US-UN Backed Ethiopian Invasion of Somalia - an International Crime

by Sophia Tesfamariam

www.americanchronicle.com/, February 11, 2007

On 6 June 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) after a two month long battle against the US-backed Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) took over Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Mogadishu's air and seaports were re-opened for the first time since 1995. The UIC expanded its control throughout Somalia and restored peace and security in areas under their control. The people of Somalia were optimistic about Somalia's future for the first time in 15 years. But the celebrations would be dampened; their dreams and aspirations would be dashed by the sudden appearance of the Islam phobic Jendayi E. Frazier, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, who set out to undo the progress, with a "new strategy for Somalia".

Despite the globe trotting and conducting of "meetings" with Washington's Somalia Contact Group (Jendayi wants to believe they are international because a few "interested parties" have been included) in New York, Brussels and Kenya, it was evident and the tell tale signs were therethe SCG was a convenient smokescreen, a cover for a non-existent diplomatic agenda. Jendayi E. Frazier was preparing for and planning a military solution for Somalia; she had no intention of allowing the expansion of the UIC, which would have brought peace, security and stability in Somalia, but also an Islamic government, a definite no-no in today's Washington. That was unacceptable to the Islam phobic envoy and her bosses.

After 15 years of supporting the "wrong side" (and contributing to the chaos and instability in Somalia) instead of giving peace a chance, Frazier set out to undo it. Conducting an unprecedented, very public, and loud vilification campaign against the UIC in the mainstream media, she set out to tarnish their image, and isolate them. Colluding with Meles Zenawi, the deceptive flip flopping leader of the genocidal vote rigging minority regime in Ethiopia, she planned and advanced the end of year invasion of Somalia.

Jendayi E. Frazier adopted Meles' defamation tactics and accused the UIC of having links to Al Qaeda, without ever providing any evidence. Even as top US Administration officials refuted her claims, she kept repeating them in hopes that the labels would stickthey didn't. She accused the UIC of being "extremists", whatever that means, she deliberately exaggerated and fabricated the "threat" they posed to Ethiopia, and down played Ethiopia's aggression and invasion of sovereign Somali territories. Her outrageous accusations were designed to weaken the UIC's popular support, and bring internal division in their ranks. It failed. The UIC maintained their popular support, evidenced by their rapid expansion to other parts of Somalia, outside of Mogadishu, without ever resorting to force.

The deceptive street smart Meles Zenawi ran a parallel campaign to influence Ethiopian public opinion and convince the rubber stamp Ethiopia Parliament to allow him take "any and all necessary actions" against the UIC, and give his invasion the legitimacy in the eyes of the international community and the Ethiopian people. Relying on his trademark tactics of deception, gimmicks and lies, he prepared for his illegal war, knowing that the US State Department and his personal friend, Jendayi E. Frazier, would provide him the diplomatic, financial, political and military backing.

Hijacking the Somali peoples right to self determination, and in violation of the UN Charter and international law, she set out to impose Washington's solution for Somalia, by military force. It will be a long time before we know exactly what transpired between June 2006 and December 2006 when Ethiopia decided to launch its war of aggression and invasion against Somalia, but the following report will give us an idea.

Jon Snow of the UK based Channel 4 news presented a special report on Somalia on 30 January 2006. It will give the people of Somalia in particular and the people of the region as a whole a better understanding of what really happened in Somalia, it also tells us what Jendayi's role was in the invasion and occupation of Somalia. This is how the report began:

Channel 4 news has obtained an exclusive document revealing America's role in the planning and execution of last month's Ethiopian invasion of SomaliaIt reveals the US having to do close business with a government whose human rights record has been so recently condemnedit was a document that no one at the African Union summit was keen on discussing"

Of course they wouldn't. Jendayi Frazier and her coterie were at the African Union to cover up Ethiopia's violation of international law, to shove any evidence of their recklessness and bigotry under the rug using "peacekeepers" and "stabilization force" as cover.

Jon Snow told his listeners "the blueprint for a very American supported Ethiopian invasion of Somalia was hatched" at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, six months ago. He said Washington turned to Ethiopia and the reason is obvious. The mercenary Meles Zenawi was willing to offer Ethiopian forces to carry out Washington's agenda for Somalia. The end justifies the means, especially when it is Ethiopian lives that have to be sacrificed, and not American lives. It makes it even easier when there is a mercenary regime that is willing to sacrifice the lives of its own people to advance other agendas.

Snow referred to a "UN record of a meeting" that took place sometime in June 2006 and was attended by a US Commander of the Fleet off Somalia, Rear Admiral Richard Hunt, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi E. Frazier and an unnamed UN official. According to the report, the attendees discussed possible scenarios in Somalia and how to deal with them:

The worst case scenario would result from a total control by the UIC over Somaliathe US would not allow it"

In the event of a rapid Ethiopian in and out intervention "the US would rally with Ethiopia if the 'Jihadists' took over"

Jendayi Frazier is quoted as saying, "It would be a mistake for the international community to condemn such an invasion"

An unnamed UN official is quoted as saying, "any Ethiopian action in Somalia would have Washington's blessing"

This clearly shows that Jendayi E. Frazier and the mercenary Meles Zenawi planned, prepared, and initiated a war of aggression against Somalia; unnecessarily jeopardizing the lives of Ethiopia's young in order to effectuate Washington's incoherent, Islam Phobic foreign policy which Frazier decided could not be accomplished without Ethiopia's outright invasion of Somalia. Meles Zenawi, true to his deceptive nature, concocted a lie to hoodwink the Ethiopian parliament, and launched the unprovoked aggressive war against Somalia in order to please Washington.

