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Africa: Horn
US Marines Land on Somali Coast to Hunt Militants
2005-05-06
US Marines landed on Somalia's coast in one of their most visible hunts for militants in the country since they set up a Horn of Africa counter terrorism force in 2002. Two boats brought about 20 lightly armed Marines to the fishing village of Maydh in the northwestern enclave of Somaliland on Tuesday, where they showed pictures of suspected "terrorists" to locals before leaving, residents said. "They met some of the fishermen and the people and they showed some pictures they were carrying, saying that these people are terrorists that they are trying to capture," Assistant District Commissioner Ali Abdi told Reuters. It was not clear who the Marines were looking for.

The Marines' arrival coincided with signs of US military activity elsewhere along the coast of Somaliland, a relatively stable region which declared independence in 1991 to escape chaos engulfing the rest of Somalia, but which is not internationally recognized. Two US military helicopters flew low over parts of the Gulf of Aden port of Berbera on Wednesday, including the docks, airport, a fuel depot and former barracks, residents said. Reporters said three US vessels, including a helicopter carrier, had been spotted on Tuesday at the port of Las Qorei, where Marines questioned fishermen about local shipping. Somaliland's interior minister declined to comment. Officers from the US task force based in neighboring Djibouti since December 2002 to hunt down any militants in the region were not immediately contactable for comment.
Posted by:Fred

#22  Good Hunting
Posted by: Witt   2005-05-06 22:17  

#21  And then we have this:

Somaliland accuses U.S. of violating airspace

http://story.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050506/pl_nm/security_somalia_usa_dc_1

Hmmmmmmmmmmm?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-05-06 15:27  

#20  "...there's no indication that the people in the Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa have landed on the Somali coast."

"These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along..."
Posted by: Steve   2005-05-06 12:49:23 PM  

#19  ''there's no indication that the people in the Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa have landed on the Somali coast''

Note that this leaves room for Marines from lots of other commands.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-05-06 10:33  

#18  Brits or Ozzies?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-05-06 10:18  

#17  The story, if what the general is saying is accurate, is a plant, but not one of ours.
Posted by: badanov   2005-05-06 10:13  

#16  (start speculation)
No troops, but still well in-hand.
--> CIA?
(end)

(or should I start fitting myself for a Dale Gribble Signature model Aluminum Foil Hat?)
Posted by: eLarson   2005-05-06 10:03  

#15  The situation is still well in hand, and there's ''no indication'' our guys have gone ashore. ''Shhhhhhh, we're huntin' whabits.''
Posted by: BA   2005-05-06 09:35  

#14  Hell guys, we have a base in Djibouti. Im sure we've been in and out of Somalia numerous times over the last 3 and a half years. And going in lightly, cause all we're doing is raiding for AQ types.

It would be more efficient if Somalia had a state, but nation building in Afghanistan and Iraq pretty much takes up all the capacity weve got in that skill.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2005-05-06 09:30  

#13  Looks like bullshit folks. DOD briefing;

Q We have a story out of Somalia here quoting Somali officials as saying that a small number of U.S. Marines, apparently about 20, lightly armed, landed in Somaliland, which is apparently an enclave of Somalia on the coast, on Tuesday, showed some pictures of terrorists they were looking for, and then left. Is that true? Have any U.S. forces landed on the coast of Somalia for any reason -- looking for terrorists or otherwise?
GEN. CONWAY: I heard that report just shortly before stepping over here. I checked with my DDO and those people in our Regional Operations Directorate who are responsible for that portion of the world. The report is false. The Marines have not landed, but the situation is still well in hand.
Q The situation is still -- (laughter) -- well in hand?
GEN. CONWAY: (Chuckles.)
MR. DI RITA: Come on, Charlie. Work with us here.
Q So no U.S. troops have gone ashore --
GEN. CONWAY: That's correct, Charlie, that there's no indication that the people in the Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa have landed on the Somali coast. They're still in Djibouti and conducting operations.

My attenae went up on
1. Arab News
2. Who the hell goes into Somalia ''lightly armed''?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-05-06 09:21  

#12  Let's hope their hunt is successful on all levels. Mehopes the marines get the opportunity to instill a healthy fear in the local thugs while they are off a hunting.
Posted by: Tkat   2005-05-06 09:14  

#11  Oh yeah, I forgot: 8-|
Posted by: .com   2005-05-06 08:12  

#10  I've never forced anyone in my life.
Posted by: .com   2005-05-06 08:00  

#9  Maybe setting-up for a little payback(with intrest)!
Posted by: raptor   2005-05-06 07:51  

#8  I agree w/ you tw. But this looks like we're hunting someone specific: they showed some pictures they were carrying
Posted by: too true   2005-05-06 07:32  

#7  Time to field test the neutron bomb.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-05-06 07:15  

#6  Except for the language, I am forced to agree with .com. Except that al Quaeda, et al, are looking for a new home, now that (in order) Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon have become uncomfortable for them. I see this more as Bush sending the Marines to deny Somalia to the terrorists, than in truly bringing peace and order to that pathetic excuse for a country. And perhaps protecting, a bit, the Somaliland enclave from joining the rest of Somalia in chaos.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-05-06 06:49  

#5  It's all about 3 things, IMHO:

1) High Value Targets - are there any worth a single American life? Or is this just ThugLand? I dunno. Obviously someone thinks there are. If not -- get the fuck out.

2) Firepower. Make it massive and on instant call -- or get the fuck out.

3) ROE. No limits, no questions, no press -- or get the fuck out.

Somali-whatever is far more deserving of MOABS than risking living breathing no-shit US troops, IMHO. Fuck 'em.
Posted by: .com   2005-05-06 02:42  

#4  Time to order a lot of brown shorts, 'militants'...
Posted by: Raj   2005-05-06 01:51  

#3  No elk there, just hyenas, Steve.
Posted by: Sobiesky   2005-05-06 01:24  

#2  Hunting the Somali elk ...
Posted by: Steve White   2005-05-06 00:28  

#1  Somalia: so many targets, so little time
Posted by: Frank G   2005-05-06 00:17  

00:00