That American assistance could be crucial to the effort by Somalia's government to finally reassert its control over the capital and bring a semblance of order to a country that has been steeped in anarchy for two decades. For the Americans, it is part of a counterterrorism strategy to deny a haven to Al Qaeda, which has found sanctuary for years in Somalia's chaos and has helped turn this country into a magnet for jihadists from around the world.

About time something was done to bring Somalia back into the fold of governable nations.

Airstrikes, Special Ops predicted:

"Most of the American military assistance to the Somali government has been focused on training, or has been channeled through African Union peacekeepers. But that could change. An American official in Washington, who said he was not authorized to speak publicly, predicted that American covert forces would get involved if the offensive, which could begin in a few weeks, dislodged Qaeda terrorists.

"What you're likely to see is airstrikes and Special Ops moving in, hitting and getting out," the official said."

(I should have put quotes around post #1 - it's from the article.)

Reports are Al Qaeda has been relocating from Pakistan to Somalia now that they're on the run thanks to the new efforts in Afghanistan and cooperation from Pakistan.

Can you say "carpet bomb?"

No matter what we, the Western Civilization try to do, there is nothing that will make a difference in some of these God-forsaken countries.