London Terrorism: Why the G8 should support African Aid

Today the international community grieves for the lost of life as terrorists strike again in London's public transit. During a press conference today from the site of the G8 summit in Gleneagles British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a visibly distraught form stated this act of extremism is counterproductive to the work the eight leaders are discussing this week in Scotland.

"It's particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa and the long-term problems of climate change and the environment," said Blair. "Just as it is reasonably clear that this is a terrorist attack or a series of terrorist attacks, it is also reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8."

Blair further stated that it is important to "defend our values and our way of life" in order to stand up to terrorists. Currently no one has officially claimed responsibility. Possible suspects are the IRA and anarchist anti G8 protestors. An alleged Al Qaeda group posted a statement on a Web site claiming responsibility, saying, "The heroic mujahedeen has undertaken a blessed attack in London."

If it is in fact an Al Qaeda attack, this gives the leaders of the industrialized world more reason to provide aid to Africa as a way to prevent the spread to terrorist recruitment. It has been proven that organizations such as Al Qaeda tend to recruit and take advantage of those in the most marginalized poorest countries where there seems to be no opportunities for advancement. These organizations falsely advertise that they will provide "humanitarian aid" in exchange for their 'services' within their ranks. One does not have to look to far back in history to find examples. The 1998 US embassies' bombings in Nairobi is a good example of this. The are reports that Al Qaeda is also organizing in West Africa, further continuing the diamond wars.

It is not just Al Qaeda G8 should be worried about; the ruthless Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe is also using tactics to recruits country's most vulnerable into its campaign of extreme human rights abuses. Recently human rights organizations accused Zimbabwe's government of evicting from their homes citizens who didn't support Mugabe in the last elections.

“G8 and African leaders should recognize how massive human rights abuses also fuel poverty in Africa,” said Tiseke Kasambala, researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division. “They should call on the Zimbabwean government to respect fundamental human rights and stop the evictions.”

And there are countless other corrupt government officials throughout the continent who are festering on their populace.

So as the G8 reflect on the events in London today, it is hoped that they will realize that they will not only be investing in Africa's survival, but they will also be investing in the survival-and safety-of their own countries.