has claimed too many innocent lives."

Via The Hill

Is al Qaeda making a comeback as an imminent threat to U.S. interests?

[RedFloppyShoes]

Quite frankly, they never were not an imminent threat. This administration has downplayed them to make themselves look better via the spin doctors.

[stepped_in_it]

"Is al Qaeda making a comeback" Didn't know they had either retired or made their exit, stage right! Since and including Vietnam, there has not been a "defined" enemy and I doubt there will ever be another one. Al Qaeda isn't a "people", it's an idea. And to make matters worse, it's a religious idea.....and religion has been steeped in blood since man invented it (religion, that is....and I'm including Christianity in that invention)

[Raptor]

Al Qaeda making a comeback? They and groups like them will always be a threat to Americans.

[Thunderchicken]

I was beginning to wonder if Politix was going to mention this. As for extremist Islam being a terroristic threat, I think we'll be dealing with that for a long time to come.

[CaryNickel]

Hmmmm...the murder or our diplomatic corps. in Libya by Islamic terrorists while the administration watched was a "bump in the road" according to Obama. What is this? A chuckhole?

[texas_cutie75]

I have nothing nice to say, and its only gonna get me in trouble, I'll defer on this one! Good morning everyone!!

[stepped_in_it]

Thought "trouble" was your middle name? And it's more fun to stir the pot then watch it simmer.......and good morning.....coffee good, black and strong!

[texas_cutie75]

@stepped_in_it

OK, here goes....Libya, no biggie says the WH. Africa, this is big trouble says WH. Gggrrrr!!!

[kathyparsell]

@texas_cutie75
It's not your nice/nievety that I respect you for, plain speaking is far better!

[texas_cutie75]

@kathyparsell

I'm actually a lot more fun in person, I tend to be a bit more selective in what I post.

[MadAmerican]

Making a come back? They just bounce from country to country and by the way they have sleeper cells here in America. Do not fool yourself that the great Obama who has slain the mighty Bin Laden, has also cut off the head to Al Qeda. Also the press does not report on the lesser little factions aimed at killing innocent victims throughout the world to bring attention to their meanial causes. We will never beat Al Qaeda because all of these little Muslim extremist countries refused to cowboy up and assist us in destroying them. That's why I believe all of our troops need to be on American soil, and we need to cut all trade and aide with all extreme Muslim countries, and other countries that harbor these terrorist.

[seedtick]

Remember what Barack Husssein Obama said, "Osama Bin Laden is dead and Al Qaeda it on the run." Just more of his political bullshit. Under this president the reality is, "Al Qaeda is alive and well and the USA is on the run." We stand leaderless and embarassed before the world.

[tomhorn1903]

Perfectly put, Sir !!

[Malitia_Man]

Sure... You could say "Al CIAda" is making a come back... But why should we be upset? We are arming them with real ASSAULT weapons in Syria!!!

Threat? The only threat is our own government!!!

[DrFunkenstein]

Thank goodness that Obama is President and not Bush, McCain or Romney. We'd have a full scale attack on Iran over this.

[PNWest]

That's true. And they would have to LOWER taxes to pay for it, call the democrats unAmerican for questioning them and come up with other ways to scare Americans.

[Cheenoguy]

@PNWest
Remember when Republicans said it was unAmerican to question the president during a time of war? I always knew they hated America.:)

[Jack-Black]

Stupid choices...How can they make a come back as a threat, when they never stopped?

[Tralee]

Comeback? What comeback? They never went away, despite the rhetoric of the president as he sought reelection, Al Qaeda was NEVER dead and gone and the new American response to it is so weak and ineffectual that these sort of attacks will be more and more pronounced.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Welcome back Tralee. The liberals on this site went crazy in your absence. Now that you are back, it's time for us to keep them in their place. As you so eloquently said, al Qaeda was never defeated to begin with. Their real resurgence happened in 2009 when a sympathetic leader emerged and seized control of the White House.

[Tralee]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Hi, Happy to be home,. I think! Yes, same old mess or as they say, SSDD (Same S*** Different Day).:)

[commonsense51]

I guess Obama decided not to lie to the American people about the attack being caused by some lame anti Muslim video. He can be more honest about his failures now because he does not run for re election again.

[marine1]

thank god

[commonsense51]

@marine1 Obama will probably try to make yet another executive order allowing Presidents to run for more than two terms.

[tomincali]

i am not so sure our government is worried about al qaeda. with our country wide open and not much is done to keep unknowns out they don't seem to worries about the citizens here at home.

there is even a known terrorist group who has set up shop to our south maybe 100 miles or less from our open border. just saying

[kathyparsell]

I wish it hadn't happened, but I am glad someone else took the lead and then ask for our help.

[MongoAPillager]

OMG!!! We strongly condemn them,look at them writhe in pain in fear,why not just drop nude pictures of Nancy Pelosi,at least that would seem scary till there eyes glazed over

[MongoAPillager]

how about frikin Sharks with Laser Beams!

[DARSB]

"Imminent threat?" No. Tie up our resources in a series of low level attacks in places where we have interests? Ongoing.

[XLP]

Naïve leadership

[Sabio]

but i thought the messiah oblamey said that they were no longer a threat, on the ropes, in disarray?

[AndrewEvans]

This is just Obama and his masters focusing on another reason to murder the people of the middle east How many died? They butchered, in our name, somewhere between 1-2 Million to avenge 3000. I wonder how many they'll butcher using this incident as an excuse. We need to get out of the middle east, pure and simple.