Kenya Invades Somalia: Why and How

Fed up with kidnappings that hurts its tourism industry, Kenya has sent troops into Somalia, a country it shares part of its border with. The crimes are committed by the al-Qaeda linked al Shabaab, which pretty much rules over much of southern Somalia (and wants to rule the whole roost).

Note that when a country attacks another, typically, this is war.

And in today’s conventional world of international law, this is not supposed to happen without international approval, such as from the United Nations Security Council. The last time the U.S.A. went into Iraq, a resolution “permitting” this was not ratified at the UN level, and this contributed further to President George W. Bush (and his country) being labelled warmongers.

The UN has declared Somalia to be in a famine, but not attacked by a neighbouring sovereign country, even if to acknowledge that Kenya is defending its interests. What’s different?

Perhaps “failed states” such as Somalia don’t warrant such international courtesies; and that the terrorist activities there, anyway, are hardly to be seen to be accepted. The country has a history of being invaded by other countries, and so, too, this is business as usual. Yet the UN opens itself up once again to being ineffective. Or at least, not paying attention? Or, being slow to respond.

It’s terrible in this part of the world, but can even get worse:

Unfortunately, al Shabaab has responded to the Kenyan troop advance with threats of more terrorist attacks in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital city, and the country’s most populated place.