Kenyatta Terror Or Kenya Horror: Nairobi Westgate Mall Attack - Ash-Shabab's Revenge Or Uhuru's ICC Bill?
Q&A: Al-Shabab
defends Nairobi attack
Military spokesman explains to Al Jazeera why mall
siege was launched, and what will happen next.
Hamza Mohamed
Mogadishu, Somalia - Al-Shabab - the al-Qaeda-linked
Somali-based group - has claimed responsibility for an
attack in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The attack launched on Saturday on the upscale
Westgate shopping mall has killed at least 62 people
and wounded more than 150 others. Heavy gunfire
continued to ring out on Monday.
Al Jazeera's Hamza Mohamed interviewed al-Shabab's
spokesman for military operations, Sheikh Abulaziz Abu
Muscab, as the siege at the mall entered its third
day. Abulaziz spoke about why the group attacked
Nairobi now. He also provided insight into al-Shabab's
relations with the Mombasa Youth Centre, a group the
Kenyan government designated as a terrorist
organisation.
Sheikh Abulaziz Abu Muscab, al-Shabab military
operations spokesma
Al Jazeera: It is more
than two years since Kenyan troops went into Somalia
to fight al-Shabab. Why did al-Shabab attack Nairobi
now?
Sheikh Abulaziz Abu Muscab: We have been late in
attacking Nairobi. We did not attack before because
they were expecting us to attack. Our aim is to attack
our enemy when they least expect us to attack. This
time they were not expecting us to attack. We choose
when to attack, and best time to attack.
Al Jazeera: Is this al-Shabab's
first attack in Nairobi?
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
Thats not the importing thing. The important thing is
it is us who attacked now. It is not important to say
we attacked before or not.
Al Jazeera: This attack
is happening at Westgate Mall, which, when the attack
started, was full of shoppers. Why is al-Shabab
attacking a place that is full of civilians?
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
The place we attacked is Westgate shopping mall. It is
a place where tourists from across the world come to
shop, where diplomats gather. It is a place where
Kenya's decision-makers go to relax and enjoy
themselves. Westgate is a place where there are Jewish
and American shops. So we have to attack them.
On civilian deaths, Kenya should first be asked why
they bombed innocent Somali civilians in refugee
camps, why they bombed innocent people in Gedo and
Jubba regions. They should be asked that first before
us.
Al Jazeera: Al-Shabab
claims to work to protect Muslims and Somalis in
particular. Some of the people killed in this attack
suggests otherwise.
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
History supports our claim. We are the only ones
protecting Somalis and Somalia. We are the only group
fighting Somalia's historic enemies. We are the only
one who can say "no" to Somalis' enemies.
On the loss of lives, there were Kenyan soldiers
firing back at our fighters. There was an exchange of
gunfire. There is no evidence it was our bullets that
killed them.
We released all Muslims when we took control of the
mall. Witnesses have backed us on this.
Al Jazeera: Do you think
this attack will make Kenya withdraw its troops from
Somalia?
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
That question is not for us to answer. That is for the
Kenyan government to answer. It is up to them to
withdraw their soldiers or not. If they don't
withdraw, attacks like this will become common in
Kenya. It is possible if they don't withdraw attacks
like this will happen in Kenyan cities and towns every
day.
Al Jazeera: Before Kenyan
troops went into Somalia in October 2011, what was al-Shabab's
relation with the Kenyan government?
Al-Shabab's spokesman: We
always knew Kenya is the enemy of the Somali people.
We knew this when we controlled the border towns.
Kenya invading us was not unexpected. We don't believe
them and we dont trust them.
Al Jazeera: Kenya says it
will go after the perpetrators of this attack and
won't stop until they are defeated. What do you say to
that?
Al-Shabab's spokesman: We
are not perpetrators. We are only defending ourselves
and defending our rights, the rights of the Somali
people.
Today no one has a worse criminal record than the
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. He's talking about
tens of people killed at Westgate while he's
responsible for the deaths of thousands of people
killed when he was running for the presidency. If
Kenyans want to hold someone accountable for crimes
they should first start with him.
Al Jazeera: Many,
including the Somali and Kenyan governments, are
saying al-Shabab targeting a place full of civilians
is a sign of weakness, that al-Shabab is on the back
foot and will soon be history. Is that the case?
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
Whom are these people judging us? These people's
weakness is public for everyone to see. The Somali
government is protected by tanks for them to stay in
power. The Kenyans rely on foreign support, even to
deal with a small matter like Westgate. They asked for
Western support.
