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| Africa: Horn |
| Chaos in forgotten Somalia |
| 2005-01-31 |
| Driving across Mogadishu in a battle wagon full of machine-gun-toting, khat-chewing militiamen, crossing an area of inter-clan fighting involving mortar attacks in densely populated urban areas, we felt we were in a time warp. This could easily have been a decade ago, when 30,000 U.S. soldiers were deployed in Somalia, a country then and still without a permanent national government. But things have indeed changed, and the way they have changed matters to U.S. national security. During the last decade, international Islamist groups, including Al-Qaeda, have invested with Somali partners, building a commercial empire in the country that rivals that of any other faction and which is increasingly asserting itself as a political and military force. It is crucial not to paint every Islamist group as an inherent threat to Western interests or values. Islamic organizations of various stripes have been at the forefront of restoring education and health care, Sharia (Islamic law) courts have provided security in some areas, and sheikhs are prominent in reconciliation. But a small network of Islamist extremists in Somalia has helped facilitate the activities of Al-Qaeda in terrorist attacks over the years, namely against the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the attack on a tourist hotel on the Kenyan coast, a failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter flight near Mombasa, and an unrealized plot to crash an airplane into the new U.S. embassy in Nairobi last year. The same extremists are preparing to unleash attacks on Somalia's new government, as well as African Union peacekeeping forces, when they eventually return to Mogadishu. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #12 We all have our little foibles, and one of mine is that every now and then I work up a good grudge and won't let go of it. The Somalis mutilated our soldiers and dragged their bodies through the streets. Now they want some more of my tax dollars? Go screw. |
| Posted by: Matt 2005-01-31 5:43:38 PM |
| #11 It's not "Islam" per se that we have a problem with - it's the way some people interpret and apply Islam to terrorize, extort, kill, maim, murder, and destroy others that we have a problem with. If that's not "part of Islam", then get rid of it. IF, however, that is the part of Islam you intend to extend to us, you're going to have a problem - a BIG problem. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-01-31 5:23:27 PM |
| #10 Sorry, guys, we're kinda busy right now with another group of Muslims who actually want to have a functioning, democratic government. When you stop chewing khat, put down the guns and grow up, maybe we'll care. But I doubt it. Maybe some of those wonderful Islamic groups this author thinks exist would be able to assist you. Have a nice day. (And I mean it in the sense a cop does when he gives you a speeding ticket.) |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-01-31 2:09:20 PM |
| #9 Not recolonisation, just lots of money, diplomats with endless tolerance, patience and enthusiasm for 'process', and perhaps a few technocrats to keep the fax machines running. Oh, did I mention lots of money? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-01-31 1:18:08 PM |
| #8 So what they are calling for is a recolonization program, like the post-WWI mandates given to Britain and France in the Middle East -- Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon... At some point the peepul have to decide law and order cost less than all-against-all chaos. And until they are willing to pay the cost, nothing the US or anyone else does will fix it. My heart weeps to say it, but in the end kindness is more cruel: Surround the place with an Iron Curtain, and wait them out. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-01-31 11:03:43 AM |
| #7 Somalia is chaos. |
| Posted by: Duke Nukem 2005-01-31 10:37:13 AM |
| #6 I'm afraid I stopped caring about Somalis in general, after those pictures of a Somali mob dragging the dead bodies of American soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu were published. Seal the borders and let them slaughter each other, or starve, or whatever. As the great Lileks said (and I am approximating the quote by memory) "I am out of care. The care well is run dry. The dog ate my care..." |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2005-01-31 9:50:46 AM |
| #5 If we have to go in there again, just do everybody a favor, nuke the fuckin place and forget about it... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-01-31 9:30:53 AM |
| #4 Now there is a glowing example of the Democratic Party exit strategy. Peace, love, and warm puppies. |
| Posted by: Elmomoting Grunter8338 2005-01-31 9:25:15 AM |
| #3 This paper, "The Daily Star", is headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon. That's about all we need to know. Just one more festering mess of a place whose own people have given up and allowed foreigners and radical Islam to crap in their nest. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-01-31 8:17:20 AM |
| #2 So, the whole thing is America's fault. Good to know. And if America was taking an active interest in Somalian reconstruction, you'd hear unconstructive criticism of the same from this very outlet, methinks. |
| Posted by: gromky 2005-01-31 2:17:45 AM |
| #1 Somalia falling into it's own cesspool by weight should cause no concern for the US! They're already in hell, just provide the handbasket! |
| Posted by: smn 2005-01-31 12:36:55 AM |