Marines on Somali coast to hunt militants-officials

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5757025&cKey=1115328921000

HARGEISA, Somalia (Reuters) - U.S. Marines landed on Somalia's coast in one of their most visible hunts for militants in the country since they set up a Horn of Africa counter terrorism force in 2002, Somali officials said on Thursday.

Two boats brought about 20 Marines to the fishing village of Maydh in the northwestern enclave of Somaliland on Tuesday, where they showed pictures of suspected "terrorists" to locals before leaving after a few hours, residents said.

"They met some of the fisherman and the people and they showed some pictures they were carrying, saying that these people are terrorists that they are trying to capture," Assistant District Commissioner Ali Abdi told Reuters.

It was not clear who the Marines were looking for.

Oh goody. Maybe the US can send some Marines to Vietnam to look for some militants next.

[CottonBear]

1. Oh boy...now it's back to Somalia

As I remember, we didn't have such a good experience there the last time.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CottonBear]

5. I know a guy who was an army ranger over there in Somalia.

He almost didn't make it back.

[DulceDecorum]

6. So, what DID the Pakistanis do

to upset Aideed so?

And why did the US Special Ops keep raiding the wrong places?

Is it true that the US soldiers motto was "the only good Somali is a DEAD Somali"?

Do tell.
HOOYA.

[seemunkee]

3. Needed confirmation

I spotted this post this AM and then mentioned it at a lunch meeting. Everyone at the table does work for DoD, and some involved in intel work. No one had heard this. Tonight I googled it and ABC Australia has it
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1361150.htm
And Reuters UK has it
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0530635.htm

NOT ONE US NEWS SOURCE HAS IT

[DulceDecorum]

7. Oh well,

I guess history is just going to have to repeat itself.

[bemildred]

4. It's nice they have some spare troops for this.

Would you rather be a Marine in Iraq or Somalia?
I'd guess Somalia is probably safer. No tons of RDX lying
around in Somalia.

I suppose they could have got a "tip" about some "high-value target".

[Bandit]

8. Must be OIL in Somalia

:shrug:

[DulceDecorum]

9. BINGO

January 18, 1993
According to documents obtained by The Times, nearly two-thirds of Somalia was allocated to the American oil giants Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips in the final years before Somalia's pro-U.S. President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown and the nation plunged into chaos in January, 1991. Industry sources said the companies holding the rights to the most promising concessions are hoping that the Bush Administration's decision to send U.S. troops to safeguard aid shipments to Somalia will also help protect their multimillion-dollar investments there.
Officially, the Administration and the State Department insist that the U.S. military mission in Somalia is strictly humanitarian. Oil industry spokesmen dismissed as "absurd" and "nonsense" allegations by aid experts, veteran East Africa analysts and several prominent Somalis that President Bush, a former Texas oilman, was moved to act in Somalia, at least in part, by the U.S. corporate oil stake.
http://www.netnomad.com/fineman.html

Wby did the U.S. really send troops to Somalia? The Horn of Africa is one of the most strategic territories on the entire continent. It controls access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Pentagon generals would love to set up a permanent base in this critical area. Somalia is also oil rich. Several billion-dollar oil companies have bought the oil rights from the previous regime. These huge corporations want "law and order" in Somalia so they can pump out the oil. In fact, Conoco, the oil company that has the largest holdings in Somalia, has allowed the U.S. troops to use Conoco headquarters in Mogadishu as a command post and de facto embassy.
Another reason the U.S. war machine is in Somalia is that it needs an enemy, it needs a mission. General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, called the operation in Somalia, "a paid political advertisement" for maintaining the current military budget. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Pentagon has come under growing pressure to radically cut its bloated budget. The $300 billion a year arms industry links over 70,000 military contractors, including the largest corporations in the world, with the Pentagon. The Generals and the weapons makers are using the intervention in Somalia to justify their very existence.
http://www.netnomad.com/poster.html

[DulceDecorum]

10. Nothing is official until it has been officially denied.

Thursday, May 5, 2005 2:40 p.m. EDT
Defense Department Regular Briefing
Presenter: Lawrence Di Rita, Pentagon Spokesman; and Lieutenant General James T. Conway, Director, Operations, Joint Staff

Q We have a story out of Somalia here quoting Somali officials as saying that a small number of U.S. Marines, apparently about 20, lightly armed, landed in Somaliland, which is apparently an enclave of Somalia on the coast, on Tuesday, showed some pictures of terrorists they were looking for, and then left. Is that true? Have any U.S. forces landed on the coast of Somalia for any reason -- looking for terrorists or otherwise?

GEN. CONWAY: I heard that report just shortly before stepping over here. I checked with my DDO and those people in our Regional Operations Directorate who are responsible for that portion of the world. The report is false. The Marines have not landed, but the situation is still well in hand.

Q The situation is still -- (laughter) -- well in hand?

GEN. CONWAY: (Chuckles.)

MR. DI RITA: Come on, Charlie. Work with us here.

Q So no U.S. troops have gone ashore --

GEN. CONWAY: That's correct, Charlie, that there's no indication that the people in the Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa have landed on the Somali coast. They're still in Djibouti and conducting operations.
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050505-2683.html

[NNN0LHI]

11. Thanks for the link and info n/t