Ethiopia invades Somalia

[Black Dog]

Ethiopian troops crossed into Somalia today to shore up the country’s fragile Government amid fears of an attack by Islamists, according to sources close to the administration.

This is from a few days ago. Here's the latest:

Islamic courts controlling the Somali capital will not take part in talks with the government unless Ethiopian troops leave Somalia, an official says.

Developing...

[geoffrey]

Definitely concerning. It seems like soverignty is just a catch phrase of the day, not to be regarded with any real consideration?

[August1991]

This will develop. The Americans are not going to let Somalia turn into another Afghanistan and I doubt they want to intervene there again.

My guess is that the Ethiopians - acting in their own interest - are getting alot of material assistance.

[Rue]

Make no mistake Ethiopia is acting on its own. Their concerns with Somalia and Eritrean fundamentalist Islamic groups are very old. I am sure the CIA may be helping but they couldn't do it without Ethiopia calling them in. Somalia has no oil or minerals and it is not in the position to interefere with the shipping lanes off its coast. Its only strategic importance is it could be used as a launching site to attack oil carrying vessels....but to do that it would have to operate a naval force and its current network of anarchy can not support anything more then a few speed-boats. Could it be used as base to train terrorists for operations in other countries? Maybe, but there are plenty of places, i..e., Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Libya, where terrorists can and do train. Ethiopia's real concern is stopping Somali warlords from networking with Eritrean war-lords and operating within Ethiopian terrirory or raiding Ethiopian villages along the border. The only thing Somalia is these days is a network that smuggles opium and child and adult slaves to and from the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The vast majority of its people starve while criminals run wild and loose and do what they want.

[August1991]

Could it be used as base to train terrorists for operations in other countries? Maybe, but there are plenty of places, i..e., Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Libya, where terrorists can and do train.

That would be the fear. Such a base would not be possible in any of those countries except maybe Sudan.

Incidentally, there are strong ties between Yemen and Somalia. Boats frequently cross the Gulf of Aden and there is intermarriage. In addition, bin Laden's family comes from the southwest part of Saudi Arabia, on the Yemeni border. This region of Saudi resembles Yemen almost more than Saudi. If bin Laden is still alive, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned up in an Islamic Somalia.

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I fear that in the future, more countries will suffer failed governments like Somalia. In fact, I think this is already a reality in many countries and the existing government is merely a facade.

[Machinations]

That would be the fear. Such a base would not be possible in any of those countries except maybe Sudan.

August1991, dont take this personally, but that is incredibly naive. A 'training camp' can be your basement. Think creatively.

More importantly, it seems none of you have mentioned it was a US-backed alliance of warlords - well known for their cruelty - who were defeated by the Islamic militias. In Mogasdishu it was well known that the warlords were receiving financing from the US - it was also widely reported in the Western media. This does no good for Americas image and I would imagine emboldens extremists.

America needs to pick its "friends" more carefully. Remember the Northern Alliance? Like a sieve that Osama slipped through - but hey, I guess fighting with a proxy army of mercenaries meant less American casualties to explain at home, mmmkay?