They know that the Somalis are getting impatient and more furious as the second goes by. They don’t want to get chased out of Somalia with their tails behind their legs, just the same way the US was. They want to leave behind an image that illustrates them walking slowly with their heads held-high out of Somalia. I do pray that that never happens.

It was neither the Sheriff nor Aweys that was captured. That must come to you as a shock yoonis. Duke must feel a little bit humiliated right about now, his prediction didn’t hold up.

This article was written in January 8, 2002 and five years after you will be surprised as to how things has involved, from the US not recognizing the UN-sponsored government in 2002 and now supporting the TFG. You will find out why they are supporting the TFG today, by reading the article. Hint: Puppets. It is quite interesting, get your shaax and read it. By Sharif Nashashibi, YellowTimes.org. Posted January 8, 2002. After its military success in Afghanistan, there is growing speculation that America is gunning next for Somalia. The speculation has been fueled by numerous high-ranking government officials, most recently by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, who on Jan. 7 told the New York Times that Somalia "fitted the bill of a lawless state that draws terrorists like a magnet." The Western media and public have largely bought the U.S. line that this is a widening of the "war on terror" against a country with alleged links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. However, deeper investigation points to a possible ulterior motive: domination of East Africa. Currently, Sudan and Somalia are the only regional countries not allied to the U.S., whose friendly relations with Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Eritrea seem secure, despite the latter two's recent wars. Since U.S. missile strikes on Sudan five years ago (which resulted in the ouster of bin Laden), and especially since Sept. 11, Africa's largest state has been keen to avoid potential confrontation with the world's lone superpower, attempting to shed its image as a "sponsor of terrorism" and thus stem U.S. support for southern rebels. This leaves Somalia to contend with former allies until civil war broke out in 1991, the defining moment in relations between the two countries in the last decade was the 1993 killing of 18 American marines in the capital Mogadishu, and the subsequent evacuation of U.S. forces from Somalia. This was portrayed as Somali rejection of a peacekeeping mission, but in fact the deaths were a direct result of a seventh botched attempt to capture the warlord Mohammed Aideed, in which hundreds of Somalis died. Since then, the U.S. has accused this impoverished Arab state of harboring terrorists. "Somalia has been a place that has harbored al-Qaeda and, to my knowledge, still is," said US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The problem is, his "knowledge" is based on information from Ethiopia, the U.S. embassy in Kenya, and Somali rebels. "Ethiopia has long been Somalia's main rival in the region and its foreign policy is always aimed at keeping Somalia weak and divided," wrote Richard Dowden, a writer on African affairs, in the December 13 edition of the British newspaper The Guardian. Indeed, Ethiopia, which has been urging the U.S. to extend the "war on terror" to Somalia since Sept. 11, invaded its eastern neighbor in 1996 (capturing and killing hundreds) and 1999, has done so again in the last few months, and actively supports anti-government rebels such as the Rahanwein Resistance Army. In August 2000, "a long drawn out peace conference ended in the nearest thing that Somalis have ever had to a broad-based national government," said Dowden. "Ethiopia immediately started supporting its rivals, powerful warlords like Hussein Aideed, son of Mohammed Aideed, and Mohammed Hersi Morgan, a war criminal who destroyed Hargeisa city 10 years ago." James Astill, the Guardian's East Africa correspondent, adds: "Ethiopia is actively trying to destabilize its ruined neighbor out of a long-standing, partly justified, fear of the effect a united Somalia would have on its own 3,000,000 ethnic Somalis." In sum, he says that "to strike Somalia on Ethiopia's advice would be like invading Pakistan on a tip-off from India." Dowden describes this as "a classic case of U.S. allies telling Washington that their local enemies are terrorists ... and, it seems, the Americans are willing to listen." Furthermore, Astill says that "no (U.S.) embassy staff have visited Somalia or admit to having learned anything about terrorism since the attacks" of Sept. 11. The only U.S. presence in Somalia since its peacekeeping operation ended seven years ago came Dec. 9, 2001 in the form of military personnel, accompanied of course by high-ranking Ethiopian officials. The only impartial party on the ground, the United Nations, says there is no