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I am completely stunned that an official of a US can make such accusation without a shred of evidence and goes without being challenged. Why has there not been an outrage and demand for evidence? One would expect it to be publicised just as much as the accusations has. How is that we feel it the duty of the Eritrean Government alone to defend such preposterous accusation?

We should all be grateful for the Eritreans in America, and the few individuals, who publicly spoke against this child like drama unfolding. This ridiculous accusation by Ms Jendayi Fraser has to be challenged.

It is a well known fact to all who have been following Eritrea's history and especially to all Eritreans that not long ago were we fighting Bin Laden and his supporters trying to get a foothold in Eritrea. Even during the struggle for freedom, when it all seem too difficult to cope, did the Eritreans resort to acts of terrorism let alone now. It would be naïve, and more precisely ignorant, to assume we would start that now when there is so much at stake. It is not that such accusations should not be made, rather one should be challenged and held accountable for making accusations especially of such gravity. No one should expect to label accusations like that and not be held accountable.

We, as Eritreans and people with conscience, should demand all evidences, from Ms Jenedy E Frazer, that has been 'gathered' that led her to make such accusations. Unless we question the integrity of such claim, as Eritreans who live in the west through whatever channel available to us, we're only going to embolden them and give them a false sense of righteousness. It is a pattern we've seen too often in recent times. We've heard similar claims about the Weapons of Mass Destruction, which were never found; the link between Al-Qaeda and Saddam, which, as of couple of days ago, declared, did not exist. Such claims were used to get the green light to invade Iraq.

Then we saw claims of 'terrorist' in Somalia, who apparently must still be hiding, otherwise what is the justification of the continued American military involvement? And in any case where is the evidence? If they can't show it to the public or show it to a neutral body, why should they expect us to believe them.

Then there was this claim of 2000 Eritrean soldiers in Somalia. Where are they? It was a public knowledge that the border between Kenya and Somalia was closed at the height of the fighting between the American-Ethiopians-TFG and the ICU that were supposed to be backed by 2000 Eritrean soldiers and other foreigners. Surely, you don't need to be a common sense to ask what happened to the 2000 soldiers, when they can manage to detain Journalists and all sorts of people including 'terrorists' and 'terrorist suspects' and fly them across to Ethiopia. It beggars belief that the most powerful country in the world with all it's military might and satellite technology would somehow miss 2000 soldiers. This wasn't a spontaneous war, but one that was planned and executed. So it is only fair to assume that they would have kept one eye, through satellite or other intelligence means, on the 2000 Eritrean soldiers. If not to capture them, just to get them out of the way. But then, there was nothing. Silence. As if it was never said. For a moment I really did doubt my self, because no one seemed interested to know where they went. I think it's this lack of not being made accountable that's making them emboldened in their claims and accusations.

There is also the accusation that Eritrea is funneling weapons to Somalia, a country that is already awash with weapons and where the TFG armies are reported to be selling arms. In a country like Somalia you don't need to be funneling weapons. It self sustains. Even if you look at Iraq, the Americans in Iraq have lost ' track of 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to the Iraqi security forces (BBC)' and fell in the hands of the insurgents. How many weapons must have gone missing in one of the most chaotic and savage war. In any case, why is there never any evidence to support any of these. I find it hard to believe that the US or the Ethiopians or the TFG for that matter would keep quite if they have any evidence. As it is, they are throwing everything except the kitchen sink (and/or may be including it) at Eritrea. I doubt they will hesitate in exposing Eritrea if they had a shred of evidence.

The Ethiopian Government, emboldened by the new position it finds itself in, has now accused Norway of 'supporting terrorism'. This is just plain foolish. What next? This is a classic form of abuse. The Eritreans are terrorists, the Somalis are terrorists, the Oromos are terrorists and now the Norwegians have joined the list. This speaks volume about the current Ethiopian regime and it's backer's approach to solving their differences.

I believe the Eritrean Government will do what is necessary to keep Eritrea's interest intact. And our priority is peace in the region. It is both naïve and dangerous to assume that Eritrea should sit on the side and let the Ethiopians run a mock in the region. If the US claims interest in the region, by what logic do they assume, it isn't in Eritrea's interest? I don't believe Eritrea's action in Somalia is destabilizing it. I believe Eritrea is working towards a united Somalia, since it will have a greater roll in establishing peace in our region. If anything Ethiopia is the one claiming a united Somalia will be a threat to it. I think this is a flawed argument since the alternative is not only a threat in terms of economic instability in the region and refugee crises but also a breeding ground for what they profess to be their greatest threat, terrorists. It's only logical to assume a united Somalia will have so much at stake to start a full scale war with Ethiopia to reclaim any land from Ethiopia. It will force both sides to sit and solve it in a peaceful manner. For these reasons a united Somalia is every bit an interest to Eritrea.

Eritrea's support to Somalia is a duty as it should be for all the neighboring and African countries, but above all the UN. Unfortunately for some in Africa and the UN this isn't worth their time and effort. Eritrea has never taken a side in this conflict and has openly offered it's support to all that are working to bring Somalia to peace. Support for Somalia has been political, such as the one we're witnessing in Asmara. Let's hope this will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict so that we can all get on with feeding the region.

In the mean time we all have our own responsibilities. Keeping quite in the face of such adversity is unacceptable and can not be acceptable. We have to demand for explanations. We should challenge the US and the international community to do what is right. They can't, and nor can we, just sit idly while the Ethiopian regime and the US are engulfing the entire region. We will not only be held accountable for our actions but for also for our inactions.

It is time the region changes it's focus and pays more attention to the poor citizens that are dying of disease and hunger. And this can only begin to succeed when there is peace.

Awet N'Hafash!

