The guy heading up the new Islamic government in Somalia is on the US terrorist watchlist. He is known to be affiliated with Al Qaeda.

There is currently one full time person in the State Department, assigned to Somalia.

Total US expenditures on Somalia during the last fiscal year amounted to 2 million dollars.

Meanwhile, it's 2 billion dollars per week on Iraq, 147 full-time high level State Department assignees and their staffs, and Iraq's government is asking us to approve a timetable for withdrawal.

Hello, Mr. President, where are you on all this?

While Iraq is consuming 100% of our foreign policy, it seems that Al Qaeda now has a safe haven in Africa. (Actually they've been there all along, and we knew it, and we didn't do anything about it).

Is Bush asleep at the wheel?

Iraq had no active relationship with Al Qaeda before we got there, but Afghanistan did, and Somalia did.

What's up, Mr. President? It's time to explain yourself on this one. Your non-existent "strategy" for Iraq is looking increasingly flimsy and counter-productive.

What are we going to do about Somalia, Mr. President?

???

IMO, the reality is that politicians (in general) are going to be the voice of the popular voting majority. If people are not paying attention to, not interested in, or not voicing their opinions about these events, then politicians will be doing the same.

Thank you for posting this though, or else I would be a little dumber tomorrow than I am today.

As for Bush, I believe the President represents the values and ideals of the majority of voters in our country today.

Somalia OIL reserves

zer0
nada
zilch
none
zip
nyet

we must have a good reason to place our soldiers in harm's way, and if there is no oil to be had, then there is no good reason

Yeah, because as we all know, Kosovo was just chok-full of oil....

__________________
My Political Blog (Updated Oct 3rd) - Which Flame Warrior are you?

I think the argument would be that Clinton didn't have his entire administration tied/married to big oil. (entire is an exaggeration, but you get the point). You have to admit, life has been REAL good for oil/gas companies since Bush got in office. Hmm actually its been real good for all industriest that gave generously during his to campaignes. I digress.

OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Asinine stupidity.
///////

nonsqtr---

You want to invade Somalia and go fight the enemy?
Fine with me... just don't start whining 3 years in...

...............and might I remind you that Iran is making nukes and North Korea is playing with Missiles atm...plus the US is at war in Afghanistan and Iraq..Some nutball rebel group associated with al qaeda in Pirateville Somalia is a concern but its nothing compared to what else he has on the table atm.

IOW They don't command 3-5 million men under arms.. ballistic missiles that can hit the continental USA... Or have or are trying like crazy to get nuclear weapons...nor has any attempt afaik to attack this nation come out of there. ..yet...so they aren't exactly #1 on the list.


Anyway IMO..

We should use airpower and such to strike the ICU's "military" in and around Mogadishu..hour or so of such and they won't have the military capabilities to hold off the UN/US backed government forces. Very Low risk

For all I know thats whats being considered. It has all the drama it takes to make a global message sink in.... it significantly weakens an al qaeda ally....it costs us nothing but the fuel and bombs.


You though are basically pointing to the dust bunny in the room on fire and asking why haven't you done something about it!

Its a bit unfair of you. Especially since neither you nor I....... or the NYT's thank god!!.....knows what exactly IS occuring in regards to Somalia.


Least you didn't pull that MORONIC stupid now 16 year old OIL! stupidity. Maybe its just too simplistic even for you?

Has there ever been a time since the invention of the internal combustion engine & the need for was created that big oil companies have ever had a tough time or a rough way to go --- or have they always made record profits?

Somalia --- an unfinished fiasco that will likely come back to bite us.

Yeah those soaring oil and stock prices were really hard on them.

__________________
All you need to know about the energy crisis:
ANWR Exploration Republicans: 91% Supported. Democrats: 86% Opposed.
Coal-to-liquid R's: 90% YES. D's: 78% NO.
Oil Shale Exploration R's: 90% YES. D's: 86% NO.
Outer Continental Shelf Exploration R's: 81% YES. D's: 83% NO.
Increased Refinery Capacity R's: 97% YES. D's: 96% NO

SUMMARY: 91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of America’s own oil and gas. 86% of House Democrats have historically voted against.

Figures. I mention "Somalia" and your mind goes to "war".

DUH2, I'm starting to get the impression that you've been totally brainwashed by these Bush people.

Who are we fighting again? Oh yeah.... And what's the threat, exactly? Oh, okay.

Mixed up world we're in, isn't it? We're at the negotiating table with the guys with the nukes, and we're in trying to make mincemeat out of the swarm of gnats over in Iraq. Strange, very strange. Go figure.

I'm getting very very cynical in my old age. This is not good. This tells me I've been too deeply immersed in this stuff for way too long.

You know, it occurs to me that this administration came to the table with what they claimed was "absolutely reliable evidence", and on that basis they got us into a terrifically expensive war.

And now they're coming to us again, with "absolutely reliable evidence" this time, and they want me to believe them again?

Hello?......

Did you know the CBO just came out with their new estimates? They're putting the total cost of Iraq at 1.7 trillion dollars. Based on the latest DOD estimate of "approximately ten thousand" active insurgents, that would equate with 170 million dollars per insurgent.

Are you "getting it" yet? Hmm?

Oh, hello Mr. Citizen. How can we fleece thee? Let us count the ways....

Oh and, by the way, we're going to fleece your kids too - but don't worry about it, 'cause we'll give you a "tax break" so you won't notice.

You know what they say.... turn up the temperature slowly enough, and the frog will never jump out.....

What do you want him to do? Bomb it? Ground troop invasion? What? Specifics, please.

__________________
"This is a time for a national imperative not to fail in Iraq." Condoleeza Rice, January 11, 2007