‘The fighting in Somalia can no longer be dismissed as an obscure domestic struggle in an unimportant country of no wider relevance to the world. The crackle of machinegun fire in Mogadishu, the regular thwump of mortars, the ground-shaking shelling by Amisom tanks and the sporadic suicide attacks by delusional youths represent the frontline in the international fight against al-Qaeda.’

Health care reform is one of the hardest things in politics. If Obama may be heading for defeat or a bloody draw, this is nothing compared to what awaits the ANC as it attempts to force through its National Health Insurance scheme.