Breaking news says that the Serena Hotel in Kabul was atacked by suicide bombers and AK-47 wielding terrorists. At least two were killed, and several others were injured. The Taliban is claiming credit for the attack.
It appeared to be the first direct attack on a hotel in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
The 6:12 p.m. attack came on a night the Norwegian embassy was holding a meeting at the Serena Hotel. An American inside said she saw a body she believed to be dead and pools of blood in the lobby, and hotel employees reported two dead. She said three foreigners were wounded.
Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told The Associated Press that four militants with suicide vests attacked the hotel—one bomber who detonated his explosives and three militants who threw grenades and fired guns and then fled. The claim could not be verified but came very soon after the attack. The bomber was not included among the count of the dead.
I've been to the Serena. Once you get past the blast walls and multiple layers of security, it is an oasis of luxury amidst war-torn misery and chaos...complete with an authentic French patisserie. The hotel is owned by the Aga Khan Develpment Network, which is led by the Aga Khan. The Aga Khan, who in addition to being one of the most generous and well-known philanthropists in Central Asia, is also the Imam of the Shi'a group called the Ismailis. The hotel was viewed as being necessary to encourage foreign investment and assistance in rebuilding a country destroyed by three decades of war - foreigners have to have a safe place to stay in the country, and the Serena was the safest.
The Aga Khan Develpment Network defines itself as "a group of
development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, disaster reduction,rural development, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities." It is far from being any sort of "puppet" of Western nations, and has done much to foster medical care, education, development, commerce, and modern social change in Afghanistan, as well as several other nations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Among the many things the AKDN has done in Afghanistan is build hospitals and schools, restore museums and artwork, rebuild parks and monuments, and promote a variety of development programs through microfinance and sustainable development projects. Up to now, the efforts of the AKDN have largely been immune from attack, due to its Muslim foundation, rather than Western, non-Muslim support.
The fact that this event occurred seven and one half years (yes, it's been THAT LONG) since the Taliban were overthrown shows how little progress is being made in Afghanistan. It also shows that Al Qaeda and the Taliban are far from being defeated. This, in my opinion, is a greater sign of their strength than was the unfortunately predictable assassination of Benzir Bhutto.
So while people argue here over inane things like campaign songs being misogynistic or desperate candidates engaging in race-bating, I guess we should all be grateful that at least we live in a country where we can resolve our political and social differences without resorting to suicide bombings.
(UPDATE) ABC News is reporting now that at least six were killed.
The militants killed six people and wounded six, said Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary. One of the attackers was shot to death and the Taliban spokesman said a second died in the suicide explosion.
More than 30 U.S. soldiers in a half dozen Humvees rushed to the hotel as part of a quick reaction force. In addition, security personnel from the U.S. Embassy ran through the hotel looking for American citizens caught in the attack...