You're watching...
Former Ambassador John Price on what the current situation means for US national security
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
It is our understanding that there are Americans involved but I would say a couple of things one we condemn in the strongest terms.
A terrorist attack on BP personnel and facilities in Algeria.
And we are closely monitoring the situation we are in contact.
With Algerian authorities and our international partners as well as with the peace security office in London.
Unfortunately the best information we have at this time -- I -- indicates the US citizens or mom the hostages but we don't have at this point.
More details provides you.
All right that is.
I joining us via Skype from Salt Lake City, Utah the beautiful city of Salt Lake.
Ambassador price knows the continent of Africa better than most of us.
Ambassador this seems a very very confused situation.
In Algeria.
It's hard to say anything -- -- Sort of certainty.
Right now but what is your take on -- the Algerian security forces appear to have done here.
-- -- -- -- -- After the actions.
By the news blog it -- -- -- -- have been better if it the Ollie north Amalia region.
I think 2003.
It'll become stronger and of course here recently had a the gender -- -- -- really became very powerful.
Seeing.
Affiliate and many other ball goes so we shouldn't be surprised -- -- they edit the French.
And that it were present on.
That if -- -- I help out or a few months ago here the UNL.
And say there are ready if they -- -- We will fight them and well organized.
Have a lot of equipment.
So we shouldn't be surprised that the action after taking -- area.
So these things.
What what do we know about -- the Algerian security forces.
How effective they -- how cooperative the Algerian government is in general.
With the US and others all they.
That they -- little box this rate if if the initial reports are true but I'll they had the other a decent -- before -- in general ambassador.
Believe they are I believe that.
Algeria.
Has -- two stay out of the picture for a long time I know it.
Secretary Clinton met recently and several other -- -- diplomat.
I'll have met that would be a government there but remember the -- where -- -- originally announced here being in -- -- probably take -- the present.
-- -- -- -- -- And so I think all of that area very well and there are no love lost -- -- -- -- in Algeria and the Algerian.
Really don't want to -- getting all of the light years ago when -- -- To do it long is because god don't they haven't I don't think they will I don't think they have the heart and this situation fortunate.
That happened in Algeria but I don't think that they would.
Doing a lot for.
-- there's been a lot of told ambassador -- -- -- the widest said the concern here is as as you told to back.
The rise of Islamic extremism across North Africa.
Do you see.
Do I do you share this concern that it is becoming -- The new.
Focus for al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda linked militants in that we possibly in Mali in particular face a new Afghanistan that.
They've -- look at it and you got to think about the country -- 45.
It.
I.
It is water it is our western state.
I mean it is huge territory.
And get uncovered in the -- -- -- -- And I can't wait.
I haven't been falling in any and -- and government leaders anywhere.
That we need action immediately.
That is what the true but it could put it there quite remarkable result of the water over a hundred.
-- -- but we're really not prepared I think are -- their equipment and at a they were slaughtered by the -- I don't think in -- that we should not be deprived that he could replace.
You know being deprived enabled you to audience health under the getting it that you really had a lot but it wasn't ready to do that we didn't.
Let it let him do it -- went off the gas US box.
You know where the air -- -- -- and they're stronger than it -- When you say I ambassador we should've gone in the your -- are you suggesting that we need the United States should have put boots on the ground to fight these Islamic militants.
No we should get started.
Katrina and equipment.
And everything he compared to -- the actual life in the fight that was originally contemplated -- -- them.
True that way under what -- when I was there.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It should be up with that pick out the baby if they -- -- They needed equipment.
All that you didn't I didn't eleven and you can do a lot of trading beat the bottle in boot camp lady today.
So we didn't do it he's got to be aware of the US would bet that on election first.
You're really got a -- -- better credit profile which I think is necessary but it -- -- you've got around reading about how.
And it but we've been derelict in leopard you know we created -- problem.
All of these weapons law allies that -- bowling game to be -- Africa and it can be applied in that area -- good for whatever reason.
And all of you love it but maybe it will aren't.
Enacted or are morally -- -- -- and Somalia over -- air and that exploded and what the -- didn't really good.
So that when we didn't do it then ambassador walked Hanley.
And what should we do right now because it's seen as a -- -- wind as you say would very late to the game.
Is it too late.
Well I think that the British I should be commended -- it opens up pandora's box.
I think believe -- now fighting it Molly Farrell front.
Only 350 miles from volatile.
Areas that are out late there's been overrun -- -- We'll be all over again and the -- -- they felt.
We -- -- immediately trading.
The actor was.
Troops instead of course volatile aren't -- that'll help.
South African drums are very good picture at all Nigerians as they're probably overall it.
They could help that he did train immediately and meanwhile we need to urgently trying to find abilities leader -- -- -- -- -- -- -- They're freer world leader not a full -- thing because it didn't -- little -- are the got a little -- here elite you take out they'll recruit that you couldn't stop them awhile to regroup.
I had an ambassador -- -- thank you very much indeed great to get your perspective.
Just good to have somebody seems to have some rebuild not he jammed up high interest in that region ambassador will come back to -- this.
Develops over the next few days and and indeed weeks no doubt in Mali and across North Africa thank you so much ambassador particular at all regarding -- and that we are clear we -- we would love to thank you sir all right.
