Clottey Interview With James Swan - Download (MP3)

Clottey Interview With James Swan - Listen (MP3)

James Swan is Deputy Assistant secretary of State for African Affairs. From Washington, he tells reporter Peter Clottey the terrorist group’s presence in Somalia is detrimental to the ordinary Somali.

“This group known as al-Shabab has been designated a foreign terrorist organization after a very careful review of information concerning this group. There are documented indications of their close links to al Qaeda, including a number of senior officials in this group who have trained with al Qaeda. They’ve issued statements praising Osama Bin Laden, inviting foreign fighters to come to Somalia. And so for a host of reasons after a very careful review, this group has been designated a foreign organization by the United States,” Swan pointed out.

He said the militant group’s presence in Somalia poses a significant danger to Somalis.

“I think that is very much correct. We see this organization as a threat to the Somali people. The organization has conducted a number of attacks whose victims have been principally Somalis. Moreover, the group is an impediment, and it’s violent acts have proven an impediment to the reconciliation process in Somalia that in our view is essential to the restoration of peace, stability and prosperity of the country,” he said.

Swan said the US government has plans underway to stop the terrorist group’s negative influence.

“We believe this designation as a foreign terrorist organization will allow additional tools to be applied to constrain and curtail the activities of what is known as the al-Shabab. Under the provisions of the foreign terrorist organization designation, there would be additional restrictions on financial transfers to al-Shabab. There will be further restrictions on access to property and other resources that they may have, and there will be provisions on travel and immigration for example to the United States. So there are a host of provisions under the foreign terrorist designation that would further limit the activities of al-Shabab. And then more generally, we believe that the designation formally of this organization as a foreign terrorist organization will bring additional publics attention to al- Shabab and help underscore and signal the importance of curtailing its activities,” Swan noted.

Somalia has not had a stable central government since the overthrow of President Siad Bare in bloody coup de’tat in 1991.

Source: VOA, Mar 19, 2008

somalistar @ 3/21/2008 12:55 PM EST  Waxaan idin weydiin lahaa, Hiiraan ma CIA ku shaqaysata. Waayo mararka qaarkood waay iga yaabiyaan, waxaay qoraan iyo waxaanay qorin

Sahalsiidi @ 3/20/2008 6:13 PM EST  Good question will be how Nur cade is going to negotioate with Alshabab if they are in the list of "T".

Arraweelo10 @ 3/20/2008 1:27 PM EST  Alla maxaa been iyo faata dhug aad isku maweelisay. 1 km sq ma haysaan ee iskaba daa gobolo iyo meelo kale, sheeko waxay ku dhan tahay Suuqa bakaaraha oo la galo oo xabado laga dhex rido iyo Suuqa xoolaaha. Waxaana iga yaabiyey maxaa suuqayada dhigay nimankaan aad leedahay waxbay qabsanayaan ama dal bay xoreynayaan.  Xoreyntu Suuqayada taala maxay tahay iyo in tuulo cidla la galo afar xabadod lagu gaado niman askar ah oo qaarna la bireeyo sidii in ay xaj ka xoreynayaan gaalo. Bal waxaad ku hadleysid is arag oo niman ugu durbaan tumeysid, laba askari oo ay dilaan iyo odey degmo maamulayaa masjid ka soo baxay oo la dilo waxaas ma wax laal soo shir tagaa. Muqawamada way dhintaan oo badana waxan laga garan karin rayidka madaam ay direes u gooni ah asyan qabin. Xabada ha socoto ciday uga futo xun tahay ha la arko. Sheakadaada ah aabow cunuga yar iga qabo si aan kan weyn isaga celiyo. Goormay rumoobeysaa.

wadaad yare @ 3/20/2008 12:45 PM EST  Caroweelo Xabaduhu ma dhamaanayaan waa runtaa, laakiin raga ridaya ka waran iyagana. Gobolka Baay Impgati waxey uga hartey Baydhabo. Jubooyinka ka waran iyagana. Shabeelooyinkana maxaad ka tiri? Hada muqaawamadu goboladey soo sifeyneysaa. Hiiraana daba geed Itoobiyaankuu magan u yahey. Maxey ku dhacdey sidaas? Ciidanka Itoobiya waan ognahay waa ciidan xoog leh oo qalab casri ah wata. Laakiin adiga ma Itoobiyaa dawlad kuu ah mise Impagati? Markaan labeebka dhexda ka saarno ciidanka Itoobiya waan la tacaaleynaa.

Sahalsiidi @ 3/20/2008 11:58 AM EST  Website ka argagixisada is down........ almujahid ama kataaib.net kan isku yeeray.