F*ck Hashtag Diplomacy: A .50 Calibre Round Between The Eyes Is Much More Effective

"The horrors we see in Africa today will become America's horror tomorrow." NY Post Editorial

Let me be clear. Whatever works in freeing the Nigerian school girls, I'm all in. But the initial reaction by our government, the global community and many in the media leaves room for serious concern. In my opinion, confronting global terrorism with hashtag diplomacy is merely symbolism over action. I've written extensively about this problem---including Boko Haram---for years. My purpose was to alert the powers that be that something must be done. My pleas, as well as the pleas of others, appear to have fallen on deaf ears until this most recent incident in Chibok. In fact, while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, her department blocked designating Boko Haram a terrorist organization. The other interesting phenomena in our media and those who keep flashing hashtags is the conspicuous absence of designations such as Islamist, Jihadist, etc. The following is just a recent sampling of the atrocities committed by Boko Haram as most of the world turned a blind eye (these Islamist murderers have been in operation for approximately 12 years now):

• Multiple bombings---including car bombings---of churches, schools, buildings, police stations,  weddings, outdoor parties, etc.
• In November 2011, multiple bombs blew up in Damaturi killing over 100 people.
• In December 2011, 37 people and over 57 injured in an attack on St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla.
• In January 2012, 37 died and over 100 injured in attacks against Christian Churches, police stations and immigration offices in three towns in Nigeria.
• Later in the same month, Christian churches, police stations and businesses were attacked in Kano. Over 185 were killed.
• In June 2012, three Christian church were attacked. Fifty people were killed.
• In October of that year, approximately 40 people were slaughtered in Mubi during a night-time raid.
• In March of 2013,  22 people were killed and over 60 injured in a bus bombing at a Kano bus station.
• In July 2013,  42 people were killed at a school, most students.
• In September 2013, another attack upon a school left 40 students dead.
• In February 2014, the Izghe Massacre. Almost 200 villagers were killed.
• In February 2014, they attacked another school and killed 59 boys. The boys were gunned down or their throats were cut with machetes. The girls were ordered to go home.
• And the April 14, 2014 attack in Chibok where 234 school girls were kidnapped and 16 were killed.

Most of the terror actions of Boko Haram target Christians by either burning their churches down, kidnapping and killing---usually all three. They also forcibly recruit Nigerian youth with the intent of converting them to Islam. Girls who are kidnapped are usually forced to convert and marry their abductors.

As I wrote in the beginning of this piece, I'm for anything that might work---even if it brings attention to these blood thirsty Islamist murderers. But good intentions don't save lives. Only some type of action does.  One observer remarked it reminded him of those putting daisies in the rifle barrels of our soldiers as Commies were slaughtering innocents in Vietnam and Cambodia. From another observer: "How sad that the nation that produced the Greatest Generation who saved the world from fascist tyranny, has been reduced to walking softly and carrying a big hashtag in the face of Islamic terrorists?"

Yes, get these girls home. But, while we're at it, hunt down and kill those Islamist thugs. A hashtag doesn't have the same effect as a well placed .50 calibre round between the eyes.

Postscript: Since this was posted, dozens more women have been kidnapped and villagers murdered and the kidnappings and brutality continue.