1. For SOMALIA, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE: Before answering the following questions watch the videos under “Resources” below.

2. For SOMALIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) How does the U.S. military use the Belidogle airstrip base? (For what purpose is it used?)
c) How did the U.S. respond to the attacks?
d) How many airstrikes has the U.S. conducted against al Shabab this year?
e) What is al-Shabab’s goal?
f) The Washington Post reported on Aug. 30:
“Interviews with a dozen business owners in Mogadishu reveal al-Shabab’s quickly growing ability to tax the country’s most lucrative businesses (‘pay up or we kill you’), which analysts and former government officials say earns the group tens of millions of dollars per year, which it uses to fund its attacks on government and military targets, as well as on those who refuse to pay up.
What do you think is the best way to deal with al-Shabab? (pull all U.S. military out and let the Somalis deal with the terrorists themselves, continue training Somali forces while giving air support, take a more ‘hands-on’ approach and initiate a much more intense campaign to completely wipe them out, OR…)? Explain your answer.