Shannon used to support US War On Somalia?

[Norfolk Enchants]

Does anyone know if US planes depart from Shannon to support this war?

Asha Hagi Elmi, a politician, talks about the genocide in Somalia being committed under the pretext of of "War on Terror"

Somalia BBC Newsnight 26/04/07

At least watch the video before commenting !!

[Catalpa]

Does anyone know if US planes depart from Shannon to support this war?

Asha Hagi Elmi, a politician, talks about the genocide in Somalia being committed under the pretext of of "War on Terror"

Somalia BBC Newsnight 26/04/07

At least watch the video before commenting !!

Highly unlikely they do. The airstrikes were IIRC conducted by the US Navy from their carriers in the Indian Ocean.

The US has a very limited direct military role in this War - it's basically an attempt by Ethiopia to install a compliant Somali regime that will do their bidding.

But the Ethiopians have shrewdly used America's fear of Somalia becoming a base for AQ etc to get their support for their Invasion and Occupation of that Country.

[AT1990]

I thought the Americans were trying to get rid of the genocide

[Norfolk Enchants]

I thought the Americans were trying to get rid of the genocide

That's the line, and that they are fighting Islamofacists, here's what Salim Lone, a columnist for the Daily Nation in Kenya and a former spokesperson for the UN mission in Iraq says:

"To begin with, the lawlessness of this particular war is astounding. I mean, this is the most lawless war of our generation. You know, all aggressive wars are illegal. But in this particular one, there have been violations of the Charter and gross violations of international human rights, but these are commonplace. But, in addition, there have been very concrete violations by the United States, to begin with, of two Security Council resolutions. The first one was the arms embargo imposed on Somalia, which the United States has been routinely flaunting for many years now.

But then the US decided that that resolution was no longer useful, and they pushed through an appalling resolution in December, which basically gave the green light to Ethiopia to invade. They pushed through a resolution which said that the situation in Somalia was a threat to international peace and security, at a time when every independent report indicated, and Chatham House’s report on Wednesday also indicated, that the Islamic Courts Union had brought a high level of peace and stability that Somalia had not enjoyed in sixteen years.

So here was the UN Security Council going along with the American demand to pass a blatantly falsified UN resolution. And that resolution actually was a violation. It contravened the UN Charter. You know, the UN Charter is like the American Constitution. Legislators pass laws, but they have to be in conformity with the Constitution. In this particular case, the Charter is the UN’s constitution, and the Security Council cannot -- it's not allowed to really pass laws or rules that violate the Charter. And yet, who is going to correct them?

[Catalpa]

I thought the Americans were trying to get rid of the genocide

That's the line, and that they are fighting Islamofacists, here's what Salim Lone, a columnist for the Daily Nation in Kenya and a former spokesperson for the UN mission in Iraq says:

"To begin with, the lawlessness of this particular war is astounding. I mean, this is the most lawless war of our generation. You know, all aggressive wars are illegal. But in this particular one, there have been violations of the Charter and gross violations of international human rights, but these are commonplace. But, in addition, there have been very concrete violations by the United States, to begin with, of two Security Council resolutions. The first one was the arms embargo imposed on Somalia, which the United States has been routinely flaunting for many years now.

But then the US decided that that resolution was no longer useful, and they pushed through an appalling resolution in December, which basically gave the green light to Ethiopia to invade. They pushed through a resolution which said that the situation in Somalia was a threat to international peace and security, at a time when every independent report indicated, and Chatham House’s report on Wednesday also indicated, that the Islamic Courts Union had brought a high level of peace and stability that Somalia had not enjoyed in sixteen years.

So here was the UN Security Council going along with the American demand to pass a blatantly falsified UN resolution. And that resolution actually was a violation. It contravened the UN Charter. You know, the UN Charter is like the American Constitution. Legislators pass laws, but they have to be in conformity with the Constitution. In this particular case, the Charter is the UN’s constitution, and the Security Council cannot -- it's not allowed to really pass laws or rules that violate the Charter. And yet, who is going to correct them?

Well for once we agree on something NE!

A dose of realpolitick would have, or should have induced Bush to strike a deal with the Islamic Courts Union - namely we will view you favourably if in return you ensure the local AQ is kept on a tight leash.

Now the Ethiopians are bogged down in their own version of Iraq - a Christian led army fighting the native Muslims!

[Wednesday]

I'm beginning to think that genocide is the new black.

Or at least the (over)use of the term is.

[Simon.D]

It's turning into a really disgusting situation.. The UIC were doing quite well in stablising the region and driving out the corrupt warlords.. Yet for the sake of a few suspected Al Quaeda elements, Bush runs in and rains down fire on Somali villagers.. Thinking it'd be a cheap and cheerful war with Ethiopia & Puntland doing the dirty work..