War should be the last resort

Recent dare devil audacity shown by Al Shabab on Kenyan soil has provoked deserved rebuff from government quarters that was long overdue.

Kenyans are practically baying for blood and war in unison. Laxity of Kenya’s defense forces on its frontiers has attracted aggression from Uganda over Migingo, Alshabab and the Merille of Ethiopia. And this latest provocation on Kenyan soil has jolted us to action, having us mobilize troops toward Kenya Somalia border in contemplation of a war with the terrorist group. A move that has been lauded across all quarters as justified aggression from defense forces which was beginning to look moribund as per public opinion.

However caution should be exercised when contemplating war, especially with an amorphous terrorist organization hiding behind civilians on foreign soil.

In 2006 Israel undertook a similar escapade in quest to finally deal with Hezbollah which had provoked Israel for far too long. In that war Israel incurred a financial loss of $1.6 billion, destruction of at least 60000 homes and business, TOURISM ground to a halt, literally and economic growth slumped.

Despite all this losses Israel cannot out rightly say it won as minimal insurgents were actually killed with large Civilian casualties on both sides of the border were recorded. However Israel was cushioned by the yearly $2.2 billion in military aid from America

Back home we are at terrible economic status quo with the shilling helplessly plummeting, economic growth barely recovering post poll violence and looming uncertainties of the oncoming 2012 polls.

Military action into foreign soil will cost the country dearly bearing in mind we run in a deficit budget and are heavily reliant on tourism a clear target of Al Shabab from the Kikambala incident.

While action is necessary, we must temper radical action with reason and chart a way out that will reap maximum benefit for our country.

I think creation of a buffer zone at the border and presence of more military at the borders will be better than going into Somalia in pursuit of a faceless threat.