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Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Why the good news from Somalia is so important
As I write this, we're less than one hour away from the President's address on Iraq, which will soon probably consume the entire attention span of the blogosphere.However, we have just received confirmation that Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the al Qaeda terrorist who masterminded the 1998 bombings of U.S. Embassies in Africa, was killed by American forces in Somalia. UPDATE: Ahem! It turns out he wasn't capped after all, but the al Qaedites are still pinned in the southern tip of Somalia, while "The strike was part of the first U.S. offensive in the African country since 18 American soldiers were killed there in 1993" (AP via Worldwide Standard).
Let that sink in for a moment: "the first U.S. offensive in the African country since 18 American soldiers were killed there in 1993." The importance of this cannot be underestimated.
For years, al Qaeda has inspired its recruits with stories of the 1993 Somalia fiasco. They ran us out of Somalia, they would boast; thus they could run us out of anywhere, no matter how long it took, and how many "martyrs" were lost.
Now, however, Somalia tells them, and us, a different tale. True the United States was chased away in 1993, but we didn't stay away. Instead, when the time was right, we rounded up our friends in the neighborhood and kicked their butts.
So now, any would-be terrorist, world leader, or anyone else on the planet for that matter, knows this from Somalia: the United States of America may not react immediately - it may even genuinely retreat - but it will come back, and in time, it will take care of business. Especially in the Middle East, where collective memory tends to be much longer than here, Somalia 2007 is an unmistakable warning to anyone who would find hope in Somalia 1993.
This is why I feel much better about our prospects in the Wahhabist-Ba'athist-Khomeinist war than I did just three weeks ago. I'm certain this will have an impact in Iraq and Iran, and possibly even Lebanon. In fact, even if things in Iraq go badly (and I hope and think they won't), none of our enemies can advance without wondering what might happen by or before 2020.
Somalia is a terrorist victory reversed; an al Qaeda inspiration turned into a warning. It is a sign that even when America is down, it does not stay down. The effects will be longer and deeper than any of us realize. While I don't mean to downplay the importance of Iraq, there are other theatres in the W-B-K war - and events in the African theatre are reasons to cheer.
Posted by D.J. McGuire on January 10, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
This is indeed very good news.
Even China should take note. If Chinese communists think that it is impossible for western powers to invade China in order to get rid of communist tyranny, they should think twice.
And if Amahdine-jihad think he cannot find himself one day at the end of a rope, he should alsothink twice. Maybe he should view the illegal picture of the ex-dictator of Irak being executed.
As a Christian, I do hope we could bring back democracy in Iran by peaceful means. I do hope for conversion even of the Iran nutjob. But I don't think I have to let Iran wipe off Israel from the map.
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2007-01-10 6:50:45 PM
It is looking more and more like something was going on in Somalia that involved a bit of international co-ordination. First the timely arrival of Ethiopian forces and then, almost immediately on its heels, the US strikes. It looks like good things are happening there, but I wonder just how much that is due to whatever has been planned and carried out not being front and centre in the major world media.
I wonder this further as American politicians increasingly debate specific details of what their approach in Iraq should be. It's not that I'm overly concerned that all this adds up to loose lips that will sink some ships, but it does seem a bit odd when we are told where the troops will go and how many will be coming, even in general terms.
Personally, I am glad not to know the details of who colaborated with whom in Somalia to get the results that have been achieved. I'm just glad it is going well. But I guess what the Iraq situation is showing is just how hard it is to conduct any military operation while a debate goes on about whether it should be taking place. Let's hope that debate on Afghanistan does not similarly escalate at home. It could just make the mission that much harder to achieve.
Posted by: Mark Logan | 2007-01-10 8:33:06 PM
And democrats, like Iranian mullahs, are unhappy about attacks on Al-Qaeda in Somalia
Posted by: Winston | 2007-01-10 8:52:28 PM
So they got rid of one guy who did something years ago and this is a victory how?
They'll make that guy a Martyr and will find ways to utilize on his death.
This has accomplished nothing because killing one guy in any organization will not bring the organization as a whole down.
Posted by: Snowrunner | 2007-01-10 9:58:35 PM
"So they got rid of one guy who did something years ago and this is a victory how?"
Nasty little men always get their comeuppances.
That is the nature of the Universe, The Music of the Spheres!
