Not that it will matter, since The Independent has established the idea that it happened, according to an Oxfam Somali partner organization. But just for the record, you know.
The herdsmen had gathered with their animals around large fires at night to ward off mosquitoes. But lit up by the flames, they became the latest victims of America’s war on terror.
It was their tragedy to be misidentified in a secret operation by special forces attempting to kill three top al-Qaeda leaders in southern Somalia.
Oxfam on Saturday confirmed at least 70 nomads had been killed in the Afmadow district, near the border with Kenya. The nomads were bombed at night and during the day while searching for water sources
Ooh, spooky. Atmospheric.
Oxfam, which had received reports from its Somali partner organisations about the herdsmen’s deaths, and Amnesty International have asked whether the air strikes violated international law.
“Under international law, there is a duty to distinguish between military and civilian targets,” said Paul Smith-Lomas, Oxfam’s regional director. “We are deeply concerned that this principle is not being adhered to and that innocent people in Somalia are paying the price.”
Of course, we are under no obligation to distinguish between true and false accounts. All the hearsay that’s fit to print.
Translated as … “give me some money.”
I used to have Kuchi nomads tell me that our helicopters had come over and killed dozens of their sheep. We’d instantly agree to pay compensation if they could take us to them. They, sheepishly, muttered something about having disposed of them all… we’d both smile and go on about our business.
It’s almost like a ritual greeting.
“U.S. involvement in Somalia, its first overt military intervention in the country since 1994, has set off a flurry of criticism and anti-America sentiment throughout East Africa. The banner headline Tuesday in one of Kenya’s largest daily newspapers read: “U.S. Warplane Rains Death on Somalia.’’”
Translated as…another propaganda triumph for the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Only if your above propaganda is what it’s all about, alphie.
But I’ve instead concluded that any dead noble “Nomad” victims looking for water sources actually were trying desperately to “out, damned spots” from their own soiled underwear, so that they could do yet more soiling.
Isn’t that what it’s all about in your case, too, alphie?
Was Jamil Hussein the source of the story for the ASSociated (with terrorists) Press? Somalia, seems to me we owe them a lot of ‘death’ from the sky.
Fucking America totally sucks monkey ass, huh alphie? What a piece of shit country! When you’ve got Kenya’s leading daily banging on you, you know you’re a disaster, huh buddy?
Nice to see that some traditions are still upheld. In our case it used to be goats. Still, the Dhofaris never had the brass neck to call it genocide, like this mystery Somali tribesman.
The best way to minimise dishonest reporting of these incidents is never to report them yourselves and to deny that you have ever done anything anywhere ever. Worked for us.
Posted by Scrapiron | permalink
on 01/14 at 10:01 PM
Well it could’ve been Jamil the Somali. Or maybe Jamail the Somali.
In any event he witnessed the attacks from the other side of the country.
We should send in the almighty Ethopeians (sp?). They were in Somalia for weeks with nary a word about civilian casualites. As soon as the US comes in…. BAM! It all goes to shite.
Can they go to Iraq next? We can pay really well. Imagine, all the media accounts going to zero.
Furris,
The best of all claims came from a Pashtun man working on his roof near one of our FOBs down south. He fell off and was minorly injured. Later came to the base claiming “the Americans shot me off the roof with a laser”. The medics got such a good laugh about that one that they patched him up, loaded him up with bandages, medicine and sent him on his way. The base CO still laughs about that one to this day.
Amazin’ how nobody was accidently killed while the world thought it was only Ethiopia attacking the UIC. But as soon as the Americans show up…with all of their expensive high-tech gear…and their deep checkbooks…and their consciences…
“It was four prize cows, and two young bulls! I swear!”