What, if anything, should the West do about Somalia?

First topic message reminder :

Aid agencies are struggling to get help to millions of people at risk of famine in Southern Somalia because the Islamist militia in control of large parts of the country has banned them from coming in. yet this is just one of many issues coming out of Somalia right now.

What should the West do about Somalia?

Audie Murphy, a man from the same mould as Margaret Thatcher.

He wouldnt turn either, even when a great big mountain got in his way, and look at where it got him.

its my view that this war will only end by dialogue once more....its the first duty of every Government to try dialogue first. once the lead starts to fly then it takes a great deal to stop it. Somalia is a country where the rule of law has broken down. you can kill 100s only to find 100s more will join them. its what is call a no win war. so in the end it will have to come back to talking. no matter how you my feel about it.

I agree and disagree. I agree that, sooner or later, it will have to come down to talking. I disagree that fighting there isn't necessary. Sometimes the only way to gain concessions from the opposing side is by negotiating from a position of military superiority. Push them up against the ropes and THEN offer the olive branch.

During the Vietnam War, the White House finally took the gloves off the B-52s. When those began roaring over Hanoi, the North Vietnamese couldn't get to the negotiating table fast enough. Years of fighting on the ground could not convince the communists that peace was in their best interest. A few days of carpet bombing by B-52s had them itching to talk terms. The VC were confident they had a chance fighting on the ground, but the air was ruled by the USAF and USN.

If you can find the enemy's vulnerability, exploit it ... prick him there until he desires diplomacy. Otherwise, a determined and confident foe has no reason to talk to you.

How well we remember it. Bombs away! with Curt LeMay. American airplanes dropping napalm fire-bombs on civilians in between spraying "Agent Orange" defoliant over enormous swathes of Vietnamese farmland. How to make friends and influence people.

That was when Quantitative Easing emerged. The US Treasury printed billions of $ bills to pay for the Vietnam war. Sow the wind and reap a whirlwind.

Shirina wrote:I agree and disagree. I agree that, sooner or later, it will have to come down to talking. I disagree that fighting there isn't necessary. Sometimes the only way to gain concessions from the opposing side is by negotiating from a position of military superiority. Push them up against the ropes and THEN offer the olive branch.

During the Vietnam War, the White House finally took the gloves off the B-52s. When those began roaring over Hanoi, the North Vietnamese couldn't get to the negotiating table fast enough. Years of fighting on the ground could not convince the communists that peace was in their best interest. A few days of carpet bombing by B-52s had them itching to talk terms. The VC were confident they had a chance fighting on the ground, but the air was ruled by the USAF and USN.

If you can find the enemy's vulnerability, exploit it ... prick him there until he desires diplomacy. Otherwise, a determined and confident foe has no reason to talk to you.

Hello shirina
but Somalia is no Vietnam....know one would even agree to pay for that...not that I believe this could work in Somalia...food Aid is a far bigger weapon in my view...but know one will put boots on the ground in Somalia from the West...it will in the end have to come down to talking...

but Somalia is no Vietnam....know one would even agree to pay for that...not that I believe this could work in Somalia...food Aid is a far bigger weapon in my view...but know one will put boots on the ground in Somalia from the West...it will in the end have to come down to talking...

I agree, no one will "invade" Somalia. Ultimately wars are about national self-interest, not to help the indigenous population or stop genocide. If that self-interest isn't there, then tin pot tyrants can ethnic cleanse away without fear of intervention by the world powers.

It will come down to dialogue, but I wonder if it will even come down to that. Personally, I think the world will continue to ignore Somalia for the most part, and focus attention where the national self-interest lies - namely the Middle East where so much of the oil is located.

Thing is, if Iran starts playing games in the Straights of Hormuz, Somalia may get caught up in the fray by default.

Things at this stage may be "ill considered"

QUOTE: ".... if Iran starts playing games in the Straights of Hormuz .."

.... Please God that we don't send the Royal Navy. They must still have the shiny suits that the last Navy prisoners were sent back to us wearing as a gift from the Iranian Nation.