The new world dis-order

Almost naturally, the same spotlights shining this past week on the French military campaign in Mali have been redirected toward Algeria. The attack by a local terrorist organization, affiliated with al-Qaida, on a gas field in south-eastern Algeria and the taking of Western hostages makes it possible to identify the exact birthplace, in the early 90s, of Islamic terrorism in North Africa.

On Dec. 26, 1991 Algerians went to the voting booths following a historical process of democratization, which had begun three years prior. The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) was allowed to participate in the elections. In the first round of voting it won 47 percent of the votes. The army intervened; the West didn't. The second round of voting was cancelled and terrorism began to flourish. One hundred thousand people lost their lives.

The Algerian army, a full partner to the atrocities that took place, couldn't eradicate the terrorism, only distance it southward. The border junction between Mauritania, Mali and Algeria became a fertile breeding ground for the terrorist organizations taking refuge there, which funded themselves primarily through cigarette and drug smuggling, and ransom money from hostage taking. Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi also contributed to the situation by promoting instability in neighboring countries.

These were also the days when al-Qaida became very popular. Fanatical terrorist groups and pirate gangs in the region were all incorporated under the flag of al-Qaida, which rose to prominence in the Arab Maghreb, and immediately upgraded their status as a result. Similar to Somalia and Afghanistan, terrorism decided to swallow other nations in its path. Mali was placed in the crosshairs.

The military campaign in Mali today undoubtedly receives different proportions: How ironic that a terrorist organization in Algeria comprising less than 200 members, the "Masked Brigade" led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, managed to do what France couldn't — make the campaign in Mali an international affair.

While the French did receive a green light from the international community to go to war, they flew to Mali alone. Their European brethren stayed behind.

The murder of foreign civilians in Algeria obligates Washington, Tokyo and London to intervene in a conflict against their wishes. U.S. President Barack Obama needs to wake up. It has been the al-Qaida terrorists who have successfully turned this conflict into a war between radical Islam and the infidels.

While the French campaign in Mali currently pits the Mirage 2000 fighter jet against old trucks on the ground, the terrorists are playing on their home turf. France will win the campaign only if it wins the support of the locals. It will be impossible for it to win on its own.

In the meantime the fighting in Mali fits nicely with the new world dis-order. The terrorists knew exactly where to hit.

And we can't, of course, do without the Israeli perspective: France embarked on a mission to fight terrorism and it has international backing. Israel has a little less. "Quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi" — what is legitimate for Jove (Jupiter), is not legitimate for oxen.