Tuareg in Overdrive in Mali

By ⋅ April 6, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
VW Tuareg (Photo: VW)

VW Tuareg (Photo: VW)


The United States on Friday rejected a declaration of independence by Tuareg rebels in northern Mali, joining international refusal to support the move by the insurgents. “We reject the MNLA’s statement of independence and reiterate our call for the territorial integrity of Mali,” State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told AFP, referring to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. – Agence France Presse, April 6, 2012

Now that the Tuareg rebels are in control of nearly two-thirds of Malian territory, I thought it was time to resurrect a story I reported in 2003. It asks the not-unrelated question: “Why did Volkswagen name their luxury SUV the Tuareg?”

Customized VW Tuareg (Photo: jalopnik.com)

Customized VW Tuareg (Photo: jalopnik.com)


Perhaps this custom “Qatar” version of the Tuareg would be more appropriate in northern Mali these days

[Ed Note: The World uses the spelling "Tuareg" in reference to the Tuareg people. Volkswagen uses "Touareg" for its vehicle. Both are acceptable spellings.]


Discussion

One comment for “Tuareg in Overdrive in Mali”

  • http://www.facebook.com/ben.samuels1969 Ben Samuels

    Yes. The former Nazi-sponsored Volkswagon motorwerks naming a luxury/performance SUV after a blood-thirsty tribe of Mu$lim desert-raiders does seem questionable. If they were smart, they might want to re-think that.