United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
27 June 2009
(Page 4 of 4)
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, we continue to encourage the government of Sheikh Sharif to reach out to all moderate Islamic and Muslim forces in the area to establish an inclusive government that involves the clans and various regional leaders; all of those who are not intent upon carrying out extremist acts or terrorist attacks --
QUESTION: But not al-Shabaab?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: We have – if there are individuals in Shabaab who are not committed to extremism and are prepared to accept an inclusive and moderate government, then we would say – speak to them. But to those Shabaab elements who are extremists, the answer would be no.
MR. KELLY: Okay. Thank you.
QUESTION: It sounds a plan to talk to Hamas.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No, no, no.
MR. KELLY: Thank you very much.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 United States Department of State. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Supply of arms by the US will tend to escalate the civil war. The only way out for peace is resolution by dialogue. ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
US needs to continue to send arms into Somalia and crush the Islamic militia's. Keep up the support to the Ethiopians and turn Somalia into a Christian nation!
I think that most of us that are familiar, experienced, educated, or involved with issues in the Horn of Africa region, and international affairs, can agree that the prospect of turning a nation from one religion to another is not only impractical, but grandiose and insane. That aside, it is also important to realize that in countries where conflict has been the norm for so long, religion is rarely at the root of the violence, rather it is a vehicle used by warlords and power brokers to seize control of what little wealth there is in that country. This is why, in countries such as Somalia, support shifts from one group to another. Whoever has the wealth and power, or looks like they will attain such wealth and power, finds support from the masses in dire need of food and well-being. The leaders of these groups rarely accept terms that meet their stated objectives, if it does not include their personal wealth and power ambitions. Such is the case with Mr. Aweys.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
See all comments (6).
Active Discussions: U.S. Ships Weapons to Govt