"They'll make that guy a Martyr and will find ways to utilize on his death."
They make everybody and his dog a Martyr.
Shit, the whole bloodthirsty religion is based on martyrdom.
Big whoop.
"This has accomplished nothing because killing one guy in any organization will not bring the organization as a whole down."
This has not only bought this greasy little twerp his comeuppances, it has shown his line of work isn't conducive as a good retirement plan, AND when you consider these guys are two standard IQ deviations below the average Canadian, knocking out one who can actually plan something and carry it out has got to hurt the Sharia Fascists Big Time.
Quotations Posted by: Snowrunner 10-Jan-07 9:58:35 PM
Posted by: Speller | 2007-01-10 10:32:21 PM
What America and Ethiopia is doing in Somalia is just invasion and new colonization. Regarding accurate information comming from the field, American warplans hit innocent civilians (pastolists) keeping their goats in the field and 100 cilivians dead were confirmed and 150 wounded. In addition, 1500 livestock reported dead. So, it that victory? is the victory to massacre innocent civilians etc? I am sure America and its allies failded what they call war on terror and it war on Islam! The Mujahidin will not keep silent but will retaliate and history will tell the truth.
Samakab
Posted by: samakab | 2007-01-10 11:39:44 PM
"The Mujahidin will not keep silent but will retaliate and history will tell the truth."
Posted by: samakab | 10-Jan-07 11:39:44 PM
So how do you like this cool tool of western civilization called the computer, Scab?
My people invented it to record data such as HISTORY.
Guess what?
You and your goat screwing, woman beating pals are going to be a tiny footnote. Just a few bytes not much more.
Here's an entertaining little video of some of your roomies getting greased by an AC-130 over Afghanistan.
They get stomped like the cockroaches they are.
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://factsofisrael.com/en/images/articles/ac130-gunship2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://factsofisrael.com/blog/archives/000560.html&h=342&w=350&sz=33&tbnid=jAb9fR6QEkh-oM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dac-130&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3
What a hoot. Way to shoot USAF.
Posted by: Speller | 2007-01-10 11:53:53 PM
Samakab,
Come now... are you sure it wasn't 1000, what the hell lets go with 2000! The old "innocent victim" story.
But hey, if their sympathies lie where yours do, then obviously they support the Mujahidin and I say good riddance.
They didn't seem to mind this freak hanging out with them.
Get revenge? I hope every time one of these slimy bastards poke their head up, there is a AC-130 waiting for them.
By the way, great link Speller.
Posted by: deepblue | 2007-01-11 12:09:02 AM
The Americans waited 13 years to strike back in Somalia - that's not exactly being 'trigger happy'. Rather, it's an indictment of the kind of government they had 13 years ago.
Posted by: Philanthropist | 2007-01-11 12:58:18 PM
Samakab,
People who justify the retaliation rights of mujahadeen that do not exist in any real world sense of the term, as if we should be scared of the frickenzied ignoramouses, such as yourself, are ung-dly sons of monkeys, dogs and pigs
Posted by: Lady | 2007-01-11 1:58:14 PM
Apparently some of the retreating islamic lovers, that were captured, are holding Canadian passports. Some loyalty to Canada, eh?
Should have stayed there in the first place.
Posted by: Leaf | 2007-01-11 2:30:15 PM
How many Somali lives need to be lost before the US is confident that Al Quada learns this lesson? I think this blogs shows the world exactly how much compassion America has for the rest of the world.
Posted by: Ayan | 2007-01-11 6:26:47 PM
The whole development has been a stunning turnaround.
The first U.S offensive in the country since not soon enough...
Who borders Sudan again?
Posted by: Knight of Good Mr. Iron Man | 2007-01-11 8:16:19 PM
Ayan: If they are jihadist lives...as many as possible, and not just in Somalia but wherever those neck cutting jihadists crawl.
Posted by: MarkAlta | 2007-01-11 8:20:36 PM
Asshat 6:26:47 PM,
How much compassion the 'world' thinks the U.S. has won't mean squat if the war is lost and the 'world' gets a taste of Muslim compassion.
The 'world' should recognize that amputations, stonings, head choppings, beatings, genital mutilations, slavery, rape, and paedophilia are the hallmarks of compassion under Sharia.
And that's how Muslims live in times of peace.
Posted by: Speller | 2007-01-12 8:07:56 AM
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