In September of 1996 Taliban forces captured the city of Kabul. I remember the optimism of many in the West that the group of young 'scholars' would unify and bring stability to the country. Today, history is repeating itself as Somalia's Taliban practices taqiya and lies to the Western press about it's radical goals.

And just like Afghanistan, many in the West express optimism that the 'Union of Islamic Courts' will at least bring stability to the war-torn country. Stability yes, but at what price? Only fools can believe post-9/11 that stability is a foreign policy goal worthy of pursuit.

Oh, and as the Islamists who now rule much of Southern Somalia disclaim any ties to al Qaeda and Osamna bin Laden, it would be good to look closely at the above photo showing a placard being carried by supporters of the Somali Taliban. And who can forget their public support of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?

BBC News:

The powerful Islamist movement in Somalia has distanced itself from comments about Somalia attributed to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden....

An internet audio recording warned the West not to send troops to Somalia.

But a leader of the Union of Islamic Courts, which has taken control of the capital, Mogadishu, said they did not rely on any outside group. ..

Speaking to reporters in Mogadishu, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, also a figurehead of the Islamic Courts, said Bin Laden was expressing his personal opinion in the audio recording, which has not been verified.

Somalia's Islamists have regularly denied harbouring al-Qaeda fighters in their ranks....

But Mogadishu's new rulers have been at pains to convince Washington and regional African governments that they pose no threat, despite their Islamic leanings, and want to bring stability to Somalia, our correspondent adds.

Diplomats have suggested there is a new window of opportunity to secure peace in Somalia, after 15 years without a functioning central government.

In her version, the whole Somalia conflict is just a big mistake. The Islamists pose no real threat. America became alarmed only after they thought they were being fired upon--which they weren't. We backed some bad guys in Somalia as a result--not like the 'good guys' who set up Sharia courts in Mogadishu and are summarily executing people suspected of committing crimes against Islam.

It only gets worse from there. Here's a short excerpt:

The U.S. effort failed, Somalis said, because it focused only on seizing terrorism suspects, not attempting to improve living conditions in one of the world's poorest countries.

"It will radicalize the people," said Ali, a naturalized U.S. citizen. "Unless I am also safe, you are not going to be safe. That's the message the Americans must learn. They cannot fight this alone."

She also overlooks the fact that the U.S. has long--years before the violence this year--suspected a working relationship (or much more) between the Islamist militias in Somalia and al Qaeda.

Related: Osama bin Laden is in Africa

Posted by: Rusty at 05:10 PM | Comments (39) | Add Comment
Post contains 563 words, total size 4 kb.

1 In September of 2006 Taliban forces captured the city . . .

9/06 is two months away . . .isn't it?

Posted by: whuptdue at July 02, 2006 05:25 PM (MAPKL)

2 We're experiencing another DDoS from the ROP. Tried to fix that seconds after publication, but couldn't. Should be fixed now.

Posted by: Rusty at July 02, 2006 05:35 PM (BXC/2)

3 Hate to toot my own horn, but I said right here a few months ago that the next big push from the Islamists would be in Africa. It's going to get a lot worse if we don't do something quick. Africa will be easy pickings for the Islamists.

Posted by: jesusland joe at July 02, 2006 07:36 PM (rUyw4)

4 Rusty, Karen DeYoung was not the author of that article. The author of the article was Craig Timberg. Karen DeYoung contributed to the article. As for who who knows better what is happening in Somalia our local intelligence officers or anyone else, I'd say that was a coin flip. Proper intelligence analysis can only be done with an absence of emotion: otherwise chosen facts will only tend to support one's prejudices. As for 9/11 causing only fools to believe that stability is a foreign policy goal worthy of pursuit the chaos of failed states can easily harbor those who wish to do us harm. Saudi Arabia, Jordan. Sudan Yemen, we have learned to coexist with these Islamic countries even going so far as to embrace them as allies in the war on terror, maybe we can do the same for Somalia and probably at a much cheaper cost.

Posted by: JOHN RYAN DHIMMI EXTRAORDINAIRE at July 02, 2006 08:00 PM (TcoRJ)

5 Sorry John...

...I...

...just couldn't help myself.

Posted by: Vinnie at July 02, 2006 08:29 PM (/qy9A)

6 John ryan must be a 5 year old sissy to believe that crap.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 02, 2006 09:17 PM (ofp0L)

7 No rooster that is incorrect I was born in 1947. Again I remind you rooster your ,what I am now believing to be your "imaginary," friends from the Bronx never appeared. My comments were made really to show how emotion can cloud perception. People are always free to believe what is most comforting to themselves. As for paying the dhimmi tax I bet I pay a lot less of that to Mecca than others who post or comment here. How much of your gas money goes to Mecca ? And quite frankly I am too idealistic to believe that it serves our long term interests to try to be friends with any islamofacist country simply for the sake of the "war on terror". I live in New York City. I fear terorists about as much as I do roosters friends from the Bronx.

