Ghost of Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Kick ass, dudes. http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/12/25/548696.html Ethiopian Jets Bomb Mogadishu Airport By Associated Press 43 minutes ago MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopian fighter jets bombed Mogadishu International Airport in the middle of Somalia's capital on Monday, witnesses said, in the first direct attack on the headquarters of an Islamic movement attempting to wrest power from the internationally recognized government. An Associated Press reporter who arrived shortly after the strike saw one wounded woman taken away. There were reports of two people killed. The runway and one building used by the Islamic forces were damaged. Islamic officials were not immediately available for comment. Ethiopia's prime minister announced Sunday night that his country was "forced to enter a war" with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts after the group declared holy war on Ethiopia. The Russian-made jets swept low over the capital at midmorning, dropping two bombs on Somalia's main airport, which just recently reopened after the Islamic takeover of Mogadishu. Somali troops, backed by Ethiopian soldiers, captured a key border town early Monday and residents celebrated as government soldiers moved through the town and headed south in pursuit of fleeing Islamic militiamen, a Somali officer said. Islamic fighters left the town of Belet Weyne, on the Somali-Ethiopian border along the Shabelle river, overnight after Ethiopian fighter jets bombed Islamic positions Sunday, residents said. Col. Abdi Yusuf Ahmed, a Somali government army commander, told The Associated Press that his forces entered Belet Weyne early Monday without a shot fired. He held up his telephone and a reporter could hear street celebrations. Heavy artillery and mortar fire continued to echo through the main government town of Baidoa on Monday, said Mohammed Sheik Ali, a resident reached by telephone. Government and Ethiopian troops were attempting to push back Islamic forces just 12 miles south of Baidoa. Sunday marked the first time Ethiopia has acknowledged that its troops are fighting in Somalia, though witnesses had been reporting their presence for weeks. Ethiopia supports Somalia's U.N.-backed government, which has been losing ground to the Islamists since June. "Our defense force has been forced to enter a war to defend against the attacks from extremists and anti-Ethiopian forces and to protect the sovereignty of the land," Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said in a television address Sunday night. "Our intention is to win this war as soon as possible." Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation that fears the emergence of a neighboring Islamic state, dropped bombs on several towns held by the Council of Islamic Courts and its soldiers used artillery and tanks elsewhere. No reliable casualty reports were immediately available. Experts fear the conflict in Somalia could engulf the already volatile Horn of Africa. A recent U.N. report said 10 countries have been illegally supplying arms and equipment to both sides of the conflict and using Somalia as a proxy battlefield. Residents living along Somalia's coast have seen hundreds of foreign Islamic fighters entering the country to answer calls by religious leaders to wage a holy war against Ethiopia. The Islamic group's strict and often severe interpretation of Islam raises memories of Afghanistan's Taliban regime, which was ousted by a U.S.-led campaign for harboring Osama bin Laden. The U.S. government says four al-Qaida leaders, believed to be behind the 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, have become leaders in Somalia's Islamic militia. Major fighting broke out Tuesday night. On Sunday, Ethiopian forces fought alongside secular Somali soldiers in Dinsoor, Belet Weyne, Bandiradley and Bur Haqaba, officials said. Ethiopia and Somalia have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years, and Islamic court leaders have repeatedly said they want to incorporate ethnic Somalis living in eastern Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya and Djibouti into a Greater Somalia. Thousands of Somalis have fled their homes as troops loyal to the two-year-old interim administration fought Islamic fighters who had advanced on Baidoa, about 140 miles northwest of Mogadishu. Government officials and Islamic militiamen have said hundreds of people have been killed in clashes since Tuesday, but the claims could not be independently confirmed. Aid groups put the death toll in the dozens. Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, plunging the country into chaos. The government was formed two years ago with the help of the United Nations, but has failed to assert any real control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamingwolf Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Something needs to be done there and hopefully this is the start to something that will be good in the end. The islamic terrorists need to be driven out of africa, and this is as good a place to start as any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Something needs to be done there and hopefully this is the start to something that will be good in the end. The islamic terrorists need to be driven out of africa, and this is as good a place to start as any. Somalia and Ethiopia have been at each other's throats for years, we will never assist in driving out African Islamic terrorists (and neither will any other European country, and probably no African country either), and mobilizing a large army with little discipline, little control, and no way to sustain itself long term is not a good idea even if they win, because, well, that NEVER is a recipe for long term national success. While I applaud the Ethiopians for their attempt, this will probably end up as another sad, underreported African tragedy. The only time conservatives seem to care about Africa is when there are Islamic terrorists involved, and the only time liberals seem to care about Africa is when there is a famine. This is not the start of a mass movement to cleanse Africa of Islamic fundamentalism, though in the future that is entirely possible. Africa is, after all, the bible belt of the whole damn world. If you guys want to find real social conservatives and church men and women, go to Kenya or Nigeria, not Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Merry Christmas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSJHWT Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Ethiopia has Jets? Who woulda thunkit..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.C.O.L.B. Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Is there any oil in Ethiopia or Somalia? No? Eh then who cares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baculus Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 I know Ethiopia and others in the region were requesting U.S. aid in this battle, so I would not be surprised if we are giving money, intelligence, or event a few advisors (at least for planning). But, yeah, like others, I admire Ethiopia's spirit, but wonder if they can sustain an offensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowplay Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Is there any oil in Ethiopia or Somalia? No? Eh then who cares. Ever seen "Blackhawk Down"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Ethiopia has fighter jets?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aruna Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Ethiopa has the largest army in the region with a decent amount of russian jets & tanks (belive they are trained largely by russia too) so they are defintly outarm the somali militia big time I don't think it will escalate that much, Ethiopa will probably bomb their supply routes and airports and take control over some border areas. They'v already driven out the milita from a cities near the boarder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 Good for Ethiopia, fighting back is the only way to keep the spreading of this BS in there region from taking over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted December 25, 2006 Author Share Posted December 25, 2006 Is there any oil in Ethiopia or Somalia? No? Eh then who cares. I can't do better than the "Black Hawk Down" comment but I'd also question if you know anything, really. It's pretty common knowledge for people who follow this sort of thing that the US has had spec ops in the region for some time and that this entire development is not a total surprise. And people really need to stop throwing out the tired boilerplate regarding oil. Find somethin' new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 So let me get this straight. Islamic terrorists declared a holy war on Ethiopia. Ethiopia's response amounts to, "kill them before they kill us." United States of America, are you listening??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 Ethiopa has the largest army in the region with a decent amount of russian jets & tanks (belive they are trained largely by russia too) so they are defintly outarm the somali militia big time I don't think it will escalate that much, Ethiopa will probably bomb their supply routes and airports and take control over some border areas. They'v already driven out the milita from a cities near the boarder. Word. We are talking football fields worth of weaponry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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