Somalia: Transitional Federal Government in trouble

Just like the laws of matter dictate, Somali Islamic Courts Union and the Transitional Federal government probably can't exist in the same space, as set out here:

THE EXPANSIONIST TENDENCIES OF THE Islamic Courts Union are now a clear threat to the survival of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

After taking control of the war-weary Mogadishu from the US-backed warlords on June 5, the Islamists are itching for more conquests and the question is whether they see themselves as an alternative to the ineffective TFG led by President Abdullahi Yusuf.

Somalia's neighbours, such as Kenya, are also uneasy, given that years of hard work to constitute a semblance of a government in Somalia could go to waste. In view of the latest development, the question is whether Somalia will ever have peace as the international community hesitates to intervene.

Of course, the world is otherwise occupied right now, which probably helps the ICU.

UPDATE: StrategyPage has some thoughts on the ICU aand a recent "aid" request:

Meanwhile, the Islamic Courts are trying to pitch themselves as a worthy recipient of foreign aid. That won't last long, even if the current information war campaigns attracts some donors. Many of the Islamic Courts leaders are simply warlords that got religion, and not much religion according to the way some of them are acting. Any foreign aid going through the Islamic Courts will get pilfered before it gets to the "suffering Somalis" it was intended for.

It's hard to be too cynical about Somalia.