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| Africa Horn | ||
| UK weighs up air strikes against Al-Shabaab | ||
| 2012-02-22 | ||
The issue has been rising up the agenda of David Cameron's National Security Council in recent months, reflecting anxiety in the west about piracy, but also the ambitions of some leaders within al-Shabaab, the clan-based movement that is fighting against Somalia's western-backed transitional government. Though the "war games" remain on the drawing board for now, the disclosure that they have been under serious scrutiny shows the depth of unease about the situation within the British government, which is hosting an international conference on Somalia in London starting on Thursday. According to sources, the international coalition that has been spearheading the fight against the pirates drew up contingency plans in the summer of 2010, and again last year, for what was termed "over the beach" air strikes against Somali camps. The UK has also considered plans for attacking targets in places where al-Shabaab and the pirates appear to co-exist, particularly in southern Somalia. But though the military advice is that any attacks would be relatively straightforward, and may only involve small numbers of heavily-armed helicopters flown from warships, planners have also flagged the likelihood that civilians could be caught up in any fighting.
The official said that a short, sharp strike might "interdict" potential terrorists and pirates, but would not be a solution to either problem in the long term. Another source added: "There was no political will on this to begin with, but that has been changing. We know where the camps are, where they set up and where they launch from." Building up Somalia's own security forces and coast guard would be far preferable, but they are far too weak at the moment to be considered for such operations, the source said. It is believed the British, Dutch, French and Americans would be the most likely to support military action, if the need arose. The US is already taking great interest in Somalia and has begun missile strikes from unmanned drones against members of al-Shabaab, which is said to have growing links with al-Qaida affiliates in other countries, and is attempting to "export" violence to other countries in Africa. With words that seemed to echo the reasons for invading Afghanistan, Cameron recently said that Somalia was a "failed state that directly threatens British interests". The head of the British military, General Sir David Richards, also appeared to hint at the potential for military action in a speech shortly before Christmas. "Treating the causes of instability and terrorism at source is better and cheaper than dealing with the consequences, as Somalia's piracy demonstrates," he said. A new intelligence centre, based in the Seychelles, to help co-ordinate the fight against Somali pirates was announced on Tuesday by William Hague. The foreign secretary said it would "help the international community to target the kingpins of piracy and ensure piracy does not pay." | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 The triple-lutz? Bomb Somalia -> take in refugees to fill jobs in high unemployment areas -> excuse to not lower taxes on rich especially |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2012-02-22 13:36 |
| #4 Either do it or don't do it. Don't go hurting braincells trying to decide. Coin flips are good. I-Ching works too. |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2012-02-22 13:10 |
| #3 See Somalians and the United States meat packing industry. |
| Posted by: bman 2012-02-22 10:19 |
| #2 Piet Botha and the SADF could have prevented all of this, but they are long gone. Chickens of the West home to roost in my opinion. Welcome to tribal Africa. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-02-22 07:29 |
| #1 Why did UK take in thousands of Somalians as most are unemployed and breed like rats=UK debt. The worst immigrants re integration are british born Pakis and Somalians.Both hate UK,are highly unemployed, drug dealers and wannabe gangsters! |
| Posted by: Gruth McGurque5303 2012-02-22 07:15 |