Jihadis crumble as Ethiopians advance on Mogadishu
posted at 2:27 pm on December 26, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Can we get a few battalions of Ethiopians in Iraq?
Islamist forces in Somalia beat a hasty retreat today to their stronghold in Mogadishu, Somalia’s battle-scared capital, crumbling faster than anyone expected after a week of attacks by Ethiopian forces…
The Islamist fighters, who had seemed invincible after taking Mogadishu in June, now seem powerless to stop the steady advance of the Ethiopian-backed forces of the transitional government…
Still, the conflict is hardly over. Thousands of people continue to march in the streets of Mogadishu, rallying behind the Islamists, and analysts are unanimous that an Ethiopian occupation of Mogadishu, a city thick with weapons and xenophobia, could become a bloodbath…
Witnesses reported that Ethiopian fighter jets and helicopter gunships were firing missiles at the retreating Islamist pickup trucks, easy targets in the open desert.
They’ve already liberated Bulo Burto, the town where the jihadis had instituted their “pray or die” policy. They hope to have control of Mogadishu within 48 hours.
Which brings us to our op-ed of the day:
As with Iraq in 2003, the United States has cast this as a war to curtail terrorism, but its real goal is to obtain a direct foothold in a highly strategic region by establishing a client regime there. The Horn of Africa is newly oil-rich, and lies just miles from Saudi Arabia, overlooking the daily passage of large numbers of oil tankers and warships through the Red Sea…
The U.S. instigation of war between Ethiopia and Somalia, two of world’s poorest countries already struggling with massive humanitarian disasters, is reckless in the extreme…
Since 1993, there had been no Security Council interest in sending peacekeepers to Somalia, but as peace and order took hold, a multilateral force was suddenly deemed necessary — because it was the Islamic Courts Union that had brought about this stability. Astonishingly, the Islamists had succeeded in defeating the warlords primarily through rallying people to their side by creating law and order through the application of Shariah law, which Somalis universally practice…
The best antidote to terrorism in Somalia is stability, which the Islamic Courts have provided. The Islamists have strong public support, which has grown in the face of U.S. and Ethiopian interventions. As in other Muslim-Western conflicts, the world needs to engage with the Islamists to secure peace.
The author is Salim Lone. Follow the link and scroll down to the bottom to see what he used to do for a living.
Update: They’ll regret this.
But [Ethiopian PM] Meles has said he does not intend to keep his forces in Somalia long, perhaps only a few weeks. He has told visiting dignitaries that his goal is to severely damage the Islamic movement’s military capabilities and allow both sides to return to peace talks on even footing. Meles said he would not send troops into Mogadishu, but instead encircle the city to contain the Islamic forces.
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48 hours? I’d love to know their ROE; probably “scorched earth” (hehehe).
Lornkanaga on December 26, 2006 at 2:33 PM
Its simple ethopia just wants to weaken the Islamics not conquer Somalia.
The more western Somalia government then can work to finish off the Islamics.
Considering that they got military aid from outside look for more islamics to go to Somalia.
The WOT must always be a full court press on all fronts
William Amos on December 26, 2006 at 2:36 PM
Well, Salim Lone, it’s all Bush’s fault, isn’t it? What a disgusting op-ed. I’m sure Bush is not against the Ethiopians in this one, but, Mr. Lone, perhaps we could see some concrete evidence to support your claims? Not even an anonymous source? I’m disappointed.
Show us some real evidence, Mr. Lone, or otherwise go see the doctor about your advanced case of BDS.
flutejpl on December 26, 2006 at 2:54 PM
of course they don’t have embedded journalist whining about the attrocities of war to deal with, or the UN breathing down their neck about their horrible war mongering.
Course if they did they’d probably throw out the reporters and give the UN the finger.
Wish we had that kind of spine.
One Angry Christian on December 26, 2006 at 2:57 PM
– That’s quite a leap from newly oil-rich to two of the world’s poorest countries.
– The U.S. intigated this? Can you back that allegation with something besides your magic 8-ball, Salim?
They have eliminated soccer hooliganism, at least.
Now there is a good writer; he summed up with a topic sentence.
fluffy on December 26, 2006 at 2:57 PM
Do you know what you call a Somali woman with a yeast infection?
quax1 on December 26, 2006 at 3:10 PM
Quarter-Pounder with cheese.
quax1 on December 26, 2006 at 3:10 PM
Yeah, I know…banned
quax1 on December 26, 2006 at 3:10 PM
So apparently the Horn of Africa becomes “newly oil-rich” when someone can tie it to the US somehow, but when China has been digging their heels in for the oil for years now, that doesn’t merit any mention. Even when they use their power on the Security Council to stop anything from being enacted in the region.
