U.S. says Somalia must not become terror haven

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it was very concerned over the presence of al Qaeda "terrorists" in Somalia, where local officials say the U.S. launched air strikes killing more than 20 people this week.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, who declined to provide details of attacks in southern Somalia, said the United States had made clear it did not want the lawless Horn of Africa country to become a safe haven for terrorists.

"Very clearly, the U.S. government has had a concern that there are terrorists and al Qaeda affiliated terrorists that were in Somalia. We have a great interest in seeing that those individuals not be able to flee to other locations," McCormack told reporters.

President George W. Bush has frequently indicated -- especially since the Sept. 11 attacks blamed on al Qaeda -- that the United States has the right to hit terrorist targets in other countries.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N09482331.htm

Seems a little late for that, but I guess * gets us another war. :mad:


US air strike kills over 20 in south Somalia-elder
~snip~
U.S. planes struck at Bankajirow this morning between 10 a.m. and noon (0700-0900 GMT). I think the U.S planes saw donkey carts crossing the grazing land and thought it was the Islamists trying to flee," the elder told Reuters by telephone.

The elder from Afmadow town, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, spoke to Reuters by telephone from the Kenya-Somalia border crossing at Liboi.

An unknown number of people also died when U.S. warplanes attacked the village of Hayo on Monday in a hunt for three al Qaeda suspects thought to be in Somalia, a government source said.

Hayo and Bankajirow are between Afmadow and Doble, areas near the Kenyan border where the Somali government and allied Ethiopian forces believe Islamists fled after being chased across south Somalia in a two-week war last month.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09125886.htm

[nolabels]

1. Sort of like Iraq has?

:shrug:

[Debau2005]

2. So once again....

We kill them over there, before they can kill us here?

"There are so many dead bodies and animals in the village," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3074528

What has this nation become? I know that it is the workings of a corrupt few. But the American Sheeple have allowed this to happen!

I bet if you took a poll on the street more then 90% would not even know this happened!

It is time to stop worrying about freaking FOOTBALL GAMES, and kick this murderous bunch of criminals out of office. :mad:

[xultar]

3. I'd give my left tit to be a fly on the wall when Clinton found out Lil Boots hit Somalia.

That shit must have been RICH!

[tabasco]

37. What about Poppy Bush? He's the one that got us in there first time.

A lot of people think Clinton got us in to Somalia but GHW Bush ordered the deployment with ONE MONTH left in his term.

edit typo

[Megahurtz]

39. Yeah, people need to Wake Up to that one.

So many people act as if Pops has nothing to do with nothing.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Got an academic question:

What if Al-Quaeda showed up in say, 10-12 countries simultaneously, making those countries de facto "terrorist". What would be this country's military response to putting out all those brushfires simultaneously?

[EFerrari]

5. George Bush must stop murdering people -- Afghanistan, Iraq

Somalia, NEW ORLEANS.

JUST STOP HIM.

[gratuitous]

6. Oh no! Another terror haven!

Wait; how can this be blamed on anything other than the Bush administration's complete inattention?

[teryang]

7. This is what is known as a "dumpex"

A large inventory of bombs, smart bombs, and other ordnance was built up for the expected war with Iran. It didn't happen because the IDF venture into Lebanon was a tactical failure and a strategic failure when neither Syria nor Iran were drawn into the conflict.

Short of attacking Iran with no pretext, the dumpex on Somalia along with the escalation in Iraq is scaring the piss out of everyone including our allies. So when the so called US diplomats come around and tell the big foreign bankers that they can't do business with Iran especially in euros, the arm twisting is working.

So we are currently engaged in three overseas conflicts, and itching for a bigger one with Iran and the value of the dollar goes up as the world seeks "safe haven."

[Heidi]

8. Kick.

:kick:

[sabra]

9. Pentagon: Somalia attacks show U.S. commitment to hunt down terrorists

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070109-0944-us-somalia.html

Pentagon: Somalia attacks show U.S. commitment to hunt down terrorists
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON –The U.S. military attacks against al-Qaeda leaders in Somalia were based on credible intelligence, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. He would not address whether the operations were continuing.

Bryan Whitman would not confirm any of the details of the strike, which was conducted by at least one AC-130 gunship on Monday in southern Somalia, and he would not say whether the attack successfully killed any specific members of al-Qaeda.

The assault was based on intelligence “that led us to believe we had principal al-Qaeda leaders in an area where we could identify them and take action against them,” said Whitman. “We're going to remain committed to reducing terrorist capabilities where and when we find them.”

White House press secretary Tony Snow said he was not aware of any consultations with Congress before the assault.

[meegbear]

10. WAG THE DOG!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Yes.

I myself was simply terrified of Al Qaeda's Elite Cattle Brigade.

Thanks, Pentagon, now I can sleep soundly at night.

[rurallib]

12. If I was a bit skeptical I'd think it showed incredible incompetence

but who could dispute our Whitey House?

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Before they were suspects

now, they're unconfirmed dead aQ leaders. :shrug:

[coalition_unwilling]

42. BFEE specializes in extra-judicial summary executions, justifying

them with Madison Avenue sloganeering like "War on Terrorism"

[tularetom]

14. Big effin deal

Clinton did the same thing 10 years ago and got ridiculed for shooting a missile up a camel's ass.

