Posted on 06/21/2006 12:23:07 PM PDT by decimon
The chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, left , has talks with the ambassador of the Arab league to Somalia, Abdalla Mubarak,Wednesday, June 21, 2006 in Mogadishu. MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR
MOGADISHU, Somalia - For a Mogadishu port worker, an Islamic group's takeover of most of southern Somalia means he can haul cargo without fear of rampaging militiamen. At the other end of the economic scale, a Coke executive is just as eager to grasp a chance at normalcy in a country that has known little but violence for more than a decade.
The Islamic militia's victory this month over the warlords who controlled Somalia's capital for 15 years has brought together clerics interested in enforcing Islamic law, secular business people looking to reach international markets and civic leaders anxious for an end to chaos.
But no one can say for sure what will come next.
In Mogadishu, supporters of the Islamic Courts Union, the umbrella group behind the militia, reject comparisons with the Taliban, the hard-line Islamic militia that united Afghanistan and gave refuge to Osama bin Laden. The union's leaders deny U.S. accusations that some members have been harboring al-Qaida suspects.
Instead, they describe a popular uprising against the warlords, who had divided the capital. When the warlords began fighting again, the people called on the Islamic courts, which had for years provided the only semblance of law and order in Somalia, supporters said.
"There was no other option," said Khadija Ali, a Somali-American doctoral student in conflict resolution at George Mason University who spends part of the year in Somalia.
The Islamic militiamen's rapid advance across most of southern Somalia surprised even them, said Ali, who has been advising the courts union on international relations.
"These guys were not prepared for this change, they did not have a plan, so it is overwhelming," she said. "They don't have much experience internationally, so they don't know what the West expects them to do."
For the most part, Somalis have welcomed the elimination of roadblocks manned by drug-addled teens who extorted money on warlords' orders and robbed, raped and killed with impunity.
Elmer Mahmoud Mohammed, a 52-year-old worker at El-Maan port, said he was thrilled that the warlords and their militiamen were gone.
"It is much better, it is quiet, there is no war," he said, standing on the beach where almost all of Somalia's imports are brought ashore by small barges and more than 10,000 laborers.
At a new $7 million Coca-Cola bottling plant, acting general manager Mohammed Hassan Awale said the end of the warlord era was good for business.
"Before we had gunmen accompanying our distributors, now no guns are needed," he said. "If there is peace, there is opportunity for work, for business and people will have money to buy Coke."
The chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, has said the group does not intend to form a government.
"The final solution is with the Somali people, they are the ones who are responsible for the future," he said. On Wednesday, he sent delegates to Arab League-sponsored talks with the U.N.-backed transitional government based in Baidoa, 155 miles northwest from Mogadishu.
Many Somalis expect little from the Arab League initiative because their weak transitional government and the Islamic leaders have taken sharply opposing positions.
Somalia's transitional president has claimed the courts union is backed by international extremists, echoing U.S. accusations some of its leaders are linked to al-Qaida.
"We have to make concessions for the common good of Somalia," Ahmed told The Associated Press. But he said his group will not accept government plans to welcome foreign peacekeepers.
However, there are many fault lines in Somali society.
The dominant clans in the Islamic Courts Union are the Abgal and Ayr; they have fought before and many fear they will again. Powerful business people compete across and within clan lines for resources and markets.
Many Somali clerics disagree on the proper interpretation of Islam. And there is also a wide gulf between the elite with foreign passports and the poor who are happy if they can manage a meal a day.
The courts union so far has appealed to almost all of them. But in a country where anarchy and violence have been the norm and many issues remain unresolved, most Somalis are waiting to see whether the country returns to civil war.
Ali said the international community must demand peace talks that include the transitional government, the courts union, the business community and civil society.
Now that the warlords have been defeated, all Somalis must work together to form a new government, she said.
The courts union "couldn't do anything without the business sector and civil society. Now the movement should have the face of all three sectors of society," she said. "If it is only the Islamic courts who have power, then the radicals will succeed."
