Algerian opposition leader incites US administration against President Bouteflika

Anger was sparked among Algerian community in the United States of America following an incentive opinion article written by an Algerian political leader and published by New York Post newspaper on April 1st under the headline ‘ALGERIA: FREEDOM VS. TERROR.’

Doctor Said Saadi, a member of the Algerian parliament and leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy asked the United States of America to interfere in Algeria’s political affairs in the same way as it happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Jewish Murdoch adopts Doctor Saadi’s opinion

New York Post is a US right-wing newspaper owned by Jewish Australian-born billionaire Rupert Murdoch who also launched the Fox News Channel. This channel and the newspaper are said to be anti-Arabs and anti-Muslims.  Said Saadi spoke about ‘Islamist terror’ in Algeria without saying if he meant armed terror groups in mountains or Islamic movements in general or both of them.  

Saadi concerned about Americans’ interests  

Saadi, who was introduced in the article as the leader of the principal opposition party in Algeria showed how much he was concerned about US interests in the region more than Americans themselves. 

“Al-Qaeda, facing setbacks elsewhere, recently chose Algeria as a major operational base. Americans should see not only the threat, but an opportunity – for Algeria has the potential to become a standard-bearer of democracy in the Muslim world,” he said.

 Said Saadi blamed the US administration for neglecting what was happening in Algeria in the last few years. “Islamist massacres of Algerians for years attracted little attention in the United States; US policymakers saw North Africa as a preserve of European powers, especially France.”

 “But the people who massacred 3,000 Americans on 9/11 belonged to the same culture of fanaticism and terror that has claimed tens of thousands of Algerian lives since the early ’90s,” he added.  

Regime more dangerous than terrorism 

The Algerian politician accused the regime of oppressing democratic opposition, journalists and trade unionists and even what he called Christian minority.

“All key government positions are reserved for members of one clan. State-sponsored violence had broadened; its victims now include the democratic opposition as well as journalists, trade unionists and the Christian minority,” he said.  

A call for imposing Iraqi and Afghani examples 

Furthermore, Said Saadi did not hesitate to frankly call for US interference in Algeria’s domestic affairs by saying “The only way to defeat the Islamists is to give the Algerian people a chance to choose their government in free and fair elections.”

 “Algerian democrats seek the help of the United States and other democracies to ensure international supervision of the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections. We also need their support to prevent a constitutional amendment to let the current president seek re-election despite the two-term limit.” 

 The Algerian Parliament’s member praised the Iraqi and Afghani examples.

“In recent years, free elections in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan have dealt serious blows to Islamism. Elections under international supervision have already produced credible results in countries as far apart as Mexico and Pakistan. There is no reason Algeria should be an exception,” 

There, Said Saadi appears fun of the false US democracy which caused bloodshed in Iraq and turned Afghanistan into a deserted land. Is this exactly what he wants from Americans to do in Algeria?  

Is there any external conspiracy? 

Said Saadi has recently paid a visit to the United States where he was believed to have asked for US support. This sort of demand clearly threatens Algeria’s sovereignty.   

 This visit came within warnings issued by the Algerian government to all civil society associations and parties of dealing with the US embassy in Algeria. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem also warned the US ambassador to Algeria Robert Ford due to his interference in the North African’s domestic affairs.

 Those events may show that there is a real external campaign which targets Algeria with the year 2009 approaching which will be decisive in many issues especially presidential elections.