Imminent Terror Threat in Kenya

The United States Embassy in Kenya is reporting that imminent terror attacks could be carried out in Kenya, and that tourists, governemnt officials, and other travelers should avoid the East African country. Though it was not indicated who would be behind the potential attacks, the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, who has significant ties with Al-Qaeda, is the likely suspect. Not only has Al-Shabaab been linked to various civilian kidnappings and murders in Kenya, it is also fighting to impose sharia law in Somalia, a country that Kenya recently announced it will be sending troops into, in order to target Al-Shabaab members. It should be quite apparent that Al-Shabaab would not respond well to this Kenyan threat, and the response could be disastorous if the terrorist attacks are actually carried out. Peace is far from being acheived in this region where terrorism is rampant, governments are often corrupt, and atrocities are at times allowed to happen, and until international pressure and involvement increases, the violence will continue.

David Johnson

www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/world/africa/kenya-us-warning/index.html?hpt=wo_c2