February 08, 2010
African Taliban Appoint Special Envoy to US
His name is Abukar Abdou Arman and he's a long time resident of the United States and a "well-known community activist." So well-known, in fact, that I've never heard of him. Any one have any info on Arman?
How screwed up is Somalia? The African Taliban in Somalia -- who Arman represents -- are now our allies. These would be the same people that we helped oust from power through our support of the Ethiopian invasion only to find that the alternative in the al Qaeda aligned Shabaab were worse.
The rift between the Islamic Courts Union (the African Taliban) and their armed wing in the al Shabaab did not occur over whether or not adulterers should be stoned to death, movie theaters closed, and apostates murdered -- no, both groups are in agreement over that. No, the rift came when the ICC decided it would negotiate through the UN, promise not to support violent jihad outside of Somlia's borders, and enter into a transitional government.
In any event I find it disheartening that this is as good as it gets in Somalia. There has to be some better alternative to a government run by al Qaeda types and one run by Taliban wannabes.
Terror Free Somalia Foundation has more.
