Originally posted by General Duke: We wait and see. How long could we wait and see, old boy?

Originally posted by Jaajus: ina yeey our men from jariiban I didn't know that the old man is from Jariiban!

This is a good read. Thanks General Duke. As always, Chomsky offers a sharp critique of this president and exposes the inconsistency of his foreign policy and its moral bankruptcy!

Most, good haddad, is the key word here. You see, Arabic is not the tongue language for this old man.

Originally posted by Haddad: He's not? I thought only Arab presidents could attend the Arab League conferences or meetings. Arab league is, well, for the Arabs! But you forgot that Somalis are either stubborn Africans who resisted any Arabization project or weak Arabs who became easy prey to the absorbing cultural assimilation of the Dark Continent! We’re in the Arab League and African Union and I wouldn’t mind if we could join Asian orgs as well. But don’t blame this poor old man for not speaking Arabic while most of us couldn’t! P.S. His English proficiency is quite poor as well!

Originally posted by Haddad: Shouldn't an Arab president know Arabic? Abdullahi Yusuf is one, and should speak it. Who says he’s an Arab president?

Originally posted by Amethyst: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Am I the only one who finds Xiin's post vilifying? Dhuubo, don’t read too much in to it!

He is a lucky guy indeed. What better deal than that could he possibly get, I ask? A single mother with an inoperative reproductive system! That sounds too good to be true. You see this type of single moms is in a high demand in where I live (West). A rear breed of sort that married men would just love to have. On the other hand, you must admire the honest of this guy and his forthrightness.

Originally posted by Jumatatu: Adna xaarkadi waa kula fogeyay ila iyo Kakuma....ke labadeena ciilqaba marka....? Maxaa Najjaasa fayleh! Balag dheer caruuruhuba waa balaf ka siiyaane Baaluqa ismood wiil hadduu, buuryo-goys yahaye Bisqanyaa rag kuu geeya oon biidna kuu tarine!

Originally posted by CAAMIR: They do have important and chivalrous political figures as members who justify their occupations on innocent and peaceful loving Somalis. Care you tell us who are those ‘important and chivalrous’ members? Indhacadde is not and has never been an Al-Ittihad member lest you mistakenly think of him as such!

Perhaps no movement in the recent history of Somalia created unprecedented political excitement for its constituents and at same time held with disdain and open disparagement by its opponents than Al-itihad. The controversy surrounding this movement can’t be penned in a one post, but I will give a brief overview of what I think this movement is all about. The Al-itihad movement had carried the enlightening torch of Islamic call. Without a doubt, its members were the pioneers of what seemed then as a subvert version of our religion to many and turned it a mainstream practice. They astoundingly wove fundamental Islamic practices in the fabric of our society. It (Al-Itihad) revived and emitted a lively breath in to the dead body of Islamic Dacwa. Although it often clashed with the religious establishment of the country, the public has accepted their call by great numbers and its success has been not only colossal in its achievements but consequential in terms of its societal impact as well. It transformed the way we think of wadaad and redefined it as not only a man of religion but a politician and businessman as well. It established irreversible educational institutions throughout the country that teach the principles of our faith and propagate an Islamist political agenda, which many appreciate and value. It has also injected a much-needed dose of Islamist political orientation in to the Somali politics and diluted the secular nature of its practice. The beauty of their message emanates from its originality and it presents a genuine political platform that’s simple to comprehend: establish an Islamic government that reflects the values of its people and becomes a vehicle to please Allah. That much can be agreed. Now, how it proceeded to attain those righteous goals is a matter of debate. I for one, think it succeeded superbly in its quest to revive the Islamic call and awareness but failed politically in the most part. No one with sanity can deny the success of this movement in the Dacwa area. Nevertheless, its political failure is indisputable reality on the ground. One could argue that militarization of the movement is the root cause of its political demise. And although that could as well be the case, I don’t think it’s a correct assessment of the poor performance of the movement’s political activities. Furthermore while having military wing have indeed helped spread its message in some areas, like Gedo, it actually hindered its cause in others, like Puntland. Its military wing has caused great damage to the Ethiopia’s evil army and still continues to take them to the task. So I wouldn’t blame movement’s militarization, primarily, for its political failure. One obvious factor, I think, that contributed to the decline of this movement’s political influence could be its lack of shrewd leaders who understand the volatility of Somali politics and its clannish sensitivity. Had Al-itihad had such men, it would’ve not committed the enormous tactical error in initiating unprovoked offensive in Puntland. It would’ve distanced itself from the arbitrary rulings of Mogadishu courts and would’ve issued decrees against the likes of Indhacadde and his vandalizing activities (though I am sure it has never indorsed it) in Marka. In the final analysis, Itihad has contributed to the revival of Islamic awakening and Dacwa. Its occasional political mishaps shouldn’t overshadow the movement’s genuine efforts to establish Islamic state.

