From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de) Date: Mon May 07 2007 - 06:19:46 EDT U.S. sees terrorism in Somalia; Minnesota Somalis see it differently The Twin Cities Somali community shares a deep concern about tensions in their homeland, but many dispute the U.S. claim that it has become a haven and a platform for terrorism. By Sharon Schmickle, Star Tribune Last update: May 06, 2007 - 9:57 PM Listen to Bush administration officials and you hear the chilling claim that a new terrorist front is emerging in Somalia because militant Islamists have created secret havens and platforms there for Al-Qaida. Now listen to Prof. Ahmed Samatar echoing thousands of Somalis in Minnesota. "Lies," said Samatar, who is dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College in St. Paul. In the chasm between the dire official warning and the Somalis' vehement rebuttal lie high-stakes questions. If the threat is real, does it signal another round of terrorist attacks that could reach as far as Europe and the Americas? If the naysayers are right, is the United States poised to repeat mistakes it made by miscalculating the tensions tearing at Iraq? As home to America's largest Somali community, Minnesota is a main stage for the debate over the threat of terrorism in Somalia and its neighbors on the Horn of Africa. The arguments here are informed by phone calls from loved ones that ex-patriot Somalis receive from their homeland. While Samatar, and many who agree with him, frame one end of the arguments, Somalis in Minnesota represent opinions that range from clear opposition to U.S. actions to a shared concern that terrorists have established a beachhead in Somalia. Washington watched warily last summer while groups calling themselves the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts pushed aside a feckless transitional federal government to take control of a large region of Somalia and restore a modi(edited) of order after 15 years of violent anarchy. Then, beginning in December, the United States helped Ethiopian forces and the transitional government oust the Islamic Courts and beat back a series of insurgent attacks. U.S.-backed government leaders claimed last week that Mogadishu was calm and under their control. But the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported Friday that most of the 365,000 people who fled the capital city aren't returning because they expect more fighting. In a major report on terrorism last week, the State Department laid out a rationale for ousting the Islamic Courts. Somalia's weak government, protracted instability, porous borders, unguarded coastline and proximity to the Arabian peninsula have long made it a target for international terrorists, the report said. In that vulnerable setting, it said, the Islamic Courts were quickly "hijacked by al Shabaab (the Youth), a small extremist group affiliated with Al-Qaida that consists of radicalized young men." With leaders who trained in Afghanistan, the group allegedly is behind recent murders of foreign aid workers, Somali nationals and an Italian nun, it said. The report also accused some Islamic Courts leaders of harboring Al-Qaida operatives suspected in U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and other attacks. Vehement critics But if it is true that embassy bombers were hidden in Somalia, the United States could have pursued them with the approval of many in the Islamic Courts movement, Samatar said. Indeed, there might have been resistance from some Taliban-like reactionaries, he said, but the broad-based movement included many reasonable Muslims who were prepared to work with the United States. Instead, he said, Washington bought Ethiopia's argument that "a major storm of terrorism was brewing in Somalia and that they needed to destroy it." As a result, the resistance fighting Ethiopian troops "is not just the Islamic Courts or what is left of them," he said. "What we are seeing now is a national resistance movement, and a significant part of it is youths," he said. "Why wouldn't they be fighting if their homes are destroyed, their families are no more, they have no other place to go and they face mighty Ethiopian forces. What else are they supposed to do?" Samatar, who talks regularly with a sister and other relatives in Somalia, said there is a growing feeling that Islam itself is under attack. "They fear there will come a time when Islam will be so demonized that the Somalis will be pushed to run away from their own religion ... that any Somali who speaks in the name of Islam will be automatically seen as a terrorist," he said.

Slaughter and Genocide in Somalia, Why? May 4, 2007 Seattle Protest March By T. West http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrjrSD9YoM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCSoRayVg3Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T1cd2c0ou8 "They fear there will come a time when Islam will be so demonized that the Somalis will be pushed to run away from their own religion ... that any Somali who speaks in the name of Islam will be automatically seen as a terrorist". Prof. Ahmed Samatar Dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College in St. Paul Even though most American political and religious leaders will not openly say that Islam is the problem, many of them would say so privately. It is not the religion itself but the principle of unity often present within the religion. This unity of purpose interferes with the range to which the lords of the so-called “global economy” can extract more profits from the African continent with yet so much more to extract. There are millions of African Muslims who teach a philosophy of a fair and equitable exchange for goods and services. This philosophy is counter to the “pure capitalist’s” self-serving goals. Therefore, the term, “terrorist” must be better associated with Islam. This is why American, European and even most of the African media sources have increasingly introduced the term, “Islamist” when talking and writing about terrorism, directly associating it with Islam. They realize most people in America are not going to the dictionary to look up the word Islamist and discover that