Looking in a Mirror; Reflections of War

[tw]

Only thing not known is whether and how much pressure the US applied to get Ethiopia in a war they could have easily avoided. Ethiopia invaded Somolia to be entrenched in an unwinnable civil war. From the BBC of 9 Nov 2007:

Dozens die in Mogadishu reprisals
A BBC correspondent says Ethiopian forces are engaged in reprisal attacks after soldiers' bodies were dragged through the streets on Thursday.

Somalia's presidential envoy defended the Ethiopian army's tactics.

Abdirashid Sed told the BBC that the Ethiopians were responding to aggression by insurgents and had not attacked civilians.

Fighting between Islamist-led insurgents and elements of the Ethiopian army for control of Mogadishu has intensified during the past two weeks, prompting thousands of citizens to flee the city.

The dragging of mutilated bodies of Ethiopian soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu has provoked a fierce and furious reaction.

On Friday, Ethiopian soldiers were reported to have fired cannon shells into an area of the south of the city where insurgent militia men are thought to be based.

Irony is that the American 4th ID did this same response in Iraq to only incite an uprising. Why would Ethiopia make same mistakes in Somolia that Cheney, et al would deny and repeat? Why would Ethiopia waste resources on a war that provided no benefits?

[queequeger]

You mean why would they invade and occupy their hated neighbor when given a green light from the most powerful country in the world?

[ZenGum]

The thing I am most torn about is that the group the Ethiopians knocked over was the Union of Islamic Courts.
Just like the Talliban in Afghanistan, the UIC had finally brought something resembling order to a country that had had violent anarchy for over a decade. The worst fighting had eased, food aid was able to move, they even managed to largely suppress piracy. These gains have since been lost.
On the other hand they are a bunch of religious fundamentalist whackos who believe that the answers to everything are in (their extreme interpretation of) one book, who made ordinary people's lives miserable (although - at least they had lives) and would probably have tolerated, if not sponsored, terrorists.

[tw]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Just like the Talliban in Afghanistan, the UIC had finally brought something resembling order to a country that had had violent anarchy for over a decade. The worst fighting had eased, food aid was able to move, they even managed to largely suppress piracy. These gains have since been lost.

Never forget that crusade promotedin the George Jr adminstration. Does not matte that children were finally going to school for the first time in their life. They are Muslim extremists. That alone proves they were planning to attack America. That proves America had to save the region from falling dominos.

UIC was not the best thing America could have asked for in Somolia. But it was far better than what the US created in 1992.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by tw

Never forget that crusade promotedin the George Jr adminstration. Does not matte that children were finally going to school for the first time in their life. They are Muslim extremists. That alone proves they were planning to attack America. That proves America had to save the region from falling dominos.

UIC was not the best thing America could have asked for in Somolia. But it was far better than what the US created in 1992.

Ok, you support the expansion of the caliphate we get it. However, the people of Somalia did not.

Somali Muslims who fail to perform daily prayers will be killed in accordance with Qur'anic law
Sharia coming to Somalia. "Somali Muslims warned of death," from AFP, with thanks to all who sent this in:

Mogadishu - Somali Muslims who fail to perform daily prayers will be killed in accordance with Qur'anic law under a new edict issued by a leading cleric in the Islamic courts union that controlled the capital.
The requirement for Muslims to observe the five-times daily ritual under penalty of death was announced late on Wednesday and appeared to confirm the hardline nature of the increasingly powerful Sharia courts in Mogadishu.

Sheikh Abdalla Ali, a founder and high-ranking official in the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia, said: "He who does not perform prayers will be considered as infidel and Sharia law orders that that person be killed."

Peace and prosperity

Ali said: "Sharia law orders the killing of any Muslim person when he fails to perform prayers."

Ali added that it was the duty of every Somali to implement the provisions of Sharia law, which after fully accepted would allow "everybody to enjoy life based on peace and prosperity".


He probably really believes this. The Qur'an again and again emphasizes that those who obey Allah will achieve success. That's why, throughout Islamic history, the solution to all problems has been more Islam.