Experts Say US Funding Somali Warlords

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Hmmmm, I just deja vued again, this time back about 20 years ago or so.

----------------------------------------------------------
Experts say US funding Somali warlords
By David Morgan Mon Jun 5, 12:30 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has been funneling more than $100,000 a month to warlords battling Islamist militia in Somalia, according to a Somalia expert who has conferred with the groups in the country.

The U.S. operation, which former intelligence officials say is aimed at preventing emergence of rulers who could provide al Qaeda with a safe haven akin to Taliban-ruled
Afghanistan, appeared to be seriously set back on Monday when an Islamic coalition claimed control of Mogadishu.

U.S. government officials refused to discuss any possible secret U.S. involvement in the strategically placed Horn of Africa state, which has been wrecked by years of fighting.

But former U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said an operation to support the warlords' alliance appeared to involve both the
CIA and U.S. military.

John Prendergast, who monitors Somalia for the think-tank International Crisis Group, said he learned during meetings with alliance members in Somalia that the CIA was financing the warlords with cash payments.

Prendergast estimated that CIA-operated flights into Somalia have been bringing in $100,000 to $150,000 per month for the warlords. The flights remain in Somalia for the day, he said, so that U.S. agents can confer with their allies.

The Bush administration has maintained a silence over allegations in recent months of a U.S. proxy war against Islamist radicalism in the country.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Lt. Commander Joe Carpenter reiterated the administration's position that the United States stands ready to "disrupt the efforts of terrorists wherever they may be active."

SECRET SUPPORT

Claims of clandestine U.S. support for secular warlords who call themselves the "Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism" have been aired by Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and independent analysts.

A
United Nations team charged with monitoring a U.N. arms embargo against Somalia has also said it is investigating an unnamed country's clandestine support for the warlords alliance as a possible violation of the weapons ban.

The former intelligence officials said the operation was controlled by the Pentagon through U.S. Central Command's Combined Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa, a counterterrorism mission based in neighboring Djibouti established after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

On Monday, after months of fighting that has killed around 350 people, the Islamic militia claimed control of Mogadishu and a warlord militiaman said his coalition's leaders were fleeing the capital.

U.S. intelligence has produced no conclusive evidence of an active al Qaeda presence in Somalia, experts said. But there have been reports of al Qaeda members in the country, including suspects in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa.

cont. (http://tinyurl.com/ryd5x)

[elsid13]

This story is going to grow, because a well financed hard line Islamic group has recently taken over most of the capital, and the Warlords have fled. Similar to Afghanistan. The problem is the people are support the hardliners because of food, security/crime prevention and promise to provide public services. We continue to try the Cowboy crap, when need to try the velvet hand approach.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Experts Say US Funding Somali Warlords

Hell, BushCo was funding the Taliban in Afghanistan before 9/11, so I guess Somali Warlords aren't that much of a change of policy.

File it under "spreading democracy and freedom" - BushCo style.

Here's another example:

"In 1997 or 1998, George Bush had a meeting with the Uzbek ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Safayev, which was actually organized and set up by Kenneth Lay of Enron...

Karimov is one of the most vicious dictators in the world, a man who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Prisoners are boiled to death in Uzbek jails. And he was a guest in the White House in 2002. It's very easy to find photos of George Bush shaking Karimov's hand."

- Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan

http://www.democracynow.org/article..../05/26/1410248

[El Minion]

Quote:
"In 1997 or 1998, George Bush had a meeting with the Uzbek ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Safayev, which was actually organized and set up by Kenneth Lay of Enron...

Karimov is one of the most vicious dictators in the world, a man who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Prisoners are boiled to death in Uzbek jails. And he was a guest in the White House in 2002. It's very easy to find photos of George Bush shaking Karimov's hand."

- Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan

http://www.democracynow.org/article..../05/26/1410248

Misconfigured link try here (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/26/1410248)

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Misconfigured link try here (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/26/1410248)

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[mosca]

Hell, BushCo was funding the Taliban in Afghanistan before 9/11, so I guess Somali Warlords aren't that much of a change of policy.

File it under "spreading democracy and freedom" - BushCo style.

Not exactly a sterling comparison.

I'm sure these warlords are not necessarily known for their advances in either democracy or freedom. But this funding seems to be done in the hope that Somalia -doesn't- turn into another Afghanistan or another Taliban-esque theocracy. Let's face it, a friggin Islamic militia just took over the capital. Sharia law is set to be imposed across the city. This is neither in the U.S. nor the Somalian peoples' best interests, if you ask me.

That being said, the one worrisome aspect to this bit of news is, as Prendergast put it, "By circumventing the new government and going straight to individual warlords, the U.S. is perpetuating and even deepening Somalia's fundamental problems, and compromising long-term efforts to combat extremism." We'll have to wait and see.

[elsid13]

Not exactly a sterling comparison.

I'm sure these warlords are not necessarily known for their advances in either democracy or freedom. But this funding seems to be done in the hope that Somalia -doesn't- turn into another Afghanistan or another Taliban-esque theocracy. Let's face it, a friggin Islamic militia just took over the capital. Sharia law is set to be imposed across the city. This is neither in the U.S. nor the Somalian peoples' best interests, if you ask me.

