The Horn of Africa is a very strategic place through which large numbers of our Navy's ships and civilian shipping pass. There has been no functioning government in most of Somalia for a long time, which is why the pirates can operate. Plus, Al Qaeda has figured out they can operate there for the same reason.
We aren't, however, sending troops to Somalia. Not after the Mogadishu fiasco. Instead, friendly local countries, like Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda have been doing what they can to keep a lid on the situation. One reason we are helping Uganda with the Lord's Resistance Army, which is more of a gang of thugs than an army or liberation movement, is that they are helping us in Somalia.
Obama is a truly awful President, but not everything he does is wrong. Stopped clock and all that.
Thanks for the info.