JEFF JACOBY’S defense of mercenaries in Somalia (Op-ed, Jan. 30) misses a crucial point. Military solutions have already failed the country several times. The UN and US intervention in the mid-1990s ended in disaster, and the Ethiopian invasion in 2006 also failed to stabilize Somalia. Both operations, as well as the more recent African Union mission, lacked widespread support from normal Somalis, who often see these forces as foreign invaders.
What Somalia really needs is an honest assessment of the possible responses to its numerous problems. The current African Union force needs tens of thousands more soldiers, a restructuring of the Somali government, and tremendous amounts of aid to even have a chance to succeed. Other answers, including withdrawing the entire international force and recognizing the breakaway region of Somaliland, a bastion of democracy and stability, should be considered.
None of these options will fix all of Somalia’s issues, but they at least offer hope for progress, something that a few thousand more soldiers, mercenaries or otherwise, will not bring.
Andrew Fan
Chicago
Chicago
1 comment:
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of
your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people
could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?
Also visit my site; jagurkalsel.com
Post a Comment