November 4, 2011 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.
By Ellen Cannon
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) took to the floor of the Senate yesterday to denounce the sustained threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia and to praise the heroic efforts by the President of Kenya to launch a major operation against them.
“Al-Shabaab poses a grave threat to Kenya’s safety and security”, said Senator Kirk. “Since 2009, Al Shabaab conducted at least 10 attacks on Kenya’s soil and territorial seas or along the Somalia-Kenya border. In a particularly heinous crime, on October 1, 2011, they kidnapped a disabled French woman on Kenyan soil and dragged her to Somalia, where she later died.” (http://africanpress.me/11/4/11)
Al-Shabbab is an affiliate of Al Qaeda. Since 2008, the U.S. has designated Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization under U.S. law. Al- Shabaab has not only attacked Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia but has taken the lives of American citizens. Senator Kirk noted that in “July 2010, a suicide bombing by Al-Shabaab in Kampala killed 76 people, including an American citizen- 25 year old Nate Henn of North Carolina. Mr. Henn worked for the Invisible Children nonprofit organization. In addition, on October 25, 2011, Al Shabaab kidnapped and is still holding another American citizen, 32 year old Jessica Buchannan form Virginia.” (Video of Senator Kirk’s Speech given to the Senate of November 3, 2011)
At great risk to itself, the government of Kenya, under the leadership of President Mwai Kibaki, responded to the growing threat of Al-Shabaab on October 16, 2011. “At the invitation of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu, Kenya launched Operation “Protect the Country” against the al-Shabaab terrorist organization in southern Somalia.”
According to Senator Kirk about 4000 Kenyan troops are moving to the port city of Kismayo, where Al-Shabaab is headquartered. “The success of the Kenyan operation could mean a significant weakening of Al-Shabaab’s ability to pan and execute terrorist attacks and would greatly contribute to regional stability.”
In addition, Senator Kirk thanked the prominent local tribal militias that are also lending support to fight Al-Shabbab. These include, “Ahlu Sunnah Waljamaah (ASJW), the Raas Kaambooni Front, and the Jubaland militia formed under the leadership of the former TFG defense minister, Mohammed Abdi Mohamed.
Senator Kirk has been instrumental in calling attention to the growing threat of Al-Shabaab. He underscored his great appreciation to the government of Kenya by stating, “I commend the Kenyan government and the allied groups for their action. The United States and NATO should show support for this Kenyan action.”(Senator Kirk’s speech to Senate, November 3, 2011)
Al-Shabaab continues to attempt to radicalize and target Muslim-American Somali communities to recruit them for terrorist activities. Minneapolis is a key recruiting target city for Al –Al Shabaab. (Ellen Cannon, examiner.com (“Minnesota Trial Accuses U.S. Citizen of “deadly Pipeline” to Al-Shabaab). According to an investigation and report by the House Committee on Homeland Security, following the successful operation resulting in the killing of Osma Bin Laden, “Al Shabbab leadership eulogized him and vowed revenge against the U.S. Omar Hammami, an Al-Shabbab leader raised in the U.S. “swore blood revenge against his own homeland for the May 1 killing of Osama Bin Laden”, according the ereport.
Senator Kirk noted, that based on the findings of the House Committee on Homeland Security the domestic and international threat posed by Al-Shabaab recruiting efforts is sizable and very dangerous: “The committee found that (1) At Least 40 or more Americans have joined the organization; (2) So many Americans have joined that at least 15 of them have been killed fighting with Al-Shabbab, as well as three Canadians; (3) Three Americans who returned to the U.S. were prosecuted, and one awaits extradition from The Netherlands; (4) At least 21 or more American followers of Al-Shabaab members overseas remain unaccounted for and pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland; (5) Al-Shabaab has the intent and capability to conduct attacks or aid core Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen by striking U.S. interests and the U.S. homeland; (6) Al-Shabaab has not only openly pledged loyalty and support to Al Qaeda and AQAP in Yemen, but has cemented alarming operational ties to both groups.” (http://africanpress.me. 11/3/11)
Senator Kirk discussed the most recent incident by Al-Shabaab which occurred on October 29, 2011. “A suicide bomber attacked an African union (AU) base in Mogadishu, killing himself and 10 more. The suspect, Abdisalan Hussein Ali, was a 22 year old American citizen who grew up in Minneapolis and studied to be a doctor before he suddenly disappeared to join Al-Shabaab in 2008. The audio recording he allegedly made before his death contains the disturbing message likely aimed at young Americans: “Today, jihad is what is most important. It is not important that you become a doctor, or some sort of engineer.”( Video of Senator Kirk’s speech to senate, November 3, 2011)
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