Somalia could become the fourth front in the US War on Terror

[ECH1969]

Somalia got Americans' attention in October 1993, when U.S. Delta Force commandos and Army Rangers were dropped into its capital city, Mogadishu, to capture two aides of a Somali warlord.

The mission was successful, but two Black Hawk helicopters were downed by Somali militia, and in the ensuing firefight, 18 Americans died. Images of an Army Ranger's body being dragged through the streets horrified U.S. households. Soon after, President Clinton abandoned the country, and Somalia was largely forgotten until the 2001 movie "Black Hawk Down" retold the tragic story.

Now, The Islamic Courts Union, a growing alliance of Islamic militants, recently routed U.S.-backed warlords and took over Mogadishu. It seeks to oust a transitional federal government, which is supported by the African Union but controls only the town of Baidoa. On the sidelines is the U.S.-backed regime in Ethiopia that is eager to lead the battle against the Islamists, who may have ties to Al Qaeda. A war could quickly spread throughout the Horn of Africa and be as costly in human lives as the IsraeliHezbollah conflict.

In many ways, this latest front in the war on terror is the culmination of nearly 30 years of alternating Washington policy blunders and neglect in the Horn of Africa. That history has left the U.S. with few good options in a worsening situation.

http://hornofafrica.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/1/Home/top.fullStory&sp=l49129

[Kali]

1. The US dsoes not seem to care much about Africa - why start now?

[demosincebirth]

2. Been there - done that.

[Rex]

3. I mentioned this a few weeks ago.

I'm not to thrilled that Ethiopia is 'eager' for war with the Islamists. Cheney just can't get enough wars to satisfy his bloodlust! All the while getting more powerful and evil.

[raysr]

4. What's the cause of

all this unrest? POVERTY, for christsakes, why can't people see it.