Support for Suicide Terrorism

So what is the relationship between the support for terrorism in public opinion and the relationship with terrorist attacks? Guess what these researchers found?

We find that justification in public opinion for suicide terrorism increases terror attacks on people in countries that are unfavorably regarded. There is a robust positive relationship between the share of the population in a country that at the same time justifies suicide bombings and has an unfavorable opinion of another country, and terrorism originating from the former country.

In other words, there is statistically significant evidence that public opinion does encourage terrorism. In a way, this is a d’oh statement. Terrorism thrives on the oxygen of publicity and then there are various assorted morons and idiots who will support terror as a way to punish other countries. What they do not understand (well, not surprising because its usually religious nutters and other ideologically screwed up people who do this) is that terrorism usually devours them.

So what do people from s Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, Mali, Jordan, Lebanon, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Palestine and Nigeria respond to the PEW survey question?

Some people think that suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets
are justified in order to defend Islam from its enemies. Other people believe that, no matter
what the reason, this kind of violence is never justified. Do you personally feel that this kind
of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never
justified?

On average 23% justified suicide terrorism, with a minimum of 8% support and an astonishingly high 70% maximum support. Highest was in Palestine, Nigeria and Mali, Lowest up was in Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia. Surprising eh? Palestine I can understand, but Nigeria, Mali, Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia? The last 3 countries are like factories for terrorists. Some other facets, Nigerian Women were showing more support for suicide bombing compared to men. Here’s the graph

There was another question which was asked, about which countries are most unfavourable to the respondents. Some of the results for the most unfavourable and least unfavourable are amazing and bewildering.

So Bangladesh actually has the lowest unfavourable opinion towards India! and highest towards USA. And what on earth is happening in Ethiopia with least Japan and high Iran? USA seems to be the most hated country across these muslim nations. Extraordinary but what is worrying is the extraordinarily high level of support for suicide bombing and terrorism in all these countries. The next time somebody says that terrorist support in Muslim countries relate only to a very small minority, do ask about the definition of a very small minority because a minority which ranges from 8-70% with an average of 23% aint such a small minority by any stretch of imagination.

Corporal punishment – this time for the teachers

Now here’s an idea if the school results are not good, or they are late or teach the wrong syllabus. Cane them. I quote:

The teachers were caned by a police officer in front of their pupils after an investigation into poor exam results at three schools. The report blamed teachers for being late or not showing up for work and not teaching the official syllabus.

One of the caned teachers, Ativus Leonard, 33, told the BBC he was now too ashamed to meet his pupils. The case comes at a time when parents and human rights groups in Tanzania have been calling for a ban on flogging of schoolchildren throughout the country. The union says it will sue District Commissioner (DC) Albert Mnali, who ordered the caning in the northern region of Kagera.

Fair’s fair, no? you cane the kids if they dont study, and the teachers get caned if they dont perform.

Technorati Tags: Schooling,Tanzania

An update on the Comoros issue

I wrote about the Comoros issue before. Nobody has been killed in the invasion and toppling of the rebel government. And as I predicted, nobody really gives a toss. And this is what throws up the hypocrisy of people. Just because it is a tiny island off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, it is not important. Hypocrisy galore. Would there be stop the war processions? Would people stand up for the right of self determination? As I said, hypocrisy galore.

But here's a good article on the impact of this intervention by the AU. I quote:

Should the AU have the responsibility to protect in defiance of the whims and self-interest of the regime, where clear human rights violations are taking place? Should it act, or simply react when called upon to do so? Should intervention only be considered when major conflict has already laid waste to peace and security? Has the Comoros intervention signalled a radical departure in the AU’s policy of intervention? Will pre-emption now form a critical component of African peacekeeping and conflict resolution?

And what happened to the rebel leader? Here's an eyewitness note. Oh! and France is involved neck deep in this mess. Not that this war seems to have impacted business and trade, investments are going on. The situation is a bit murkier than I first made out.

Comoros is involved with the Arab League and is thanking Libya and Sudan (holy cow, I can well see those two countries being the standard bearer of democracy and self determination...). Other countries also were involved in the invasion from Tanzania and Senegal. Mind you, the French and the Americans offered logistical help to the AU forces. Very murky indeed.

But, again, the silence on the part of the world is so curious.

Technorati Tags: Comoros,France,African Union,Africa,Indian Ocean,Arab League,Tanzania,Senegal,Sudan,Libya,Self Determination

And BAe gets caught up in another corruption scandal

So now we have a clear cut situation that a Tanzanian minister took bribes for the purchase of a BAe radar system. And he is the fourth Tanzanian minister to resign in the past few weeks.

How amazing, have you heard of any BAe officials in the dock? or having to resign? How does it feel to all the Brits to know that Tanzania is more emphatic in clearing corruption than the Brits? Hang your head in shame, all you bloody ministers and BAe who have dragged the reputation of this country into the gutter.

Apparently UK officials are investigating. Investigating, my ass, it will go down the same way as that of the bloody Saudi deal. Here's a question for you, BAe has been bribing people for the past very many years. How many officials have been prosecuted? HA!

I want heads to roll publicly, I want people who have actually given, approved and were in charge in BAE to be publically prosecuted for theft and corruption. Make a bloody example of these merchants of death and corruption. Disgusting. Spitting on them is being nice to them.

All this to be taken with a grain of piquant salt!!!

Somebody in Africa actually resigned over corruption allegations?????

This is incredibly good news. How amazing, there are people there with consciences!!! Read and wonder. I quote:

DAR-ES SALAAM - Tanzania’s Prime Minister Edward Lowassa told parliament today he had tendered his resignation to the president after being implicated in a corruption scandal over an energy deal. "Because I have been linked to this scandal, I have decided to write to the president asking to be relieved of my duties," the premier told lawmakers

Give the man a medal!

All this to be taken with a grain of piquant salt!!!

BAE again in the crosshairs of a corruption probe

BAE has been in the news and there is something about arms and Defence companies which just leads them to corruption. And not only that, they lead others into corruption as well!. Disgusting! And now they are in the cross-hairs relating to a £28 million military radar system sale to Tanzania. Both the British Serious Fraud Office and the Tanzanian Prevention of Corruption Bureau are on the case.

Have you seen where Tanzania is on the map? Look at its neighbours, most of them wont be able to fly a kite, forget about armed aerial or missile attack. what the heck do they need that huge expensive radar system for? I will tell you why, because they paid 30% of the contract value to an agent who brokered the deal.

Thieves, corrupt maggots, may the fleas of 1000 camels infest your armpits!

Technorati Tags: Corruption , Tanzania , UK , BAE