it is a very good term, in that it is the intense study of Islam, not killing. The following words are as appropriate today as they were in the 1860s, almost 150 years ago by the emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia: In 1860’s - “I know European deceit. When they want to conquer a part of the eastern world, first they dispatch missionaries; later they will send consular diplomats who would reinforce the missionaries; finally their army of occupation.” Ethiopian Emperor, Tewodros II Purpose of Protest Some business men and women are more concerned with doing business and making the dollar and their eyes and ears are closed to the tyranny being committed in Somalia. Frankly, too many among the old Civil Rights group are heavily invested into Wall Street and fear saying anything against what some of the biggest American corporations are doing to influence the actions of the American military in Africa. The worsening condition of millions of Black youth here in America and in various countries across the African continent is not and did not occur by happen-stance. The generation before them has much to do with this. Yes, there are far more who are doing okay and are outstanding young men and young women but there are far too many who do not have a future that is promising. In fact, it is becoming worse. It’s time to make a change! In the Christian Bible there is a saying by Yeshua (Jesus) where he was asked, “when did we see you hungry, naked or imprisoned?”. The response was when you saw your brother or sister hungry, “that was me”. If my words and my actions are not against tyranny, I am just as guilty as those who kill the innocent. We have a choice of speaking against the genocide in Somalia. We have a choice of remaining quiet. We have a choice of doing the right thing. This protest was about doing the right thing. This protest was to educate and inform those who do not know about the genocide in Somalia. This protest was to uncover what major American news organizations do not want you to know about. We Travel the Same Path Allow me to relate the extra-judicial killings by our own American government in Somalia to the African Americans. For hundreds of years, Africans were enslaved in America. This enslavement was primarily, all about business. It was the “new normal”; it was acceptable; it was a political thing. It was justified through a profit driven concept of Christianity. It was a “crusade” of thievery, plundering, and killing while singing such songs as, “Onward Christian Soldiers”. It was something most Whites did not want to speak out against because they would not profit by speaking against it. To speak against African slavery in America could mean you did not get a job or would be terminated. We will not be silent about thousands who have been killed and are suffering in Somalia. If you were not silent, it could mean you may not be awarded a certain government or private contract. However, during African enslavement, a few of these White men and women had the courage to stand up and say chattel slavery, raping, lynching and beatings of Blacks was not good. President John F. Kennedy found America’s treatment of Blacks to impede the image he wanted of America around the world. It adversely began to reflect on the “great nation” image of America which could have adverse economic consequences. Cuba, Russia and others could and did tell America to look at their own situation with Blacks. Some Whites had the courage to say slavery and Jim Crow laws was unacceptable and did not reflect the written American Constitution. They had the courage to say profiting from human misery was unacceptable and even worse, creating and perpetuating those conditions for profit were unconscionable. Still, other Whites spoke out against slavery for their own self-serving economic interests, they wanted paying jobs for the work Africans were doing without pay, and that was why they were against slavery. The protest cry at that time might have been, no more African slaves for rum. Today it is, No more Somali blood for oil. This triangle trade of slaves involved Africans for money, weapons and other things but also taken by force. Africans harvested the sugarcane crop for the making of rum for European consumption. This involved Africa, North America, South America, and Europe. A few of the free Blacks had the courage to stand up against institutionalized slavery and discrimination. Many of those enslaved had the courage to resist, in spite of being beaten or even killed. Institutionalized means that it was accepted by government, by businesses, and by religious organizations. They had the courage to stand against a major profitable commodity and industry of Wall Street. What was that commodity? That commodity was African slaves. In other words, Blacks were treated as beans, rice, maize, sheep, and cattle. At its highest, enslaved Africans numbered in the millions with most being taken to Brazil. Hundreds of thousands died. African men and women were bred like cattle and goats. No more Somali blood for oil. Africans in America were even counted under the inventory of farm animals. If one plantation owner wanted to breed a big strong African man with a strong African woman on a different plantation to produce strong, young African workers, this was done. It did not matter that the woman already had children with another man. There was little to no talk about out-of-wedlock births and teenage pregnancy, as there is today. Why? More African children meant more workers which often meant the wealthier the plantation owner could become. This was the acceptable norm in America. African American businessmen and women must not forget the past. The struggle continues and is far more turbulent today with a far greater number of Blacks. We must not forget Somalia. Wall Street and Somalia We must recognize and know what Wall Street companies are doing in various countries in Africa. The most wealthy corporate boards and shareholders have greatly influenced the death and destruction of men, women and children in Somalia for profits. Perhaps some of you recall how certain members of Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon