U.S. says al Qaeda behind Somali Islamists (again) (Reuters)

[Eugene]

U.S. says al Qaeda behind Somali Islamists

By Andrew Cawthorne
Reuters
Thursday, December 14, 2006; 9:30 PM

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somali Islamists are under the growing control of an al Qaeda cell
in East Africa, a U.S. diplomat said on Thursday, as Washington condemned their threat
to attack Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's interim government.

"The Council of Islamic Courts is now controlled by al Qaeda cell individuals, East Africa
al Qaeda cell individuals. The top layer of the court are extremists. They are terrorists,"
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer told reporters.

-snip-

The Islamists, who seized the Somali capital Mogadishu in June and are vying with the
weak transitional government for control of the lawless country, have denied having
foreign fighters in their ranks.

The defense chief for the Mogadishu-based Islamists on Tuesday issued a threat to
attack Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's interim government unless they leave within
days.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/14/AR2006121401377.html

Also: U.S. condemns Somali Islamists' war ultimatum - Reuters

[Kagemusha]

1. I think he's right, but... so what? The alternative being proposed here is

Ethiopia invading Somalia and paving the ground work for the Somali interim government (which woud then be an Ethiopian sock puppet) on the US' behalf.

This is an improvement?