NationStates Jolt Archive

One of Somalia's hardline Islamist leaders and the information minister have both told Osama Bin Laden not to interfere in Somalia's affairs.

The al-Qaeda leader on Thursday called for Somalia's president to be toppled.
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, who denies US charges he has links to al-Qaeda, has been reported as saying only Somalis should decide on their future.
Information Minister Farahan Ali Mohamoud said Bin Laden should concentrate on his own survival.
:D


"We know that bin Laden has his own problems in the mountainous area of Tora Bora where he is hiding, so he has no place making such statements at a time when Somalia is keen to emerge from 21 years violence," the AFP news agency quotes the information minister as saying.

Rest of the article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7954670.stm

If even hardline Islamist leaders in Somalia are not only ignoring, but actively rejecting, Bin Laden's calls for continued war - then it would appear even these groups have gotten pissed off with Al-Qaeda. This has to be progress in the region, and also shows that even non moderate Muslims are tired of his... er, shenanigans.

Osama Bin Laden: The George W. Bush of the Muslim World. ;)

This has to be progress in the region, and also shows that even non moderate Muslims are tired of his... er, shenanigans.

And who can blame them? On some level they must be aware that if it weren't for Bin Laden, there wouldn't be so damn many Americans swarming into the Middle East. From their point of view that's interference, and they may well be concerned that if Bin laden becomes actively involved in Somalia, the Americans probably will, too.

And who can blame them? On some level they must be aware that if it weren't for Bin Laden, there wouldn't be so damn many Americans swarming into the Middle East. From their point of view that's interference, and they may well be concerned that if Bin laden becomes actively involved in Somalia, the Americans probably will, too.

I suggest a different reason.

If Bin Laden's men come in, and take over, the current leaders are dead. They'll be executed for not being "whatever" enough.

The US is not likely to get into Somalia, especially in today's political climate.

I suggest a different reason.

If Bin Laden's men come in, and take over, the current leaders are dead. They'll be executed for not being "whatever" enough.

The US is not likely to get into Somalia, especially in today's political climate.

I wouldn't think Bin Laden would have a lot of support there, or enough men to take over an already heavily armed country. It can't hurt to distance yourself from Bin Laden if you don't want a bomb shoved up your ass, even though Americans getting involved in Somalia seems unlikely, theres nothing stopping us form launching some missiles, or dropping a few bombs.

It can only be a good thing, Bin Laden isn't likely to help stop violence there by interfering. I don't think that they really think that the Americans would invade, but they want to end the infighting, and he would probably just start it up again.

Either way, the thought of Bin Laden becoming a pariah in the Islamic world tickles me.

If it becomes a trend he may soon start feeling the crunch as he loses support and legitimacy among those whom he was always able to count on before. Lower recruiting, lower cash donations, reduced ability to get his message out.

Actually, I think that's even better than his getting killed by Marines. If the military catches him now and kills him, he's a martyr. If it goes the other way and he fades away, he loses all power.

I think its the prospect of having the assistance of well armed and experienced fighters that encourages certain groups in the Middle East to welcome Al-Qaeda and its factions. However, as soon as they realise the reality of what it means to have the same people actually running your country they seem to get alienated pretty quickly, like the tribal leaders in Anbar. Accepting Al-Qaeda's help seemed like an effective way to fight the US, but things changed pretty quickly when they started chopping off people's fingers for smoking.

:D



Rest of the article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7954670.stm

If even hardline Islamist leaders in Somalia are not only ignoring, but actively rejecting, Bin Laden's calls for continued war - then it would appear even these groups have gotten pissed off with Al-Qaeda. This has to be progress in the region, and also shows that even non moderate Muslims are tired of his... er, shenanigans.


Maybe we should write them back. They have a return address.

"We know that bin Laden has his own problems in the mountainous area of Tora Bora where he is hiding, so he has no place making such statements at a time when Somalia is keen to emerge from 21 years violence," the AFP news agency quotes the information minister as saying.

What did you expect? Where Bin Laden is, things tend to explode.

This does not surprise me. Hardline this cleric may be, but unless he's one of those who checked his brain at the door when he embraced Islam (and there are always such, in all religions) he has to see that everything al Qaeda has done has resulted in just the opposite of what they wanted.

Israel has a basically free hand when dealing with Hamas.

There are massively MORE western "crusaders" in the Holy Land then before.

One of two Islamic Theocracies has effectively ceased to exist.

And an entire generation of militants has been flushed down the drain in Iraq.

Al Qaeda is, in every aim, failing.

Either way, the thought of Bin Laden becoming a pariah in the Islamic world tickles me.


This isn't an example of bin Ladin being a pariah, though.

This is an example of a group doing some pretty fucked-up shit, and getting away with it - so far.... but being conscious of the fact that bin Ladin is a magnet. If they want to keep doing fucked-up shit, and if we're going to keep turning a blind-eye - they can support Osama all they like, they just can't be SEEN to be being his followers.

Just proof that Cheney won the War on Terror...

*nods*

Just proof that Cheney won the War on Terror...

*nods*

Yep. He claimed all the terror for himself. ;)

Osama Bin Laden: The George W. Bush of the Muslim World. ;)

... I would rather the Phred Phelps of the Muslim World.

... I would rather the Phred Phelps of the Muslim World.

You know, if he stood in front of funerals and schools waving offensive signs, I bet a lot fewer people would want him dead. Some still would. :)

I don't understand why Bin Laden wants the president toppled...

I don't understand why Bin Laden wants the president toppled...

Because destabilizing governments is part of Al Qaeda's strategy for gaining political power.

I don't understand why Bin Laden wants the president toppled...

Pawns.

The important thing is 'face time'. Even if he has to rail against the cookie stall at a church fete next year, there'll still be another bin Ladin video.

Presidents are irrelevant in this equation.

But the new Somali president has agreed to instutute Sharia law, and it's not like there's a functioning government to topple at present anyway... It just makes no sense to go after Somalia at this point in time.