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The Battle of Algiers
At least 62 people were killed today in terrorist attacks around the Algerian capital Algiers, according to reports from the British media (thus far nothing from CNN, MSNBC, et al). Initial reports say that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was targeted by a suicide bomber and the country's supreme court—or a target in the vicinity—was hit by a powerful car bomb. BBC News has the latest:
At least 62 people have died in two bomb blasts in the Algerian capital, Algiers, officials have said. The first explosion happened in the Ben Aknoun district, near the supreme constitutional court. That was followed shortly afterwards by a second blast at the United Nations offices in the Hydra neighbourhood. A UN worker caught up in the Hydra attack told the BBC that a large part of the building was destroyed and it was feared people were trapped inside. Dozens were wounded in the explosions, officials said.
"These are crimes that targeted innocent people. Students and school children were among the victims. Nothing can justify the crime," he said. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable". "I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any circumstances," he told reporters.
In the attack near the court, a bus packed with university students was passing by the vehicle containing the bomb when it exploded. Security officials said the bus took the full force of the blast and was ripped apart, killing and injuring many of those on board. At the UN offices in Hydra, it was the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building which bore the brunt of the blast. A residential building and the UNHCR headquarters across the road were also damaged, witnesses said.
The Telegraph has further details and live video from the scene.
Big Nanny|12.11.07 @ 10:45AM|#
Since we haven't been to war with Algeria I have to ask, is it in Africa of Eastern Europe? My guess is Africa, only because they used the word "Supreme" when describing one of their agencies.
|12.11.07 @ 10:49AM|#
Ooohh "condemned in the strongest language."
I'll bet the terrorists are really shaking.
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one, please.
Steve|12.11.07 @ 10:51AM|#
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Episiarch|12.11.07 @ 10:52AM|#
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one,
please.
The French already did that here for years, complete with the
torture and other good stuff. Didn't work out so well. It is both a
lesson and something to consider when the French deign to lecture
us.
|12.11.07 @ 10:52AM|#
Wow, a major magazine being offered a link exchange! Can't turn that offer down.
lunchstealer|12.11.07 @ 11:11AM|#
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one,
please.
Not to inflame our Gunnelian friend, but that never leads to good
things. As Episiarch pointed out, they've been there done that with
some unfortunate results. See also French Indochina. I enjoy eating
their cheese and their methodology for swapping spit, but I really
don't want to encourage their imperialism.
|12.11.07 @ 11:11AM|#
Is it just me, or do others think that randomly killing innocent people somewhat discredits the morality of your cause? If Doctors Without Borders starting doing this kind of evil crap, I'd likely lose all respect for their agenda.
Tom Walls|12.11.07 @ 11:15AM|#
With UN offices as their target, those terrorists must have been
reading the John Birch Society's the New American!
Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could target
the offices of a development program?
Abdul|12.11.07 @ 11:19AM|#
That was followed shortly afterwards by a second blast at
the United Nations offices in the Hydra neighbourhood
Do you really want "Hydra" on your organization's return address?
If that neighborhood isn't a Cobra cover, I'll trade in all my GI
Joe action figures.
Episiarch|12.11.07 @ 11:27AM|#
Do you really want "Hydra" on your organization's return
address?
Better than SPECTRE, right?
Especially for the UN.
|12.11.07 @ 11:28AM|#
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the
bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable". "I would like to
condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any
circumstances," he told reporters.
He then promised to hold his breath until terrorist activities
ceased.
lunchstealer|12.11.07 @ 11:35AM|#
Is it just me, or do others think that randomly killing
innocent people somewhat discredits the morality of your cause? If
Doctors Without Borders starting doing this kind of evil crap, I'd
likely lose all respect for their agenda.
Does this count that Giant Death Ray Laser they're building in the
crater of Mt. Nyamuragira?
Guy Montag|12.11.07 @ 11:48AM|#
(thus far nothing from CNN, MSNBC, et al)
I suspect that they are dreaming up searching for a
Bush Administration official/policy to blame it on.
