I expect us to inflict long term damage on Al Shabaab, my only worry is Al Shabaab could inflict more pain on unsuspecting citizens locally which will arouse a lot of emotion and weaken government resolve and tempt them to quit or embolden them into a fully fledged combat with Al shabaab. I am not overly worried about cross border progress of the military, what I am worried about is our soft underbelly - our local situation.

We already have too many Somalis from Somalia as part of us, so we can't really tell when Al Shabaab terrorists visit to inflict pain on us. WE WILL BE SITTING DUCKS. It doesn't help integrity and passion for the job are lacking in our police force, Some of our force members would sell their brethren for small sums or ignore signs because there is no money to be made by following up on the same.

We also have seriously soft targets in our midst. Look at big malls and how we flock there every weekend, T-mall, Sarit, West gate, UKay center etc. Some have basement parkings, pubs and lots of enclosed spaces, no one checks who walks in or drives in. If you look at what's been happening to Iraq one has to worry about our roads, how many times on Mombasa Road, Waiyaki way, Bunyala, Lusaka, Jogoo road etc do we see a convoy of fuel tankers in the queue together with private cars and public service vehicles? On the same roads you have trucks carrying highly inflamable chemicals and gases such as LPG, Oxygen and Acetyline BOC gases) . There ought to be some rules around road transport and better screening in those enclosed malls otherwise we could be caught unawares when Al Shabaab strikes.

I think this is long overdue and this is the best opponent to pick on as I doubt we can do well against a well organised army like Uganda's. We need to display our might and I'm sure the Americans (Obama) and NATO will back us strategically with info, maps, weapons and reconnaissance after all we're fighting terrorists where Americans failed.
This is good for our honor. I only pity Somali businesses and their huge investments in Kenya because that is what is under threat if they retaliate in Kenya/Nairobi as they have threatened to do.

Yesterday I saw the army getting into position in somalia and some media guys were infront of them filming..was that just an act or what?...are we going to see frontline action like in Sirte and Baniwalid in Libya from a local media houses.

The only way the Govt can win this war is by subdividing the country into sections with Ethiopia controlling the northern part, TFG the southern part and Kenya the eastern part..Puntland can take care of the western regions.

Alshabab is incapable of winning a war waged from 4 different regions cutting all its supply routes ....

A decision to go after Shabaab was long overdue. I have always said Somali's extended war is largely Kenya's irresponsibility just like Zimbabwe's extended problems are South Africa's irresponsibility.

Shabaab fund their wars from Kenya and we all know know the intelligence agencies know where and who the War loads sleep and sleep with. This may also turn out to be our saving grace because I doubt any Shabaab general has the bottle to call for a 'chafua' mission in Kenya.

The wealth and general comforts of Somalia somalis especially the war lords will be under serious pressure and it's a no brainer how that would progress. I actually believe Shabaab goofed going after Kenya. It's only Kenya who was well placed to finish them. I expect them to foolishly attempt something locally which will result in high emotions and Emilio's arm being twisted into going to full engagement in the entire Somalia, a situation America and the entire Europe would really relish and would fund and support with resources required. Shabaab are walking into a trap that will see them finished completely.

The only thing we need to be prepared for is the collateral damage the enemy does not respect the rules of engagement, he will definitely retaliate by orchestrating a local attack against civilians like the cowards they are ....I wonder if Kenya is prepared for such an eventuality.

This war will definitely sharpen our boys.