Eritrea warns of "consequences" for U.S. in Somalia

reuters ^ | 12 Jan 2007

[doc1019]

Oh, I don’t know … just a random thought. I’m sure that my observations will not effect, in any why, the direction of our government.

[sgtbono2002]

Thay dont call it darkest africa for nothing.

[don-o]

What is this ashat, or asshat?

[Billthedrill]

You might be amused by another book on the region by the first white man ever to cross it and live. That was in 1928. The book is entitled Hellhole of Creation: The Exploration of the Abyssinian Danakil by a fellow named Nesbitt. Trust me, this ain't Smurfland.

[Cicero]

"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

[NonValueAdded]

Oh come on, you know ... Erit-rea, just outside the dire straits ... we have been willing to give money for years and they have been willing to accept it for years. How much closer can you get?

[Verginius Rufus]

In the late 19th century when the other European countries were carving up Africa, Italy got only some crumbs...they annexed Somalia and Eritrea (so called after the ancient Greek name for the Red Sea) but failed in their attempt to conquer Ethiopia (Abyssinia). In 1935 Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and managed to conquer the country, but the Italians were driven out by the British in 1941, who also took over Eritrea.

The British stayed until 1952, when Eritrea was made part of a federation with Ethiopia. When the Ethiopians turned it into a province, the Eritreans fought for their independence, a war which went on for 30 years. Finally they were recognized as independent in 1993.

The war between the two countries which broke out in 1998 was senseless and devastating. Until then Eritrea seemed to have a little more promise than the average African country. In terms of life expectancy and infant mortality rates, for example, it is almost at the level of Moldova, the worst-off European country.