To The Victor Go The Spoils
Reuters is reporting that Mogadishu has fallen to Somali and Ethiopian forces:
Triumphant Somali government forces and their Ethiopian allies marched into Mogadishu on Thursday after Islamist rivals abandoned the war-scarred city they held for six months.
The flight of the Islamists was a dramatic turn-around in the volatile Horn of Africa nation after they took Mogadishu in June and spread across the south imposing sharia rule.
Terrified of yet more violence in a city that has become a byword for chaos, some Mogadishu residents greeted the arriving government troops, while others hid.
"People are cheering as they wave flowers to the troops," said resident Abdikadar Abdulle, adding scores of government military vehicles had passed the Somalia National University west of the city center.
Parts of Mogadishu shook with the sound of gunfire and there were outbreaks of looting after leaders of the Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) fled its base early in the morning. Some fighters ditched their uniforms to avoid reprisals.
"We have been defeated. I have removed my uniform. Most of my comrades have also changed into civilian clothes," one former SICC fighter told Reuters. "Most of our leaders have fled."
The fall of Mogadishu came about 10 days after the Islamists sought to march on the government base of Baidoa. That prompted Ethiopia to come openly into the war, proving the decisive factor in saving the government and pushing back the Islamists. ...
... He [Abdirahman Dinari] said the Islamists had fled to the southern port city of Kismayu and the administration controlled 95 percent of the Horn of Africa country.
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi flew to a town near the capital on Thursday afternoon.
The government declared a state of emergency "to control security and stability."
SICC leader Ahmed said his side's hasty withdrawal was a tactical move. Many had predicted the Islamists would wage a guerrilla war if dealt a resounding blow in the first round of war.
This morning, Thomas highlighted the story about troops preparing to push into Mogadishu,. and he appropriately warned about the guerilla warfare that might ensue. Now that has yet to happen, but I am afraid I have to side with him on this. There is no way the Islamofascist regime simply gave up, and moved on. They are still in Somalia; they just lack control ofg the country. Wait until their reinforcements show up, and we will see if they are willing to go head-to-head with the forces that drove them from Mogadishu in the first place.
This is the newest chance to restore a stable, legitimate government--the 14th such try since the ouster of a dictator in 1991, according to Reuters--and hopefully this time it will stick.
Sabrina McKinney
Reuters is reporting that Mogadishu has fallen to Somali and Ethiopian forces:
Triumphant Somali government forces and their Ethiopian allies marched into Mogadishu on Thursday after Islamist rivals abandoned the war-scarred city they held for six months.
The flight of the Islamists was a dramatic turn-around in the volatile Horn of Africa nation after they took Mogadishu in June and spread across the south imposing sharia rule.
Terrified of yet more violence in a city that has become a byword for chaos, some Mogadishu residents greeted the arriving government troops, while others hid.
"People are cheering as they wave flowers to the troops," said resident Abdikadar Abdulle, adding scores of government military vehicles had passed the Somalia National University west of the city center.
Parts of Mogadishu shook with the sound of gunfire and there were outbreaks of looting after leaders of the Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) fled its base early in the morning. Some fighters ditched their uniforms to avoid reprisals.
"We have been defeated. I have removed my uniform. Most of my comrades have also changed into civilian clothes," one former SICC fighter told Reuters. "Most of our leaders have fled."
The fall of Mogadishu came about 10 days after the Islamists sought to march on the government base of Baidoa. That prompted Ethiopia to come openly into the war, proving the decisive factor in saving the government and pushing back the Islamists. ...
... He [Abdirahman Dinari] said the Islamists had fled to the southern port city of Kismayu and the administration controlled 95 percent of the Horn of Africa country.
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi flew to a town near the capital on Thursday afternoon.
The government declared a state of emergency "to control security and stability."
SICC leader Ahmed said his side's hasty withdrawal was a tactical move. Many had predicted the Islamists would wage a guerrilla war if dealt a resounding blow in the first round of war.
This morning, Thomas highlighted the story about troops preparing to push into Mogadishu,. and he appropriately warned about the guerilla warfare that might ensue. Now that has yet to happen, but I am afraid I have to side with him on this. There is no way the Islamofascist regime simply gave up, and moved on. They are still in Somalia; they just lack control ofg the country. Wait until their reinforcements show up, and we will see if they are willing to go head-to-head with the forces that drove them from Mogadishu in the first place.
This is the newest chance to restore a stable, legitimate government--the 14th such try since the ouster of a dictator in 1991, according to Reuters--and hopefully this time it will stick.
Sabrina McKinney
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 9:23 AM
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