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| Africa Horn |
| Somali rebels give AK-47 to best young holy Quran reciter |
| 2009-10-18 |
| The 17-year-old winner of a holy Quran recital and general knowledge competition organised by Al Shabaab rebels in Southern Somalia got an AK-47 gun, two hand grenades, a computer and an anti-tank mine as prizes. The runner-up in the month-long competition aimed at 10-25 year olds, a 22-year-old, received an AK-47 and ammunition at the ceremony, where the rebels urged parents to allow children to learn how to handle weapons and fight against the enemy. Somalia's 18-year conflict now pits Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam rebels against the UN-backed government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Damn anti-tank mine? All we had growing up were cheap bouncing betties and we were damn glad to have them. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2009-10-18 17:40 |
| #5 Steve S: You could always have hidden it under the front porch. That's where I kept all my illicit loot. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-10-18 17:04 |
| #4 AK-47 gun, two hand grenades, a computer and an anti-tank mine as prizes Cool! All we ever got at Vacation Bible School were Bibles and trinkets. Of course, there is no way our parents would let us keep an anti-tank mine. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-10-18 11:04 |
| #3 after all, what could be more Islamic than a youth with an AK-47? |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2009-10-18 05:24 |
| #2 And our administration's (...using only the force necessary to accomplish the mission)aka 'hearts and minds' campaign aimed at the indigenous people, how is it coming along again? |
| Posted by: Besoeker in Duitsland 2009-10-18 02:22 |
| #1 Consolation prize: Suicide bombs for all! |
| Posted by: ed 2009-10-18 01:09 |