I thought I should share this with you all... just for thought. Here are some famous Americans of Arab decent. - Ralph Nader (Head of the Green party) - George Mitchell (Famous US senator, sponsored the Irish peace talks) - John H. Sununu ( Former New Hampshire Governor and White House Chief of Staff) - Jeanne Shaheen, Governor of the State of New Hampshire, USA - Nick J. Rahall, United States Congressman - Ray LaHood United States Congressman - Richard P. Ieyoub, Attorney General for the State of Louisiana - Phillip Charles Habib, United States Ambassador - John E. Sununu ( He is just elected as a US senator from NH. He is Palestinian. The Jewish lobby tried everything to stop him from winning. He made it. He is the son of John H. Sununu) - Spencer Abraham (Energy Secretary for the Bush adminstration) - Donna Shalala (former Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Clinton adminstration - Bobby Rahal (motor sport) - Doug Flutie (American Football player) - Jacques Nasser (CEO of Ford Motor Company) - Paul Anka (if you like music) - Frank Zappa (Rock music) - Paula Abdul (Pop music) - Danny Thomas, American Entertainer - Paul Orfalea, Founder of Kinko’s 24-Hour Copy and Printing Chain

Election 2002: Jewish vote may be pivotal in several elections nationally SHARON SAMBER Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON -- Four Jewish candidates are vying for seats in the U.S. Senate, 35 for seats in the House of Representatives and two for their state's governorship. For those keeping a Jewish scorecard, it's an average year regarding the number of Jewish candidates. But on the eve of next week's midterm elections, the political landscape appears anything but typical. Control of both the Senate and the House are at stake Tuesday. And the outcome of the election could affect everything from legislative priorities to who controls powerful congressional committees to how much the Bush administration will drive the agenda. With a staggering economy, a war with Iraq brewing and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still embroiling the Middle East, the leadership and approach of Congress is significant. In addition to Jewish candidates, with Jewish turnout at the polls often disproportionately high, the Jewish vote could prove pivotal in several races. And how they cast their votes will be watched with great interest, not only by the candidates themselves but by those who believe Jews are warming up to the Republican Party. "There will be overwhelming Jewish support for Democratic candidates despite the predictions of Jews going to vote Republican," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster. Mellman did note certain cases of moderate Republicans who might garner "better than average" amounts of support from the Jewish community but whose Democratic opponents would still likely get the lion's share of Jewish votes. He cited such examples as Govs. George Pataki of New York, Jeb Bush of Florida and Rep. Connie Morella (R-Md.). As Election Day approaches, Jewish political junkies are watching some key races around the country, some with Jewish candidates, some without. Among the Senate races: *In Minnesota, the Senate race with two Jewish candidates came to an abrupt halt with the death last week of Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Democrat. Wellstone had been locked in an extremely tight race against a Jewish Republican, Norm Coleman. Coleman, who like Wellstone has received financial and political support within the Jewish community, could face even stiffer competition now from Walter Mondale, the former senator and vic president who will replace Wellstone on the ballot. Mondale is expected to take on many of the liberal issues that Wellstone championed, making him an attractive candidate for many Jewish voters. *In New Jersey, another former senator, this one Jewish, is also hoping to rejoin the Senate. Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who retired from his Senate seat in 2000 and was venerated by the Jewish community, could win the New Jersey seat vacated by Sen. Robert Torricelli, also a Democrat, who quit the race following charges of ethics violations. With more than 450,000 Jews in the state, the Jewish turnout could have some influence. The outcome of the New Jersey and Minnesota races will determine whether the Senate retains a minyan of 10 Jews. Only one current Jewish senator, Carl Levin (D-Mich.), is up for re-election -- in a race he is expected to win. A fourth Jewish candidate, Alan Blinken of Idaho, is not expected to win against the Republican incumbent, Sen. Larry Craig. The eight other incumbent senators who will serve in the 108th Congress are Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Russell Feingold (D-Wisc.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). *In New Hampshire, the race for the Senate pits Gov. Jean Shaheen against Rep. John Sununu. Shaheen has garnered some Jewish financial support, mostly to block Sununu. Sununu, who is of Palestinian and Lebanese background, has come under fire for supporting U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, though he also has voted for U.S. aid to Israel and has returned campaign contributions from Arab leaders who backed Hamas. At least $25,000 from pro-Israel political action committees has gone to Shaheen. The more significant funds from large donors are channeled through party organizations or the Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee. The exact amount going to Shaheen is not yet known, but insiders say a fair amount is coming from Jewish supporters. In the House of Representatives, some of the most interesting congressional races already played out in the primaries. Reps. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.) and Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), both considered anti-Israel figures, lost their primaries after Jews spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their challengers. A number of other anti-Israel lawmakers are not returning to Capitol Hill for various reasons -- including retirement or the decision to run for other offices -- thereby raising Jewish hopes that the 108th Congress will be one of the most pro-Israel congresses in years. Some House races of note include: *The 13th District in Florida, where a Jewish Democrat, Jan Schneider, is running against Republican Secretary of State Katherine Harris in a new district in Florida. Harris received national attention during the last presidential election for her role in the post-election chaos. Schneider is an attorney and author of international environmental law books. *In California's 27th District, Democratic incumbent Brad Sherman is pitted against Republican challenger Robert Levy, a family law attorney and past president of his synagogue's Men's Club, in the only "Jew vs. Jew'' race in the House. *Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is likely to be the only Jewish Republican to serve in the next Congress, since Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.) is retiring, unless Levy pulls off an upset in California. *Two Jews involved in their local Jewish communities are running on Democratic tickets in two new districts in the South. Harry Jacobs, an attorney and past president of the Orlando Jewish federation, is running as a Democrat in Florida's 24th District; and Roger Kahn, a businessman active in Atlanta's Jewish community, is running in Georgia's 11th District. Kahn is believed to have a better shot than Jacobs at winning. *Rahm Emmanuel, a former counselor to President Clinton, will probably win a seat in the heavily Democratic 5th District in Illinois. *Five prominent Jewish lawmakers are running unopposed -- Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.). When the campaign season began, it looked like it could be the year for Jewish governors, with seven candidates. Now, the number of Jewish candidates is down to two, but both Democrat Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania and Republican Linda Lingle in Hawaii are thought to have very good chances of winning. If Rendell and Lingle prevail, they would be the first Jewish governors since 1994, when Bruce Sundlun served as governor of Rhode Island. Lingle would become only the second Jewish woman to serve as governor. Madeleine Kunin was Vermont's governor from 1985 to 1991. The Jewish vote, meanwhile, could be important in the New York race for governor, where Democrat H. Carl McCall is running against Pataki. Here in California, Gov. Gray Davis, who received 84 percent of the Jewish vote last time, remains in good stead with California's Jews while he fights off a challenge from Republican Bill Simon. And in Florida, Jeb Bush had planned to have Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his side for a rally earlier in the campaign, but the event was canceled. Nevertheless, reminding voters of his older brother's solid standing on Israel could help Bush in his race against Democrat Bill McBride. In addition to the political races, there are 202 ballot measures across the country but none have become flashpoints in the Jewish community. There will be voting on such issues as bilingual education in Massachusetts, Colorado and Nebraska, and banning same-sex marriages in Nevada. Local Jewish groups have gotten involved in these issues, but there does not appear to be one issue galvanizing the community the way ballot initiatives to promote school vouchers did in 2000.

