Financial Times FT.com

Which enemy is greater: Islamists or hijackers?

By Barney Jopson in Nairobi

Published: November 25 2008 01:39 | Last updated: November 25 2008 01:39

A raid by Islamist insurg­ents on a pirate base in Somalia last week has posed a vexing question for foreign powers: who is the number one enemy now?

For western diplomats and security officials watching lawlessness inside the failed state develop into threats to the outside world, the difficulty is that targeting one foe could strengthen – or at least embolden – the other.

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