NationStates Jolt Archive

US special envoy Jendayi Frazer, taking part in an international meeting in Nairobi (Kenya) regarding the situation in Somalia, has stated that it would be a good idea to negotiate with the Union of Islamic Courts, the Islamist movement currently battling the Somali interim government.

Frazer has said that the UIC has experience governing Mogadishu, and was able to impose order there, suggesting that the UIC could make useful suggestions to the Somali government (which recently seized control of Mogadishu away from the Islamists).

The fighting started when the interim government in the city of Baidoa relied on Ethiopian military forces to support it, and the UIC vowed to throw the Ethiopian "invaders" out of the country.

The UIC took control of Mogadishu several months ago, imposing harsh but effective Islamist law and order, expelling the warlords who for 15 years had been battling one another within the city.

Right now it's Frazer's suggestion I find interesting. Is the US making a U-turn? Adopting a pragmatic approach? Or will Bush reject the suggestion?

Source / more information here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/fr/nouvelles/monde/20070107-somalie-islamistes-chasses-ras-kamboni.html) (in French, video).

Hey, if diplomacy works with them, go for it. I wouldn't bet the farm that it would work, though.

Since Islamist =/= terrorist for the most part, I'm all for it.

Since Islamist =/= terrorist for the most part, I'm all for it.

The point is that the US has accused the UIC of having "links to Al Qaeda", but now says "Hey, these people can give the Somalis useful advice on how to run a government!"

I find it mildly puzzling, which is why I'm interested in getting reactions here.

The point is that the US has accused the UIC of having "links to Al Qaeda", but now says "Hey, these people can give the Somalis useful advice on how to run a government!"

I find it mildly puzzling, which is why I'm interested in getting reactions here.

Welcome to the wide world of American Realism, which gladly makes use of anyone, so long as it accomplishes a tolerable aim. A concept whose high point was when we made use of the monster of the 20th century to knock down another, almost equally distasteful monster.

The UIC is not a uniform, centralized organization.

Less uniform, centralized, and so forth, then the GOP.

As such it's possible for one court to be a bunch of television-bannin whackos and for another one to be rather sane.

It's not a bad idea. Turncoats and conquered government officials have been used to pacify local populations since Alexander's time.