Reuters: New U.S strikes hit 4 places in Somalia-govt source (Wednesday)

[Eugene]

Original Reuters story: U.S launches new air strike in Somalia - source

New U.S strikes hit 4 places in Somalia-govt source
10 Jan 2007 11:09:33 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Sahal Abdulle

MOGADISHU, Jan 10 (Reuters) - U.S. forces hunting al Qaeda suspects hit four sites
in air strikes in southern Somalia on Wednesday, a Somali government source said,
as international criticism mounted over Washington's military intervention.

"As we speak now, the area is being bombarded by the American air force," the source
told Reuters.

He said the attacks hit an area close to Ras Kamboni, a coastal village near the Kenyan
border where many fugitive Islamists are believed holed-up after being ousted by Ethiopian
troops defending Somalia's interim government.

Four places were hit -- Hayo, Garer, Bankajirow and Badmadowe, the source said.
"Bankajirow was the last Islamist holdout. Bankajirow and Badmadowe were hit hardest,"
he added.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10249034.htm

EDIT: Replaced story with updated version

Also: Attack on Ethiopian troops kills 1 Somali - source - Reuters

[maddezmom]

1. US bombards Somalia for third day

~snip~

The French news agency AFP cited locals in the south of the country reporting a new strike close to where US helicopter gunships attacked suspected militant positions yesterday.

"Elders in Badade and Afmadow who made radio contact with us confirmed there was an American air strike in the same area today," a resident told the agency,

~snip~

"It's akin to the heart of darkness, just shooting into the jungle," said Bob Baer, a former CIA agent. "At the end of the day, you are just making more enemies."

Meanwhile, British officials warned of the prospect of al-Qaida followers - jihadists, as they called them - turning their attention to Ethiopia in response to its army's role in overthrowing the Union of Islamic Courts and forcing its members to flee Mogadishu.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1986951,00.html

[RC]

3. Suspected al-Qaida, suspected terrorists, suspected militants...

One thing is for sure, Innocent people are being killed on a daily basis on someone's opinion.

What happens when someone tires of us, U.S. bombing wedding parties and school lunches and decides to take out the real source of the terrorist activities and we lose the nations capital and most of our historic land marks there?

[Nihil]

5. A large part of the world will openly cheer ...

... while those of us who *know* how many good Americans there are
will cry in sadness & despair for what Bush has done to a once-glorious
nation ...
:cry:

[maddezmom]

2. Four-nation effort targets Al-Qaida forces in Somalia

Four-nation effort targets Al-Qaida forces in Somalia
By Jonathan S. Landay and Shashank Bengali
McClatchy Washington Bureau

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United States, Ethiopia, the transitional Somalian government and Kenya coordinated land, sea and air operations Tuesday against Al-Qaida operatives and remnants of Somalia's defeated Islamist militias in a southern corner of the war-ravaged African nation, U.S. and Somalian officials said.

U.S. participation in the effort marked a significant step-up in the Bush administration's anti-terrorist operations in the strategic Horn of Africa, where a 1,800-strong U.S. task force has been involved largely in aid and reconstruction work for the past five years.

The Boston Globe, quoting U.S. military and intelligence officials, reported that U.S. Special Forces have been deployed on the ground to track suspected Al-Qaida members near the Kenyan border.

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

more:http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16425169.htm?source=rss

[maddezmom]

4. Residents report new US raid in south Somalia, government denies

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Residents have reported a new US air strike on suspected Al-Qaeda targets in southern Somalia, but government officials denied the accounts and the Pentagon said it had no information.

~snip~

However, Somali Information Minister Ali Jama said he was unaware of any air operations in the area other than those by Ethiopian troops backing the Somali government, which have been underway for weeks.

"There are operations going on in southern Somalia by Ethiopian and Somali forces," he told AFP. "They might be either ground or air."

Somali government spokesman Abdirahim Dinari said the resident accounts were "nonsense."

"It is nonsense," he told AFP. "It is fake news. We do not have any information about the alleged airstrikes. I do not know where these reports ... are coming from."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070110/ts_afp/somaliaunrestethiopiausattack_070110112556

So there are airstrike occuring just not from US military.

[Javaman]

6. So we now enter the era of the non-war war...

because if moron* ever went to the people of this country now and told us that he was going to start another war someplace else, their would be protests in earnest.

