By William Tucker
Last week five French nationals and two local engineers were kidnapped in Northern Africa. In the recent past al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb targeted tourists and aid workers, but this recent kidnapping has an economic component – all these individuals were involved in uranium mining. France predominately relies on nuclear power and much of the needed fuel is mined in the Sahel. In response, France moved a high number of its special forces to the region to help the locals combat the threat from al-Qaeda and criminal elements alike. Since Paris declared war on AQIM, and the group has replied in kind, it is natural for France to move in this direction. Current intelligence claims that female suicide bombers were sent to target the metro in a similar fashion to the bombings in Moscow earlier this year resulting in the terror alert escalation. From these recent moves it is clear that both Paris and AQIM have crossed the Rubicon.
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