The Bush administration will mount a last-ditch push this week to muster international backing for a relatively small U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia, in an effort to help stem piracy and prevent the resurgence of Islamist militants in the lawless East African nation...
That one's lost. The Somalis couldn't put together an actual government, so the Islamic Courts are coming back. The way to handle it is to recognize Puntland and Somaliland, which are better at being nations than Somalia, to clean up the pirates regardless of any hindrance or help from Mogadishu, and to send an expeditionary force to throw them out again about six months after they've taken power. Then leave. Wait until they come back plus six months and do it again. They're obviously easier to throw out than to keep out. |