Thierry. Posted July 13, 2010 In the long run these attacks are a good thing for the Somali people, let the world feel the pain Somalis face at the hands of these madmen. Duke, IA we shall have a debate when your ideas evolve. Somalia needs good government to turn back the terrorist tide Has the world woken up to the risk coming from Somalia? The simultaneous bombing on Sunday in the Ugandan capital Kampala may be the start of a wave of violent terrorism in the Horn of Africa and beyond, waged from Somalia. The radical Somali group al-Shabab had already made public threats against Uganda and Burundi, the two African countries that have contributed troops to African peace mission in Somalia. Today its commander admitted responsibility for the bombs. The threat of terrorism emanating from Somalia is real, and equal to that from Afghanistan. As in Afghanistan, few days go by without an act of terrorism targeting civilians. Similar too is the magnitude in which they cause carnage to their people. Somalia today is a much more dangerous place for Somalis, for the region and for the rest of the world than it has ever been. What are not similar, however, are the world's responses. Somalia is left to 5000 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers supporting a very weak government living in a citadel inside Mogadishu. What is at their disposal is a "shoot back when attacked" policy and an attempt to hold the fort until the rest of the world comes to help. Four years after they arrived, they still holding fort with no sign of the world coming to their aid. African troops lack resources for basic things such as payment of their soldiers, training of their Somali counterparts and of course any resources for winning the hearts and minds of the Somali people. One can only speculate why extremist groups do what they do. But what al-Shabab want from yesterday's bombing is very clear to many who observe Somalia. They want a heavy-handed response from the neighbouring countries that sucks them into Somalia. Al-Shabab are looking for a new rallying slogan to continue their war. They know that they are losing the hearts and minds game in Somalia. As many as 1.5 million Somali civilians left areas under the control of al-Shabab and are now living as displaced citizens in the rest of the country. Somalis need a functioning and capable government more than anything else. They have been incapable of establishing one in the last 20 years. They need a lot of sustained support, as do their African friends who are there to help Somalia. Functioning, legitimate and capable government is the greatest weapon against terrorism in Somalia and in the region. I hope this is what will emerge from yesterday's tragedy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thierry. Posted July 13, 2010 FBI will help in Ugandan bomb probe July 13 2010 at 12:34AM Get IOL on your mobile at m.iol.co.za Washington - The United States vowed on Monday to support Uganda after major bombings, sending the FBI to assist in the probe and pledging to pressure Somalia's "hateful" Shebab insurgents . President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with President Yoweri Museveni and offered to provide "any support and assistance" the Ugandan government requested, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said. "The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to working together to combat terrorist organisations that threaten innocent civilians around the world," Gibbs told reporters. Somalia's al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks, in which 74 people were killed in twin bombings on revellers watching the final of the World Cup in South Africa. Continues Below ↓ "What they seek to destroy and who they seek to kill - innocent people - just as the continent of Africa, just as the country of South Africa, shows the world what it had built, I think speaks volumes to the hateful motive" of the assailants, Gibbs said. A three-person team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation is in Kampala to help collect evidence, with two officers from US Diplomatic Security arriving later on Monday, State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley told reporters. Another FBI team was on standby in the United States to go to Uganda if needed, Crowley said. Without offering details, the spokesperson said the United States had evidence to believe Shebab's claims that it carried out the attack. The movement's top leader had warned in an audio message earlier this month that Uganda would face retaliation for contributing to an African Union force supporting the Western-backed Somali transitional government. Museveni, in a separate call with Johnnie Carson, the top US diplomat for sub-Saharan Africa, "indicated to us that Uganda remains committed to the mission in Mogadishu", Crowley said. "That probably is the strongest retort to al-Shebab, that we are going to continue to support those who want to responsibly govern in Somalia and will resist those who have a narrow, brutal, violent vision of the future in that country," Crowley said. The United States has strongly supported President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's transitional government in Somalia, seeing it as the best hope in years for a country that has lacked an effective government for two decades. Under the Obama administration, the United States has stepped up its commitment by sending arms to the transitional government to fight the Shebab and other insurgents. - Sapa-AFP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thierry. Posted July 13, 2010 If Somali troops assisted by 4,000 Amisom troops have with held Al Shabaab without attacking, I am sure more international boots would easily overturn the young mad men considering they have no moral support from the masses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
