Quote:
Originally Posted by dippin
Of course colonialism has left a much worse legacy in the region. But the division of Somalia and Ethiopia, and the ensuing wars between Soviet backed Ethiopia and west backed Somalia, all happened with direct participation of the United States at the outset of the second world war. In fact, it was only because of US support that the division of the region turned out the way it did, and that was what set up years of upcoming war and civil war over contested regions of Somalia.
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Are we talking about the Ogaden war which was fought over the land that Britain returned to Ethiopia instead of Somalia? This same war that was supported by Egypt as a means to destabilize Ethiopia and secure the Nile river to themselves? The same war in which Somalia's defeat at the hands of Soviet- and Cuban-backed Ethiopians resulted in the civil war which rendered their government useless?
At the beginning of that war, keep in mind that Somalia's army was equipped with Soviet equipment. Also keep in mind that the Soviet Union's decision to withdraw their support from Somalia and divert it to Ethiopia instead (since prior to the war they were supplying weapons and support to both countries) had more to do with their downfall than any U.S. involvement.