Al Jazeera: Finally,
Kenya has designated the Mombasa Youth Centre (MYC) as
a terrorist organisation. The group has on many
occasions endorsed al-Shabab. What is al-Shabab's
relationship with MYC?
Al-Shabab's spokesman:
The relations between MYC and us are the same
relations between Muslims. They are our Muslim
brothers. Islam is our common relation, and they have
the same right from us like any other Muslim.
Below are some
discussions, arguments, debates and provocations on
Gunmen rampage in Nairobi mall, Deadly gun battle in
Nairobi shopping mall and AlJazeera's Q&A Al-Shabab
defends Nairobi attack as presented on the Middle
Eastern mainstream media outlet interviews on DISQUSS
via Facebook, Twitter etc networks - Unedited Pickups:
MOGAD BINGI responding to osman
where is the hukum(evidence) of al-shabab for killing
innocent civilians if they claim they are followers of
ISLAM.
They have by their actions LIED against the religion
of ALLAH and Muhammad(S.A.W) for they have no prove.
Even in war, islam forbids the killing of women,
children, the old, livestock and even plants. How then
do you justify the killing of innocent civilians if
you claim to be a muslim.
ALLAH will judge them for their evil actions and for
putting the lives of all other muslims who will suffer
reprisal attacks due to their actions.
sreejith responding to MOGAD BINGI
You say "Even in war, islam forbids the killing of
women, children, the old, livestock and even
plants."-------Indeed Muhammad wanted the captive
women in wars to be taken as right hand possessions or
slavery.
MOGAD BINGI responding to sreejith
English is the language of my text not chinese. Read
before you comment. And indeed if you will want to
force a deviation to the subject you raised, support
your claim with prove and i will be invited to
challenge.
rasal responding to sreejith
Mr. Sreejith, understand the full context of what you
said above. Do not take phrases out of context. If you
are interested to know what you said, please do let me
know. Will be more than happy to make you understand
what that means. I'm not interested in an argument.
Papa Nur responding to sreejith
sreejith. Wow!. I am blown away by your ignorance
and prejudice of Islam, Muslims and the Beloved
Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him. But then...
coming from a Hindu - cow worshiper, that's given.
Enjoy!.
ashma responding to Folani
Normally something like that is said about Jews... and
such views belong to 1930-s Germany, not to
English-speaking forum. While Muslims, Jews and
Christians may hate each other... it is a form of
Nazism for a national goverment to discriminate
against a person on the basis of his ethnicity and
religion. Yes, extremist religious sects can create
sporadic atrocities, but discrimination against a
religion leads to countrywide network of concentration
camps.
MOGAD BINGI responding to Folani
Is there any country in this world that does not have
indigenous people who are muslims ? The big answer is
NONE exist. Terrorism has no colour, race or religion.
Any act of aggression against innocent people is
criminal and barbaric and should not be entertained by
all. It is sad that the perpetrators of such
despicable act always hide behind religion to rally
sympathy from the ignorant and persons carried away by
emotions. Muslims have a greater responsibility to
flash outall acts of injustices irrespective of who
the oppressor is. Such is the true teaching for us
muslims if indeed we believe and are adherents of the
true and established Islamic teachings.
StageLeft responding to ashma
The Jews of 1930-s Germany were not bombing and
killing innocent people, so big difference there. If
these cavemen believe they will somehow rule the world
one day, they are sadly mistaken!
Salim Morgan responding to MOGAD BINGI
Thank you.
Papa Nur responding to MOGAD BINGI
@MOGAD BINGI. Man!. You are incredibly obtuse or
delusional or both. Before you start spewing the
garbage of crimes against ALLAH & His Rasool and
killing of women and children by Al-Shabab; where was
your anger when Muslims are killed every day across
the globe killed like chickens? - such as gassing of
children in Syria. Where was your outrage then?.
I am really sick and tired of knee jerking Muslims
like you, who say exactly what the West & their legion
of media and army want to hear. What is happening here
is an asymmetric warfare and a war of attrition by a
weaker opponent with far less capacity and resources.
And no one should tell them how they strategize, least
of which is a confused Muslims like you.
For us, ones on the fence watching in, all we say: "we
told you so". Fact check: Somalia has had no peace or
state since the fall S. Barre, until the Al-Shabab
took power. What happen then?, the US did not like
that. Fact, US sent in intelligence, weapons and
regional minions: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda etc to
topple the Shariah (a dirty word for the deniers of
Truth & the Munafiqoon) government.
