Posted on 12/27/2006 4:23:54 PM PST by Popman
Ethiopia has emerged as the only nation willing to directly confront the al-Qaeda franchise Islamic Courts Union in Somalia, driving into the east African nation with tanks and pushing the Islamists and their fighters - including foreign terrorists poured in from around the Middle East - back to the eastern shores of Mogadishu.
After rolling though Somalia and driving the ICU out of Somali cities and towns along the way, Ethipian forces have pulled up and surrounded Mogadishu. A siege strategy like that once employed by the ICU on the last remaining Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) stronghold of Baidoa is being employed by Ethiopian forces. The stated intent is to avoid civilian losses.
But the Telegraph’s Mike Pflanz notes the likely futility of such a move “as Mogadishu sits on the Indian Ocean, allowing sympathetic foreign fighting forces to land on the beach to reinforce and re-arm” the Islamist forces via their al-Qaeda lifeline. An American-led naval blockade would greatly assist by sealing the fourth side of a three-sided Ethiopian siege effort.
But the United States is calling for a return to negotiations in Somalia, and it remains to be seen whether American naval forces will be ordered to assist the forward-leaning Ethiopian government and its unapologetic engagement of the Islamists seeking an al-Qaeda foothold on the Horn of Africa.
While noting American support of Ethiopian actions, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos also signaled a less than forward-leaning American approach to action on the Horn by also saying, “We’ve instructed our ambassadors in the region to meet with governments to urge them to pressure Somalis to return to the negotiating table. We do not believe this can be resolved on the battlefield.” The African Union has demanded an outright withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia.
Speaking to the UN Security Council Tuesday, Kofi Annan’s special representative to Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, echoed such demands and calls. “Unless a political settlement is reached through negotiations, Somalia, I am afraid, will face a period of deepening conflict and heightened instability, which would be disastrous for the long-suffering people of Somalia, and could also have serious consequences for the entire region,’’ he said.
But the long-suffering people of Somalia face even greater long-term perils – as does the rest of the region and the world – through resumed inaction that would allow the Islamic Courts Union and its al-Qaeda ‘management’ to continue its progress, allowing an al-Qaeda terrorist foothold and Taliban-style Islamist rule over the whole of Somalia.
It must be recognized by Western leaders – most notably the United States – that the coveted ‘negotiation process’ is what permitted the ICU to harvest Somali territory for al-Qaeda in the first place. Negotiation must take place after the Islamists will has been broken in Somalia by force alone, not beforehand. For force is the language they speak with and the only language they have an ear for.
An American-led naval blockade would greatly assist by sealing the fourth side of a three-sided Ethiopian siege effort.
A couple of small vessels would be a nice show of support to tell those bastards where ever they go, we will be there.
The US vessels are probably already there.
We have them in the area.
We know the threat.
We are friends with Ethiopia.
Sometimes the most effective efforts are the least publicized.
Ditto to that.
We're.... uh.... fishing! That's right. Just a little R&R.
What is the CAIR opinion on all this?????? Please somebody tell me??? AND....What is the opinion of Keith Ellison, D-Minn?????
Good for Ethiopia!
The terrorists cannot fight an actual battle...they hide behind women and children.
I hope we are supporting the efforts to clear these terrorists out of the country!
I would just like to throw in another Bush accomplishment here.
Bush has initiated efforts not just to improve our military here at home but to encourage friendly governments around the world to increase their military strength in order to supplement our common interests. Countries such as Australia, India, Canada, Poland and others have heeded this call.
Such improvements in allied positions has drastically increased American strength and influence globally despite the naysaying in the media.
The latest Ethiopian proxy win over the Islamofascists is further success in the more discree war against terrorism being waged on the African continent.
Good job President Bush.
I'd like to believe we are already there to help Ethiopia, but these days who really knows what back door deals are being pushed by the house of Saud.
I'm sure Jim Baker would sell them down the river faster than an ice cube in hell melts
Ummm... as opposed to what that has happened in the last 16 years? I'll place my bets with the Ethiopians.
Memo to Bush administration: Please take notes and observe how easily the Islamo-fascists cave when enough force is used against them. Now use this information and get out there and kick their ass!
Knowing our gutless government, they will probably side with the terrorists and we and the U.N. will demand that Ethiopia remove its self from the area.
"A couple of small vessels would be a nice show of support to tell those bastards where ever they go, we will be there."
This one would be just fine.....but the thread is full of folks who are all right with scrapping it:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1758963/posts
Black American Muslims have always put Islam above color and heritage. Arabs and Muslims sold slaves and indeed still do long after the white Europeans and white Americans did. Black African slavery to the new world was largely ended because of the campaigning by white British Christians of an Evangelical bent. Today, as you probably know, black African Christians are brutally treated by Muslims with Darfur being a splendidly ignored example, and not a peep is heard from American Muslims of any color, or for that matter many self-proclaimed black American leaders who are ostensibly co-religionists of the victims in Darfur or many other parts of Africa. It's an interesting fact to that Christianity may be saved by black Africans who remain committed to an Orthodox non-watered down religion.
Translation: The good guys are too close to winning outright.
I still think a few AC-130H's would be a nice contribution. Circle Mogadishu, and open up on any obvious hostiles. Make the seige press all the more closely.
And forget the blockade as such: just have combat air patrols sink any Mogadishu-bound boat or ship.
9...8...7...6...5...
Since our gutless government will be even more gutless when the the moonbats dems take over, it would not surprise me if the like of Democrat leadership sends money to the Islamic Courts Union of Somalia as a sign of support against an out of control Bush military.
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