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Africa Horn
Islamicist Militia Advances Closer to Somalia Base
2006-10-05
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The Islamic militia that has seized much of southern Somalia has advanced to within 12 miles of the only town still controlled by the country's weak U.N.-backed government, an Islamic official said Wednesday.

The militia reached Moode Moode on Tuesday night, said local militia leader Mohammed Ibrahim Bilal. The group has started 24-hour patrols in the area, he said. "Our aim was to help the local residents in their fighting of bandits and to lift blockages from the road linking Baidoa to Mogadishu," Bilal told The Associated Press.

Abdirahman Dinari, a spokesman for the transitional government, described the militia's advance as "a provocative action."
Sure is, but you can't do anything about it, can you.
Posted by:Steve White

#9  Interestingly, several reports indicate that the white military trainers speak with an Israeli accent.

Been that way in that region off and on for oh, 35+ years?
Posted by: Pappy   2006-10-05 20:34  

#8  One last point : all the "armour" that the Islamists have is a bunch of pickup, 2.5 ton, and 5 ton trucks with bolt-on/welded-on boilerplate "armour". Good enough to stop an AK round or light shrapnel, but not good enough to count as real light armour. The Ethiopian Air Force has Mi-24 Hinds and has experience using them. Also, several foreign news sources have pointed out that the Ethiopians have been paying East Europeans to bring their aircraft up to par and retrain their pilots. One hit from a 57mm or 80mm rocket from a Hind, and the Islamist's "battlewagon" becomes a plated coffin.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2006-10-05 16:51  

#7  The Islamists have the numbers but the Ethiopians have the equipment and training. Also, Puntland and Somaliland have been seeing a lot of foreigner military trainers lately, and a lot of cargo aircraft landing at old military air fields. Interestingly, several reports indicate that the white military trainers speak with an Israeli accent.
Also, the last time that the Ethiopian Army went to war with Somalia, Ethiopia won. And that was when Somalia was a true state and had Soviet backing.
One more point : human wave attacks against an enemy with just today's standard infantry weapons is near suicidal; add in air support like the Ethiopians have, and all that a human wave attack accomplishes is killing off the attackers. So the "great numbers of religious fanatics" become the great numbers of the mangled dead bulldozed into mass graves.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2006-10-05 15:56  

#6  a5089, Shieldwolf has assured us that Somaliland and Puntland are beyond the Islamicists' ability to conquer, both in terms aof training and equipment. It would be good practice for the S. and M. troops were they to try, I imagine, and salutory for the surviving Islamicists.

And no snickers, snorts or guffaws from those of you who think I'm a complete innocent on certain subjects. You may smile quietly behind your hand, however.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-10-05 12:10  

#5  Once they've swallowed the transitional gvt ruled area, will they settle with that, or attack and try to conquer the other independent parts of somalia, like puntland, in true muslim imperialism fashion?
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-10-05 10:59  

#4  Oh, well. Once they have a 100% Islamic conversion rate, there's no need to worry about "innocent" casualties. You can simply wipe the area clean.
Posted by: Jackal   2006-10-05 10:54  

#3  Air drop them more ammo and grenades, they're running a bit short.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-10-05 08:13  

#2  Islamic courts have massed all the former militia gunnies that switched sides with their forces and are moving on Baidoa. That's where the U.N.- backed government is being guarded by the Ethiopian army. This could be fun.
Posted by: Steve   2006-10-05 08:12  

#1  Guess you will get 97% comversion rates there now also. Oh well, with Africa disintigrating, one less continent to concentrate on.
Posted by: newc   2006-10-05 04:18  

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