Kenyan Incursion Into Somalia

Floor Speech

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to support and urge us to support the Kenyan military that has gone into Somalia to set up a corridor of safety for the Somali people and to help push back and fight against Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab is a terrorist organization in Somalia. And because of the general chaos in Somalia, Mr. Speaker, Al-Shabaab has been able to do two very bad things. One is, because of the instability they create, they have caused massive refugee problems into Kenya, which is why the Kenyan military had to go into Somalia to try to stop that bleeding. But they also have created chaos in the Red Sea through piracy, and have sponsored terrorism in other African nations like Uganda. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, they are an attractive nuisance to every bad guy who wants to come and have a safe haven for terrorism. And they attract international terrorists to Somalia, which further destabilizes that nation.

After 20 years of chaos, the Somali people deserve some stability, and the Kenyan troops that are there are helping to bring that. The United States and the intelligence community need to step up and help offer sustenance and support for those Kenyan troops, Mr. Speaker.

Let me say that this is the time to step up and help the Kenyan community help our country and the rest of the world.

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