PARIS & BRUSSELS ATTACKS: THE UNBRIDLED DOUBLE STANDARDS OF EUROPE & AMERICA- Steve Austin Nwabueze

PARIS & BRUSSELS ATTACKS:THE UNBRIDLED DOUBLE STANDARDS OF EUROPE & AMERICA- Steve Austin Nwabueze

The world was awakened to the stark reality of a nose-diving global war against terror when a series of coordinated terrorist attacks rocked the French Capital, Paris and the northern suburb of St Denis comprising of hostage taking, mass shootings and suicide bombings. At precisely 21:20 CET, three suicide bombings were heard outside the Stade De France along with mass shootings and another suicide bombing at four locations near central Paris. At the same time, the dare devil terrorists took hostages at the Bataclan theatre before tragically ending the agonizing encounter with a standoff with the French Police. The attacks claimed 129 lives 89 of whom were murdered in cold blood at the Bataclan Theatre while another 433 people suffered various degrees of injuries. In fact, the Report of Sky Italy was to the effect that one of the terrorists had daringly targeted the Stade De France where the le Blues of France  were engaging Die Manschaft (German Machines) of Germany in an international football friendly match preparatory to the European Football championship incidentally taking place next summer in France.

The blood curdling panic that spread like wildfire in the teeth of the terrorist standoff expectedly drew condemnations from world leaders. First was the French President, Francois Hollande who described the incident as an act of war. The resonant condemnation then trailed from the imposing walls of the White House in Washington DC where President Barack Obama declared that the world would stand with France. Since then, the effusive show of support and solidarity has flown from the Kremlin (St Petersburg, Russia, Berlin, Germany, Tokyo, Japan, London, UK, Brussels, Belgium, Rome, Italy, Peking, China, Sydney, Australia.

Not only have the world leaders lent their voices in condemning these attacks, they have also offered various forms of support to console one of their own. in sheer defiance of the attacks, the French Football Federation  together with their English counterparts agreed to go ahead with their International friendly encounter this Tuesday, 17^th November, 2015 at the Wembley stadium, London which had been shrouded into grave uncertainty as a result of the attacks. However, far and above all these is the decision of the Facebook social networking site to change the profile picture background to the French National colours of Blue, White and Red.

At least 34 people were killed and 190 wounded when three explosions hit Brussels on Tuesday morning,the 22^nd day of March, 2016. The first two at Zaventem airport and the third on a subway train near European Union Headquarters, according to the Associated Press. Belgian Federal Prosecutor, Frederick Van Leeuw called all three explosions, “terrorist attacks”, and ISIS later claimed responsibility for them, the AP reported. Belgium raised its terror threat to the highest level for “a serious and imminent threat”.

 As expected, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for both  attacks which was clearly an act of revenge for the incessant bombardments by French and allied forces of ISIL’s targets in the middle east including Syria since October, 2015.

The condemnations by world leaders in strong terms of the attacks in France & Belgium and the show of solidarity to their kith and kin in France & Brussels is commendable as it is humane. Barak Obama who was on a historic state visit to Cuba reportedly had to cut short his visit in show of solidarity. In a swift reaction to the Brussels attacks, British Prime Minister, David Cameron increased Britain’s police presence at ports, airports, underground stations and international train terminals after chairing a meeting of the UK Cabinet, known as Cobra. Belgium’s next door neighbor, Netherlands through its Prime Minister, Mark Rutte issued a swift statement condemning the cowardly attacks and restating its government’s commitment to security. Obama who was briefed by US national security officials, in a phone chat with Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, offered assistance in investigating the attacks and bringing those responsible to justice. The White House later issued an emotionally laden statement as follows; “we must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism” these were excerpts of Obama’s speech in Cuba. For Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe “The International Community must respond to terrorism and cannot tolerate it, Japanese Government will make all efforts to ensure the safety of its citizens at home and abroad”. German Kanzler, Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman, Steffen Seibert issued a statement on twitter as follows; “standing together in the face of the despicable attacks in Brussels. Solidarity with the victims and a resolute stand against the terrorists”. These were the very humane and commendable statements and reactions by the world leaders showing solidarity to a nation benumbed by grief.

 

 However, this article would have been unnecessary had we experienced the same reaction when third world countries like Nigeria is involved. The statistics show that more people in Nigeria have died from the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria in the past 36 months than the West ( i.e European Countries and America) put together have lost since terrorism became a global phenomenon. Not only are the attacks on Nigeria greater in terms of frequency, the casualties are mind boggling and better left to the imagination. To adumbrate, the April 16^th 2013 Baga Massacre claimed about 187 people. On July 6^th 2013, a school shooting in Yobe State by gun men claimed the lives of 42-46 young boys. On September, 19^th, 2013, the Benisheik attacks claimed 161 lives. On September 29^th, 2013, the Gujba massacre left about 50 students dead. On 21^st February, 2014, about 121 christians were massacred in the volatile state of Borno. On February 15^th of the same year about 106 villages lost their lives. Later on the same day, about 90 Christians and 9 soldiers were killed  in Gwoza by the sect. dozens of people lost their lives 9 days later in the North western town of Izghe. On 25^th February 2014 about 59 students were killed in another school massacre in Yobe state. On April 14^th 2014 over 88 people were killed in a twin bomb attack in Abuja. On April 15^th , 2014 about 276 female students were kidnapped in the Borno Town of Chibok and yet to be accounted for as at the time of writing. On May 5^th, 2014 at least 300 people were killed in the twin towns of Gamboru and Ngala in Borno state by the sect. on May 20^th, 2014 at least 118 villagers are killed by car bombs. On June 2^nd, 2014, at least 200 people mostly Christians are killed in several villages in Borno state by Boko Haram. I have just highlighted these major documented attacks to underscore the double standards of the West in the global war on terror. There is no gainsaying the fact that Boko haram fatalities between 2013 to 2014 is over 3000 with the small matter of internally displaced persons as a fall out of the carnage. Why then did the world wait till a coordinated attack on France and more recently, Belgium which claimed just under 200 lives in total to realize that terrorism has become a global phenomenon to be faced head on? How come no one wept when Gwoza, Mubi, Baga, Bama, Izghe and other affected towns in the North East were being bombarded by insurgents? Have some lives suddenly become superior to others such that the whole world looks the other way when a particular region is being affected?

 Is this a demonstration of innocuous indifference or open-toothed complicity? Where were the internet voltrons who invented all sorts of internet memes in solidarity with France & Belgium when Bama and allied towns were pulverized? How come no one at Facebook came up with the lofty idea of changing the profile picture background to our own Green white-green? These posers agitate my mind even as I join issues with sedulous Nigerians changing their profile picture in line with the suggested background some of whom have not spared a line for their kith and kin being murdered in cold blood in the North East. Obviously, the ignorant mind thinks the background is fashionable, the more discerning mind however sees one thing…. Mental slavery and a shocking insensitivity to the plight of the African and third world countries.  The developments in France & Belgium have not only exposed the double standards by the West in the War on terror, it has also shown that Africa & indeed third world countries are on their own in the fight against terror.