HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/24/1027497355639.html Warlord's son offers US bases in return for aid and support Sydney Morning Herald July 25 2002 -Hussein Aideed, who grew up in the US, is an American citizen and served in the US military, including as a member of the US peacekeeping force in Somalia, now controls his father's powerful militias. The son of the assassinated warlord Mohammed Aideed - reviled in the United States as responsible for the deaths of 60 US and United Nations soldiers nine years ago - has offered to host US military bases on territory he controls in Somalia. Hussein Aideed, who grew up in the US, is an American citizen and served in the US military, including as a member of the US peacekeeping force in Somalia, now controls his father's powerful militias. In an interview with SBS television's Dateline shown last night, Mr Aideed said he was a friend of America who regrets the deaths of US soldiers in Somalia and now wants to help the US in its war on terrorism. But he says that in return he wants US recognition of his Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council as the ruling authority in Somalia and US support for him to wrest control from the UN-recognised Transitional National Government. Mr Aideed says the TNG is giving shelter to Islamic terrorists of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation and an associated group, al-Itihad, a claim it flatly denies. Mr Aideed said he was ready to let the US and the European Union establish military bases in Somalia from which they could operate in the whole region. "The US can come and go, and in return we get financial assistance for rebuilding our country, institutions and democracy," he said. "We are prepared to give the US permanent bases, long-term bases, from which they can look after their interest in Asia as well as the Middle East." Mr Aideed claimed that US and British military forces were already operating in many parts of Somalia in search of al-Qaeda operations. Mr Aideed's offer could be interesting because of its strategic importance. His background could encourage the US to see him as an important potential ally, although the Bush Administration has been cautious about acknowledging any connections with him. Hussein Aideed was educated in America and worked as a city engineer in California and as a reservist in the US Marines. Hussein had been estranged from his father, the warlord Mohammed Aideed, but re-established a relationship when he returned to Somalia in 1996. His father was assassinated nine months after Hussein returned and he inherited his power structure. He now claims to control 85per cent of the country and to be ready to oust the Transitional National Government. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
