US wants normalized Somalia

[Saxardiid]

US wants normalized Somalia

 

DIPLOMATIC PUSH: The US, concerned about terrorism in the lawless African nation, is considering a diplomatic effort to restart stalled talks on resolving strife

 

AFP , WASHINGTON

Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

 

The US is considering a major diplomatic initiative to help create a functional government in lawless Somalia, a senior US State Department official said Friday.

 

The aim would be to restore the war-ravaged country to some form of normality for its impoverished people and rein in terrorist elements, including some affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, the official said.

 

Both would boost east African stability and reduce the terrorist threat in the region, the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

 

The Somalian capital was ironically the scene of one of the biggest US military fiascos of recent times in October 1993. The US Army was fighting in Mogadishu against militiamen loyal to the late warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid when 18 Task Force rangers on two Black Hawk helicopters were killed.

 

Should it proceed, the US push would see significant US financial, logistical and diplomatic assistance funneled into faltering Kenyan-mediated negotiations between Somalia's warring factions, the official said.

 

It could be modeled on US support for peace talks between Sudan's government and southern rebels, also being mediated by Kenya, that appear close to producing a settlement to end 20 years of civil war, the official said.

 

US President George W. Bush's administration, which has placed a high priority on the Sudan peace effort, is studying the feasibility of Washington's involvement in the Somalia talks, the official said.

 

A report on the possibilities is due to be completed within 60 days, the official said.

 

"Kiplagat is a good diplomat and has taken a relatively hopeless situation and matured it," the official said, referring to Bethuel Kiplagat, Kenya's special envoy to the peace talks.

 

"I don't know if he has matured enough to where we and somebody else can step in and take it to an end game that is satisfying though," the official said. "That's what the question is."

 

There have been 15 failed bids to negotiate durable peace in Somalia, which has been without a recognized central government since 1991, when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.

 

Last September, delegates to the latest round, which began in October 2002, endorsed a transitional federal charter but that was immediately rejected by several key figures, including the head of the current transitional government.

 

Earlier Friday, the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been sponsoring the current round, convened a meeting of Somali political leaders and warlords in Nairobi to try to give the talks a boost.

 

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose country now chairs IGAD, urged Somalis to end the "slow genocide" in their country and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki challenged them to end the "senseless war" in the Horn of Africa nation.

 

Kibaki called on the fractious leader to upgrade a frequently ignored October 2002 truce into a complete ceasefire agreement. That pace has been violated repeatedly, mostly in Somalia's bullet-charred capital of Mogadishu.

 

Kenyan officials have for months warned the international community against ignoring lawlessness in Somalia, saying it poses a threat to the stability of nearby countries and is a "breeding ground" for criminality and terrorism.

 

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[Gabbal]

That kind of international attention is what we're looking for.

[Conscious Manipulation]

salaam alaykum,

 

Oh boy, once again the great U.S of A, our knight in shining armor to the rescue! Here's what they're really after; they want to establish a military presence in the region to "reign in terrorists" (but what they're really after is global domination, they want to have their armies in every corner of the globe)in the process installing a brutal pro-American dictator to keep anti-US elements (namely Islamic groups) in check just like in the rest of the Muslim countries. Let S.America, the middle east and even the rest of Africa testify that nothing the great satan ever got involved in benefited anyone else.

 

Imaam Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that Allah punishes the unjust by the unjust and then takes revenge on both. So who knows maybe the Americans will be a punishment for the warlords.

 

May Allah restore peace and justice in our homeland and in the rest of the Muslim world.

 

salaam

[Haashim]

Originally posted by Conscious Manipulation:

salaam alaykum,

 

Imaam Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that Allah punishes the unjust by the unjust and then takes revenge on both. So who knows maybe the Americans will be a punishment for the warlords.

As they punished their former friend Saddam

[Saxardiid]

Originally posted by HornAfrique:

That kind of international attention is what we're looking for.

horn your obsulutely right we need this kind of int attention that can push the conference forward. lets hope leaders/worlords there take this rare opportunity and find a way to resolve their differences.

 

consciouse

installing a brutal pro-American dictator to keep anti-US elements (namely Islamic groups)

sxb somalia is a place which too low that no one wants or no use to anyone. if US wanted to install one of her dictators in somalia right now why she didn't do just that long ago. i think we are putting ourselves too much value. so lets hope we get int support and also our people try to work something out. Whatever happens to somali people they never let hurm to islamic groups. these people became part and parcel of somali people and their culture/identity. The US knows and every one knows that. so lets pray to Allah this time something good will come out from this latest conference in kenya.