Experts warn US air raids in Somalia may be inefficient, harmful (AFP)

[Eugene]

Experts warn US air raids in Somalia may be inefficient, harmful

by Michel Moutot

1 hour, 25 minutes ago

PARIS (AFP) - US air raids in Somalia to flush out suspect Al-Qaeda operatives
may be ineffective in fighting terrorism and risk making the country's Muslim
population more radical, regional experts warn.

US military forces have carried out several attacks on Islamist targets or
suspected members of Al-Qaeda since the start of the month, but Washington
has admitted it is "doubtful" that "any of the big guys", sought for attacks
against US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, were hit.

Local Somali chief Sheikh Abullahi Ali Molabon has claimed that about 100 civilian
nomads died in one raid.

"Somalia's tribal system is very strict," warned French Africa expert Roland Marchal
from the Paris-based Center for International Studies and Research.

"If anyone gets hurt in your tribe, either you accept the price for the bloodshed
or you kill the assailant."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070129/pl_afp/ussomaliaunrest_070128214831

[htuttle]

1. Are they saying that this is a problem that aerial bombardment can't solve?

Nonsense! There's no problem that can't be solved by dropping bombs on it!

:sarcasm:

:eyes:

[PATRICK]

2. What are they up to?

No one has explained exactly why, and why now, we have this sudden interest in Somalia. Bush I launched it almost as an afterthought to ensnare Clinton. Oil? Terrorism? Sudden interest in the civil war because the wrong side is winning? Or some grand scheme connected to the real prize, Iran?

[Eugene]

4. Somalia has oil. Neigboring Kenya has oil and gas.

Neigboring Kenya has oil and gas. Early exploration in Somalia found promising oil fields.
According to this recent AllAfrica article, the major U.S. refiners secured concessions
there before the government was overthrown.

U.S. anti-terror forces are deployed all over northern and central Africa. Coincidently,
if a country there does not have oil or gas of its own, it sits on a potential route
for a pipeline. Somalia also sits next to important shipping lanes.

[Briar]

3. Well, duh

Just how many civilians have got to die before the US admits its doctrine of overwhelming force poured down from on high is a war crime all by itself. This is 66 years after the Blitz! And the air raids in Iraq and Afghanistan are still being called in...