Posted by: JOHN RYAN at July 02, 2006 09:41 PM (TcoRJ)

8 Because you are a stupid idealist. No need to fear the terrorists? Fucking idiot. 3000 people dead and this low life has nothing to fear in NYC. Probably true in your case. Why would they attack a supporter.
And by the way. You lied about your address. Punk.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 02, 2006 10:06 PM (ofp0L)

9 Bin laden in Africa. My god. That would make Rusty right and me wrong. Naw. He's in Iran.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 02, 2006 10:08 PM (ofp0L)

10 And Vinnie here is another "dhimmi" tax for you lol. The power station that the Israelis blew up in the Gaza; that was built by Kenny Boy's ENRON and insured by the good ole USofA. So guess who is going to be paying for that..... again. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/733394.html

Posted by: JOHN RYAN at July 02, 2006 10:14 PM (TcoRJ)

11 Hey Johnny - read the article idiot. Enron did NOT build this plant and the US never paid for it the first time around.

Where do you come up with this shit???

Posted by: John Ryan's last brain cell at July 02, 2006 10:37 PM (2BOvC)

12 Well said, JR. It amazes me that anyone would automatically trust US intel over journalists after the catastrophic failures of our intel agencies. Granted, they were under extraordinary pressure to produce grounds for a war with Iraq, but even so...

And you are absolutely right that the greatest danger comes from terrorism emanating from failed states. At least, that's how it has been so far. I'd put rogue states a close second, and I'd put corrupt authoritarian allies (Saudi, Pakistan, Egypt...Afghanistan? Iraq? Coming soon?) as third, although it's a tough call, since many of the terrorists striking from failed states got their start, their emotional hatred of us, while in corrupt authoritarian regimes allied to us.

Kudos to those who gave you the prize of school boy mockery as a sign of being unable to address your points.

Posted by: jd at July 02, 2006 10:41 PM (DQYHA)

13 Umm Okkk who did pay for the power plant the first time ? Any one ? This is the part of the article that speaks of Enron The power station in Gaza was built over a period of five years, at a cost of $150 million. In 1999, the Enron Corporation, along with Palestinian businessman Said Khoury, began working on the project. In 2000, Khoury's Morganti Group purchased Enron's share of the project. So let's see we have American airplanes bombing an American government insured power plant Of course that makes sense. except for the catch CATCH 22

Posted by: JOHN RYAN at July 02, 2006 11:22 PM (TcoRJ)

14 Here is an older story on Enrons building the power plant. Of course "suspect" because it was in the Washington Posthttp://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26217-2002Mar1?language=printer

Posted by: JOHN RYAN at July 02, 2006 11:31 PM (TcoRJ)

15 As for the part about my fearing terrorists about 18000 Americans are killed each year within the USA. You are much more likely to be killed by one of our fellow citizens than by some muslim fanatic. The people who kill Americans here often are the ones who are isolated, embittered, and afraid.

Posted by: JOHN RYAN at July 02, 2006 11:48 PM (TcoRJ)

16 No, John, you're more likely to be killed by one of our fellow citizens.

Most of the rest of us are heavily armed.

Posted by: Vinnie at July 03, 2006 12:11 AM (/qy9A)

17 John - you ignorant slut, The plant was built the first time by foreign investors. It will NOT be rebuilt with any US taxpayer money. And your point is???

Posted by: John Ryan's last brain cell at July 03, 2006 12:31 AM (2BOvC)

18 John Ryan actually makes a good point, but I still think it is wrong. We have learned to co-exist with the Saudis, etc. What real choice do we have? It's a realistic approach. It's also one of the contributing factors of global Islamism and jihadism. These governments are only "allies" in the broadest sense that their interests and our interests coincide when it comes to al Qaeda and retaining their own power.

I'm willing to let Islamist thugs & corrupt dictators stay in power if that is the least bad choice available. Hopefully, though, there are better alternatives.