That being said, the one worrisome aspect to this bit of news is, as Prendergast put it, "By circumventing the new government and going straight to individual warlords, the U.S. is perpetuating and even deepening Somalia's fundamental problems, and compromising long-term efforts to combat extremism." We'll have to wait and see.


The only part of your statement that I disagree with is in "Somalian peoples' best interest". While in the long term that might be right, the short term the militia is bring stability and ending the violence. The reporter on yahoo, was reporting that strong support of the business community and women for the Islamic militia. Reason - end crime, providing health care and providing basic civil service. The US really needs to us ALL it "weapons" on terrorism and not just force.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Not exactly a sterling comparison.

I'm sure these warlords are not necessarily known for their advances in either democracy or freedom. But this funding seems to be done in the hope that Somalia -doesn't- turn into another Afghanistan or another Taliban-esque theocracy. L
How did that turn out under Reagan in Afghanistan (funding the "good guys")?

[elsid13]

Militia vow to make Somalia Islamic state <!-- END HEADLINE --><!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->By Mohamed Ali Bile2 hours, 4 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060606/wl_nm/somalia_dc_11;_ylt=AisqjXLfHLbyW6woGeOLljGQLIUD;_y lu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUlinutes



Islamic militia vowed to turn Somalia into a religious state on Tuesday, pushing north to take more territory after winning a three-month battle for Mogadishu.

But thousands of Mogadishu residents protested against the takeover and defeated warlords said they would fight back. Clan elders warned the Islamic side against more advances.

Fighters loyal to Sharia courts seized the lawless capital Monday from a self-styled anti-terrorism coalition of warlords widely believed to be backed by Washington.

Some 350 people, mostly civilians, have died since February in fighting for Mogadishu interspersed by tense lulls. The United Nations says about 1,500 civilians were wounded in the close-quarter battles using mortars and anti-aircraft guns.

It was the first time the warlords had been dislodged from Mogadishu since ousting former ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
"Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia," Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, chairman of Mogadishu Islamic courts, told a rally of hundreds.

"This is a long Islamic struggle and it will continue until the whole country comes under Sharia law," Fuad Ahmed, a militiaman loyal to the Islamic side, told Reuters. "We are ready to shed our blood in order for that struggle to succeed."

Supporters of the warlord coalition packed the shattered Benadir stadium in northern Mogadishu at a counter-rally.

"We have to continue fighting the terrorists in Mogadishu. We will remain in Mogadishu," warlord Bashir Raghe, who lost control of an airstrip and a port in March, told Reuters.

"The Islamic courts cannot dislodge us from here." Warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow, who lost the strategic town of Balad on Sunday, was also at the rally.

Somalia's interim prime minister, Mohamed Ali Gedi, earlier congratulated the Islamic side on their victory over warlords who many Somalis believe tried to undermine the government.

"They were hurting reconciliation, stabilization and pacification of Somalia," Gedi told Radio France Internationale.

"All those forces who joined their efforts together were the pillars of the victory and the government has congratulated them," he said.

ISLAMIC SIDE PUSHES NORTH

The Islamic fighters advanced on Tuesday toward the warlord stronghold of Jowhar, about 90 km (56 miles) north of Mogadishu.

"Our forces are in the village of Qalimoy, 20 km south of Jowhar. We are just waiting for orders from our leaders to capture it," militia leader Siyad Mohamed, who is allied to the Islamic courts, told Reuters from Balad on the road to Jowhar.


Ali Nur, a warlord coalition militiaman, said clan elders threatened to mass militia against Islamic forces if they attacked Jowhar.
Nur said the Islamic side told the warlords to hand over weapons but their fighters were preparing an assault to regain lost Mogadishu strongholds, notably the Kilometre Four area.

But resident Fahran Gure said he did not expect violence.

"We feel there is a big change, peace is in the air, no gunshots can be heard. It is calm, businesses are fully operational. People are now moving freely everywhere."

Aid workers fear the violence may have exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis in drought-hit Somalia. Some 400,000 displaced already live in squalid conditions across Somalia but scores had fled Mogadishu during fighting.

The United States has refused to discuss persistent reports it is covertly funneling $100,000 a month to the warlords but has said it will work with anyone combating terrorism.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States had serious concerns about the presence of "foreign terrorists" in Somalia where he said al Qaeda was active.
"We also have an interest, as well as the rest of the world, in combating the presence of foreign terrorists in that Horn of Africa region," said McCormack.

"It's a tragic situation for the Somalian people. It's a real source of concern for the international community," he added.
(Additional reporting by Sue Pleming in Washington, Guled Mohamed in Nairobi)

[mosca]

How did that turn out under Reagan in Afghanistan (funding the "good guys")?
well, the "good guys" we funded came out victorious ... is it too much to hope that the same could happen in this case, i.e. the islamists being eventually defeated by their somali opponents we're funding?

