I think the article is a typical quasi-liberal analysis that, as usual, tries to ignore the terrorists’ motives and make it sound as if we hapless Westerners just got caught up in some dispute between “warlords.” Naturally there will be factions and power struggles, but like the leftist terrorist groups of the 70s, when push comes to shove they are all attacking the same enemy and have the same goal: imposition of their ideology and control of society.
The Algerian terrorists said they wanted to kill “Christian dogs” and instill terror in them by showing them the “power” of Islam. The AQIM terrorists came from countries all over the world and included two English-speaking Canadians. This is not just warlords showing off for each other.
Until we take them at their word and accept their own understanding of their objective, we’re not going to be able to fight back successfully.
Our government, and other Western governments, pronounced "our first concern is the safety of the hostages".
As long as this is true (and it IS true), we will be losing.