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The Islamic Courts fighters may be positioning themselves to attack the seat of the Somali government, as leverage for, or pending an expected outcome of peace talks scheduled for next week. Somali Jihad Update. "Somalia's Islamists take key town," from the BBC:
Fighters loyal to Somalia's Islamic courts have taken control of a key trading town from the transitional government without bloodshed.
They drove into Sakow on Wednesday evening moving closer to the seat of the interim administration in Baidoa.
Islamists are reported to be massing to the east of Baidoa, where government troops have been seen building defences with the aid of Ethiopian soldiers.
The opposing sides are due to meet in Sudan next week for peace talks.
There's a country that doesn't exactly leap to mind when "peace talks" are mentioned.
[...]
"It was simple because we did not encounter any fighting when we entered the town," Sheikh Hassan Derow, an Islamist commander told AFP news agency.
Residents of the town which is 170km south-west of Baidoa, said pro-government forces fled to the north.
The BBC's East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says the pressure is building towards a confrontation between the two sides.
But the UIC said it dids not intend to attack the transitional government but would defend itself against Ethiopian forces.
"The Courts' forces are still in their positions to defend the town (Baidoa) against the Ethiopian troops which began to move towards the Courts' forces," leading Islamic Courts offical [sic] Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad told the BBC.
Developing a pretext: "Defending" Baidoa.
Posted by Marisol at October 27, 2006 12:59 AM
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"It was simple because we did not encounter any fighting when we entered the town," Sheikh Hassan Derow, an Islamist commander told AFP news agency.
Well, that's interesting...
Anyone have any ideas on that one?
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com
Posted by: Doctor Bulldog![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 27, 2006 1:19 AM
Robert,
Good catch on that, "Defend" thing...
This is certainly sounding a lot like the start of World War II, in a way...
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com
Posted by: Doctor Bulldog at October 27, 2006 1:22 AM
"The opposing sides are due to meet in Sudan next week for peace talks"
This is positively Orwellian. 'Sudan' and 'peace talks' do not belong in the same sentence. Will there also be seminars for the Somalian jihadists on how to exterminate your neighbors?
p.s. A shout out to Bulldog on your new blog; Nice Work!
Posted by: alexon at October 27, 2006 2:09 AM
"Islamists are reported to be massing to the east of Baidoa"
Front load the Cluster Bombs!
at October 27, 2006 2:11 AM
"It was simple because we did not encounter any fighting when we entered the town," Sheikh Hassan Derow, an Islamist commander told AFP news agency.
Kind of like Paris. (ouch)
at October 27, 2006 2:13 AM
"Residents of the town which is 170km south-west of Baidoa, said pro-government forces fled to the north."
Why are the pro-givernment 'forces' (some force) always fleeing?! FIGHT! for once....
I think the U.S. funding of the so-called War Lords in Mogadishu was a big mistake. I think it just gave them the ability to buy a living somewhere more comfortable and they took it.
Posted by: alexon at October 27, 2006 2:20 AM
"The BBC's East Africa correspondent Adam Mynott says the pressure is building towards a confrontation between the two sides."
Doubtful, unless Ethopia lends a backbone.
at October 27, 2006 2:22 AM
"Defending" Baidoa today.
"Defending" Kosovo tomorrow.
"Defending" Andalusia the day after tomorrow.
"Revisiting" Vienna next week.
Posted by: alexon at October 27, 2006 2:29 AM
If we were not spending our money rebuilding (well, actually, building) Iraq and Afghanistan's infrastructures, think of the shock-and-awe that we could have been displaying to the Islamic stormtroopers in Somalia and Darfur (in Sudan).
We need to get out of the mindset of "helping" the Muslims, and into the mindset of destroying the Muslim aggressors wherever they are on the march.
Posted by: special_guest at October 27, 2006 2:41 AM
I think the U.S. funding of the so-called War Lords in Mogadishu was a big mistake. I think it just gave them the ability to buy a living somewhere more comfortable and they took it.The warlords aren't helping the Courts? After all, if you're inclined to rape and pillage, why not join the religion that says that doing so is sanctified by god? Posted by: aynrandgirl
at October 27, 2006 2:55 AM
Doctor Bulldog said
Anyone have any ideas on that one?
Somalia is almost totally Sunni Muslim. My guess is that the assumption (not yours, but the media's and the Administrations') that the "vast majority of moderate Muslims" want to resist the jihadists and continue living under the current non-sharia-compliant Somali government, is a false assumption. I think it is a confirmation that Somali society supports, either actively or passively, the jihadists.
And I think those same false assumptions are at play in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted by: special_guest at October 27, 2006 2:56 AM
You have to wonder when people are going to wake up to the fact that Islam is on the warpath,what it will take is for a western country to be taken over and it won,t be to far away if europe continues down it,s path.
Posted by: stevenz at October 27, 2006 5:36 AM
Get ready folks. The attack on Ethiopia is creeping closer. Once it begins everyone will wring their hands over how horrible the jihadist onslaught will be. And there will be the UN asking how it could have happened at all (and pointing fingers westward as usual).
When WILL the West at least arm Ethiopia before it's too late? Nah-send weapons and money to the peaceful PLO instead.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at October 27, 2006 7:50 AM
If the roll out continues, and Ethiopia is eventually attacked from Somalia, will the West assist Ethiopia to defend itself? If the Ethiopians fail, will the West defend Ethiopia by itself? A country will no oil? With only Christians? Think Darfur.
Two questions arise...very old questions...timeless questions...
If not here (Ethiopia), where?
If not now, when?
Is the only requisite in the equation oil? Does the equation totally lack 'faith' in its matrix? If it does lack 'faith', what do we need this National Government for? It will not defend us. We do not have enough oil and gas in the gas tanks of our cars and trucks to interest the Bushites. We are on our own. We ourselves alone...again...against the heathens, the hoardes...Think La Rochelle...
David Rockefeller will have protection. So will Daddy Bush. So will Dick Cheney, Vice-President of the United States and Shadow President of Halliburton. Its all about trading with the enemy. Think Prescott Bush.
To paraphase Davy Crockett, you can go to the oil fields, and I will go to Christ. Think Victory.
Posted by: SCV at October 27, 2006 2:00 PM
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