Peace Among Predators

October 8, 2009: The Transitional Government wants foreign help to defeat the Islamic radical militias. The government believes it is not strong enough to defeat al Shabaab, and other Islamic radical groups, all alone. The radicals are more fanatic, and have suicide bombers and assassins who are not afraid to get killed while attacking government leaders. The clan coalition that comprises the government, feels that its armed followers cannot (or will not) fight it out with the al Shabaab gunmen, or their al Qaeda allies (most of them foreigners). The 5,000 AU peacekeepers will go after al Shabaab, but only in Mogadishu. The government would like more money (for economic reconstruction, and bribing clans and warlords to not assist, or be tolerant towards, al Shabaab) and trainers (to make pro-government fighters more effective, even if they will still not fight al Shabaab.) Potential foreign donors are reluctant to give the Transitional Government cash, because in the past, this has resulted in government officials stealing most of the money. The Transitional Government says that will not happen this time, but few donor government believe this. Even aid in the form of goods (food, medical supplies or weapons) tends to get stolen and sold for cash, which the Transitional Government leaders pocket.Meanwhile, French soldiers are training 500 Somali soldiers in Djibouti. This will provide the Transitional Government with a battalion of infantry, trained to fight, and better led. Russia agreed to help out with this training effort, when the French announced that they were spread thin with this training effort.October 7, 2009: Hizbul Islam and al Shabaab have agreed to a truce and are working out their differences. The Transitional Government has also tried to make a deal with Hizbul Islam, but so far has not been successful.,,more..http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20091008.aspx