African nations cited for terrorism

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003 | 11:08 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Somalia is still very much the lawless land it was in 1993 when U.S. forces were pinned down in a deadly firefight there, making it a haven for terrorists, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said.

Gibbons returned this week from a trip to Africa that also included stops in Djibouti, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. Each nation poses terrorism problems for the United States, Gibbons, a member of the Intelligence Committee, said. The panel plans hearings on the issue beginning next month.

Gibbons is preparing a report for GOP leaders and panel Chairman Porter Goss, R-Fla. Gibbons said he would recommend Congress invest more money in fighting terrorism in Africa. Congress should send between three to 10 intelligence officers to each intelligence centers in each of the nations Gibbons visited.

Somalia poses the biggest problems, Gibbons said.

"It's anarchy and chaos," Gibbons said. "It's run by warlords. It's very, very dangerous. There is a high number of terrorists flowing in and out of there because it is so easy to disappear into the population."

The African nations have very little money to aid the United States in anti-terrorism efforts, Gibbons said. Congress needs to restore money that was cut during the 1990s that paid for operations there, he said.

Gibbons also met with political and military leaders during a brief stop in France, where polls show the majority of the public opposing a war with Iraq, and where officials have openly opposed war. Gibbons said politicians there are caught between wanting to aid the United States and their responsibility to constituents.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., also returned from a trip this week. She attended an international security conference in Taiwan, where she met with diplomatic and business leaders.

Taiwan, an important trading partner with both the United States and China, is concerned that China is taking over a share of its market with the United States, Berkley said.