The gathering storm in Somalia

AP/Washington Times:

Thousands of Ethiopian and Eritrean troops are in Somalia backing opposing sides in the struggle for control of the strategic country, according to a confidential U.N. briefing paper. The involvement of the two Horn of Africa rivals could set the stage for a regional war.
Islamic radicals, said by the United Nations to be backed by Eritrea, held rallies in several Somali cities calling for a holy war on Ethiopia and the internationally backed Somali government it supports.
The U.N. report dated Oct. 26 and obtained yesterday, cites diplomatic sources in estimating that "between 6,000-8,000 Ethiopians and 2,000 fully equipped Eritrean troops are now inside Somalia supporting" the internationally recognized government and the Islamic group known as the Council of Islamic Courts, respectively.
"Both sides in the Somali conflict are reported to have major outside backers -- the government supported by Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen; the Islamic courts receiving aid from Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and [Persian] Gulf states," the report added.
The transitional government and the Council of Islamic Courts have been girding for battle in recent weeks. Government forces, supported by Ethiopian military advisers, have been seen digging trenches near Baidoa, the only town the U.N.-backed government controls.
The Islamic courts have deployed forces at a strategic town between Baidoa and their headquarters in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, 150 miles to the southeast.
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The Islamic courts are the bad guys who want to be Somalia's Taliban. They need to be destroyed before they can give sanctuary to other Islamist religious bigots. They are the face of evil Islam, and it is a shame that Islamic countries are supporting this disgraceful bunch. What is up with Iran and Saudia Arabia being on the same side? It must be their common interest in religious bigotry.