government outreach to the Somali community: “ total failure."

[chanel]

...a new batch of al-Shabaab recruits from Minnesota and Ohio have left the country to join the terrorist group.

Confirmation of this new crop of al-Shabaab recruits comes from award-winning Kenyan journalist Fatuma Noor, who met up with the ten new recruits ranging in age from 17 to 24 years old in Nairobi and then Northern Kenya as they were on their way to cross the border into Somalia. Noor just won the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist award for 2011 for her past work interviewing Western al-Shabaab recruits. In her current three-part series in the Nairobi Star, she also recounts her travel with the recruits to the Somali border, and how she was almost killed by al-Shabaab in Somalia for violating Islamic law by traveling without a chaperone with men who were not her relatives (only to be saved by the al-Shabaab recruits).

This week I called several FBI field offices that regularly handle Somali-related terrorism issues. I was told by one official, “This is the first we’re hearing about it.”

Another official said that this news “represents a complete and utter breakdown in our outreach to the Somali community”:

To have even more of these kids leave the country right under our noses without a word from the people we are working with who are supposed to be our eyes and ears means that all of this outreach over the past few years is a total failure. It doesn’t help that those we are working with are the ones recruiting these kids to go fight. … Everyone in the Muslim community and mainstream media who vilified [Rep.] Peter King and the House Homeland Security Committee who tried to look into this problem owe them a major apology.

Pajamas Media » Somali-Americans from Minnesota Leave to Wage Jihad with Al-Shabaab Terror Group

Surprised?

 

[High_Gravity]

This has been going on for some time, I really don't see what appeal this jihad in Somalia has for these young men, I just don't get it.The scary thing is they are being radicilized right here on our soil before they go over there.

 

[chanel]

Yes. And that's the problem:

In her article, Noor identifies some of the American Somalis in the group:

* Nuno Ahmed from Minneapolis, who says that he’s joining al-Shabaab because “young people like me are needed there to protect our country.”
* Abikar Mohamed from Minneapolis, who states that “we are here to protect Islam and we are going to do that at all cost.”
* Abdirahman Gullet from Minneapolis, who took inspiration from his friend Burhan Hassan and Shirwa Ahmed, both of whom died with al-Shabaab (Burhan while fighting with the group, Ahmed in a suicide bombing).
* Adan Hussein from Minneapolis, who acknowledges that he “might die protecting my religion, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.” He also says that their trips were funded by some of their community elders.
* Abdinassir Osman from Ohio, who graduated from high school and joined a gang and now hopes his service with al-Shabaab will make up for any past wrongs he may have made.
* Ali Mohamud from Ohio, who decided to join up after listening to stories and exhortations from his mosque elders.

And lest we not forget that Americans were killed by this group:

An al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group claimed responsibility Monday for twin bombings in Uganda that killed 74 people watching the World Cup final on TV, saying the militants would carry out attacks "against our enemy" wherever they are.

Several Americans from a Pennsylvania church group were wounded in the restaurant attack, including Kris Sledge, 18, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

San Diego-based group Invisible Children, which helps child soldiers, identified the dead American as former aid worker Nate Henn.

At the time of the blasts, Henn was in Uganda visiting his aunt, NBC News reported. Henn had previously volunteered in Uganda, NBC said.

"He sacrificed his comfort to live in the humble service of God and of a better world," the group said.

Al-Qaida-linked group claims Uganda blasts - World news - Africa - msnbc.com

Do you think they will try to return?

 

[High_Gravity]

Yes. And that's the problem:

In her article, Noor identifies some of the American Somalis in the group:

* Nuno Ahmed from Minneapolis, who says that he’s joining al-Shabaab because “young people like me are needed there to protect our country.”
* Abikar Mohamed from Minneapolis, who states that “we are here to protect Islam and we are going to do that at all cost.”
* Abdirahman Gullet from Minneapolis, who took inspiration from his friend Burhan Hassan and Shirwa Ahmed, both of whom died with al-Shabaab (Burhan while fighting with the group, Ahmed in a suicide bombing).
* Adan Hussein from Minneapolis, who acknowledges that he “might die protecting my religion, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.” He also says that their trips were funded by some of their community elders.
* Abdinassir Osman from Ohio, who graduated from high school and joined a gang and now hopes his service with al-Shabaab will make up for any past wrongs he may have made.
* Ali Mohamud from Ohio, who decided to join up after listening to stories and exhortations from his mosque elders.

