Attackers Tweet As They Assault UN Development Program Compound 240
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."
Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
I have to say, I can understand how they would view the UN in such a way. The UN's policies are pretty firm in their pushing of dependence, which is unsurprising given the way the wealthier and more influential nations are able to control it.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:3, Insightful)
"These attacks would not have happened unless something was going on that they found objectionable enough to kill over. "
many use the ancient writings of a madman in a holy book to use as their justification to kill.
Re:Why... (Score:3, Insightful)
That is absolutely absurd.
For example when you talk about "they" who do you mean? All of them?
Take, for example, drug-dealing in the West... now drug dealers have to conduct business in public and with the public, Al-Shabab do not and can remain relatively hidden during their planning and operations. What percentage of the population of Western Towns and cities do you think could accurately identify or name over 50% of their local drug dealers? I'm guessing it's in the region of a few percent - the other ninety-odd percent of people know little or nothing about it.
Your comments are actually harmful to this discourse, you haven't thought them through, and are labelling an entire population when it is, in fact, a minority.
Re: Why... (Score:2, Insightful)
Germany, early 20th century. Not very many madmen, initially. Yet they acquired power and then they managed to keep population in fear, didn't they? Many more examples before and after.
It's not that difficult for people with agenda to establish control if they have access to weapons (as opposed to the rest od the population), don't hesitate to use violence and know how to use propaganda, religious or otherwise. Religious propaganda or any other based on superstition(s) has worked very well since eons until these days, in many countries, regardless of how much the country is "civilized". The advantage is that you don't have to prove anything. It's one of the best con tricks ever invented by man.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's clear the spreading of disbelief is the real motivator here. Kill in the name of God.
Exactly. When I read this: "a merchant of death & a satanic force of evil, has a long inglorious record of spreading nothing but poverty, dependency & disbelief", for a moment I thought they were talking about their brand of radical Islam.
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Insightful)
FTFY
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
All "holy books" call for violence. Except for one, Buddah does not call for it in any instance.
And yet, Buddhists have committed and still commit violence [wikipedia.org] in the name of their religion. People are funny creatures, aren't they?
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:1, Insightful)
They don't seem to want to play nice with the rest of the world, and frankly isn't everyone about to start getting tired of going out of our way to be some tolerant of those that show absolutely no tolerance to anyone different than they are?
Re:Go UN (Score:2, Insightful)
If they are, they're doing a piss poor job of being "aggressive".
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:4, Insightful)
It's clear the spreading of disbelief is the real motivator here. Kill in the name of God.
It's really about pursuit of power, as in: They who are not in power want to be and will use any means to achieve their ends, including corrupting interpretation of their own "faith" to achieve these ends. It really isn't anything about spreading the good word of the Prophet, who would probably be outraged at the practices these people engage in, recruiting people to become suicide attackers/bombers.
Never attribute to religion what greed and malice can easily explain.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:4, Insightful)
That is NOT what christian churches teach.
And don't even try to tell me that the bible has not been used for the justification of murder. See the history of the Roman Catholic church for a plethora of examples.
I know intimately what Christ said and taught, that has nothing to do with what Christians believe and do. And his teachings are certainly not being followed in any large organized churches.
Re:dammit slashdot (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:2, Insightful)
Have any more handy guilt-by-association arguments?
In reality, though, when "I" hear about it, it's more in-line with the statistical facts, the facts being it's the kind of "always" where "always" isn't even the majority of cases--that status being held by the family members of the victim themselves.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, you gotta start somewhere...
Sadly, it might seriously be time for considering a modern version of the crusades. But without the religious slant on our side. These islamists are basically invading again like before, heck, look at what its doing to Europe right now. In the past, well, there was push-back against that. Perhaps it is time to rethink all the political correctness, and call a spade a spade, and say enough, and quit giving in so readily and tolerating everything they want and do. If our western customs don't work for you...fuck it, go back to a muslim country where it is the norm. I'm not seeing a lot of Catholics nor Baptists suicide bombing anything. So, why don't we quit pretending and searching them so closely and turn our attention more directly on islamists around us in our countries and focus more on containing and pushing back against their countries that are openly antagonistic against us. Let's decide on the worst offender, and think seriously about helping many of them see allah in a quick fashion.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
Hopefully never, since the stomping won't stop there. Once you have your jackboots on, everything starts to look like a human face.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't believe I'm seeing genocide advocated on slashdot... and up-voted.
Do you not understand that western governments, and particularly the U.S. and U.N., have been fucking with the entire african and mid-east region for centuries? Colonization, genocide, propping up dictatorships, mass-depopulation, stealing resources, military occupations, institutionalized rape and slavery...
How the hell do you justify your "fuck these guys, they're annoying me, kill them all" attitude to yourself? You want them to leave you alone? It's really simple. Leave *them* the fuck alone.
I don't know how much more of this world I can stand. The ignorance and stupidity and *immorality* of even the intellectual elites of modern society disgust and frighten me.
Re:Given the UN's track record in Africa... (Score:2, Insightful)
So, why don't we quit pretending and searching them so closely and turn our attention more directly on islamists around us in our countries and focus more on containing and pushing back against their countries that are openly antagonistic against us.
Because violence begets more violence. The greatest marketing tool for Al Qaeda is the claim that America is in a war against Islam. There is nothing to be gained by making that claim factual.