Press Statement on the The Current Conflict in Somalia

The Jamiatul Ulama would like to express its shock at the recent blatant invasion of Somalia by Ethiopia, and the current military operations embarked upon by the United States of America in Somalia.

Sixteen years ago Somalia came out of a long period of oppression and injustice after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime. Since then the Somali political landscape has been characterised by civil war, warlords competing
for control of territory, and a total collapse of any semblance of a
government. In response to this, concerned Somali’s established local Islamic Courts with the aim of bringing order to their communities. Some of these courts later combined their strengths and formed the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). The UIC managed to bring order and stability to Mogadishu and other parts of the country. After years of lawlessness most Somali’s were happy to have some kind of law and order. The consequence of the UIC bringing
stability came in the form of lower prices for basic foods, employment opportunities being created, and an influx of investment. This is something no other organisation or government had been able to achieve in Somalia for
more than a decade. On the other hand the Somali transitional government could neither bring order to Somalia, nor establish itself in the capital city of Mogadishu.

In response to the increasing influence of the UIC in Somali politics the
United States of America provided financial and covert support to warlords associated to the “Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism” (ARPC) in Somalia.

The USA and Somalia’s neighbour, Ethiopia were opposed to the UIC, as an Islamist organisation. The current US-instigated military campaign is justified
as an operation that forms part of the “Global War on Terror”, based on the flimsy justification that three possible al-Qaeda members may be hiding in Somalia. This is not enough of a justification to destabilise a country of approximately twelve million people, while killing an unconfirmed amount of civilians in towns such as Hayo and Bankajirow in Southern Somalia.

It is important to note that the UIC did not only distance itself from al-Qaeda, but it also stated time and again that it does not intend to pose any security threat to Ethiopia. It has therefore become abundantly clear that even
though the UIC formed itself as a viable and stabilising political force in
Somalia, the United States and its proxy (Ethiopia) are willing to undermine
the future stability of Somalia because of their insidious designs for the
region.

It is with great concern that the Jamiatul Ulama takes note of these events and strongly condemns the USA’s war-mongering that has by now seeped out of the volatile Middle East onto African soil. It is clear that the USA has taken yet another step as the main catalyst of conflict, humanitarian disasters, and instability in current world politics.

The Jamiatul Ulama calls for:
1. The recognition of the Union of Islamic Courts as a legitimate political organisation in Somalia;
2. The immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, and US naval vessels from Somali territory;
3. An immediate investigation into the extent of civilian deaths in attacks launched by Ethiopia and the USA;
4. A peacekeeping operation in Somalia led by the African Union;
5. The South African media to resist the temptation of following “his Master’s voice” in their coverage of legitimate political entities such as the UIC

In conclusion we call on the South African government to use its position on the United Nations Security Council effectively by:
• ensuring that the USA and other global power brokers do not fund, support, or engage in military operations on the African continent; and
• entrenching principles of human rights, respect for religious diversity, and humanity in international political actions and discourses – principles which
we in South Africa hold sacred and would give our lives for.

Issued by: Jamiatul Ulama [Council of Muslim Theologians]
32 Dolly Rathebe Rd, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, Tel: 011 373 8000 Fax: 011 373 8022 Web: www.jamiat.co.za

Saddam “Execution”
It is of great disappointment and serious concern as to the manner in which Saddam Hussain was put to death. Notwithstanding the overwhelming, proven and established view of experts, humanitarian and human rights organizations and the majority of the people of the world that the Saddam case was flawed from various perspectives, the Iraqi government (many will say with the instruction of the US) went ahead and ‘executed’ Saddam. The timing of the ‘execution’ was also sick, wicked and horrifically inappropriate.

What is this all about… and what does it mean… ?
It has emerged that Israel has issued an ultimatum to Iran to either fall in line with the UN resolution requirements by the end of March 2007 or face an attack by Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will ask China on Wednesday to press for tougher sanctions against Iran if it flouts a U.N. Security Council resolution curbing trade in nuclear materials that could be used for bombs. In talks with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Olmert -- who considers China an old friend of the Jews, if not of the Jewish state -- will argue that a nuclear-armed Iran would imperil both Israel and stability in a region that Beijing relies on for oil. "Yes, we see Iran as an existential threat, but at this point in time it is as, and even more, important to emphasise the greater global concerns," a senior Olmert aide told Reuters. (Reuters)

The Institute for National Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University said in its annual report, released Tuesday, that Iran will possess nuclear weapons unless military action is taken against it, and Israel would be capable of carrying out such an attack. "Time is working in Iran's favor, and barring military action, Iran's possession of nuclear weapons is only a matter of time." (Haaretz.com)
Scott Ritter, a former U.N. arms inspector in Iraq writes, "Let there be no doubt: If there is an American war with Iran, it is a war that was made in Israel." By coincidence, an Israeli general has verified everything Ritter says. According to an article published in Today.az on Jan. 2, Israeli Brig. Gen. Oded Tira published a statement urging an all-out effort by Israel and its lobby to push a U.S. attack on Iran. "President Bush lacks the political power to attack Iran," the general is quoted as saying. "As an American strike in Iran is essential for our existence, we must help him pave the way by lobbying the Democratic Party (which is conducting itself foolishly) and U.S. newspaper editors. We need to do this in order to turn the Iran issue to a bipartisan one and unrelated to the Iraq failure." AntiWar.com

ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons. Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources. The attack would be the first with nuclear weapons since 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Israeli weapons would each have a force equivalent to one-fifteenth of the Hiroshima bomb. Under the plans, conventional laser-guided bombs would open “tunnels” into the targets. “Mini-nukes” would then immediately be fired into a plant at Natanz, exploding deep underground to reduce the risk of radioactive fallout. “As soon as the green light is given, it will be one mission, one strike and the Iranian nuclear project will be demolished,” said one of the sources. Sunday Times

Unfortunately it looks like Israel will attack Iran, either themselves or using the their U.S lobbying group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) widely thought to be the most powerful lobby in America to convince Bush Iran needs to be stopped.
Desicritics.org

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Summarized Jumu’ah Bayaan: