Piracy: the Russian Solution
Somalia is a failed state, the best example of one globally. We call it a country, but it really only a country in terms of negative space, as it is not part of any other country. And because of that, it has become home to a modern day pirate coast, complete with infamous ports of call, crime, and all the rest of it.
What is Russia's solution?
Go in with ground troops and wipe out the pirate towns.
I actually dont think it is the worst idea, but would be much better if there was actually a concerted effort to bring stability back to the country. It looked like there would be a in 2006, with a US backed incursion by Ethiopia, but that turned out to be just to break the power of the I.C.U., the Al Qaeda back Islamic courts which had gained power over much of southen Somalia.
Interestingly, Somaila is doing much better since the civil war. It is an entirely free market system (as there is no government), but it is more developed than one would think, with a better education system than it had previously, better infrastructure (in terms of phones and internet, if not roads, water, etc.) and a growing economy. It is of course a lesson that the govt. really only plays a much smaller role in bringing about all of the positive effects of modern life than most people believe, or govt. itself would like you to think.
What is Russia's solution?
Go in with ground troops and wipe out the pirate towns.
I actually dont think it is the worst idea, but would be much better if there was actually a concerted effort to bring stability back to the country. It looked like there would be a in 2006, with a US backed incursion by Ethiopia, but that turned out to be just to break the power of the I.C.U., the Al Qaeda back Islamic courts which had gained power over much of southen Somalia.
Interestingly, Somaila is doing much better since the civil war. It is an entirely free market system (as there is no government), but it is more developed than one would think, with a better education system than it had previously, better infrastructure (in terms of phones and internet, if not roads, water, etc.) and a growing economy. It is of course a lesson that the govt. really only plays a much smaller role in bringing about all of the positive effects of modern life than most people believe, or govt. itself would like you to think.
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