US drone strikes cause worldwide opposition

This video from the USA is called MEDEA BENJAMIN TALK ON DRONE WARFARE.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

US drone strikes prompt global anger

Wednesday 13 June 2012

by Our Foreign Desk

The Obama administration’s escalation of its illegal drone assassination campaign in foreign countries is widely opposed around the world, according to a Pew Research Centre survey released today.

In 17 out of 21 countries surveyed by the US think tank more than half of the people disapproved of US drone attacks targeting people deemed extremist in underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

But in the United States a majority, or 62 per cent, approved the drone campaign including 74 per cent of Republicans and 58 per cent of Democrats.

The polls were nationally representative surveys conducted by telephone or in-person interviews in 21 countries during March and April.

“There remains a widespread perception that the US acts unilaterally and does not consider the interests of other countries,” the study authors said, especially in predominantly Muslim nations where US meddling in the name of anti-terror operations is “still widely unpopular.”

The White House declined to comment on the report titled Global Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted.

Speaking in advance of the release Pew Research Centre President Andrew Kohut said: “We continue to see the public thinking Obama has not fulfilled his promise that he would seek international approval for military force and that’s related to displeasure with the drone strikes.”

This is the first year Pew has included a question about the use of drones in its survey on the Obama administration.

“It’s now a global issue,” Mr Kohut observed.

In Pakistan CIA drone strikes have killed about 2,500 civilians since 2004, as well as senior anti-US militants like Abu Yahya al-Libi while US drone controllers have killed an estimated 800 people in Yemen since 2002, with attacks intensifying since Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in February in the face of a popular uprising.

Meanwhile around 170 people are believed to have been killed by US drone strikes in Somalia.

On Monday a former counter-terrorism adviser to Mr Obama accused him of having “routinised and normalised extra judicial killing from the Oval Office.”

Michael Boyle said that Mr Obama “is authorising murder on a weekly basis.”

A column by Jimmy Carter provides extraordinary testimony by an ex-president against the Obama administration for engaging in assassinations and other criminal violations of international law and the US Constitution: here.

Somali Pentagon allies arrest journalists

This video is called Ethiopian troops’ massacre of Somali civilians, April 21 2008.

From Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu, Somalia):

Somalia: NUSOJ Protests Arrest of Two Radio Journalists in Central Somalia

12 June 2012

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly protested today the arrest and detention of two radio journalists in central Somalia.

Journalist Abdijamal Moallin Ahmed, reporter of Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in Dhusamareb district, the capital of Galguduud region of central Somalia, was arrested on Tuesday morning with another journalist Bashir Mohamed Salad who works for Idaacada Codka Gobolada Dhexe (Radio Voice of Central regions). The journalists were arrested by Ahlusunna Waljamaa (ASWJ), Islamist militia group in this region.

Ahlusunna Waljamaa are allies of the Pentagon in the USA and of the invasive armed forces of the Ethiopian dictatorship of Meles Zenawi.

The motive behind the arrest is related to news reports that the two journalists made about the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from El-buur and Mahas districts. Ahlusunna Waljamaa (ASWJ) militias were infuriated by these reports which they did not want the media to report “because the reports encouraged Al-Shabaab terrorist militia to return to Dhusamareb”, according to ASWJ official.

“We are very concerned about the arrest and detention of Abdijamal Moallin Ahmed and Bashir Mohamed Salad. They are professional journalists and we know no crime they have committed. We tried to contact regional administration of Ahlusunna Waljamaa but we found no one that speaks to us with responsibility,” said Mowlid Haji Abdi, Managing Director of SBC.

“These journalists were simply doing their job,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

Ethiopians oppose G8 support for their dictator

This video is called Ethiopian troops’ massacre of Somali civilians April 21-2108.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Ethiopians furious over PM’s invitation

Sunday 20 May 2012

More than 200 US-based Ethiopian activists packed into the town square in Thurmont, Maryland, on Saturday to protest against the east African country’s prime minister’s invitation to the G8 summit.

The flag-waving Ethiopian immigrants were protesting against the rule of Meles Zenawi, who was invited along with the heads of Benin, Ghana and Tanzania to discuss food security at Camp David.

