by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Aug 3, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

        Chaos in seaside nation of Somalia continues to plague Eastern Africa, while the sovereign government battles the same rebels that shot down two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters in 1993, whose rescue operation killed 19 U.S. soldiers in the battle of Mogidishu.  Since President Bill Clinton pulled out all U.S. forces, Somalia has run amok with growing legions of pirates tormenting 300 miles of shipping lanes along the Gulf of Aden.  Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terror group—responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon—has supported al-Shabaab, the most deadly Somali terrorist group battling for Mogadishu.  Before Bin Laden left for Afghanistan in 1996, he set up base in Khartoum, Sudan where he recruited and armed terrorists to takeover pro-Western governments, like in ones in Somalia, Yemen and Sudan.  Bin Laden’s terror work continues unabated

            Since the 1993 Delta Force failure, the U.S. has kept its distance from Mogadishu, ceding power to Somali warlords, especially the late Mohammed Farah Aidid, ssassinated in 1996.  Today’s Mogadishu government teeters on collapse, where Bin Laden, through al-Shabaab, gets dangerously close to controlling Africa’s choicest piece of real estate.  Despite the political chaos, Somalia has 1,875 miles of coast, with an average annual temperature of 80 degrees, despite sitting only 10 degrees above the equator, making the country an ideal tourist destination.  With so much coastline, Somalia represents prime East African real estate.  Yet Somalia’s unstable government and control by pirates and violent warlords ranks as one of the most dangerous spots on the planet.  Absent a strong central government and lawlessness make Somalia a dangerous tourist destination.

            Somalia’s weakened government appealed to the international community, especially the U.S., for help warding off al-Qaida guerrillas.  Somali al-Shabaab terrorists warned Kenya about possible reprisals, should the Kenya not accept Somalia’s determination to evict the existing government and impose strict Islamic Sharia law.  Islamic rebels loyal to Bin Laden want to turn East Africa into another Taliban-like rule, where a militant cult imposes Islamic orthodoxy.  “Al-Shabaab is a threat to the whole world,” said Somali Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamoud, fearing an al-Qaida takeover in Somalia.  Appealing for U.N. help, Frahan recognized the implacable challenge to Somalia’s neighbors:  Provide security help or face an eventual al-Qaida takeover of East Africa.  When U.S. embassies were hit in East African by Bin Laden in 1998, the U.S. looked helpless.

            Somalia has roughly 9 million citizens, most opposed to a harsh Taliban-like takeover.  U.S. domestic economic woes and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan make intervention unlikely in Somalia.  “First to Somalia, to the neighborhood, and to everywhere they disagreed with,” said Mohamoud, begging the international community to restrain a growing al-Shabaab threat.  Somali’s vast pirate industry, like opium poppy farmers in Afhghanistan, have paid al-Shabaab as a de facto security force to topple the Somali government.  More booty from maritime hijackings have funded the terrorists now within striking distance of Mogadishu.  “Somalia’s problems are not for Somalia alone to solve.  Not only for the African Union to solve.  It is a global and regional issue.   We are very appreciative that the international community understands that, but they need to act now, rather than later,” said Mohamoud

            U.N. must prioritize its commitments to hot spots around the globe.  Iran’s nuclear recalcitrance, with a growing specter of war with the U.S. or Israel, occupies the Security Council more than regional issues in the Horn of Africa.  Africa is the forgotten continent leaving criminals to roam, like Bin Laden, with impunity.  Somali pirates threaten international shipping daily, routinely hijacking and holding international crews hostage.  International response is so weak that pirates run the high seas, pulling in booty in record amounts.  Mafia-like pirate syndicates based in Somali fund international terror groups like al-Shabaab, now encroaching on sovereign popular European tourist destinations.  “We do believe that al-Shabaab poses a threat, not only to Kenya, but to all neighboring such as Ethiopia and Entrea,” said Ernst Jan Hogendoorn, a security expert with International Crisis Group.

            Runaway piracy in the Horn of Africa not only threatens shipping lanes but  destabilizes the region by supporting global terror groups like al-Qaida.  Funding al-Shabaab now threatens the Somali government and neighboring regimes, warranting a forceful response from the international community.  Giving a green light to Somali pirates has emboldened terrorists and destabilized the region, threatening to take down the Somali government.  While Somalia lacks the mineral wealth of Iraq, it boasts thousands of miles of pristine beaches, a prime destination for Europeans tourists with a stable government.  Once the U.N. deals with the growing Iranian nuclear threat, they should turn their attention to Somalia where uncontrolled piracy funds more terrorist groups to topple pro-Western regimes.  All of Africa, Europe and the U.S. have a compelling interest in Somalia.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.