"Al-Jazeera recently aired footage of a masked Shabab commander who called himself "Abu Mansur al-Amriki" and spoke with an American accent. His identity could not be confirmed."
Please read Who Saved Somalia
"Conditions in Somalia appear ripe for establishing an Al Qaeda base" by Edmund Sanders, Los Angeles Times | August 27, 2008
NAIROBI - Analysts say such talk highlights a growing radicalization of Somalia's Islamists. Although Somalia has long had hard-liners, most of the population practiced a moderate form of Islam, and even extremists limited their attacks to inside the country or against neighboring Ethiopia, a longtime rival.
But some worry that a more radical agenda inside Somalia has been aided by US counterterrorism efforts during the past two years, including a half-dozen air strikes that targeted suspected terrorists but also killed civilians.
Somalia's citizens are outraged by the ongoing occupation of Mogadishu by Ethiopian troops, who came in 2006 to defeat a short-lived Islamic government that had taken power largely with help from Shabab fighters.
"For Al Qaeda, the projection seems good now," said Richard Barno, counterterrorism analyst at the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, noting that the UN-recognized transitional government has been weakened by infighting.
Barno cautioned that Al Qaeda still faces resistance from Somalia's major clans, which have been less interested in radical anti-Western attacks and frown upon Al Qaeda's signature large-scale attacks, particularly when they result in civilian casualties. Clan leaders have been reluctant to send their men to fight with Al Qaeda outside Somalia, he said.
"Any moving to Al Qaeda might alienate the clans," Barno said. "And they can't afford to do that, because the clans provide their foot soldiers."
Ambassador Ranneberger asserted that US counterterrorism efforts, combined with efforts by Ethiopia and Kenya, had diminished the Al Qaeda threat and thwarted several plots.
"They are still a threat, but clearly their network and operations have been degraded," he said.Then WHAT is with the FUCKING GARBAGE HEADLINES!!!??
Oh, the FUCKING SHIT SMELL from the ZIONIST PROPAGANDA is OVERWHELMING!!!!!
Conventional wisdom long held that Somalia was so inhospitable that even Al Qaeda gave up trying to gain a foothold amid feuding clans, erratic warlords, and a wily population hardened by years of anarchy.
Now, in the wake of an aggressive US counterterrorism program that has alienated many Somalis, there are signs that Al Qaeda might have its best chance in years to win over Islamic hard-liners in the Horn of Africa nation.
Prop 101: Al-CIA-Duh and the OSI
Prop 101: Al-CIA-Duh's Greatest Hits
Al-CIA-Duh
Who Invented "Al-CIA-Duh?"
Prop 101: The "Terrorism" Business
Final fart bleat: New York Times Admits War on Terror is U.S. Creation
Clear now, readers?
After once denying or downplaying links to the terrorist network, a senior leader of Somalia's most notorious Islamic militia now acknowledges that his group has longstanding ties to Al Qaeda and says he is seeking to forge a closer relationship.
Are you as TIRED of this BULLSHIT as me, readers?
"We are negotiating how we can unite into one," said Muktar Robow, a top military commander of Shabab, which the US State Department designated a terrorist organization this year. "We will take our orders from Sheik Osama bin Laden, because we are his students."
Cemetery the classroom?
Merging with Al Qaeda operatives in the region makes sense, he said, given the recent US crackdown, including a May air strike that killed Shabab's then-commander.
"Al Qaeda is the mother of the holy war in Somalia," he said. "Most of our leaders were trained in Al Qaeda camps. We get our tactics and guidelines from them. Many have spent time with Osama bin Laden."
They are dead, too, huh?
US officials say it is unclear whether Shabab's threat is real or just anti-Western rhetoric intended to rattle US intelligence officials.
Gimme a fucking break!!!!!!!!!!!
Analysts note that Al Qaeda faces the same challenges that prevented it from establishing a Somalia base before, including power struggles among Somalia's Islamists, competition from local clan networks and differences between those seeking to keep attacks inside Somalia and those favoring Al Qaeda's global agenda.
Fuck you, shit bags!!!!!!!!!
US Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger acknowledged growing links between Shabab and Al Qaeda, but he said ties were in the early stages.
"There are indications of a fairly close Shabab-Al Qaeda connection, though it's not clear to what extent they've been operationalized," he said. "Is Shabab taking orders from Al Qaeda? I would say no. They are still running their own show."
What SHIT!!!!!!! PROPAGANDA SHIT!!!!!!!!!
Robow said Shabab had been boosting its forces in recent months with an influx of fighters from all around the world, including Kenya, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, Indonesia, Chechnya, and even the United States. Al-Jazeera recently aired footage of a masked Shabab commander who called himself "Abu Mansur al-Amriki" and spoke with an American accent. His identity could not be confirmed.
Oh, THAT DOES IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Un-fucking-real!!
Yup, the "Al-CIA-Duh" with an AMERICAN ACCENT!!!!
Robow declined to comment on the number of foreigners or the size of Shabab's militia. One analyst recently estimated its forces at between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters. Robow also spoke for the first time about expanding Shabab's activities outside Somalia's borders.
"Once we end the holy war in Somalia, we will take it to any government that participated in the fighting against Somalia or gave assistance to those attacking us," he said.
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