Coming back to the burning issue at hand and to grasp the gravity of the “unholy connection” of the “Ethiopian Minority Regime” and the “Al Qaeda”; picture two Al Queda speedboats, one from the Eritrean side and another from the Yemeni side, loaded with 5000-lbs bomb paralyzing an armada of ships of the civilized world at the Strait of Bad El Mandeb; Heaven forbid!  Far-fetched and outlandish?  Believe it or not, that was and still is the strategic and tactical objectives of Al Queda (Ben Laden), if the creation of their "Fundamentalist Empire" is to be speeded up by the help of the “Ethiopian Minority Regime.”

Before discussing the strategic and tactical objectives of Al Queda to control the Strait of Bab El Mandeb, Suez Canal, and/or the Strait of Gibraltar to achieve their religious and political domination that could extend from Morocco to the Far East; discussing the unholy “alliance” or the connection between the “Minority Regime of Ethiopia”, the Weyane, and Al Qaeda is in order. Although politics does create strange bedmates; but to witness the “Ethiopian Minority Regime” in “bed” with Al Qaeda is beyond any one could handle or accept.  But it is true and a documented fact that there was and still there is a “symbiotic” relationship between these two evil of mankind.  To reach at their respective political objectives, which are antagonistic by all accounts, both the Weyane and Al Qaeda have a salivating lust to control the Red Sea. Thus, these two have been in “bed” strategically and tactically. To that effect, DEBKAfile.com has to reported this:

"His (meaning Ben Laden) annual operational budget is estimated as $125 million, which comes out of revenues from family-owned companies”. "He (Ben Laden) has invested his stock in front companies registered in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Most of his investments are in satellite networks and cell phone companies."

Although immature US diplomats and policy makers of the US such as Jendayi Frazer are trying to bury their head in the sand like an ostrich when it comes to the unholy alliance of Al Qaeda and the “Minority Government of Ethiopia”, weather they like it or not, the bitter truth is "he (Ben Laden) has invested his stock in front companies registered in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital”; earning him the “dollars” he needed to blow up the peace-loving people of the world.  That is the fact and Western nation policy-makers could not whitewash or bury their head in the sand. The world knows or should know by now; it is the “Minority Government of Ethiopia”, the Weyane, who are providing Ben Laden the legitimacy and the safe haven to invest worldwide  “in front companies registered in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital”.

Then you might be tempted to ask how can this be possible; taking the fact that Weyane is viewed, in some quarters as if the Weyane is a “partner” in the war against “international terrorism” and yet it is the “Minority Government of Ethiopia who is the one in “bed” with Al Qaeda. The “Ethiopian Minority Regime” taken as a partner in the war “terrorism”; how could that ever be possible!….?…..! Easy when you have people like Jendai Frazier from the streets of DC to handle such issue.  Do forget, Jendayi Frazer, let alone to know the dynamics of the Horn, she is a lady could not navigate her way in the streets of DC.

It is a document fact that Ben Laden, through his front man in Ethiopia, is not only heavily invested all over the world but also in Ethiopia.  You do not have to be rocket scientist or an insider of a “spy ring” to know who the front man of Ben Laden in Ethiopia is.  Not only that, it is documented fact that “carrier” of choice used to transport “terrorists” from one country to another has been Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa. From the business operations all over the world and Ethiopia, Ben Laden is getting the "dollars" he needs to “blow” up countries and societies; irrespective of their geographic location, religious, political and/or economic philosophy. In short “terrorism” is NO longer against the US or against the West only, but it is against the human race; period!  “Terrorism” has no color, race, religion, or geographically coded criteria to inflict harm and devastation. But it is ironic and it quite disheartening to see the very Western nations, the UN, and the so-called AU, who claim they are at in the trenches to fight "terrorism", are the very same one that cater to the Al Qaeda “cash cows” which are the “front companies registered in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.”  Al Qaeda knows this; I bet Ben Laden is saying, "just take a look at these Westerners giving us all the “dollar” we need to blow them up anywhere and anytime."
 
The war against the "international terrorism" rages on.  It should and it is a must that it should be won; if there shall peace on earth.  More specifically, if the war against “terrorism” in the Horn of Africa is to be won; the Western countries, especially those who are sacrificing their resources and their life in the war, should accept that first order of business is to get rid of the “Minority Regime of Ethiopia”.  Only when Weyane is removed, the US and civilized world could see the fruit of their sweat and blood-culminating in a peaceful Horn and Middle East with no terror elements operating from the region. Otherwise, these countries are fertile grounds for Ben Laden to push for his worldwide fundamentalist drive; given the fact that Al Qaeda or “"he (Ben Laden) has invested his stock in front companies registered in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital” to finance his mission! 

