Somalia Jihad Update. "Ethiopia attacks Somalia Islamic council," by Mohamed Olad Hassan for Associated Press:
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopia launched an attack Sunday on Somalia's powerful Islamic movement, sending fighter jets across the border and bombarding several towns in a major escalation of the violence that threatens to engulf the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia confirmed the attacks, the first time it has acknowledged that its troops were fighting in Somalia, though witnesses have reported their presence for weeks.
"After too much patience, the Ethiopian government has taken a self-defensive measure and has begun counterattacking the aggressive extremist forces of the (Islamic council) and foreign terrorist groups," said Ethiopia's foreign affairs spokesman, Solomon Abebe.
The Council of Islamic Courts has vowed to drive out troops from neighboring Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation that is providing military support to Somalia's U.N.-backed government.
"They are cowards," said Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley, an official with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts. "They are afraid of the face-to-face war and resorted to airstrikes. I hope God will help us shoot down their planes."
But Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf said his forces have gained the upper hand.
"I think they have met a resistance they have never dreamt of before," Yusuf said in brief remarks from Baidoa — the only town the government controls — as the battles began to die down Sunday afternoon.
[...]
As Sunday's fighting wore on, the Islamic leadership in the capital, Mogadishu, began broadcasting patriotic songs about Somalia's 1977 war with Ethiopia. Abdi Mohamed Osman, who owns a shop in the capital, said businessman [sic] were closing their shops to go and fight.
"We are going to support our brothers on the front line," he said.
The Ethiopian airstrikes were the first against Somalia's Islamic movement. Ethiopia and Somalia have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years. Islamic court leaders have repeatedly said they want to incorporate ethnic Somalis living in eastern Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya and Djibouti into a Greater Somalia.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said his government has a legal and moral obligation to support and defend Somalia's internationally recognized government. He has repeatedly accused the Islamic courts of backing ethnic Somali rebels fighting for independence from Ethiopia and has called such support an act of war.
[...]
In Kismayo, a strategic seaport captured from the government by Islamic militia in September, residents saw several foreign Arab fighters disembarking from ships this week.
The Ethiopian airstrikes were the first against Somalia's Islamic movement. Ethiopia and Somalia have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years. Islamic court leaders have repeatedly said they want to incorporate ethnic Somalis living in eastern Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya and Djibouti into a Greater Somalia.
Good for ethiopia, hit em hard, hit em fast, hit em again and again and again!
america and all free peoples of the world need to support ethiopia now with all the support we can offer!
turn the islamic jihadis back now!
Sign of a growing, angry backlash against Islamofacism.
"They are cowards," said Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley, an official with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts. "They are afraid of the face-to-face war and resorted to airstrikes. I hope God will help us shoot down their planes."
and the usual whining begins from the coward muslims, they will hide behind women and children and use their deaths as propaganda against the ethiopians and whine like a female dog in heat that their enemy has supperior weapons!
its that old muslim spiritual hymn muhammad taught the muslims and they sing it well and often!
"we are the victims, we are the victims"
Fighter jets, artillery, troops--all these are fine.
But, what I hope Ethiopia doesn't have is an Olmert-like leader to tell those to cease fire before the threat is wiped out.
I wonder: Ethiopians are blacks, Africans, "third-worlders"; does that mean Ethiopia will get a free pass from the Left for its actions? Or maybe not, maybe the Leftists will accuse Ethiopia of following the "American/Zionist imperialist party line". It'll be interesting to watch.
Whatever the case:
Go Ethiopia! Crush 'um good!
In Kismayo, a strategic seaport captured from the government by Islamic militia in September, residents saw several foreign Arab fighters disembarking from ships this week.
ohhh the hypocracy of the muslims, they whine like a female dog in heat about ethopia giving and and support to the somoli government while they are bringing in foriegn fighters!
may allah have thousands of new martyrs for allahsville in the very near future!
Ethiopia understands that she is fighting for her very own survival against the cult of death called islam. Israel and the West need to take heed of those brave Ethiopian.
A Blessed Merry Christmas to all at JW/DW. Also pray that the holy peace first proclaimed at the birth of the Savior will take root in the hearts of all.
Muslims complained when superior weaponry was used in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and now, Ethiopia.
I wonder if the leftys will continue to condemn our ingenuity and technological sophistication and demand we fight to our opponents barbaric level and reduce our weapons to sticks and stones.
Isn't it the height of hypocrisy when the Taliban demand the removal of all "Western" influence in their culture, such as: math, music, science but they feel it is acceptable to continue using guns? Oh right, Muslims invented guns too.
Missing in this picture is the impact that Eritrea will have on the outcome of the war. According to two of my Eritrean friends, Eritrea is siding with the militant Somalian Islamists in an attempt to get whatever benifits that they can from the alliance.
Since I can not see what the benifits are, and my Eritrean friends are at a loss to illuminate my ignorance, I can only assume that Eritrea has concluded that the militant Islamists are most likely to take over Somalia and Ethiopia. (Notwithstanding, Eritrea is still rodomontading and gloating over that whole repatriation war a few years ago with Ethiopia...)
