Nigeria: 2,000 feared killed in Boko Haram's 'deadliest massacre'

[malaise]

How come this is not a major news item? Most of the victims are children and old people.
<snip>
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/09/boko-haram-deadliest-massacre-baga-nigeria

Hundreds of bodies – too many to count – remain strewn in the bush in Nigeria from an Islamic extremist attack that Amnesty International described as the “deadliest massacre” in the history of Boko Haram.

Fighting continued on Friday around Baga, a town on the border with Chad where insurgents seized a key military base on 3 January and attacked again on Wednesday.

“Security forces have responded rapidly, and have deployed significant military assets and conducted air strikes against militant targets,” said a government spokesman.

District head Baba Abba Hassan said most victims are children, women and elderly people who could not run fast enough when insurgents drove into Baga, firing rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles on town residents.
That's ten plane crashes CNNplanecrash.

[CJCRANE]

1. Another rabid group

that just sprung out of nowhere with new vehicles, weapons and uniforms that's able to take on the armies of several countries at the same time.

[malaise]

4. Someone is funding that

Did you see that two Gambian-Americans have been charged by the US Government for an attempted coup in Gambia. They should have been named dumb and dumber, but I did wonder who funded them.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/01/05/375141211/u-s-charges-two-americans-over-attempted-coup-in-gambia
<snip>
You may have seen a minor headline last week, saying the United States denied any involvement in a failed coup attempt in The Gambia.

Today, we're getting a bit of insight into what actually happened there.

The Justice Department said it arrested and charged two Americans who allegedly planned and then unsuccessfully tried to carry out a coup against President Yahya Jammeh.

Cherno Njie, a 57-year-old Gambian-American from Texas, and Papa Faal, a 46-year-old Gambian-American from Minnesota, are charged with conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act, which makes it illegal for a U.S. citizen to take up arms against a nation friendly to the United States.

According to a criminal complaint filed in a federal court in Minnesota, after the failed coup attempt Faal sought refuge at the United States Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Later, when he arrived in the United States, he told investigators a tale worthy of a Hollywood script. It was a story of a dozen or so unprepared men fumbling through an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to depose the leader of a tiny West African country.

-------------------------------
For a good laugh read how it went down

[DeSwiss]

32. ''Someone is funding that.''

- Yeah. It's how the world works with the people we've allowed to have in-charge of it......

[malaise]

42. Sad but true n/t

[Blue_Tires]

9. They didn't just come out of nowhere...

And FWIW in spite of its nation's wealth (which leaks out of the national coffers like a sieve because of graft), the Nigerian army is poorly trained and equipped...

And not only does BH have a good amount of civilian assistance in the muslim-heavy north (using sympathizers and forcing others at gunpoint to help them), they have the advantage of jumping the border when it suits them...

https://www.nsfwcorp.com/dispatch/war-nerd-boko-haram/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27396702

[LiberalEsto]

2. Because the victims are non-white, non-European, etc.

If radical Islamists slaughtered 2000 French citizens it would be a HUGE news story.

[kentauros]

13. Eddie Izzard says it best for why reactions are so limited:

About halfway through is the pertinent part

[7962]

16. The attackers are also non-white, non-european. The story is not being ignored.

There are stories about this on AP, Wash Post, NBC, BBC, Guardian, etc.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/boko-haram-may-have-killed-thousands-attack-say-experts-n283011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/09/boko-haram-may-have-killed-2000-people-in-one-attack/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30728158
http://www.theguardian.com/world/boko-haram

[JDDavis]

23. Even bigger if Americans, Brits, Australians

Huge worldwide story then, but now, just a footnote to history.

[billhicks76]

25. 12 French

We are inundated non-stop with fear provoking terror coverage of 12 French nationals killed but nothing about 2000 Nigerians. The whole War On Terror is a fraud perpetrated by Corporate America to control us and enrich themselves.

[JDDavis]

26. Yes, but all violent deaths are horrific but who has a TV camera?

Not many in Nigeria

Lots of them in France and the UK and the USA.

Just sayin'

[billhicks76]

30. France A Real Tragedy

And our media terror porn coverage is revolting. They don't give a shit about us. They never have. So many die here because of corporate greed but nothing gets covered.

[Initech]

3. If we're really in a war on terror, why aren't we fighting Boko Haram?

Oh that's right - they're not in the Middle East.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. So how will our apologists explain this one?

"Sure they killed 2000 people, but...."

"This has nothing to do with -insert a religion here- because ...."

[leftynyc]

10. Story has been up for over an hour

and they are nowhere to be found. How utterly unsurprising.

[malaise]

14. They won't say a thing

[uhnope]

15. you know, posts like this really suck. The victims are also Muslim.

FOX Nation wants you, you'll get a better reception there

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Oh that's a good one!

"But -some/all- of the victims were -insert religion here-" ....

At least one of the victims of the Paris attack was a muslim too. I have no idea why the religion of the victims is relevant. I do know why the religion of the attackers is relevant: they have publicly proclaimed that it is their religion that justifies what they are doing.

But indeed since you have no actual response: "FOX nation wants you" will do, right?

[uhnope]

19. by your logic, every religion is a terrorist religion if someone has used it as an excuse for terror

and that is just about every religion. So, please condemn every religion as terrorist. Go ahead.

Oh, democracy has been used as an excuse for terrorism, so democracy is terrorism, right?
And anarchy. and socialism.

Go ahead.

We're waiting. So is FOX Nation

[Warren Stupidity]

21. potentially yes, as any ideology that supports this sort of violence can be.

For example - the Tiller murder was an act of christian terrorism cheered on by a significant portion of the christian population of this country, by christian leaders, by a prominent media outlet - your favorite Fox, and by rightwing media star Bill O'Reilly.

The attack in Paris was not some isolated incident: Islamic extremism is not some made up problem that only exist in Fox Nation, it is very real.

[uhnope]

24. now you're walking back your condemnation of the entire religion of Islam?

and by extension all Muslims?
well that's good you're walking it back.

"This has nothing to do with -insert a religion here- because ...."

[Warren Stupidity]

31. now you're just making shit up.

have a nice day.

[former9thward]

29. Except they aren't.

While Boko Haram has taken some victims arbitrarily, it seems to target students and Christians, in particular. The group threatens victims with whipping, beating, or death unless they convert to Islam, stop attending school, and wear the veil or hijab.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/27/nigeria-victims-abductions-tell-their-stories

[freshwest]

40. Yes, they are also Muslim, and it's not about religion, it's about territory. Religion is just the

cover like ideology and the ones inspiring others with it are playing them for fools. They don't believe in any of what they say.

That's for their tools, who can't see the forest for the trees, or more likely, can't admit they're suckers. But even then, they actually will get something out of it. Like ISIS, the guys will get to rape and turn the women into slaves, both sexual and labor wise.

Howls about religion or ideology are for those who are duped into thinking that is the only thing that is at play in these horrors. It's about land, resources, wealth. It always is.

[malaise]

45. It's about land, resources, wealth. It always is.

Precisely

[Jesus Malverde]

20. Jury - some people get it

On Fri Jan 9, 2015, 05:58 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

So how will our apologists explain this one?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6064180

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

WTF? the 2000 victims were Muslim, but this guy wants to use this tragedy to promote Islamophobia. That's sick right-wing hateful shit right there

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Jan 9, 2015, 06:08 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I think an alert was a bit of an overreaction here. LEAVE IT
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: what is this I don't even
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This guy isn't a right winger. He's just as disgusted as I am that people are cowering to terrorists rather than fight for freedom of speech.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. Well it was close. nt.

[uhnope]

41. if this means you were on the jury

then that really shows what is wrong with the jury system on a place like DU

[Jesus Malverde]

43. If I was, its obvious I fit right in that jury pool.

Maybe your the odd person out. 7-0 means unanimity from a randomly selected group.

You wanna disenfranchise me?

[uhnope]

46. I'm getting some foggy memories

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014803880#post12

[Jesus Malverde]

47. Lulz that musta stung...

Let it go, carrying around baggage from your previous online defeats is UNHEALTHY.

[m-lekktor]

48. that was an excellent jury!

I would have voted LEAVE IT! what a steaming crock of shit, Islamophobia my ass. what an ignorant accusation.

[840high]

49. I would have, too.

[philosslayer]

34. It gets tiresome, you know that?

No one is apologizing for anything. So for the thousandth time.... Islam is a peaceful religion. And the vast, VAST majority of its adherents are peaceful people who just want to live their lives. And, out of over 1.6 billion Muslims, a tiny, TINY percentage are acting out whatever evil exists within them. It has nothing to do with Islam. They are just bad people who call themselves Muslims.

But, if you want to continue deriding a religion and a Prophet followed by billions, go ahead. I hope it makes you feel better.

[Dr. Strange]

38. Here, show the victims this:

And then ask them why they "tweaked the nose" of Boko Haram.

[progressoid]

6. "People Committed to the Prophet's Teachings for Propagation and Jihad"

Boko Haram ("Western education is forbidden&quot , officially called Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Prophet's Teachings for Propagation and Jihad)

[xchrom]

7. du rec.

[Blue_Tires]

8. Guess if it didn't happen on TV, it didn't happen

I do think coverage would be different if networks could safely report from the conflict zones and let the world see exactly what is going on...

Also, there's that whole corrupt, ineffectual president thing...To make it worse, he's running for re-election so his attention is already focused elsewhere...

[valerief]

11. kick

[Bosonic]

12. Damaturu reportedly under serious Boko Haram attack

Damaturu reportedly under serious Boko Haram attack

Incoming reports indicate that Damature, the capital of Yobe state, is under heavy attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

This is happening barely one month after the militants attacked residents of the town.

There are currently multiple explosions and heavy gunfire.

PREMIUM TIMES spoke with Umar Haruna, a civil servant resident in Damaturu and he confirmed the assault started around 8pm. “We are under attack; gun shooting everywhere in Damaturu…we dont know what to do now,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/01/09/breaking-damaturu-reportedly-serious-boko-haram-attack/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damaturu

[JimDandy]

18. Yep, 2000 lives vs 15. Horrific. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

27. It should be a major news item.

All of these deaths are equally tragic. I am losing hope for humanity.

[oberliner]

28. It's a major news item in my book

Absolutely shameful and disgusting. I hope these awful people can be stopped somehow.

[AngryAmish]

33. gonna need a bigger hashtag...

[Jesus Malverde]

50. Lulz...nt

[hrmjustin]

36. Haven't seen you in a while.

[AngryAmish]

37. Boko Haram is one side of a 1500 year race war in central Africa.

About 80% of Boko Haram are from the Kanuri tribe, which language wise is a Nilotic tribe. In central Africa, there are generally two races, Bantu and Nilotic. These are language groups but it is a shorthand for two different races. Also shorthand, Nilotic folks tend to be Islamic and Bantu are either animist or christian.

As race wars go, this conflict is about average. Both sides hate each other. Another central (if much farther eas)t Nilotic v Bantu race war was the genocide in Rawanda. The current slow motion slaughter in Congo is another Nilotic v Bantu skirmish.

[malaise]

39. We see it more as culture than race

but still yours is a good post. It was way more than religion.

[flamingdem]

44. Thanks for posting this n/t