AU troops harming Somali civilians

[Alamuti Lotus]

Source: AP

NAIROBI, Kenya – African Union peacekeepers are indiscriminately shelling residential areas of Somalia's capital, according to internal AU reports reviewed by The Associated Press.

The evaluation was made months before Somali militants claimed they carried out twin bombings that killed 76 people in Uganda last week — attacks the insurgents said were to avenge civilian deaths caused by AU soldiers.

The series of reports, stamped for "Internal Use Only" and issued from April to June, said that if indiscriminate shelling continues, the AU mission will lose the support of the Somali people.

Civilians have suffered through nearly two decades of violent chaos in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, since the country's government was overthrown in 1991. Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants now control large portions of the capital, and much of the country's southern and central regions.

The AU force, known as AMISOM, has long been criticized by human rights groups for civilian deaths in Somalia, and the internal reports seen by AP show the mission itself is aware of the problem.

"We warned Uganda not to deploy troops to Somalia; they ignored us," said Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, al-Shabab's spokesman. "We warned them to stop massacring our people, and they ignored that. The explosions in Kampala were only a minor message to them. ... We will target them everywhere if Uganda does not withdraw from our land."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100721/ap_on_re_af/af_somalia_civilian_deaths

[sandnsea]

1. This is literally siding with terrorists

Terrorists that have been fighting the transitional government and every effort Somalia has made to bring stability to that country.

Sympathizing with al Shabaab, the Taliban, and al Qaeda is not beneficial to the civilians in any of these countries. They aren't "freedom fighters", they're the radical religious right on steroids.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. A simple comparison of statements

...peacekeepers are indiscriminately shelling residential areas of Somalia's capital...

...every effort...made to bring stability to that country...

Boilerplate invective may not be an actual substitute for reliable facts on the ground.

[sandnsea]

4. I've read more than one article

I know what's going on there. You won't find me defending terrorists, ever. The African Union is trying to create a functioning body that can intervene and stabilize failing nations, to prevent Darfurs and Rwandas.

I swear some people at DU would defend those slaughterers too, if Hollywood hadn't told them who the bad guys were.

[cpwm17]

5. They don't want or need our help

In relative terms, Somalia was doing best before the US supported an invasion by Ethiopia. Ethiopia tried to install a government that the Somalis didn't want. The US and Ethiopia tried to put the warlords in charge that had done so much damage to Somalia in the first place. Now there was a humanitarian crisis where there had been none.

Somali's own government of their own choosing were Muslim moderates who brought calm and civility. They also kicked out the warlords. But no, the World's policemen couldn't allow this and tried to reinstall the warlords. Now there is a large humanitarian crisis, and the pirates have returned. Who couldn't have seen that coming?

Now more radical Muslims are involved in the fight against invading countries and to eliminate the warlord government. The more radical Muslims now want to be part of the government. This is how they got al Shabaab. In desperate situations, the crazies with guns often take charge. And unfortunately, the worst crazies are the American supported warlords.

[sandnsea]

6. Yes of course, terrorists are good

The African Union and Uganda are bad.

Somalia was a failed state long before Ethiopia invaded. Somalia has its own government now, Ethiopian troops left a year ago, and the AU is assisting with peacekeeping.

The radical Muslims are trying a violent overthrow, and don't need to be tolerated or defended. You can't take up arms every time someone from another tribe gets power.

[MellowDem]

3. Ah, the wonders of peacekeeping.... nt