Source: VOA   
  The White House has declined to confirm or deny a report that says it is considering whether to carry out drone strikes against al-Qaida's branch in North Africa.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday the White House has held secret meetings to consider unilateral action against al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM.

The group has become increasingly entrenched in North Africa, especially in northern Mali, which fell earlier this year to Islamist militants allied with al-Qaida.

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor did not comment on specifics in the article.

In a statement, he said "the president has been clear about his goal to destroy al-Qaida's network and we work toward that goal every day," Vietor said.  He added, "We aren't going to get into the specifics of any of these discussions or policy prescriptions."

The Post quotes a top U.S. counterterrorism official as saying the talks are focused on helping regional militaries battle al-Qaida.  But the official, who is reportedly involved in the talks, added they are also looking at possible direct U.S. intervention if the terror group goes unchecked.

Pentagon spokesman George Little says the situation is being monitored and the United States is ready to help states in the region.
美国白宫拒绝证实或否认媒体报道的美国正在考虑使用无人飞机打击基地组织在北非的分部。

华盛顿邮报星期二报道，白宫已经召开秘密会议，考虑单方面袭击伊斯兰马格里布基地组织。

这个组织不断巩固了在北非尤其是在马里北部的势力。今年早些时候，马里北部被与基地组织结盟的伊斯兰激进分子控制。

美国国家安全委员会发言人威尔多没有对报道中的细节发表评论。

他在一份声明中说，“总统已表明消灭基地组织网络的目标，我们每天都在朝这个目标努力。”威尔多补充说，“我们不会公开有关讨论和政策的细节。”

华盛顿邮报引用美国一位高级反恐官员的话说，有关会议着重讨论如何帮助该地区国家的军队打击基地组织。这位据信参与了讨论的官员又说，官员们也在探讨在基地组织得不到遏制的情况下美国直接干预的可能性。

五角大楼发言人利特尔说，美国正在注视有关局势，并准备好向该地区的政府提供帮助。