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Topic: Meanwhile in Somalia...
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ceti
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7851
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posted 06 June 2006 01:27 PM
quote:
The Islamist militia that now controls Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has emerged out of a judicial system funded by the powerful business community to try and bring some law and order to a country without a government.But over the past two years, the Union of Islamic Courts has emerged into Somalia's strongest fighting force - forcing the warlords who have controlled the capital for the past 15 years into retreat.
The courts are pretty brutal and extremely conservative, but they have restored some semblance of law and order to the areas they control. Even the BBC acknowledges that. It's interesting that the US has supported the so-called "secular alliance" of warlords who have terrorized Mogadishu for 15 years. All in the name of fighting terrorism! There are some similarities with the Afghan situation between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban, both of which were quite horrid for slightly different reasons. However, the Islamic Courts seem to have the clan system under control.
From: various musings before the revolution | Registered: Jan 2005
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arborman
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4372
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posted 06 June 2006 01:40 PM
The big question: Is there oil in Somalia?Answer: Not enough to worry about. Meaning the response is: Let them do whatever they want. There could be potential problems with the shipping of oil in the Gulf of Aden (on the way to the Suez), but unless that happens the Somalis will be left to sort it out themselves. That may, or may not, be a good thing. I have no idea.
From: I'm a solipsist - isn't everyone? | Registered: Aug 2003
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M. Spector
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8273
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posted 06 June 2006 08:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by arborman:
The big question: Is there oil in Somalia?Answer: Not enough to worry about.
There is lots of oil in Somalia. quote:
During the U.S. intervention in Somalia, a very embarrassing expose was published in the Los Angeles Times about the relationship of oil to the Somalia events. CBS News and the San Francisco Chronicle also confirmed that prior to the outbreak of the civil war, when Somalia was ruled by the U.S.-backed Siad Barre dictatorship, four major U.S. oil corporations were granted and purchased oil leases to explore Somalia's newly-discovered oil resources. Nearly two-thirds of Somalia's land surface was granted to Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Philips Petroleum. According to the SF Chronicle: "Industry sources said that the companies holding the rights to the most promising concessions are hoping that the Bush Administration's decision to send U.S. troops to safeguard aid shipments to Somalia will also help protect their multi-million investments there. "Officially, the administration and the State Department insist that the U.S. military mission in Somalia is strictly humanitarian. Oil industry spokesmen dismissed as "absurd" and "nonsense" allegations by aid experts, veteran East Africa analysts and several prominent Somalis that President Bush, a former Texas oilman, was moved to act in Somalia, at least in part by the U.S. corporate oil stake. "But corporate and scientific documents disclose that the American oil companies are well-positioned to pursue Somalia's most promising oil reserves the moment the nation is pacified." [I marvel at the ease with which this reporter uses the word "pacified.'] "And State Department and U.S. military officials acknowledge that one of those oil companies has done more than sit back and hope for peace. "Conoco even permitted its Mogadishu corporate compound to be transformed into a de facto American embassy a few days before the U.S. Marines landed in the capital."
Another thread on Somalia [ 07 May 2008: Message edited by: M. Spector ]
From: One millihelen: The amount of beauty required to launch one ship. | Registered: Feb 2005
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