Tourists in Somaliland (Buttigieg 2008)

New York Times ^ | July 31, 2008 | Peter Buttigieg and Nathaniel Myers

[karpov]

Last week we went to Somalia as American tourists. We stayed only a night, but that was plenty of time to wander unescorted through the local market, explore town in a battered Toyota station wagon, and even head out into the desert to admire some ancient cave paintings.

It might seem an odd choice of vacation spot, given that Somalia, so long synonymous with "failed state," appears to be growing ever more dangerous. The insurgency against the American-backed Ethiopian occupation persists, and just last week it was reported that a particularly radical group has launched a campaign to murder relief workers, who are there trying desperately to avert an oncoming famine.

Indeed, we were able to travel safely to Somalia only because of a peculiar but important technicality: The world makes no distinction between the Republic of Somaliland, the autonomous and self-governing territory that we visited, and the rest of Somalia to its south.

Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has achieved a level of peace and stability beyond the wildest dreams of the quasi-government in Mogadishu. Yet remarkably, throughout the many years the international community has funded, fed and sought vainly to stabilize Somalia, it has studiously ignored the peaceful and democratic polity to Somalia's north.

This is not an oversight but a conscious policy decision: No country on earth will recognize Somaliland as a peer. The African Union has occasionally "studied" the issue, but its members are loath to endorse what would amount to secession from one of their own.

The United States and many European states have said they will defer to the African Union's policy - despite their willingness last year to proactively promote the controversial independence of Kosovo.

With the world averting its eyes, the remarkable achievements of Somaliland have gone unnoticed.

[karpov]

Hat tip: Steve Sailer. The byline says "Peter Buttigieg is a management consultant in Chicago and a fellow at the Truman National Security Project. Nathaniel Myers is a political analyst in Ethiopia."

No American "vacations" in Somalia. Was being a lobbyist for Somaliland part of Buttigieg's "private sector" experience?

[wastoute]

He was never private sector. He has been CIA since high school more than likely.

[x]

It's two countries - Somalia and Somaliland. I didn't know that and couldn't explain it now, but I think he went to the one that wasn't a chaotic hell-hole.

It's clear that they weren't tourists. The Truman National Security Project has ties with lobbyists, and Buttigieg may have been involved with them.

[SkyPilot]

Fox News a few nights ago was pronouncing his name as "Boot-A-Judge."

LOL!

Anything except "Butt-Guy'g."

[bert]

Mayor Pete is queer....... that’s all

He is running to wave the queer flag

[I want the USA back]

We stayed onlhy a night, but that was plenty of time to write an article for the NYT and pick up a few extra bucks.
Although we know absolutely nothing about Somalia or Somaliland, we felt qualified to write an article which the NYT published because we are members of a reproductive minority.

[spiderpig]

I would wager that a homosexual “vacationing” in a 3rd world country is largely based on some planned homosexual contact in a “no tell” society. Likely including “younger” males.

That environment existed in the San Francisco bath houses in the 80’s. That had some unintended/bad consequences.

IF Buttgig did have some CIA reason to visit there (entirely possible), you can be sure that getting some strange young tail was up front in his consciousness.

[chopperk]

Maybe Fudgepackin Pete should go to Somaliland and practice his wares?

[Mr Ramsbotham]

IF Buttgig did have some CIA reason to visit there (entirely possible), you can be sure that getting some strange young tail was up front in his consciousness.

That was my first thought. A few American dollars can get you pretty much anything you want in certain shithole countries.

[IronJack]

Their “hotel’s” pool bore a remarkable similarity to their hotel’s sewer. But Buttgiggity felt right at home.

[PGR88]

He has been CIA since high school more than likely.

Like Obama, Buttigieg is a red-diaper baby, whose father was a follower and scholar of Italian Communist Party founder Antonio Gramsci - who was Lenin's choice to head the Italian Communist Party. Gramsci was a founder of "Neo-Marxist" thought - the idea that the Communist revolution isn't just about changing economics, but about changing race, sex, religion and everything else that makes up society. Sound familiar today???