terrorist activity in Somalia, as has the country's government. "To the best of our knowledge there are no camps of any terrorist groups in Somalia, and no links with al-Qaeda," said President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, a vocal supporter of multiparty democracy. Some might doubt his sincerity, were it not for the fact that his government has invited the U.S. to carry out investigations. Transport Minister Abdi Guled Mohamed unequivocally reiterated this willingness to help. "We have said since Sept. 11 that we want to help," he said. "If the Americans say there are terrorists in Somalia, they should tell us how they know this. If there are terrorists here, then we will put them in prison, put them where they belong. We will work with the Americans to fight terrorists." However, this pledge of assistance has fallen on deaf ears. "It would be good if it was a bit happier to cooperate," said Hassan. Which brings us back to the central question: How can the U.S. justify targeting Somalia with no concrete evidence and a seeming unwillingness to accept an official offer of assistance? The answer: with great dubiousness. Its "war on terror" seems increasingly like a cover for its re-entry into the Somali arena and domination of East Africa, its actions pointing more toward attempts at destabilizing Somalia's UN-sponsored government, which it does not recognize. Besides liaising with the government's local and regional enemies, the U.S. is causing severe economic disruption to one of the world's poorest states by ordering the closing down of Barakaat, a flourishing telephone and banking system that handles between $300 million and $500 million a year in remittances from Somalis living abroad to sustain their families. The U.S. justified this move by claiming that Barakaat had been used by al-Qaeda. "Do you close down a telephone company because a criminal used it to make a call?" asked Dowden. Washington has also declared the Somali Islamic movement al-Itihaad a terrorist organisztion. Al-Itihaad emerged in 1991 as one of numerous warring militias, and its aim was the establishment of an Islamic state. However, its military operations ended with its defeat in 1997 by invading Ethiopian troops. Since then, it has become Somalia's leading provider of education, judicial, health and welfare services, all scarce and badly needed in a country experiencing an extensive drought in the south and half a million people reportedly facing severe food shortages there. The Somali government and the UN deny that al-Itihaad undertakes terrorist operations or has any links with al-Qaeda. "We have seen no connections between al-Itihaad and al-Qaeda," said Randolph Kent, the UN's resident coordinator for Somalia. "Nor for that matter have we seen any evidence of the terrorist activity which is exciting the rest of the world." Making economic and political life in Somalia difficult could well signal a U.S. effort to foment social unrest and the eventual toppling of the government, in favor of an administration more amenable to Ethiopian interests and, in turn, those of Washington. Indeed, Walter Kansteiner, the U.S. under-secretary of state for Africa, claims ominously that some members of the Somali government "could well be al-Itihaad people." Furthermore, warlords pulled out of peace talks in Nairobi on Dec. 14, "apparently in the expectation of U.S. support," says Astill. Such measures may avail the U.S. of the need to take direct military action, or soften its enemy in the event of such action. The purposes behind them can be seen as akin to the vice-like sanctions regime imposed on Iraq, although whether they will succeed where they have failed against Saddam Hussein is questionable. The plan could just as well backfire, compounding public sentiment in a country deeply resentful of past U.S. involvement and suspicious of its intentions. But U.S. resolve is likely being driven by its success in Afghanistan and the repercussions beyond its borders. After all, the U.S. found and courted enthusiasm for its war in Afghanistan among the Central Asian states, in particular neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which support anti-Taliban Afghan forces and are fighting their own Islamic insurgents. Winning over a traditional Russian sphere of influence has not only been a U.S. aim since at least the start of the Cold War, but will also strengthen its hand where Caspian oil supply is concerned, giving it a decisive edge in its "pipeline war" against Russia and Iran. Thus when one sees the regional gains made by the U.S. in its wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, it is not difficult to draw parallels to Somalia, and to understand the deep-rooted fear and suspicion in the Arab and Muslim worlds that behind the "war on terror" is a strategy of attaining regional dominance and compliant allies regardless of local and humanitarian consequences.

