The Horn on Fire
Somalia and Ethiopia Renew Old Battles with New Consequences
By Mark I Posted in War — Comments (27) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Somali forces of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), a rebel group that has recently gained control of much of the country, have attacked positions held by Ethiopian troops inside Somalia. The Ethiopian troops are returning fire in a bid to protect the internationally recognized government, seated in Baidoa.
Somalia and Ethiopia have fought wars in the past, but this new one opens in the age of the Global War on Terrorism, and its outcome could bear heavily on the security of the United States.
Read on...
The UIC has begun to reveal its true colors since it captured control of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Shops, tea houses and other public places in Bulo Burto, about 124 miles northeast of the capital, Mogadishu, should be closed during prayer time and no one should be on the streets, said Sheik Hussein Barre Rage, the chairman of the town's Islamic court. His court is part of a network backed by armed militiamen that has taken control of much of southern Somalia in recent months, bringing a strict interpretation of Islam that is alien to many Somalis…Somalia's Islamic courts have made varying interpretations of Koranic law, some applying a more strict and radical version of Islam than others. Some of the courts have introduced public executions, floggings of convicts, [and] bans on women swimming in Mogadishu's public beaches…
The State Department said recently that al-Qaeda is establishing a foothold in the country and may be operating very comfortably there.
Al Qaeda militants are operating with "great comfort" in Somalia, providing training and assistance to a radical military element loyal to the Islamic group that controls most of southern Somalia, a senior State Department official said Wednesday.
Jendayi Frazer, who heads the department's Africa bureau, said a priority U.S. goal is the capture of three militants wanted for the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and a hotel in Kenya in 2002. The three are from Sudan, Kenya and the Comoros Islands, located off Africa's east coast.
"We're continuing to work with all sides in Somalia to try get those terrorists turned over and to prevent Somalia from becoming a safe haven," Frazer told a small group of reporters.
She emphasized that the Al Qaeda presence goes well beyond the three suspects.
The administration has looked on with anxiety as Islamic militants, operating under the umbrella of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), have expanded their zone of influence in the country while marginalizing a secular government that lacks authority despite the backing of the United Nations and the United States.
The US made its support for Ethiopia’s stand against the UIC known when it sent CENTCOM Commander Gen. John Abizaid to the country for a meeting with the Prime Minister. Gen. Abizaid is reported to have been told that Ethiopian troops could crush the UIC “in one to two weeks,” but cautioned against a “broad military invasion” fearing a humanitarian crisis in the Horn. Still, Ethiopian troops maintained their presence inside the country, and are defending their positions. Muslim fighters, meanwhile, are streaming into Somalia, sensing the opportunity for jihad against Western backed, Christian, Ethiopia.
The stakes in Somalia are high. US withdrawal from Mogadishu in 1993 served as inspiration for bin Laden’s terror campaign against the US and the West. Now, starved of a safe haven from which to run his terror empire, his sympathizers are attempting to create a mini-Afghanistan in Somalia. Indeed, Osama bin Laden himself has called upon Somalis to back the UIC and warned Western nations against intervention there.
"We will fight [US] soldiers on the land of Somalia… and we reserve the right to punish it on its land and anywhere possible," the speaker says.
"We warn all of the countries in the world not to respond to America by sending international troops to Somalia."
The United States should let Ethiopia off the leash and let it crush the UIC, brutally. Continued delay will only allow the conflict to widen. Eritrea, a regional rival of Ethiopia, is already said to be sending troops to the UIC to counter Ethiopia’s intervention. Delay will also allow for more Muslim fighters to make their way to Somalia and set up for a long guerilla campaign. The Baidoa government is backed by the international community, including the United Nations, for all that’s worth. Here is an opportunity for the international community not only to prevent the formation of a new terror state, but to demonstrate to Islamists worldwide that it will enforce its will anywhere in the world.
The mess left in 1993 has been dropped on our doorstep once again. Somalia has been a lawless place for the last 13 years and may continue to be so regardless of the outcome of this latest fight. The United States has a painful history there. However, the United States cannot stand by now and allow Somalia to be reorganized as a base of operations for international terrorists. The consequences of failure in Somalia followed us home once before. Inaction now will almost certainly invite them back again.
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The Horn on Fire 27 Comments (0 topical, 27 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
"Nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Of course, instead, we'll mess around restraining Ethopia for "humanitarian" reasons, and then when its already too late we'll commit our own troops, possibly too few in number but certainly on too short a leash to do what needs to be done. The totalitarian sympathizers and blame America firsters will of course be elated as they once again rub our noses in the inability of the U.S. to effectively use its military forces to attain its political goals, while honorable young men die on the field of battle and our liberty is further eroded.
Oh well, at least we'll have a woman as Speaker of the House so the World will know how progressive we are!
...seems to be what Abizaid does best - as opposed to, say, fighting to win...I mean, that is what he's been busy doing to our own forces in Iraq since he took over Centcom.
he's following the White House line on that one. Politics is "Compassionate Conservatism", the role of the military is now "Compassionate War".
