Posted on 12/26/2006 6:58:34 AM PST by meg88
Ethiopian troops advance on Mogadishu
December 27, 2006
ETHIOPIAN troops are advancing on the Somali capital and could seize it within two days.
Somalia's envoy to Ethiopia said yesterday: "Ethiopian forces are on their way to Mogadishu. They are about 70 kilometres away and it is possible they could capture it in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Addis Ababa has vowed to protect Somalia's weak interim Government from rival Islamists based in Mogadishu, and a week of artillery and mortar duels between the two sides has spiralled into open war that both sides say has killed hundreds.
Islamist fighters have retreated from the front line, with troops loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts withdrawing more than 50 kilometres to the south-east from Daynuney, a town just south of the Government's headquarters of Baidoa.
Ethiopian jets fired missiles at the retreating soldiers yesterday, after bombing Somalia's two Islamist-held international airports on Monday.
While the Government hailed the retreat as a partial victory, the Islamists insisted their withdrawal and re-grouping was a tactic in what they vowed would be a long war.
The Islamist forces also abandoned their main stronghold in Bur Haqaba and were forming convoys heading towards the capital Mogadishu, reported residents in villages along the road.
"We woke up from our sleep this morning and the town was empty of troops, not a single Islamic fighter," said Ibrahim Muhammad Aden, a resident of Bur Haqaba. Another resident said locals were looting the food left behind.
Islamic fighters were also reportedly retreating on two other fronts in the war for control of Somalia. On the northern front, Government and Ethiopian troops entered the town of Bulo Barde, where two weeks ago a Muslim cleric said anyone who did not pray five times a day would be executed.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced on Saturday that he had sent troops into Somalia to fight international terrorists, defend Ethiopian interests and prop up the besieged UN-backed Government, which has only a small military force.
But Mr Zenawi has said he does not intend to keep his forces in Somalia for long. He has told visiting dignitaries in Addis Ababa that his goal is to severely damage the Islamic Courts' military capabilities, take away their sense of invincibility and allow both sides to return to peace talks on an even footing.
The Islamic group, which wants to rule the country by the Koran, has been a source of grave concern for Ethiopia. Since June, it has seized control of the capital and much of southern Somalia.
No reliable casualty reports are available. Both sides claim to have killed hundreds of their enemy, but independent observers were not given access to the battlefield. The Arab League, which has mediated several rounds of talks between the Somali Government and the Islamists, called for all parties involved to "immediately hold a comprehensive ceasefire".
Many Somalis are enraged by Ethiopian involvement - the countries have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years.
Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, plunging the country into chaos.
AP, REUTERS
Heavens no!
Finding a cab in Minneapolis would be impossible.
This, too.
I have a hunchx, just a peculiar feeling mind you, that if the Ethiopians make it to Mogadishu that they will not have a problem supporting their infantry with tanks, airstrikes, artillery, and any other heavy the have at their disposal.
The WOT would be over now if we could somehow fuse their political will with our "biggest can of whoop-a$$ on the planet" military. < sigh >
"...but not so fast that the pacifist cowards couldn't find inherent fault (e.g., costs blood, treasure, takes time) with it, so as to feed their burgeoning propaganda machines.
There, fixed.
HF
If you set up a ping list for this development, please include me. Thanks.
Maybe we should reconsider the wisdom of starting anything until our ROE are more in line with "General, use everything you have on anything the enemy could hide in and everyone that does'nt have Old Glory sewed on their sleeve."
i wish success to the ethiopians-they are not looking to annex somalia,but to rout out the islamists who've got control there-we ought to give them some air support(i.e.AC 130's) to help them in this struggle-it's every bit as important as defeating hezbollah-notice the UN jew hater crew hasn't gotten on the backs of the ethiopians....hmmm?and the lousy peanut farmer hasn't reared his head either-they're very selective-wonder why??
Quick, let's consult James Baker as to what to do.
(/extreme sarcasm)
Since they don't tolerate back stabbers and treason, they will do fine until the world wide mediots go after them.
yes, its tempting to think that giving them US air support would be a good idea. but as soon as one US plane killed a "somali civilian", all hell would break loose.
let the ethiopians go in there, and do whatever it takes to win.
FYI the "Mission Accomplished", to which you are referring, was a banner on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln that signified the CARRIERS mission was accomplished.
If you recall the carrier was returning to port after it's mission during the initial Iraq invasion. President Bush flew onto the carrier to make a speech.
Ping!
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