But in general, they probably planned an advance for a while since the islamic courts and the Ethiopian government are not to fond of each other. Lebanon provided a much wanted cover to go ahead, but they probably would have anyway, but maybe a bit smaller and/or a bit later. Primarily events are dictated by other events on the ground. Nobody much cares about Africa anyway.

Eritrea arrested the opposition, outside and inside the party, closed the private press and arrested journalists in the week following 9/11. Same thing there, they would have done it anyway (evident by the arrest of the university students in july-august 2001 and jailing them in a prison camp where two died), but if they can they use cover.

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