And folks, that's how we got here.
Usser454 responding to Papa Nur
"I am really sick and tied of knee jerking Muslims
like you, who say exactly what the West & their legion
of media and army want to hear. What is happening here
is an asymmetric warfare and a war of attrition by a
weaker opponent with far less capacity and resources.
And no one should tell them how they strategize, least
of which is a confused Muslims like you."
Bravo for fantastically failing reason! Anyone with
any slight sense of strategy understand this more
about "revenge killing" than some obscure tactic in
asymmetric warfare.
Look at the real asymmetric warfare in history, e.g.
Anglo-Boer War, Vietcong, WW2 resistance fighters.
Despite the strikes were through unconventional
methods, the strikes' goal yield necessarily tactical
and strategic value. That means they don't go around
capture and destroy civilian concentrated points, with
little to no military presence or resource value.
Don't insult asymmetric warfare by equating it to
savages seeking blood only for revenge.
Papa Nur responding to Usser454
Usser454. I did not coin that usage as it is applied
today; did not use it in a historical context. Indeed,
this term gain currency from CIA and top US National
Security advisers/analysts' usage to describe some
theaters of conflict.
Also a term given to us today is "Blowback", just wiki
it. An example of blowback is, of course, 9/11.
Enjoy!.
nyamburamuhia responding to osman
True this. They are just hate-mongers, misleading
people from the truth that all religions preach LOVE
AND PEACE
bosley987 responding to osman
Al Shabaab stand on the Somali people. So he was
nearly right.
Videoguy
How convenient that they are fighting for the cause of
Muslim Somalis yet they also kill Somalis almost
everyday. Or do they remember that dead Somalis are
Muslims only when it suits them? Hypocrites. You are
cowards on the run and you will be found and
CRUSHED!!! You can count on that
Papa Nur responding to Videoguy
Videoguy. A rather simplistic analysis. Yes, Muslims
are just "terrorist", who "hated" the Western way of
life and go on killing innocent non-believing men,
women and children. That narrative is dead on it's
face value.
The basis of any social inquiry is: why, porque,
?????,Pourquoi,??at? and all the whys, one could come
up with. I never see any why for all carnage from both
sides.
Tell me, how are the Israelis plans to get Hamas
"CRUSHED" working or even the US Trillions of dollars
(no hyperbole) spending to have "terrorist' CRUSHED
fanned out. Enjoy.
Casualties of peace responding to
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction
you are denying the existence of a whole race and
preaching about peace and acusing islam very funny
takin their houses is not enough for you now you wanna
deny their name on the media too
The Pen responding to Casualties of peace
Highlighting the subjugation of one people does not
justify the murder of another!
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction responding to
Casualties of peace
I claim that the Palestinian people is a fiction as an
nation and in few decades it will disapear the same
way it apears 60-70 years ago.
There was never a Palestinian people, Palestinian land
or a Palestinian nation.
Even many "Palestinians" think the same:
Listen to Zahir Muhsein, a member of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization executive committee, from an
interview with a Dutch newspaper given in 1977: "The
Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a
Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our
struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab
unity. In reality today there is no difference between
Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only
for political and tactical reasons do we speak today
about the existence of a Palestinian people, since
Arab national interests demand that we posit the
existence of a distinct Palestinian people' to oppose
Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a
sovereign state
with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and
Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly
demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem.
However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of
Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite
Palestine and Jordan."
If this is a lie why Zahir Muhsein was a member of the
PLO managment for many years after this interview ?
The Truth responding to
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction
What a LIAR you are, why have you CHOPPED and EDITED
what Zahir Muhsein actually said, compare and contrast
what you have posted and what Zahir Muhsein actually
said ........
"Between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and
Lebanese there are no differences. We are all part of
ONE people, the Arab nation. Look, I have family
members with Palestinian, Lebanese, Jordanian and
Syrian citizenship. We are ONE people. Just for
political reasons we carefully underwrite our
Palestinian identity. Because it is of national
interest for the Arabs to advocate the existence of
Palestinians to balance Zionism. Yes, the existence of
a separate Palestinian identity exists only for
tactical reasons. The establishment of a Palestinian
state is a new tool to continue the fight against
Israel and for Arab unity.
A separate Palestinian entity needs to fight for the
national interest in the then remaining occupied
territories. The Jordanian government cannot speak for
Palestinians in Israel, Lebanon or Syria. Jordan is a
state with specific borders. It cannot lay claim on -
for instance - Haifa or Jaffa, while I AM entitled to
Haifa, Jaffa, Jerusalem en Beersheba. Jordan can only
speak for Jordanians and the Palestinians in Jordan.
