I keep hearing that the Republican Party increasingly favors isolationism, although I continue to think that what it really favors is whatever Barack Obama opposes. But if you sincerely believe that Republicans are turning away from militarism, do you really think that trend can survive incidents like this?
Masked gunmen stormed into a fancy, crowded mall in Nairobi on Saturday and shot dead at least 39 people and wounded more than 150 in one of the most chilling terrorist attacks in East Africa since Al Qaeda blew up two American embassies in 1998....Yes, and Haaretz is reporting that Israeli security forces are at least advising the Kenyans on the response to the attack:
The mall, called Westgate, is a symbol of Kenya's rising prosperity.... American officials have long warned that Nairobi's malls were ripe targets for terrorists, especially Westgate, because a cafe on the ground floor, right off the street, is owned by Israelis.
An Israeli security source said earlier Sunday that Israeli advisers were helping Kenya formulate a strategy to end the siege at the upscale Westgate shopping center.Now, to be sure, there's a distinct strain of anti-Semitism among the Paulites and Buchananite paleoconservatives. But there's also a serious strain of philo-Semitism among more-Jewish-than-the-Jews Christian evangelical rightists.
"There are Israeli advisers helping with the negotiating strategy, but no Israelis involved in any imminent storming operation," said the source, who declined to be identified.
The source said only a "handful" of Israelis, "purely in an advisory role," were on scene at the mall, which has several Israeli-owned outlets and is frequented by expatriates and Kenyans....
There were conflicting reports from other security sources in Nairobi about the part Israel was playing. One Kenyan security source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that the Israeli military was involved in the operation, while a private security official also said they were helping comb the mall. But the Kenyan Interior Minister insisted it was a national operation, despite offers of foreign support
And, of course, there's this:
Several witnesses said the attackers had shouted for Muslims to run away while they picked off other shoppers, executing them one by one.There may be a lot of war skepticism on the right, but nearly all right-wingers continue to loathe and despise Muslims, believing that they're all violent jihadists until proven otherwise.
I'm not saying that there are going to be GOP calls for a U.S. attack on Al Shabab anytime soon. I'm just saying that the actions of extremist groups will rouse the usual tendencies on the right sooner or later. Now, maybe the rank-and-file will keep this in check -- but I wouldn't count on it if the targets of these groups include Americans, Jews, and Christians. The saber-rattling right we're all familiar with will rise again.
That didn't take long.
ReplyDeleteMuslims are the new USSR and Red China together, with the extra-added cherry on top of being a different religion.
ReplyDeleteThey hated the Atheists, but, beyond the people themselves, there was nothing there to hate!
Now, they can hate the Muslim people, Mohammed, AND Allah!
A winning trifecta for the cowardly champions of fear and hate and intolerance.
The philo-Semitic more-Jewish-than-the-Jews Christian evangelical rightists don't Love Israel. Don't Love the Jews. In their worldview before their precious lord and master will float down out of the sky on a white horse with a thousand angels to carry away The Chosen People two-thirds (2/3) of Israel, two-thirds (2/3) of the Jews must be destroyed. Armageddon. Blood as deep as a horses bridle, all that.
ReplyDeleteIsrael, plays that like a fiddle.
They are, of course, THE Chosen People.
No fear.
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ReplyDeleteFolks,
ReplyDeleteAren't we getting a little carried away here?
Most news sources around the world are saying that Al Sabab are claiming to be responding to Kenyan incursions/ bombing attacks against Somalian Pirates and Al Shabab terrorists in Somalia.
Both The Somali pirates and Al Shabab have been running into Kenya for some years. Kenya was one of the sources for money laundering and supplies for the pirates.)
Al Shabab has been trying to take over Kenya for years attacking its rural and coastal areas. There has been bombings and killings in Kenya’s coastal city as late as last month. Their support is largely from the impoverished/ unemployed tribal blacks who feel they have been forgotten by the central government for years.
My son's inlaws, one who work for the BBC in Nairobi tell us that there are strong rumours of nepotism and cronyism and bad decisions for yonks. Al of which has stepped up a gear recently after strong rumours of ballot rigging I the last election.
One additional factor came to light after a back Christian(?) Kenyan policeman was unmasked after masqueraded for two 2years as the local police Commissioner, complete with office in the local HQ and was pay(?). as the local Keynan police commissioner on the border district. near the Somali border. He promoted staff etc. He took it upon him self to advance the local tribes(Christian), against the Muslim tribes believing they were harboring Sabab and or pirates.
BTW there are British advisors there too.
In case you haven't noticed, we've been attacking al shabab for some time. What do you think our drones and Special Operations Forces in Somalia are doing, sunning on the beaches? Granted, this might cause Republicans (and Democrats, for that matter) to call for an increase in operations, which I don't think is a good idea, but the fact is that the National Security State has to keep finding excuses to buy more Hellfire missiles to prop up Raytheon's profits (or is it General Electric, I lose track of who gets which contracts).
ReplyDeleteIt was a big weekend for Muslim terrorism. Nairobi (mall massacre of non-Muslims), Peshawar (massacre of Christians exiting a Protestant church), and Sadr City (massacre of Shiites by Sunnis, if I recall correctly).
ReplyDeleteNone of it is any of our business.
Roger,
ReplyDeleteThat may very well true however, in recent months Kenyan Ground forces and planes actually invaded Somalia.
This was part of the push back against al Shabaab's activities in trying to over throw the
*Kenyan* regime.
As I keep saying one can't fight an asymmetric war with simple US BFAW.
(Brute Force and Awesome Weapons) the real problem is abject Poverty and a government that favors the rich and corporations.
When the poor see elections being tainted (stolen, nepartism, cronyism and chronic Dysequity)and like in Egypt the only real local social welfare from are Muslim ( pirates?)the stage is set.
Late update the leader is thought to be a white English woman a convert to Islam and wife of one of the tube train bombers.
ReplyDelete