Somali Islamists al-Shabab 'join al-Qaeda fight'

[Merlin]

Somalia's al-Shabab group now officially confirms its fight is linked to al-Qaeda.

Somali Islamists al-Shabab 'join al-Qaeda fight'

1 Feb [BBC] Somali Islamist rebel group al-Shabab has confirmed for the first time that its fighters are aligned with al-Qaeda's global militant campaign.

The group said in a statement that the "jihad of Horn of Africa must be combined with the international jihad led by the al-Qaeda network". ...

Islamist insurgents control much of southern and central Somalia.

The government, which is backed by the UN and African Union, holds sway only in a small part of Mogadishu.

Despite repeated accusations by the US that al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda, the group denied the connection in a recent interview with the BBC.

The BBC Somali service's Mohamed Mohamed says it is the first time the group has officially confirmed its fight is linked to al-Qaeda. ...

[Merlin]

Al-Shebab is also strengthening.

Islamists make gains in Somalia's war

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- War-torn Somalia seems to be headed for a new spasm of bloodshed as al-Shebab, the main Islamist faction that is aligned with al-Qaida, has been strengthened by merging with one of its main militia rivals while another fell apart.

This is likely to signal a new offensive by al-Shebab -- short for Harakat al-Shebab al-Mujahedin, or Warrior Youth Movement -- against the Transitional Federal Government, which is backed by the United Nations and the West.

There are still divisions among the various militias and clans opposed to the TFG, even within the leadership of al-Shebab, and these are all that is preventing the administration's collapse.

The government in Mogadishu depends on a 4,500-strong African Union peacekeeping force, known as Amisom, for its survival.

But it is all that this force -- poorly trained, and ill equipped and too small to be effective -- can do to protect the few blocks of downtown Mogadishu and the airport that the TFG claims to control.

The peacekeepers, mainly from Uganda and Burundi, are highly unpopular because every time they are attacked by the Islamists they shell civilian areas indiscriminately, causing heavy casualties. ...

On Feb. 1 al-Shebab announced that the Ras Kamboni Brigade, a clan-based militia in southern Somalia, was merging with it.

That was a blow to al-Shebab's main rival, Hizb-ul Islam, with whom Ras Kamboni had been allied.

The new alliance underlines al-Shehab's growing influence, particularly in the southwest, where Hizb-ul Islam's standing has been steadily eroding around the key towns of Baidoa and Kismayo some 300 miles south of Mogadishu.

According to military analysts, Hizb-ul Islam has ceased to exist as a potent fighting force. ....

[badil]

chain of joinings

Al-Shebab is also strengthening.

Islamists make gains in Somalia's war

somalia , sudan, pakistan taliban, palestine hizbullah, yemen.... may be some other infuture?? what al qaida wants. instead of cutting branches why not find out what al qaida wants and kill the issue once for all. how long , how many countries will keep coming under its influence. if inspite of trillions of dollars speneding alqaida is still influencing and is able to flourish how many USA public money and taxes will be wasted on cutting the branches. why not interact directly with the stem and root causes. and make peace for all. why not use these trillions of dollars to build nation,feed the poors rather than making weapons and armaments. why not use them for medical treatments of poor .

[Merlin]

somalia , sudan, pakistan taliban, palestine hizbullah, yemen.... may be some other infuture?? ...

Yes. There is no way the US can follow them and fight them at one country after another. And at some countries, the US forces are not welcome to come in.

[S2]

Merlin Reply

"Yes. There is no way the US can follow them and fight them at one country after another."

An odd comment that almost appears as though you HOPE that's the case. We have many ways and means to fight these evil beasts and we'll do so. That should be clear by now to all except those secretly hoping to see America fail and Al Qaeda find permanent safety.

Have we followed them to Yemen? Have we fought them in Sudan? Hizbullah (Party of God POG) anywhere? Small matter of religion to consider that begs the question of friendship between shias and wahabbists.

My guess is they aren't very safe in Somalia, invitation or not. That's just lil' ol' me, though.

[Merlin]

"Yes. There is no way the US can follow them and fight them at one country after another."

An odd comment that almost appears as though you HOPE that's the case.

In facing problems, we should identify and understand reality.

[S2]

Merlin Reply

"...we should identify and understand reality."

Merlin, you said this-

"There is no way the US can follow them and fight them at one country after another."

Definitive and absolute, correct? Is that reality? You seem certain and, IMV, that requires elaboration. Can you expand upon your rationale, please?

[badil]

trillion dollars for war or developing USA common person

Ofcourse USA can follow in all countries but think of this money collected from public tax (Trillion dollars) if spent on USA people and not on war, how much USA common person will develop. I donot say - leave the enemy. i say find the real cause why al qaida is fighting and why afghan is supporting them. and resolve that cause rather than forcing and buldozing the issue intervening every country now and then and wasting so much of money. Imagine, 1/4 the money USA spent to fight in afghan, if utilized to develope under US forces supervision, maximum population of afghan would have whole heartedly supported US efforts and denounced Taliban and anti US forces. Think about it also.