Article

2006-11-06 Africa Horn

Somali Islamists say battle erupts with northerners

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Posted by anonymous5089 2006-11-06 09:02|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The Puntland militia has been getting instructions from the US Special Forces, so I don't think they'll be the pushover the Islamists think they are. The Islamists need a few HEAVY defeats. Frankly, they need to face a navy carrier task force or three for a month or so. We don't need another Afghanistan. At least there's no "pakistan" to provide support in Somalia.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2006-11-06 15:34|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2006-11-06 15:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Actually, there is a "Pakistan" in the mix over there, OS, but it is on our side : Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Army has ethnic Somalis in it, from Ogaden, that can easily blend in with the local Puntlanders. That combined with the fact that Ethiopia considers the Islamists to be terrorists and the fact that Ethiopia is much more accepting of casualties, means there are enough trained military troops from Ethiopia to mix in with and lead local Puntland units. Big advantage.
Other big advantage is that Ethiopia is not under any arms embargo and can get all of the spare parts needed to rehad any of the ex-Soviet gear in the hands of the Puntlanders : BMPs and T-55s are wonderous if you need to take on a technical.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2006-11-06 17:04|| 2006-11-06 17:04|| Front Page Top

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