Through the Looking Glass

There is much that is astonishing about today NYT story on Somalia, above all this:

One American official recently conceded that Somalia’s “best hope” was the government’s new military chief, a 60-year-old former artillery officer who, until a few months ago, was assistant manager at a McDonald’s in Germany.

Meanwhile, in the Guardian, you can read how the tide may be turning in Somalia, thanks to Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the current president, whose government controls a few blocks in Mogadishu, the country’s capital. This snippet from the Guardian story is…well, interesting:

Sharif has won praise from western governments and the African Union for his attempts to create viable institutions and financial accountability.

For full whiplash effect, read both the NYT and Guardian pieces back to back.