Rumsfeld says US deepening ties with Algeria

[rhino47]

Algeria has a miserable record of human rights.
I guess that works for rumsfeld and the rest of neo cons.
Good place for them to pratice torture under the radar.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060212/pl_nm/algeria_usa_rumsfeld_dc

ALGIERS (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Sunday Washington intended to deepen its military and counter-terrorism ties with Algeria, but avoided saying whether this was dependent on Algerian political reforms.



"We look forward to strengthening our military-to-military relationship and our cooperation in counter-terrorism," Rumsfeld said during a joint appearance with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the presidential palace in Algiers.

His 5-1/2 hour visit to Algeria was part of a three-day, three-nation tour designed to show U.S. support for moderate North Africa countries amid worries about Islamic extremism. He arrived from Tunisia and was due next in Morocco.

Asked whether the United States would make military cooperation with Algeria contingent on political progress in the country, Rumsfeld declined to answer directly.


Here is a link of gov`s own report on algeria.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27924.htm

(snip)
The Government's human rights record remained poor and worsened in a few areas; however, important progress was made in some areas. Aspects of the State of Emergency continued to restrict citizens' right to change their government. There were fewer reports of security force abuses. However, there continued to be problems with excessive use of force and the failure to account for past disappearances. Short-term disappearances of prisoners deemed "threats to national security" reportedly increased. The incidence and severity of torture declined markedly; however, new allegations continued. Security forces carried out extra-judicial killings and civilian and military police arbitrarily detained persons.