Afghan Paradise Lost: Suicide Attack on Kabul's Serena Hotel

Boasting two restaurants along with luxury accommodations and "complete services for the discerning business traveler" the Serena Hotel could be mistaken for a Sheraton or Hilton found in the United States, not a hotel located in an area of conflict such as Afghanistan. Unfortunately, it's home in the heart of Kabul has become consequential, as Taliban militants raged a suicide attack in the twilight of January 14th, 2008.

According to SkyNews.com, it is believed that either three or four insurgents orchestrated the events which led to a "suicide bomb, grenade and gun assault" that debilitated the once glamorous building.

Two of the men involved killed two guards by throwing grenades at them, thus temporarily paralyzing resistance and gaining access to the inside of the hotel without questioning. Afterwards it was reported that they set off a suicide bomb that was attached to their vests. Eyewitnesses to the attack weren't fully aware of what they were in the middle of until gunfire started going off by a third insurgent.

NPR describes these people as "guests who ran in towels from the hotel's gym."

Understandably, the ordinary citizens approached for comment declined to identify themselves for safety reasons, but Norwegian media made themselves readily available. After all, the Norwegian embassy was holding a meeting at the time of the attack, and two of the reported injured, a Foreign Ministry employee and a journalist, belonged to that delegation.

There are two questions that come to mind. Firstly, to what length was the attack provoked by the Norwegian embassy conference? Norway has sent 500 troops to Afghanistan as part of a peacekeeping force led by NATO. The Taliban's ideology is the anti-thesis of peace.

Lastly, what does this mean for the United State's War on Terror? U.S. troops were on the scene after the attack. More than 120 similar attacks have been carried out by the Taliban last year, which leaves the world wondering if the Islamo-fascist group is gaining strength.

Sources

Sky News: Explosion Hits Luxury Hotel in Kabul, January 14, 2008
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1300581,00.html

NPR: Suicide Attack on Afghan luxury hotel kills six
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18070219&ft=1&f=1001