This just in, killing terrorists makes more terrorists?

I could write this particular post several times a week. Why? Because the liberals just don't get, and presumably never will until they are on their knees with a hood over their head with a group of Islamic fanatics shouting Allahu akhbar! as they start cutting with a rusty knife. These Muslim fanatics don't want to talk, these folks want to kill you, me and every other man woman and child who do not hold to their version of Islam. Here is a recent example of the give-peace-a-chance-global-speak that passes for intelligent dialog.

Sir: With the shadow of Black Hawk Down yet to fade, America has fashioned another spectre in Somalia which will come back to haunt it in years to come. This week's bombing will not only fail to eradicate the al-Qa'ida suspects but will further jeopardise the international community's reputation in the Horn of Africa in the long run.

Granted, there is a terrorist threat in Somalia. And America also has selfish interests in increasing its influence in this newly oil-rich area. But far more concerning than the terrorist threat, or the inevitable absence of purely altruistic humanitarian sentiment, is the international community's conceptual failure to view Somalia other than through the lens of the "war on terror". Somalia has its own troubled history of colonial occupation, Cold War interference, regional instability, clan-based conflict and failed statehood- and a present in which these fuse uniquely.

To ignore the complexities of Somali identity, and to fail to address the situation on its own terms, will encourage exactly the angry, destructive terrorism that we allegedly desire to erase. Rather than conduct counter-productive bombing campaigns, we must focus our efforts on bringing all parties to the negotiating table. We must actively strive for stability and security - for that of Somalia and the international community is interconnected like never before.

LAURA KYRKE-SMITH

LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

This woman's view on terrorism is only marginally less dangerous than the Wahhabist view on Jihad. Let's take a look and see if we can understand what she is trying to say.

This week's bombing will not only fail to eradicate the al-Qa'ida suspects but will further jeopardise the international community's reputation in the Horn of Africa in the long run.

Did anyone say this weeks bombing will eradicate the al Qaeda suspects?
No, but did we kill a few of them? Yes we did. Killing al Qaeda by the dozen or the bushel is fine in my book. Jeopardize what reputation? The reputation of America as a paper tiger that runs away when you give it a black eye? That one? I risk ruining that reputation if its ok with you.

Granted, there is a terrorist threat in Somalia. And America also has selfish interests in increasing its influence in this newly oil-rich area. But far more concerning than the terrorist threat, or the inevitable absence of purely altruistic humanitarian sentiment, is the international community's conceptual failure to view Somalia other than through the lens of the "war on terror".

Granted there is a terrorist threat? I believe that the problem with her rational. If you have terrorists running through the streets killing people, there is little chance for economic or social development. You must first rid the place of the terrorists, then you can get the billions of dollars of aid the west sends to the horn of Africa to the right places and the right people. Sending cargo containers full of food, supplies and other aid related materials that never leave the port because they are stolen by the terrorist who run the country and sold to buy more kalashnikovs is little more than a feel good effort of our part. Far more concerning? To who? To the millions of African families being driven from their homes and slaughtered, the 'threat' of terrorism has long since turned from threat to horrible reality. Seeing Somalia through the lens of the war on terror is pretty easy Mam, because it is smack dab in the middle of it. Oh and a nice touch getting that war-for-oil jab in there.

To ignore the complexities of Somali identity, and to fail to address the situation on its own terms, will encourage exactly the angry, destructive terrorism that we allegedly desire to erase. Rather than conduct counter-productive bombing campaigns, we must focus our efforts on bringing all parties to the negotiating table.

Don't you just love the open minded, deep thinking in her letter? This is the tired rhetoric of the peace activists, long on the idea of negotiation, short on just how you negotiate with a 19 year old Islamic fanatic who thinks the only way to get into paradise is to die while killing as many of the enemies of his God as possible. Besides the fanatic beliefs, why would a guy who takes what he wants, when he wants, from who he wants with his machine gun give up anything? He is a king in his own land, and if he dies killing infidels, so much the better. This fellow needs to be killed before any negotiations can hope to take place.

What Somalia needs isn't a visit from Jimmy Carter, it needs a few more c-130 airstrikes.