Shooting in the Dark

Despite the skirmishes, countless guests and family members have gathered at the house of a young couple to witness the grand event of their wedding ceremony, and in order to shower them with blessings and prayers as they embark on a life of bliss and merriment. Little did they realise that, on the other side the Americans were contriving their next ploy. Amidst, the festiveness that surrounded the house came the shelling and the blitz of rockets rocking the house with force. Alas! The wedding ceremony turned into a funeral and the house into burial chamber, trapping several people under its rubble. At least 31 have been reported dead, though the numbers reported by locals are greater, including the bride and groom. They have been sent into an eternal honeymoon, before they even concluded their marriage vows!

Now it seems to be getting even more chaotic in the third day of consecutive strikes.The Americans, who were writhing with boredom on the coastline, have joined the battle for Somalia. And one wonders, what incited thwse incidents. We may not know, but it’s my presumption that they either:

1. Realized that the Ethiopians were firing at open spaces and pursuing the Islamic Courts in a languid manner. The Islamic men have proved to be rather tenacious than they have expected and the Ethiopian troops have become a bit slow on the uptake of orders from their masters, that they decided to bombard the whole area.

or

2. The wait agitated them, and their trigger-fingers started to twitch for some more Somali blood.

How will this turn out, though? Are we to expect a repeat of 93 – thirteen years after the failed mission – or is it simply an ostentatious display of musclepower? My prediction is as follows:

- Though Husein Aideed, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the only way we are going to kill or capture the surviving al Qaeda terrorists is for U.S. special forces to go in on the ground,” I am unconvinced about this.The Americans might be an impetuous lot, but not complete crackpots as to endanger the lives of their troops once again. Mogadishu and Aideed Snr. have taught them the harsh realities of war in Somali soil, and that is something they are not prepared to repeat. They cannot afford to risk the lives of their servicemen inside Somalia once again, so Mr Aideed Jnr’s pitiable pleading will simply be overlooked.

American intervention has included a new dimension to an already abysmal event. As for Aideed Junior, what a contrasting character display is on parade. Had the Americans been dealing with Aideed, the Senior, the war would have taken an entirely dissimilar course. I guess his heart is with his home country, but the question is which is home country?

…and to top it all, in the last few hours the Americans have denied, the attacks, despite confirmations by the Federal Government.