The courage of Ethiopia

Ethiopian and Somali troops have captured a key border town early Monday, a day after Ethiopia sent fighter jets into neighboring Somalia and bombed several towns in a dramatic attack on a powerful Islamic movement. Ethiopia's prime minister announced Sunday night that his country was "forced to enter a war" with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts after the Muslim group declared holy war on Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation.

Residents said Islamic fighters left the town of Belet Weyne on the Somali-Ethiopian border overnight after Ethiopian fighter jets bombed Islamic positions on Sunday.

Col. Abdi Yusuf Ahmed, a Somali government army commander, told The Associated Press that his forces entered Belet Weyne early Monday without a shot fired. He held up his telephone and a reporter could hear street celebrations.

For more on the escalating violence between Ethiopia and Somalia's Islamic militia, click here.

May the United States and Israel find the courage to defend their own citizens against Islamic barbarity in the same way that Ethiopia has demonstrated her courage against her enemies.

For more on the rise of the Islamic militia in Somalia, click here.