Okay, so this is a TL I've had bouncing around in my head for a while, and, seeing as my writer's block on my other TL is absolutely monumental at the moment, I've decided to kick this off as a side project.
. . .
"06Somalia2382", a secret US diplomatic cable sent from Mogadishu to Washington
Only recently leaked by wikileaks.com
VZCZCXRO2898
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #2382/01 2171659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041659Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY SOMALIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2828
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN SOMALIA
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
SM GOV ISLM
SUBJECT: SITUATION IN SOMALIA PLUS RECOMMENDATIONS
¶1. What remains of the government is seriously embattled, controlling only Puntland. The northwest is entirely independent as the "Republic of Somaliland" and easily repulsing any governmental attempt at invasion. The south, too, is easily repulsing the government, no matter how disunited they are. I recommend, therefore, that we discontinue our backing of the government: they are obviously too weak to fight Somali Al-Qaeda and control the nation.
¶2. On July 15, the Islamic Courts Union, which controls around a quarter of Somalia, reopened Mogadishu International Airport, an important connection in Eastern Africa. On August 15, they captured Haardhare, a major pirate haven. On August 25, they reopened Mogadishu Seaport. The list of the ICU's successes goes on and on. In the past year, they have clearly gained supremacy over the rest of the southern factions, including the legitimate "government", which essentially no longer exists south of the province of Puntland. While they are Islamists, they are certainly not anti-US: the leader, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has voiced support for the war against Al-Qaeda several times, and is a supporter of the U.S. effort in the Middle East. Even further, their policies and essential nature are appealing to the Somali people, and they have a massive base of public support.
¶3. In the north, Somaliland is essentially a free, well-defended, and stable democratic republic that has somehow failed to be recognized widely. The only reason for this is that the African Union is simply reluctant to change colonial borders. Somaliland is pro-US and they would be an enormously useful ally in the area, controlling the entrance to the Red Sea. As is obvious, if we recognize them, others will follow.
(REDACTED)
¶6. In conclusion, the recommendations of this agent are that we cease our backing of the government and instead recognize the Islamic Courts Union as the legimate government of Somalia, as well as recognizing Somaliland as a de facto, de jure independent republic, their having met all the requirements needed.
RUHME
6:00 News, Washington D.C.
October 18, 2006
"Today, George W. Bush announced his administration's support of the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia, shocking many throughout the U.S. and beyond...."