Somalia: January 29, 2005

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The Mogadishu cemetery desecration has become big news in Italy, and other parts of Europe as well. International aid groups complain that incidents like this, and the recent murder of the Mogadishu police chief, make it difficult to raise money for relief and rebuilding in Somalia. The chaos of clan and warlord militia fighting in Somalia has also discouraged any enthusiasm for sending peacekeeping troops. Military planners warn that peacekeepers in Somalia would have to take sides and disarm or destroy the more aggressive militias, which would enable the remaining ones to expand their power. Somalia has become a trouble spot that everyone complains about, but no one wants to do anything about.