Al-Shabaab Loses Territory and Fighters

The New York Times published on 4 November 2014 an article titled "As Power of Terror Group Declines, Once-Feared Fighters Defect" by Isma'il Kushkush and Jeffrey Gettleman.  The article describes growing problems faced by al-Shabaab but suggests it is still a dangerous force.  Kushkush and Gettleman argue "the Somali population has decidedly turned against the Shabab."