were discussing the creation of a ticker on Wall Street. It was a plan to make money by betting on the progress of the war in Iraq. The latest example of this warfare, for purpose of profiteering, is good reason for protest. No more Somali blood for oil. Should We Be Concerned About the Mass Killings in Somalia? There is no excuse for us when we hide behind such words as, “it is political” and “we don’t want to be involved in politics”. When we pursue government contracts, and trade concessions, we are involved in politics. When we vote, we are involved in politics. When we ignore the tyranny of a government with which we do business, we are involved with politics. The death and injuries in Mogadishu are centered upon greed. It is “Black Gold, Part 2”. This black gold is oil. Perhaps many within the transitional government of Abdullahi Yusuf have no idea about this and their motivation is egoism and power. The first “Black Gold” was Africa’s people and their enslavement so that others may profit and attain leisure. African Americans must not repeat what slave owners did. Yes, we even had a few African leaders who profited, as some do today. Have we bought into this MARKet with the nature of a Beast of prey? Do we not see the death; do we not feel the pain; do we not hear the cries in Somalia, in Iraq, in Zimbabwe? The attempt by Britain and the United States governments is to demonize and then starve Zimbabwe into submission to the will of major Wall Street corporations. This was the tactic deployed against Iraq for 12 years, following the 1991 Gulf War. The greater the misery in Africa, the higher the profits on Wall Street. Have our minds accepted this system where our retirement pensions are used to fund Wall Street’s brokers and speculators? In America, these wealthy bankers want to privatize social security so that bankers and corporations can speculate with your retirement dollars. Let’s not forget that it was African slaves who built the Wall around what became known as Wall Street. Let’s not forget that next to that wall is an old African slave burial ground. Profit must never come with blind eyes, closed ears, and no conscience. The Business of Oil What America is doing in Somalia is a very bad thing. During the months of March and April, 2007, within a three week period 1,500 Somali men, women, and children were killed under the command of older men who are divided along clan lines and paid and armed by leaders of America and Ethiopia. This should be our concern! Too often, the older generation operates under the old rules which plays into the European and American plan of supporting and appointing corrupt leaders, chiefs, sheiks and imams to promote policies beneficial to Wall Street companies but not to the general population of Somalia, Zimbabwe, Sudan and other countries of Africa. In fact, the Bush Administration finally admitted that it was paying the opposition in Zimbabwe. This is wrong, unacceptable and something we should not support! No more Somali blood for oil. When 400,000 people in Mogadishu are displaced, we should be concerned. If you do not know the real purpose for this genocide, you should want to be educated about it. We should ask, why? Here is the truth to help answer that question. American oil corporations have contracts in Somalia. They are Amoco (now owned by BP), Chevron (Chevron named an oil tanker after Condoleezza Rice), Halliburton (this is the company where Dick Cheney was CEO before becoming VP), and ConocoPhillips (there is an airport named after Conoco in Somalia). No more Somali blood for oil. Oil & gas is the richest most profitable industry in the world followed by banking & finance. In 1991, when the American military went into Somalia under what was called Operation Restore Hope, it was actually Operation Secure the Oil. The mass killings are a result of American oil driven policy in Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and elsewhere. Even today, the Bush Administration is planning to provide $30 million in military weapons to rebels in Southern Sudan, suspending and breaking its own embargo law. Of course, members of the American opposition party, the Democrats, are promoting military action against the Sudanese government. However, the Bush Administration is planning a proxy war with Khartoum sitting in the middle. At the same time, the Bush Administration is stating that the Sudanese government is a partner against terrorism. How is that for playing both ends? Other countries are removing American, British and French oil corporations or telling them to go to the end of the line, as China and other Asian countries sign long term oil and gas contracts. Therefore, American oil barons turn to African countries to makeup the loss in capacity, but they have no loss in oil profits. In fact, the more difficult it becomes for the average American to pay for gas, the wealthier oil corporations become. This super wealthy group earns profits regardless of the price of a barrel of oil. Recall when President Bush said that America must reduce dependency on Middle East oil by 74%. Guess where the tip of the spear is now turned? It is turned upon Africa. Somalia is one example. No more Somali blood for oil. A House Divided Today, American tax dollars are used to divide the people of the Horn of Africa. This division includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, Uganda, and Eritrea. Ethiopia is a major player in the area and its leadership has been mostly responsible for killing so many innocent people in Mogadishu. This is, essentially, a hired mercenary army funded by American tax dollars to be the muscle of the impotent government of President Abdullahi Yusuf. