Somali insurgents fire at U.S. congressman.
Somali insurgents fire at U.S. congressman.
Marking the first visit to the country by a senior American politician in years, Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) flew into the Somali capital of Mogadishu today to “discuss ways the international community could help the government, and the issue of piracy.” Payne, who was flanked by six bodyguards on the trip, came under attack before he was about to leave:
Somali insurgents fire mortars toward U.S. Congressman Donald Payne during a visit to the Somali capital, Reuters reported.
“One mortar landed at the airport when Payne’s plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no one was hurt,” Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters.
The attack on Payne came just “hours after a pirate leader threatened retaliation against America for killing his men during an operation to rescue a kidnapped US captain.”
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This is foreboding.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:03 amThe only way to resolve this situation is through international help, yet the local insurgents are not amenable to “talking.”
It calls to question the “big international win” labelling of the pirate operation. Somalia is a failed state. There was no international entity to engage.
It was an assymetrical contingency overseas operation. How it blows back remains to be seen.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:19 amWe neglect Africa’s development at our own risk.
We need more economic aid, and less guns, bombers, and corporate exploitation.
On a side note, compare the reactions to these two events. A few western sea vessels are being looted by bands of young men carrying light arms. In a matter of weeks, the great military powers of the world react by sending dozens of warships and aircraft to patrol the area. A systematic genocide is being perpetrated on the other side of the continent, The same military powers cant scramble a few dozen aircraft of enforce a no-fly zone, years after the situation has been recognized as genocide.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:20 amhey repukies,
April 13th, 2009 at 10:26 amif you supported the president and let clinton finish the job in somalia, we wouldn’t find ourselves in this position. but you were too set on “getting” clinton. scumbags
Dru Odontomachus hastatus Says:
We neglect Africa’s development at our own risk.
We need more economic aid, and less guns, bombers, and corporate exploitation.
On a side note, compare the reactions to these two events. A few western sea vessels are being looted by bands of young men carrying light arms. In a matter of weeks, the great military powers of the world react by sending dozens of warships and aircraft to patrol the area. A systematic genocide is being perpetrated on the other side of the continent, The same military powers cant scramble a few dozen aircraft of enforce a no-fly zone, years after the situation has been recognized as genocide.
That’s because there’s no money to be made by interfering in genocide. It’s pathetic and stomach-turning that that’s the way it is, but unless there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, no countries want to get involved with genocide, especially if it’s African genocide.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:26 amGreat post Dru !
April 13th, 2009 at 10:31 amI noticed the word ‘Insurgents’ is used by many media outlets…
April 13th, 2009 at 10:33 amAre we inching toward a new war..? !!
Brian Crooks Says:
That’s because there’s no money to be made by interfering in genocide. It’s pathetic and stomach-turning that that’s the way it is, but unless there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, no countries want to get involved with genocide, especially if it’s African genocide.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:26 am
___________
That’s not true – there are plenty of pots of gold at the end of the genocide rainbow. There are also pots of oil, pots of diamonds, pots of columbite-tantalite (coltan), and pots of many other extractable minerals. By backing the winning genocide team, multinationals can guarantee their investments for years, perhaps decades.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:47 amThis while the real pirates , who have plundered the national treasury and sunk the worlds economy ,are being put in charge of fixing the problems they created or receiving million dollar bonuses .
April 13th, 2009 at 11:10 amArrggggg !
“The U.S. military is considering attacks on pirate bases on land and aid for the Somali people to help stem ship hijackings off Africa’s east coast, defense officials said.”
Typical.
The US and World leaders ignore the situation until there’s no other option than blowing shit up.
Which is exactly the way they(we) wanted it to proceed.
Does it ever occur to our leaders why “insurgent terrorists” always seem to come from nations which have energy reserves?
Wagging tail, meet dog.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:43 amSomali pirates are like heads on a hydra–chop one off and two more will spring up. Until there is a low risk opportunity at a decent wage for Somali young men, there will be be pirates a-plenty, have no doubt!
April 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pmThe U.S. military is considering attacks on pirate bases on land and aid for the Somali people to help stem ship hijackings off Africa’s east coast, defense officials said.””
Woo-hoo! We can send some Predators over there, and mistakenly blow up some fishermen and all of their fish!
April 13th, 2009 at 12:18 pmI seriously doubt the US will invade Somali. The complications are huge. The country is basically lawless and without a strong government. A land operation would yield very little in changing the situation.
A uniting of nations to protect passage through the treacherous waters would seem a more fitting solution.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pmHere’s an idea: secure Phoenix and the southwest!
Guess what, when you ship oil and resources right along Somalia they want those things! It’s their Manifest Destiny, and they don’t even waste our time breaking treaties to seize what’s by them. But taking from the Indians is ancient history, we changed the rules of course.
Hypocrites.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pmYour timing is impecable.
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April 18th, 2009 at 5:30 amsac ekimi