yustr

The reason nobody knows or cares about Somalia is because nobody knows or cares about Somalia. I know that sounds silly but hear me out.

I doubt 10% of westerners could point to Somalia on a map. If it hadn't been for the US's failed effort there back in the 90's (and the movie documenting it) I doubt 10% would have ever heard of it.

And lets face facts: Iraq has oil. Afghanistan had Bin Laden. If it weren't for those factors we'd not have invaded either - because in the whole scheme of things they just don't matter that much.

Which gets us back to Somalia - it hardly matters! We didn't intervene in Sierra Leone or Chad - yet we knew there were atrocities taking place in those African countries.

All this is not to say its OK to ignore what's happening there. On the contrary, its important. Look at what happened once we ignored Afghanistan after helping them to oust the Russians. (Go see Charley Wilson's War - not a bad movie. Its certainly not great but it kept me awake so it passes the basic yustr test.) And your point is well taken that the leadership void will be filled by someone. Wouldn't it be better if it was someone other than a radical government?

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I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said. J. McMurtry