US senator: Obama must not neglect Somalia

[ProSense]

US senator: Obama must not neglect Somalia

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A leading US Democratic senator warned President Barack Obama Monday not to neglect Somalia after the latest piracy incident off the country's coast and a mortar attack on a US lawmaker.

"For years, Somalia's growing instability was neglected by the Bush administration and the international community. The new administration must not make the same mistake," Democratic Senator Russell Feingold said.

"We must commit to a comprehensive strategy that helps stabilize the country while also establishing effective governance and the rule of law," said Feingold, who leads the Senate Foreign Relations' African affairs subcommittee.

"If we don?t, we will continue to see Somalia's historic instability manifest itself in piracy and growing extremism, both of which pose serious security threats in the region and around the globe," he said.

Feingold, who reprsents Wisconsin, said he was "elated by the safe rescue" of a US captain in a dramatic operation that saw naval snipers kill his captors after a five-day standoff and "relieved" that Democratic Representative Donald Payne was unharmed after a mortar attack at Mogadishu airport.

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"While the episode involving the crew of the Maersk Alabama had a happy ending, piracy off the coast of Somalia will assuredly continue since it is a symptom of the state collapse in Somalia, which presents a much greater and more dangerous problem," said Feingold.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

1. The US Has Not Been "Neglecting" Somalia

The US has actively been involved in wholesale slaughter and political manipulation of the most cynical kind in Somalia over the last two decades.

The fact that people don't know this history and make assumptions is harrowing to say the least.

[ProSense]

2. "The fact that people don't know this history and make assumptions is harrowing to say the least."

You should inform Senator Feingold.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

4. Perhaps I should

Do you dispute this assertion?

If Feingold does not know this then he should look into it. I'd be glad to help.

Do you not know about recent US aggression in Somalia?

[cali]

3. yes, you surely have better credentials than Russ.

And you've provided us with such sterling evidence.

:eyes:

[Orwellian_Ghost]

5. If I provided evidence

would you publicly retract your statement?

Why do you blindly obey figures in position? Why would you not question this and look into for yourself?

But let's get to the heart of the matter. Do you think that the US has been actively involved in Somalia, and the surrounding regions, over the last sevral years or no? This is not difficult to research. Don't sidestep here or use strawmen just stick to the objective question to the best of your ability.

[cali]

6. Retract what statement?

I made no claims. You did. And you provided no evidence. If your evidence is factual and comes from a reputable and impartial source, I'd be very interested to see it. But even if the U.S. has been involved nefariously with Somalia over the last few years, why would you assume that Feingold isn't aware of that?

[Orwellian_Ghost]

9. His statement is false

Read it again.

The Bush admin did not neglect Somalia. The US has been actively involved in de-stabilization efforts all the while. The Bush admin upped that ante. The assumption that Feingold isn't aware of this aggressive policy of intervention and de-stabilization is based on his false statement. Then again he may be aware and is interested in the US getting involved more deeply. You decide.

I'll send up a thread this evening that describes US involvement in the region and specifically as relastes to Somalia.

[ProSense]

11. "I'll send up a thread this evening that describes US involvement in the region"

You need to send this enlightening information to the less than informed Senator.

[ima_sinnic]

10. I read something (maybe from you) recently that was news to me, about

how the US (under *) made it a point to destroy a fragile govt there that had been set up for about a year and a half. I think it WOULD be most helpful and informative if you can post everything yuo can about it, and DO make sure to inform Sen. Feingold. With everything that congress people have to be concerned about, every type of issue, foreign and domestic, it would be no surprise to learn that he is not totally informed on this. I believe that educating congress people is a very beneficial thing for We The People to do, if We are well informed, because they just cannot know everything, any more than you or I could.

on edit: arrgh, this post IS in response to Orwellian's Ghost

[Winterblues]

7. While I understand Clinton's need to leave Somalia I think it was short sighted.

I think the exact same scenario existed in somalia when we pulled out as currently exists in Iraq where wing nuts say if we pull out we will be responsible for mass killings..Where was that same concern for Somalia from those same folks? It has been nothing but a killing field since America withdrew its forces. Our foreign policy is extremely hypocritical to say the least.

[DCKit]

8. With the BushCo track record on Iraq and Afghanistan as leverage....

All President Obama needs to do is threaten to move in and clean up their country and they'll knock this shit off. Sure Somalia is in ruins and schooling has got to be hard to come by, but they're not idiots or they'd be NeoCon Chickenhawks and not pirates.

[depakid]

12. Imagine that- someone understanding that the most effective way to deal with situations like this

is to ferret out and address the root causes.