Thomas C Mountain, the most widely distributed independent journalist in Africa, gives a recent history for the horn of Africa and discusses the compounding problems of drought, foreign backed paramilitary factions, and predatory lending which have destroyed the economies for the people in Ethiopia and Somalia especially. How do millions die with almost complete silence from the mass media? What is the strategic significance of Somalia for the West? Where does Al-Shabaab get its finances? Did “Dirty Wars” even scratch the surface of the corruption in the area? How badly have humanitarian organizations like UNICEF failed or even contributed to the oppression and starvation of the people they are supposed to be helping?