The Somalia Syndrome - 19 May 2010

The Somalia Syndrome

Robert Patman, Michael Cox
19 May 2010, 6.30pm, B212

Robert Patman will launch his new book, Strategic Shortfall: The Somali Syndrome and the March to 9/11. Professor Patman argues that it was not 9/11 that transformed the international security environment, but the "Somali Syndrome", an aversion to intervening in failed states that began in the wake of the1993 US/UN action in Somalia. The botched raid precipitated America's strategic retreat from its post-Cold War experiment at partnership with the UN in nation-building and peace enforcement and engendered American paralysis in the face of genocide in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. The ensuing international security vacuum emboldened al-Qaeda to emerge and attack America and inaugurated our present era of intrastate conflict, mass killings, forced relocations, and international terrorism.

Speakers

Professor Robert Patman is Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. The author or editor of seven scholarly books, Professor Patman is a leading expert on US foreign policy in the post-Cold War security environment.

Professor Michael Cox is co-Director of LSE IDEAS and Professor of International Relations at the LSE. An expert in US foreign policy, his most recent book is Soft Power in US Foreign Policy |(Routledge, 2010) »|

Location

B212, 2nd Floor Columbia House, London School of Economics. Map.

EVENT: The crisis in Somalia - from the perspective of Dr. Micheal Wells

This event is set to take place on Monday 26th April at the Cafe Diplo, The Gallery and is organised by the anti-neo conservative Friends of Le Monde Diplomatique.

It will begin at 6:45pm and last till 8:45pm, admission costs £3 on the door. For further information email enquiries@mondediplofriends.org.uk

See you all there!

Anti-terrorism policy backfiring - Prevent agenda under scrutiny

By Michael Holden from Reuters

The government's policy of trying to stop the radicalisation of mainly young Muslims, a central plank of its counter-terrorism strategy, is alienating those it is supposed to be winning over, a committee of MPs said on Tuesday.

Prevent", which aims to cut support for violent extremism and discourage people from becoming terrorists, was backfiring as many Muslims felt it was being used to spy on them, parliament's Communities and Local Government Committee said.

"The misuse of terms such as 'intelligence gathering' amongst Prevent partners has clearly discredited the programme and fed distrust," said Phyllis Starkey, the committee's chairman.

Prevent is one of the four main strands of the government's policy, along with Pursue, Protect and Prepare, set up to deal with the threat from al Qaeda and its related groups.

Brought in two years after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, Prevent became particularly significant after the London suicide bombings in July 2005 carried out by four British Islamists.

It seeks to use police, local government, teachers and youth workers to help communities counter the message of al Qaeda.

But community workers told Reuters this month that the policy had tainted positive projects and it was instead creating unease among many of the government's 1.8 million Muslims.

The National Association of Muslim Police even said it had stigmatised Muslims and worsened relations.

In its report, the Communities Committee called for a new approach, saying it was wrong that a department working for community cohesion should be part of a counter-terrorism agenda.

It said there should be an independent investigation into accusations by witnesses giving evidence to the committee who said the strategy was being used by police and spies for intelligence gathering.

The committee accused ministers of trying to "engineer a 'moderate' form of Islam, promoting and funding only those groups which conform to this model".

"In our view, a persistent pre-occupation with the theological basis of radicalisation is misplaced because the evidence suggests that foreign policy, deprivation and alienation are also important factors," Starkey said.

The government said it was disappointed the report had not taken into account changes made to Prevent in the last year to address criticisms.

"All Prevent activities are designed to support all communities, and particularly Muslim communities in resisting those who target their young people," a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said.

"There has been no substantiated evidence that Prevent programmes are keeping Muslim communities under surveillance."

Somali youths attacked with knives in Finsbury Park

Click here to read the full story.

Somali gangs build a crime empire on the streets of cities in the UK

The saga continues, click here for an article from The Daily Star about Somalis, crime and violence in the UK.

The crisis appears to have entered a new phase...

An article appeared in The Sun last week that exclusively considered the impact of Somalis on the wider UK society. Click here to read the report in full.

As exposes go, it is shocking.

Nomad Radio - Interview with Anti Tribalism Movement!!!‏

For a lengthy summation of the reasons why there are some serious issues within the Somali community in the UK, one need only to click here to listen to a hilarious and tragic interview.

Enjoy.

Chatham House Events in April

Somaliland’s Electoral Challenge

Wednesday 7 April 2010 17:30 to 18:30

Location: Chatham House, London

Participants:

• Dr Mohamed Fadal, Director, Social Research and Development Institute (SORADI), Hargeisa
• Mohamed Barud Ali, Advisor on Aid Coordination, Somaliland Ministry of Planning
• Saeed Ahmed Mohamoud, Democratisation Programme Officer, National Electoral Commission of Somaliland

Type: Research and other events

Despite its lack of international recognition as a sovereign state, Somaliland has long been one of the few secure and democratic territories of the Horn of Africa. This security is threatened by the political impasse which has resulted from repeated postponements of presidential and parliamentary elections. In April 2010, presidential elections are again due to be held, but the uncertainty surrounding whether these will take place threatens to cause further deterioration to region which is already the most volatile on the African continent.

The speakers at this event each have unparalleled experience of politics in Somaliland, and they will provide an insight into the challenges which the region faces in the run-up to elections.



Somalia: A New Approach

Thursday 22 April 2010 09:00 to 10:00

Location: Chatham House, London

Participants:

• Bronwyn Bruton, Author, International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• Sally Healy, Associate Fellow, Chatham House

Type: Research and other events

Even among failed states, Somalia stands apart. This event will launch the Council on Foreign Relations Special Report, sponsored by CFR's Center for Preventive Action, in whcih Bronwyn E. Bruton argues that the current US policy of supporting the TFG is proving ineffective and costly.
Instead, Bruton advances a strategy of 'constructive disengagement.' Notably, this calls for the United States to signal that it will accept an Islamist authority in Somalia-including the Shabaab-as long as it does not impede international humanitarian activities and refrains from both regional aggression and support for international jihad. The report recommends continued air strikes to target foreign terrorists while taking care to minimize civilian casualties. It argues for a decentralized approach to distributing US foreign aid that works with existing local authorities and does not seek to build formal institutions. And the report counsels against an aggressive military response to piracy, making the case instead for initiatives to mobilize Somalis themselves against pirates.

A map to Chatham House is accessible by clicking here