July 3, 2008: The old GSPC terrorists manage to survive, even though it reflagged itself as an al Qaeda franchise last year. There was a momentary increase in bombings, and a decrease in the traditional massacre of civilians with knives and guns. Apparently, al Qaeda convinced the GSPC terrorists that they would anger fewer Algerians if they blew people up, rather than slitting their throats. This has not worked out as planned, and the Islamic terrorists still spend most of their time on the run.

A decade ago, the GSPC was killing up to a hundred people a day, but now, it takes up to a year to cause that much mayhem. An essential element in the survival of Islamic terrorism in Algeria is money, and volunteers (especially for the suicide bombing jobs) from Europe. There, Moslem expatriates love to cheer the terrorists on, mostly with cash contributions. The corrupt and despotic governments of most Moslem countries has created a migrant community in Europe that can hate their former rulers openly. The migrants don't much care that innocent civilians back home are the most common victims of the terrorism. Hatred, and a desire for revenge, is a powerful thing, that the terrorists exploit as much as they can.

July 1, 2008: Spain has arrested several dozen al Qaeda members, who were raising money, and recruiting men for terrorist attacks. Some of those volunteers were for operations in Morocco and Algeria, where it has proved difficult to recruit locals (who are fed up with all the terrorism) for this.

June 28, 2008: Six more policemen died as security forces pursued a group of 30 Islamic terrorists along the coast, some 350 kilometers east of the capital. The terrorist have split into three smaller groups, but are still being tracked and pursued.

June 27, 2008: Some 30 Islamic terrorists ambushed a police patrol 350 kilometers east of the capital. Four policemen were killed.

June 24, 2008: The UN head of security resigned, in the wake of revelations that Algerian security officials had warned of possible terrorist attacks, before UN facilities were attacked last December.

June 21, 2008: Police raided a terrorist safe house 110 kilometers east of the capital, killing one terrorist and seizing weapons and documents.

France has agreed to help Algeria develop nuclear power, and entered into a military cooperation agreement meant to help curb Islamic terrorism. This is particularly important since there are now over 300 French firms with investments in Algeria. Trade between the two nations now stands at nearly $12 billion a year.