Commentary: U.S. can't ignore North Africa   The Islamic
radicals who have conquered large tracts of Mali were not long
in expressing their ultimate aims. They plan on "globalizing the
conflict," according to one of their commanders, now that they
have a secure base in northern Mali to operate from.  A hurried
infusion of French troops seems to have stabilized the
situation, stopping the radicals' march toward Mali's capital
and its more populated and prosperous south. They liberated one
town and surrounded another rebel-held town in central Mali.
However, the world quickly got a taste of what is in store if
the radical Islamists are left unmolested to establish their own
state. A heavily armed column, loyal to a breakaway al-Qaida
warlord, entered Algeria and overran a remote natural gas plant
Wednesday and took a large number of hostages.  Soon enough, the
demands began coming: Foreign troops were to leave Mali and the
United States was to release several terrorists, including Omar
Abdel Rahman, the "blind