Somalia forces retake capital from Islamists

From Somalia Forces Retake Capital from Islamists:

Islamist fighters abandoned Mogadishu, the Somali capital, as thousands of troops of the transitional government and the Ethiopian infantrymen who have been backing them marched into the city on Thursday in a stunning reversal of fortune. In five days, the internationally recognized government, that was marooned in a provincial market town, captured the capital and most of Somalia - with more than a little help from Ethiopia. The Islamists, whom many Western nations had considered a grave and growing regional threat with terrorist connections, were vanquished or at least removed from power. On Sunday, Ethiopia, with tacit approval from the U.S., carried out an aggressive counterattack against the Islamist forces after the Islamists had vowed to invade Somali-speaking areas of Ethiopia and wage a holy war against it.

The courage of Ethiopia

Ethiopian and Somali troops have captured a key border town early Monday, a day after Ethiopia sent fighter jets into neighboring Somalia and bombed several towns in a dramatic attack on a powerful Islamic movement. Ethiopia's prime minister announced Sunday night that his country was "forced to enter a war" with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts after the Muslim group declared holy war on Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation.

Residents said Islamic fighters left the town of Belet Weyne on the Somali-Ethiopian border overnight after Ethiopian fighter jets bombed Islamic positions on Sunday.

Col. Abdi Yusuf Ahmed, a Somali government army commander, told The Associated Press that his forces entered Belet Weyne early Monday without a shot fired. He held up his telephone and a reporter could hear street celebrations.

For more on the escalating violence between Ethiopia and Somalia's Islamic militia, click here.

May the United States and Israel find the courage to defend their own citizens against Islamic barbarity in the same way that Ethiopia has demonstrated her courage against her enemies.

For more on the rise of the Islamic militia in Somalia, click here.