Somalia

The situation in Somalia has for many years been one of shifting alliances and civil war. However, there may be hope for an end to the violence. It will certainly not be quick, nothing in Africa ever seems to be. However, with a major town in the north being taken without resistance by the government, following a tense stalemate in that town, the government has proven it has the forces to intimidate Al Shabaab.

Al Shabaab is seeking to merge with Hizbul radicals, showing they need backup. If their alliance goes through, I think it is too little too late. With battles consisting of twenty or so fighters on a regular basis, the victories are more about having the courage to hold territory and not retreat. Which is where I believe a new approach to international peacekeeping should be undertaken.

Peacekeepers should be deployed to areas held by nation's military forces with a vow to hold the territory for that country's government. However, if more territory is to come under the government control, that government will have to use its own forces to retake territory owned by the other factions. I speak in Somalia terms, as other situations (Palestine, Kosovo) require both sides to be defended. However, as Somalia fractures, the Islamic extremists would rather see the peacekeepers be hanged than on their side.

What this means is that defensive tactics, the ultimately best case scenario all militaries in the world could achieve to make peace on earth a reality, would be emphasized by this peacekeeping force.

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I believe the uproar about Obama's comments that the police who arrested Gates were acting stupidly places emphasis on the stereotypes against police in this country and the prejudice that police face from groups that wish to use race as a reason to resist cooperating with authorities. The reason most media talks about is how police racism is highlighted by this event, while I see it as racists using their own race as justification for their prejudices against the police. President Obama obviously ranks race above title in this incident. He said he didn't know the facts, yet decided to make a statement on it which sided with his race rather than the authorities.

Our country does not have as much issues of race as it does with those who are ignorant and ill tempered.

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In other news (A glance at the headlines):
Russia opposes companies who sell weapons to Georgia.
Joe Biden says we support Ukraine and Georgia entering NATO.
Worldwide marches in support of the Iranian people took place today.
Venezuela will have to import coffee due to its government policies resulting in lower production (they have price controls and export caps). This is the first time the country has to import coffee (Venezuela grows a lot of coffee).
Hezbolla is claiming that there will be a war between the end of this year and next spring.
Ecuador will not follow a World Bank ruling if the ruling is not in favor of them.
North Korea executed a woman for distributing bibles.
WoW, next headline requires its own blog post.