US: Military operation dismantles terror cells in Somalia

[General Duke]

Military operation dismantles terror cells in Somalia

 

NAIROBI, March 22(Xinhua) -- A joint military operation in Somalia, which ended with the ouster of Mogadishu's ruling Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (ICU), has rendered the dreaded al-Qaeda military wing in East Africa less active, a senior U.S. official claimed.

 

The U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger said the threat of terror still remained real, especially in Kenya, which is due to host an international marathon event, in which an American team is also participating, but the level of the threat has been degraded since the December military operation.

 

Ranneberger said the January operation targeted suspected terrorist training cells in Somalia, but Washington would not confirm whether the bombardments also killed its three most wanted terrorists in Somalia.

 

He said there were many suspected terrorists in the Horn of African nation, but the most wanted included three men under U.S. indictment for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

 

 

 

 

They include a Comorian, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Kenyan SalehAli Saleh Nabhan and Abu Taha al-Sudani, a Sudanese. "The problem in Somalia is much bigger than just three individuals," Ambassador Rannerberger told a news conference in Nairobi on Wednesday.

 

In January, the U.S. Marine carried out aerial bombardments in Ras Kamboni, near the Kenyan coastal border with Somalia, also believed to host one of the biggest terror training camps in East Africa, killing villagers and livestock on both sides of the border.

 

U.S. officials claimed to have killed Saleh, believed to have masterminded a failed plot to bomb an Israeli Arkia Airliner jet as it took off from Mombasa's Moi International Airport with 200passengers on board in November 2002.

 

Saleh is also suspected of plotting the successful attack of an Israeli hotel in Kikambala, Kenya's coastal region, which left 17dead, among them, three Israeli nationals.

 

Abdullah Mohammed, a bomb expert believed to have assembled the explosives is also on the U.S. most wanted terror list together with al-Sudani, a Sudanese national also believed to be a key resource to the group of al-Qaeda's generals in east Africa.

 

U.S. officials say the al-Qaeda treat in East Africa has been greater than previously thought and their influence on the ICU was even greater and more dangerous.

 

"There is still a lot of fluidity, especially on Kenya. Continued efforts are going to be necessary. This (terrorism) has been an issue in East Africa for many years. The problem is much larger than the three individuals," Ranneberger told reporters.

 

U.S. President George W. Bush's latest focus on Somalia has left analysts wondering the specific security interests that the Americans have in Somalia.

 

Analysts say the U.S. turned a blind eye on Somalia for 14 years since it peacekeeping operation in Mogadishu ended in a defeat after some U.S. soldiers were killed by Somali warlords and bodies dragged in the streets of the capital.

 

"We are focusing on the role of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Courts," Ranneberger said.

 

Washington say the latest deterioration of security in Somalia, which culminated on the killing of at least 20 people on Wednesday, including several Ethiopian soldiers, whose bodies were also dragged in the streets before they were burnt, was a result of a security vacuum.

 

The security was left after the demise of the Islamist rulers, which Washington claims to be allies of al-Qaeda in East Africa.

 

"The al-Qaeda involvement was significant, especially the military wing. There has been a significant presence of the al-Qaeda military wing in the ICU," Ranneberger said.

 

Kenyan forces helped to tighten security around the country's common border with Somalia to stop fleeing members of the ICU from entering its territory.

 

Reports said Kenya has deported 80 terror suspects to Somalia. These people, some of whom are nationals of western countries, are held in jails across Somalia.

 

Ranneberger says Kenya should not be blamed for applying its deportation laws to the suspects, provided the laws are inconformity with international standards.

 

"The Somali government has confirmed to us that the people under their care are held in humane conditions in accordance with international standards," he added.

 

Source: Xinhua

[Fabregas]

Osama, spotted in South Muqdisho by any chance?

[General Duke]

Now people do not attack the Ambassador after all he was a good man when saved Sharif Ahmed from the chasing pack..

[General Duke]

Osama means nothing saxib, the peace of Somalia will not be hampered by a small group who will lsoe everything in the new Somalia..

 

Yesterday it was "Islam" now its "our clan"..Make up your minds people..

[Fabregas]

Osama doesn't mean nothing. I thought he appointed a representative in Muqdisho, which the T.F.G was fighting?Maybe you need to make up your mind, One minute your fighting Alqaeda, next minute your fighting "clans; the next your fighting: eriterians, oromon, arabs......oh and i forgot your also fighting "clowns"......

[Alle-ubaahne]

^he is confussed more than ever, I say.

 

his demise is coming to an end, i believe. By june, IA, we will see another duke speaking like a stranded rat somewhere in the u.k. lol

[Juje]

Originally posted by General Duke:

"The Somali government has confirmed to us that the people under their care are held in humane conditions in accordance with international standards," he added.

 

Source: Xinhua

This coming from the mouth of those who designed Guantanamo Bay is seriously ludicrious.

 

Washington say the latest deterioration of security in Somalia, which culminated on the killing of at least 20 people on Wednesday, including several Ethiopian soldiers, whose bodies were also dragged in the streets before they were burnt, was a result of a security vacuum.

This part of the text you pasted maybe you didnot understand or neither did not interest, but it undermines your whole argument - the current conflict not against Al-Qaeda but created cause of power vacum...go figure.

[General Duke]

^^^Yep he was a hero a few months back to some here.

 

Geel_Jire. It has been proven that the whole thing was a clan sharade hence the new strategy being used, "Puntland" is robbing us and so on..

[Kashafa]

^ You wish it was a clan-war, then you'd be right at home, my brave Amxaar Orphan, wouldn't you ?

 

I'll have you know that there are Rijaal-ul-Islam from all over Somalia currently waging war against the Tikrey hordes and Dhabo-Dhilif, Inc. Their Clan is called: Laa ilaaha ilalaah. You are welcome to join us anytime. Our clan membership is open to all who say, believe, and apply that phrase.

 

But you gotta be happy: the fighting in the past two days did include clannish elements from both sides. After all, what else to expect from a government blatantly built along tribal lines with the fowr-boint-fife formula.

 

I wonder where Aideed and Qeybdiid(you know, the guys we chased outa Xamar and came running to the Amxaaro) stood on the latest clashes, with their Amxaaro Sugar Daddies, or with their clannish relatives. Interesting dillema, don't ya think ?