Blues for the Horn

[Che Guava]

SO while you were watching Hezbollah and Israel on CNN, another war has cropped up that you might not have heard too much about (well, I hadn't until yesterday ). So in case you missed, it, Ethiopia has invaded Somalia:

Islamists rally as Ethiopians said advancing


Reuters

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's Islamists rallied the nation for war on Friday as Ethiopian troops were said to be moving closer to Mogadishu to create a buffer between the capital's Muslim rulers and the fragile interim government.

"Somalia is under attack and Somalis must defend their country," senior Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said.

Various local residents said Ethiopian soldiers were moving beyond the provincial seat of the interim government in Baidoa to the towns of Buur Hakaba and Baledogle.

Addis Ababa denied that, while the Somali government, which has little authority beyond Baidoa, said people were confusing its militia because they wore uniforms given by Ethiopia.

Traditionally Christian-led Ethiopia, the main power in the Horn of Africa, views the Islamists as "terrorists" and supports Somalia's interim government. It has not hesitated to send troops in to attack radical Islamic militia in the past.

An Ethiopian government spokesman told Reuters that while Addis Ababa had accepted a request from Somalia's interim government to come to its aid in case of an attack on Baidoa, Ethiopia had not yet sent troops into Somalia.

"There is no reason for Ethiopia to go to Somalia as long as the Islamist group does not threaten to attack Baidoa," said the foreign ministry spokesman Zemedhun Tekle.

But witnesses said some 2,500 Ethiopian soldiers were camped in Baidoa, protecting government installations like parliament, the presidential palace and the town's airport.

"A few are walking on the streets. Although the town is calm, people fear the presence of Ethiopian troops might trigger a war here," said Ali Hassan, a Baidoa resident.

Another resident said Ethiopians had stationed their heavy equipment and military arsenal near an airport at Eldon town, 18 kms (11 miles) north of Baidoa.........

LINK

Like Israel/Palestine, the horn of africa is a region rich in culture and, for some reason, ethnic violence. Unlike I/P, it doesn't always seem to make the news. Here's hoping that peace in teh region will be restored soon.

 

[Gladi]

SO while you were watching Hezbollah and Israel on CNN, another war has cropped up that you might not have heard too much about (well, I hadn't until yesterday ). So in case you missed, it, Ethiopia has invaded Somalia:



LINK

Like Israel/Palestine, the horn of africa is a region rich in culture and, for some reason, ethnic violence. Unlike I/P, it doesn't always seem to make the news. Here's hoping that peace in teh region will be restored soon.

Bright day
Yeah, read about it few days ago. And it makes headlines at least on internet and where space is more abundant.

That said. The "official" recognized government asked for assistance and Ethiopia answered positively. So far nothing bad happened... but it can happen any minute so I think observers should have been there yesterday. And watch out for Somaliland and Punt.

 

[Che Guava]

I'm not sure what to expect, but I can't say I'm optimistic. From what I hear, the muslim militias play for keeps.

 

[Rambuchan]

Precedents. Parallels. And the borrowing of more famous rhetorical justifications.

Bright day indeed...

 

[Shaihulud]

Lets us all be hoping that the war doesn't escalate beyond its present "state" in Ethopia. Now why did the Ethopians wait at this present time to carry out this ****, its not a good time to do war.

 

[Gladi]

Lets us all be hoping that the war doesn't escalate beyond its present "state" in Ethopia. Now why did the Ethopians wait at this present time to carry out this ****, its not a good time to do war.

Maybe because they were not asked by Somali warlords before? Negotiations should be held. Say what you want for Courts, not all of them ultra-hardliners, and unlike Alliance they were able to establish order on streets.

 

[Che Guava]

Precedents. Parallels. And the borrowing of more famous rhetorical justifications.

Bright day indeed...

I missed my coffee this morning, Ram, and thusly my brain is not working at full capacity... care to elaborate on your remarks?

 

[Rambuchan]

I'm busy in the office dear Che, hence my terse post. I'm saying that all too often we are seeing nations aping the rhetoric of "the war on terror" (see Putin and Sharon for starters) and using that as justification for war, oppression and aggression. And it works the other way around too.

As for creating a buffer zone in someone else's sovereign land, well I hope you don't need a cup of coffee to have that parallel register.