Originally posted by General Duke: There s no doubt a need for more Islam in Somali politics... Ok Generale, That's enaugh for me.

General Duke, a little clarification of your position may rescue you from this seemingly unending perplexity and confusion of yours about this movement. Are you objecting the disguise of the clan-oriented courts in Marka under the noble Islamic banner? Or you, tragically, miss the value of an Islamist movement like Al-itihad in Somali politics? Have the contribution of this movement toward Islamic awareness and awakening in Somalia somehow lost on you because you’re only able to see them through the narrow lenses of their recent (90s) clashes with the Old man? I guess should wait and give you the benefit!

El Geneerale, would you spare us that lavishly -furnished cant of those evil neacons. Save (my little brain tells me other wise) you’re one of those naively misinformed people in the western hemisphere! P.S:-Your first post sounded a sarcastic and sardonic of sort, which I liked. The repeat is too good to be satirical, me thinks.

I think OG_Girl summarized both the position of Islam and the reasons for it! That I shall not repeat. But I would like to object the vaguely stated premise of his argument: that Islam has no firm penalty for a murtad and the narrated daliils are ambiguous. How could that be the case when all the Islamic schools agree the killing of the apostate? As we all know Islamic jurisprudence has for major schools or Mathaahibs: Maaliki, Xanafi, Xanbali, and Shaafici. These Islamic schools all, to my knowledge, agreed that the punishment of murtad must be death. The Shia Islam is as well in line with the rulings of those scholars. So if this was an attempt from the author’s part to liberalize the Islamic penal-code and tune it to the liking of the west’s progressive ideals, then I think the basis of his argument does not hold water. needless to say, he needs to do better work than making unsopported assertions! He could, however, have made beneficial and perhaps enlightening argument against the application of these Islamic laws by the current corrupt regimes in the Muslim world. He could’ve pointed out the automatic divorce, the lack of inheritance by his immediate relatives, and the limit of repent period to mere three days. Legitimate areas, I think, where genuine discussion and propping questions could yield better remedies. That I would’ve welcomed. But to question, or worse yet, to negate the well sourced and solid position of this religion as it relates to apostate is a bit disingenuous, me think!

~lol@ America was under threat by the great powers of Granada, Nicaragua and Salvador and @ he responded to a higher calling.

Wiilooy, Waxa matagiisa maad ardaaga (SOL) nooga duwdid! Xigmadyari iyo Najjaaso badanaa!

Originally posted by Femme Fatale: ^ DA, of course not dear. Allah is just & merciful. What we often forget is that Allah has honoured each sex in their distinctiveness & not their similiarities. We are different---physically, psychologically, emotionally---that does not mean that Allah would judge us differently when it comes to our intentions/thoughts/actions. ................................. Allah dignifies us both --but we each have different roles & responsibilities to consider. Men would largely be judged on their jobs as leaders & protectors of their family, community, country. Women on the other hand will largely be judged on how they were as mothers, daughters, wives, etc. That doesn't make man superior in the eyes of Allah. No. Allah said he looks into people's hearts---and judges them accordingly. Summing-up the gist of Allah’s universal equality before His justice! His fair dealing with both genders is, indeed, the essence of His message.

May be these lives are worthy for protesting as well!

Though the good professor lavishly dramatizes the tunnel-like vision of his character, his second piece is significantly better than the first one. And his conclusion that"this is a nation of greed and ambition gone mad" is the correct diagnosis of our political illness.

