(SBU) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON MALI (C-NC9-01771)

S E C R E T STATE 099793 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2034 TAGS: PINR ML SUBJECT: (SBU) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON MALI (C-NC9-01771) REF: A. BAMAKO 000383 ¶B. BAMAKO 000096 ¶C. BAMAKO 000387 ¶D. BAMAKO 000401 Classified By: LISA WENGER, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE POST,S CONTINUING REPORTING ON POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE MALI-AQIM RELATIONSHIP. THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN THESE REPORTS, AS HAVE SENIOR POLICYMAKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FBI, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. FOLLOWING AQIM'S CLAIM OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLING OF THE AMERICAN CITIZEN IN NOUAKCHOTT, SENIOR POLICYMAKERS HAVE TAKEN A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THIS AREA. ¶2. (S/NF) REFTELS WERE USED IN ONE PDB AND TWO NATIONAL TERRORISM BULLETINS AND ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE POST'S CONTINUED PERSPECTIVES ON THIS INTERESTING AND CHANGING TOPIC, AS TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT. CLINTON