While the Pentagon defended international military action against the Somali pirates today, and India also said that they will expand their offensives (after successfully blowing up one of the pirate ships in the Gulf of Aden), the pirates themselves -- from northern coastal towns like Haradhere, Eyl and Bossaso -- seem content with their efforts toward a better life.
New Somali businesses are actually thriving through the use of the $30 million in ransoms they've obtained from the 95 hijackings this year. And the treatment of hostages seems surprisingly well, by "hiring caterers on shore to cook spaghetti, grilled fish and roasted meat that will appeal to Western palates."
So is this a case of mere ruthless Islamic terrorist thuggery in a country where the life expectancy is 46 years, or a simple case of natural selection, where men are taking advantage of the millions of dollars in transported goods being shipped just off the coast of their country, one of the poorest in the world.
"Regardless of how the money is coming in — legally or illegally — I can say it has started a life in our town," said Shamso Moalim, a 36-year-old mother of five in Haradhere.
"Our children are not worrying about food now, and they go to Islamic schools in the morning and play soccer in the afternoon. They are happy."
Situation Elsewhere
But outside of these pirate villages, people are experiencing some of the worst conditions in all of Africa.
Without a functioning government since 1991, United Nations officials who specialize in Somalia said the country had higher malnutrition rates, more current bloodshed and fewer aid workers than Darfur -- often considered the most dire humanitarian crisis worldwide.
In some of the worst areas in the country, like Afgooye, recent surveys said the malnutrition rate is 19 percent, compared with about 13 percent in Darfur. The UN considers 15 percent to be the emergency threshold.
The UN also concedes that Somalia was in better shape during the brief reign of the country's Islamist movement in 2007, considered by many as Somalia's "golden years," but which was overthrown with the help of U.S. dollars.
The total amount of U.S. humanitarian assistance committed to Somalia in the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years exceeded $95 million, USAID said. And Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice pledged an additional $16.575 million in early 2008.
But in comparison to the amounts that the U.S. has given to Sudan and eastern Chad, these numbers are paltry. In the fiscal year 2008, the U.S. gave $1.27 billion in humanitarian aid to these neighboring areas.
An end or a beginning?
With the recent capture of a Saudi oil tanker worth more than $100 million, and with hunting grounds for more treasure reaching about 1 million square miles (roughly four times the size of Texas) these small-time crooks may be encouraged to turn their modest efforts into a full-time, well-funded endeavor. And perhaps the international community will recognize that the 11 ships attacked over the last week is not a cry for military action but a cry to save a country from its impending doom.
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Is Osama Bin Laden using some old connections to get out of Pakistan? Far fetched you may think but get to know your history before you say no chance.
When Russia invaded Afghanistan, Bin Laden helped the Mujahadeen (7 known splinter groups) by recruiting fellow Muslim freedom fighters from around the globe. Our intel concluded 44 different Countries had people volunteer, mostly Middle East and North Africa, and yes, including Somalia.
Bin Laden also owned a type of Travel Agency with a business partner (he had him killed in 89). This Travel Agency was for the sole purpose of transporting these volunteers into the area. Maktab Alkida mat was the name of the Agency. As you can see, Al Qeada was part of this name in a sense. This Agency was started in 1981 or 82 depending on which intel you see.
Bin Laden was able to use his wealth to invest in shipping for the transportation. One route would pick people up by starting in Tanzania and going up thru Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, past Oman and right to Karachi Pakistan, home of the World Islamic Council, which by the way was funded and created in 1949 with the help of Saudi Arabia.
Look at Somalia today and you see a destablized governement where in many parts they are trying to instill Suria law just like the Taliban likes. Look at the Pirate activity and their ability to use mother ships for reaching out. Add in the sudden increase in this activity, could it be a distraction for all the Navies in the area?
Now throw in the closing of supply routes thru Pakistan lately for ease of movement. Don't forget the possibility of bribes for some people in Pakistan to look the other way while he slips into a small pleasure boat or fishing boat to get out to Sea and board a larger vessel, which of course would not be one used for Pirating.
Do you still think this is far fetched? Want more? Let me know how wrong I am by going thru my rerouted e-mail at maynardmaynardl88@yahoo.com and let's see where we get Bin Laden and Aymen Al-Zawahiri and maybe even Mullah Omar and who breaks the story. Go get en Blackwater, then give me a small portion of the REWARD, Good day.
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