World: The U.S. is trying to help Somalia have a government again
- There are limits to outside engagement, and there has to be an enormous amount of local buy-in for this work.
- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson • Regarding the off-in-the-distance assistance the country is giving the Somalian government in re-capturing Mogadishu, its capital, block by anarchy-ridden block. Why now? Simple. The U.S. is scared about the anarchic country’s increasing ties to Yemen and al-Qaeda. (Oh, and the pirates.) But they’re trying to help in a way that doesn’t bring back memories of the U.S.’ 1994 retreat from the country, which led to the anarchic state of affairs in the first place. “This is not an American offensive,” Carson said. “The U.S. military is not on the ground in Somalia. Full stop.” source