Ali said she has been trying to recruit business people and civic leaders to join the courts union, but it's been difficult.
"I talked to some of my friends in civil society and they say, `I run a non-governmental organization, I don't want to get involved in politics,'" she said. "I say to them, `This isn't about politics, this is about survival, this is about saving Somalia.'"
CRYSTAL!
Let me think now... Hmmmm.
Warlords or radical islamist? That's a toughie.
The phrase, "out of the frying pan and into the fire" comes to mind.
True, but these are a different people. We can only hope they share power as per this from the article:
The courts union "couldn't do anything without the business sector and civil society. Now the movement should have the face of all three sectors of society," she said. "If it is only the Islamic courts who have power, then the radicals will succeed."
Until they want to watch soccer instead of women being stoned that is.
Islamofascist puff piece alert!
The Islamic Courts movement is supported by foreign jihadists from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, etc.
There are known to be 17 named terror trainin camps, with many others unnamed or undiscovered so far.
Replacing warlordism with another Al Qaeda safe haven is hardly the time to celebrate.
And they might because they are a different people with a different culture. Gotta hope.
This is pure propoganda of the worse kind. Don't you believe for one minute that these islamic courts will give up one iota of power in deference to secterian authority - won't happen, ever.
Islam is a disease; a cancer that must be wholly and completely eradicated for any of mankind to ever enjoy true peace and freedom again.
What is your plan for that?
The MSM, in bed with the Isalmofascists. Have been since 9-11.
WTF are you talking about?
I asked you what is your plan to do what you wrote must be done.
The average Somali is picking his rulers like the average American is choosing to pay exhorbitant taxes.
Do you really think an anonymous individual, like yourself, typing on an internet blog would have any influence whatsoever over what I think regarding this particular matter?
Don't waste your time (or mine) trying to game me, junior. Based in part on your initial cutesy reply I have no interest in anything you have to say, nor do I give a rat's @ss what you may think of me.
How so? They have already declared Sharia law.
Never mind your "hope." I hope for a Porsche.
Please tell us how, as you stated in your own words, "these are a different people."
They have shut down cinimas and pulled the plug on broadcasts of the World Cup in the first couple of days. When will we see the first stoning?
How are "these are a different people?"
PS, see tagline.
We don't need a "plan." There are 80 million gun owners in the US. Most of which own more than one gun. We practice regularly, and are, for the most part, good shots.
Please do not make the mistake that so many other cultures have made. We don't have a "leader." We don't have "a plan." We never will. We are individually independent people, gathered together loosely because we like individual people. We hate "plans" and "orders." We do pretty much what we want. When the time comes, we will do whatever is neccesary, regardless of "the plan" any "leader" decides.
Rest assured, however, that when each of us decides we've had enough, there is nothing on earth anyone can do to prevent what will happen, until it is done. And once it starts, God help anyone who gets in the way. Do not mistake "no plan from the top" with weakness. It is our strength, first seen during the American Revolution when individual groups of farmers shot at British troops, from behind trees. We invented modern terrorism during warfare.
Our military is very strong, but if we disbanded our military completely, nobody could take us on our land. The strength of the individual is first, and some will give up freedom to join the military for awhile. But it is not the other way around.
This is not a threat. It is just the way we are. Nobody can predict when it will happen, and nobody can predict who will lead.
If you look at our military structure, you can get a glimpse. Individual patrols do not look to generals before they act. Their only "plan" is to do whatever it takes to kill the enemy in front of them.
The military did not train them to do that; we trained the military to do it. We, the 80 million independent gun owners in America.
PS, again see tagline.
PS: We are the only society in the world where we love chaos.
Nobody adapts better to "the moment" than us. That is what makes us so strong. No plans, no leader, no timing. But when it happens, you will know it, and nothing can stop it.
PSS: Did I say see tagline?
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