There is only one answer I can offer you.  In my humble opinion, neither you nor I (and by extension, neither the USA, former USSR powers, EU, Ethiopia or anyone else for that matter) ought to have any say whatsoever in what happens in Somalia except for the people of Somalia!  If they happened to prefer the Islamic Courts, then so be it.  Just like the Palestinians wanted Hamas and the Shiite population (and others!) in Lebanon prefer Hizb'allah, they are (or should be) entitled to have them as their leaders.  Whether they are acceptable to me or you or anyone else that does not belong to the particular population in question is immaterial.  ...Or do you follow the Bush doctrine that says democracy is OK as long as you vote for what I want?!?

And by the way, to what you say here:

I do believe that when one enters discussion on such a topic as you have addressed, political leanings are instantly visible. But it is not sensible if political leanings are allowed to blind us to the genuine needs of people affected. With that in mind, I ask,

My response is that you might want to heed your own advice.

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne