New Terror Attacks in Morroco

[Pekka]

Let's roll.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Which of the above targets were American?

I thought the war on terorrism was an international common effort to strike against a worldwide meance that may hit all of us ?
Obviously, if the targets aren't American, it's not US concern I'm sure you'd have loved it if other countries in the world had say "It's your problem, not ours" at Sept. 11

[Az]

Spiff, chill. I don't think he said anything about it not being a US concern.

[Spiffor]

Yet, he seemed not to see the corelation between this attack and the war on terrorism, because there were no American targets.

[The Mad Monk]

Now Spiffor, you know that's not what I meant.

Americans were all gung-ho for war against Iraq, and Europeans, by and large were against it. France and Belgium certainly were, and someone in Belgium has gone so far as to try and bring Franks and Powel up on charges for war crimes in that interantional court of theirs.

In short, you've (collectively) been supporting them against us.

...and who do they hit?

Just shows how far gratitude goes, these days.

Or maybe, just maybe, it shows what these fanatics think of Westerners, regardless of their 'stand'.

[Spiffor]

Or maybe, just maybe, it shows what these fanatics think of Westerners, regardless of their 'stand'.

Yes obviously. The general supporters of fanatic organizations are probably intelligent enough (I'm talking about Joe Arab Civilian here) to distinguish between western countries, but the hardcore fanatics who actually pull the trigger do not.

But please be aware that for most French people (and I assume most people in any country outside of the US), Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism, and the rumored Al Qaeda links were a mere cheap excuse to legitimate the war in the eye of the public opinion.

[The Mad Monk]

I always said that the war in Iraq has more to do with Syria, Iran, and Saudi than with Iraq.

Getting rid of one of the most brutal regimes on the planet was just icing on the cake.

[The Mad Monk]

I have no doubt they are 'intelligent enough' to distinguish between 'friendly' and 'unfriendly' western powers.

They just don't care. In the end, they want us all gone.

[Sten Sture]

Here's a little update, with two points - one that says they weren't using car bombs, the other that the Belge embassy was close to the US one. (perhaps they got it wrong, or the US target was too well defended - though Reuters says the target was Among the dead were two policemen who had been standing outside Belgium's consulate which took the brunt of a blast apparently aimed at the Jewish-owned restaurant opposite. ) I have a relative in the US embassy - yikes. Spainish interests appear to be the main focus.


THE OFFICIAL MOROCCAN news agency, MAP, said that three people had been arrested in connection with the explosions, which occurred simultaneously about 9:20 p.m. (5:20 p.m. ET)..
A government official said the death toll was at least 40.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were probably foreigners among the victims. He also said that investigations had shown that all the attacks were suicide bombings, and that car bombs had not been used.
“International terrorism has struck Casablanca tonight,” Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel said Saturday in a statement.
Speaking on Moroccan television, Sahel said 10 of the dead were the bombers. At least 100 more were injured in the blasts. Most of the victims were Moroccans, he said.
Witnesses said many of the casualties occurred at a Jewish community center. U.S. officials in the region told NBC News that other explosions took place in front of the five-star Hotel Safir Casablanca, at an exclusive Spanish club and at the Belgian consulate. There was no immediate information on the location of the fifth explosion.
A policeman at Casa de Espana, exclusive club popular with Spanish businessmen and diplomats, said the attackers slit the porter’s throat on entering.
Casa de Espana club president Rafael Bermudez, still in shock and wearing a blood-stained shirt, told Reuters: “I heard two blasts and thought they were short-circuits.”
Witnesses said at least one attacker blew himself up with grenades strapped to his belt.
Rescue workers left the building carrying black plastic bags which appeared to contain parts of dismembered bodies.
The Belgian consulate is near the U.S. consulate, which officials said did not appear to have been targeted and was unharmed. U.S. officials said that the bomb at the Belgian consulate was very powerful and that the building was heavily damaged.

[Spiffor]

Suicide attacks. Now this is a signature.

[Pekka]

I still got only two words. Lets Roll.

[Az]

Spiff: please, don't start with the "if we'll behave, maybe they won't hurt us" mentality.

[Spiffor]

It is not my attitutde. I'm saying the strategy in the war on terror is a failure, because you don't wage war on terror through conventional means.

I'm all for an international police / military cooperation to crush terrorist groups. And I know these terrorist organizations will attack every western country, whatever "friendly" or not (it is Joe Ramallah who makes the difference but this difference doesn't hinder him giving some money to Al Qaeda - It is Suicide Bob who doesn't make any difference, as well as his leaders).

If we behave, they will hurt and. If we attack the Arabs all guns blazing, they will hurt us too, because they'll continue supporting the terrorists.

The change of strategy would be to continue destroying the terrorist groups with discreet means (spec-ops, secret police, you name it).
AND, to befriend with Arab nations and populations, by having peace, and by cooperating with them without forcing a cultural / economic model upon them. The recent steps of US diplomacy seem to be positive in that aspect. Finally.

[Az]

I feel that it's a position that is derivative of current traditional arab culture. As long as we don't say to anyone with wrong views that they're wrong, they'll keep thinking they're right.

And yes, their views are wrong.

[Spiffor]

If you say to people they are wrong by killing their relatives, or their relatives' relatives (which is what an all-out war does), I don't think they'll be very open to listen to you. But that's just me.