Few countries in Africa have had such powerful links with both the Soviet Union and the United States - each for years at a stretch - as Somalia, or more correctly, the Federal Republic of Somalia. From a quiet Indian Ocean backwater that had once been an Italian colony, it remained aloof for a long time from the kind of power struggles that beset other African nations like Ghana, the Congo, Guinea, ALgeria, the Sudan quite a few more in the 1970s. In 1969, however, all that changed, as Siad Barre overthrew the government and broke all ties with the West and embraced the Soviet Union. That lasted until Barre decided that it was time to collect the other countries he believed rightfully belonged to Somalia. His ties with the Kremlin were not as strong as he believed, though, and the Soviet Union immediately broke ties with Barre and supported U.S. allies in Ethiopia against Somalia. As a result of the Ogaden War and the deterioration of the Somali government, tribal leaders stepped up as warlords to fill in the vaccuum, plunging the country into anarchy. As the 21st century moved forward, Islamist colonizers used terrorist groups as a cover to force their imprint on the region. -- Adapted from the Introduction and back cover.