Liberal Debutante

Maybe I should just stop reading the news.

A Mogadishu hospital was caught in the war between the pro-government ethiopians and insurgents.

Relatives and medical staff ran from the SOS hospital after at least four missiles hit. Casualties are unclear.

This is one of many hospitals that have been bombed in the 8 day clash going on between the interim government, resurgents and Hawiye Clan. Attempts at humanitarian air are being blocked… People are without food and shelter. Ethiopian troops “say” they’re beginning to pull out..

“The efforts of international agencies to come to the aid of these stricken people are being thwarted on the one hand by militia looting relief supplies, demanding ‘taxes’ and violently threatening aid workers, and on the other by administrative obstacles imposed by the transitional federal government,” AP news agency quotes a letter written last week by the German ambassador to Kenya.

In other Africa news - De Beers is moving in for more diamond mining.

The diamond mining ship, named Peace in Africa, was inaugurated in both Western and African traditions in Cape Town before the R1 billion ($142 million) vessel of 176 metres long and 28m wide sails off next week to produce an estimated 240,000 carats annually off the Namaqualand coast on South Africa’s Atlantic coast.  The vessel is equipped with a large undersea tracked mining tool (crawler) and has a specialised diamond recovery treatment plant, manufactured by specialist Bateman Engineering, on board.

The company is quoted as being “excited” to employ new workers……….. I’ll resist the sarcastic and cynical commentary today. Except… GAH. Priorities. (I’m not criticizing Gordo here - he’s just relaying what the rest of America was interested in while other people are getting gunned down.)