The US is a major contributor of aid to Ethiopia, whose leader has been accused of restricting freedoms and news media.

“Shame on you!” chanted the protesters, many waving their country’s red, green and yellow flag.

Some held a banner saying: “Zenawi: brutal dictator, pathological liar, mass murderer.”

Police had restricted demonstrators to Thurmont, several miles from the presidential retreat.

A handful of demonstrators from Occupy movements in Baltimore, Washington and Connecticut, joined in.

But many had gone to Chicago to join demonstrations against the Nato meeting starting on Sunday.

Kenyan air force kills Somali civilians

This video is called US wants war in Africa – Kenya invades Somalia – Thomas C Mountain.

From Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu, Somalia):

Somalia: Kenyan Jets Kill 2, Wound 3 Civilians in South Somalia

24 March 2012

Bardere — At least two innocent civilians were killed and three others injured late on Friday in an aerial attack by Kenyan fighter jets in Gedo region of southern Somalia, residents said.

New reports say the Kenyan jets bombed on Takarre village, 55 Km away west of Baredere district of Gedo region, under the control of Al-Shabab militants, killing more than two people, including woman and children.

Witnesses told Shabelle Media that the injured people were rushed to a hospital in the town of Bardere where one of the victimized died later from his injury sustained in the Kenyan air raids.

The traditional elders of Gedo region have immediately condemned in their strongest terms the Kenyan air strikes hit civilian residential areas in the region stating as ‘civilian genocide’.

Kenyan military officials in the region have not commented about the attack so far.

Air strikes targeting frequently areas controlled by the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab in southern Somalia regions became common, causing uncountable civilian casualties.

Hundreds of Somali families living in the town of Mandera, north east Kenya began Saturday fleeing from their houses after facing frequent harassment and killings by the Kenyan army, reports said: here.

Somalia: Pro-Government Militias Executing Civilians – Ethiopian Soldiers Beating Suspects – Al-Shabaab Targeting Alleged Government Supporters: here.

A Somali businessman has moved to court seeking the release of 3,500 bags of Sugar allegedly held by Kenya Defence Forces after his lorries strayed into Kenya: here.

Nairobi — The Kenyan security forces have been alleged of committing human rights violations against Somalis living in north-east Kenya, Radio Garowe reports: here.

How Kenya Is Helping Al Shabaab Objective: here.

Kenya’s internal security minister was killed with five other people in a helicopter crash near the Kenyan capital on Sunday: here.

Somalia: IFJ Condemns Arbitrary Arrests of Journalists in Northern Region: here.

Why has peace in Somalia been so hard to come by? Someone needs to get rid of the Western powers and their roadmap to nowhere: here.

Somalia: Ethiopian Forces in Baidoa Town Detain Two MPs: here.

A European naval force operating off east Africa bombarded Somalia for the first time today: here.

Aid agencies warned today that a critical shortage of funds is putting tens of thousands of lives at risk in Kenya’s huge Dabaab refugee camp: here.

Somali homeless demonstrate for their rights

This video is called Somali refugees wishing for quick end to war.

From Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu, Somalia):

Somalia: Rally Against Turkish Government, TFG Agency Held in Mogadishu

9 March 2012

Mogadishu — Hundreds of Somalia’s displaced people have on Friday taken to the streets of Mogadishu to protest their appalling living conditions at the makeshift shelters in the capital after drought forced them to flee from their villages in the country’s south and central regions.

Crowds, including women, elders and children whose face was wet with tears have packed into a square in Mogadishu’s Hodon district to denounce Turkish government and the disaster management agency of Somalia government of failing to help the IDPs for food, medicine and clean water.

“We have come out today to show our needs. We have nothing in hands in terms of health and lack of water and children are dying of hunger and malnutrition at the camps,” protesters told Shabelle Media.

Demonstrators have been carrying banners written with slogans against Somalia’s disaster management agency and aid agencies belonging to Turkish government whom the protestors accuse of evicting from the squats in Mogadishu.

The rally was held around noon on a steamy day. Many people were soaked in sweat by the time they walked from their neighborhoods to Hodon district, located in central Mogadishu, where is now under the control of Somali government.

