WEST AFRCIANS BATTLING AL QAEDA

AND THERE'S NOT A ZIONIST NEOCON RETHUGLICAN IN SIGHT, EITHER:

Mauritania has launched a military operation against militants linked to al-Qaeda along the border with Mali, officials in the two countries say.

Some unconfirmed reports say the fighting has moved across the border into Mali itself.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been behind numerous attacks in north-west Africa.

France believes the group is behind the kidnapping of seven people, including five French citizens, in Niger.

Initial reports quoted Mauritanian security sources saying the clashes were taking place near the border with Mali's Timbuktu region.

A Malian security source was later quoted by AFP as saying fighting was taking place in Mali, at Hassissidi, about 100km (60 miles) north of Timbuktu, but this could not be confirmed.

AL QAEDA IS NOT IN WEST AFRICA BECAUSE OF BUSH OR WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS OR GAZA EMBARGOES OR ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE.

THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE SPREADING JIHAD IS WHAT THEY DO.

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE MOHAMED.

POLITICIANS AND PUNDITS WHO ARGUE THAT OUR FOREIGN POLICY IS IN ANY WAY A CAUSE OF JIHAD, OR THAT WE CAN APPEASE OUR WAY TO PEACE ARE IDIOTS.