open Democracy News Analysis - Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy, Tom Porteous - Comments

Lazarous Msuku on "Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy"

Lazarous Msuku — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:24:04 +0000

It is pathetic to see and hear of some 'big and intelligent' political leaders who would want to further their political gains at the expense of the poor people of Somalia. The poor villagers have suffered injustice, fear, torture and meaninglessness in life for more than a decade and it is high time that we realised that they are human beings who are rational and autonomous and deserve to be treated with dignity and be used as means for political mileage. Are Somalis not resoanable enough to try to solve thier own problems without the interference of the 'Big nations/SuperPowers syndrome' of working under the pretext of fighting against the algaida group? Why should innocent villagers suffer? Those who go to Somalia in the name of peace keeping or fighting terrorism have peace in their homes and this is the very same thing the people of Somalia are crying for. It is their right to have a peaceful environment. You cannot bring them peace by being violent.

jamalrun on "Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy"

jamalrun — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:31:51 +0100

I congratulate you for informing the world the real situation that Somalis are in today. There are different interests for those involved in Somalia's war. I remember when I was a child, my parents used to say 'Don't go outside otherwise a lyon will take you away. Of course, it was not true but they just wanted to scare me to keep me inside the home. That is what is happening to the West. Whenever a dictator, like Meles Zenawi, wants to achieve his aim he will say I am stopping Alqaida so as to get support. For ethiopia's premier, there are two reasons why he wanted to attack Somalia. Firstly, he wants to stay in power and keep all his opponents in prison. Secondly, the UIC were ready to support their follow Somalis who inhabit the Ogaden region and Ethiopia wanted to stop that. The rest are the two groups who are fighting, the TFG and UIC, they are simply clan-based so each group wants to control the other one. Above all, innocent Somalis are suffering at the result of these group's interest and that must stop.

j_5 on "Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy"

j_5 — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:34:08 +0100

"issuing a clear call to all sides in this conflict to observe and uphold the rules of war and human-rights standards". What planet are you on?

Are the various warlords and clans going to listen to this? If you going to advocate any position at all you should advocate a viable one.

And to the ultra conservative Islamic courts just because they are not western backed is the same moronic mentality of the cold war.

As in most conflicts everyside is a disaster. Before this 15 year long civil war Somalia was only held together by a brutal dictator. The country doesn't make any sense. The only solution is to hasten the Rift Valley's parition of Eastern Ethiopian and Somalia so it can split away from Africa and sink into the sea.

samjil4 on "Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy"

samjil4 — Mon, 14 May 2007 21:42:52 +0100

How you read the news lately??????

The Somalia government ALREADY removed the terrorist threats. the ethiopian government already started withdrawing. the somalia tragic situation that started many decades ago can finally be tackled. the somalis didn't have a government for more than 15 years! let alone tackling the economic and governmance issues, the west wasn't even able to step a foot on somalia soil because of the civil wars. Now we can go over there and finally see the problems. just because we just STARTING being able to go visit and witness everything, it does NOT mean the problems just started YESTERDAY. it has been a hell for many years. now it can be addressed. most of all, the terrorist threat has now been removed.

it is not just a successful counter-terrorism strategy, but it has also been a successful country building strategy.

Please read the news.

i advise you to use google.com news section and check news by plugging in "somalia"

God luck

Somalia: a failing counter-terrorism strategy, Tom Porteous

Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The west’s policy in Somalia is fuelling rather than resolving a devastating conflict, says Tom Porteous. Read the rest of this post...