From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Aug 23 2009 - 07:15:50 EDT
The U.S & Somalia: A Somali Perespective
By: Amb: Ahmad Abdi Hashi
Aug 23, 2009 - 8:28:09 PM
http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Opinion_20/THE_U_S_SOMALIA_A_SOM
ALI_PERSPECTIVE.shtml
US -SOMALI relationship, at different periods, have been characterized by an
adversarial relationship as in during the Cold War, a forget about Somalia
after the Blackhawk Down disaster, the fight against terrorism after 9/11
and some humanitarian support through international NGOs.
It was, however, the Blackhawk Down incident in October 1993 that defined
for a long time US policy towards Somalia. President Bill Clinton ordered
all US troops out of Somalia and closed the Somali file in Washington. The
world took the cue, labelled Somalia as a failed State and relegated Somalia
to the backburner.
It was only after 9/11 that the US showed some interest albeit in relation
only to the fight against international terrorism. The US saw the vacuum in
Somalia as a possible haven for Al-Qaida but failed to support the
Transitional National Government formed a year earlier in 2000.
When the Islamic Courts came to power and consolidated their control over
most of southern Somalia, in 2005-6, alarm bells rang in Washington. The
Bush administration would not accept an Islamist regime in Somalia.
Consequently, CIA hired the notorious warlords to fight the Islamic Courts
which resulted in the rout of the warlords. It was another Bay of Pigs
debacle for the US but in Africa this time.
With the Islamic Courts entrenched, the Bush administration gave the green
light to Ethiopia to invade and occupy Somalia 2006-08. The Islamic Courts
made a strategic withdrawal, regrouped and forced the Ethiopian to leave the
country in defeat.
Naturally, these foreign military adventures and the post 911 policy of the
Bush administration in Somalia served neither the strategic interests of the
US nor the aspirations of the Somali people to resurrect a strong Somali
State. In short, the Bush administration viewed Somalia with unmitigated
hostility.
As the new Obama administration came to power, fires of hope were ignited
throughout the world. Hope that the injustices of the Bush era would be
corrected. The closure of the Guantanamo Detention Center, withdrawal from
Iraq, prohibition of torture, rendition and the olive branch to the Moslem
world were a welcome change in US foreign policy. These first tentative
steps raised high expectations.
We, the Somalis as well, hoped for a change in US policy towards Somalia
based on objective analysis of the real situation on the ground; a new
paradigm, different in substance from the Bush administration's
ill-conceived and failed policies in Somalia.
Contrary to the expectations of the Somali people, the new Obama
administration remains committed to the same failed policies of its
predecessor; engagement in Somalia solely through the narrow prism of
fighting international terrorism and piracy off the Somali coast as well as
reliance on Ethiopia, the erstwhile enemy of Somalia and chief trouble maker
in the Horn of Africa, for all matters relating to Somalia.
What Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced in Nairobi on 7th July,
2009 signalled a continuation of the same arrogant policies of the Bush
administration as well as an escalation of US military mischief in Somalia.
To the profound disappointment of Somalis, Secretary Clinton declared that
the US is sending 40 more tons of military hardware in addition to the 40
tons already shipped. That is a total of 80 tons military materiel and much
more is in the pipeline.
The tons of weapons and millions of US taxpayer money as well as political
support go to a so-called government in Somalia which has no territory to
control, no institutions, does not command the support and respect of the
Somali people and whose " president" hides in a Ugandese APC when travelling
to and from Mogadishu Airport.
That is the "government" the US and other western powers support.
By throwing its weight behind a fiction, the US shed the veneer of a
backroom player. It has come out of the closet. The aim is to impose upon
the Somali people a small group of its choice; former warlords, Islamic turn
coats and famously corrupt politicians.
Forcing unpopular politicians on a country does not work. Iraq and
Afghanistan are relevant examples. This will not work in Somalia either.
Siding with this insignificant faction makes the US becomes an active
participant in the Somali conflict. It remains to be seen whether putting
all eggs in this one basket of choice will serve the best interests of the
US or the aspirations of the Somali people for durable and sustainable
peace. US strategic objectives can only be achieved if it reaches out to the
real stakeholders that matter in Somalia. Evidently, the US is again missing
the boat.
There are as well other disturbing aspects to this new US military venture
in Somalia that defy logic.
In the absence of a responsible government in Somalia, this huge influx of
US weapons will make Mogadishu the biggest arms bazaar in Africa south of
the Sahara. Illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition will flourish and
proliferation of weapons especially in Africa will be out of control. And
nobody would know where the weapons end or who has what. Whether a situation
like this would contribute to peace and security in Africa and other places
remains to be seen.
Another miscalculation is that the US and its allies ignore the easy access
to and availability of every type weapons in Somalia. One can even buy a
tank and park it in front of the house like a car. There is no weapons
scarcity; the result of years of Ethiopian violations of the UN arms embargo
on Somalia.
We must not, as well, overlook the devastating effect these military
shipments have on Somalia. It is like pumping more gasoline into an already
out of control forest fire. Such military fire power will at the end of the
day cause heavy damage and destruction, kill, maim thousands of Somalis and
add more millions to the already displaced.
