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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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 Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:40 am Post subject: Is Al Qaeda Trying to Conquer Somalia? |
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MOGADISHU, Somalia An Islamic militia that wants to establish a fundamentalist government in Somalia said Monday it has seized control of the capital, after weeks of some of the bloodiest fighting in 15 years of anarchy in this Horn of Africa nation.
The militia, whose growing power is raising fears that Somalia could follow the path of Taliban Afghanistan into the hands of al-Qaida, appeared in control of Mogadishu.
"We want to restore peace and stability to Mogadishu. We are ready to meet and talk anybody and any group for the interest of the people," Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, said on a radio broadcast.
The militia has been battling a secular alliance of warlords for control of the country, and their fighting has grown increasingly violent since February. More than 300 people have been killed and 1,700 wounded, many of them civilians caught in the crossfire.
The United States is widely believed to be backing the alliance in an attempt to root out members of al-Qaida who might be operating in the Horn of Africa, but American officials have refused to confirm or deny that. The U.S. has carried out no direct action in Somalia since the deaths of 18 servicemen in a 1993 battle made famous by the film "Black Hawk Down."
The Islamic militants are the first group to consolidate control over all of Mogadishu's clan-divided neighborhoods since the collapse of the last government in 1991, giving them enormous political and economic power in Somalia.
Attempts to reach leaders of the secular alliance were not immediately successful. Most of them appeared to have fled the city by Monday afternoon. The fundamentalists accuse the alliance of working for the CIA, while the alliance says the militias have links to al-Qaida.
The two sides began competing for influence after a U.N.-backed interim government slowly began to gain international recognition. But the interim government has failed to assert control outside its base in Baidoa, 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Mogadishu. The government has not even been able to enter the capital because of the violence.
Still, interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi recently fired four powerful warlords who were serving as ministers, leaving the alliance without any support in the government.
In the past, Islamic leaders have denounced the interim government, insisting that any new law be based on Islamic scripture. How the government will react to Monday's development was not immediately clear, but both the president and prime minister have rejected suggestions of forming an Islamic republic.
Somalia, an impoverished country of 8 million, has been divided into rival fiefdoms since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. |
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/05/africa/web.0605mogadishu
Like the Taliban all over again. |
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Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:01 am Post subject: ... |
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Yes.
Khomenism, Wahabbism, Burt, Ernie...
We're all gonna die.
I'd just prefer that the CIA confiscate my passport and monitor my nocturnal emissions until the enemy comes for me. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:10 am Post subject: |
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| Is Al Qaeda Trying to Conquer Somalia? |
It is just not clear.
I doubt it, though. |
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bignate
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Location: Hell's Ditch
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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It appears that they may be there, most likely, since they see it as an oppourtunity to fight against the US backing of the warlords. But I don't think they are there to conquer Somalia, because Somalis seem to be more interested in securing their own nation...
Islamic militia takes Mogadishu
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The warlords are widely believed to be covertly backed by a U.S. administration concerned, according to former U.S. intelligence officials, that Islamist rulers could provide a save haven for al Qaeda akin to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Many fled on Monday to other parts of Somalia or neighbouring Kenya...
Many analysts view the violence as a proxy war between the United States and Islamic militants. Many Somalis have moved to the Islamic side because of Washington's perceived support for the warlords, residents say.
John Prendergast, who monitors Somalia for the think-tank International Crisis Group, said he had learned from warlord alliance members in Somalia that the CIA was financing them with cash payments of $100,000 to $150,000 per month.
U.S. intelligence has produced no firm evidence of active al Qaeda presence in Somalia, experts said in Washington. But there have been reports of al Qaeda members in the country, including suspects in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa.
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It has been so long that any sebelance of order has remained in Somalia, that many believe that support of Islamists will bring about a firm and authoritarian government based upon Sharia law...
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| Washington has not commented on persistent reports that it is covertly funnelling large sums of money to the warlords. But it says it will work with anyone combating terrorism. |
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bigverne
Joined: 12 May 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| It has been so long that any sebelance of order has remained in Somalia, that many believe that support of Islamists will bring about a firm and authoritarian government based upon Sharia law |
Perhaps, they want Shariah Law anyway. One of the few nations that could actually benefit from some law and order. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| bigverne wrote: |
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| It has been so long that any sebelance of order has remained in Somalia, that many believe that support of Islamists will bring about a firm and authoritarian government based upon Sharia law |
Perhaps, they want Shariah Law anyway. One of the few nations that could actually benefit from some law and order. |
True. But problematic as it brings us back full circle to the comparison to Afghanistan and the Taleban. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Nowhere Man wrote: |
Yes.
Khomenism, Wahabbism, Burt, Ernie...
We're all gonna die.
I'd just prefer that the CIA confiscate my passport and monitor my nocturnal emissions until the enemy comes for me. |
the US was attacked on 9-11, why wait for an even worse attack?
| Quote: |
| But I don't think they are there to conquer Somalia, because Somalis seem to be more interested in securing their own nation... |
Why does that mean that Al Qaeda doesn't want to conquer Somalia? Of course they want to. It would be part of the Caliphate. |
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JAWINSEOUL
Joined: 19 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| Nowhere Man wrote: |
Yes.
Khomenism, Wahabbism, Burt, Ernie...
We're all gonna die.
I'd just prefer that the CIA confiscate my passport and monitor my nocturnal emissions until the enemy comes for me. |
the US was attacked on 9-11, why wait for an even worse attack? |
You are supporting the ideology pioneered by Paul Wolfawitz. When the enemy is hell bent on your destruction, it makes perfect sense to hit them hard before they hit you. |
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bignate
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Location: Hell's Ditch
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
Why does that mean that Al Qaeda doesn't want to conquer Somalia? Of course they want to. It would be part of the Caliphate. |
I just think that the majority of the Islamists are 1) Nationalists, not interested in jihadi activities, and 2)seem sick of the fighting, they don't want to invite anymore negative attention from the West.
The idea that Al Qaeda was involved in the conflict came, for the most part from the Transitional Federal Government, who have had to legitimize more and more money from the US to fight the Islamists....
I am not saying that there aren't any Al Qaeda fighters there....just I don't think they will be able to gain the popular support that they would like because of the situation of the country... |
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