_DSC0806[ Globtroter ]

_DSC0806[ Globtroter ], originally uploaded by Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak.

Old Soviet military base in Berbera. In the old times of Cold War Somalia was supplied with guns and specialist help by Soviet Union, exactly the same way as USA was making his favourites in the region armed and dangerous. But hey, Somalia never was a country in real sense of this word, there were always clans to support, so USA just chose different clans here, stronger, from the south, including one of Mohammed Siad Barre, the bad guy from "Black Hawk Down". To make the story short, exactly the same guns which trashed American boys on the intervention in Mogadishu depicted in the movie were provided not so long ago by American regime. But before that they helped Siad Barre to destroy north of the country,(which is now separated as Somaliland), flattening Hargeisa , the capital ( almost nothing was left, thousands died,) and Berbera , as well as bombing wandering nomads with spare bombs he had lots of. The Soviets abandoned huge base and we see remains of it in the back. So now country is slowly getting up, although remains of past are everywhere to be seen. But why you never heard of it? It is reasonably stable, getting better, just had democratic elections, they have low taxes, cheap and fast internet everywhere, smart and efficient people. But you only hear about bad guys from the south. One of the reasons is this - West likes to appease Egypt - he's got islamists and what is more, if its worth to be tough on something, it is the Israeli matter, not some skinny Muslims from Africa. And Egypt hates Somaliland, so works agains it in Arab League to make it isolated, and Egypt DOES have something to say in the League. You remember that Egypt depends on water from the Nile for survival and that some sources are in Ethiopia? Well, so Egyptians are interested in keeping Ethiopia busy with wars instead of putting money in developing agriculture and industry which would consume more and more water. To have wars you need bad aggressive neighbours and crazy Somalia was always one of them, always in some border conflicts, sometimes serious war. Now Somaliland, which is closest to Ethiopia, separated and created own , peaceful country, and has good relations with Ethiopia. This is something Egypt doesnt like, almost as much as the bad guys from the south, sending radical islamists over the border to destabilize country. But that is just another story.

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Uploaded by Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak on 14 Dec 05, 11.38AM PDT.

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