From: bv652@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Ilan Uri Woll)
Newsgroups: alt.current-events.somalia,talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Re: Somalia: The REAL U.S. mission
Date: 31 Dec 1992 08:58:36 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: bv652@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Ilan Uri Woll)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, U38026@uicvm.uic.edu () says:

>I happen to locate some interesting information on Somalia.  I think
>most people would find this most interesting in light of the so called
>"humanitarian" mission, Restore Hope.  The issues that are most
>pertinent to issue of U.S. military intervention are marked with a "**".
>If you know anything about US imperialism, here's more fuel for the
>fire. I obtained this information through The Software Labs (a shareware
>distribution company based in Los Angeles, California), 1-800-359-9998,

For the sake of Brevity, I am only maintaining lines with relevant (in the
original posters eyes) info (a.k.a that with the "**")

>**Natural resources: uranium, and largely unexploited reserves
>of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

The uranium reserves (I believe, someone correct me if I'm wrong) are of poor
quality in terms of being unable to convert to weapons-grade plutonium,

>**Environment: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
>plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

And?

>**Note:  strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches
>to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal.  [also
>Somalia is good location for a military base to launch air strikes
>against independant countries like Libya and Yemen and protect US
>colonies like Saudi Arabia.]

We have similar bases in Yemen and, I think, Chad.

>**Religion: almost entirely Sunni Muslim [interesting that they can sing
>Christmas Carols with the Marines.]

So is Bosnia-Hertzagovena ( hope I spelled it right), and the Christmas 
carols were probably taught them by the European and American relief
workers.


>**Economy
>Overview: One of the world's least developed countries, Somalia
>has few resources. In 1988 per capita GDP was $210. Agriculture is the
>most important sector of the economy, with the livestock sector
>accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads
>and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods
>make up about 50% of the population. Crop production generates only 10%
>of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is
>bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The
>small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural
>products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. At the end of 1988
>serious economic problems facing the nation were the external debt of
>$2.8 billion and double-digit inflation.
>
>**Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep,
>goats); crops--bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient
>in food; fishing potential largely unexploited

So what is this "Real US Mission", please spell it out.
-- 
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