Posted on 05/16/2009 1:00:22 PM PDT by Cindy
May 16, 2009
SNIPPET: "There have been a number of reports of foreign fighters, with possible links to al-Qaeda, fighting alongside hardline Islamists of al-Shabaab and Hisbul-Islam, said Mr Carson, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
"We're extremely worried about the reports."
"There seem to be fairly serious and creditable reports that al Shabaab does have, amongst its fighters, a number of individuals of South Asian and Chechen origin," said Mr Carson.
"This is a very disturbing situation and reflects the seriousness of the problem in Somalia."
Mr Carson also expressed concern about flights from Eritrea were carrying weapons and ammunition to Somalia to supply al-Shabaab.
"There have been numerous reports that the government of Eritrea has, in fact, been supplying weapons and munitions to al-Shabaab.
"These are reports that we do find credible," he said...
(Excerpt) Read more at jihadwatch.org ...
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026070.php
(GAROWE ONLINE, May 11, 2009)
May 11, 2009
“Somali jihadist group makes gains in Mogadishu with help of “foreign fighters””
MOGADISHU, Somalia May 11 (Garowe Online) -
SNIPPET: “Sheikh Hassan Mahdi, a senior member of Hizbul Islam faction, said Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam fighters jointly captured the ex-Defense Ministry building, Stadium Mogadishu and Wardhigley police station from ICU militias, who were forced to flee.”
SNIPPET: “Further, the Islamist hardliners now control both Industry Road and 30th Avenue, two important roads in Mogadishu.
‘Ties to Al Qaeda’
Somali Security Minister Omar Hashi told reporters that foreigners were fighting alongside Al Shabaab guerrillas in Mogadishu.
“The government will fight against any group that opposes peace…Foreigners are fighting for Al Shabaab,” the Security Minister alleged....”
Just a tad bit off (thread) topic:
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2248686/posts
Somali pirates guided by London intelligence team
Guardian News and Media Limited ^ | Monday 11 May 2009 12.59 BST | Giles Tremlett
Posted on May 11, 2009 12:02:25 PM PDT by gandalftb
The Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are directed to their targets by a “consultant” team in London, according to European military intelligence.
Pirate groups have “well-placed informers” in London who are in regular contact with control centres in Somalia where decisions on which vessels to attack are made. These London-based “consultants” help the pirates select targets, providing information on the ships’ cargoes and courses.
In at least one case the pirates have remained in contact with their London informants from the hijacked ship, according to one targeted shipping company.
The pirates’ information network extends to Yemen, Dubai and the Suez canal.
This enables the more organised pirate groups to study their targets in advance, even spending several days training teams for specific hijacks. Senior pirates then join the vessel once it has been sailed close to Somalia.
Captains of attacked ships have found that pirates know everything from the layout of the vessel to its ports of call. Vessels targeted as a result of this kind of intelligence included the Greek cargo ship Titan, the Turkish merchant ship Karagol and the Spanish trawler Felipe Ruano.
In each case, says the document, the pirates had full knowledge of the cargo, nationality and course of the vessel.
The national flag of a ship is also taken into account when choosing a target, with British vessels being increasingly avoided, according to the report.
European countries have set up Operation Atalanta to co-ordinate their military efforts in the area.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
the Ethiopian army would be a good place to donate money to IMO.
Eritrea should be returned to Eithiopian hands.
I find these allegations particularly disturbing - assuming they are true (?).
I have no evidence (from reports online) that show the GOVERNMENT of Eritrea has been doing this.
However, I quote from the articles and will update if updates become available.
OPINION:
At this point in time, I agree.
stepping back in time...
QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232637/posts
Israelis warn of Eritrea flashpoint
The Times ^ | 4/19/2009 | Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv
Posted on April 19, 2009 12:09:07 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
Security sources say Israel and Iran are conducting rival intelligence operations in Eritrea, the poor African state on the Red Sea.
The Israelis fear Eritrea could be a flashpoint if Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to ship arms to militants in Gaza via the Eritrean port of Assab. Israel is said to have two Eritrean bases, one a “listening post” for signals intelligence, the other a supply base for its German-built submarines.
In Sudan in February, Israeli drones thought to be based in Eritrea attacked an arms convoy bound for Hamas militants in Gaza, and several Revolutionary Guards escorting the convoy were reportedly killed.
Since 1993, when he received medical treatment in Israel, the Eritrean dictator, President Isaias Afewerki, has had a low-key relationship with the country. Butlast year a state visit he made to Tehran thawed relations with Iran, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sang Afewerki’s praises. To Israel’s dismay, he announced closer economic and trade ties with Iran, and military ties followed suit. The Iranians have now established a naval base overlooking the Bab el Mandeb strait, through which 3.3m barrels of oil flow every day.
“Afewerki changed sides,” said Albert Katznelbogen, an Israeli businessman and former friend of the president. “Nothing moves in Eritrea without his say-so; he needs money, so the Iranians went in.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, describes Iran as “the biggest threat to Israel”, and the two vie for influence in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
It emerged last week that Iran funded a terrorist network in Egypt, so Cairo is likely to become a staunch Israeli ally. Israel’s overseas intelligence agency, Mossad, told its Egyptian counterpart an Iranian network was planning to attack US and Israeli tourists and shipping, through Hezbollah in Lebanon. Forty-nine suspects have been arrested.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
"“Afewerki changed sides,” said Albert Katznelbogen, an Israeli businessman and former friend of the president. “Nothing moves in Eritrea without his say-so; he needs money, so the Iranians went in.”"
Hmmm...More of a mess here than I recalled from reading. So, at this time...I have no opinion on any of this.
A Look at Iran
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki is suffering from psychiatric disorder.
He certainly is. A monumental failure of freedom for the Eritrean people. A crazy regime-—on a par with North Korea and Zimbabwe and Turkey.
If that is indeed the case, Afewerki is probably doing this to try to spite Ethiopia. However, as pointed out in the thread, his regime has established ties with Iran, so he may be doing this as a favor for Tehran. Then again, maybe it’s both.
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