Somalia has a history with the United States, and that history, to put it mildly, is very unpleasant. Mention the name Somalia and Americans think of warlords, famine, and the body of dead American soldiers being dragged in the streets of Mogadishu. The Black Hawk Down syndrome. These days that sterling image is being augmented by that of piracy and terrorism. No wonder that most American officials don’t want to touch Somalia with a ten-foot pole. But as they say, fools rush where angels fear to tread. Senator Russ Feingold and Congressman Donald Payne are two latter day fools who think they are angels saving Somalis.
Why are we calling them fools? Here is why.
Let us start with Congressman Payne. Just as the people of the United States were beginning to savor the liberation of Captain Richard Phillips from captivity, news began to circulate around the world that an airplane carrying Congressman Payne was nearly hit by mortars in Mogadishu, thus almost ruining the sense of joy over Captain Phillips rescue by US navy seals.
But though Donald Payne’s actions were foolish, at least it could be said that he showed some bravery in daring to land in Mogadishu. No similar bravery is shown by Sen. Feingold, only foolishness. How so? In December 2008 Sen. Feingold went all the way to Djibouti to investigate the Somali situation. Logic, geography, and good politics suggest that this would have been a good chance for him to go next door, to Somaliland, a much safer place than Mogadishu, and find out for himself how the Somalis that he is ostensibly so concerned about actually lived, but Senator Feingold did not avail himself of this opportunity.
When it comes to foolish ideas, however, Feingold never runs short. Take for example, his latest idea which is that President Obama should call the phantom president of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif and assure him that the United States stands by him. If this is not a crazy idea, we don’t know what is.
For one thing, the US has not even formally recognized Sheikh Sharif’s so-called government. Yes, the US does say, every now and then, that his government is the legitimate government of Somalia but that is not the same as diplomatic recognition. Secondly, what would President Obama be talking about with the former Quranic teacher, turned terrorist, turned moderate? Would they be talking about how, from onward, the US is going to take care of Sheikh Sharif, his 500 plus parliamentarians, and his bloated cabinet? Would they talk about how the good old USA is going to make for him an army, police, and a navy? Would they talk about how the US is going to expand his control beyond the 3 or 4 blocks in Mogadishu that he is currently in charge of?
Senator Feingold seemed to be upset the other day that neither Secretary of State Clinton, nor President Obama had made the call to Sheikh Sharif. If that is true, it could not be because Obama forgot, it is probably because he knows that when the president of the United States calls for state business, it better damn well be important, and should not be wasted on the likes of Sheikh Sharif. If Obama does not yet know that, then he should be reminded by Secretary Clinton, since she knows something about the political significance of phone calls as she had shown during her presidential campaign with her 3 a.m phone call advertisement.
Because most American public officials like to steer clear of Somali affairs, Feingold and Payne have jumped on the Somali problem with gusto. But they have shown little understanding for the complexity of the situation. In their numerous pronouncements on Somali issues, they have shown a reckless disregard for Somaliland’s interests and the interests of the various players in the Somali drama. Their only panacea for Somali problems is for the US to arm and finance one faction, the weak and discredited Sheikh Sharif faction that calls itself the government of Somalia. The phone call idea is symptomatic of this kind of shallowness. Let’s see if President Obama will adopt, or brush aside, the foolish ideas of Feingold and Payne.
 

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