Monday, February 23, 2015

News from two fronts

(For background on terrorist wars in Iraq and Nigeria, click on those countries under Labels)

In the African country of Nigeria, Boko Haram has finally been defeated in at least one city. Nigeria's military was able a couple of days ago to drive them out of Baga in the north. Pity the unfortunate people trying to live where these attacks take place:
  • on the one hand, there is a brutal and ruthless extremist group, 
  • on the other hand, there is a military that is ill-equipped, often unpaid, low in morale, coping with corruption.
Canon Andrew White is no longer in Baghdad, Iraq, but is still their designated pastor emeritus, and he stays in touch with his church and the humanitarian effort he used to direct. In Mosul, which was conquered by the Islamic State last summer, conditions include the lack of electricity for months, and the need to filter or boil water to make it drinkable. Checkpoints, armed soldiers and arrests set a nervous tone.

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