Despite the security problems in Somalia, the United States has officials, military and civilian, going in to make deals with the various militias. The warlords can be bought, or at least rented, for specific tasks or bits of information. American is most concerned about terrorist organizations like al Qaeda using the local chaos to buy themselves a sanctuary. But the United States has more money, is willing to use it, and doesn't have to remind the local warlords about what a B-52 overhead can do.