[ama]

15. U.S. commitment to hunt down terrorists??

The GW Bush DOJ arranged for the early release of convicted FBI and CIA provocateur Ali Mohammed in July 2005. When released Ali had not served a full sentence commensurate with his convictions for the 1993 WTC and Kenyan and Tanzanian bombing attacks
Ali Mohammed worked for the FBI, CIA and Army Special Forces and with Bin Laden and 9/11 mastermind Khalid Mohammed, all at the same time! After Ali’s conviction during Clinton’s Presidency, DOJ AG Janet Reno made a special deal with Ali Mohammed and only held him under house arrest and never with the prospect of Ali having to serve out his full sentence
http://www.newswithviews.com/Briley/Patrick18.htm
A former US Army sergeant has admitted involvement in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa in which 224 people were killed, 12 of them Americans.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/982069.stm

[ShockediSay]

23. There will always be terrorists in every nation - we are supposed to

be going after Al Qaedans

ps If there should be a "surge" it should be in Afghanistan, where there is still some hope

[atreides1]

16. Also a commitment

To murder anyone who just happens to be in the way.

[moondust]

17. The timing is highly suspect.

As is the timing of the big fight in Baghdad that supposedly killed 50 insurgents.

Killing a bunch of insurgents and al-Qaeda on the eve of Bush's big speech will help him make the claim that we are really nailing the bad guys and all we need is more troops and more time to get 'em all.

Why did they wait until the eve of Bush's speech to hit al-Qaeda in Somalia, who have apparently been there for years?

[Megahurtz]

18. "Somalia attacks show U.S. commitment to hunt down OIL"

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. Sounds more like Gates commitment

to make sure the world knows he's a bigger asshole then Rumsfeld.

[uppityperson]

20. RW acquaintance is really annoyed at this action "why now?"

Also is annoyed that there is no one on the ground to confirm results. I was amused at the outrage about it from RW friend.

[lala_rawraw]

25. good question

[maddezmom]

33. anonymous military sources say Special Forces are on the ground

however, no official word yet and in light of the criticism from the UN and others about the air strikes doubt we'll hear soon.

A U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that U.S. Special Forces accompanied Ethiopian troops into Somalia roughly two weeks ago.

Analysts said U.S. forces were seeking to take advantage of a windfall opportunity.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x255875

[EFerrari]

21. Somalia attacks show US disregard for human life and international law.

And a big FU to the supine media that circulates this propaganda. You'll never see one red cent from this family again. :mad:

[daleo]

22. There are a lot of weasel words here

"based on credible intelligence"
"not say whether the attack successfully killed any specific members of al-Qaeda"
"based on intelligence “that led us to believe we had principal al-Qaeda leaders"

I have a hunch this could prove to be a lot of "collateral damage".

[coalition_unwilling]

43. Don't you mean "Terrorists disguised as children"??? n/t

[daleo]

45. Sadly, that's probably what we will hear in due time

Or "the terrorists were using children as human shields, so we had to kill them all."

[ck4829]

24. Could have been doing this a couple of years ago then

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. I tested the local waters about this today

Guess what? I didn't find a single person who was impressed. Most just didn't understand why they would do this. It appears the embassy bombing had long since fallen from their memories.

[LynnTheDem]

27. Yep them donkeys hauling sugarcane were hugh terraists.

Series.

[LynnTheDem]

28. THE OIL FACTOR IN SOMALIA

PDF;
http://www.rangeresources.com.au/docs/News%20Article%2018%20January%201993.pdf

Somalia welcomes oil interest
http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta53713.htm


Wake the FUCK UP, America.

[wordpix]

40. something on cable TV last night about huge oil strike in Africa---I didn't hear the country, tho

[LynnTheDem]

29. DUPE

[hatrack]

30. Somalia attacks show US willingness to follow Ethiopia's political lead

"Well, shit, Dick - if Ethiopia's already invaded, what difference will a few airstrikes make? Hyuck hyuck hyuck!!"

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

34. US was asked by the recognized Somali govt. for help

"MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- A senior al Qaeda suspect wanted for bombing U.S. embassies in East Africa has been killed, a Somali official said Wednesday as witnesses said U.S forces launched a third day of airstrikes.

Also Wednesday, Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister said American troops were needed on the ground to root extremists from his troubled country, and he expected the troops soon."


http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/10/somalia.strike.ap/index.html

[Say_What]

31. Can you spell PROPAGANDA??? n/t

[coalition_unwilling]

41. Somalia attacks show U.S. commitment to hunt down

terrorists disguised as children

[CJCRANE]

32. All Bushco has is contrived death and destruction

to grab the headlines.

In the meantime the Democrats set about getting some real work done in Congress.

[maxrandb]

35. Maxrandb says; "White House must not become a terror haven" n/t

[leesa]

36. Translation: "Somalia has LOTS of natural gas we want to steal"

We need to see Unka Dick's Energy Papers NOW.

[YankeyMCC]

38. So how about sending in an army

of people, preferably as many local people as possible, with resources and skill to help REBUILD the country instead of dropping more bombs, killing more people and formenting more anti-american feeling.

But then I'm just some smuck off the street, what do I know.

[shanti]

44. heeeere we go again!

:eyes: