Shift in Somalia: A country in chaos has a chance for stability

What passes for government in Somalia continues to evolve, undoing the bid years ago by the departed Bush administration to impose an outcome through military means. In 2006, an Islamic Courts government ruled Somalia with some success in terms of keeping order after the lack of government since 1991. Based on weak evidence that the Courts government might harbor some pro-al-Qaida Islamic activists, the United States backed the invasion of Somalia by Ethiopia and provided air and intelligence support. After the Ethiopians defeated Islamic Courts supporters, a government of exiles was brought in to rule Somalia. The new government was wracked by infighting, while Somali resistance grew against the occupying Ethiopian forces and the interim government they were propping up. Eventually, Islamist forces made gains across the country.Last week, the Ethiopians withdrew their forces and the interim Somali government returned to exile, this time in Djibouti. The Islamists resumed power and on Saturday, a moderate, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, was elected president. Thousands celebrated in the streets of Mogadishu, the capital.Pirates, of course, still flourish off the Somali coast, a consequence of 18 years of chaos in a government-free environment, to which America has contributed ..more. Monday, February 02, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09033/946247-35.stm