Key front in war on terror, Somalia (OTA)

The United States of America is capable of doing more than one thing at a time. We can fight this war on terror in the Middle East, and any other place where the terrorists might decide to hide or cause trouble. Maybe President George W. Bush remembers his promise to 'hunt down the terrorists wherever they may be'. According to reports, the United States has been receiving intelligence from Somalia as to the whereabouts of al-Qaeda and Islamic Courts Union terrorists, and has 'also been feeding intelligence gleaned from spy satellites to Ethiopian units hunting for Islamist leaders along the Somalia-Kenya border.' (Click image to enlarge. Image and vital statistics of the AC-130H spectre found here, hat tip Night Rider)

We have US warships deployed off the coasts of Somalia and Kenya to stop the ICU terrorists, who include prominent operatives of Al-Qaeda.

The top US official for Africa, Jendayi Fazer, went so far as to assert that Al-Qaeda had taken control of the Courts last June, just as the movement began its lightning drive to take over Somalia, a country without an effective government since 1991. [snip]

Government corruption, poorly controlled borders and restive Muslim populations have created fertile ground for Islamist militants in the Horn of Africa, a region of more than 160 million people comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. [snip]

The US has also poured aid and military assistance into Christian-dominated Ethiopia, where Djibouti-based US counter-terrorism advisers have routinely joined army patrols roaming the country's border region near Somalia.

When the Islamic Courts were on the verge of over-running the Western-backed interim government's isolated headquarters of Baidoa last month, Washington gave its tacit support for the Ethiopian offensive which succeeded in routing the Islamists. (source)

Poorly controlled borders? Hmmm. Take a clue United States. Something right and good is going on in Somalia.

Somali officials said the Islamic movement's main force is bottled up at Ras Kamboni, the southernmost tip of the country, cut off from escape at sea by patrolling U.S. warships and across the Kenyan border by the Kenyan military.

In Mogadishu, Somalia's president made his first visit to the capital since taking office in 2004. During the unannounced visit, President Abdullahi Yusuf was expected to meet with traditional Somali elders and stay at the former presidential palace that has been occupied by warlords for 15 years, government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said. (source)

Right Wing Nut House, via Wizbang, "DOING SOMETHING RIGHT: THE SOMALI RAID":

This is more like it. First, we had cooperative intelligence sharing from both Ethiopia and Kenya – the two major players in that part of the world and both of whom want nothing to do with al-Qaeda and radical Islam. Secondly, the operation appeared to be well planned and expertly carried out. Third, the bonus to the operation may be the timely deaths of two higher ups in al-Qaeda who have been responsible for aiding the perpetrators of attacks on American interests

Common Sense America has much more in, " From Somalia to Baghdad "

Wake Up America, "Chalk One Up For The Good Guys"

Old War Dogs, "U. S. attacks al Qaeda in Somalia -- Again "

WestHawk, " Did Mr. Musharraf hear the news from Somalia?"

Freedom Eden, " The Somali Front"

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Is It Just Me?, Perri Nelson's Website, Mark My Words, The Random Yak, Don Surber, Adam's Blog, basil's blog, DragonLady's World, Mensa Barbie Welcomes You, Conservative Cat, Jo's Cafe, Pursuing Holiness, Wake Up America, Rightwing Guy, Faultline USA, The HILL Chronicles, third world county, Wake Up America, stikNstein... has no mercy, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Planck's Constant, Renaissance Blogger, Dumb Ox News, High Desert Wanderer, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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Comments

[a]

good

[Angel]

I linked ..hope u receive the TB!

[Angel]

. Maybe President George W. Bush remembers his promise to 'hunt down the terrorists wherever they may be'. ..let us pray he does Debbie!!

[Layla]

Great post as always Debbie and you are so correct that the U.S. needs to take a hint regarding borders....a really BIG hint.