Bush sent military strikes against Somalia five times, yet it didn't fix anything...

[lunatica]

And frankly I'm glad the Obama Administration isn't just having a kneejerk reaction to bomb Somalia. This situation requires a lot of informed nuance, not just with Somalia but with the rest of the world. It's not easy and shouldn't be treated like it can be easily dealt with by using our military violence. There's no question that our military is huge and powerful. Let's try to use some intelligence in the use of that power.

*********

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/10/AR2009041003734.html

Obama Team Mulls Aims Of Somali Extremists
Seeing Potential Terror Threat, Officials Debate Their Options

Senior Obama administration officials are debating how to address a potential terrorist threat to U.S. interests from a Somali extremist group, with some in the military advocating strikes against its training camps. But many officials maintain that uncertainty about the intentions of the al-Shabab organization dictates a more patient, nonmilitary approach.

Al-Shabab, whose fighters have battled Ethiopian occupiers and the tenuous Somali government, poses a dilemma for the administration, according to several senior national security officials who outlined the debate only on the condition of anonymity.

The organization's rapid expansion, ties between its leaders and al-Qaeda, and the presence of Americans and Europeans in its camps have raised the question of whether a preemptive strike is warranted. Yet the group's objectives have thus far been domestic, and officials say that U.S. intelligence has no evidence it is planning attacks outside Somalia.

An attack against al-Shabab camps in southern Somalia would mark the administration's first military strike outside the Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan war zones. The White House discussions highlight the challenges facing the Obama team as it attempts to distance itself from the Bush administration, which conducted at least five military strikes in Somalia. The new administration is still defining its rationale for undertaking sensitive operations in countries where the United States is not at war.

more at the link above...

[mkultra]

1. TOO LONG

Obama should have gone back in time and advised bush on how to handle this. failing in this, he should instead send in elite forces to kill only the pirates and none of the hostages.


Keep his feet to the fire people. Its our duty.

[lunatica]

2. I don't get whatever you point is in your reply (not being snarky here)

So far we've had pundits framing the Somali problem and some wild speculation. This article actually informs us of what the Obama Administration are thinking and doing.

[mkultra]

4. im not haranguing your op(if thats what your asking)

[babylonsister]

3. Let's kill all the pirates! Yay, US!

:eyes:

Don't you think there are more waiting in the wings? Why don't we try something novel, like negotiating with them?

[opihimoimoi]

5. The first phase is to show strength.....if intransigant...then a few bodies might convince

of them to negotiate....

[MadMaddie]

7. Somalia has no central government

so the negotiations would either be with religious fanatics or pirates.

The World should attempt to get some form of a standing government in Somalia.

The World must stop the offshore dumping of toxic waste on the coast of Somalia.

The World must stop the overfishing of Somalias coast.

Most if not all of the pirates are former fisherman whose livelihood doesn't exist anymore.

There's more to it than just negotiating with the pirates. Once you negotiate with one group then you put yourself in the place of having to negotiate with all of them. Thus encouraging other rouge nations or groups to do the same thing. They need to understand that their are repurcussions for these crimes.

[stillcool]

6. looks like things are heating up..

and this pirate thing will be a blessing in disguise. What better excuse to rumble?

[Number23]

8. This is a good read. Thanks for posting