The War on Terror Hits Africa

The War on Terror Hits Africa By NICK DEARDEN

"The president is not going to allow Somalia to become a safe haven for terrorists."- US spokesperson, May 2006

Once again the Horn of Africa is being drawn into a global power game likely to increase the suffering of its peoples. Ethiopia's attack on Somalia, backed by a nod from George W Bush, is the clearest sign yet that the region in high on the US's agenda in its all-consuming "war on terror". But Ethiopia and Somalia aren't new to global power politics. For decades brutal dictators have received massive support to play the pawns of the US, and previously also the Soviet Union.

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