Washington’s Tactical Error in Somalia

Naivité is not particularly helpful in the war on terror. When Somali warlords extended the tempting offer of capturing several fugitive Al Qaeda operatives suspected of hiding in Somalia, the US government funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cause. The cause turned out to be bloody conflict with Islamic militias who have emerged victorious, controlling Somalia and riding a wave of anti-US sentiment. Before the US-backed military campaign of the warlords, which did not result in any captures, the Islamic militias had been divided and unlikely to wrest control. With the US fueling warlord tactics, which led to several hundred civilian deaths, popular support for militias increased. Neighboring nations call on the US to reverse its stance and sanction the warlords as well as negotiate with the militias. The US may not like them, but the militias remain the Somali people’s best hope for a stable, safe society. – YaleGlobal