And lest we not forget that Americans were killed by this group:

An al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group claimed responsibility Monday for twin bombings in Uganda that killed 74 people watching the World Cup final on TV, saying the militants would carry out attacks "against our enemy" wherever they are.

Several Americans from a Pennsylvania church group were wounded in the restaurant attack, including Kris Sledge, 18, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

San Diego-based group Invisible Children, which helps child soldiers, identified the dead American as former aid worker Nate Henn.

At the time of the blasts, Henn was in Uganda visiting his aunt, NBC News reported. Henn had previously volunteered in Uganda, NBC said.

"He sacrificed his comfort to live in the humble service of God and of a better world," the group said.

Al-Qaida-linked group claims Uganda blasts - World news - Africa - msnbc.com

Do you think they will try to return?

I think we really need to start watching who we let into our country, even though we have taken in alot of Somalia refugees in our country and given them many opportunities here, it still seems like many of them feel disconnected to this culture and are drawn to radical Islam and want to fight with the Al Shabab, Somalis in general seem to be very easily influenced by terrorists and radical Islam, which is a worrying sign. I was watching a segment on television about this Al Shabab group, they actually have 2 white American Muslim converts who went to Somalia to fight with them, one of them was from Daphne Alabama, I think the future ground in the war on terror will involve these guys. Al Shabab are armed, financed, trained and mentored by other Radical Muslims in the Middle East to do their dirty work for them.

 

[chanel]

There are so many questions here. Didn't it attract anyone's attention that ANOTHER group from the same area in MN was traveling there? Did they travel together? Buy one way tickets?

The fact that they are affiliated with Al Qaeda should concern everyone. It's just a matter of time before they start asking for a reciprocal terrorism agreement here in the states.

 

[waltky]

Help to African famine victims...

White House Announces $105 Million More in Aid to Horn of Africa, Total $565 Million
Monday, August 08, 2011 – Just hours after President Barack Obama said on Monday that the United States does not need a credit rating agency to tell us we need a “balanced, long-term approach to deficit reduction,” the White House announced that an additional $105 million in humanitarian aid for the Horn of Africa had been approved by Obama.

The announcement said the additional funds bring the total humanitarian aid provided by the United States “this year alone” to $565 million. The funds are being used for “food, health, shelter, water and sanitation assistance.” The Horn of Africa is on the eastern coast, a peninsula that juts into the Arabian Sea below Yemen. The African states there include Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

“Amid the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years, the United Nations has declared that famine now affects five regions in Somalia and predicts that famine could soon expand throughout southern Somalia,” the announcement stated. “Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the famine and seeking refuge in Kenya and Ethiopia, which are also affected by the drought.” “According to the United Nations, more than 12.4 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,” said the announcement.

The vice president’s wife, Jill Biden, is in Kenya this week to visit a refugee camp where thousands of Somalis are living, the White House said. Mrs. Biden will meet with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to discuss how the United States can work with international partners on the humanitarian crisis in Africa, the press release on Mrs.Biden’s trip stated.

White House Announces $105 Million More in Aid to Horn of Africa, Total $565 Million | CNSnews.com

 

[waltky]

Would imagine al-Shabaab behind this...

AP: Somalia famine aid stolen, UN investigating
August 15, 2011 — Sacks of grain, peanut butter snacks and other food staples meant for starving Somalis are being stolen and sold in markets, an Associated Press investigation has found, raising concerns that thieving businessmen are undermining international famine relief efforts in this nearly lawless country.

The U.N.'s World Food Program acknowledged for the first time that it has been investigating food theft in Somalia for two months. The WFP strongly condemned any diversion of "even the smallest amount of food from starving and vulnerable Somalis." Underscoring the perilous security throughout the food distribution chain, donated food is not even safe once it has been given to the hungry in the makeshift camps popping up around the capital of Mogadishu. Families at the large, government-run Badbado camp, where several aid groups distribute food, said they were often forced to hand back aid after journalists had taken photos of them with it.

