Chara G. Garmon
10/31/08
SOC 202
Global Crime
4:02 PM
On Wednesday at least twenty-one people were killed at various United Nations and government sites in northern Somalia by car bombers. Once considered the safest city in Somalia, Hargeisa, Somaliland was the first area attacked between the times of 10 and 10:30 am on Wednesday. Here, the presidential palace, the Ethiopian Consulate office and a United Nations office were attacked killing over twenty people at the consulate office alone. Two suicide blasts took place in Bosasso, attacking two offices of the Puntland security forces. Buildings were leveled by the attacks and officials are putting the blame on Islamist terrorists, specifically, the militant group Shabab. It is believed that the attacks were to parallel with the meeting of Somalia transitional leaders and foreign forces in Nairobi, Kenya. Islamist groups were not invited to the meeting in Nairobi. The Shabab wants to make Somalia into an Islamic state and wants the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. Other attacks have been coordinated and executed on Ethiopian and Somali army bases but nothing of this magnitude. Shabab continues to target the weak transitional government of Somalia. At least thirty people were wounded in the attack in Hargeisa, but no precise figures have been given of exactly how many casualties as of Wednesday.
Power, control, greed. There are probably a lot more words that could describe what I felt the driving force behind these attacks were. I just do not understand. These terrorist groups just roam around with their ideals and those governments who do not share in these beliefs automatically become targets. Hargeisa, was believed to be this place of stability to Somalilanders and just as these people feel they are safe, they are sent this horrific message of terror. How can this continue to go on? Innocent people are losing their lives daily at the hands of those who only want more power, control and who are greedy because they are not satisfied with the position they are in. I could go on and on about this story. It just sickens me because I want to understand what the underlying problem is, but, it’s like time is ticking while people are continuing to die. Something has to be done. United Nations workers are not considered safe in these areas anymore, therefore, outside help begins to dwindle. But how can they help themselves once everyone is gone? History is just repeating itself in these countries. So who and/or what can stop it? I recommend everyone read this article and try to answer that question.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/world/africa/30somalia.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
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