Getting into the Christmas spirit in the Horn of Africa
Despite numerous (and almost universally disparaged) denials to the contrary, Ethiopia has finally admitted to invading neighboring Somalia. Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi claims that the invasion is a defensive measure to preserve his country's security against the Islamic Courts Union militias which control most of Somalia.
posted by Brian @ Sunday, December 24, 2006
1 comments
1 Comments:
Fontaine, I suppose, then, that one could reject the term "occupation" to refer to America's involvement in Iraq since it's there at the invitation of the internationally recognized government.
The trouble I have is how does anyone know they're there at the invitation of the transitional government (TNG)? Addis has spent most of the last several months denying that it had troops in Somalia. Why should we suddenly believe them?
And the real question is more practical than theoretical. The international community may recognize the TNG but does anyone inside Somalia give it an credibility? The Islamic Courts seem to have some support because they've actually imposed a bit of stability and order.
The question isn't really whether you or I think consider Ethiopia's action an invasion, it's whether most Somalis do.
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