Duke you should take your own advice, you were so eager that you have predicted that both of the ICU leaders were captured. Quick question, I am sure that the Kenyan officers and in general anyone who is living in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia who are updated on matters concerning Somalia, know how the leaders of the ICU look like, especially Aweys and sheriff. What reason do they have to ‘confirm’ who this ICU leader is? Don’t’ tell me they have to take a DNA test just to be positive or maybe the Kenya officers are to incompetent to know who he is, even after looking at the pictures of the ICU leaders?

“Topic: Breaking news..Xasan Dahir & son in law Sharif Ahmed captured..” “Arrested a top leader in Somalia's Islamic” Does that match up with your insincere title? Apparently the article states that one leader has been captured and not two as you have stated, they didn’t mention any names as well. Nice way to get someone’s attention, but it will fade away in mere seconds after the reader discovers that it is a fallacious tactic.

^^^ You don’t need to hold an intellectual knowledge to know how an event took place or what someone said. Just need to be a creditable source, which could be trusted. Not every person with intellectual aptitude can be trusted. Comparing animals and plants to humans, which have functioning brains, only confirms how badly informed you are about human intellectuality.

Xalane Sxb, first of all it is Somalis, not Somalians. I expect foreigners to make that mistake, but not fellow Somalis. Second, you still didn’t learn the difference between casualties and deliberate attacks. All the people who have died are innocent civilians and not fighters, that merely demonstrates that the attacks were in fact calculated, on purpose, preplanned, deliberate on doing the most damage to innocent civilians and animals. Don’t bring the ICU into this, the men who were flying those jets weren’t the ICU, the men dropping those bombs weren’t the ICU and matter of fact the ICU didn’t use jets, so there was no logical reason to use warplanes. Third, don’t’ generalize all Somalis. You are a coward who doesn’t have the intellectual capacity to clarify his own argument, forget about defending killers and unjustifiable bombings.

Pi Obviously he possesses the knowledge to know what Totalitarian Rule is. So there testimony is quite creditable. Those butchers, night watchmen and so called goat-herders make up the majority of the people in Somalia. It isn’t only the intellectuals who should voice their opinion. Each and every single person has the right to do so. You trying to discredit their opinion based on the level of education they had is quite disgusting.

Taako So the TFG should follow the same procedures they have criticized the ICU of? That makes some sense.

Xalan Now you are being a repugnant individual. Casualties happen, no one is denying that, you can’t make fate any excuse to justify their killings. When a stray bullet hits an individual it isn’t premeditated, but when bombs are being dropped on villages where innocent people are known to reside that is called intentional bombing. Not to forget that not a single AL QAIDIA member had died.

Hypocrisy is their middle name.

Xalane You have taken over as the lowest common denominator here. There is a difference between bystanders getting the stray bullet and dropping bombs on villages.

Ha, duke doesn’t know how to explain the bombing of the innocent nomads. I doubt he will have an acceptable explanation for this one.

^^I can only assume that they are illiterate and can’t read the signs they are holding.

LOL @ Tigree Friendly Goofballs

Where, when and to who do they go to register. The government who has no functioning offices lool. They should have started where the ICU left, cleaning the streets, giving back houses to their right owners, bring safety, providing for the poor and needy. They attack the media, who is irrelevant to other things that should be addressed. They are getting tried of hearing about their own demise.

They haven't come through Ballot-Box you say it only shows and highlights your true naivity sister! It is a fact, you can’t possible handle. That is why you always tend to make rather personal attacks which are only hot air than refute any of my claims. You were babbling about the ICU not being an official government, yet i have never heard of a government which wasn’t elected by the people, but claims to represent the people. You're either naive and have adopted the western trend of the western pop-culture's you adhere to in order to get noticed or simply speaking you're a lousy politician! One of the two above! Neither. Ha, you can’t even manage to use the correct terms to label me. I am no politician and i am quite positive that i haven’t adopted any western culture. Easy with the exclamation mark. One wonders what strong emotions you are releasing Back to the ballot-box, do you know why they didn't come through the ballot-box? You seem to be a little out of touch to why things happen. However the ineffectual leaders didn’t have the support or the backing of the people they have terrorized. No sound Somali would have voted for them if the votes were cast in Somalia. You see that's what the likes of you deny, you still for some kind of motive think that Somalia was never stateless! You are purposely ignoring with whose help we remain stateless. Didn't the war happen in Somalia? That isn’t a question worth answering. Didn't we kill each other? There is no such thing as ‘we’. The killers and hooligans are the warlords you defend. It is they who have killed each other and killed innocent people. At least you could be familiar with who was killing who. Didn't we provented peace in our country for the past sixteen years? Again there is no such thing as ‘we’. We all know that it was the warlords, who today essentially think they are the leaders, which were/are destroying the country. Didn't we destroy our cities and teared off our censuses? You still make futile mistake a six year old won’t make. You must be the only person, who believes that elections could be hold in a wartorn country where no peace exists and with no electorial registraton of the populanc! Do you know that the Palestinians struggle to hold elections in Palestine? Not in Israel or Egypt? The warlords were all capable of flying to Kenya for their puppet elections, where no Somali person could voice their opinion against them, however they have utterly failed to organize the public to vote for them in the same nation they controlled. You'd think that people might be intimidiated to 'vote' the right way otherwise they'd be killed! You're mildly put naive! You have used the word naïve with no importance to it. Enhance your vocabulary. Your observation is realistically anomalous. Speaking of intimidated, of course they will be, but from whom? The same warlords who were running for office won’t you say? You should know that if the elections were held in Somalia, people won’t bother to come out and vote after they have seen the names of the candidates. I can't be bothered to put a smiley face in for you! To your dismay. Spare me your comical act. When it comes to your ignorance, I am beyond traumatized.

^^ last time I checked a man was a man. His title means nothing, and it doesn’t stop him from raping or committing crimes.

