Wow, LONG NY Times article on Somalian jihadist movement in Minnesota

[BleedGopher]

The STrib ran a few well-done indepth pieces on this movement a month or two ago, and now the NY Times did a huge investigative piece as well. How big of a concern is this for us in our country and in particular in our state?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/us/12somalis.html?_r=1

Go Gophers!!

[JPIIGopher]

Over the last five years I have worked with members of the somalian community and have gotten to know a few of them pretty well. I've asked them about the recent stories that have run in the strib and the national press and whether we should be worried about people being blown up in the US. They thought that was ricduculous. My sense was that this was more about Somali nationalism than any kind of jihad against the US.

It's interesting to me how the goverment gets all worked up about 20 guys that leave to fight in a war in their homeland. To play the al-queda card seems absurd.

[JPIIGopher]

A quote from the NYT's story:


In 2006, an Islamist movement swept through Somalia and seized control, giving the country its first taste of peace in a generation.

The group, known as the Islamic Courts Union, promised to end 15 years of internecine violence by uniting Somalia’s clans under the banner of Islam. Key ports were reopened, and order was restored to the capital, Mogadishu.

In Washington, officials of the Bush administration saw a threat to East African stability. Hard-line factions of the Courts were thought to be sheltering Qaeda operatives and had declared a jihad against neighboring Ethiopia, a predominantly Christian country. In December 2006, Ethiopian troops crossed the border and routed the Islamist forces with intelligence support from the United States, beginning a two-year occupation.


This is classic Bush war doctrine. We think you might be sheltering Al-Queda operatives. Therefore, we will come to the aid of Ethopia, fund them with supplies and intel, and let them rape and pilage somlia. And we wonder why young men here have felt galvenized to fight.

[oak_street1981]

A quote from the NYT's story:




This is classic Bush war doctrine. We think you might be sheltering Al-Queda operatives. Therefore, we will come to the aid of Ethopia, fund them with supplies and intel, and let them rape and pilage somlia. And we wonder why young men here have felt galvenized to fight.

isn't exactly a moderate position.

Maybe you should re-think that one, or at least read a couple of the great Ayaan Hirsi Ali's books.

She would chew you and your silly positons up and spit them out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayan_Hirsi_Ali

[bga1]

Over the last five years I have worked with members of the somalian community and have gotten to know a few of them pretty well. I've asked them about the recent stories that have run in the strib and the national press and whether we should be worried about people being blown up in the US. They thought that was ricduculous. My sense was that this was more about Somali nationalism than any kind of jihad against the US.

It's interesting to me how the goverment gets all worked up about 20 guys that leave to fight in a war in their homeland. To play the al-queda card seems absurd.

No kidding! You know a few Somalians and they say it's no problem. GREAT! Case closed, shut 'er down, JPIIGopher has it solved. Back to sleep.

Edit- Wasn't it about 20 jihadists that shut down America for a few days and murdered 3000+ Americans? Why get all worked up over 20 guys?