Posted by: Rusty at July 03, 2006 12:40 PM (BXC/2)

19 WHY DO YOU BASTARDS GO ON ABOUT 911 ALL THE TIME. 3000 DEAD! WHAT ABOUT THE 100,000S OF CIVILIANS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN THAT YOUR FUCKIN SOLDIERS ARE KILLING RIGHT NOW.
"HUNTING ALQAEDA" - DOGS BOLLOCKS

Posted by: MAJ at July 03, 2006 01:52 PM (l2G5o)

20 LONG LIVE THE TALIBAN!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE JIHAD!!!!!!!!

Posted by: BUSHISACOCKSUCKER at July 03, 2006 01:58 PM (l2G5o)

21 LONG LIVE THE TALIBAN!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE JIHAD!!!!!!!!

Posted by: BUSHISACOCKSUCKER at July 03, 2006 02:00 PM (l2G5o)

22 LONG LIVE THE TALIBAN!!!!!!
LONG LIVE THE JIHAD!!!!!!!!

Posted by: BUSHISACOCKSUCKER at July 03, 2006 02:00 PM (l2G5o)

23 "WHAT ABOUT THE 100,000S OF CIVILIANS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN"

Too Funny!!!

Where do these turdburglers come from???

Posted by: Bernard Campbell at July 03, 2006 03:12 PM (2BOvC)

24 Maj: So if they Taliban would stop hiding behind old ladies we might get a clear shot. Maybe you'll think twice before you go calling for bombing the US again. Remember we have been very gentle with you so far compared to what we should have been.

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2006 03:38 PM (D3+20)

25 FUCK OSAMA BIN LADEN! FUCK THE U.S.A, FUCK ANYBODY FUCKIN WITH SOMALIA AND ITS PROCESS FOR FINDING PEICE! LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE, WE HAVE LOST ENOUGH BLOOD, ENOUGH CHILDREN AND ENOUGH LIVES OVER SIMPLE SHIT ALLREADY! JUST WHEN SHIT IS LOOKING UP YOU MUUTHAFUCKERS GOTTA PUT YOUR BIG ASS HEAD IN IT! GODAMN YOU, ISN'T 15 YEARS OF BLOODSHED ENOUGH FOR YOU?!! YOU WENT THERE ONCE, IT DID NOT WORK, WHY TRY AGAIN?! LEAVE US BE!!!!

Posted by: Axmed Muxamad at July 03, 2006 03:57 PM (utJ4A)

26 A bit late for that leave us alone crap.

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2006 03:59 PM (Gy/Pc)

27 Howie: you stupid piece of shit! "Remember we have been very gentle with you so far compared to what we should have been."? It is becoming very evident to me that the U.S is using this word "Terrorist" to classify the powerless muslim. You sat on the side and watched the blood shed when the civil war was tearing somalia apart, and just when the public decided that it was enough and is doing something about it, You raise your Finger and motion NO! This simply cannot be, why? Somalia is a fully islamic country, and America will not sleep so long as it has peace. So you dream up a plan. HEY WE STILL HAVENT COUGHT OSAMA. Heres an idea, lets use him to get into somalia and destroy what little peace they've found! OSAMA BIN LADEN IN NOTHING BUT A FRAGMENT OF AMERICA'S IMAGINATION DREAMED UP TO OPPRESS MUSLIMS.

Posted by: AXMED MUXAMAD at July 03, 2006 04:25 PM (utJ4A)

28 Peace what peace? Peace by murder and genocide. By the way as I understand you all are killing each other right now. Not one American soldier is there right now. If Clinton wansn't such a puss we would have mopped the floor with you. We got 500 Islamotards that day.

Is this the Peace that Islam brings?

Oh and thanks for the insult

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2006 04:36 PM (D3+20)

29 you are welcome by all means, you deserve it. and you will so long as you keep your head up your ass. The swede photographer went into a place of battle, he knew what he was getting into and the risk comes with the job. He wasn't shot apon intently. And while we're on the subject, what was the battle about? oh yea, it was US FUNDED. The warlords hired by the US to "fight terrorist" in the neighborhoods and murder women and childrean were being fought off by the public. Yes, that is what i call the process of finging peace. IT IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR, NO TERRORIST IN SOMALIA, NO "AL-QAEDA" NO "OSAMA", JUST SOMLAI'S. AMERICA STAY OUT!!!

Posted by: Axmed Muxamad at July 03, 2006 04:51 PM (utJ4A)

30 Oh I see just an innocent caught up in war when you kill civilians but if it happens to us we're evil. The old double standard. Place of battle my ass.

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2006 04:59 PM (D3+20)

31 if thats your entire argument then i rest.