Merhawi Woldekirstos




	Our silence will only embolden the ignorants and the fools I am completely stunned that an official of a US can make such accusation without a shred of evidence and goes without being challenged. Why has there not been an outrage and demand for evidence? One would expect it to be publicised just as much as the accusations has. How is that we feel it the duty of the Eritrean Government alone to defend such preposterous accusation? We should all be grateful for the Eritreans in America, and the few individuals, who publicly spoke against this child like drama unfolding. This ridiculous accusation by Ms Jendayi Fraser has to be challenged. It is a well known fact to all who have been following Eritrea's history and especially to all Eritreans that not long ago were we fighting Bin Laden and his supporters trying to get a foothold in Eritrea. Even during the struggle for freedom, when it all seem too difficult to cope, did the Eritreans resort to acts of terrorism let alone now. It would be naïve, and more precisely ignorant, to assume we would start that now when there is so much at stake. It is not that such accusations should not be made, rather one should be challenged and held accountable for making accusations especially of such gravity. No one should expect to label accusations like that and not be held accountable. We, as Eritreans and people with conscience, should demand all evidences, from Ms Jenedy E Frazer, that has been 'gathered' that led her to make such accusations. Unless we question the integrity of such claim, as Eritreans who live in the west through whatever channel available to us, we're only going to embolden them and give them a false sense of righteousness. It is a pattern we've seen too often in recent times. We've heard similar claims about the Weapons of Mass Destruction, which were never found; the link between Al-Qaeda and Saddam, which, as of couple of days ago, declared, did not exist. Such claims were used to get the green light to invade Iraq. Then we saw claims of 'terrorist' in Somalia, who apparently must still be hiding, otherwise what is the justification of the continued American military involvement? And in any case where is the evidence? If they can't show it to the public or show it to a neutral body, why should they expect us to believe them. Then there was this claim of 2000 Eritrean soldiers in Somalia. Where are they? It was a public knowledge that the border between Kenya and Somalia was closed at the height of the fighting between the American-Ethiopians-TFG and the ICU that were supposed to be backed by 2000 Eritrean soldiers and other foreigners. Surely, you don't need to be a common sense to ask what happened to the 2000 soldiers, when they can manage to detain Journalists and all sorts of people including 'terrorists' and 'terrorist suspects' and fly them across to Ethiopia. It beggars belief that the most powerful country in the world with all it's military might and satellite technology would somehow miss 2000 soldiers. This wasn't a spontaneous war, but one that was planned and executed. So it is only fair to assume that they would have kept one eye, through satellite or other intelligence means, on the 2000 Eritrean soldiers. If not to capture them, just to get them out of the way. But then, there was nothing. Silence. As if it was never said. For a moment I really did doubt my self, because no one seemed interested to know where they went. I think it's this lack of not being made accountable that's making them emboldened in their claims and accusations. There is also the accusation that Eritrea is funneling weapons to Somalia, a country that is already awash with weapons and where the TFG armies are reported to be selling arms. In a country like Somalia you don't need to be funneling weapons. It self sustains. Even if you look at Iraq, the Americans in Iraq have lost ' track of 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to the Iraqi security forces (BBC)' and fell in the hands of the insurgents. How many weapons must have gone missing in one of the most chaotic and savage war. In any case, why is there never any evidence to support any of these. I find it hard to believe that the US or the Ethiopians or the TFG for that matter would keep quite if they have any evidence. As it is, they are throwing everything except the kitchen sink (and/or may be including it) at Eritrea. I doubt they will hesitate in exposing Eritrea if they had a shred of evidence. The Ethiopian Government, emboldened by the new position it finds itself in, has now accused Norway of 'supporting terrorism'. This is just plain foolish. What next? This is a classic form of abuse. The Eritreans are terrorists, the Somalis are terrorists, the Oromos are terrorists and now the Norwegians have joined the list. This speaks volume about the current Ethiopian regime and it's backer's approach to solving their differences. I believe the Eritrean Government will do what is necessary to keep Eritrea's interest intact. And our priority is peace in the region. It is both naïve and dangerous to assume that Eritrea should sit on the side and let the Ethiopians run a mock in the region. If the US claims interest in the region, by what logic do they assume, it isn't in Eritrea's interest? I don't believe Eritrea's action in Somalia is destabilizing it. I believe Eritrea is working towards a united Somalia, since it will have a greater roll in establishing peace in our region. If anything Ethiopia is the one claiming a united Somalia will be a threat to it. I think this is a flawed argument since the alternative is not only a threat in terms of economic instability in the region and refugee crises but also a breeding ground for what they profess to be their greatest threat, terrorists. It's only logical to assume a united Somalia will have so much at stake to start a full scale war with Ethiopia to reclaim any land from Ethiopia. It will force both sides to sit and solve it in a peaceful manner. For these reasons a united Somalia is every bit an interest to Eritrea. Eritrea's support to Somalia is a duty as it should be for all the neighboring and African countries, but above all the UN. Unfortunately for some in Africa and the UN this isn't worth their time and effort. Eritrea has never taken a side in this conflict and has openly offered it's support to all that are working to bring Somalia to peace. Support for Somalia has been political, such as the one we're witnessing in Asmara. Let's hope this will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict so that we can all get on with feeding the region. In the mean time we all have our own responsibilities. Keeping quite in the face of such adversity is unacceptable and can not be acceptable. We have to demand for explanations. We should challenge the US and the international community to do what is right. They can't, and nor can we, just sit idly while the Ethiopian regime and the US are engulfing the entire region. We will not only be held accountable for our actions but for also for our inactions. It is time the region changes it's focus and pays more attention to the poor citizens that are dying of disease and hunger. And this can only begin to succeed when there is peace. Awet N'Hafash! Merhawi Woldekirstos