Analysis: Failed Somalia policy spans two U.S. watches

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration inherited a mess in strategic Somalia and may be leaving President-elect Barack Obama with a worse one. The explosion of piracy off Somalia's coast is an attention-grabbing product of internal chaos in the Horn of Africa country, and a problem that will outlast the administration's success this past week in winning U.N. backing for possible pirate-hunting raids on Somali territory.Bandits are taking over more and larger ships and ranging farther from land to do it.The larger problem, however, is the hollowness of nearly every institution that makes a working country, despite more than 15 years of international help. The Somali pirates may be bandits and thugs, but they also are entrepreneurs making do in a place without a functioning government, laws or normal commerce."Once peace and normalcy have returned to Somalia, we believe that economic development can return to Somalia," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said following the U.N. vote. In the meantime, however, she wants a pirate crackdown. "This current response is a good start.. more.. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08356/936692-82.stm
Rival Somali premiers to meet "in coming days" over transition

The recently-appointed Somali prime minister, Muhammad Mahmud Guled, aka Ga'amadhere, held a press conference in Baidoa town [seat of Somali parliament, southwestern Somalia], during which he said that he will nominate cabinet ministers once he is sworn in.The new prime minister, who was appointed by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmad, said that he will seek approval from parliament and, once he is sworn in, appoint officials for his administration who will carry out the normal government duties.Ga'amadhere said that he will engage with Prime Minister Nur Adde in dialogue in the coming days."We will hold talks in the coming few days with those who are insisting on being in office. I hope they will hand over the office to me so that I can appoint new ministers", said Ga'amadhere.The newly-appointed prime minister also spoke about the internally displaced residents of Mogadishu who fled the fighting in the capital and are currently living on the outskirts of the city.He said that the displaced people are currently facing a lot of problems and promised to assist them once his administration starts operations.This is the first press conference by Ga'amadhere since he his appointment by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmad.