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?