US alarmed at Eritrea 'arms link'

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The US says it is seriously concerned by reports Eritrea is supplying arms to foreign fighters and Islamic hardliners fighting government forces in Somalia.

"This as a disturbing development," President Barack Obama's top official on Africa, Jonnie Carson, told the BBC.

Eritrea denies that any involvement in arming or financing Islamist militants trying to overthrow the government.

Following a week of violence, 100 people are dead and 30,000 more have fled Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8053078.stm

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Usual reference to al-Qaeda too. No mention of Emmanuel Goldstein though. :shrug:

[Zorro]

1. War by proxy

Destabilizing Somalia draws serious attention from Ethiopia, Eritrea's primary adversary.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. so Carson says, as he sells more guns to proven-aggressor state Ethiopia

[imdjh]

4. I haven't done my homework

But looking at the map, I always wonder how it is that Ethiopia allowed itself to be cut off from having a port.

[The Magistrate]

9. History Of Conquest, Sir

Moslems conquered the coasts, but never managed to fight into the Christian highlands. Later Italy, France, and England succeeded in dominating the Moslem coastal zones. Italy early in the twentieth century attempted invasion of Ethiopia proper, but was roundly defeated at Adowa, and left off the attempt till Mussollini revived the thing in 1935.

[McGruf]

10. Voluntary

"Ethiopia allowed itself to be cut off from having a port" even after its victory at Adwa. It was not under duress, nor was it incapable. It was a purely voluntary decision.

[kirby]

3. Eritrea was part of 'Coalition of the Willing'

If I recall, Bush praised them over and over for supporting the war in Iraq.

[alfredo]

5. Isaias Afewerki is a total ass. Eritrea could be a shining example for

the rest of Africa, but Isaias blew it.

[Oerdin]

6. For years.

They've been doing it for years. Ever since Ethiopia went into Somalia (they've since withdrawn) Eritrea has been arming any rebel group possible. The truth is Eritrea is a fairly hardline Islamic state and we would all be better off if it was still part of Ethiopia instead of allowing the rebels to break away back in the 90's. Clinton made a mistake by allowing that.

[Ezana]

7. Technically it is not possible for Eritrea to arm Somali Rebels

Eritrea has no border with Somalia. Between Eritrea and Somalia there are to countries hostile to Eritrea: Ethiopia and Djibouti. US and France have Military Bases in Djibouti. I do not how Eritrea can arm Somali rebels and not caught.

And, Eritrea is not an Islamic State. Its President is an Ortodox Christian.

[McGruf]

11. De facto liberation

No-one allowed anything. It was a total victory over the communist Menghistu. It was also the pragmatic George Herbert W.Bush in charge with Undersecretary Cohen. I wouldn't call it an Islamic state, though. It's more like a fascist/ totalitarian state.

[mace1]

8. Bush's mess coming to haunt Obama.

It is well and good to be alarmed, but what is the state department and the Obama administration doing to address the blatant corruption and illegal injustice done to the Eritreans by the previous Bush administration, like :

- Arming Ethiopia using US tax payers money, including arms of all places from N. Korea breaking UN/US sanctions.
http://tinyurl.com/djt9yu
- Trying to reverse international border commission ruling at the UN
http://www.slate.com/id/2178793/
- Illegal funding and planning of Invasion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJka6q16Os
- Defending heinous crimes committed by Ethiopia,and said to be worse than Darfur
http://tinyurl.com/ysmvtc
http://tinyurl.com/cg4ygx
http://tinyurl.com/cern3e

I can go on, but you get the gist, when countries are refused to win fairly and squarely using international of law, it is inevitable they find other means.

To Oerdin

Eritrea is one of the most secular country you can find in Africa, lead by Orthodox Christian. Eritrea was indeed praised for being Secular and almost single handedly frustrated the Islamic Jihad OBL was trying to wage in the Horn of Africa in the early 90's way before 9/11 when he was hiding in Sudan.
You might find this article from DOD an interesting read.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=42407

This was before the Bush admin inexplicably taken sides and did so much stupid things that is still causing meltdown in the Horn of Africa.

[underpants]

13. Welcome to DU

:hi:

great information there.

So if they are a secular nation is this just a business thing?
Aiding the terrorist types so they will not harm THEM?

[ohio2007]

12. Where does Eritrea get their arms that they middle man and farm out to Somalia ?

they grow their own ?

Nobody wants to point the finger at the cheap arms manufacturing countries also making a buck or two