There are also some strong parallels between the Lebanon and Somalia here, both economically and politically speaking.

Hope that helps somewhat.

 

[Che Guava]

Hope that helps somewhat.

Muchly! I thought you were referring specifically to Gladi's comment, so I got a bit confused .

As for parallels, I have to agree that they are striking, save one difference: no-one seems to be paying attention to the horn. Just how violent do things have to get before it starts to register...?

I've been noticing that this 'war on terror' is really changing the interpretation of events by the western media. I heard the other day on the news a story about FARC in colombia, who were labelled 'terrorists', rather that 'guerillas' like they were in the 90's....

 

[Bozo Erectus]

This may surprise some people, but Im on the side of Islamic Courts. I think they deserve to win, and will, eventually. Its a native, homegrown response to the lawlessness that existed before, which is exactly whats been needed all these years. If Islamic Courts can bring order to Somalia and provide security to its people, and it generrally has the support of the Somali people, I say more power to 'em. Fighting against them through proxies is stupid.

 

[Rambuchan]

I've been noticing that this 'war on terror' is really changing the interpretation of events by the western media. I heard the other day on the news a story about FARC in colombia, who were labelled 'terrorists', rather that 'guerillas' like they were in the 90's....

Well said sir. That is exactly what I am on about.

Remember Bush and Blair saying they had a "new world order" to construct?

Well, they seem to have achieved it nicely. That new world order is founded in the rhetoric of "the war on terror" ie. you can bring war to anyone, just as long as you call them "terrorists" or "nations harbouring terrorists". And the beautiful thing about it is - you don't need to be a global hegemon to do so! Anyone can join the party!

It is founded in the lawless, belligerent, lying precedents they have set with their invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Who needs justification for a war nowadays? Just rack and load and go for it.

Anyway, you've also identified something quite important when you mention the media. We need to reclaim the terminology that is used by them in general, terminology that has been defined and monopolised by the right. Case in point? The word "terrorist" itself.

This has all basically ended in a very dangerous, unpredictable and unstable geo-political atmosphere. "A New World Order" indeed!

--------

If you would like more reading on all of this, then let me recommend the currently bolded, red link in my sig to Transcend. Click on the "Articles & Publications" page and check out the top three works:

~ Moving Mainstream Media Towards a Culture of Peace [PDF - 451.46 Kb]
by Marianne Perez - 22.Jun.2006

~ International Terrorism and the Logic of Terror
by Chaiwat Satha-Anand - 01.Oct.1998

~ Interview: War on Ignorance
by Chaiwat Satha-Anand - 17.Oct.2003

 

[Che Guava]

Well said sir. That is exactly what I am on about.

Remember Bush and Blair saying they had a "new world order" to construct?

Well, they seem to have achieved it nicely. That new world order is founded in the rhetoric of "the war on terror" ie. you can bring war to anyone, just as long as you call them "terrorists" or "nations harbouring terrorists". And the beautiful thing about it is - you don't need to be a global hegemon to do so! Anyone can join the party!

It is founded in the lawless, belligerent, lying precedents they have set with their invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Who needs justification for a war nowadays? Just rack and load and go for it.

Anyway, you've also identified something quite important when you mention the media. We need to reclaim the terminology that is used by them in general, terminology that has been defined and monopolised by the right. Case in point? The word "terrorist" itself.

This has all basically ended in a very dangerous, unpredictable and unstable geo-political atmosphere. "A New World Order" indeed!

--------

If you would like more reading on all of this, then let me recommend the currently bolded, red link in my sig to Transcend. Click on the "Articles & Publications" page and check out the top three works:

~ Moving Mainstream Media Towards a Culture of Peace [PDF - 451.46 Kb]
by Marianne Perez - 22.Jun.2006

~ International Terrorism and the Logic of Terror
by Chaiwat Satha-Anand - 01.Oct.1998

~ Interview: War on Ignorance
by Chaiwat Satha-Anand - 17.Oct.2003

Thanks for some nice reading material!!

This whole issue smacks of Orwell's thoughts on the use of language as a means of control. Just look at Webster's definition of terror:

Terror (noun)

1 : a state of intense fear
2 a : one that inspires fear : SCOURGE b : a frightening aspect <the terrors of invasion> c : a cause of anxiety : WORRY d : an appalling person or thing; especially : BRAT
3 : REIGN OF TERROR
4 : violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands <insurrection and revolutionary terror>

I would be mighty interested in learning when 'terror' as a noun became synonymous with terrorism and political extremism.

