A few weeks ago Moor Next Door was writing about speculation as to where the Obama administration would choose for a major policy speech supposedly in the works on US-Muslim World relations. It seems safe to assume that the serious accusations leveled against CIA Station Chief Andrew Warren mean that Algiers will not make the list.
There’s obviously going to be a lot more surrounding this story in the very near future and while it all may be that the accusations are false I have to think that if the evidence could have been discounted and the whole ordeal quietly swept under the carpet it would have been. The affadavit makes for chilling reading and will undoubtedly be sighted and published all over the Arab world tomorrow.
The Obama administration began its PR campaign (how sincere or significant it actually is I will leave to other authors to answer) with the much heralded interview with Al-Arabiya. I think it is safe to say that any good will produced by that interview is going to be seriously tested by this incident. It’s not Abu Ghraib but it’s certainly not what a new administration, trying to put its best foot forward in a region that is highly skeptical and cynical about any US overture needs. As if the situation in Gaza was not reason enough for the Arab World to be skeptical of the sincerity or willingness of the administration to make hard choices in the region, this incident is going to further evaporate any goodwill that the administration might hope to enjoy post inauguration and will certainly be a serious test of their capacity for damage control.
The long term political implications are probably not that significant but this is exactly the kind of story that has a way of rearing its head over and over again. Do not expect it to disappear anytime soon. It will also be interesting to see whether AQIM latches onto this or not and what reaction, if any, Bouteflika and the Algerian government will have.
–C
Update: this article in the New York Times doesn’t add too much new information but for what it’s worth it’s here
3 Comments
January 29, 2009 at 6:36 am
[...] January, 2009 by Kal That the CIA Station Chief in Algiers is a serial rapist will do serious damage to American prestige in that country. When this story hits the Algerian [...]
February 5, 2009 at 2:37 pm
[...] the CIA Station Chief in Algiers is a serial rapist will do serious damage to American prestige in that country. When this story hits the [...]
March 1, 2009 at 9:45 am
Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content!
_________________________________
Making Money $150 An Hour