Shoeshine kits + Somalia + Youth Empowerment = Really Stupid Idea

(courtesy U.S. State Department)

Washington's policy toward Somalia is a little aimless. We back the Ethiopians when they oust an Islamic group that has brought peace to the place. A little while later, we back a former member of the same ousted Islamic group when he becomes president.

In August, we pumped 40 tons of guns, mortars and ammunition into the country. Now, we're sending shoe-shine kits to kids.

Check out the web site for the U.S. Virtual Presence Post in Somalia (that's what they call it when you don't have an embassy). The United States is distributing shoe-shine kits to children in Somalia as part of a "youth-empowerment program... meant to offer young Somalis an option for income generation, encouraging them to avoid violence and extremism."

Yes, the kids will avoid violence and extremism... because they will end up dead. Shoe-shining may be one of the few ways of making money in Somalia, but government forces often consider shoe-shine boys spies and try to kill them. 

More importantly, Washington is telling kids to shine shoes with kits provided by the United States on the same streets where government forces are waging battle with weapons provided by the United States. Err...

If the United States wants a military solution to Somalia, it should do more than send over a few mortars and some ammunition. And if wants a political solution focused on development, it should do more than encourage child labor provide shoe-shine kits to kids under the guise of "youth empowerment." Somalia's "youth" probably feel a lot more empowered holding AK-47s than they do holding shoe-shine kits. 

Comments

[Air Jordan sale]

Great articles and it's so helpful. I want to add your blog into my rrs reader but i can't find the rrs address. Would you please send your address to my email? Thanks a lot!

[allergy doctor]

I think Somalia can stand on their own.

Luke Hamilton

[cheap Air Jordan]

Your blog is so great, and can i buy some ad from you blog? If so, just email me and tell me the ad type and charge? Thanks so much.

[Andrea Bohnstedt]

Hmmmm ... rock around town with the boys and a gun or clean shoes ...?