Somalia.

This is coolbert:

Well, the defeat of the Islamists in Somalia seems to complete. A rout with the jihadi fleeing to where ever they can. Kenya and presumably other parts of the Swahili Coast. U.S. Navy ships ARE in the area to block retreat by sea!

"On Friday, U.S. warships patrolled offshore to prevent militiamen from escaping by sea."

"The U.S. 5th Fleet said vessels were being boarded to look for militants, including three al-Qaeda suspects wanted for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa."

This victory for the Ethiopians is not being taken gracefully by the Somali. They are today "demonstrating" and telling the Ethiopian forces to GO.

Ethiopia is a POOR country and CANNOT afford a prolonged stay, and does not want one anyhow. NO long term presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia. A peacekeeping force of 8,000 African troops are slated to take over the role of the Ethiopians. But when will that begin?

[the Blackhawk Down mission as shown in the movie of the same name was the result of a previous peacekeeping mission by U.N. forces. Escalated when Somali militiamen captured twenty four Pakistani peacekeepers, doused them with kerosene, and burned them all to death!! The Somali does not like ANY outsider!!]

The Islamists were seen by MANY [??] in Somalia as a stabilizing force?? The fear is that now the various warlords will return, to a city [Mogadishu], and a nation that is "awash" with all manner of weaponry.

For fifteen years Somalia has been in a state of anarchy or near anarchy. It is hard to see how ANYONE can restore order and rule in an able manner.

Only yesterday, Zawahiri, the Al Qaeda # 2, has urged the jihadists to fight the "crusaders". Well, Ayman is always telling others what to do. But then, HE IS listened to??

"Somalia's Islamists vow to heed al-Qaeda"

This "thing" in Somalia is far from over.

coolbert.