Pope and Queen-1 vs Somalia-0

Queen Elizabeth delivered her annual Christmas message yesterday, calling for mutual respect between young and old and greater religious tolerance. She said; "It is very easy to concentrate on the differences between the religious faiths and to forget what they have in common. People of different faiths are bound together by the need to make this world a better place."

Pope Benedict, meanwhile, urged peacefull solutions to crises worldwide yesterday, singling out the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and violence in Africa in his annual Christmas day message.

At the same time violence continued to flare in Somalia as Ethiopia entered the war.

Somalia has had no effective national government since 1991, though there is an internationally recognized government in Baidoa. This government, called the Transitional National Government, controls only Baidoa and is not recognized by most Somalis to be legitimate.

The other half of the country, with the bulk of the population, is controlled by the Islamic Courts Union. (ICU)
They control the critically important cities of Mogadishu and, since September 24, 2006, Kismayo.
The Islamic Courts Union seeks to install Sharia law in Somalia.

Hassan Aweys, Leader;
Islamic Courts Union and The Somalia Dental Association

Social law changes, such as the prohibition against watching movies and soccer in public, have become recent movements by the ICU to change behaviors and impost strict social mores.

(On a side note here, this is the main beef I have with these religious assholes. If they don't want to watch movies or soccer, or listen to music, that's their business! But, where did they ever get the idea that they can tell you, or me, or my aunt Bertha, what we can or can't do!!!)

In December 2006, the Islamist Militia declared war on Ethiopia , and started to attack the Ethiopian forces - after which, large forces of the Ethiopian army entered into Somalia.

On Sunday, December 24, 2006, Ethiopian forces launched airstrikes against Islamist fighters across Somalia. Ethiopian Information Minister Berhan Hailu stated that targets included the town of Buur Hakaba, which is close to the administration's base in Baidoa.

This was the first use of airstrikes by Ethiopia and also it's first public admission of involvement in Somalia.

On Monday December 25, 2006 Ethopian Jet fighters bombed the International airport in Mogadishu.

(Not-so-covert C.I.A. involvement is suspected in the battle to oust the Islamists.)

Your "reporting from the front" scribe;
Allan W Janssen