Act Fast to Save Somalia

African experts claim time is running out for the war-torn state, according to Fox News:

The long-running scenes in Somalia of politically indistinct tribes with armed militias, raging poverty and ongoing violence could persist for generations to come unless the United States acts now with financial assistance and regional alliances to help affirm the transitional government's fragile control, say advocates in and outside of the U.S.
"We need to stabilize the region; we need to have security and cooperation and investment in infrastructure," said Daahir Mireh Jibreel, a foreign ministry secretary with the Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic...

But others warn that like 1993, when U.S soldiers were attacked in the capital city of Mogadishu in the infamous "Black Hawk Down" incident, Americans are unpopular in Somalia and recent air strikes targeting alleged Al Qaeda terrorists there have probably made hostilities worse.

"Perception is everything here. And the perception was, once again, the U.S was interfering in Somalia," said Dave Hartwell, Africa specialist for Jane's Information Group...

This last comment is not surprising from the do-nothing, blame America first Europeans. I believe that we've been given a second chance in Somalia and should take advantage of it, if the cost is reasonable. Unlike the Euro's, Bush has proven that action speaks louder than words when it comes to defeating terrorism and aiding the long-suffering Africans.