Posted by: Axmed Muxamad at July 03, 2006 05:10 PM (utJ4A)

32 Must be a full moon somewhere - bringing out all the ... whatever.

I have been reading john ryan for some time - rather indifferent to him. However, for reasons of my own, I suspect that this JOHN RYAN is not the john ryan we all know and love (well, acknowledge anyhow). just a gut feeling that someone is using his nick.

Posted by: hondo at July 03, 2006 06:36 PM (MVgHp)

33 As I understand it Somalia has stopped existing, the country has broken off in two halves. One democratic and peaceful half called the Republic of Somaliland which is friendly towards the west and then the other anti-Western half which is the one Axmed Muxamad is from, the Mogadishu part. Here is a link to a map of Somaliland:

http://somaliland.org/somaliland.asp

Charles R. Snyder
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs
Somalia in 2004.

He said: Somalia virtually ceased to operate as a coherent state after the overthrow of Somali dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

"I made a joke and it's a bad joke but there is an element of truth in it, that the last Somali was Siad Barre, just like the last Yugoslav was Tito," Snyder said. He added that if there was not some better showing from the Somalis in Somalia that Washington would consider recognizing the breakaway regime in the north, which resumed the old British name of Somaliland in 1991. "Let's reach out to that group that's functioning and start treating them as a real government. The link for this statement is found below:

http://www.somaliland.org/ns.asp?ID=04010100

Posted by: Sam Smith at July 03, 2006 06:57 PM (gXO3J)

34 Accident huh look at the wound hardly from shooting in the air. Religion of Peace? If so how come your nations are awash in violence. If you had the approval of God would he not bless you with peace? One thing we an America believe is self responsibility. We were blessed with a fresh continent. Look what we built from nothing. Yes God is blessing us every day. If your nations are hellholes it's your own damn fault. You live there. Fix it.

Posted by: Howie at July 03, 2006 07:35 PM (D3+20)

35 Howie let me ask you: who do we blame for Martin Adlers death? I mean here we are funding the same warlords that killed 18 deltas(our elite troops) in the early 90's. Well I shouldn't say "We" but the Bush admin which represents our country.

In other words the Bush administration was funding local Somali terrorists(warlords). Doesn't that somehow make us responsible for Martin's death?

To make this whole Somalia debacle even worse, after a couple of hours research I found out even more bizarre facts. It turns out that the Breakaway Republic of Somaliland is peaceful, has held local, state and presidential elections attended by the US election observers and yet we havn't supported the goverment there, instead the Bush admin decided to support the warlords. Now is this official policy to support every fuckhead group in the world when there are clearly alternatives that are better for the US in the long run?

I tell you one thing Bush ain't got my vote next elections, I voted for the GOP last election, but seeing how these fake-republicans are wasting our hardearned taxpayer moneys on warlords when clearly there was an alternative option which was to support the democratic Republic of Somaliland, has made me not want to vote republican again. Fiscal responsibility and supporting democracy: 2 things republicans used to care about, No more!

I say vote Independent!

Posted by: Sam Smith at July 03, 2006 08:07 PM (gXO3J)

36 Hey Sam - get your facts straight. It wasn't "18 deltas" killed in Somalia.

It was:

5 - 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne)

3 - 160th SOAR

8 - 75th Rangers

2 - 10th Mountain Division

Posted by: John Ryan's last brain cell at July 03, 2006 10:51 PM (2BOvC)

37 AXMED: Everything about you is a lie. The muslim dogs are killing blacks everyday. Just shooting them in cold blood. Your stinking muslim government is arming nomadic muslims and sending them to slaughter people. Soon you Somali animals will be at war with Chad. GUESS WHAT. Personally, I don't give a shit how many you muslim pigs kill in Africa. Kill them all. I could give a shit. The main thing is keep your Islamic bullshit out of my country.

MAJ: You fucking idiot. 9/11 was why we went to Afghanistan and Iraq. It's obvious that the backward assholes in the middle east need control by the civilized world. You are a member of a silly little people. Cruel, stupid, ignorant, filthy and without honor or morals. It is your stinking religion that makes you so backward and you cowardly people are to stupid to know it.

Sam Smith. You need to do more research. For sure. Believe everything to read on the internet. Ha, Ha.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 03, 2006 11:53 PM (ofp0L)

38 Axmed can't amke up his mind if he's in Nepal or Somalia. Which is it?

Posted by: Howie at July 04, 2006 09:17 AM (g7Xg2)

39 JC: Muslims taking over Africa. Hmmm. Does that mean they have to feed them? This could be a blessing. Naw, our liberals would feed them anyway. Feed them and they multiply and you pass the problem on to our children.

Posted by: greyrooster at July 07, 2006 08:27 PM (BjPXu)

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