We Need Another ‘Operation Restore Hope' ***

[NASSIR]

We Need Another ‘Operation

Restore Hope’

By Abdi Hoosow*

****August 26, 2011

 

Somalia is facing yet another one of its unfortunate nature/human made disasters, namely a famine of a magnitude which according to the experts had not been witnessed for over 60 years. Just like in early 1990s children and women are dying on the streets, seeking help. The reason for this is multi-layered and there is the blame game among the stake holders from Washington DC to Mogadishu. Everyone is pointing fingers at his favourite enemy and political scores are made. Although the cause to the famine is multi-layered, Alshabaab is the favourite when it comes to defaming; everyone can accuse them with no consequence, in fact can get some credit, or at least feel safe from being branded as terrorist. Susan Rice, the US permanent UN representative has recently showered blame on this group highlighting the group’s rejection of aid agencies to reach the affected areas; a denunciation repeatedly voiced by the West and a number of Somali politicians. The group only fell out with WFP, but you know the drill, if not, it is called SPIN, welcome to the West.

 

Now there is an even bigger disaster on the horizon. Aid food intended to relief starvation is being stolen and sold in the market. How is that a bigger disaster than the current? Well, corrupt government officials, NGO officers and businessmen are all joined in the hip on this one. This is not a new phenomenon. The aid agencies are aware of this and are either complacent in responding to it or have no clue what to do. In extreme situations the starving people are being murdered by thugs who come to their camps and loot their food and on top of that starving teenager girls are raped. This has taken place in Badbaado refugee camp in Mogadishu when men dressed in the TFG military uniform stormed the camp and killed famished women and children.*

 

Despite the Somali Prime Minister’s rhetoric of creating a force that will protect both the food and the refugees, every Somali will tell you that is neither here, nor there. Those who are looting the food are in most cases the ones with the responsibility to protect them and often the government officials are involved in it overtly although most of the time covertly. For example, the Mayor of Mogadishu Mr mohamoud Ahmed Nur aka Tarzan, a British citizen from Camden, London, is implicated in such a rumour, he allegedly has been asked why he sold the food that belonged to the starving people and he reportedly responded that the government militias needed cash to fight the Alshabaab terrorists, a line used by government officials from Russia to Libya. ‘We are fighting terrorism’ has been used and re-used by various leaders who are known for their gloomy record of human rights to justify their actions, the Somali officials are no different, they watch TV and are imitating.

 

The donors, in hearing the news that their money is being misused may think twice before they write a check, which in turn will affect the efforts being made to save lives. It has long been alleged that the aid agencies were not spending money wisely and much of the donations were spent in R&R and mismanaged transportations, however, the donors were one way or the other tolerating this. The same cannot be said about the images of big bellied Somali business men selling food rations and sacks clearly displaying WFP signs on them on our TVs. The unavoidable question remains to be, what can be done?

 

The easy option is to say, to hell with them, if they can’t help themselves, how are we supposed to relief them? This is what my professor of politics would call a ‘simplistic view’. When there is chaos, even the most peaceful places on earth turn into a nightmare, and criminals are just a step away.* Remember hurricane Katrina in America, and how suddenly there were lootings and even rape? It was in America, not Somalia. People would do the most inhuman things when they know they can get away with it, it happened in London few days ago. One can’t attribute this to a specific colour or race. Therefore, restoring some law and order is the only way the food can reach those who need it. The Somalis are too weak and divided today to do that, therefore, and external power is needed.

 

The international community, who, to much extent are already involved in Somali affairs from paying the government official’s salaries (including ministers and MPs and Soldiers) to resigning Prime Ministers, should send an immediate force that will protect the food, similar to those sent in early 1990s. Africa has played its part by sending Amisom troops and despite their losses and financial difficulties they still remain there, but they are insufficient. The Islamic world should contribute, as they might be better positioned in terms of religion and geography. Throwing alms at Somalia from time to time is not enough, the situation must be changed on the ground and that requires manpower. The US should reconsider their policy of non-intervention in Somalia. If the wise men in Washington thought that Somalia could be contained after abandoning it in 1990s’ the emergency of pirates, and the creation of Alshabaab are two indicators that call the health of the policy into question. The US has to get engaged in Somalia and not the proxy kind we have witnessed when Ethiopia invaded Somalia, as that policy was as ill-fated as sending Indian troops to make peace in Pakistan, neither will the snatching of individuals from Mogadishu suffice, if anything it will give the opposing group a justification for what they do, hence more recruits. A new strategy towards Somalia is vital.

