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Security Trumps Freedom
[Opinion] U.S. desire to oust Islamists in
Somalia leaves country back in chaos
feb,21,2007
By- Liam Bailey (wordsworth)
In the last throes of 2006, Ethiopian forces
invaded Somalia, and with Somalia's Transitional
Government (TG) forces drove the Union of
Islamic Courts (UIC) out of Mogadishu, and with
the help of American air strikes, supposedly out
of Somalia. Somali residents had lived in a
state of anarchy since the dictator Siad Barre
was ousted in 1991. The Union of Islamic Courts
restored order and allowed people to go about
their normal lives in relative security.
In UIC-controlled areas children could go to
school safely and once more hospitals could
treat the sick without flows of injured coming
in from daily violence. However, the UIC ruled
with a strict code of Sharia law, meaning the
security came at the cost of some personal
freedoms and civil liberties. With the UIC
ousted, 2007 began a new chapter for Somalia,
one of violence and insecurity.
The UIC began their sweep to power, taking the
capital Mogadishu in June 2006. By December they
controlled most of southern and central Somalia.
The Transitional Government's one remaining
stronghold was Baidoa and a small area
surrounding it, where it is widely believed
Ethiopian troops were stationed to protect the
government.
The United Nations was responsible for the
imposition of the TG. In early December they
still recognized it as the only governing body
in Somalia or "the only route to peace and
stability" (as it was called in Resolution 1725)
despite it being made up largely of warlords.
The warlords were responsible for much of the
violence, insecurity, and terrorizing of the
civilian population before the UIC took power.
The U.S gave strong support to the TG against
the UIC forces. These are the very warlords
that, by inflicting heavy casualties, forced the
withdrawal of U.S. forces in a peacekeeping
mission in the early 1990s. U.S support failed
to stop the UIC advance.
Shortly before the Ethiopian invasion the U.S
presented a draft resolution to the U.N.
Security Council (UNSC). The resolution laid out
the rules of engagement for a proposed
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and
African Union force to enter Somalia. The force
was to protect the TG, to restart the peace
negotiations between the TG and the UIC, but
ultimately to reinstall the U.N. recognized
government and engage any forces running
contrary to that mission.
It was adopted as Resolution 1725 but the UIC's
rapid sweep to power gave the impression that
they were a strong, determined and highly
capable fighting force. This combined with the
UIC's war declaration on Ethiopian forces in
Somalia, their threats to attack peacekeepers,
and the Iraq quagmire to make IGAD countries
reluctant to send their forces into what could
easily become another Iraq.
Ethiopia showed no such reluctance, because
Ethiopia had no such noble intentions. With U.S.
support, Ethiopia responded to the UIC's final
attack on the last remaining government
stronghold of Baidoa. Ethiopia said throughout
that it had no intention of occupying Somalia;
its only mission was to oust the UIC and return
the TG to the seat of power. Unexpectedly the
UIC put up little resistance, displaying none of
the fight-to-the-death attitude they had spoken
of. Ethiopian and TG forces made short work of
removing the strict regime of the UIC. As they
beat a hasty retreat the UIC made statements to
the press promising to wage a guerrilla war,
"like Iraq".
So, it seems that the U.S., Ethiopia and the
U.N. believe freedom is more important than
security.
Ethiopia is keeping to its word and its forces
have already begun to withdraw. The UIC is also
keeping its promise and since their defeat,
Somalia, more specifically Mogadishu has been
rocked by almost daily, mortar, rocket propelled
grenade attacks, and occasional suicide bomb
attacks. According to reports an 8000 strong
African Union force is now expected to enter
Somalia in mid-April 2007. Uganda was due to
announce a date for a small Burundian advance
force, but the news conference was canceled.
Given the failure of 7000 AU troops to stop the
violence in Darfur, Sudan, it is unlikely that a
similar force will adequately fill the vacuum
left by the Ethiopians. It is also unlikely they
will afford the TG the same protection as the
Ethiopian force and a UIC uprising could begin
anew. Given the consistent UIC statements to
view peacekeepers as an invading force it is
almost certain the peacekeepers will become
targets for insurgent warfare, and even more
certain they will fail to stop the insurgency.
Mogadishu residents are fleeing the city en
masse to take residence in makeshift refugee
camps on the outskirts. Without security people
can't live their day to day lives but have the
freedom to make personal choices. So, by trying
to give the Somali people freedom, Ethiopia and
the U.S. have returned them to the anarchy they
have already endured far too much of. Some
people are forced to leave their homes, and so
not free to live where they choose; others are
forced to stay indoors. Therefore security is
more important than freedom, because without
security there isn't much freedom, and what
little there is can't be enjoyed.
2007/02/21 오전 7:13
© 2007 Ohmynews
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