I should have written about this last week, but the United States has taken steps to strengthen ties with Somaliland and Puntland, the two regions that have broken free from Somalia and which possibly represent the best real chance for success in the region. I am not suggesting that it is a good idea to abandon Somalia, but this sort of triage makes a great deal of sense for the most people, and certainly those of Somaliland and Puntland. Is United States recognition of their sovereignty next? As Texas in Africa says: “don’t count on it.” Still, there is no need to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, or even to let the good be the better of the salvageable.