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Post by monklady123 on Jan 16, 2016 13:26:19 GMT
I woke up this morning, turned on the news and this was the first thing I saw.  This was where I spent almost 4 years in the Peace Corps, although not based in Ouagadougou. I was in a small town southeast of the capital. My first thought was "Burkina Faso? why the heck are the terrorists targeting them?" Still not sure exactly why since Burkina isn't really on anyone's radar. I understand that terrorists want to hit Western targets, but why places like Mali (last year) and this one in Ouaga? I know that my parents worried about me when I was in the Peace Corps but these days "worry" has been ramped up to a whole new level. In addition to the same worries from back then -- accidents, illness, theft -- we have to add "terrorism". My dd wants to join the Peace Corps after she graduates next year. Guess I have a lot of worrying ahead of me.  Burkina Faso terror attack |
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Post by scraphop on Jan 16, 2016 13:57:42 GMT
My sweet cousin celebrated his 2nd anniversary yesterday with the Peace Corps in Morocco. So far it has been a safe and amazing experience. Once his time with them is finished he is going to graduate school in Paris.
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Post by RiverIsis on Jan 16, 2016 14:00:22 GMT
Ugh, and the why is that they are more than likely recruiting and practicing for larger targets.
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Post by anxiousmom on Jan 16, 2016 14:04:51 GMT
I have only been paying half attention to the news this morning, but isn't that area one of the strongholds for Al Qaeda in Africa? And didn't they claim responsibility for the attack(s)? Trying to apply reason and sense to Al Qaeda is an exercise in futility. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:22:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 14:14:47 GMT
Trying to apply reason and sense to Al Qaeda is an exercise in futility. Truer words were never spoken. |
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BarbaraUK
Drama Llama
Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Jan 16, 2016 14:38:14 GMT
I woke up this morning, turned on the news and this was the first thing I saw. This was where I spent almost 4 years in the Peace Corps, although not based in Ouagadougou. I was in a small town southeast of the capital. My first thought was "Burkina Faso? why the heck are the terrorists targeting them?" Still not sure exactly why since Burkina isn't really on anyone's radar. I understand that terrorists want to hit Western targets, but why places like Mali (last year) and this one in Ouaga? I know that my parents worried about me when I was in the Peace Corps but these days "worry" has been ramped up to a whole new level. In addition to the same worries from back then -- accidents, illness, theft -- we have to add "terrorism". My dd wants to join the Peace Corps after she graduates next year. Guess I have a lot of worrying ahead of me. Burkina Faso terror attackPossibly part of the reason is that Burkina used to be a French colony and still has strong links with them, and Mali is still French? An awful lot of business people etc., from around the world stay at the luxury hotels attacked by the AQIM terrorist group in the capital there - 18 nationalities among the 24 dead it seems. Also, two foreign citizens were kidnapped during the night in northern Burkina. It is all so sad.  |
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Post by missfrenchjessica on Jan 16, 2016 17:45:08 GMT
Good lord-WTF is wrong with our world? I can't even fathom how any group can justify all the terrorism. My heart breaks every time I hear of another place affected by this. Just so very sad.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Jan 16, 2016 17:54:04 GMT
Good lord-WTF is wrong with our world? I can't even fathom how any group can justify all the terrorism. My heart breaks every time I hear of another place affected by this. Just so very sad. This. I feel so sad and so helpless. monklady123 It must be especially heartbreaking for you. I'm sure you have fond memories of the country and its people. Hugs. |
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by rickmer on Jan 16, 2016 19:52:13 GMT
so sad! DD and DS's grade 3 teacher goes to burkina faso every summer to work in a orphanage. my kids have been very involved in her fundraising, including asking for cash for bday gifts and then donating it to madame for "her orphans". they have pen pals in the orphanage.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:22:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2016 1:20:17 GMT
My sweet cousin celebrated his 2nd anniversary yesterday with the Peace Corps in Morocco. So far it has been a safe and amazing experience. Once his time with them is finished he is going to graduate school in Paris. The security here in Morocco is pretty good. Where in Morocco is he? honestly, I feel pretty safe here. Lot's of security checks in and out of the big cities. Also, the King has a lot of control over the mosques here for the explicit reason of trying to control radicals. There still are arrests often (mainly in the north) of suspected radicals. The French and American Embassies here are pretty well guarded. They use the military and secret police as well. North Africa is definitely a target for the extremists. |
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Post by annabella on Jan 17, 2016 1:57:26 GMT
That's so sad. That's for bringing this to our attention, I didn't watch the news today. monklady123 what were you doing there for 4 years? I know it's typically 2 years, you must have really enjoyed it. |
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Post by scraphop on Jan 17, 2016 2:54:17 GMT
allipeas, I think he is in Midelt. He absolutely loves it! I haven't seen anything in his Facebook posts that would lead me to believe he is in any imminent danger but I still worry. I'm so proud of him for stepping out and following his dream.
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Post by monklady123 on Jan 17, 2016 2:58:01 GMT
That's so sad. That's for bringing this to our attention, I didn't watch the news today. monklady123 what were you doing there for 4 years? I know it's typically 2 years, you must have really enjoyed it. I did. "The toughest job you'll ever love" is the motto. Or at least it used to be. -- I extended my contract for a third year, then stayed on to do training for the next group of volunteers, then stayed on for two more months to do a teacher training with the university in Ouagadougou though a program with our cultural services agency, then I traveled to two areas of the country I hadn't been able to get to during my volunteer time.  |
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This was where I spent almost 4 years in the Peace Corps, although not based in Ouagadougou. I was in a small town southeast of the capital. My first thought was "Burkina Faso? why the heck are the terrorists targeting them?" Still not sure exactly why since Burkina isn't really on anyone's radar. I understand that terrorists want to hit Western targets, but why places like Mali (last year) and this one in Ouaga? 