[mosca]

The only part of your statement that I disagree with is in "Somalian peoples' best interest". While in the long term that might be right, the short term the militia is bring stability and ending the violence. The reporter on yahoo, was reporting that strong support of the business community and women for the Islamic militia. Reason - end crime, providing health care and providing basic civil service. The US really needs to us ALL it "weapons" on terrorism and not just force.
you do have a point here... short term vs. long term. if the islamists bring peace and stability this may be a better immediate change in the short term.
but long term, it's my personal belief islamic sharia law is by no means the best way for any society to function. not that life in somalia has ever been all that great as of late, so i doubt many people there are concerned about the long term, but instead likely are focused simply on surviving and providing food for thei family. sad that the world, and this area of it in particular, has come to this.

[elsid13]

you do have a point here... short term vs. long term. if the islamists bring peace and stability this may be a better immediate change in the short term.
but long term, it's my personal belief islamic sharia law is by no means the best way for any society to function. not that life in somalia has ever been all that great as of late, so i doubt many people there are concerned about the long term, but instead likely are focused simply on surviving and providing food for thei family. sad that the world, and this area of it in particular, has come to this.


It the same reason Hamas has a following in the Palestinians' refugee camps. They provide food, medical care, education and garbage removal, etc. People need to ask themselves do you support the folks that are taking care of you or thugs that threaten you and family?

[Atlas]

Well, I don't think the warlords are the answer of course the new militant muslim government is going to turn Somalia into another Afghanistan. Too bad were in Iraq instead of fighting terrorism.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

well, the "good guys" we funded came out victorious ... is it too much to hope that the same could happen in this case, i.e. the islamists being eventually defeated by their somali opponents we're funding? What? Reagan funded the mujahedeen which led to bin laden and al Qaida. The U.S. has funded repressive regimes and rebel groups throughout the world with disastrous results.

Who's the "good guys" and who is the "bad guys" over there?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

What? Reagan funded the mujahedeen which led to bin laden and al Qaida. The U.S. has funded repressive regimes and rebel groups throughout the world with disastrous results.

Yep.

Including Saddam Hussein and the Shah of Iran.

It's a shame that the bush junta and the bozos who support it either don't know history or haven't learned anything from it.

[bendog]

I wasn't really upset at this. yeah, I'm sorry the rangers and army guys got shot up. But we never really had a beef with the warlords. We screwed up by not putting in 100K troops and disarming them in the first place, assuming we were gonna nation build. Prolly would've taken fewer than that. I gave the admin a pass on Rwanda for the same reason. Pretty hard to nation build when there's no coastline for troops to land. Darfur? Seems like we're doing too little.

[defenseman]

It the same reason Hamas has a following in the Palestinians' refugee camps. They provide food, medical care, education and garbage removal, etc. People need to ask themselves do you support the folks that are taking care of you or thugs that threaten you and family?

they do this with the help of handouts from the rest of the world. Including israel (at least they used to). However, the palestinians I'm not so sure knew about this. And then when it was taken away, they threw their arms up. No more handouts..dman

[elsid13]

they do this with the help of handouts from the rest of the world. Including israel (at least they used to). However, the palestinians I'm not so sure knew about this. And then when it was taken away, they threw their arms up. No more handouts..dman


actually the Hamas received most of it funding from Iran, and Saudi Arab. The monies for EU, American and Israel went to PLO, which the corrupt official shifted into thier own pockets, vs providing services. One of the major reasons that Hamas won in the elections.

[W*GS]

Reagan funded the mujahedeen which led to bin laden and al Qaida. The U.S. has funded repressive regimes and rebel groups throughout the world with disastrous results.

Indeed. When is US foreign policy going to be better?

It doesn't matter which party controls the WH or Congress, either.

[Atlas]

The bottom line is that right now Somalia is a haven for terrorists. It will be exactly like Afghanistan if something isn't done to stop it.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

The bottom line is that right now Somalia is a haven for terrorists. It will be exactly like Afghanistan if something isn't done to stop it.

Just our rotten luck that Somalia isn't sitting on one of the world's largest oil reserves, eh?

;)

Oh well - Bush (or the next PNAC puppet) can probably use some of the characters that emerge from this terrorist cespool the next time he wants to create some "Pearl Harbor-like event," eh?

[mosca]

What? Reagan funded the mujahedeen which led to bin laden and al Qaida. The U.S. has funded repressive regimes and rebel groups throughout the world with disastrous results.

Who's the "good guys" and who is the "bad guys" over there?
In my response the "good guys" were the mujahideen... I sensed your sarcasm in labelling them that but played along. The point I was trying to make was that the side we supported (mujahideen) came out victorious. Later on that came back to bite us in the ass, sure. It isn't out of the realm of reality that the side we're funneling money to in this state could have a similar victory. The U.S. has funded probably every regime on the planet in one way or another... some turn out to be studs and some are chumps, sort of like the free agent market. The trick is making sure that we support the right ones. Afghanistan was a win for us in the short term but not long term.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

The trick is making sure that we support the right ones.

So far, the GOP has a pretty sh*tty record in that department - not to mention a staggering inability to learn from past mistakes.