Blowing the Horn of Africa

A failed assassination attempt on the president of Somalia's interim government has killed at least 11 people in Baidoa. Two car bombs were detonated as Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed left a speech at the Parliament building.

As Somalia is part of a region highlighted by think tanks, government agencies, and relief workers alike as, alternately, a cluster of failed states, a haven for terrorists, and a humanitarian crisis, one would think the western papers would pick up the story. Somalia's interim government, backed by the West, is largely incapable of holding power in much of the country, including Mogadishu, the capital. The interim government operates from its seat in Baidoa, while the Islamic Courts movement has gained control of Mogadishu and major national seaports, and has witnessed a surge in power over the last few months.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DDD925B8-35B3-4891-8997-B758C916A151.htm

It will do the West little good to ignore the Horn of Africa in the next year, although it may be that we are too late to play an active role in forestalling the rise of the fundamentalist IC. The lack of rule of law within Somalia is highlighted by today's incident where a Catholic nun was shot and killed outside a children's hospital in Mogadishu. The attack was likely a response to remarks made by the Pope last week about militancy in Islamic tradition.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2362945,00.html

Angry reactions around the world have followed Benedict's quoting of a medieval text during an address at the University of Regensburg, including protests, vocal condemnation of Vatican policy, and the recall of Morocco's ambassador to the Vatican. Fringe reactions have included a new threat of jihad from Al-Qaeda.

Also, this is unrelated, but cool:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2363546,00.html