Teribus-

I probably know much more about this area of the world than most people at Mudcat central, and even more than you. And it is confusing at best, and deadly at worst. I do kind of admire the pirates; they've got a lot of guts to do what they are doing. But they are doomed.

I was in Ethiopia from 1965 and 1968, and I'm planning to return there this February but not to anywhere near the Ogaden or Eritrea. I'm curious but not stupid.

I do think the U.S. made a major mistake in encouraging the Ethiopians to invade Somalia to displace the Islamic Courts rule, and the Ethiopians now have admitted that the mission is futile and are preparing to withdraw. I'm sorry but there just isn't any Somali warlord that has the power to hold Somalia for the West against the Islamic rebels. And I doubt if the Islamic rebels are really tools of Al-Qaida. They've got their own agenda, and it's just not compatible with ours or with major international oil companies.

Want to blow some more smoke?

Charley Noble