{"article":{"id":251736,"heading":"The Guardian: UK weighs up military strikes against Somalia rebels","author":"Cem Ert\u00fcr","created":"2012-02-29 13:34:39","modified":"2026-10-25 17:02:54","last_modified":"Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:02:54","article":"

somalia\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\nThe\r\nGuardian, 22 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nDaily\r\nExpress, 23 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nThe\r\nIndependent, 22 December 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.indybay.org\/newsitems\/2012\/02\/28\/18708307.php
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\r\nThe\r\nGuardian: UK weighs up military strikes against Somalia rebels<\/span>
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\r\n[propaganda\r\nalert] <\/span>
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\r\ncompiled by Cem Ertür
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\r\n28 February 2012
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\r\n1) The\r\nGuardian: UK weighs up military strikes against Somalia rebels<\/span>\r\n(22 February 2012)
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\r\n2) MI5\r\nchief: It is only a matter of time before we see Al Shabaab-inspired\r\nterrorism on our streets <\/span>(16\r\nSeptember 2010)
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk\/world\/2012\/feb\/21\/uk-considers-air-strikes-somalia
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\r\nUK\r\nweighs up strikes against Somalia rebels <\/span>\r\n(*)
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\r\n‘War games’ drawn up for air raids on pirates and\r\ninsurgents
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\r\nby\r\nNick Hopkins and Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 22 February 2012<\/span>
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Mounting\r\nconcern about the twin threats posed by pirates and Islamic insurgents\r\noperating in Somalia has led Britain and other EU nations to consider\r\nthe feasibility of air strikes against their logistical hubs and\r\ntraining camps, the Guardian has been told. [...]
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\r\nAccording to sources, the international coalition that has been\r\nspearheading the fight against the pirates drew up contingency plans in\r\nthe summer of 2010, and again last year, for what was termed \"over the\r\nbeach\" air strikes against Somali camps.
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\r\nThe UK has also considered plans for attacking targets in places where\r\nal-Shabaab and the pirates appear to co-exist, particularly in southern\r\nSomalia. [...]
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\r\nIt is believed the British, Dutch, French and Americans would be the\r\nmost likely to support military action, if the need arose.
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\r\nThe US is already taking great interest in Somalia and has begun\r\nmissile strikes from unmanned drones against members of al-Shabaab,\r\nwhich is said to have growing links with al-Qaida affiliates in other\r\ncountries, and is attempting to \"export\" violence to other countries in\r\nAfrica.
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\r\nThe group claimed responsibility for twin bombings in Uganda two years\r\nago that killed 74 people as they were watching coverage of the World\r\nCup in South Africa. In recent months statements said to have come from\r\nthe group's leaders have proclaimed greater links with al-Qaida's goals\r\nof global jihad.
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\r\nUp to 200 foreigners, including 40 Britons, are know to have travelled\r\nto Somalia in the past six years seeking al-Shabaab's training camps,\r\nin the same way that extremists went to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the\r\n1990s. Some have been caught and are facing trial in the region, but\r\nintelligence agencies say it is only a matter of time before one of\r\nthem attempts to bring terror back to their homeland.
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\r\nWith words that seemed to echo the reasons for invading Afghanistan,\r\nCameron recently said that Somalia was a \"failed state that directly\r\nthreatens British interests\".
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\r\nThe head of the British military, General Sir David Richards, also\r\nappeared to hint at the potential for military action in a speech\r\nshortly before Christmas. \"Treating the causes of instability and\r\nterrorism at source is better and cheaper than dealing with the\r\nconsequences, as Somalia's piracy demonstrates,\" he said.
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\r\n(*) title\r\nof the print edition<\/span>
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\r\nfrom\r\nthe archives:<\/span>
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“In\r\nSomalia, […] there are a significant number of UK residents\r\ntraining in Al Shabaab camps to fight in the insurgency there. Al\r\nShabaab, an Islamist militia in Somalia, is closely aligned with Al\r\nQaida and Somalia shows many of the characteristics that made\r\nAfghanistan so dangerous as a seedbed for terrorism in the period\r\nbefore the fall of the Taleban. […]  
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\r\nWe need to do whatever we can to stop people from this country becoming\r\ninvolved in terrorism and murder in Somalia, but beyond that I am\r\nconcerned that it is only a matter of time before we see terrorism on\r\nour streets inspired by those who are today fighting alongside Al\r\nShabaab.”
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\r\n[Head\r\nof MI5 Jonathan Evans, speech at the Worshipful Company of\r\nSecurity Professionals, London, 16 September 2010<\/span>] \r\n[1]
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\r\n[1]  Address at the Worshipful\r\nCompany of Security Professionals by the Director General of the\r\nSecurity Service, Jonathan Evans<\/span>
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\r\nMI5 website, 16 September 2010
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\r\nhttps:\/\/www.mi5.gov.uk\/output\/the-threat-to-national-security.html
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\r\nrelated\r\nnews: <\/span>
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\r\nWe\r\ngive £220m to ‘terror capital’ Somalia<\/span>
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\r\nDavid Cameron is set to ignite fresh anger at Britain’s\r\nsoaring overseas handouts bill today by pledging millions to war-torn\r\nSomalia.
