Dhubad. Posted January 11, 2007 Thursday, January 11, 2007 Newspapers in East Africa and the Middle East strongly condemn US air strikes on Somalia targeting al-Qaeda suspects in the south of the country. Papers in Kenya fear the US intervention could derail efforts by the transitional government to extend its control over Somalia, while a South African daily warns that the solution must come from within Somalia. A UK-based Arabic daily sees the strikes as part of a US strategy to keep the Islamists out of power and end the stability which, it says, they brought to the country. KENYA'S STANDARD US officials said they expect more military strikes this week to "wipe out" the terrorist cell in Somalia. This in itself is good news from a Kenyan standpoint, bearing in mind that Nairobi bore the brunt of an unprovoked terror attack in 1998. However, the hurried response to send the deadly, fire-spitting C-130s into Somalia so soon after a collective sigh of relief for the chance of a formal government structure evokes fury at the unilateral action of the global policeman. UNATTRIBUTED COMMENTARY IN KENYA'S STANDARD America will never learn and its excuses border on the ridiculous. Uncle Tom had to wait 10 years to go for Osama Bin Laden's disciples? Have the terrorists been waiting for the Yankees? President Abdullahi Yusuf never ceases to amaze. He cheers the Americans on as they terrorise his people and raze his country just as he turned to the Ethiopians to fight the Islamists. Looking for a lame-duck leader? Look no further. SOUTH AFRICA'S BUSINESS DAY It is difficult to think of an up side to America's military intervention in Somalia... The Ethiopian-led and US-backed overthrow of the Union of Islamic Courts and its replacement by the transitional government is no guarantee of stability. And the US attacks on sites where fleeing Somali Islamists and al-Qaeda operatives gathered could inflame the situation. Ultimately, the solution to Somalia's problems will have to come from within the country itself. NDUNGU WAINAINA IN KENYA'S TIMES The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia on its part should not presume that the current support from the international community will remain forever. [it] should set in motion bold steps to promote political dialogue and reconciliation that would culminate in establishment of a government that enjoys the full support of the Somali people. PAN-ARAB AL-ARAB AL-ALAMIYAH Since the Union of Islamic Courts succeeded in removing warlords, bringing about peace and stability and taking control of most part of Somalia, the US found a way to eliminate this youthful force and bring Somalia back to violence. EGYPT'S AL-AKHBAR The air strike gives rise to astonishment, mixed with anger and disgust. It also raises many questions. The killing of scores of people under the pretext of hunting down an individual or two cannot be justified irrespective of their position in the al-Qaeda organization. The time has come for the United States to learn its lesson and realise that its real battle is represented in winning hearts and minds. EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH The United States gave itself the right to bombard Somali villages and kill their innocent people. Does it really want any friends?! SYRIA'S TISHRIN Ethiopia carried out the mission, "crushed the terrorists" and handed Somalia over to the Americans, the original architects of wars and sponsors of collapsed countries. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
