I didn't see your commentary and put up a couple of links on the current open thread for today.  

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/228/08.shtml
excerpt:

The U.S. warlord-support strategy is part of a series of clandestine operations around the world conducted with little accountability back home. The broad shadow war is conducted by the CIA, Special Operations commander Gen. Doug Brown, "black ops" commander Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal and the Pentagon's intelligence czar, Steve Cambone, along with his deputy, Lt. Gen. William Boykin. The U.S. strategy of quietly destroying jihadist cells outside Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11 has had its successes. Among them: the capture of Algerian terrorist Abderrazak al-Para in 2004, the assassination of a jihadist leader in Yemen by a Hellfire missile strike in 2004 and the routing of Abu Sayyaf from Basilan Island in the Philippines. Publicly, the administration will not admit to any policy of aiding warlords. But officials with the Red Cross and other aid groups in Mogadishu report seeing "many Americans with thick necks and short haircuts moving around, carrying big suitcases,"....

US President George W. Bush, from a press conference upon arrival at the South Lawn of the White House, September 16, 2001.

This is a new kind of -- a new kind of evil. And we understand. And the American people are beginning to understand. This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while. And the American people must be patient. I'm going to be patient.

US President George W. Bush, from a rally for the troops in Alaska, February 16, 2002.

"I want to tell you something, we've got no better friends than Canada. (Applause.) They stand with us in this incredibly important crusade to defend freedom, this campaign to do what is right for our children and our grandchildren."

Alexander Cockburn, "The Tenth Crusade," Counterpunch, September 7, 2002.

"Islamic fanatics flew those planes a year ago and here we are with a terrifying alliance of Judaeo-Christian fanatics, conjoined in their dreams of the recovery of the Holy Lands of the West Bank, Judaea and Samaria. War on Terror? It's back to the late thirteenth century, picking up where Prince Edward left off with his ninth crusade after St Louis had died in Tunis with the word Jerusalem on his lips." (read the article)

The "civil war" in Iraq seems to be more an American instigated religious war between the two factions -- Sunni and Shi'a.

According to the CIA Factbook, the religious composition of Somalia is predominantly Sunni Muslim... Syria, Jordan and Afghanistan are also predominantly Sunni.  

and Wikipedia:

Al-Qaeda or al-Qaida (القاعدة, translit: al-Qā`ida; "the Law", "the foundation", or "the base") is a militant Sunni Islamist organization, which has been deemed terrorist by the United Nations and a number of UN member-states, with the stated objective of eliminating foreign influence in Muslim countries, eradicating those they deem to be "infidels", and reestablishing the caliphate. The most prominent members of the group are adherents of Wahhabism or Salafism, two understandings of Islam which have influenced militant groups. While Osama bin Laden is generally recognized as the group's leader, the Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri has also had a main influence on the group's theory and practice. The group's operations are not centralized, and many independent and collaborative cells may exist in multiple countries linked by a common cause. The actual size and influence of al-Qaeda is highly disputed, with estimates ranging from a vast global web of influence and militant power responsible for massive terrorist action to an ineffectual paper tiger with only a handful of members that is blamed and takes credit for more than it is truly responsible.[1]

Geographically, Iraq was bordered by Sunni Muslim countries (can't find the breakdown for Saudi Arabia's Muslim population), with the exception of Iran.  Prior to the US involvement in Iraq it was comprised of Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%).  Turkey and Pakistan are both predominantly Sunni.  Yet, Iran is predominantly Shi'a ...

George Bush may indeed be a "uniter".  He may be the one to unite the factions of Islam for the first time since 632. And we will have 150,000 American troops smack dab in the middle of the whole mess.

by roxy317 on Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 02:10:37 PM EST

In short, I found an article HERE from the Sudan Tribune that makes several, IMO, credible claims about U.S. military activities in the region more than a year ago:

"An ongoing hazard of the "War on Terror" has been that tyrants like [Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles] Zenawi would exploit the threat of terror to win support from the Bush administration and Tony Blair's Britain. The Bush administration is trying to buy stability at the expense of liberty in the Horn of Africa...

Also:

"From the U.S. alone, [Meles Zenawi] receives $800 million a year and $500 million worth of food assistance. Ethiopia is set to have its debt cancelled that will forgive $18.3bn owed to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and others. Despite his massacre of students and workers demanding democratic rule, Meles continues to enjoy western support simply because he has had the wit to call himself an ally on the "War on Terror."

Finally, and most alarming if true:

"Roughly 800 U.S. troops are stationed in Djibouti and working closely with troops from the Ethiopian government. U.S. Special Forces have provided training to the Ethiopian military. US troops have trained with Ethiopian troops that patrol the border with Somalia. This is supposedly collaboration against 'terrorists' in Somalia."

Though long, the full article is well worth reading. It also discusses the role of McGuireWoods Consulting as lobbyists for Zenawi.

As an "official" Christian nation, Ethiopia is prime territory for ultra 'conservative' bigots who don't get that religious conflict is the result of extremism, be it Islamic, Jewish, or Christian.

My guess? We're in Somalia, via Ethiopia, Djibouti, and possibly Eritrea, to get control of the Horn of Africa, and the Gulf of Aden. The latter is a crucial nexus for Middle East oil (recall the U.S.S. Cole), and Yemen sits right in-between the Horn and Bush Co. buddies, Saudi Arabia. And if your real goal is getting rid of pesky A-rabs who don't want to be 'globalized' -- and you're broke from leveling Iraq -- Yemen is pretty good place to squeeze.

They're dirt poor and cut-off: the recipe for a new Wal-Mart.

"Somalia's President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, who has held a press conference at the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, in the capital Mogadishu, said he firmly supports the American air bombardment on suspected al-Qaeda hideouts in southern Somalia last night."

Via allAfrica.com

by rba on Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 04:04:08 PM EST