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They are a radical group calling themselves Christians, like AL Queda calls themselves Muslim.

Your attempt to characterize and our concerns as being against all Muslims is typical but wrong. In the instance that the radical Islamics use jihad, it most certainly means Holy war. Can we focus on that certain faction of Islamics instead of broadening the scope of things to a realm we are not addressing?

I mean, they are actually saying that is what it means, so maybe you better go and educate them! Oh those silly Muslim terrorist guys don't even know what jihad means!

Somalia Islamic militants call for jihad

By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN, Associated Press WriterSat Dec 23, 8:55 AM ET

Somalia's Islamic militants Saturday called on foreign Muslim fighters to join their holy war against Ethiopian troops after days of fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to engulf this volatile region.

Muslims are brothers and help each other, Sheik Yusuf Indahaadde, national security chairman for the Council of Islamic Courts, said in the capital, Mogadishu. We have a right to call our brothers and sisters to help us in this holy war, he said.

The Islamic forces have declared they want to bring the country under Quranic rule and vowed to drive out troops from neighboring Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation that is providing military support to Somalia's U.N.-backed government. Ethiopia denies its forces are fighting, saying it has sent only military trainers.

The clashes could mean a major conflict in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia, which has one of the largest armies in the region, and its bitter rival, Eritrea, could use Somalia as the ground for a proxy war. While Ethiopia backs the internationally recognized government, Eritrea backs the Islamic movement.

In Kismayo, a strategic seaport captured from the government by Islamic militia in September, residents saw several foreign Arab fighters disembarking from ships this week.

Hundreds of people have been killed since fighting broke out Tuesday. Sporadic gunfire and shelling could be heard Friday around Baidoa, the government's only stronghold, although fighting appeared to taper off. But four Ethiopian attack helicopters and about 20 tanks were seen headed for battle, witnesses and a government official said.

Thousands of Somalis have fled their homes as troops loyal to the two-year-old interim administration fought Islamic fighters who had advanced on Baidoa, about 140 miles northwest of Mogadishu. Islamic militiamen control Mogadishu along with most of southern Somalia.

Special forces who are highly trained in guerrilla warfare are now ready to attack Ethiopians, wherever they are in Somalia, Sheik Ibrahim Shukri Abuu-Zeynab, a spokesman for the Islamic movement, told The Associated Press.

He also said the Islamists late Friday peacefully captured the Ethiopian border town of Tiyeglow, which is believed to be a main entry point for troops from the neighboring nation.

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi vowed Saturday that his government will defend the people it is responsible for and Somali sovereignty. He called on the Islamic fighters to return to negotiations.

They will be responsible for any consequences that may result from rejecting our call, he said.

Government officials said more than 600 Islamic fighters had been killed during four days of clashes. Islamic militiamen said they had killed around 400 Ethiopians and government fighters. Neither claim could be independently confirmed.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan called on both sides to cease the hostilities immediately and to resume the peace talks, his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement released late Friday.

Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, plunging the country into chaos.

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I just wanted to point that out. I just don't think in these times that they mean it any other way, no matter what the other definitions are.

He's pointing out the distinction between the two instead of labeling all Muslims as terrorists and pi$$ing off the whole middle east like the Bush admin did, and like you just did with your post.

A moderate muslim is a muslim who is willing to coexist peacefully with people of other faiths and who are comfortable with the democracy of the U.S. So you see, they don't need to be "won over." To the fundamentalist muslim, a moderate muslim is a sell out who has watered down their faith.

Basically what Obama is doing is elevating himself to the benevolent peacemaker, declaring he is going to choose is words wisely and have us all believe that he alone can win over the "moderate muslims" when in fact it means absolutely nothing. This just more Obama posturing for the media. The funamentalist muslims (the ones that need to be won over) will never be won over because in their own mindsent they are holding true to their Islam teachings.

Sometimes evil comes in many forms - not always neatly packaged in the guise of someone of middle-eastern descent. Sometimes evil is found in people who refuse to find alternative solutions to the human conflict other than killing....

Because I feel war/killing needs to be a last resort does not mean I do not not stand up for myself or my family. It also does not mean I am pro-terrorist. This is a childish, ignorant notion that I see the right perpetuating repeatedly. Not that the left is perfect, by any means!

Christians are just as evil as Muslims.

Somalia Islamic militants call for jihad