Well we'll just have to agree to disagree that nothing "short of complete annihilation" can be done. We've already proven we're capable of basically leveling a giant chunk of a continent and
then rebuilding it all over again. Consequently,
I don't think it's too much to believe that we're capable of affecting positive change in that region -- at least enough to keep this particular problem and many others to a minimum.[/QUOTE]
Which change? Whose change will you implement? Choose either one and you open a mandate for genocide. Tell ya what there Rev, book a nice 2 week vacation to sunny Mogadishu, take a tour through the countryside on a motorcycle as well, then come back and tell me what epiphany you reach as to what we can do over there to square the situation away. The only way an outside interest can square that away is to clear the field and start from scratch. The problem in Somalia is there is no one to back there that won't go out and murder the opposition if an outside influence comes in and upsets the balance of power. These people are still fighting tribal wars. The same wars that existed hundreds of years ago in Africa and supplied the slaves for the slave trade are now being fought with AK-47s and RPGs. Have you been to these areas of Africa? The Congo and surrounds are not really much different, and the pirates there are shooting down the airplanes leaving from the mine camps carrying out the refined product (only way in and out to some very major mine sights. I have a buddy with a service over there. Had 2 707s and a fleet of Cheyennes, all sported bullet holes). All we can do is expediate genocide by supporting any side of the problem, and the fact is, neither side is any better than the other and will still be corrupt and cause us problems after we install their regime. This is nothing new, we installed the Taliban and trained Al Quiada , we installed Saddam Husein, we backed the Shah of Iran and Batista (both bloody dictators), not a single time that we go out and help does it not bite us in the ass. The best thing that we can do is leave it the f- alone and give our own that have to go there, the ability to take care of themselves. Or nuke the place, either works for me. "Wanna kill each other, fine, let me help and kill ya all real quick, lot less suffering."