Thousands demonstrate in Somalia

I've been tracking (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) the US's involvement with the warlords in Somalia for a month or so. On Monday, there was a very interesting Newsweek article which discussed dissent against the program by CIA, State Department, and NGO's.

Their main complaint was that US involvement, "many Americans with thick necks and short haircuts moving around, carrying big suitcases," could create a backlash among Somalis giving support to the Islamic Courts Union, and eventually leading to a"new Jihadist haven in Somalia."

Well, we don't know know the degree to which these protests might have been staged, but regardless, this is not good.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Mogadishu on Friday angrily condemning the United States for supporting warlords involved in clashes with Islamic militias that claimed 16 more lives overnight.

"America is responsible for the death of our children and the elderly," Sheikh Nur Barud, a respected cleric in Mogadishu, told the crowd chanting anti-American slogans.

"We are ready to defend our religion from the big American evil," read a banner held high by Mogadishu resident Ureji Yusuf at the rally protected by Islamic militia armed with machine guns, anti-aircraft missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.