Al-Shabab Militants Attack Somali Military Base

Image copyright: AFP [via Al Jazeera]

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

As al-Shabab continues its terror campaign against the people of Somalia, the government has had no choice but to enlist the help of its Western allies. In response to heinous attacks like these, the US has and must continue fighting back via troops on the ground and airstrikes from above.

Establishment-critical narrative

Before the 2006 US and UK-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia that sent the country into a death spiral, al-Shabab was a non-violent political party. In pursuit of expanding its military presence everywhere, the West — with Pres. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as its proxy — has yet again helped cause the problems it's now trying to "fix." The last thing needed is more Western meddling.


Go Deeper


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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