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, received $90 million dollars a few weeks prior to the invasion of Somalia. In that same week, Eritrea was given $20 million by the European Union. Today, the European Union is making its support of Eritrea very clear, following some very warlike statements from American Deputy Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer an African American woman. In April, 2007, Ethiopia received military equipment from North Korea, with the blessings of the Bush Administration. Again, America ignored its own laws of embargo. The United States has also killed many in Somalia with attacks using the AC-130 airplane, and none of those murdered were shown to be a terrorist. These are extra-judicial killings, it’s murder. Where is the International Criminal Court? Where is the United Nations? Where is the African Union? The African Union quickly brought and supported a United Nation’s resolution to end Israel’s bombing of Lebanon. The African Union has done well in keeping American corporations from convincing the Bush Administration to bring direct military action against the government of Sudan but it can do better, with regards to the situation in Somalia. One must also realize that the Bush Administration knows that the U.S. military is over-extended, lower than desired with its morale and would balk at direct military action requested by the British in Sudan. Direct military action is what the British government is proposing in Sudan. Let the parasitic British government do their dirty work alone. It depends so heavily on American resources to fight wars in its former colonies. Yes, America has become a lackey to Imperial Britain. The Western media more often use code words such as, “Christian nation” or “Islamists” to further divide millions. Yet, Ethiopia’s people are as much Muslim as they are Christians. Stand together; stand united. Most young Somalis do not know anything about Darod or Hawiye. These are the two major “clans” in Somalia. Hawiye is the largest group in Mogadishu. Genocide is with intent of changing those majorities. Older Somali men have allowed themselves to be used by the big corporate economic predators on Wall Street to amplify these silly differences. What time is it? It is time for positive change, not killing for profit. It is time for the young and the old to show unification It is time for the Union of Islamic Courts and the Transitional Somali government to have constructive dialogue. It is time to drop this “terrorist” non-sense as a pretext for extra-judicial killings and as a means to get American dollars and support to destroy your opposition. It is time for Ethiopia to withdraw its young men from Somalia. It is time for divestment from oil corporations that promote the Bush Policy in Somalia. Who are these companies? Halliburton, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Chevron It is time for all of us to say we are “our brother’s keeper”. Only then can we truly say, “out of many, came one”. Sustainable business and investments in Africa must come. Notice I did not say aid. However, it will not come if we are not concerned when tyranny is perpetrated against the young, and the powerless. We must stand against tyranny. To do so, means that we must open our ears; open our eyes and open our minds. When the Somalis, Ethiopians, Eritrean, Kenyans and others march against corporate tyranny, it is the same as when the African Americans marched against the corporate tyranny of slavery; against Jim Crow; and against continuing discrimination. Let’s build understanding. Let’s build knowledge. Let’s build trust. United Nations, are you listening? In Somalia, this is genocide. No more Somali blood for oil. Let’s build together. American Democrats are you listening? There must continue to be one Sudan. One Ethiopia. One Eritrea. One Somalia. In spite of the massacre in Rwanda, American and European military action in Africa should never be accepted. Even if Barak Obama is the next American president. Oneness can only happen when there is an economic plan based on understanding, knowledge and trust. This economic plan must include all the people of Somalia. It must include those who are well educated as well as those who are not. Education is not the greatest measure by which to determine how well a people or a nation will do. Unification is far more powerful but must have educated people to be most effective. The economic plan must not include the outside parties and governments enforcing their will upon the Somali people. This includes America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya or others. The Somali people must work with the Somali Diaspora and African Americans to bring value to their resources. The good qualities of religion must be incorporated into the governing of Somalia but governing should not be solely based on religion. That which is effective and uniting must be embraced. That which is done simply because of tradition but is known to be destructive should be phased out in the spirit of love and understanding, not African egoism. The Somali Diaspora must be embraced by those in Somalia, and those in Somalia must embrace the Somali Diaspora. Through this, social and economic growth occurs. Words such as a “holy war” or “Jihad” should not be used. These are the words true terrorists want to hear and that includes members of the Bush Administration. Economic predators should not be given an inch to use in convincing the American people that Somalia is equal to terrorism. Wisdom must be practiced against sophisticated foes, not blind emotions or perception of power. There must be an effort to get the hundreds of thousands who were forced to leave Mogadishu to return and vote for their leaders. The voting will not be immediate but it will be demanded and will happen. There must be elections in Somalia. This will be the measure to show that the people truly have the power in Somalia and not a government selected external of Somalia. One should also expect methods of displacing certain Somalis, playing into the so-called, “nomadic” history in Somalia. But the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported Friday that most of the 365,000 people who fled the capital city aren't returning because they expect more fighting…… In other words, this would be similar to what some Whites do in America when they tinker with voting boundaries and other crooked acts, with attempts to weaken the strength of Black voters. Patience must be the rule. Monitor and have contingency plans for anything similar to this. Some members of the Abdullahi Yusuf government are already discussing the “nomadic card” with regards to Mogadishu.