The Palestinian state would be entitled to represent
all Palestinians in the Arab world en elsewhere. Once
we have accomplished all of our rights in all of
Palestine, we shouldn't postpone the unification of
Jordan and Palestine for one second."
So now we can see where the problem is.....
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction responding to
The Truth
Another fiction qoute from a Palestinian.
One can find the original interview in Trouw, the
Dutch newspaper archive.
Anyway from your version:
"Yes, the existence of a separate Palestinian identity
exists only for tactical reasons. The establishment of
a Palestinian state is a new tool to continue the
fight against Israel and for Arab unity."
Machiavelli responding to
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction
But the fact is that Isreal as a state will never
enjoy true peace until the issue of a Palestinian
state is resolved. So whether it is fiction or not
there are people living in the West Bank and the Gaza
strip called Palestinians. Until they achieve
nationhood or some form of national identity
recognised by Israel there will never be real peace
for Israel. Your argument is based on an accident of
history
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction responding to
Machiavelli
There are already 2 Palestinain state:
Gaza-Strip and the Jordanian kingdom (80% of its
population are Palestinians).
P.S.
For years both Jordanians and Palestinians claimed
"Jordan is Palestine and Palestine is Jordan" only
when the Palestinians failed to move the Jordanian
king aside (It also cost the lives of 25,000
Palestinians) they aimed there effort agianst Israel.
Abu Ibrahim responding to
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction
What about the Philistines? Have you ever heard of
them? The story about Samson killing many of them like
4000 years ago? Do you know the word Palestine in
arabic: Philisteen!
Any coincidence?
Are you sure they never existed?
fred lapides responding to Abu Ibrahim
historyh is history and it does not make for today.
The American indians once roamed and lived all over
what is now the US...now they live on 1 percent of the
territory they once had.
Once there was the Ottoman empire ruling what you call
Palestinian state but that is no longer the case
pave responding to
The_Palestinians_are_a_fiction
so what are you suggesting? how will the palestinian
disppair? so its true that extremisim knows no
religion, race et el
Papa Nur responding to Mwashigu
Mwashigu. No more cowardice than US fire bombing 65%
of Japan during WWII and then nuking them TWICE. Or
the Israeli IDF war crimes in Sabra and Shatilla
refugee camps, that's an archived fact.
As for recent catalogs in US cowardice: how about
embargo on Iraq, which resulted in over 500,000 death
of children and the aged (that's a joint US Congress
report) in addition to the incalculable carnage of the
invasion. And this forum is too small to list the
Israeli's war crimes in that small part of the
neighborhood. Enjoy!.
bosley987 responding to Papa Nur
...which is nothing to do with this article.
Papa Nur responding to bosley987
Yes, it does, Guys like you could compartmentalize
justice and fairness in conflict resolution only
when/if it serves your interest or world view.
Things just happen in a vacuum; the past is still
shaping our collective future and security. Muslims
are here, we ain't leaving on a rocket to Mars.
Enjoy!.
bosley987 responding to Papa Nur
But that's not what you said. You just threw out a
list of stuff you don't like and didn't try to connect
them to the siege in Somalia. You still haven't,
really. "This stuff is bad but this other different
stuff is worse" isn't a relation. The Great Leap
Forward, Hurricane Katrina and the blowing up of
Alderaan are also terrible events and also nothing to
do with this article.
Papa Nur responding to Mwashigu
Mwashigu . Oh yes, indeed. When the US and Israeli IDF
does the same, as they always do on Muslims, it is
called "collateral damage". what a world of justice.
Enjoy!.
its clear that these people will steal our name if we
dont tell the truth to the world in somali alshabaab
has almost ZERO support from the local population
because they killed more somali muslims then any other
enemy you can think of they kill the elders the
educated people who can stand up to them they kill
university teacher but most of the people they killed
were sheikh's those who could say this is not jihad or
islam they killed people inside masjid praying but now
what made them weak is not all that its inside job
were the leader killed the rest of alshabab leadership
mostly from arab countries and some from america
because of power strugle these group are viewed
literally like thugs or mafia group they are called "khawaarij"
in somalia and now they are trying to gain popularity
and recruitment from these its funny when they say we
are proctecting somalia from enemy if there was no
alshabab there would be no kenya or any other country.
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