 

Alshabaab is a force to be reckoned with, they have established peace and the rule of the law, believe it or not they were the only group that could get rid of blood stained Indhacade and his cronies. They behead people, chop off hands, stone women and men to death and flog people in the market places.* They admit all of the above, are in fact proud of it and make no apologies, love them or hate them that is how they operate and it works, a number of Somalis agree with that. If that is how Somalis want it who is anyone outside the Somalis to say no? Look at the Saudis; they use the same Sharia Law, the West deals with it. If one would cut diplomatic ties because one thinks one’s internal judicial law is wrong, then the US and Europe would not be as friendly as they are, the reason being the latter’s rejection of the death penalty in the US. This in no way does not mean that Alshabaab is the best option for Somalia, there are a number of opportunities wasted by the group and their foreign policy is not particularly one that preaches peace and harmony. In the long run, their future is doomed, even if they somehow win; it is through violence and after the death and destruction on an imaginable scale. There is just no light at end of the tunnel as it is now. Pulling out of Mogadishu after so much mayhem is a clear example of their strategy. Alshabaab should reconsider their approach and learn from their mistakes. A mistake is a mistake if one does not learn from it.

 

But they should not be ignored. The allies in Afghanistan are in negotiation with the Taliban, the last such meeting took place in Germany, why not with Alshabaab?

 

There are those in Alshabaab that would welcome covertly such an initiation; they are less corrupted and more capable than the mafias in the suits the world calls TFG officials. If Alshabaab agrees to share the rule of Somalia and give the people the right to choose how they want to be ruled, then, Alshabaab are a force for good and will cut short the long way to reclaiming Somalia. They are as they stand the well-structured group in Somalia. If they somehow reject the idea of talking with the mouths rather than bullets, then Somalia can’t be a guinea pig for violence. Either way the country has to be attended to.

 

Somalis can’t understand why the Americans pulled out after they lost 19 soldiers, when they have lost so many in Iraq and yet continued or when they have spent so many years in Afghanistan and yet stayed. Somalia would cost much less than Iraq or Afghanistan and stable Somalia would lead to stable Africa however, if it is left to its own fate, Somalia’s problem will not be only Somalia’s problem. This is a good time for a well thought of intervention. We need another Operation Restore Hope.

[Jacaylbaro]

Comparing this to the Zenawi's speech at the AU summit .... I think something is cooking here.

[NASSIR]

What did he say ?

[Malika]

^You can read it here.

 

http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28082&Itemid=52

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

I welcome this. And this time, let it last for decades, not a mere two or three years.

[UZTAAD]

the somalis have wast a great opportunities at that time instead of working with the world community who come to their rescue they started to fight agaunst the same people who come to their help. this time no body is interested to wast any resources and time in somali civil war. in my opinion somalis are sub humans who are doomed to kill each other for foreseeable future and it will take long time to make them civilized humans because they 99% very ignorant and backward people who know only triblism and shit

[NASSIR]

A very good point Hoosow makes,

 

"The easy option is to say, to hell with them, if they can’t help themselves, how are we supposed to relief them? This is what my professor of politics would call a ‘simplistic view’. When there is chaos, even the most peaceful places on earth turn into a nightmare, and criminals are just a step away.* Remember hurricane Katrina in America, and how suddenly there were lootings and even rape? It was in America, not Somalia. People would do the most inhuman things when they know they can get away with it, it happened in Londonfew days ago. One can’t attribute this to a specific colour or race. Therefore, restoring some law and order is the only way the food can reach those who need it. The Somalis are too weak and divided today to do that, therefore, and external power is needed."

[Jacaylbaro]

The speech seems to be sensored ... but he was saying that Ethiopia is ready to bring its troops into Somalia to protect the aid in the Shabab controlled areas.

[Abdul]

Another operation restore hope that does not lead to a stable somalia is a waste of time.And also Ethiopia must stay out by any means.

[Che -Guevara]

n my opinion somalis are sub humans who are doomed to kill each other for foreseeable /QUOTE]

 

I guess you are not Somali?

[Jacaylbaro]

He is Somali but Sub-sub-human ,,,,