ASSESSMENTS

Somalia: Al Shabaab as a Transnational Threat

Jun 2, 2010 | 09:55 GMT

ABDIRASHID ABDULLE ABIKAR/AFP/Getty Images

Summary

Two figures from the Somali jihadist group al Shabaab — Omar Hammami, an American-born commander in the group, and Mohammad Ali, a suspected member of the group thought to be trying to cross the U.S.-Mexican border — have drawn attention to the group lately, giving voice to ambitions of transnational militant attacks. Al Shabaab is not likely to go global itself, but it could well inspire "lone wolf" and grassroots jihadists to strike the West.

While Somalia's main Islamist insurgent group will not likely go global anytime soon, that doesn't mean its activities in Somalia won't inspire others to do so....

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