Anyway, take it for what it's worth - tidbits of insight from my Eritrean friends...
Cheers,
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com
Go Ethoipia. Push back the jihad. I hope they get support from all freedom loving people.
In the name of Allah
The Most Gracious, Most Merciful
It is unfortunate that ignorance abounds so greatly due to the hate spread by those who are against Islam. For or against Islam, I personaly do not care. I understand the mis-information put out by the author of this site by way of twist and propoganda and I don't 'fault the ignorant masses who feed upon it due to ignorance or hatred of the 'other'. Put that to the side for the moment and open your eyes to 'truth and justice'. Isn't that what we as Americans are taught from our youth to uphold as the highest qualities? (and yes, I am an American - born and raised)
The title of this thread is "Ethiopian forces launch counterattack in Somalia"!!! It isn't a counterattack it is an invasion of the country of somalia by a U.N. backed power to usurp the democratic power from the first authority able to establish peace in this region in over thirty years.
Somalia, after thirty years, attains peace and begins to form a cohesive government and instantly the western powers attack it because it is an Islamic government.
The fact is that American intervention wasn't able to establish peace, U.N. intervention could neot establish peace, warlords could not establish peace...Muslim clerics established peace and the people rallied behind them for the purpose of peace and so the people established Islamic rule.
Now, Ethiopia, useing fighter jets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! invades the country for the west...why? in an act of injustice dueto a hatred of Islam? No I don't believe it is a hatred, I believe it is a fear that a dominoe effect would spread and people would see Islam working. Can't have that now, no, these people need to be reliant on the west's aid, love the influence or fear our military powers.
Truth and justice...it is sad how quickly we leave american principles due to hatred and ignorance.
Long live Ethiopia, the bulwark against Islam in Africa.
Bill,
I think the ignorance is yours. Socrates said that before beginning any discussion or throw out any judgements (like your blaming the author of this site "by way of twist and propaganda" whatever that means) one has to have clear ideas. Here are the facts:
1-Islam keeps extending itself on earth by hook or crook.
2-I don't like islam at all, and I know about it very well for I have lots of muslim relative and right now i am surrounded by muslims here.
3-I don't beleive in islamic peace, when you say that the present Islamic Somali government has achieved peace, you are just falling in for their propaganda. the same was said about the Talibans when they took power.
4-When faced with an infestation what do you do?
I like to see finally some action. The muddling is being done by deluded pacifists who are merely useful idiots for the cause of Islamic world dominance.
Bill:
Kindly explain how warplanes are considered an invasion? I thought you need mass ground troops for an invasion?
Also, please explain how Robert or Hugh use propoganda when they meticulously quote from the quran and hadith?
By the way, have you read either? Likely not.
I don't think you comprehend Islam's inherent incompatibility with democracy. Hence, it never succeeds wherever the seed is planted. The latest example is Iraq. Soon to be Afghanistan. How bout those other fledgling democracies in the Mid East? That's right, there are none. Womens rights? Not quite.
Have you been paying attention to the situation in Somalia? They are threatening Ethiopia and are launching forays into their territory. Ethiopia, like Israel, has the right to defend herself. Or do you disagree with that too? Hell, it's probably the Jews fault for this too, right? (sarcasm off)
I am willing to bet your user name "Bill" is a misnomer and you're actually a Moslem. At the very least, a useful idiot.
Bill,
Of course we fear a dominoe effect of Islam.
Just as we feared the Nazis taking over Europe.
Go Ethiopia.
In the meantime I will be listening to Bob Marley's Iron Lion Zion.
OT a Christmas Veil Tale
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/24122006/325/man-attacked-wife-s-veil-comment.html
Just goes to show that veil is an anagram of EVIL and one letter away from DEVIL.
Since I haven't been paying all that much attention to the woes in the Horn of Africa (although I had been reading about the frightening situation in Somalia and the rise of militant Islam there), I was amazed - albeit pleasantly shocked - to read that the Ethopians have struck in the heart of the Isalmic insurgency movement in Somalia. And I echo the words of many of today's bloggers, "You go, Ethiopia!"
I would not be surprised to learn that just as the Islamic Movement is being generously funded from the outside, so, too, are the Ethiopians from the anti-islamofascist side. Do you think our own CIA is actually competent & capable of playing any sort of hand in this?
To raz , you comments "Of course we fear a dominoe effect of Islam.
Just as we feared the Nazis taking over Europe.
Go Ethiopia.
In the meantime I will be listening to Bob Marley's Iron Lion Zion.
OT a Christmas Veil Tale
Just goes to show that veil is an anagram of EVIL and one letter away from DEVIL.????"
What alot of bull-shit. Clearly another individual whom fears the spread of AL-ISLAM. You wish to remain in a realms of free sex,(any genter & amimal), alcohol (ruin family and society),etc. I will pray for your soul and hope you do not suffer the punishment of the grave/hell
To,Haid Dasalami , WEll said mate!!!!
To, thndrbang1 ...Stop talking crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The scions of the death machine have spoken.
The kind of peace they want is to silence those who "badmouth Islam".
islam is the religion of hell. Its followers are devils.
They will not win.