Compassionate Islamists Abandon Mogadishu, Liberals Lament

Ethiopian and Somalian government forces have closed on the capitol of Mogadishu, while Islamists have fled south toward the seaport of Kismayo. Unfortunately, some former Islamist supporters simply went back to their tribal leanings, changed clothes and began looting buildings formerly held by the Islamists.

Obviously Somalia is a basically lawless land still very much in limbo. But leave it to the liberal media to see the worst.

Ethiopa's military offensive against the Union of Islamic Courts, which holds the Somali capital Mogadishu and much of central and southern Somalia, is a dangerous act of aggression that could lead to a protracted war and even strengthen the Islamists, according to German media commentators who see the conflict as opening up a new battlefield in the American-led global war against Islamic extremists.

Back to the good news. I hope someone is planning to encounter the fleeing jihadis before they re-group for guerilla warfare, or flee to fight in Afghanistan, or Iraq. How compassionate these Islamists, they simply want to protect the people they were going to behead if they didn't pray five times a day.

Islamists acknowledged they had left Mogadishu but said they were not giving up their fight. Abdirahman Janaqow, a senior leader, told The Associated Press he ordered his forces out of the capital to avoid bloodshed.

"We decided to leave Mogadishu because of the safety of the civilians," Janaqow said in a telephone interview. "We want to face our enemy and their stooges in a separate area, away from civilians."

A well-known clan leader, Hussein Haji Bod, asked people to remain calm and said elders would meet Thursday to discuss the "future of the capital." The largest market in the capital was closed for fear it would be looted.

Comments

[Darth Malice]

The Ethiopian Army defeated the muzzies in a 10 day rout.Every battle they used heavy weapons without mercy.No rules of engagement,and no mercy.Mr.President LEARN from this.

[clarice]

Yemen just shot a boatload of the fleeing jihadis heading for their shores. You can tell when the good guys are winning--there's a call in the UN for a cease fire.

[seekeronos]

I dare say the Ethopians have the RIGHT idea on how to deal with the Islamists. That is, a bullet RIGHT between the eyes, or a 155mm HEI shell RIGHT onto a Islamist-controlled building.