Posted on 11/25/2001 3:30:06 PM PST by MadIvan
AS THE Taliban crumble, speculation is again rife that American sights could be turned on another of the world's most chaotic countries: Somalia.
President Bush has already given clear warnings. Shortly after the September 11 attacks he placed the Somali militant group al-Itihaad al-Islamiya on a list of outlawed terrorist organisations.
This month he froze the assets of al-Barakat, Somalia's biggest business conglomerate, described by the US as "quartermasters of terror". Intelligence and diplomatic sources say al-Qa'eda has been operating training camps alongside its colleagues in al-Itihaad.
They have pooled resources, observers say, since 1992 when al-Itihaad leaders met Osama bin Laden in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Intelligence sources say that in 1998 bin Laden congratulated his operators on the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
There have been persistent rumours that bin Laden could flee to Somalia. Some reports say he is already there. Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said last week that he could have fled via Pakistan to Somalia, Sudan or Yemen, which are also on Washington's potential hit list.
Al-Qa'eda is reported to have training camps in Yemen's northern mountains, where several thousand guerrillas are believed to be awaiting orders. Eight British Arabs convicted in Yemen of murdering four tourists in 1998 identified Islamic army camps in Aden. These could be targets.
Sanctions against Sudan, which remains on Washington's list of countries that sponsor terrorism, were dropped in September after President Omar al-Bashir declared himself a member of the coalition against terrorism.
But Hassan al-Turabi, the leading opposition figure, was bin Laden's closest associate in Sudan, where he lived between 1992 and 1996. There is speculation that followers of Turabi, who is married to bin Laden's niece, could be pursued by the Americans.
Somalia could be the easiest of the three countries to strike. It has been an open secret for months that al-Itihaad's main training base is near the coastal town of Ras Kamboni, on the Kenyan border.
According to Somalis in the area, members of al-Qa'eda began to infiltrate the south of the country in 1996 posing as Islamic missionaries. They built training camps and took control of several towns.
Locals tell of Arab recruits training in the camps and imposing a terrifying, Taliban-style sharia law. "These people have a kind of poison in them," said Muhammed, a cattle trader who fled the area this year. "They did terrible things to people they suspected of being opposed to them and their teachings. They would rip out their eyes and chop off their hands.
"They would beat people and cut the body to allow the wounds to become infested with maggots. Others they tied their hands and feet and drowned them in the river." Smoking was forbidden. Caught once, a guilty man would receive 40 lashes. Caught again, he would be executed.
Yet it remains unclear how the Americans could eradicate the terrorism threat in Somalia. Many accounts say the terrorists fled after September 11. Boats were seen leaving Ras Kamboni night after night, sailing out into the Indian Ocean.
"If there was a war to be fought against terrorism in Somalia then I think the Americans have missed the boat," said one diplomat.
There are also doubts over whether America has the stomach for a war in Somalia. In late 1992 Mr Bush's father sent troops there on a peacekeeping operation. It was a disaster, with at least 17 Americans killed in a single incident, and they soon pulled out.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!That is funny!,and soo true!
We should have then, but what's a few years? Let them know that America never forgets.
Thankfully, neither does MadIvan.
Clinton may be beyond rehabilitation, and he cannot be exonerated, but this is the time to reclaim a proper respect for Rangers and Deltas in Mogadishu. I would like to see the terrorists eliminated in Somalia. Make the place safe for real progress.
Quite a legacy, eh?
Albiet a well-deserved one!
I'm sure the vast majority of our military would second your statement!
May God Bless Your Brother and keep him safe. Please tell him that most FReepers, and this one in particular, LOVE him and thank him for his brave service!
Actually, this is wrong! GWH Bush sent in forces on a HUMANITARIAN mission. Upon taking over in January, 1993, Clinton advisors Anthony Lake, Madeline Albright, and Les Aspin (with Clinton's approval) turned it into a "nation-building" exercise focusing on getting the war lord Muhammad Aidid. Colin Powell, still Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was opposed to this sea-change in the mission.
The 19, NOT 17, who died, did so on October 3rd, 1993, due to lack of armor, AC-130 gunships, and other assets that left the 75th Ranger Regiment without an escape plan after two black hawks were shot down. The armour WAS requested by Gen Montgomery in September, many weeks before the ill-fated raid. Les Aspin resigned as Sec of Defense two weeks after the debacle.
Thank you for pointing out some of the more egregious BS in this piece from the street of journalistic whores, home of the morally and intellectually bankrupt -- and in which the "well-founded rumor" [Picked up on the way in to the "newsroom" from the early-opening pub on the corner] -- is an oft-used News source!
Thanks, I just may buy the book, although I think I have a fairly good idea about the mentality of these barbarians "that" (not who) inhabit the Third World Hell-holes of their own making.
It was [Bolshy Benn-Blair's Neo-Axis buddy Cli'ton -- and Aspen -- who] screwed up the Somali mission. [Their Social-Worker-Soldier Syndrome] changed the goals to nation building, and did not give the requested support to the Rangers.
"Yet it remains unclear how the Americans could eradicate the terrorism threat in Somalia."
Anyone know which of bin Laden's siblings has a daughter who married bin Laden's closest associate in Somalia? Was this sibling ever in the United States? I thought the bin Ladens had all disowned Osama.
Interesting how this works... bin Laden's son marries one of Mohammed Atef's daughters, bin Laden's niece marries a Somali warlord, and bin Laden himself marries one of Mullah Omar's daughters.
Polygamy is very utilitarian in the enterprise of terror, no?
Me thinks this writer hasn't visited the States lately.
Me thinks this piece is a part of a fleet-street series of not-too-subtle put downs of America!
In late 1992 Mr Bush's father sent troops there on a peacekeeping operation. It [Later became a KKKli'toon] disaster when that Evil bastard had] at least 17 Americans killed in a single incident -- and [Then gutlessly pulled them out.]
To this day the Special Forces say this mission was a success but Americans were appalled by the brutality of the Somalis. In both Somalia and Desert Storm the US was aligned with the United Nations. We aren't making that mistake now.
Our Beloved FRaternal Republic, the Greatest-ever Nation in the History of the Human Species, essentially has no need for "alliances" in this, its Fourth World War.
We won all of the others -- and We will win this one too!
For nothing Trumps FReedom!
After the UN steps in, Afghanistan could easily be back to hellhole status by then.
He won't risk crossing oceans by ship or plane: too many circumstances beyond his control could put our hands on him.
For the same reason, he won't cross a frontier in a car trunk or dressed in a birqa: the shame if captured would diminish his legend.
Best for him is horse travel: if he makes it great, if killed, he retains his glorious warrior image.
I still think what I thought long ago: he is traveling with 5-10 true believers who would gladly jump off a cliff for him. They are in a pre-stocked deep cave with years worth of food, water, clothes, blankets etc. If it's deep enough with a totally hidden entrance and well dispersed vents, it will be invisible even to thermal sensors. He could lay low in such a cave reading his koran for months, easily. Then at the best moment, he slips into Pakistan to appear at his favorite madrassa school, before he disappears into a slum of millions.
The lesson of Somalia (for Osama) is that even the USA could not capture M. F. Aidid in a teeming third world slum.
According to Somalis in the area, members of al-Qa'eda began to infiltrate the south of the country in 1996 posing as Islamic missionaries. They built training camps and took control of several towns. Locals tell of Arab recruits training in the camps and imposing a terrifying, Taliban-style sharia law. "These people have a kind of poison in them," said Muhammed, a cattle trader who fled the area this year. "They did terrible things to people they suspected of being opposed to them and their teachings. They would rip out their eyes and chop off their hands."They would beat people and cut the body to allow the wounds to become infested with maggots. Others they tied their hands and feet and drowned them in the river." Smoking was forbidden. Caught once, a guilty man would receive 40 lashes. Caught again, he would be executed.
OMG! What a bunch of savages!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.