This country is in a mess. You can't wear the hijab at Universities? Huh? You can't wear the hijab if you work for the government? I think these "stiff" Turkish politicians misunderstood democracy. Kamal Ataturk did these guys wrong. As you probably have heard, the Islamist party won the majority in the recent Turkish parliamentary elections. CNN did a profile on the man behind the victory. This guy was jailed for reading a "religious" poem in public. As the generals took him to prison, he was last quoted as saying ..."The song doesn't end here." . Well he was right. His party came out victorious in the recent election. Turks were probably fed up with the corrupt, pro-wester politicians. ************************************************************* CNN.com ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Just two years ago, tens of thousands of supporters led Recep Tayyip Erdogan to prison, where he served a four-month sentence for reading an Islamic poem at a rally that angered the staunchly secular courts. As he walked into the prison, Erdogan quoted a Turkish saying: "The song doesn't end here." Erdogan was right: His Justice and Development Party took an absolute majority in parliament in elections on Sunday, and though he will not be in parliament because of his conviction, he is expected nonetheless to control the party's agenda. The charismatic former mayor of Istanbul sought to reassure Turks that he does not intend to pursue a radical agenda but will maintain Turkey's secular, pro-Western stance. (Full story) Erdogan's party won votes on his promise to clean up the corruption in Turkish politics that most Turks believe is to blame for the country's crushing economic recession. Many fear that he wants to promote the pro-Islamic movement that has attracted him since his youth. Erdogan, 48, was born into a working-class family in Istanbul and attended religious schools, where he learned the Koran. He sold water and sweets at soccer games to earn extra money and became involved in the youth branch of the National Salvation Party, a pro-Islamic party that opposed Turkey's entry into the European Union and promoted the Islamic-style head scarf for women. He rose to lead the youth branch of the party and was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994. As mayor, Erdogan angered secularists by banning alcohol in city cafes. His Welfare Party was forced from national government in 1997 under pressure from the military and was later outlawed by the courts for opposing secularism. While in power, the Welfare Party promoted ties with Iran and Libya and tried to adjust working hours to accommodate Islamic prayer times. Erdogan was jailed in 1999 for four months for reading a poem that said: "Minarets are our bayonets, domes are our helmets, mosques are our barracks, believers are our soldiers." A court found that the poem incited religious hatred. But even his critics admit that he ran Istanbul well and his party became popular for running social welfare programmes for the city's poor, who were long ignored by politicians. Pro-Islamic parties have provided pencils for school children, run charity centres and provided free ambulances for pregnant women. Today, Erdogan says he has changed and no longer espouses the pro-Islamic politics that led to clashes with the secular establishment. His new political party is pro-EU and Erdogan insists that he has no Islamic agenda. The media is "insisting on saying that (Justice and Development) is religion-oriented. We do not accept this," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We are not making religiously oriented propaganda." (Press review) But the secular establishment that has dominated the country since Turkey was established in 1923 is skeptical. The election board has barred Erdogan from serving in parliament because of his conviction for reading the poem, and the courts want to close his party because he has refused to step down as leader of the party. It is not clear who the party will name as prime minister, but lawmakers may try to overturn the ban. Erdogan is married and has four children. One of his sons, Bilal, is pursing a master's degree at Harvard University. Erdogan says his two daughters, Summeye and Esra, are studying at Indiana University in the United States because they could not enter Turkish universities wearing Islamic-style headscarves. Turkish law bars women who wear Islamic-style headscarves from studying at universities and working at government offices. At a recent rally in Ankara, Erdogan spoke of the need for running water in every home and promised lower prices for fuel for farmers, but he never mentioned religion. Unlike many Turkish politicians who appear stiff and distant, Erdogan was relaxed and informal, wearing a white oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. And in a country where titles and formalities are important, he is almost universally known by his first name, Tayyip. The crowd cheered wildly after he spoke. "Prime Minister Tayyip! Prime Minister Tayyip!" they chanted. Many also held placards saying: "The song doesn't end here."

