Congressional Record Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
On Growing Tension in Somalia
November 16, 2006
I remain deeply concerned about rising instability and growing tension
in Somalia. It is becoming clear that efforts to date have failed to
sufficiently address the stand off between the Islamic courts and the
transitional federal government, TFG, and now new tension between Ethiopia
and Eritrea is threatening to engulf the entire region in a costly and
devastating conflict. Unfortunately, rising instability in Somalia is
having a direct effect on stability throughout the region and, if left
unchecked, will have a significant impact on our national security and
the security of our friends and allies.
As I have said many times before, it is imperative that the U.S. Government
begin playing a leadership role in helping to stabilize Somalia and
the region and that it do so immediately. We need a comprehensive approach
to engaging with regional actors, the international community, and the
U.N. to find a permanent solution to this crisis. Such an approach will
contribute to stability throughout the Horn of Africa and to our national
security.
We can't do this successfully, of course, unless we create a comprehensive
approach and apply sufficient resources and attention to this growing
problem. I was pleased when the Senate passed an amendment I offered
to the Defense authorization bill a few months ago that calls for a
comprehensive strategy for establishing long-term stability in Somalia.
I believe, as do a number of colleagues on both sides of the aisle,
that the United States must develop a comprehensive strategy for Somalia
that utilizes all facets of its power and capability and must ramp up
its diplomatic efforts throughout the region and the international community
to bring this crisis to an end.
Unfortunately, the administration has yet to appoint a senior coordinator
for Somalia to pull together a strategy and to engage fulltime with
international and regional partners in addressing this crisis. There
also appears to be a reluctance to put in place additional personnel
and resources needed to help execute this strategy and to contribute
to international efforts to bring about a lasting peace throughout the
region. Frustratingly, there has been reluctance among administration
officials to work closely with Congress to identify what additional
resources are needed to address changing conditions in Somalia. I have
asked repeatedly for a description of needed resources and support that
we in the U.S. Congress can provide to help address instability in Somalia
and have yet to receive a sufficient response.
Meanwhile, conditions in Somalia are becoming more complex and more
troubling. According to a new United Nations report released this week,
both the ICU and the TFG are obtaining support from a range of outside
actors. If this is true, it signals a dangerous mix of regional and
international meddling that could ignite the entire region into a devastating
conflict. Recent statements by leaders throughout the region, too, suggest
that specific countries may be prepared to intervene outside of the
context of a political solution or coordinated international intervention.
Our objectives must not be too lofty: we cannot hope to turn Somalia
into a peaceful and established democracy overnight. But we do need
to establish realistic goals and objectives and address this problem
with aggressive diplomacy and engagement--in Somalia, Nairobi, Addis
Ababa, New York, Brussels, Asmara, and throughout the Middle East. We
must work diligently to establish a robust political framework within
which both Somalia-specific and regional concerns can be addressed,
and that will help facilitate a broader arrangement that takes into
account the range of actors involved in this crisis. This framework
must be supported by the international community and key regional actors.
It must also take into consideration the very real security concerns
of Somalia's neighbors.
Unfortunately, we have very little time. Conditions continue to deteriorate,
and we can't count on weak diplomatic efforts to get us what we need.
Instability in Somalia has very real national security implications
for our country. Somalia remains what it has been for years: a haven
for known al-Qaida operatives and terrorist networks and criminal networks
that threaten U.S. interests. As we learned in Afghanistan, we cannot
ignore the conditions that breed and empower extremist and terrorist
organizations. Accordingly, it is essential that we treat instability
in Somalia like the true threat that it is. We need to act quickly and
decisively and as if American lives depend on it. They do.
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