Don’t want the truth to escape hah? No wonder we barely hear anything about Puntland.

Fake Sheikh, don’t get all emotional on me. If you are having an emotional problem that is your concern not mines. Deal with them or go see a shrink. You must be one of those individuals who are suffering from short-term-memory. Did you forget about the 100 Somalis who were killed by air strikes, all innocent nomads? Fake Sheikh I have told you before and I will remind you again, you could either discredit my claims or stop with your second-guesses about my personal interests. I have no clannish reasons and whatever you say otherwise is irrelevant at this point. You don’t see me making any accusations about your clan interests. I actually have family members in Baladwayne, the shop keepers, hotel owners and those who know tea shops are complaining about the Ethiopian and TFG soldiers who are demanding to be fed and not paying the shop keeper, same goes for the Hotel manager, the TFG and Ethiopian soldiers think they are living in their own home. As if they don’t have to pay like the others. They were sipping their tea when the ICU had control, no violence was reported, and you know today that no Somali person feels safe while Ethiopian rapes and killers are roaming the streets of Somalia. I have managed to put myself in their position, while you are still consumed mentally by your western surroundings, that you can’t comprehend the reality taking place in Somalia. This government will kill anyone who opposes them, they haven’t come to power through the ballot-box, and shouldn’t be given the satisfaction of being removed out of power through the ballot box.

The question should be who are the ones provoking violence, killing innocent Somalis with the help of Ethiopian tanks and American jets? Isn’t that violence itself? Bring foreign troops to kill fellow Somalis is what you call a provocation for violence acts? Bombing innocent nomads is what you cal violence? Where are the three suspected AQ members? They are neither dead nor captured. Where are the terrorist you spoke of? The government brought more damage to these children. Some families along with their children were fleeing Baidio and we all know that the ICU wasn’t controlling Baidio. You clan bias individuals need to drop this nationalistic stage show.

LOL brown and Castro. He actually thinks Somalis killing each other, spying on each other, and selling each other out is what we need to create a strong firm nation. I was once told that the followers have the same traits as their leaders. Today they are all traitorous, killing goons.

You don't know what you're talking about mystic! Your oppostion is futile like the Algerian oppostion was futile! The TFG have proven again and again that it doesn’t care about the welfare of the people who are affected by this illegal occupation! You obvious don’t know me if you expect me to rally behind a puppet regime, who watches while their people are being killed by foreigners! You're advocting for more killings of people and civil strife but nothing else! So now you know what I am advocating for? You are as realistic as your shameful finger pointing. Those killings and civil conflicts are already taking place with the help of Ethiopian troops and American jets. If you don't have the capability, capacity and religious understanding how could you oppose the said people? Are you just calling for more people to be harmed by advoacting for more fightings? Thousands have die and are bombed indiscriminately and you want me to support those who have committed those mayhem and tried to rationalize those acts? You don’t have the aptitude to give yourself religious understanding when you lake simple morality. I ask you does a military challenge to the TFG exist inside Somalia today? Can the ICU mobilise an army? Without the Ethiopian troops the TFG is nothing. You know that, as well as I do. The ICU was able to pacify southern Somalia, for the six months they held power. The TFG even with the help of foreign power is yet to gain the trust of the public, let alone pacify the cities they control. Do they have a leader or Amiir that will organise their ranks and lead them to war and look after affairs and send them more troops if they're needed? Unlike the TFG the ICU was a whole organization which was doing just fine without foreign interferes. Do they have the weaponary to fight their enemies effectively? Does the TFG hold such objects? I don’t think so. The TFG used Ethiopian tanks and American jets to bomb their own people. That is what you call effective weaponry usage? If you had any considertion for the people you would not advocate for civil strife and more harm inflicted on them by actually supporting a futile revolution/rebellion that is uncoordinated and lacks leadership and the necessary manpower and weaponary to fight their enemies! Are you implying that I watch as they all get killed one by one, without anyone speaking against it or fighting back? They were already being killed when they were silent and not retaliating. I rather see them dying while retaliating than them sitting like ducks while they get bombed and slaughter for no reason! You are irrational on every issue you try to tackle. Go advocate your nonsense somewhere else to someone else.

What lies, this person should be reward for writing an article solely based on lies.

They are warmongers of the worst kind! Yeah atleat their children and them are safe because it's not that is doing the dying? I am more concerned about the Somalis that are being bombed by the Ethiopian and US jets, which the puppet regime you support have justified than you will ever be concerned about their wellbeing. I am against the occupation and those who will bring more harm to the people in Somalia –such as the Ethiopian troops, American jets, and say hmmm warlords.