Three people were mortally wounded in a terrorist attack on the Prime Minister...How similar is this to being killed? Are we just talking semantics here or is there a real difference?
Posted on 11/07/2005 5:25:04 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
In spite of the news media distancing the recent attack on a cruise ship off the coast of Somalia from global terrorism, intelligence experts believe this is just the latest operation initiated against the United States and the West by Al-Qaeda.
Recently a failed assassination attempt on the prime minister of Somalia, as well as the attempt to hijack a luxury American cruise ship, has intensified apprehension and fear that the shaky Somalian government is losing to Al-Qaeda and Wahhabi terror groups.
Three people were mortally wounded in a terrorist attack on the Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi,while he was visiting the war-torn capital of Mogadishu. He survived the deadly encounter which entailed an explosion set off near his convoy, according to security experts. Mr Gedi was merely visiting since his government is in quasi-exile in Jowhar. The danger in the Somali capital is so great that the transitional government must avoid setting up their headquarters there.
Since 2003, Somalia has witnessed the growth of a brutal network of Jihad with strong ties to Al-Qaeda. In fact, when the US forces faced a bloody battle in 1995 during what became known as the Black Hawk Down incident, it was Al-Qaeda joining with a local warlord who killed and wounded US special operations soldiers.
Somalia has been without a functioning national government for 14 years, when they received their independence from Italy. The transitional parliament created in 2004, but has failed to end the devastating anarchy. The impoverish people who live in the ruined capital of Mogadishu have witnessed Al-Qaeda operatives, jihadi extremists, Ethiopian security services and Western-backed counter-terrorism agents engaged in a bloody war that few support and even fewer understand.
In an incident that gained American press attention, Somali-based terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades launched an unsuccessful attack on Seaborn Spirit as it rounded the Horn of Africa with American, British and Australian tourists on board. For unexplained reasons, the attack is being treated as an isolated incident and the terrorism link is being all but ignored by journalists. The term "pirates" is routinely used with only a few reporters calling the attackers "terrorists."
The ship came under attack during the early morning hours when the heavily armed terrorists in two speedboats began firing upon the ship with grenade launchers and machine guns. They assailents were repelled by the ships crew who implemented their security measures which included setting off electronic simulators which created the illusion the ship was firing back at the terrorists..
According to passenger accounts of the attack, there were at least three rocket-propelled grenades or RPGs that hit the ship, one hit a passenger stateroom without inflicting injuries.
There are now some counterterrorism officials who wish to deploy a naval task force to try to prevent attacks, and kill or apprehend these modern-day pirates in Somali waters. Most travel advisories issued by nations throughout the world recognize this area as being among the most dangerous in the world.
There are some who oppose this combative approach fearing the opening of a new front in the war on terrorism. But these opponents of using force have no suggestions for dealing with these dangerous terrorists and thugs who prey on people on land or at sea.
During the 1990s, a group of Saudi-educated, Wahhabi militants arrived in Somalia with the aim of creating an Islamic state in this dismal African country. Also, the renowned Al-Qaeda established an operations base and training camp. They would routinely attack and ambush UN peacekeepers. In addition, they used Somalia to export their brand of terrorism into neighboring Kenya.
Leading members of Al-Qaeda continue to operate, mostly in secrecy, in Somalia and have built up cooperation with some of the warlords who control food, water and medicine. And the people of Somalia starve, mourn and die.
The downfull of African "nations" into the hands of the communists and muslims began when the European nations granted "freedom" to their former colonies.
From what these former holdings have become it appears that the Europeans need to step back in and take control of their errant former possessions.
Much bloodshed would ensue and none of them have the stomachs for that!
It is just muslims doing what muslims do best...
Somolia is right next to Saudi Arabia. Hmmm, Random thought but If there's oil in Saudi Arabia why not in Somolia?
"In spite of the news media distancing the recent attack on a cruise ship off the coast of Somalia from global terrorism, intelligence experts believe this is just the latest operation initiated against the United States and the West by Al-Qaeda."The untrustworthiness of the Western news media is probably the single most dangerous threat to the world today.
If the people are not truthfully informed, they cannot make wise decisions.
The Western news media--and notably the American news media and its journalists--have failed miserably in their responsibility to inform the people and to their utter dishonor have allowed the news media to deteriorate into a mendacious propaganda machine.
--wonder how many times this will work--
Selective reporting.
Yes, the Left loves selective reporting. And selective law enforcement. And selective truthfulness (or mendacity).
"Terrorism Analysis: The Truth....."
........Islam is the Problem.
Only once.
I think the best thing for Americans to do is to stay home and spend their money here.
Exactly.
All those mosques that have been built in the United States within the past three or four decades are not just for holding bingo parties and reading the peaceful passages from the koran.
Al look in the basements would reveal arms and molotov cocktail assembly lines.
Our "democracy' hasn't the will to close these islamic centers down and move muslims into deportation centers.
We don't have the will to examine what islam is doing to influence segments of the gullible American population that join up and change their names to something like Tupak and Mohammad. They are our enemies as well!
Yours sounds like sound counsel. As the WOT progresses, things are going to be more dicey around the "globe", IME. Desperate, cornered gasps from the axis of evil are and will be more desperate than usual. Their funds, their usual "communications" modus are very much interrupted. At this point in time, the only way they can seem to communicate with their network and cells is through NEWS HEADLINES, and thereby triggering a known "operational understanding".
"...intelligence experts believe this is just the latest operation initiated against the United States and the West by Al-Qaeda."
Ya' think?
Three people were mortally wounded in a terrorist attack on the Prime Minister...How similar is this to being killed? Are we just talking semantics here or is there a real difference?
.
The most interesting thing is the attack was carried out by open boats about 100 miles from shore. That type of boat, powered by two stroke gas outboard engines, just doesn't have a 200 mile range over open water. There had to be a base ship not far over the horizon directing the attack. This is a point the MSM has never brought up.
Worst of all, most of these attacks are entirely preventable. Several posters here have mentioned that many international shipping rules prevent civilian ships from arming themselves to repel such attacks. The US government should affirmatively encourage such arming and strongly pressure foreign governments to do the same. Then these attacks would be just about as rare as Texas, Tennessee, and Florida car jackings are, and for the same reason.
WOW,I never knew this type of technology existed...and I'm sure when they designed it in,they probably never thought they'd have to use it unless a bunch of Muslims attacked the ship, and what would be the probability of something like that happening?....I guess very high now....
Boating circles and magazines that feature private sailboat cruising are awash with warnings about pirates in these waters after sailors had a brush with them.
And we only hear from the ones who survive to tell the tale.
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