A UN worker caught up in the Hydra attack
Apparently these attacks have many heads . . .
Guy Montag|12.11.07 @ 11:56AM|#
ed,
[LA Times Satire] Bush's surge drives religious freedom fighters to
new corners of the world. In an effort to attack the Bush war from
the flanks . . . [/LA Times Satire]
|12.11.07 @ 11:59AM|#
The difference between thoreau's silly speculation and
Guy-n-ed's?
thoreau is kidding.
|12.11.07 @ 12:02PM|#
A bomb. In Algiers? Is that like man bites dog or what? History turned on its head?
Guy Montag|12.11.07 @ 12:04PM|#
The staff reporters/researchers are collectively searching their parent's record collection for a copy of "Rock the Casbah" for background.
Guy Montag|12.11.07 @ 12:06PM|#
* MSM staff reporters/researchers that is.
We all know that the first issued item to all Reason staffers is
the complete Clash collection.
|12.11.07 @ 12:35PM|#
I think Badnarik is in New Hampshire right now.
But I'm not sure where his highly trained army of unlicensed
ferrets is.
LarryA|12.11.07 @ 12:39PM|#
Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could
target the offices of a development program?
The kind that don't want (Western) development?
"You are now entering Syria. Please set your watch back
thirteen-hundred years."
TheExpatriate|12.11.07 @ 1:00PM|#
Episiarch-
"The French already did that here for years, complete with the
torture and other good stuff. Didn't work out so well. It is both a
lesson and something to consider when the French deign to lecture
us."
Would that we had considered their experience before going to Iraq.
Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.
Ever wonder why a large portion of Europe is laughing at us
now?
Episiarch|12.11.07 @ 1:06PM|#
Would that we had considered their experience before going
to Iraq. Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.
Ever wonder why a large portion of Europe is laughing at us
now?
Maybe you are having trouble understanding my point. The lesson I
refer to is the lesson of their failure--and that we should have
realized that going in was folly.
The something to consider when the French deign to lecture us is
that they really should couch it more nicely, seeing as they are
just as big of fuckups. Getting high and mighty because you failed
and that gives you "expertise" on failure is pathetic.
TheExpatriate|12.11.07 @ 1:17PM|#
But if they were right, isn't it better that they point it out.
I'd prefer a lecture to learning it the hard way.
Personally, I find the whole Francophobia thing rather boring.
Guy Montag|12.11.07 @ 1:33PM|#
Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.
So did their lectures on the Germans.
Episiarch|12.11.07 @ 2:20PM|#
Personally, I find the whole Francophobia thing rather
boring.
Me too. I also find somebody trying to see "Francophobia" where
there is none to be boring too.
Fluffy|12.11.07 @ 4:03PM|#
Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could
target the offices of a development program?
Actually, the current Algerian government exists precisely because
of the efficacy of terror attacks of a similar nature.
Page 1 of the Algerian terrorist textbook is "Use terror to drive
out 'good' imperialists so that none may be left behind but 'bad'
imperialists."
The Iraq insurgency started by striking at the UN too. If you're
the insurgent, your real enemy isn't the torturing occupier. He's
your friend and helps your cause in the long run. Your real enemy
is the friendly occupier who tells the truth and hands out food and
supplies medical care. The population might actually LIKE that guy,
so you have to kill him or drive him out. Once it's down to you vs.
the torturer, you will win in the end.
miche|12.11.07 @ 4:12PM|#
Has anybody checked on Mike Badnarik's whereabouts?
He only wanted to take care of the New York offices. But now that
you mention it, I called him a few weeks ago and haven't heard back
from him.
TGGP|12.11.07 @ 10:29PM|#
The film "Battle of Algiers" is viewable online. You can find it from here.
|12.12.07 @ 10:17AM|#
You've definitely got some strategic insight, Fluffy, but you're
going to have to work on your nom-de-guerre.
Stalin. Tanya. Lenin. Subcommandante Marcos.
Fluffy?
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