Final answer:
Malito argues that US interventions in 1990s Somalia under humanitarian and counterterrorist pretenses unintentionally worsened the crisis, emboldened hostile groups, and missed chances for positive engagement in the Muslim world. The poverty in Somalia leading to piracy is also emphasized as a product of this instability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main points of Malito's argument in "Building terror while fighting enemies: how the Global War on Terror deepened the crisis in Somalia" revolve around the unintended consequences of the United States' foreign policies and military interventions in Somalia.
Malito suggests that actions taken under the guise of humanitarian assistance and counterterrorism, particularly during the early 1990s, inadvertently exacerbated the complex crisis in Somalia. The withdrawal of US forces following the disastrous Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 is cited as a turning point that emboldened hostile groups and missed the opportunity to foster goodwill in the Muslim world. Additionally, the issue of poverty being a driver for international crime, such as piracy, is highlighted to show how instability can give rise to further criminal activities, further undermining efforts to stabilize Somalia.