Unless the Western nations, especially those who claim they are at war against “terrorism”, want to bury their head in the sand like an ostrich; at this very hour, Al Qaeda do not only have the support and the sympathy of fanatic supporters in the Middle East but it has been reported that his support base is far-reaching and widespread. To the bottomless financial, material, and human resources he can muster from Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich regimes; Ben Laden is also entrenched financially, strategically, and tactically in Ethiopia and other places.  DEBKAfile has been studying Ben Laden and his operation for years. This is what they have to report: 

 "Al Qaeda ("the Base"), the militant Islamic movement the Saudi terrorist tycoon Osama Bin Laden founded in 1990, is estimated by DEBKAfile's terror experts to number no more than 12,000 fighting men in all. They are scattered round the world, mainly in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Chechenya, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgistan, Tadjikistan and Lebanon. Some 2,500 live in the United States, many of them US nationals, counting also members of Al Qaeda's fraternal terrorist group, the fundamentalist Egyptian Jihad Islami."

Then it is a timely question to ask as to why this unholy alliance of Ben Laden and the “Minority Government of Ethiopia”, the Weyane?  The answer is simple.  Both have their eye on the “Red Sea” and if their respective agenda is to succeed, Eritrea (SHAEBIA) is the only force that stopped them and Eritrea is still there ready to stop them.  It is a known fact that the first victim of Ben Laden was Eritrea.  And Eritrea is still the target; if Ben Laden is to control the Red Sea at the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, the Eritrea is the springboard for his mission.  By the same token, Eritrea (SHAEBIA) is also the target, if the Weyane are to have their yet-to-be-born "the Greater Republic of Tigai” with access to the Red Sea. Do not forget, it is also to this end where the Al Qaeda financed-trained-dispatched “Eritrean Jihad” are still being harbored, financed and trained by the “Ethiopian Minority Regime” as we speak. It is paradox, to see the US “dollars” is the one being used to arm the Afghanistan trained-dispatched“ Eritrean Jihad” from within Ethiopia! Then again, when people like Jendayi Frazer are the one that are dispatched to the HORN; then what you see is what you get. And that is shame!  Therefore, if the war against terrorism to succeed; the Western nations should stop sabotaging and undermining their own mission by taking the “Ethiopian Minority Government” as a partner in the war against terrorism.
 
Do the Western nations know the gravity of the mistakes they are committing? To answer the question, let us start with a hypothetical question: What if Ben Laden is to succeed to have "Moslem Fundamentalist Eritrean State, then what? Then picture Al Queda stopping a whole armada of ships of the civilized world by a single suicide bomber, on a speedboat, launched from a Yemen or from the up-coming Fundamentalist State of Eritrea on this narrow neck-the Strait of Bab El Mandeb. To have a feel of the gravity and the danger and the devastation that could unleash, if Al Queda are not dealt with accordingly and decisively; just take a look at the fate of USS Cole and the French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen.  If these two examples are too small or too far from home to shake you up or to wake you up, then go back to 1998 in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam.  Better yet, come to 9/11/2001 and let the living and breathing pictures tell you and show you the ugliness of “terrorism” as we know it. With these historical facts and experiences from just yesterday; while the pictures of these horrors are still fresh in the minds of the every civilized human beings, picture if Ben Laden (Al Queda) is to control Strait of Bad El Mandeb from the Yemeni side and the Eritrean side, Heaven forbid. Far-fetched and outlandish scenario? Do not fool your self.  The writing is on the wall.  Ben Laden and Al Queda are in a "mission".  If their mission of having a "Moslem Fundamentalist Empire" that extends from North Africa, to Middle East, to Far East, and to Central Asia is to be achieved; then Eritrea is the beachhead or the springboard then chose, never miss that.  In short, Eritrea might be sentenced to be the first victim but the evil scheme of Al Qaeda is also to reach across the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.

