ugnet_: BRITAIN'S MOVE RATHER RASH

[Mulindwa Edward]

Britain's move rather rash The decision by the British High Commission in Nairobi to close its doors would indeed be justified if there was a credible terrorist threat directed at the facility or at British interests in general. The US and some other Western nations have also scaled down some of their operations.  In the wake of the Mombasa terrorist bombing, better safe than sorry might be the appropriate response to any such threats. But if, indeed, the British chose not to share with the Kenyan authorities the information that forced them into the drastic action, that is a serious omission indeed.  There are reports, for instance, that the British were responding to a very serious and credible threat at not just the High Commission, but at a wide array of British interests in Kenya. There were even reports that Britain had asked its nationals in the country to keep a low profile, avoid shopping malls, cinemas and other public places. There are even reports that the country was considering advising some of the more prominent symbols of a British presence in the country, including some schools and some multinational companies, to close down for a while. All this information indicates the seriousness with which the threats were taken. Yet a cardinal point seems to have been missed. The threats may target Britain � or Israel or the US � but they would be carried out on Kenyan soil.  As witnessed on August 7, 1998 and November 28, 2002, the vast majority of casualties would be Kenyans.  Why then would the British choose not to share whatever information they have with the authorities that ultimately are responsible for providing security to all persons on Kenyan soil?  Maybe it's all an unfortunate oversight. But even so, it would speak volumes about certain ingrained attitudes that have not been erased in the fullness of time.        The Mulindwas communication group "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"