Yes, ‘our boys!’ Somali refugees that we fed, clothed, educated and heck, we probably even fixed their teeth have returned to Somalia along with others from around the world to fight with radical Islamists to overthrow the relatively moderate government, and it looks like they may succeed. Think about it, these Somali missing refugee youths that might not have lived to manhood if left in Africa became healthy strapping fighters—on our dime. *
From The Nation earlier in the week:
Islamist Al-Shabaab political and regional officer Sheikh Hussein Ali Fidow has praised the solidarity his group received from foreign fighters against the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia.
Sheikh Fidow warned Somalis against calling the ‘Muslim brothers,’ aliens.
Speaking in Mogadishu, Sheikh Fidow responded to claims from government officials that foreign combatants were fighting alongside Al-Shabaab fighters in the latest clashes in Mogadishu.
Sheikh Fidow made it clear that foreign fighters were in Somalia offering his movement solidarity.
“Jihadists from all corners of the world have been here with us since we confronted the infamous warlords in Mogadishu three years ago,” said Sheikh Fidow.
“They have been coming to Somalia to fight the ‘enemy of Allah,’ including the Ethiopian troops, the African peacekeepers and those who brought them to the country,” he added.
For all do-gooders who think American life (an Ipod, baggy pants and admission to Harvard) can wipe out the desire to kill for Allah:
“These people left luxuries in their countries to sacrifice for the Somali people to have an Islamic state,” said Sheikh Fidow.
Now, three days after the Nation article, Fox News is reporting that violence explodes and stabilization fails. Foreign fighters may be making the difference. Hat tip Blulitespecial.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Hundreds of foreigners fighting alongside Somali Islamic insurgents have driven this week’s fierce battles against government forces, which have killed more than 100 people, the U.N. envoy to Somalia said Friday. [Reader remember that the government the radicals are attempting to overthrow is already an Islamic government!]
Yes, it would be “unacceptable” if Al-Shabaab takes over Somalia.
The African Union is concerned about the deepening influence of foreign fighters in Somalia’s insurgency, said Nicolas Bwakira, the African Union envoy to Somalia. He said that there are up to 400 foreign fighters in the Horn of Africa nation.
“It would be unacceptable that the Shabab, Al Qaeda, takes over the government in Somalia. This is a group of war criminals,” said Bwakira, referring to a Somali extremist Islamic group that is fighting the government. The U.S. State Department considers al-Shabab a terrorist organization with links to Al Qaeda, something the group denies.
Looks like the vaunted Obama-Hillary diplomacy is failing in Somalia (Pakistan too).
* Kind of reminds me of what Kevin Myers said in the Irish Times that brought the wrath of the Multiculturalists down on him: