This is an authoritative account of the Somali region, its history, and the story of the Islamic extremists operating there today cites the high human cost of the region's clan-based civil war while explaining how current activities are directly threatening world security.

"Inside the outlaw state of Somalia" -- Cover. Includes maps of: Somalia and Its Provinces; Somalia Political Situation, 13 October 2012; Somalia Clan Demography. Subtitle from the front cover of book jacket.

Part 1.Living on the line. -- An African Stalingrad : the war against al-Shabaab ; -- At the Bancroft Hotel : America's proxy war ; -- The field hospital : what bombs and bullets do to people ; -- Aden's story ; -- The failure of Somali politics ; -- What makes al-Shabaab tick? ; -- The famine -- Part 2. Nomads' land. -- In the court of King Farole ; -- Galkacyo : Pirateville ; -- Hargeisa nights ; -- How to start a border war -- Part 3. The diaspora. -- The Somali youth time-bomb ; -- The missing of Minneapolis ; -- 'Clanism is a disease like AIDS' ; -- Operation Linda Nchi : the end for al-Shabaab?.