Ethiopia launches invasion of Somalia.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopian troops seized towns throughout southern and central Somalia on Monday and bombed the international airport at Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, in a rapid escalation of a two-day-old offensive against Islamic fundamentalists who've controlled most of Somalia for the past six months.

The better-armed Ethiopians encountered no resistance from fighters of the fundamentalist Council of Islamic Courts at Baladweyne, a strategic town on the main road from Ethiopia into central Somalia, and later seized Aadado after fighting there. Ethiopian troops and Somali militiamen reportedly were advancing toward Jowhar, an Islamic fundamentalist stronghold 50 miles north of Mogadishu.

It's not clear, however, whether the Ethiopians intend to seize Jowhar or press their campaign to Mogadishu. Ethiopian officials said they've declared war on Somalia, and analysts said Ethiopian forces, equipped with tanks, heavy artillery and jet aircraft, would likely defeat the more lightly armed Islamic fighters in direct combat.

But analysts said the Ethiopians would be unable to control Somalia's vast expanses for an extended period and that prolonged fighting would rally both Somalis and foreign fighters to the Islamic cause. They suggested that Ethiopia's likely goal is to force the Islamic Courts to negotiate a power-sharing agreement with Somalia's weak, but internationally recognized transitional government headquartered at Baidoa.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16316900.htm

Will we also back Ethiopia?

Like with Saddam when he was warring against Iran, it would not be a far fetch to offer Ethiopian military leaders satellite photos and information on enemy troop positions, perhaps even greenlight a few American firms to sell Ethiopia weapons like Reagan with Saddam.

U.S. backs Ethiopian attacks in Somalia

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department signaled support Tuesday for Ethiopian military operations against Somalia, noting that Ethiopia has had "genuine security concerns" stemming from the rise of Islamist forces in its eastern neighbor.

more -

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-12-26-us-somalia_x.htm?csp=15

sound familiar?

There will be a protracted guerrilla war there now. Joy. :-(

Sure seems like it anyways.

Somalia is in far worse condition than Iraq was at the start of Georgie's Big Adventure. There's nothing even approaching a legitimate government there. They've been in the midst of a guerrilla civil war for at least 15 years.

They're not interested in occupation, just in getting Somalia's answer to the Taliban out of power.

Ethiopia is a major oil producer, with obvious ties to US controlled oil industries. The US has been a major supplier of arms to Ethiopia. It' s Christian Africans vs. Islamic Africans. And Cheney/Rice never saw a potential proxy war that they didn't like. It was they who encouraged Israel to start a disastrous war in Lebanon.

They armed the Haitian rebels that overthrew Aristide, and tried the same thing against Venezuela. Don't forget that attempted African coup a couple of years ago involving Thatchers son.

These creeps think that they are the puppet masters and every one else should do their bidding. It's sad how many people line up to be puppets.