Ethiopia–Our Ally?

For many years, I equated Ethiopia with starving African children. This is because all I ever saw or heard about Ethiopis was what I saw between segments of Transformers and G. I. Joe.

After having done some research on the topid, let me tell you what I have learned.

• Ethiopia is one of the earliest countries to convert to Christianity. It has a long tradition of Christian faith.
• Ethiopia during the 80’s was a satellite state of the USSR. That explains why they were starving. Government thugs were bent on protecting their power rather than creating prosperity.
• Ethiopia has recently transformed to a very early fledgling democracy. They have been electing wise leaders, as far as I can tell. There is great promise, a great hope, that they can become a bastion of liberty in that part of the world and inspire the better part of men’s characters.
• Eritrea  recently separated amicably from Ethiopia–until they began to fight each other in a border war. There is still some disputes, but both parties show interest in resolving the dispute peacefully, and there is great hope.
• Ethiopia understands the threat they face from the militant Islamists in Somalia, and are prepared to fight a long war if need be to protect their sovereignty.

There is, almost inevitably, going to be a war of some sort in that part of Africa. It is not unlike the war we are fighting in Iraq. There is an element, it seems, of all Moslem nations (which Somalia largely is) that desires to spread their religion by the sword. (There is another element that wants nothing to do with this, of course.) It is a war between those who want to conquer, and those who do not.

This is yet another front in the War on Terror, or Islamofascism, whatever you like to call it. They are emboldened by their defeat of UN troops in Somalia and Osama bin Laden’s success in attacking the US. They feel like they can fight a war, one not unlike Iraq, and win.

Ethiopia will need our help, if not materially then politically and at least spiritually. Pray for peace in that part of the world. If peace is impossible, pray for victory of liberty over tyranny.

If President Bush decides that we need to support Ethiopia and Kenya and Eritrea under the authorization to fight terror that congress gave him, I will support him.