Kenyan mall massacre: ‘retribution’ makes no sense

Last May, a British man was decapitated in the streets of London by a terrorist waving a meat cleaver with bloody hands, justifying his actions with jihadist rhetoric. He claimed his act of violence was fair retribution for the turmoil in his homeland, the Middle East, and that all he wanted was for it to end.

But his reasons makes no logical sense. Spreading violence cannot end violence.

Terrorists everywhere, not just extremist Muslims, seem to be unable to grasp that the way to end conflict is not to cause more conflict.

On Sept. 21, a troop of gunmen entered and attacked the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The confirmed death toll stands at 72, and is expected to rise. Another 70 people are missing, and more than 150 people were injured.

Terrorist group Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based cell of Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility. The group cited the bloody act as retribution for Operation Linda Nchi, a coordinated operation between the militaries of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia that had been targeted at Al-Shabaab militants.

Al-Shabaab appears unable to realize that bombing and shooting a mall full of civilians does nothing for their public credit. The world hates terrorists. Everyone dislikes terrorists, except terrorists. 

Al-Shabaab has brought on global condemnation for its cause. The African Union and the EU have both declared their support for the Kenyan government, which is now truly out for terrorist blood. The UN Security Council has stepped in and Interpol has offered to dispatch teams. Al-Shabaab has essentially called down upon itself a massive force of international vengeance; terrorism is glorious to no one but its perpetrators.

The victims of terrorism aren’t even soldiers, for the most part. In the mall attack, just six out of the 72 dead were Kenyan soldiers. Civilians bear the brunt of terrorist conflict.

The perpetrators of the Kenyan mall massacre will hopefully be brought to justice soon, as they deserve. This cycle of violence won’t end until someone chooses or is made to put down their weapons. 

Achieving peace now is not, nor will it ever be, easy. Declaring war on terrorism has already been done. It’s an ongoing war against not only a physical foe, but also an entire extremist mentality. We fight against abstract concepts translated into violence. 

All we can do now is try to rout the terrorists who fight back, and do our best to educate youth on the dangers of terrorism to prevent them from taking part.