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Posted by: hyperbola 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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hyperbola8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Well Spade, all that Obama has achieved with the "pirates" is the ultimate farce that is the usual result of 40 years of american military and economic imperialism, complete in Somalia (as usual) with our very own puppet military dictator. We now have the ludicrous irony of having to attack rubber launches with destroyers to "correct" our imperialism.
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The Long and Hidden History of the U.S in Somalia
.... From the late 1970s until just before Siad Barre's overthrow in early 1991, the U.S. sent hundreds of millions of dollars of arms to Somalia in return for the use of military facilities which had been originally constructed for the Soviets. These bases were to be used to support American military intervention in the Middle East. The consequences of U.S. military support for the Barre regime on the Somali people was deemed of little importance by American policymakers. The U.S. government ignored warnings throughout the 1980s by Africa specialists, human rights groups and humanitarian organizations that continued American aid to the dictatorial government of Siad Barre would eventually plunge Somalia into chaos.
These predictions proved tragically accurate. During the nearly fifteen years of support by the United States and Italy, thousands of civilians were massacred at the hands of Barre's increasingly authoritarian regime. Full-scale civil war erupted in 1988 and the repression increased still further, with clan leaders in the northern third of the country declaring independence to escape government persecution. In greatly centralizing his government's control, Barre severely weakened traditional structures in Somali society which had kept civil order for many years. To help maintain his grip on power, Barre played different Somali clans against each other, sowing the seeds of the fratricidal chaos to come, which in turn would contribute to mass starvation and spur the ill-fated humanitarian intervention by the United States in 1992.-
hyperbolaComment removed: Spam
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hyperbola8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Meanwhile, by eliminating all potential rivals with a national following, a power vacuum was created by Barre that could not be filled when the U.S.-backed regime was finally overthrown in January 1991, an event barely noticed outside the country as world attention was focused on the start of the Gulf War. With the end of the Cold War and the United States now granted bases in the Persian Gulf itself, Somalia fell briefly off the radar screen of U.S. foreign policy.
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There is widespread agreement among those familiar with Somalia that had the U.S. government not supported the Barre regime with large amounts of military aid, he would have been forced to step down long before his misrule splintered the country. Prior to the dictator's downfall, former U.S. Representative Howard Wolpe, then-chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, called on the State Department to encourage Barre to step down. His pleas were rejected. "What you are seeing," observed the Congressman and former professor of African Politics, "is a general indifference to a disaster that we played a role in creating."...
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/North_Africa/Hx_...-
sonofreasonComment removed: Hard Banned
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djn3nunez38 months, 3 weeks ago
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hyperbola8 months, 3 weeks ago
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I don't disagree completely. But this "issue" will be addressed more as a question of whether Obama has now proved his "strength of character" in "defending" America, rather than addressing the underlying farce of the failure of our imperialism. The connection to Afghanistan or Pakistan will occur to only a few.
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jovial8 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hype, we could go on and on, country after country, where our hands have been hacked off in the cookie jar when it comes to geopolitical politics. The problem of piracy can't be hung on this current administration. As your comment shows the deterioration of the country of Somalia has been ongoing. Needless to say obama's handling of the situation was outstanding. In addition I am starting to see in some areas an opening up of dialogue with countries by this administration on a level that is unprecedented. Cuba for instance. It's been 50 years since there has been any meaningful dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba. It's a start. Does it right the wrongs that have been done in covert ops in so many countries, NO! I think trying to lay that on any one or even as many as 5 presidents would be a daunting and formidable task. Commerce and trade are the underpinnings of a stable economy and a peaceful world. For the Somalians to lash out and threaten those pinnings is bringing more trouble than what it's worth to them. There are far better propaganda techniques to grab the world's attention than to indulge themselves in international crimes. Quite frankly, I don't even think the pirates understand the seriousness of what they are doing and all the possible ramifications. They are just a simple gang of criminals, with no political backing. They could possibly bring a a vengeance on their country that would make the suffering they are experiencing now seem like child's play. If a military intervention occurs, the same mistakes of before will not be repeated.
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