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This report exposes the deceptions, lies and total disregard for the wishes and aspirations of the Somali people. It also showed contempt for Ethiopian lives. The fact that a UN official was present and pretty much condoning the upcoming war of aggression and invasion is deeply disturbing. Whether or not he/she was acting in an official capacity does not matter. A UN employee is supposed to uphold the Charter. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations was in Addis Ababa for the AU summit on 1 July 2006, and he was also in Gambia for another Summit in June 2006 along with Abdulahi Yusufif he is the unnamed UN official at that meeting, it comes as no surprise.

In a civilized world, no matter what grievances a nation may have, and however objectionable it finds the status quo, "aggressive warfare is an illegal means for settling those grievances or for altering those conditions". The US-UN backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia to prevent the Union of Islamic Courts from expanding their influence all over Somalia is an act of aggression, a violation of the UN Charter, the African Union Charter and in contravention of international law.

The UN Security Council did nothing while the Somalia arms embargo was violated, as Ethiopia invaded, and as the U.S. bombed Somalia. The hijacked UN Security Council has yet to call on Ethiopia to vacate from sovereign Somali territories; it is instead working to legitimize Ethiopia's US-backed invasion and occupation of Somalia. Ban Ki Moon, the new Secretary General of the UN, attempting to consolidate and legitimize the US backed Ethiopia's violation of the UN Charter and international law told reporters on 15 January 2007:

I was simply concerned about the possibility of an impact on civilians and the reported loss of civiliansI was hoping that -- while I fully understand the necessity behind this attack -- we should be cautious enough not to see this kind of situation lead to unwanted directionsThis situation only is a very stark reminder that we need to redouble our diplomatic efforts to have some political process for the realization of a peaceful resolution of this issue"

What was the necessity? To prevent an "Islamic Government" from being established in Somalia, which is after all an Islamic country? I hope he's not afflicted with the "Islam phobia bug" that has debilitated Jendayi E. Frazier's reasoning and that of her hirelings.

The new Secretary General can salvage his reputation and that of the UN by standing up for the rule of law and the UN Charter. He can start by calling on Meles Zenawi's minority regime to pull its forces out Somali territories it has invaded and occupied and also sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme that he is militarily occupying. He can also urge the Security Council to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities by enforcing the Final and Binding decision of the Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission. Covering up, consolidating and legitimizing Meles Zenawi's invasion and occupation of Somalia and Eritrea will further undermine the UN's credibility and integrity, and undermine the trust and confidence of its member states, in its ability and efficacy to uphold and defend the UN Charter and international law.

To their credit, African leaders seem to have declined the offer to participate in the US-Ethiopian affair. Calling them "peacekeepers" or "stabilization force" will not legitimize their presence in Somalia. They are not "peacekeepers", that is a misnomer for what they really are-babysitters for the illegitimate Transitional National Government in Somalia installed in Mogadishu at the behest of Washington, by the equally illegitimate, mercenary minority regime in Ethiopia led by the deceptive dictatorial Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The TNG has been unable to assert its authority in Somalia. The guns have not been silenced. Peace, stability and security left as the Ethiopian backed TNG arrived, bringing with them death and destruction.

At the African Union Summit, only a handful States offered to provide "peacekeepers for Somalia". It was not because Africans do not want to support the people of Somalia, but rather because they do. Providing "peacekeepers" for Somalia would be to legitimize the Ethiopian invasion and occupation. Ethiopia said it had legitimate reasons for invading Somalia, it also said it had "broken the backbone" of its mystery enemies, it also claims victory. If that is the case, why are they still occupying Somalia? The reason is crystal clear. Ethiopia invaded Somalia on a lie and now it wants the international community to bail it out. Since the US colluded with Ethiopia to overthrow what was an "effective government" (UIC) in Mogadishu and replace it with its puppet, it bears full responsibility for the crisis.

African Patrick Mazimhaka, deputy chairman of the African Union was the exception. Mazimhaka who had vouched for the minority regime in Ethiopia and justified its illegal war of aggression and invasion of Somalia in 2006, and the invasion of Eritrea in 1998, was back again moonlighting as the minority regime's apologist and cheerleader. Contrary to the sentiments expressed by many African countries and their leaders, misrepresenting the truth, and blindly supporting Meles Zenawi and the minority regime in Ethiopia, exposing his lack of concern for the wellbeing of African troops, told the Financial Times on 24 January 2007:

African countries do not consider it necessary to have a place stabilised and then send in troops. You send the troops first to create the right atmosphere [for peace]"

If there are any African leaders that agree with Mazimhaka's assertions, let them send their own sons first before asking us to send ours. No peacekeeping, occupation, stabilization etc. etc. force will work in Somalia if the people of Somalia are against it. The onus to create the right "atmosphere for peace" rests on the invaders and the puppet regime they installed.

Africans, irregardless of Jendayi E. Frazier's coercion and blackmail, are morally obligated to stand beside the Somali people and renounce aggression and violations of their sovereign rights. Africans must uphold the rule of law and the UN Charter, and not legitimize this invasion. Africans must speak with one voice and condemn the hypocrisy and duplicity that define international diplomacy today. Africans must demand better for their countries and their peoples. Today it is Somalia, tomorrow it will be you.

At the risk of repeating myself, the UIC was never a threat to international peace and security, but rather, the threat we now face is the result of the crisis in Somalia that Meles Zenawi and Jendayi E. Frazier have created and are advancing in the Horn of Africa.

The rule of law must prevail over the law of jungle!

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