You might conclude that Ben Laden (Al Queda) has already solved half of the puzzle.  Osama Ben Laden has been there, on the other side of the Red Sea- in Yemen and Saudi Arabia for quite some time now.  Osama Ben Laden is not only the “ben" of Laden (the son of Laden); but he is also Osama "ben" Yemeni (the son of Yemen).  With entrenched fanatic and hardcore supporters.  And if you add the bottomless support he can muster in terms of logistics, finance, and manpower from next door, from Saudi Arabia; Osama Ben Laden have a fortified home base or "Dejen" for his mission. These days, strategically and tactically located, with supporters and followers in Yemen and Ethiopia; Al Queda are still training, arming, and financing their "Jihad" or "soldiers of religion", as we speak.  Despite the resent setbacks of Al Queda in Afghanistan and other places; the mission of Al Queda is still alive and well. Therefore, to unleash their "Armageddon" against the civilized world, the one thing Al Queda needs is the second half of puzzle: The political and military control of the Straight of Bab El Mandeb from Eritrean side and that is where the service of the “Ethiopian Minority Government” is being put to good use by Al Qaeda; never and ever try to hide or to whitewash that!

Let me take you back to pre-1994 invasion of Eritrea by Al Qaeda.  Way back then when the whole world was slumbering, Ben Laden targeted Eritrea as his first victim.  Right after Ben Laden was stripped off his Saudi citizenship he landed in the Sudan and with the help of a handful disgruntled Eritreans who happened to be roaming the ghetto of the Middle East; Ben Laden calculated that this small and young country, Eritrea, would be an easy prey.  Since 1992, Ben Laden made Eritrea his firing range and the Eritreans as his live targets in his bid to make Eritrea a "Moslem Fundamentalist state".  While the whole world was sleeping, Eritrea alone was in the trenches to stop this "evil".  By 1994, Ben Laden launched his first attack on Eritrea; only to find out that the Eritreans are not what he calculated them to be.  In battle he never expected to lose, Al Queda faced the Eritreans only to be annihilated, captured, or to retreat back to their camps in the Sudan leaving a number of military hardware including brand new Tomato Land Cruisers.  The world may not be aware of it; but the Eritrean "Tower" was hit by Ben Laden way back in 1994.  But thanks again to the gallant sons and daughters of Eritrea, the Eritrean "Tower" is still standing tall and proud.

Ben Laden might have taken Eritrea as a young nation, a baby by comparison that came out of thirty years of bloody war, to stand up to his challenges.  But Ben Laden made one mistake:  He did not ask the Ethiopians about Eritrea and the Eritreans. Little did Ben Laden know about the battle hardened and militarily brilliant Eritreans. Most importantly Ben Laden did not know the politically mature and sophisticated Eritreans.  Ben Laden have not taken the time to ask the Eritreans, both Christians and Moslems, as to their aspirations and dreams. Ben Laden did not know that in Eritrea there is one religion, Eritrea; one people, Eritreans; and they do speak one language, Eritrea.  If Ben Laden thought Eritrea is another dismal African state, riddled with religious and tribal strife, or Eritrea is another Middle Eastern country ripe and ready for his use and abuse; then he did not take the time to study the “Eritrean Revolution”. To Eritreans, both Christians and Moslems, Eritrea is more than a country.  “Eritrea” to Eritreans is the badge of honor and identity, it is the persona and the make up, and it is the reason for life and living! 

Be it as it may, Eritrea all alone was facing the Al Queda, in the trenches, until that ill-fateful day, 9/11/2001, arrived. Eritrea alone  managed to “save the day” and held her end of the bargain until the whole world was awaked on that ill-fated day.  Had it not been for Eritrea that stopped "fundamentalism" from spreading like the prairie fire in the Horn and/or Middle East; by now, we would have seen a much larger and a wide spread devastation. The writing was on the wall.  Despite the earlier horrors of Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam; it took us to witness the horrors of 9/11 to wake us up. It should not have been this way and the civilized world should not have waited that long.  Nevertheless, we needed to capture, in the pictures for eternity, the horrors of 9/11 to understand and to grasp the magnitude of the danger looming.  It was a rude awaking to the human race!

Still Al Queda and their quest are alive and well.  But first thing is first.  Ben Laden needs a "beachhead" or a springboard if he and his men are to go for the final push.  That is where controlling Bab El Mandeb from both sides is still in the game plan. This is where the services and the participation of “Ethiopian Minority Government” and the Afghanistan trained Eritrean Jihad, operating from Ethiopia, with the full support and backing of the Weyane are to come handy. Why is the “Minority Regime of Ethiopia” harboring Al Queda, Al Qaeda financed-trained Eritrean terrorist, and providing safe haven for Al Qaeda “cash cows” is irrelevant at this point.  The bottom line is AL Queda and the “Minority Government of Ethiopia” are in "bed” at this hour; hoping they will reach at their respective objectives no matter how antagonistic and bloody towards each other they could be.

