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
The Arab League is the only orginization more corrupt and useless than the UN.
Am I time-traveling? It is still Dec. 26 here. Article is dated Dec. 27....
Thank you...I was a little concerned about your logic in the original post. Assumed it was just dashed off in the passion of the moment.....nice fix!
LOL...somebody posted this yesterday.....
"Waiting for the Somaila Study Group (SSG) report"!
I think the Ethiopians are making a mistake. There is little to be gained from "winning" Mogadishu when you are facing an Islamist enemy, who has probably decided to cede it anyway. Once they take over, they will find themselves victimized by IEDs and car bombings every single day. The only way to win for real is to comb the entire countryside, house to house pretty much killing every Islamist you find, and their families.
Something tells me that the press will not be reporting that "the Ethiopian occupation has brought a degree of stability to Somalia."
What? There's something still left standing in Mogadishu!!??
Who knew?
Are the morons on the Left even aware of this war? I know they don't care about brown people killing brown people, so they are probably just thinking of some way to blame Bush for it.
Kill them.
How do you make someone surrender when they want to die, and have nothing on this earth they care about?
Kill them.
How can you remove islamic terrorists from a country once they are infiltrated, when they hide among the people you are trying to save?
Kill them.
Islamic fundamentalism is like a cancer you simply can't beat. You can kill it, but only by killing the patient.
OK. Kill them.
It worked against Japan and Germany 60 years ago and the world is the better off for it, isn't it?
It's a simple solution, but not one we are (for PC reasons) likely to pursue. Therefore, we will be awash in our own blood long before they are awash in theirs.
Yes, let's hope "peace talks on an even footing" as described in the article aren't the after-plan.
Little known fact is the contingent of Ethiopian troops who fought in Korea in 1952 and 1953. according to SLA Marshall (Pork chop Hill) they were without equal in the field.
US Special Forces have training Ethiopian forces for years. You know that they are involved now too.
lol- the big fierce islamists going down in 48 hours- makes the heart warm. Go ethiopia! http://sacredscoop.com
"Unfortunately The Arab League isn't the only party to call for a ceasefire."
State chooses the side of our enemies against our allies yet again....
How would you propose to organize a retreat of suicidal warriors?
Not much difference between the Arab League and Foggy Bottom when it comes right down to it.
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