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That's what the jihad is all about: Imposing Islamic law, by all possible means. Somalia Jihad Update. "Somali Islamists seize town, impose Islamic law," by Mohamed Olad Hassan and Katharine Houreld for the Associated Press, November 13:
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Advancing ever closer to Somalia's beleaguered capital, heavily armed Islamic fighters declared Thursday they will use strict Muslim rules to bring their lawless Horn of Africa country back under control.
The latest conquest by Islamic forces came late Wednesday in Elasha, 10 miles from the capital of Mogadishu. Thousands of people who have fled a bloody, two-year insurgency are living there in flimsy huts made of sticks and plastic tarp.
Islamic fighters now control most of southern and central Somalia, with the crucial exceptions of Mogadishu and Baidoa, where the parliament for Somalia's weak, U.N.-backed government sits.
Further complicating the situation, Ethiopia, which has backed Somalia in its fight against the groups, has pulled back from some positions as part of a peace deal with moderate Islamists. The Ethiopian regime says it wants to withdraw, but others believe it has calculated that an occupation of Somalia is better than having a radical Islamist regime next door.
The insurgents, who are fighting to enforce Shariah law in Somalia, are not a homogenous group. Al-Shabab, which the U.S. considers a terror group because of its leaders' alleged links to al-Qaida, controls the most territory. Elasha, however, was taken over by more moderate fighters.
Wouldn't it have been useful if the article's writers provided details on precisely how this crop of jihadists is "more moderate?" Anyway, it is telling that they accept this next line without qualification or criticism:
"Our fighters have taken the control of the area to provide security for the displaced people" suffering under the constant fighting, said Abdirahin Isse Adow, a spokesman for the Islamist forces in Elasha.
As noted here, the jihadists will only allow peace and security to take hold on their terms. Then, if they get their way, they will take credit for pushing the "only" agenda that could bring "order" to society.
In contrast, al-Shabab in recent weeks has carried out a public execution by stoning — reportedly of a 13-year-old gang rape victim — and lashings of alleged thieves.
"We inform you that from today on, all areas under our control will be ruled by Islam," Shabab commander Sheik Abukar told residents of Merka on Thursday, one day after taking over the key port town without firing a shot. "We will change the behavior of the youth here."
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a socialist dictator and turned their clan-based militias on each other. The battles have devastated the impoverished nation — half the population is expected to be dependent on food aid by the end of the year.
"We have no means and power to deploy our army all over the country," Somalia's Chief of General Staff Gen. Said Dheere told The Associated Press. "We have, therefore, confined our army only to strategic stations in Mogadishu and Baidoa."...
Posted by Marisol at November 13, 2008 3:35 PM
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Time for Ethiopia to have a another go at things.
Posted by: Cornelius![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 13, 2008 4:23 PM
The Taliban "brought order" to Afghanistan in the late 1990s.
It's deja vu all over again.
Posted by: PMK at November 13, 2008 4:39 PM
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Posted by: Lumpy at November 13, 2008 4:51 PM
Ethiopia should either fight to win or get out.
Either way, no more American money should be wasted on this muslim sh$thole. Let the Arabs feed them.
Posted by: walterc at November 13, 2008 5:06 PM
"half the population is expected to be dependent on food aid by the end of the year."
food aid, which by the way, comes from American and other western countries and not from the surrounding Muslim countries...
at November 13, 2008 5:33 PM
"....impose Islamic law"
Yeah, because no one in their right mind would choose Islamic law. Jihadists are the scum of the earth and a scourge of humaninty. They must be stopped.
at November 13, 2008 5:41 PM
Can anyone doubt that those at the Associated Press would think that this article represents an objective piece of journalism? A free press should be a smart press, an informed press and a press that WILL take sides in the struggle between civilization and barbarism. Such a press once existed in the West. There are remnants of it still around but it's largely gone.
Posted by: Wellington at November 13, 2008 6:29 PM
"We will change the behavior of the youth here."
--
No more watching soccer games.
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at November 13, 2008 6:42 PM
"We will change the behavior of the youth here."
No more watching soccer games.
Posted by: Ummah Gummah
Yeah; and when the Rolling Stones give their Mogadishu concert, it will take more than the Hell's Angels to provide security.
at November 13, 2008 7:12 PM
Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed is considered a 'moderate' Islamist in Somalia right now because he is on the 'outs' with the 'violent' Islamists.
Sh. Sharif is trying to negotiate to obtain a power base because he does not have the resources to kill those in non-compliance.
War is deception.
The 'youth' Shabaab have the resources and power to influence via intimidation and death. No need or room for moderation--just straight truth.
"Our terrorism is praiseworthy"- Al Shabaab spokesman Mukhtar (abu Mansour) Robow.
"No peace without Islam"- Al Shabaab commander Hassan al Turki
Give these youths some credit, at least they don't appear to misunderstand their religion.
at November 13, 2008 7:48 PM
Americans should write their reps in Washington to demand a law prohibiting any implementation of Sharia law in the United States. If we do not storm them with this demand we will get it, like it or not, beginning with "sharia finance", which is merely a stepping stone (to, for example, stoning).
Posted by: Jimmy Bones at November 14, 2008 12:04 AM
Americans should write their reps in Washington to demand a law prohibiting any implementation of Sharia law in the United States.
Jimmy Bones
I agree. To think that our Washington reps don't already know about Sharia, is scarey. What is really scarey about this is that the Islamic color of green seems to have a great appeal to our Washington crowd. Green is their favorite color, so much so, that if someone shows enough green to them, they will jump through hoops to get things done.
Posted by: Spot on at November 14, 2008 8:21 AM
Mogadshu is too far from anything of any value to the civilised world. But look at Somalia map and check the bit that says `Somaliland'. It is free, secular, pro-america, pro-Israel and thoroughly democratic. The current ruler won the last elections with a mere 80-vote margin in a region where rulers more commonly win `elections' with 99.99% of the vote.
Somaliland is on the Red Sea, two hours flight away from saudi oilfields and 30mins drive from American bases in nearby Djibouti.
And what the US and the West do? They are FORCING Somaliland to go back and rejoin Somalia!
Posted by: Gorgi at November 15, 2008 9:37 AM
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