See, China and their nationalized oil company don’t do anything for oil when they’re signing contracts for oil production, but when Ethiopians are wiping up Islamists, then it’s because the US wants the oil. See? Makes sense.
Seixon on December 26, 2006 at 3:39 PM
Wow, so Ethiopia actually allows its military be a military without a thought of offending a muslim. Imagine the possibilities.
SouthernGent on December 26, 2006 at 3:55 PM
Ethiopians doing the jobs Americans won’t do. (Politicians, not Military Personnel)
- The Cat
MirCat on December 26, 2006 at 4:14 PM
Islamic p#ssies! That says a lot when ya get your ass kicked by *Ethiopia*! Right Benito?
But none of this would even be needed if Klinton hadn’t punked out of the Mog. Thanks Bill Klinton! You’re the gift that keeps on giving.
Bill, the Ethies are gonna show you up and teach ya how to deal with the ‘Skinnies’. Hang your head in shame.
Tony737 on December 26, 2006 at 4:32 PM
This is the feel-good story of the holiday season!
alflauren on December 26, 2006 at 5:19 PM
So a UN created burecracy has no real effect and needs to beg for military aid from Ethiopia. Ya the U.N. is useful.
This is why the U.S. fails to win its battles.
Resolute on December 26, 2006 at 6:24 PM
What a shock, another UN flunkie critical of U.S. policy. Let’s see, he was the UN spokesman in Iraq….Iraq, where have I heard that name mentioned…oh yeah, another nation in the long line of UN failures. This guy, along with Kofi and his idiot son, was pillaging Iraq, just sitting back collecting his oil royalty checks. The wolves are in the sheep’s clothing emblazoned with a UN on the front. Let’s see how this works, create a world body concerned with human rights globally. Send agents of this body to troubled regions to help prop up local tyrants and Islamic Fascists. In return, bash the U.S. for extolling the virtues of free democracies, interfere with their attempt at liberating these nations, and collect all the booty you can from your deals with the bloody dictators. The UN is starting to sound like Islam itself, but instead of the religion of peace it’s the agency of peace…but spelled piece, as in getting their hands on a big piece of the “money-pie” at the expense of the oppressed…….
ritethinker on December 26, 2006 at 6:49 PM
Jihadis falling before the military might of the Ethiopians?
I’m getting the feeling that Allah’s mujhadeen are only good at terrorizing their women and unarmed civilians.
Jihad - Arabic for “sure I talk tough, but that’s because I have no peni$”
CrankyNeocon on December 26, 2006 at 9:34 PM
Everyone pray for Ethiopia to win. This is just war people. I’m serious.
PRCalDude on December 27, 2006 at 12:11 PM
I hate to say it, but Bush’s admirable “War on Terror” doctrine seems to be dead (or at least, on its last legs).
It has achieved some remarkable successes - demonstrated by the thwarting of terror plots across the world and the inability of Al Qaeda to launch a single attack on the U.S. since 9/11.
Groups like Al Qaeda & Hamas have been largely crippled by successful military action, effective security measures, good intelligence and the cutting of finances.
It’s a bitter irony then, that this successful war on terror has not been mortally wounded by terrorists, but by the seditionary actions of domestic “liberals”.
Five years of media pressure, Democratic party interference and general left wing moaning have made it increasingly uncomfortable for Bush to act.
The left will, of course, vocally deny any support of terror and extremism, but what other conclusion can one draw when their actions create tangible benefits for Islamofascists?
The impediment of the patriot act by the democratic party, the exposure of intelligence practices by the NY Times and the left’s general mischaracterization of terrorist surveillance as “domestic wiretapping” are three prime cases in point.
It’s also fair to say that the gusto with which the war on terror was initially pursued, dropped off dramatically with the somewhat tangential ousting of Saddam.
Of course Saddam was a tyrant and anyone with a conscience should be celebrating his demise, but Iraq was never as central to international terrorism as, say, Syria & Iran.
Had those regimes been neutered beforehand, the liberation of Iraq would have been a lot more straightforward.
Much as I admire Bush for being the only leader with the integrity to take the war to the Islamofascists, I think it is a crying shame that he feels the need to temper his policy with consideration for Liberals (see immigration). It doesn’t work anyway. They still hate him.
Ethiopia is not bothered by irrelevancies like the desire to please Liberals. Perhaps we should let them conduct the war in Iraq and against Hezbollah!
uptight on December 27, 2006 at 4:31 PM