Disturbing News From Algeria

Algiers, Algeria


There are disturbing reports being released to the news media regarding a CIA station chief in Algiers, Algeria, who has been accused by two women in that country of having raped them after lacing their drinks with knockout drugs at parties during the past year.

According to an affidavit in support of a search warrant filed in Alexandria, Virginia by a State Department investigative agent, Andrew Warren, ex-CIA station chief in Algiers, is being investigated for at least two sexual assaults. Warren has been reassigned back to the US pending the results of the investigation.

At this point, it has been alleged that while stationed at the American Embassy in Algiers, Warren drugged at least two Algerian women at parties, had sex with them while they were in an unconscious state and video-taped the incidents. It is suspected that there may be more than the two who have come forward. At this stage the case is still in the investigative stage with grand jury testimony expected to follow.

Obviously, this bodes ill for any efforts to improve relations with the Muslim world-one of President Obama's stated goals. Both the women in question are Muslim in a country faced with a serious problem of Islamic extremism. The idea of at least two Muslim women being raped by an American in Algeria is cause for tremendous concern. That the suspect was the CIA station chief multiplies the problem. The one thing that may alleviate the problem is that Warren himself is a Muslim convert.

Geo-political considerations aside, rape is a heinous crime. Without prejudging Warren's guilt or innocence, it can only be hoped that this case will be fully investigated by the appropriate authorities and justice done. This case will be attracting more attention in the days, weeks and months ahead. It goes without saying that the American Government is once again going to be under the magnifying glass in the Muslim world.

It could not have come at a worse time.