Are counterterrorism officials not paying attention to Africa?
Right now everyone is watching the US assist the Yemeni effort to hammer the living crap out of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. "It's a new front in the war on terrorism!" crowed prominent news bloggers (me, last week). But this week, I want to look at another geographic clue that's come from two recent Al Qaeda-related attacks: Africa.
The Underpants Bomber (never gets old) was from Nigeria. Much has been made of his visit to Yemen and his contacts with Al Qaeda. But the chilling part of the story to me is that even after his own father ratted him out as a potential terrorist he was still able to fly into the US.
Sure, sure, one time incident. But just this last week a Somali man nearly assassinated one of the Danish cartoonists responsible for controversial depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. The assailant was also apparently connected to Al Qaeda. He was also apparently suspected of terrorist intentions. He was on a terrorism watch list in Kenya. And he too gained a visa that allowed him to attempt an act of terrorism in a Western country.
That's two pretty big slip-ups in as many weeks. Why? Is it possible counter-terrorism officials aren't paying attention to Africa?
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The Burj Dubai opens - Photos
- 2010: Same sh*t, different year? - Real Recovery
- Get to know Yemen: The new hot front in the war on terror
- China executes British national, flexes its diplomatic muscle?
- Five years since the tsunami
The Underpants Bomber (never gets old) was from Nigeria. Much has been made of his visit to Yemen and his contacts with Al Qaeda. But the chilling part of the story to me is that even after his own father ratted him out as a potential terrorist he was still able to fly into the US.
Sure, sure, one time incident. But just this last week a Somali man nearly assassinated one of the Danish cartoonists responsible for controversial depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. The assailant was also apparently connected to Al Qaeda. He was also apparently suspected of terrorist intentions. He was on a terrorism watch list in Kenya. And he too gained a visa that allowed him to attempt an act of terrorism in a Western country.
That's two pretty big slip-ups in as many weeks. Why? Is it possible counter-terrorism officials aren't paying attention to Africa?
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The Burj Dubai opens - Photos
- 2010: Same sh*t, different year? - Real Recovery
- Get to know Yemen: The new hot front in the war on terror
- China executes British national, flexes its diplomatic muscle?
- Five years since the tsunami