A question is relevant in this regard. Whether these US military shipments
are in line with the UN arms embargo or not? Security Council Resolution 751
0f 1992 obligated all member Sates of the UN to respect "a general and
comprehensive arms embargo on Somalia". The corollary to this requires all
States to refrain from any military venture that jeopardises peace and
security in Somalia. US weapons shipments undermine peace in Somalia and are
consequently a violation of the arms embargo irrespective of any exemptions.
In further reference to the arms embargo on Somalia, the US sets a double
standard with regard to violations of the arms embargo. It has the audacity
to scapegoat Eritrea while ignoring its own and those violations of
recidivist Ethiopia.
This arrogant behaviour has already encouraged countries like Djibouti as
well as the predator States of Ethiopia and Kenya to violate with impunity
the arms embargo. Other States will definitely follow suit. Consequently,
this will lead to the internationalization of the Somali conflict.
Since the tons of US weapons constitute a violation of the arms embargo and
are meant to kill, maim Somalis and destroy their properties, the US must be
held responsible. It is the moral obligation of all peace loving nations to
do so.
If the US wants to play a constructive role in Somalia, it must accept the
urgent need for a structural correction in its policy towards Somalia. And
for this to happen, the US and its allies must adjust to certain facts:
FACT 1: US support for the fiction created in Djibouti must be
exposed for what it is. There is no government in Somalia at the present
time. A government that cannot ensure security for its people establish
institutions, provide services and which sells, in retail, State patrimony
and national assets to the highest bidder is no government worth the name.
This fiction includes warlords who should be facing the music at the Hague.
Others were the erstwhile enemy of the US yesterday.
Today, they are the darling of the West and Ethiopia, the same countries
they regularly condemned as imperialists, invaders and occupiers. One would
wonder how this strange metamorphosis happened overnight and at what price.
FACT II: Attempts to impose a fiction on the Somali people is not
right. We the Somalis have, like other nations, the sovereign right to
choose our own leadership without foreign interference.
FACT III: Shipments of weapons or any other kind of foreign led
military intervention cannot work in Somalia; this will only escalate the
conflict. Historically, we the Somalis have an aversion to foreign
domination and interference. The US led UN military venture in the early
90s, CIA hiring of the notorious warlords in early2006 as well as the two
year occupation of Somalia (2006-8) all failed. History tells that no nation
can ever be subdued by any number of troops or weapons. Vietnam, Iraq and
Afghanistan are the most recent examples.
A foreign led military venture of any kind is therefore not an option for
Somalia.
FACT 1V: Viewing Somalia only from the perspective of piracy and
terrorism is a wrong track. This deviates from the real issue which is: the
lack of a truly representative central authority. Piracy or any security
concerns-perceived or real- can be addressed only when such authority is
installed by the Somali people themselves without foreign dictation.
FACT V: The role of the regime in Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa
must be re-evaluated and in particular with regard to Somalia. There is an
unresolved territorial dispute between us, the Ethiopian occupied Ogaden
region. Somalia and Ethiopia fought two wars in 1964 and 1977. The
traditional enmity is deep-rooted.
Even Jonnie Carson, the US Deputy under Secretary of State acknowledged
this fact in a recent statement when he correctly labelled "Ethiopia as the
traditional enemy of Somalia."
Yet, the US relies and acts on a flow of misinformation provided by this
traditional enemy of Somalia. The US and its western allies must understand
the long standing animosity between Ethiopia and Somalia and Ethiopia's
interest in a weak unstable Somalia, taking orders from Addis Ababa.
And one more final truth: Somalia belongs to Somalis; we, Somalis are a
resilient nation even in times of adversity. Our destiny, leadership and any
constitutional arrangements can and must be decided by us, Somalis, without
foreign interference.
The models in Somaliland and Punt land were developed by Somalis, under an
acacia tree, free from the manipulations of theAhmedou W. Abdallas of the
world. Whether one agrees with their current status is another matter. But,
the two areas are peaceful because the process was indigenous and Somali
owned. Hopefully at some point and time, these confederate corners will come
to the fold of a strong and united Somalia.
We Somalis want peace for our people more than any one else. But we need a
genuine lasting peace by the people for the people. The type being offered
and supported by the US and Ethiopia is fake. It is manufactured in
Washington, New York and Addis Ababa. And there is a growing international
consensus that what was created in Djibouti at the beginning of 2009 is a
complete failure.
The road to durable and lasting peace in Somalia is evident: a Somali
owned process, immediate and full withdrawal of foreign troops,
participation of stakeholders on the basis of equality and limiting UN role
to logistical support. The result would be a comprehensive peace agreement,
with mechanisms for implementation and a truly representative Somali
government that can bring peace and stability to its citizens and act as a
responsible player at the international arena.
Thus the need for a new paradigm and an unequivocal departure from the
failed policies of the Bush administration is imperative. This will serve
the best interests of the US and promote the aspirations of the Somali
people for peace.
Amb. Ahmed Abdi Hashi( Hashara), Former Somali Amb. to the U.N 2001-2005;
Secretary for Foreign Affairs ARS <mailto:asharo@gmail.com>
asharo@gmail.com
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