"There have been problems in paying recruits regularly; some of that is due to not enough money, or the money is going into the wrong pockets," according to David Shinn, a former ambassador to Ethiopia and an expert on the Horn of Africa. "More importantly, the TFG has yet to offer a vision of a future for Somalis. That's the big challenge, and, until that happens, I can't be very optimistic. At some point, people are going to stop writing cheques."
...But while conceding there are differences between more nationalist and more al Qaeda-oriented elements in the Shabaab, Shinn argued that the leadership is united on basic issues. "Al-Shabaab wants total control; they're not going to want to share power," he said. "I see no willingness to compromise."
The administration official who also briefed reporters appeared to dismiss Bruton's suggestions as well. "I think that what we've seen in Kampala is a good example of why that's not a viable way forward," he said.
Kampala Bombings Cause Somali Blackout on Globalresearch.ca:
"The links between al Qaeda and al Shabaab are stronger" and training together, according to some brilliant analysis by David Shinn, former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia and “expert on al Shabaab.”