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
al-Qaeda, but we must be careful about letting Ethiopian PM Meles off the hook for the corrupt, brutal government he runs. In fact, I don't think we should send Meles any money. It's in Ethiopia's interest to see Somalia free from the Jihadists, but it's also in their interest to get rid of Meles.
According to an Ethiopian co-worker, Meles went into Somalia first and then said "hey U.S., I'm fighting terrorists, send me money." We must also not forget that Meles was elected in very controversial fashion and cracked down hard on protesters - killing many. Our old friend Jimmy Carter didn't help matters by blessing the questionable election results.
For more info on Ethiopia check our Publius Pundit and my blog.
Buzz
Buzz Blog
The outfits are different, the skin color of the actors is different, the geography is a little different, as is the weaponry - but this is more or less precisely what Iraq is going to look like before the end of the decade if the ISG gets their way.
Just saying.
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, in response to the question, "Are we at war, Helen?" - posed by then-White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
They are like roaches.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
They're human beings, Tbone. Not roaches. Leave that kind of language at the door.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.
I said they were like roaches. You can not reason with them. They spread pestilence. They only seek to propagate their own kind and consume everything else. While they are human beings, if they want to be treated like human beings, then it is they who need to change the way they consider their fellow human beings. Do you have a better suggestion as to how to deal with these suicidal ideologues sworn to kill you and every one like you?
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
As for comparisons to genocide, you owe me an apology. Genocide is when people are killed because of what they are, not what they believe. One has no choice as to what race or culture one belongs. Ideology is a choice. Choices have consequences.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
If you don't want people to comment when you use rhetoric reminicisent of that of the Rwandan genocide... then don't use that rhetoric to begin with.
Look, this is me being nice because it's Christmas and stuff; not to mention that it's you and I know you like to lay it all out so that people can see where you stand. Can you just... not use animal comparisons?
Work with me, here.
Moe
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Looks like this one was old when the Blackhawks went down.
but I really do not care who is killing who in the horn of Africa, and hope to god we do not get involved. The last thing I want to hear is some Left winger saying we ought to get involved.
Getting rid of a mass murderer like Saddam was a mistake was it? well then it would be a bigger mistake to act in an area where there is not even a hint of a national interest.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
I really do not care who is killing who in the horn of Africa, and hope to god we do not get involved.
Some remote country almost as obscure as Afghanistan was in the 90's? I think most of us are wisely reluctant to get involved in some "far away place about which we know nothing" but in this case we do know that the UIC rebels have a Taliban mentality, including hospitality toward Al Qaeda guests.
Their are serious tactical issues about the best way to deal with the Ethiopian forces and the Somali government, and I don't know the answers, but we have to make our decision on the basis that UIC control of Somalia is a serious threat to our national security.
They are like chess pawns. You have to eliminate them to win the game.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
Give them discounts for bulk weapons purchases and let them kill each other.
Whoever is left might have the brains to stop.
That should read
Think like we used to
Give them discounts for bulk weapons purchases and let them kill each other.
Whoever is left might have the brains to stop.
And it all will be to our profit.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
According to AP
Ethiopia launched an attack Sunday [Dec 24] on Somalia's powerful Islamic movement, sending fighter jets across the border and bombarding several towns in a major escalation of the violence that threatens to engulf the Horn of Africa.Ethiopia confirmed the attacks, the first time it has acknowledged that its troops were fighting in Somalia, though witnesses have reported their presence for weeks.
"After too much patience, the Ethiopian government has taken a self-defensive measure and has begun counterattacking the aggressive extremist forces of the (Islamic council) and foreign terrorist groups," said Ethiopia's foreign affairs spokesman, Solomon Abebe.
The Council of Islamic Courts has vowed to drive out troops from neighboring Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation that is providing military support to Somalia's U.N.-backed government.
"They are cowards," said Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley, an official with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts. "They are afraid of the face-to-face war and resorted to airstrikes. I hope God will help us shoot down their planes."
But Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf said his forces have gained the upper hand.
"I think they have met a resistance they have never dreamt of before," Yusuf said in brief remarks from Baidoa - the only town the government controls - as the battles began to die down Sunday afternoon.
If nothing else, Baghdad Bob may have resurfaced.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
From Cliff May at NRO...
Why are they achieving what American forces in Somalia in1993 did not and what American forces in Iraq today apparently are not?More “boots on the ground” may be part of the explanation. The Ethiopians are not attempting to have a “light footprint.” They are not worried about whether they will be seen as “occupiers” or whether their “occupation” will be viewed as benevolent.
Secondly, the Ethiopians are not overly concerned about whether their tactics will win approval from the proverbial Arab Street – or the European Street or Turtle Bay. They are fighting a war; their intention is to defeat their enemies; everything else is secondary or tertiary.
It's still early, but this will be interesting to watch. The Ethiopians seem to be doing what I've been advocating for a long time. If you're going to war, make war.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"?
that they don't have reporters from AP, CNN, and the NYT embedded in their front line units to make sure that they strictly observe the Geneva Convention. And I'm sure their Supreme Court is not going to intervene on the side of their enemies.
I'm not sure we could wage war even if we wanted to.
it appears that fundamentalists such as the OIC bring endless jihad, against one enemy or another, for the duration of their rule.
lesterblog.blogspot.com