The threat from Somalia,NEFA- Shabaab al-Mujahideen Declares Formation of Al-Quds Brigade

ONE OF THE rhetorical questions frequently tossed out in the debate over Afghanistan concerns the brewing trouble in Somalia and Yemen, both of which are known to host al-Qaeda cadres and training camps. If it's necessary to pacify Afghanistan to protect U.S. security, goes the taunt, must we also intervene in Somalia and Yemen?The presumed answer is: "Of course not -- and therefore why bother with Afghanistan?" The more sensible response is: If something is not done soon about these lawless places, one or the other may well become the next Afghanistan -- a place where U.S. military intervention was compelled by a devastating attack on the homeland.
Most urgent is Somalia: Washington's focus on Afghanistan has obscured what ought to be alarming recent reports about al-Qaeda's schooling of terrorists there -- including a substantial number of American citizens. National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael R. Leiter recently reported to Congress that a radical Islamic militia known as al-Shabab has sent dozens -- that's right, dozens -- of Somali Americans and American Muslims through training conducted by al-Qaeda. At least seven have already been killed in fighting in Somalia, where al-Shabab is challenging the internationally recognized but weak Somali government over the parts of Mogadishu it still holds.
Some experts question whether the Taliban leadership is still intertwined with al-Qaeda. In the case of Somalia, there is no question. Al-Shabab recently released a video pledging allegiance to al-Qaeda. It featured an American spokesman and showed footage of a training camp starring a former University of South Alabama student. Al-Shabab may not aspire to launch attacks against the United States, but it seems more than plausible that it would allow some of its U.S. passport holders to be drafted for an al-Qaeda mission. ..more.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/01/AR2009110101774.html
NEFA- Shabaab al-Mujahideen Declares Formation of Al-Quds Brigade http://is.gd/4M2V6