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By Peter J. Schraeder The United States government should officially recognize the independence of Somaliland, a moderate Muslim democracy in the Horn of Africa.  Such an argument may seem counterintuitive at a time when tensions are rising in the region.  But I submit that it is precisely because of those rising tensions that it is time for the Bush administration to act, especially if it is truly serious about democracy promotion, counter-terrorism, and curtailing the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. Why does Somaliland deserve U.S. recognition? First and foremost, it is important to recollect that, after achieving independence from British colonial rule on June 26, 1960, Somaliland was duly recognized as a sovereign entity by the United Nations and thirty-five countries, including the United States.  Several days later, on July 1, the independent country of Somaliland voluntarily joined with its newly independent southern counterpart (the former UN Trust Territory of So