Uranium, lithium, gold reserves. Westerners (French) and Russians have completely despoiled Malian land, driving angry locals into AQIM. These people on the bottom received none of the benefits of Western colonialization and environmental degradation. The poor Tuaregs lost theie watering holes to "nuclear dust" and other toxins, so these colorful nomads have picked up the AK-47. Link: www.aljazeera.com