But, my question is, why in the world, that Col. Hiiraale and the others in JVA, are watching this little stooge of a warlord, by the name of Mr. Sayid, and allowing his insidious agenda - or more appropriately the Ethiopian's agenda - that he is furthering in Gedo to continue unabated. Tolstoy, At the risk of offending the initiator (Mr. HornAfrique) of this thread, let me state the obvious and give the blatant answer: that Mr. Hiiraale is a man who’s preoccupied with his loot. He has neither the leisure time nor the logistical capabilities to engage another distant foe. Kismayo, to barrow a word from Mark Twain, had the “ill luck to offend “him as a “passing strangerâ€, and perhaps without knowing it. He contrived many plans to avenge, with a compensating satisfaction, for the injury he kept in his mind. And so was the unholy marriage between the ambitions of the Mogadishu warlords to control that region and Mr. Hiiraale’s yearning for vengeance! Successful, was the plan to capture the town and send its residence to exile. And he settled the old scores with that insignificant General with a spectacular defeat. To be sure, Mr. Hiiraale and the proxy war he so successfully fought proved to be sweeping enough to comprehend the entire town. Needless to say wining a cabinet position and parliamentarian one should lit up his head with an evil joy! But with the dawn of the TFG and the potential relocation of the Capital, the bells of fear should ring in his ear. And I am sure the man is lost in thought of how to keep this lucrative booty of the civil war in the face of shrinking alliances. Wondering if he could some how defend Gedo from this stooge of Ethiopia is missing the point. The man, prudent Tolstoy, is a weak link of sort.

Originally posted by Mutakallim: Aniga, Xiinfiin el al: To those of you who are dryly righteous without understanding, You (this virtual character called Mutakalim) wryly make claims that you can’t defend without resorting to cheap dismissals. Needless to say seeking refuge in the verses of that Arab poet speaks volumes of your inability to reason. That’s indeed the great irony of your sardonic writing! If I were you I would graciously retreat to the dark bunkers of illusion and hope the other side would not violate the rules of engagement and halt when the white flags loom! دع عنك لومي Ùلن يجديك منÙعة Ùمذهبي لست ابغي Ùيه تبديلا لا اقبل الدين Ø­Ùظا عن ائمتكم واترك العقل ماسورا ومغلولا وان اتيت لهم تبغي لما زعموا ادلة ابت الاÙواه تدليلا لا يملكون دليلا ينطقون به Ùاينا كان عند الحق مخذولا؟ You see, you conveniently create imaginary scenario that does not exist to advance your argument. Who’s against reason? Who embraces the blind faith and dwells in ignorance? Perhaps these verses are more fitting to you than to us as you fanatically, and with strong zeal, follow the methods of Hume and Kant! And perhaps the words of that wise man who once encountered Jaaxid are more fitting and appropriate to describe the worthlessness of your fickle writing. كأنك كندر ÙÙŠ ذنب كبش يدلدل هكذا والكبش يمشي

Though Hadraawi’s daring has always caused the fickle to vent and utter the nonsense. The gibberish title of the thread caught my attention! And his indictment is quite indicative of the level of intolerance and typifies the pattern of bigotry against any one who voices different opinion. It shows how some people prefer to dwell the lower levels of any discussion in Somali politics. And above all it shows that this lynching crowd spares no saint! They tend to scoff the hard-earned reputation of their opponent (perceived opponent, I may say) simply because he disagrees. They try to bury his records and defame his name. Alas, they conveniently impeach the integrity and the character of this icon of Somali literature. But tried they did. Hadraawi graciously stood above the filthy politics of his time and refused to heed the clannish emotions of his region. Never did he loose the nationalistic tone of his theme. Consistency has been the quality of his poetry. Only an ignorant can accuse him of a warlord poet! And in the eyes of the reasonable people, Hadraawi’s images stands unscathed. He was there when Mudug was under assault not from an invading army of infidels, but from the sword of its own. He was there when Hargiasa was bombed from the air and destroyed. He was there…..and there with his poetry and its penetrating verses. Is he not entitled to his opinion? What’s wrong with being cynical about Ethiopia and its intentions? And if the war comes (I happen to believe that not be the case) would it be unreasonable for him to draw the battle lines? Though I happen to disagree with him this time around, I can’t but attest that the man still remains to be the bright star in the darkness. He embodies the intellectual sovereignty that’s so badly missing. And he represents and fights wars for many who are unable to join. Bulshooy adigay boqrday Adaa bili igu shakalay Baruudka adaygu xidhay Haddaan ahay wiil bir kulul Burjiga adigaa iska leh Badheedhka adaa i faray Dagaalka adaa i baday Belaayo haddaanay dhicin Dantaada haddaan la bi'in Haddaan baradaadu guban Miyaynu is baran lahayn!

Originally posted by Baashi: “Ciyaalka Xaafada†vs. Hardball Wallee Baashi Muraad buu leeyahay! Maxaa Najjaaso fayleh!

Alahayoow nimaan wax ogeeyn ha cadaabin. Ninku kibirku shaanshaan ka ridey waaya shaxartaanye Misna waxanu sheekada ku darin shiishka soo maqane Inta Shaqalka gaabani u jiro sheeg haddaad garato!