Story: U.S. Goes After al-Qaida Suspects in Somalia, 1/10/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/somalia_1-10.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is Somalia in the news right now?

2. What group was recently ousted by forces from the U.S.-backed transitional government and troops from the neighboring country of Ethiopia? And who was that group reportedly protecting?

3. Name the president of the Somali transitional government.

4. When was the last time the United States military was involved with Somalia?

5. Over which city does the Somali government have control?

6. How many governments have run Somalia since 1991?

7. Who helped Somalia form its current transitional government?

8. Why did Ethiopia recently send troops to Somalia?

9. Who is Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and what did he encourage?

10. What happened on Dec. 24, 2006?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think are the biggest obstacles to forming a stable government in Somalia?

2. What role do you think the United States should have played in Somalia over the past 15 years? And what role do you think the United States should play now? When should a foreign government send military forces to another country? Explain the reasoning of your answers.

3. Research literacy rates, prevalence of disease, life expectancy, average income and other indicators of the quality of life in Somalia and the United States. Using your researched data, compare the life of an average American 16-year-old to the life of an average Somali 16-year-old.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.