Attackers Tweet As They Assault UN Development Program Compound

Koreantoast writes "In another interesting example of the increasing use and sophistication of social media by non-governmental organizations, the Somali-based Islamic insurgency al-Shabab live tweeted their latest attack, a suicide assault against a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) facility in Mogadishu which left 15 dead. During the event, they denounced UNDP, tweeting during the attack that the UN is 'a merchant of death & a satanic force of evil, has a long inglorious record of spreading nothing but poverty, dependency & disbelief' and proceeded to mock newly appointed UN Representative Nicholas Kay who is to arrive in Somalia later this month. Also of note is their initiation of communications with various press entities including the AP, BBC and IHS Janes through Twitter. Hat tip to Foreign Policy magazine for the story."

Re:I am now immune to dystopic fantasy

[oodaloop]

That's about as ironic as it raining on your wedding day.

Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm surprised more people haven't stopped to think about what the UN's (and indeed, other world authorities) policies actually do to developing countries. These attacks would not have happened unless something was going on that they found objectionable enough to kill over. A google search turns up a particularly informative book on the subject entitled Looting Africa. [ukzn.ac.za] (Large PDF)

Apparently not everyone is happy when you hand their national resources over to a foreign company.

Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa...

[gsgriffin]

You are mistaken. The Bible records violence (ancient...thousands of years ago), BUT the guidance it gives for followers of Christ (which is in the New Testament) is DEFINITELY not violence. The overwhelming guidance, instruction and command is to LOVE. It goes so far as to command "LOVE YOUR ENEMY". Unfortunately, too many followers of Christ don't fully understand this and fall into an Old Testament view of how they should behave.

If people really studied what the New Testament is calling people to do, you wouldn't find anything objectionable. It is all about, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, forgiveness, repentance, humility, etc... What is wrong with any of that? Nowhere in the New Testament (again, the instructions for followers of Christ today) does violence upon anyone even come into the picture. Read it before making blanket statements.

Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa...

[gsgriffin]

It is what Christian churches teach. The problem is religion. A relationship with God causes people to love. The religion that has consumed a lot of Christians is about rules and trying to make the world follow those rules. Bible has been used to do the wrong things. That is what we call taking it out of context or missing the obvious point. The crusades were using the Old testament model of getting rid of evil as their guidance. They were misguided.

I've read the Bible over 15 times straight through. If you want to argue me on verses, i will quote the entirety of the New Testament (with nothing taken out of context). If you want to quote the Old Testament, I will simply say that it is a great example of the problems of man and struggle that God had in trying to deal with a sinful world...which led to the need and solution found in Jesus.

Please don't quote the evil done in the name of Jesus when it was never Jesus who said they should do that. That is simply more and more examples of men screwing up big time and trying to justify their actions with religion. I don't like any religion...including the spirit of religion that has captured a lot of Christians. I believe in a relationship with God and follow Christ. It is good. there is NO EVIL in what He did or says to do....ever!