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Stephen Hadley, former National Security Adviser under George W. Bush, with the latest developments in the hostage situation in Algeria.
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Situation joining me now from Washington is former national security advisor to President Bush.
Stephen Hadley.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Tomorrow what make of this situation and what it foreshadows going for having actually there were talking about this in the break.
Do you see parallels between this and what happened in big -- do think this is that giving -- dominant strategy in the near term.
Well there's two things really going on here one France is concerned because it does not want to see its.
Former colony Molly descend into civil war and chaos.
And secondly none of us want an area which is on government which is can be -- space where al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda related governments.
At -- it al-Qaeda related terrorists can plan terrorist attacks but -- against Mali Algeria or.
European countries or.
Potentially the United States is that -- governed spaces problems.
This is a little different France's in the lead we've been asked to provide support logistics support air lift these kinds of things intelligence supports.
And I think we will and probably should because France is a longstanding ally and because we don't have any interest.
In seeing an -- governed space where al-Qaeda groups can plan and -- terrorist.
What do you mean given the events that we've heard today you know that the fact that they're saying that they're holding these hostages and in response they want the US to release the blind cleric who has the mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing.
Do you think that this is.
A new strategy that's tied to terrorism around the world -- do you think that this is a response to -- because I think some people are wondering out today.
Maybe this isn't necessarily about Molly was planned long before that.
-- it was a very bold operation by an organization that is now.
Affiliated with al-Qaeda -- really has its roots in in in that -- opposition to the Algerian regime -- now about twenty years old.
It was a bold option obviously well planned I think people are beginning and now to believe that it was in the planning stage.
And the -- And the French intervention with -- was just an excuse and -- justification.
For an activity by al-Qaeda in the Islamic my -- that was really designed to embarrass the Algerian government.
And I think that's probably gonna turn out to be more the case.
And then we saw the Algerian government responding coming in very strongly and some say with -- you know.
Maybe a disregard for -- trying to get hostages out of -- -- trying to preserve like they're really coming in with a show of force.
Do you agree with that characterization given that way it's played out from here do you think that that's the way they should've gone.
Well we don't we really don't now we don't have all the facts these are excruciatingly.
Difficult decisions and one of the things I think that was at issue was whether the hostages were going to be moved in months hostages get to be moved.
They're harder to find are harder to free.
And it may be that one of the things behind the Algerian government was to act.
When all they have hostages were in one place but these are very difficult decisions.
That that have been made I think one of the things it's important.
Is that the US government has reaffirmed.
That we do not negotiate with terrorists we do not negotiate for the release of hostages because if you.
Get into that business of negotiating for the release of hostages all you ensures that you have more hostages.
In the future so I think as secretary Panetta was right I think they're too.
Key principles for the United States one we don't hot negotiate with terrorists we don't negotiate for the hostage release and secondly.
There will be no place where terrorists will be able to operate we will go after -- -- with others we will try to find them and prevent their operations.
That -- Pose a threat to United States who our friends and allies -- have a great insight thanks for coming on we appreciate your time.
Nice to be with --
