On December 24th Ethiopia invaded Somalia in an effort to defeat an Islamic movement that was threatening to overthrow the government of its southern neighbor. When Ethiopia became involved in the conflict, the government of Somalia only controlled the western town of Baidoa. The might of the Ethiopian military was too much for the Muslim rebels. The invasion was swift and soon Ethiopian troops controlled the capital of Mogadishu.

The Union of Islamic Courts had controlled Mogadishu since June and is believed to have links to al Qaeda. Three al Qaeda suspects wanted in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in East Africa are apparently leaders of the UIC. Al Qaeda was said to be using Somalia as a location for training bases. Just yesterday, al Qaeda's No. 2 leader, Ayman al Zawahri, called for a jihad in Somalia.

If al Qaeda is indeed at work in Somalia then the resurrected government has uncovered some disturbing information According to the Ministry of the Interior, government forces recovered several American passports on the bodies of al Qaeda fighters who were killed in combat. The deceased fighters also had passports from Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, Britain and Australia.

Once again, Ethiopia saves your ass America. And Britain. And Austrailia. And Sudan. And Pakistan. And Yemen.