In any event, this is probably for another thread...

 

[Che Guava]

In case anyone's looking for a litle background on the situation, I found this nice little summary:

Facts about the tense Ethiopia-Somalia history

(Reuters) - The incursion of Ethiopian troops into Somalia to deter further advances by Islamist militia and protect the interim government is just the latest flare-up in a long history of tension between them.
Here are key facts about their relations:

* Ethiopia and Somalia have been rivals throughout history, and memories of the 1977-78 Ogaden war between the two are still fresh. Fought against a backdrop of shifting Cold War alliances, Ethiopia's army crushed Somali troops who tried to lay claim to the Ogaden region with the vision of recapturing ethnically Somali territories outside of Somalia. Ethiopia had seized the Ogaden in the early 1900s in what Somalis viewed as a colonialist expansion by a Christian empire.

* The desolate Somali regions on both sides of the border have long been a hotbed of insurgent movements against both countries. Security experts say many nations in the region are happy to fight their conflicts there by proxy. A report to the United Nations on arms embargo violations says Eritrea has given weapons to the Islamists in the past year to frustrate Somalia's Ethiopian-backed government. Eritrea denies the charge.

* Ethiopia has not hesitated to send troops into Somalia to attack radical Somali Islamic movements, wary they could stir up trouble in the ethnically Somali regions on its side of the border.

* Several times from 1992 through to 1998, Ethiopian soldiers attacked members of al-Itihaad al-Islaami, a militant Somali group the United States has on a list of organisations linked to terrorism. The current Islamist leader in Somalia, hardliner Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, was head of its military wing during that time.

* Security experts and diplomats say roughly 5,000 Ethiopian troops crossed the border into Somalia earlier this month and another 20,000 have massed along the frontier so they can move in swiftly. Ethiopia and the Somali government deny any troops have entered Somalia, but Addis Ababa has said it will attack the Islamists if they advance on the government seat in aidoa.

linkeroo

 

[Che Guava]

Well, in case anyone is still keeping track it looks like we might be headed for an all out war on the horn:

Somalia inches towards war

Somalia was edging closer to full-scale war last night as Ethiopian troops moved into a second Somali town, potentially bringing them into conflict with an Islamic militia that has taken over the capital, Mogadishu, and is seeking to spread its influence over the rest of the country.

Eyewitnesses in Waajid said that about 200 Ethiopian troops had taken over the airstrip in the town yesterday morning. That follows moves last Thursday which saw Ethiopian troops take up positions in the town of Baidoa to back up Somalia's beleaguered interim government, which is based there.

The move of fresh Ethiopian troops into the anarchic country raises the prospect of renewed war in Somalia. Ethiopia strongly backs the UN-supported government of President Abdullahi Yusuf and has vowed to prevent the country from slipping into the hands of Islamic extremists. However, Yusuf's writ does not extend much beyond Baidoa's borders while the Union of Islamic Courts has achieved startling military success in recent weeks. The UIC militia now controls Mogadishu and other areas of the country after defeating several local warlords who have held Somalia in the grip of terror since the collapse of central rule in 1991.
.........

link-a-ma-doo

I have been frustrated to find so little attention paid to this story in local and international media. I know that most of the world is focused on lebanon/israel right now, but I think that this conflict could have serious reprecussion for the region and the world at large, maybe as serious as the middle-east conflict should the fighting escalate and spread to other nations. Is the west just not as interested in africa, or are there just fewer sound and video bytes coming from Somalia? Or has the rest of the world just writen africa off?

 

[Simon Darkshade]

There is one solid solution to the problem, and that is a revocation.

 

[Che Guava]

what do you propose is revoked..?

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Their state as an independent entity. The experiment didn't work. Start over.

 

[Che Guava]

And do what? wrap it up as a present and hand it to Sudan? Ethiopia?

 

[Simon Darkshade]

No, the previous owners; certainly not Abyssinia or the Sudan.

 

[Gladi]

No, the previous owners; certainly not Abyssinia or the Sudan.

Which ones? British? Italians? Omani? And AFAIK old Axum was in control of the region, wa it not?