"They tell us they will keep it for us and force us to give them our food," said refugee Halima Sheikh Abdi. "We can't refuse to cooperate because if we do, they will force us out of the camp, and then you don't know what to do and eat. It's happened to many people already." The U.N. says more than 3.2 million Somalis — nearly half the population — need food aid after a severe drought that has been complicated by Somalia's long-running war. More than 450,000 Somalis live in famine zones controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants, where aid is difficult to deliver. The U.S. says 29,000 Somali children under age 5 already have died.

International officials have long expected some of the food aid pouring into Somalia to disappear. But the sheer scale of the theft calls into question the aid groups' ability to reach the starving. It also raises concerns about the ability of aid agencies and the Somali government to fight corruption, and whether diverted aid is fueling Somalia's 20-year civil war. "While helping starving people, you are also feeding the power groups that make a business out of the disaster," said Joakim Gundel, who heads Katuni Consult, a Nairobi-based company often asked to evaluate international aid efforts in Somalia. "You're saving people's lives today so they can die tomorrow."

For the past two weeks, planeloads of aid from the U.N., Iran, Turkey, Kuwait and other countries have been roaring into Mogadishu almost daily. Boatloads more are on the way. There is no doubt that much of it is saving lives: the AP saw hungry families lining up for hot meals at feeding centers, and famished children eating free food while crouched among makeshift homes of ragged scraps of plastic. WFP Somalia country director Stefano Porretti said the agency's system of independent, third-party monitors uncovered allegations of possible food diversion. But he underscored how dangerous the work is: WFP has had 14 employees killed in Somalia since 2008. "Monitoring food assistance in Somalia is a particularly dangerous process," Porretti said.

More AP: Somalia famine aid stolen, UN investigating - CBS News

See also:

Al Shabab not the only guilty party in Somalia's famine, violence
August 15, 2011 - A Human Rights Watch report documents abuses by the Somali government and African Union peacekeeping forces, as well as Al Shabab.

If you thought the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces were the good guys in Somalia’s famine and civil war, Human Rights Watch has news for you: All parties to Somalia’s armed conflict have committed serious violations of the laws of war that are contributing to the country’s humanitarian catastrophe, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. All sides should immediately end abuses against civilians, hold those responsible to account, and ensure access to aid and free movement of people fleeing conflict and drought.

The 58-page report, “‘You Don’t Know Who to Blame’: War Crimes in Somalia,” documents numerous abuses during renewed fighting in the past year by parties to the 20-year-long conflict in Somalia. These include the Islamist armed group al-Shabaab, the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM), and Kenya- and Ethiopia-backed Somali militias. The report also examines abuses by the Kenyan police and crimes committed by bandits in neighboring Kenya against Somali refugees. There are no good guys among the major players. I imagine a lot of people feel that abuses by the TFG and AMISOM are “worth it” in the fight against al Shabab. But whatever territory the TFG gains, it will have to rule, and not just through force, but through politics. Abuses against civilians now will have longterm effects.

To demonstrate that point, this is not the first time Human Rights Watch has pointed to patterns of violence and abuse against civilians in Somalia. During the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia from late 2006 to early 2009, when Ethiopia was supporting the TFG, “the worst abuses [were] by Ethiopian soldiers…Ethiopians… often indiscriminately attacked civilian areas and looted hospitals.” I suspect the brutality of the Ethiopian occupation gave al Shabab a boost in the early days of its insurgency, driving recruitment and pushing civilians into the arms of al Shabab. Today, al Shabab may be pulling back, and the TFG may be gaining ground, but the TFG’s behavior is quite possibly setting the stage for future conflict, whether in terms of a resurgence by al Shabab or the rise of another rebellion.

Source

 

[catzmeow]

I think we really need to start watching who we let into our country, even though we have taken in alot of Somalia refugees in our country and given them many opportunities here, it still seems like many of them feel disconnected to this culture and are drawn to radical Islam and want to fight with the Al Shabab, Somalis in general seem to be very easily influenced by terrorists and radical Islam, which is a worrying sign. I was watching a segment on television about this Al Shabab group, they actually have 2 white American Muslim converts who went to Somalia to fight with them, one of them was from Daphne Alabama, I think the future ground in the war on terror will involve these guys. Al Shabab are armed, financed, trained and mentored by other Radical Muslims in the Middle East to do their dirty work for them.

People should read Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who ends up making a lot of recommendations about integrating people from her country into western nations. I think she is very insightful.