How will the war end? Somalia vs Ethiopia "ancient enemies"

[Coeus]

For the moment, the Somalia are winning the Ogaden war.

"The Ethiopians know they do not belong here. That is why they do not fight well. We are driving them away forever."

So declares Abdullah! Abdi, a Somali military commander in the ugly little war that is being fought today in the Ogaden desert region of eastern Ethiopia.



The Somali hatred for the Ethiopians could hardly be more intense. Husein Liban, a Jijiga elder, recalls how the Somali nomads once killed an Ethiopian policeman who tried to collect a tax that they regarded as unfair. In revenge, he recalls, they "took 35 of our people and shot them. They would cut the breasts of our women to prevent them from suckling our young. When the fighting increased, the Ethiopians took 150 of our people as hostages. They shot them all, including my brother Odowa." Liban proudly claims to have been a guerrilla for 31 of his 71 years. "There is killing and killing," he says "but we are determined to fight on."

The Ethiopians, who are also righting a rebellion in the northern province of Eritrea, receive massive military aid from the Soviet Union. Until recently, Moscow also held Somalia in the iron grip of its friendship; but then it made the mistake of trying to expand its influence in the Horn of Africa by extending aid to both Somalia and Ethiopia, even though the two were ancient enemies. The volatile Somalis were enraged at the Russians' perfidy and stepped up their support for the Ogaden rebels. Meanwhile, the Soviets have reportedly supplied Ethiopia with MiG-21s and MiG-23s, heavy artillery and rocket launchers.

The Somalis, by contrast, lack the arms to wage a prolonged desert war. Despite some limited help from the Arabs, they may soon run low on fuel, spare parts and ammunition. Earlier this year, the U.S.—an ally of Ethiopia's during the late Emperor Haile Selassie's day—had thought of improving its ties with Somalia by sending some military aid. But after the Somali drive on the Ogaden began in July, Washington decided that it had better stay out of this murky conflict. The Somalis accuse the U.S. of breaking its word—although, in fact, no firm commitment was ever made.

How will it all end? "The last victor is always the one with the most resources," observes a diplomat in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. "The Somalis control the Ogaden, but how will they maintain it? The Somali people now think the W.S.L.F. is some kind of superman. There will be great disillusionment if the front should lose." Perhaps, as has happened so many times before, the war will end in a stalemate of exhaustion. But given the passions of the Ogaden, the chances are that, after an interval, the fighting will begin again.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... z1LuKV2MwR

[afisoone]

It is like Malays and China. I suggest you to study Malays history. You will find Chinese and Malays were bitter enemies for many thousands years. Their difference was Chinese always think they are superior than Malays. Malays refuse to accept that.

Today Ethiopians tribes think they are superior than Somalis. Some Somalis accept that methodology. Some are not. The bottom line is, China in the end accept that they are not superior to Malays. Now Chinese culture has to live by that fact for the rest of their live. I guarantee you there is day when Addis-Ababa Main language will be Afsomali. In my study of history, I learned every aggressor will be demolished.