The jihad, it is not something one gives up lightly. But American policymakers still seem to think they can buy off jihadists with money, or concessions, or hearts-and-minds initiatives. From Reuters, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
ALGIERS, Oct. 1 (Reuters) – An Internet statement attributed to Algeria’s largest outlawed Islamic militant group, aligned with Al Qaeda, says that it opposes amnesty in exchange for laying down its arms and that it will continue its jihad, or holy war.
In a Sept. 29 referendum, Algerians approved a government offer of partial amnesty for combatants in a civil war that lasted more than a decade and claimed more than 100,000 lives, mostly those of civilians.
“This vote is a waste of time,” said the statement on an Islamist Web site, dated Sept. 27 and attributed to Abdelmalek Droukdal, also known as Abu Mossab Abdelwadoud, the leader of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. “Algeria is not in need of a charter for peace and national reconciliation, but in need of a charter for Islam.”
It was the first time the Salafist Group had seemed to comment on the controversial amnesty project, but the statement’s authenticity could not be immediately verified.
The Salafist Group is on the United States’ list of foreign terrorist organizations and has recently expanded its activities to neighboring countries.
“The jihad will go on,” the statement said. “We have promised God to continue the jihad and the combat.”…
“There will be no peace and no reconciliation as long as Islam is not taken into consideration,” said the statement attributed to Mr. Droukdal, which also praised Osama bin Laden and his deputy in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.