Bad, Bad Company

by Michael Bear · 2009-03-12 15:57:00 UTC
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If nothing else, it's time to take a break (albeit a short break) from writing about Darfur, and look into other pressing questions - not least of which is just how alike are Al Qaida and NGOs?

Ummmmm, not very.

Except, well, there is one thing.   Both have similar complaints when it comes to Somalia.

Which, granted, is more a comment on Somalia than anything else.

Anyhows, the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point released a fascinating report in 2007, entitled "Al-Qaida's (Mis)Adventures in the Horn of Africa".  In the early 1990s, Al Qaida thought that Somalia, as a newly failed state, would provide a perfect base for operations.  Instead, as the report summarizes:

"[Al Qaida] were prone to extortion and betrayal, found themselves trapped in the middle of incomprehensible (to them) clan conflicts, faced suspicion from the indigenous population, had to overcome significant logistical constraints and were subject to the constant risk of Western military interdiction."

A list of complaints - save the last - that could also be made by any humanitarian agency trying to operate in south-central Somalia.  Just as NGOs and the UN struggle with security and logistics, so too did your favorite worldwide jihadists:

"[Al Qaida] sustained continual leakage through extortion from local clans and unintended losses during transportation as convoys and clan movements fell victim to banditry."

Which actually sounds somewhat similar to complaints voiced by aid workers:

"[P]owerful armed actors impose restrictions on aid delivery: illegal taxation of aid agencies...and forced contractual relationships with certain service providers are just some of the many methods that reduce aid effectiveness."

Finally, it's comforting to know that Al Qaida field operatives aren't actually cut out for life in the field:

"[R]eports [from Al Qaida operatives in Somalia] are replete with complaints about poor food, unsafe water, uncomfortable shelter, heat, disease, biting insects, defective vehicles and poor tires."

Or at the least, they'd find it difficult to work for MSF.

[Photo of Mogadishu from the New York Times]

Michael Bear
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