Leaving the “Minority Government of Ethiopia”, as a “dead horse”, which is ready to be discarded by the Ethiopians for the consumption of AQAQI hyena; you got to asked what if the Al Queda is to have a control of the Bab El Mandeb, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Gibraltar?" Imagine what could have happened; had it not been for this country we call "Eritrea" and these defiant people we call "Eritreans" that stood in the way of Al Queda?  Just picture how easy and how fast "fundamentalism" could have spread in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti-the very countries that surround the strategic Red Sea and the Strait of Bab El Mandeb.  Picture the Red Sea in general and the Bab El Mandeb in particular patrolled by Ben Laden speedboats.  With the exception of Eritrea, some of these countries are easy to control.  If Eritrea was to have fallen in the hands of Al Queda, picture Al Queda to subdue the Saudi Kingdom without shooting a single bullet; by just sinking a couple of Saudi oil tankers at the Straight Bab El Mandeb.  Imagine, the economic and social upheaval that could ensue if a dozen oil tankers of other oil producing countries are sunk in the Straight of Ban El Mandeb by Al Queda suicide bombers. Imagine how Europe can be brought down to its knees once the Red Sea shipping lines to the Far East and Indian Ocean was to come to halt by Al Queda sea pirates. Just imagine one single speedboat of Ben Laden challenging an armada of warships of the civilized world.  Do not only picture it; expect it.  Now Al Queda is bombing apartment complexes in Saudi Arabia, railway a station in Spain, Hotel in Indonesia, a bus station in Barentu Eritrea and next will be shipping lines at Bab El Mandeb. Sit down and ask, and you will get the picture. Speak no more and hold your peace (piece) forever if you are not ready to do something about it. But do not forget, still the “Minority Ethiopian Regime” is the one that is giving Al Qaeda to legitimately and legally operate their “source of income” in the West-in the very countries who claim they are at war against terrorism. What ever you do and what ever you label your self to be, never and ever forget that Addis Ababa is where the worldwide financial institutions of Al Qaeda are registered doing business under your nose! 

The question is how is the civilized world to face these two menaces of the human race?  The call has been made.  President Bush has put it quite bluntly.  "Either you are with us, of you are with terrorist" is the message and the policy as set by President Bush.  President Bush has put it bluntly that if you harbor, give refuge, finance, train, support, and promote terrorists, directly or indirectly; you are cannot be anything but a "terrorist".  In no uncertain terms, "terrorism" has been defined. The definition is clear and there is no gray area.  The question is how are nations, societies, individuals responding to this definition?  Each nation, each organization and each individual has choice to make.  If that is the case, how in the hell is the “Minority Government of Ethiopia” is being taken as a “partner” in the war against “international terrorism”?  In all honesty do these Western nations, especially the US, know they are cutting one of the finger that was supposed to pull the trigger on the fight against “international terrorism” by taking the “Ethiopian Minority Regime” as a “partner” in the war against terrorism?  I do not thing some of US policy makers know they are undermining and sabotaging the noble mission of defeating “terrorism”, as we know it!

Incidentally, if there are nations and societies who want to play it both ways, or if there are those who think there is a "gray" area they could maneuver in the war against terrorism; then they should remember terrorism will not stop within the confines of one country, one region, or one religion.  If there are nations who might think only certain countries are the target but not they; then they better ask the Kenyans, the Tanzanians, the Spanish, the Moroccans, and the Saudis who are on the receiving end of Al Queda.  If there are nations who think "terrorism" is far from home, then they better ask the Indonesians, the Australians, and the Americans.  Ask the French who were hit miles from France mainland. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow; but Al Queda will be in the doorsteps of every civilized society in their own good time.  Therefore, there is not much time left and there is no other choice.

In conclusion, as President George Bush put it bluntly, "either you are with us or you are with the terrorists". The choice is on the table and the policy to fight “terrorism” is clear.  With the human race is to have peace the war against any form of “terrorism” should be won.  One thing true, taking Weyane as a “partner” against “terrorism” is like going to war against “terrorism” with the fingers that the pull the trigger in the war against “terrorism” cut or severed. To wit: Ask Tony Blair about the nature and makeup of the “Ethiopian Minority Regime ”.  As for Jendayi Frazer, although her actions and words are to cause an immediate harm to the HORN; it is sad to see the noble and honorable ideals of the US is being hijacked by a lady who does not posses the brains to navigate the streets of DC let alone to navigate the dynamics of the HORN.

Wetru Awet N'Hafash!
Hiji Win Hade Hizbi Hade Libi!
Eternal Glory to the Dead and the Living Heroes/Heroines
It is a Must "Wefri Warsai-YekeAlo" Should Succeed!

Dr. Michael Fessehaye

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