This isn't going to be a diary so much as a question. Why has there been so little discussion here on dkos of the ongoing terrorist attack in Nairobi? Given the magnitude of the event the almost total lack of commentary is astounding. Searching on the tag Kenya I have found only two diaries. One was a brief statement early on which earned a modest number of recs (I was one) and comments. The other was a transcript of the President's remarks.
I wouldn't normally write a diary about a topic like this and it is way outside of any expertise I might have but I would certainly read it. When I was growing up in Canada one of the biggest stereotypes about Americans was that they didn't know anything about events outside of their borders and didn't care either. One of the things I've loved about dkos is the knowledge of and interest in other countries and cultures (and environments). Which is why this silence seems so odd.
Any thoughts?
Just a short summary of the attacks based on the NY Times. The attack occurred Saturday in the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The Shabab, a Somalian Islamist group with ties to Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attacks in retaliation for Kenyan incursions into Somalia. These incursions are apparently part of a larger international push by many African nations to oust the Shabab from Somalia.
So far the attack has resulted in 59 known deaths and several dozen people are still missing and presumed either dead, trapped, or held hostage in the mall. The attackers are pinned down in the mall by Kenyan security forces. About 175 people were injured including 4 Americans. Two Canadians were killed.
Apparently the attackers specifically tried to target non-Muslims. Among the dead are a popular radio host, an elderly Ghanian poet, and a relative of the Kenyan President.
7:26 AM PT: Several people have asked why I didn't write a diary about it. This is a valid question. I have an answer, which is perhaps not the best in the world. I don't really feel that I have the knowledge of the area or the situation to write anything that simply wouldn't be a rehash of someone else's news release.
However I recognize that most people on this site don't have any more expertise than myself. So it is a bit hypocritical of me. I will grant that.
7:41 AM PT: I've added a short summary gleaned from the NYT. A number of people have said something to the effect of 'It's Africa'. I think this is a valid point and perhaps I have a skewed perspective. I've never been to Africa but many people I know have been to Kenya and several have done field work there for many years. Nairobi is on a very different scale from most other African cities in terms of it international prominence.