Kenya has said it may be forced to send more than 600,000 Somali refugees back to their country saying the country has not been receiving enough support from the UNHCR: here.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) released a new report finding that Radio Bar Kulan (RBK) violated international labour rights standards and labour laws. RBK is a station headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, that is run by Albany Associates International UK Limited under UN funding: here.

The European Union will allow its military intervention force off Somalia to attack the country’s coastal territory as part of efforts to rein in piracy, it announced today: here.

Somalia war wrecks Kenyan economy

This video is called Somali refugees wishing for quick end to war.

From the Nairobi Star in Kenya:

Kenya: War Taking Its Toll On Budget – Kinyua

By Francis Mureithi, 5 March 2012

The government has admitted that war in Somalia is putting pressure on the country’s economy and putting challenges to implementation of the budget read last June.

In a letter by Finance Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua to all ministries, the government has also conceded that that the raise of salaries for the military effected last June, the cost of implementing the new Constitution, high inflation rates and the weakening of the shilling against major foreign currencies had put major challenges to implementation of the budget.

Kenya nurses strike despite mass dismissals: here.

A lawmaker in Somali parliament has accused Kenyan military serving under AMISOM and Ras Kamboni fighters of committing crimes against humanity in Kismayo city: here.

Somalia: Jubaland State – Kenya Is Backing Warlords Against Peace: here.

Rising xenophobia against Somalis in Kenya: here.

Related articles

• Kenya army ‘rampages’ over deaths (bbc.co.uk)
• Nairobi’s streets run red with blood as Kenyan and Somali mobs clash after deadly bus attack (news.nationalpost.com)
• Ethnic Somalis in Kenyan capital blamed for bombing minibus – Christian Science Monitor (csmonitor.com)

Britain’s Somalia war for oil, not humanitarianism

This video is called Somalia‘s vast oil and gas reserve proof.

By Paddy McGuffin in Britain:

Britain accused of Somali oil grab

Sunday 26 February 2012

Britain is engaged in a secret oil grab in Somalia under the guise of humanitarian aid and security assistance, a Sunday newspaper alleged today.

Suspicions have long been held that – as with previous interventions in Iraq and elsewhere – Somalia‘s mineral reserves may be the main reason that Western powers have begun to focus so sharply on the situation in the war-torn east African country.

PM David Cameron hosted an international summit in London last week pledging more aid and the use of greater measures to tackle terrorism.

But the Observer said yesterday it had evidence that behind-the-scenes talks were proceeding between British and Somalian officials over the country’s oil.

The paper quoted Somalian Minister for International Co-operation Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi as saying: “We have spoken to a number of UK officials. Some have offered to help us with the future management of oil reserves.”

He also suggested the country was looking to British oil giant BP as a potential partner.

Chatham House analyst Adjoa Anyimadu warned that there was “already a lot of scepticism from parts of the Somalian community about the reasons for the sudden focus on Somalia” from countries such as Britain.

And Amnesty International said the London Conference on Somalia had not adequately tackled the dire human rights situation in the country which is threatening the lives of civilians including children.

Amnesty International’s Somalia researcher Benedicte Goderiaux said: “The recent surge in military operations increases civilians’ vulnerability to attacks and displacement and brings more arms into a country already awash with weapons.

“This is a lethal mix that could fuel further human rights abuses.

“At this conference we hoped to see more efforts to improve the safety of the Somali population.”

The Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, Giorgio Bertini has said that the military intervention does not solve much concerning Somalia crisis: here.

Britain considers air strikes against Somali insurgents: here.

The international conference on Somalia, hosted by the UK last week, was aimed at shoring up the legitimacy and providing a veneer of respectability to the new government selected—not elected—in September: here.

A History of Violence: the BP Oil Spill Trial. Brentin Mock, Bridge the Gulf: “U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier decided that in the civil trial against BP for their oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil company’s history of accidents and poor safety records won’t be admissible as evidence…. Poor folks in New Orleans and across the Gulf who are the victims and the accused of crimes don’t have the luxuries of BP to have their histories buried. That is evidence alone that there is inequity in the justice system”: here.

BP chief Bob Dudley gets $1.6m payout for ‘turning around company’: here.

ScienceDaily (Mar. 26, 2012) — Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to NOAA marine mammal biologists and their local, state, federal and other research partners: here.

Related articles

• British conference to cement carve-up of Somalia (ismailwarsame.wordpress.com)
• What hope for peace? Greed, grievance and protracted conflict in Somalia (ismailwarsame.wordpress.com)

Somalia conference not bringing peace

This video from Britain is called Dahabo Isse [from Somalia] – People’s Assembly 20th March 2007.

By Paddy McGuffin in England:

‘The stench of hypocrisy’

Thursday 23 February 2012

An international summit on Somalia in London today will do nothing to ease the plight of the Somali people and carries the “stench of hypocrisy,” peace campaigners claimed today.

Representatives of more than 50 countries and international organisations attended the event at Lancaster House, including United Nations secretary general Ban Ki Moon, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and the leaders of neighbouring African nations.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was in the interests of the international community to help restore stability after two decades of turmoil.

…

He welcomed the decision by the UN security council to increase the strength of the African Union force in the country from 12,000 to 17,700 troops.

But Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German said: “They are pretending that the Western-backed government has legitimacy and made things more stable. But all the evidence shows that Western-backed interventions have contributed to instability.

“There is a massive amount of intervention already going on and this event has the stench of hypocrisy.

“This is yet another example of the government thinking it has the right to dictate what’s happening in other countries when it might be better concentrating on domestic problems.”

See also here. And here.

Somali government officials said today that at least six people were killed in an overnight air raid a day after world leaders in London said the war-torn country should “quickly form a stable government”: here.

Ethiopian invaders kill Somali civilians

From Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu, Somalia):

Somalia: Ethiopian Troops ‘Kill Civilians’ in Central Somalia

24 January 2012

Mogadishu — The Ethiopian troops in the town of Beledweyn in Hiran region, central Somalia have deliberately shot and killed at least three civilians over Al-shabab suspicion, reports said on Tuesday.

Shabelle Media reporter in the town say, the Ethiopian soldiers have separately killed on Tuesday afternoon three persons, including teenagers and a well-known businessman, whom they blamed to have links with Al-shabab militants.

The Ethiopian military officials in Beledweyn town, the capital city of Hiran region in central Somalia said that they killed three Al-shabab fighters, promising further hunting down and operations against the remnants of Al-shabab in the town.

Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Enter Gedo Region: here.

February 2012: Survival International has uncovered shocking new evidence of human rights abuses against tribes in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, as government efforts to develop lucrative sugar cane plantations in the region intensify: here.

Somalia, Kenya’s Vietnam?

By Simon Allison, in the Daily Nation in Kenya:

Somalia may be Kenya’s Afghanistan

January 24, 2012

Kenya just doesn’t seem to get it. Lost in the minutiae of military detail, a Kenyan army colonel claimed they were at the halfway point of their mission to rid Somalia of Al Shabaab. Have they learnt nothing from Afghanistan? Iraq? Vietnam? Weapons don’t win wars any more, and until Kenya and its African allies figure out a political solution, Al Shabaab isn’t going anywhere. …

But this war is not just about military might. Iraq is a rather instructive example. War has changed in the last century and possession of the biggest guns is no longer sufficient to guarantee victory. America went into Iraq in 2003 with the most fearsome military this world has ever seen, effortlessly swatting away Saddam Hussein’s ill-equipped and poorly motivated army. But, as Bush was to discover, this conventional dominance couldn’t win the war and certainly couldn’t keep the peace.

From the Nairobi Star in Kenya:

15 Soldiers Killed in 100 Days

By Dominic Wabala, 30 January 2012

Two majors and four lieutenants are among 15 Kenya Defence Forces officers who have been killed in the last 100 days since Kenya sent its troops to Somalia. In their quest to take over Dhobley, Ras Kamboni, Beles Qooqani, Tabda, Amuma, Buale, Dheere, Oddo, Fafadun, Afmadhow, Afgoye, Jilib, Dinsoor and Bardheere, Kenyan troops have paid the ultimate price.

Afghanistan: NATO’s Lost Cause: Specter Of Defeat, Another Vietnam-Like Scenario, Looming Large: here.