The trouble started when government soldiers went to the market and, at gunpoint, began to help themselves to sacks of grain last week.
Islamist insurgents poured into the streets to defend the merchants. The government troops took heavy casualties and retreated all the way back to the presidential palace, supposedly the most secure place in the city. It, too, came under fire.
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From the article:
"The trouble started when government soldiers went to the market and, at gunpoint, began to help themselves to sacks of grain last week.
Islamist insurgents poured into the streets to defend the merchants."
-------------------
Guess who is winning the hearts and minds of the people?
Send in Hillary and Bill, the Wonder Twins. Since HRC has apparently single handedly brought peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and other parts of the planet, Somalia should be a breeze.
Or better yet, let's send in our troops to bring stability and end the suffering. Oh, wait, they're busy in Iraq.
Well, let's lead the United Nations to help out. Oh, wait. The nations of the world despise us and wouldn't follow us to McDonalds..
Hang on, let's send a few billion in NGO aid to ease the suffering. No. no. that won't work. We're broke paying for Iraq and Oil. Besides the Dollar wouldn't buy a bag of rice.
USA! USA! USA!
"Teetering on collapse?"
I think this has been happening for a while now. After all, the government is called "The TRANSITIONAL Federal Government of Somalia." Doesn't sound very stable from the get-go.
The Pot addresses the Kettle. In case no one's noticed, we're in some pretty shit here ourselves.
Isolate the case of Geert Wilders. Want some of that here? It's coming because we can't see past the ends of our own noses. Logical Progression.
Lob cruise missiles? We already have special forces who've been operating in Somalia. A month or two ago C-130 gunships as well as Spec-Ops forces were operating in Somalia. One of the Kenya Embassy bombers was the target I believe. For those who are posting cynical comments about this situation and American involvement, can you tell me what should be done to help Somalia? It is a failed state.
I've created a prediction market on what will happen in Somalia by May. Feel free to vote here:
http://www.hubdub.com/e/Market/Will_US_forces_participate_in_sea_land_or_air_combat_operations_in_Somalia_by_April_Reported_5066/view
Why not try leaving the Somalis to sort out their own problems? Oh yeah, they tried that with the Islamic courts but the US didn't like that. Just so you Americans know, not everything with the word Islamic in it is bad.
Since you are already involved why not try stopping bombing it for starters. This might help the local population to realise that maybe you are not attacking them just because they are Muslims. Once this has been done then maybe use your influence to bring the parties together and organise an election. Obviously this cannot be done directly by the US since the locals hate you and most countries see the exportation of "Democracy" by the current administration as merely the instillation of of governments friendly to the US. I am sure an African country can be found which would be acceptable to both the US and the Somalis. Just try and keep Bush away from it.
Calling Josh Hartnett.
So much for the "white man's burden" approach to foreign policy; another failed neocon attempt to 'civilize' a nation.
This a sad story. I can't believe we continue to ignore the people of Africa in this way. Here we are again, some of Bill Clinton's mistakes giving dummy Bush more excuses to do stupid things. Aren't we done with this Bush-Clinton b/s? I know you Clinton supporters are going to claim it isn't Clinton's fault, but it is. This is unfinished business. If Clinton had given Somalia the attention Bosnia received, the Somalis may not be in this situation. This is another example of the double talk, lies to the people, back room politics, and basic lack of action on the part of our government due to the absence of economic incentive. Why in the hell would you vote for the Clintons after hearing of tragedies like this?
I wonder when Rev. Wright is going to blame the conditions there on the USA.
*ponder*
This might be breaking news to you. The media driven Rev Wright fiasco has not affected Senator O. In fact HRC's poll numbers are back in the toilet, where they belong. If you were not a five year old I would ask you to watch the Reverend's entire sermon because context is everything. Now go play with your play station.
We fired a cruise missle into the country, what more could anyone possibly want?
You aren't very bright are you?
I second that.
I don't know if the Rev can but I know I can.
After years of turmoil and rule by warlords a stable government is finally set up under Islamic courts in Somalia. Not the nutty ones but a stable system which the population support. Finally there is peace, or at least far more than they have known for a long time. The US does not like this since it has the word Islamic in the title, so it pushes Ethiopia to invade. This they do, backed by Africom, since they also don't like the new Islamic government. Once again Somalia turns into an incredibly dangerous place and the weak government imposed from outside is now teetering.
Oh, look George.... it's your specialty. See if you can gets us in there, quick. Think of it like wars are your children....what's one more?
"See if you can gets us in there"
How short the American memory is:
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/africa/100593binladen.html
At least this President has the balls to finish what he starts.
"At least this president has the balls to finish what he starts"
Only because he doesn't have the wit to get out of it.
I think we need to accuse them of having WMD's, state that they are the new central front on terror, invade and create a boatload of new terrorists bent on harming Americans around the globe.
Either that or use diplomacy wisely, quit lobbing bombs indescriminately into the country and work with African countries, especially Ethiopia, to find a solution.
Take your pick.
Link is broken to article. It opens to the NYT article and then immediately goes to NYT's "Page Not Found". They want you to report this to them. Important subject matter, maybe put a short read snippet up, HuffPo?
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New York Times | JEFFREY GETTLEMAN | March 29, 2008 09:48 AM