But alas, that didn't happen because this was planned many months ago and got very quiet approvel from the pass the buck, fill their pockets repuke congress.

We have always been at war with eastasia...

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Briar]

8. Just think about it

You're a peasant farmer trying to scratch a living from drought-stricken soil. What does the US mean to you? The thunder of approaching aircraft and terror as you wait for the bombs to go off and splatter you and your family all over the landscape. And who would be the heroes? The merciless airmen, high and safe over your head? Or the ragged fighter with a kalashnikov, shouting defiance in a gesture of doomed resistance? We're losing touch with humanity, our own and those of the people who die because that suits our interests.

[Nihil]

9. I wish I could recommend a reply ...

... because you have summed it up beautifully.

:applause:

[Nihil]

10. Have I missed this or has it not happened?

The debate in Congress and the Senate about conducting military
operations in yet another foreign country?

How many Dems voted for the BushCo resolution to attack civilians
on the off-chance that they might have been related to a terrorist?

How many awkward questions have been asked of the SecDef as to why
significant quanties of US Armed Forces are in active operations in
Somalia while those in Iraq are crying out for reinforcements (or
repatriation if the truth be told)?

I've read about the attacks themselves, the weapons used, the Somali
casualties. I've read how "unnamed intelligence sources" *believe*
that there "might have been" one person out of all the dead civilians
who bears a resemblance to a suspected Islamic terrorist.

I haven't read about any protest or even any questioning of the "right"
that Bush is happily exercising at the moment - namely the "right" to
blow up anyone, anywhere, anytime without fear of restraint.

Is it just the "liberal media" repressing these protests?
:shrug:

[BeHereNow]

15. Not a peep from our Democratic leaderson the Somalia attack...

And THAT is the point to ponder, isn't it.
Especially after the "Iran/Syria" clause in
the dictator's speech tonight.
BHN

[Nihil]

16. Glad it wasn't just me

I sometimes slip into a news-free bubble at the weekend but usually
keep a good finger on the pulse during the week and didn't recall seeing
any form of questioning (much less dissent) over these new attacks ...
not quite sure how to take this ...

:shrug:

[ktlyon]

18. deleted double posted

[ktlyon]

19. The UN gave Ethiopia permission but did the Security Counsel

give us the OK... not that I heard

or Congress

[Nihil]

20. I hadn't even thought as far as the UNSC but it's a good point.

I was simply wondering about the assumed authority to invade & attack
anyone, anywhere, anytime that has been exercised here.

Strangely enough, neither Republican nor Democratic congress critters
and senators seem to be even asking the question.

Is there a tacit agreement that "if we don't talk about it, no-one will
know"?

[Eugene]

11. Reuters: No new U.S. air strikes in Somalia-officials

No new U.S. air strikes in Somalia-officials
10 Jan 2007 16:16:10 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Wednesday said
there have been no new U.S. air strikes on targets in Somalia
since the previously reported operation on Monday, contradicting
a report from a Somali government source.

The Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed a first U.S. strike against
al Qaeda targets occurred on Monday.

Strikes have continued in Somalia, according to a Somali government
source, but U.S. officials said the United States had not conducted
any strikes since Monday.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10273197.htm

EDIT: Updated conflicting report: New U.S.-Ethiopian strikes hit south Somalia - Reuters

[daleo]

12. The Gross National Product of Ethiopia is about $10 billion

They must get a lot of $U.S. to afford the military hardware we are hearing about - helicopter gunships, armored personnel carriers, etc.

[Nihil]

13. Psst!

Ethiopia isn't operating the gunships ... US "Special Forces" are doing it "for them".

Now, the question you want to ask next is "What has Ethiopia promised to the USA?".
The answer probably involves access to something beginning with O and ending with L
and might have I in the middle ... let's face it, they're not going to pay in US$ are they?

[daleo]

14. I think you are on to something

I suppose some Ethiopian soldiers may be along for the ride, but my guess is U.S. forces are doing the technical stuff. Oil may be the payoff, as well as sites for military bases.

The Soviet Union and the west used to fight proxy wars over the horn of Africa. I guess the west still wants it - after all Arabia is right a short boat trip away.

[leesa]

17. And our Dems say nothing...more war...OK with them I guess.

When will someone arrest this nutcase??