The New York Times has finally given the Somalia crisis the the full splash treatment. It's too early in NY to know if it's above the fold on the front page or not. But there's a photo gallery on the website! (Update: Wow)
The article is very Iraq framed, with the underlying idea being that like Iraq, the prospect of a US-backed Ethiopian invasion is only radicalising otherwise moderate people. The scoop of the article is this:
"Gen. John P. Abizaid of the United States Central Command — or Centcom — which has responsibility for American military interests in the region, recently flew to Ethiopia to meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who had told American officials that he could cripple the Islamist forces “in one to two weeks.”
Walking a careful line, General Abizaid made it clear that a broad military invasion of Somalia could create a humanitarian crisis across the Horn of Africa, Centcom officials said, but did not tell Ethiopian officials to pull their troops out.
Indeed, some American officials say the United States supports Ethiopia’s military buildup because it is the only way to protect the weak Baidoa government from being overrun, force the Islamists to the negotiating table and contain what they call a growing regional threat."
The article has tons of local Islamist color (even a lashing!) and of course, the de jure reference to Ethiopia's Christian identity. (The Times has chosen "strong Christian identity"). Onward Christian soldiers!
In an interesting sidebar, I had heard that the NYT correspondent was in Addis Abeba. When I asked someone who would know at a dinner last night, he shushed me. I can't help but be anecdotal: the US is backing a government that compels grown men to shush eachother at the mention of a foreign correspondnet possibly being in the country while the alleged evil-doers cooperate, photo-ops and all.
Comments