Al Qaeda and its affiliates have made Somalia a major focus of their combative jihad and their gains are alarming, according to the State Department of the United States. Their goal is to take the country over and free it from their definition of oppression.
Yesterday, a state department official said the U.S. is providing Somalia government with urgent aid:
The State Department said Thursday the United States is providing urgent military aid to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, the TFG, to help it repel what is termed an "onslaught" by Islamist rebels. U.S. officials are also renewing their criticism of alleged Eritrean support for Somali extremists.
The announcement follows an urgent call for military help from the government, which has been fighting Islamist militias accused of links to al-Qaeda.
The insurgents control swathes of Somalia and US officials have been alarmed at their gains, analysts say. .
Did the U.S. go to the U.N. to seek agreement and consensus with other countries first? I'm extremely curious if aid is also being provided by other countries or if we have to act unilaterally on this issue. If you recall, unilateral action by President Bush against Islamic extremism was soundly and often criticized by the left.
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Related:
State Department Briefing by Ian Kelly, June 25, 2009
QUESTION: As you know, the UN Security Council has had a longstanding ban on arms shipments to Somalia. But I believe in May, they, I think, passed a resolution that would allow for this, provided that such shipments were approved by the relevant UN committee. Did the United States seek and obtain the approval of the committee and, therefore, this does not in any way violate UN resolutions?
MR. KELLY: Well, Arshad, it’s my understanding that all this assistance is provided in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
SOMALIA: UN calls for improved access to the displaced
