by DAVID AXE
On Monday in Somalia, U.S. Special Forces riding in helicopters strafed a convoy, killing Saleh Ali Nabhan, an Islamic extremist with ties to Al Qaeda and local group Al Shabab, wanted for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
In the aftermath of the attack, a Shabab spokesman vowed revenge. “They will taste the bitterness of our response.”
Sure enough, on Thursday two vehicles reportedly bearing U.N. markings exploded inside the Mogadishu base for around 4,000 African Union peacekeepers, killing 11 people. Shabab said the bombings were revenge for Nabhan’s killing.
Somalia is too remote, too isolated and too xenophobic to be a good operating base for international terrorists, although some might seek refuge there. Somalia is not a serious terror threat, but its instability represents a huge drain on donor nations that feed four million starving Somalis. And high-seas piracy has taken root in poorly governed Somali towns.
The A.U. represents the best possible force for short-term security in the country. What’s more important? Killing one terrorist, or protecting the A.U. from violent reprisal? I honestly don’t know, but it’s a question we should ask ourselves before launching another lethal raid inside Somalia.
(Photo: David Axe)
Related:
World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Baddest, Holiest Gang, Part Two
World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Holiest Gang, Part One
Columbia Journalism Review: Somalia’s Dark Days
World Politics Review: Somali Extremists Willing to Kill, to Cover up Eritrea Connection
Death Threat E-mail from Somali Extremist
Somali Journo, Assassination Survivor, Flees Country
World Politics Review: Attacks on Somali Media Underscore Lawlessness
Somali Gov’t to Neighbors: Invade Us, Please
Help Rescue a Somali Reporter, Targeted for Assassination
Offiziere.ch: Mogadishu Battle Draws in Foreign Powers
Ethiopians Re-Invade Somalia?
Ethiopian Prez: Somali Insurgents “Desperate”
Alleged American Jihadist in Somalia = CIA Drone?
Offiziere.ch: Fresh Fighting Deepens Somali Islamist Schism
Related posts:
- World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Holiest Gang, Part Three
- World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Holiest Gang, Part Two
- Columbia Journalism Review: Somalia’s Dark Days
- The War Is Boring Al-Shabab Primer
- World Politics Review: Somali Forces Prepare Counter-Islamist Offensive
- Al Shabab Rallies Troops for Mogadishu Defense
- World Politics Review: Uganda at Security Crossroads in War on Extremists
“Somalia is too remote, too isolated and too xenophobic to be a good operating base for international terrorists, although some might seek refuge there.”
And hills outside Kabul were less remote, isolated and xenophbic?
“Somalia is too remote, too isolated and too xenophobic to be a good operating base for international terrorists, although some might seek refuge there.”
I don’t understand the difference.
[...] Related: Somali Shabab Strikes Back after U.S. Raid World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Baddest, Holiest Gang, Part Two World Politics Review: Somali “Travelers”: The Holiest Gang, Part One Columbia Journalism Review: Somalia’s Dark Days World Politics Review: Somali Extremists Willing to Kill, to Cover up Eritrea Connection Death Threat E-mail from Somali Extremist Somali Journo, Assassination Survivor, Flees Country World Politics Review: Attacks on Somali Media Underscore Lawlessness Somali Gov’t to Neighbors: Invade Us, Please Help Rescue a Somali Reporter, Targeted for Assassination Offiziere.ch: Mogadishu Battle Draws in Foreign Powers Ethiopians Re-Invade Somalia? Ethiopian Prez: Somali Insurgents “Desperate” Alleged American Jihadist in Somalia = CIA Drone? Offiziere.ch: Fresh Fighting Deepens Somali Islamist Schism No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> [...]
I doubt Shabab would put away the guns if the United States stopped opposing them.
[...] U.S. commandos killed an al-Qaeda commander in Somalia. Somali fighters struck back by blowing up two U.N. vehicles being used by African Union troops, killing 11. [...]
Leaps & Bounds: The Rapid Evolution of Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen’s Media
Anyone here seen the flick “The Kingdom”? B
Best part is when FBI Dir verbally responds to comments by the AG. Here is what he said, “Not to go after criminals because they might try to harm you is really not a policy of the FBI. See, we try not to say uncle. We try.”
Please consider your question in the paragraph 4 of your post thru this lens.
Otherwise, I enjoy reading all your stuff, this is one of only a handful of bones I looking to pick with you.
Now, read
I am trying to find out what happened to a friend UN flight commander from the Congo Rick Drake who was killed in Somolia , September 21,2009 trying to rescue UN peacekeepers. Anyone have information they can share, please I only know he is dead. Thank You.