Slashdot Mirror
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."
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.
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
This is exactly my thoughts. If the people do want the help then they should help themselves first by trying to eliminate these radical elements of society. Of course, you can crow all day about "innocent bystanders" and "the extremists are the minority" but the real question should be: Are they really? Are the majority of the people so in favor of aid that they would do something if it would help? I think the clear and resounding answer to that is "no". No they wouldn't, won't, and will not help because they simply don't care.
I got here through a series of tubes
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.
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.
FTFY
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
If they are, they're doing a piss poor job of being "aggressive".
This is what living in a totalitarian country is like, being afraid of getting caught reading the wrong thing.