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\r\nby\r\nMacer Hall, Daily Express, 23 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/posts\/view\/303858\/We-give-220m-to-world-s-terror-capital-
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\r\nBritain's\r\nnew year resolution: intervene in Somalia <\/span>
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\r\nCameron claims failed East African state poses a direct threat to\r\nBritish interests.
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\r\nby\r\nKim Sengupta, The Independent, 22 December 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/africa\/britains-new-year-resolution-intervene-in-somalia-6280391.html
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\r\nrelated\r\ndocuments:<\/span>
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\r\nLondon\r\nConference on Somalia: Communique <\/span>
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\r\nFull text of the Communique from the London Conference on Somalia at\r\nLancaster House on 23 February
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\r\nForeign\r\n& Commonwealth Office website, 23 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.fco.gov.uk\/en\/news\/latest-news\/?view=PressS&id=727627582
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\r\nPrime\r\nMinister's speech at Somalia conference<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nUK Prime Minister David Cameron, Number 10 website, 23 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.number10.gov.uk\/news\/somalia-speech\/
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\r\nTranscript\r\nof interview with PM ahead of Somali conference<\/span>
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\r\nUK\r\nPrime Minister David Cameron’s interview with BBC Somali\r\nService, Number 10 website, 23 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.number10.gov.uk\/news\/transcript-of-interview-with-pm-ahead-of-somali-conference\/
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\r\nWhy\r\nthe international community has to come together to help Somalia <\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nUK Foreign Minister William Hague, Huffington Post, 4 February 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/william-hague\/somalia-why-we-have-to-help_b_1254209.html
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\r\n12th\r\nannual Chief of Defence Staff lecture <\/span>
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\r\nSpeech delivered by Chief of Defence Staff at the Royal United Services\r\nInstitute, London on Wednesday 14 December 2011
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\r\nby UK\r\narmed forces chief David Richards, Ministry of Defence website, 14\r\nDecember 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.mod.uk\/DefenceInternet\/AboutDefence\/People\/Speeches\/ChiefStaff\/2011121412thAnnualChiefOfDefenceStaffLecture.htm
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\r\nrelated\r\narticles:<\/span>
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\r\nBritain,\r\ndon’t attack Somalia!
\r\n<\/span>How intelligence agencies\r\nare “looking hard for links” with terrorists<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nT. J. Coles, Axis of Logic, 21 January 2012<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/axisoflogic.com\/artman\/publish\/Article_64264.shtml
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\r\nHorn\r\nof Africa: US proxy war in Somalia veers towards regional conflict<\/span>
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\r\nEthiopia’s anticipated invasion marks scramble for territory\r\nwith Kenyan rival
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\r\nby\r\nFinian Cunningham, Global Research, 1 January 2012 <\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=28443
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\r\nFrench\r\nships, U.S. drones attack Somalia as Kenyan troops invade<\/span>
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\r\nU.S.-backed regimes abet imperialist aggression
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\r\nby\r\nAbayomi Azikiwe, Global Research, 11 November 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=27597
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\r\nSomalia:\r\nWestern media indulge US and French denials of new war in famine-hit\r\nHorn of Africa<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nFinian Cunningham, Global Research, 26 October 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=27310
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\r\nIs\r\nWashington using famine in the Horn of Africa to embark on yet another\r\nillegal war?<\/span>
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\r\nUS drones coordinate air power for Kenyan ground invasion of Somalia
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\r\nby\r\nFinian Cunningham, Global Research, 19 October 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.globalresearch.ca\/index.php?context=va&aid=27165
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\r\nSomalis\r\nunder relentless drone attack as U.S. tightens military grip on\r\ncontinent<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nGlen Ford, Black Agenda Report, 18 October 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/blackagendareport.com\/content\/somalis-under-relentless-drone-attack-us-tightens-military-grip-continent
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\r\npropaganda\r\nalerts:<\/span>
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\r\nBritish\r\ngovernment: 13,500 troops to be deployed for the London 2012 Olympics<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nCem Ertür, San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, 16\r\nDecember 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.indybay.org\/newsitems\/2011\/12\/16\/18702893.php\r\n
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\r\nThe\r\nGuardian: Britain prepares to take part in US strikes against Iran<\/span>
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\r\nby\r\nCem Ertür, San Fransisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, 2\r\nNovember 2011<\/span>
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\r\nhttp:\/\/www.indybay.org\/newsitems\/2011\/11\/02\/18696864.php
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\r\n______________________________\r\n\r\n\r\n\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.indybay.org\/newsitems\/2012\/02\/28\/18708307.php","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"After playing a leading role in the occupation of Kosovo (1999), Sierra Leone (2000), Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003) and Libya (2011); Britain is now simultaneously threatening Iran, Syria and Somalia with war. ","numcomment":1,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2012\/02\/251736.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}