Surprising how often the combination of militaristic political Islam and Western dithering works out poorly:
A series of troubling events are positioning Somalia for a complete collapse. In a place where things “couldn’t be worse,” they are about to. First, Ethiopian troops–which came into Somalia in 2006 and installed a transitional government–will leave by the end of the year. Now, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says the weak African Union Peacekeeping force is leaving too. One of the main Islamic political leaders from the Ethiopia-ousted government–Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed–just came back from exile. And if you have read any news in the last two months, you know that Somali pirates are the scourge of the high seas. Oh yes, and Somalia has the world’s highest malnutrition rates–often reaching 30 percent of the population. 70 percent of the population has no access to clean water.
Click through for a few excruciating paragraphs about the precise degree to which the Islamic Courts have taken over even more of Somalia than they already had. They’d also already implemented some of the more disgusting aspects of sharia across the country. Now they’re getting around to the microfascism. And where there are the partisans of political Islam there is of course international jihadism.
But on the specific issue of Ethiopia withdrawing and creating a power vacuum – more the opposite:
Ethiopian troops are pouring into neighboring Somalia to fight radical Islamists who have taken over much of the country, raising fears of more violence in a country fighting a deadly insurgency and piracy, witnesses and the Somali government said Tuesday. The Ethiopians’ advance comes just weeks before they are scheduled to withdraw after an unpopular, two-year presence here. The Ethiopians are integral to protecting the Western-backed government, and their planned withdrawal at the end of the month will likely herald the administration’s collapse.
Also: pirates. International law is hindering NATO military action even when they do sink the occasional pirate ship. Meanwhile, diplomatic niceties are keeping the US navy on the sidelines. So now we’re apparently resorting to physically escorting ships in WWII-style convoys. 21st century norms are actually causing us to militarily regress by decades. Super.
References and previously after the jump…
References:
* Somalia’s coming anarchy [FP Passport]
* List Of Things You May Or May Not Do With The Koran Growing Increasingly Confusing [MR]
* Hey Gals, Check This Out – If You’re A 13 Year Old Gang Rape Victim In Somalia, You Have To Die [MR]
* Somalia: Islamic Courts Forcibly Shut Down Radio Station for Playing Music During Eid….. [Zippers]
* Splash two in Somalia: US hits AQ boss, Reuters weeps [Hot Air]
* Witnesses: Ethiopians troops pouring into Somalia [IHT]
* Somali Pirates Getting Help From International Law, Global Jihadists [MR]
* Danish Warship Sinks Pirate Ship [JWF]
* US warship backs off as pirate talks continue [Report on Arrakis]
* New Anti-Pirate Tactic: World War II-Style Convoys [Wired]
Previously:
* Iranian "Ship Of Death" Conspiracy Theories… Umm… Firmly Debunked? (Plus: Somali Pirates And Islamist Militias, However, Are Real)
* Somali Pirates Now Seizing Oil-Filled Supertankers (Plus: Genuinely Disgusting British Apologism For Somali Jihadists)
* Jihadist Mortar Attack Kills 12, Wounds 20 In Somalia
