The northern part of the country had been relatively peaceful, but, you see, it was a completely wrong variety of peace (i.e., not the kind the jihadists promise), and thus, absolutely had to be stopped by any possible means.
Somalia Jihad Update. "Suicide attacks kill dozens in Somalia," by Xan Rice for the Guardian, October 29:
A wave of synchronized suicide attacks on UN, diplomatic and government institutions in northern Somalia killed up to 31 people today.
Three car bombs detonated in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway Somaliland region. Another two vehicles exploded in neighbouring Puntland, which, like Somaliland, has been relative peaceful compared to the rest of the country.
The careful coordination and nature of the attacks is unprecedented in Somalia and marks a serious deterioration in an already dire security situation. Suspicion immediately fell on the radical Shabaab militia, which is part of much broader Islamist-led resistance fighting against the Somali government and occupying Ethiopian troops.
In Hargeisa, the Ethiopian consulate suffered the greatest damage, with up to 20 people reported dead. An attack on the president's palace killed at three people, including the presidential secretary, while two workers died at the headquarters of the UN Development Programme (UNPD).
"A vehicle forced its way into the compound and then exploded," said a UNPD spokesperson in Nairobi. "It appears that the driver of the car was still inside."
The suicide bombers, who were reported to have used driving four-wheel drive vehicles, struck within a few minutes of each other.
In Bossaso, Puntland's main city, explosive-laden cars detonated at separate interior ministry offices responsible for combating terrorism, killing six people. Dozens were injured in the five attacks.
"I fear that this is exactly what it looks like - the Shabaab," said a military expert on Somalia, who cannot be named because of his position. "We expected them to launch high-profile attacks, but this was extraordinary, requiring a large coordinated and concealed effort."
Analysts believe the timing of the bombings was no accident. Regional heads of state, including Somalia's president, Abdullahi Yusuf, were meeting yesterday in Nairobi to discuss the country's future. Peace efforts had received a boost over the weekend when Yusuf's government and the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) signed a deal in Djibouti agreeing to a ceasefire, and a phased withdrawal of Ethiopian troops.
The jihadists will only allow peace (or the absence of shooting) and order to take hold on their terms. Then, if either ever comes into effect, they will take credit as the "only" group that could achieve it (see also: Hamas, and the Taliban).
But a breakaway wing of the ARS, as well as the Shabaab, rejected the deal. They refuse to enter negotiations before the complete withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces that invaded Somalia in December 2006 to oust an Islamist authority from power.
Previously during peace negotiations the Shabaab has launched large attacks, mainly in Mogadishu, to demonstrate that they have control on the ground.
"It's clear that the Shabaab, or jihadis or whatever you want to call them, are trying to make a statement that they target any place in Somalia, not just the south," said a Western diplomat in Nairobi. "But we cannot let this undermine the Djibouti agreement, and we have to expect and accept that these sort of attacks may continue in the short term."...
These attacks will most certainly continue beyond the "short term" as stated by the diplomat. These attacks are designed to ratchet up tensions in the northern part of Somolia that has been somewhat quiet and peaceful. Quiet and peaceful on radical islam's terms. The timings of these attacks was not an accident. Shabaab has no intentions of letting there be peace ANYWHERE in Somolia. The withdrawl of the Ethiopian troops is just going to open the floodgates of hell from islam and no one should take any comfort from any agreement or "peace" deal that may be signed or brokered, in the future. The entire African continent is at risk from radical islam and the islamofacists will stop at nothing to impose their brand of law and order based on sharia law.
This has been the way of islam since it's inception and there is no way to deal with these thugs and murderer's except by overwhelming military force, and where is that going to come from? The future for true freedom in this region is indeed, looking very bleak.
And who supplies these assholes with the money they need to buy the explosives, vehicles and all the rest of the equipment they need to carry out these attacks.
Our friends the pirates, or one might say...those that pay ransoms to the pirates. Every company/country that paid the ransom demanded by these sacks o' crap, has blood on their hands.
This is what comes of paying ransoms to free your people.
What do you get? More piracy/kidnapping for ransom. Success breeds success.
5 attempted boardings by pirates in one day. A new record.
They need to go after the bases they work out of and level them. No "innocents" there. Makes it a lot harder to get your boat out to sea if yer dead.
I know that they are indeed pirates in the old Islamic tradition...but when you think of Black Beard or the classic Pirates of our childhood fantasies...seems really wrong to refer to these scum as pirates.
Islam is a lie and truth is killing it.
I don't mean to sound paranoid, but there are over 80,000 Somalis living in the US right now.
If you get a chance, please read Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book "Infidel" for a glimpse of the impact of Somali immigration into a western country.
I guess that Western diplomat didn't get the memo prohibiting the use of the word jihadi.
while two workers died at the headquarters of the UN Development Programme (UNPD).
i guess the UN will change its supposed pro-jihadi stance now. will it?
theygottago,
Doubtful. Kofi Annan isn't there anymore.
Remember how they pulled out of Iraq right after the UN HQ was bombed? I doubt they will here. Good thing US troops aren't there or they probably would have.
Alaskan,
UN Development Programme means that odds are WE are giving them some of the money they are using to conduct jihad. Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US.
Somalia seems to be getting hotter, lots of Islamic jihadist trouble makers...But Somalia does not have to worry, slowly but surely these trouble makers are immigrating to the US, and getting jobs as cab drivers, and in meat packing plants. They are so happy to be here and participate in the American dream, that they will drop all that Islamic terror stuff, and become good citizens.
Uh huh...
PMK
UN Development Programme means that odds are WE are giving them some of the money they are using to conduct jihad. Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US.
Roger that!
I do pest control in assisted housing developments, and a large number of the Somalis coming to Alaska stay in such housing.
I have very little evidence of them, in general, practicing Islam. Many of them are Christian converts and the kids...thoroughly westernized in moments it seems.
There appear to be very few "devout" Muslims amongst them...and nearly every one of these household has a nice new LCD TV.(Seems like all the folks that are beneficiaries of assisted housing programs have way nicer TVs than me...just what my eyes show me folks.) And the teenage girls are yakkin' on cell phones or IM'ing their friends. typical teenagers...
I mean I go into every room and closet in the place as part of the job and I don't see squat to indicate that these folks are Muslim.
Who the hell knows for sure though. Guess we gotta wait and see, but for now...aside from scarification, they seem to be enjoying freedom as much as anyone else...maybe a little more.
Islam is a lie and truth is killing it.