From: HADCRJAM@admin.uh.edu (MILLER, JIMMY A.)
Newsgroups: alt.current-events.somalia
Subject: Re: Somalia: The REAL US mission II
Date: 4 Jan 1993 13:41:27 GMT
Organization: University of Houston Administrative Computing
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: uhad2.admin.uh.edu
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20

In <93003.201212U38026@uicvm.uic.edu> <U38026@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:

> 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.
> !!!  My point of this article was mostly for people to make some of their
> !!! own conclusions as to the information.  But it seems for some I have
> !!! to spell out somethings.  I have marked these sections with "!!!" I
> !!! hope they will answer some questions that people have been posing.
> !!! I have also included some information that has been posted to the net.
> !!! This article supports my argument the Somalians should be left alone
> !!! as far as setting up their own government.

  Unfortunately, your so-called "spelling-out" shows about as little imagina-
tion as the original.  Or perhaps I should say, shows MUCH imagination.
I have deleted all but the sections which have been commented upon.

> I obtained this information through The Software Labs (a shareware
> distribution company based in Los Angeles, California), 1-800-359-9998,
> "The World Factbook 1990 Electronic Version, 3 disks (3316,3317,3318)".

> **Natural resources: uranium, and largely unexploited reserves
> of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
> 
> !!! Economic resources are the main reason for US foreign policy and
> !!! strategic control of certain areas of the world.  If you are interested
> !!! in finding out the real character of the US foreign policy.  Check out
> !!! the film, The Panama Deception, (Empowerment Project, 1653 18 St. Suite
> !!! 3, Santa Monica  CA 90404, (310) 828-8807)

  Well no shit.  But the US already has uranium reserves, iron ore, tin, and 
copper.  These resources are not worth the $$ it would require to put the 
country into a condition where we could go in and get them.

> **Environment: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
> plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
> 
> !!! This was marked to show how devasted the country of Somalia is even
> !!! before the civil unrest (war) happen for the last year and half.

  Actually, this is an argument in favor of the "white man's burden", if any-
thing.

> **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.]
> 
> !!!  Surprising nobody has disputed the claim of the strategic location of
> !!! Somalia.  Some took insult to the phase, "US colonies" but lets not
> !!! forget that the US have given many arms and weapons to Saudi Arabia as
> !!! of late and the leaders are not consulting their people on the matter.
> !!! So that why I use "US colony".  But, I probably should use terms like
> !!! "imperial ally" or "democratic monarchy" or whatever oxymoron you
> !!! perfer.

  Well, I would like it if the conspiracy folks would decide if the Saudis are
US colonies or if they are the ones who control US policy.  BTW, the arms sales
have received due publicity and there was little hue and cry over it -- there-
fore, your nice line on "consulting their people" has no merit here.  Besides,
how is this consultation to tkae place?  Must there be a plebiscite on every 
action the government makes?

  And if arms sales are all that is required for colonialism, the US has a very
large empire indeed!  The F-16's alone have conquered more lands than Alexander!

> **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.
> 
> !!!  The reason that this was marked with "**" was to show that the Somalia
> !!! people are very weak, poor, and primative.  This shows that Somalia has
> !!! few DEVELOPED resources.  Thus, the US government has
> !!! the ability to mold and shape a Somalian government to reflect and
> !!! secure US interests, despite the interest or needs of the people.
> !!! Dictators, monarchies, and oligarchies are the easiest to exploit and
> !!! maintain a economic relationship with.  Examples-Marcos, Noreiaga,
> !!! Shah of Iran (a complete product of US imperialism) and Sadam Hussin
> !!! during the Iran-Iraq war.

  Problem -- to make Somalia a place worth exploiting, as opposed to easy to
exploit, will require billions that I doubt the US is willing to expend.  This
is something of a problem--so far the US government does not want to go the
extra steps to disarm the clans and create something resembling a nation-state.
It wants the UN's other countries, now that others have been shamed into com-
ing, to deal with the problem.  It should be noted (just for argument's sake)
that making a government that is amenable to US interests is not always a bad
thing for the locals (see Japan, Germany). 

> **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
> 
> !!! This part reflects that hardship of the people and their livelyhood and
> !!! their ability to protect themselves and organize a government by their
> !!! own accord.

  Recent history note:  Previously and currently, most Somalis have been killed
by Somalis, not outsiders. 


semper fi,

Jammer Jim Miller 
Texas A&M University '89 and '91
********************************************************************************
* Speak for my employers?  They don't even know I exist!		       *
*"Become one with the Student Billing System. *BE* the Student Billing System."*
* "Power finds its way to those who take a stand.  Stand up, Ordinary Man."    *
*      ---Rik Emmet, Gil Moore, Mike Levine: Triumph 		               *
********************************************************************************
Newsgroups: alt.current-events.somalia