The warlords (Nuke them all)

looooooool @ samiira. You made me laugh. And who are these Gabriels having the SHAAH talk about young girls? They need to be brought to justice.

According to P. Kalix of the University of Geneva (1991, 1992), khat leaves contain cathinone, an active brain stimulant that is similar in structure and pharmacological activity to amphetamine. Like amphetamines, khat ingestion results in decreased appetite, euphoria, increased intellectual efficiency, and hyperalertness. The overlapping effects of khat and amphetamine suggest that they stimulate the central nervous system through similar mechanism(s). Khat leaves must be chewed fresh for the strongest effect, and freshness can be prolonged for a couple of days with refrigeration. Chronic use of khat produces undesirable side effects, including sleeplessness, nervousness, impotence, loss of appetite, constipation, and nightmares. Soon after chewing, khat can cause dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and pain in the upper abdomen. These unpleasant feelings are gradually replaced by bliss, euphoria and pleasant energetic pleasant feelings. Prolonged anorexia associated with khat use leads to malnutrition and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Nasher and Associates (1995) found that khat chewing inhibits urine flow, an effect caused by blood vessel constriction which also causes erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that long term use of khat causes reproductive toxicity. In addition to the neurological effects, consumption of khat is also associated with reproduction problems in men and women and in laboratory animals. In controlled studies using Yemeni male volunteers, el-Shoura and Associates of the King Saud University (1995) clearly showed that heavy use of khat causes decreased semen volume, sperm count, and sperm motility, and it increases the number of sperm that appear abnormal under the microscope. Interestingly, previous studies reported by Islam and Associates of the King Saud University (1990) demonstrate that male rats respond similarly to the men, but other effects can be measured in rats that cannot be ethically learned from men. Rats treated with the active constituent, cathinone, had testicles, epididymides, and seminal vesicles that were smaller, and they had lower levels of testosterone in their blood. Examining testicles through the microscope, pathologists could see degenerative changes in the cell that produce testosterone and in Sertoli cells, the cells that support sperm production. In women and female laboratory animals, khat causes other undesirable effects. Recently, Islam and Associates of the King Saud University reported (1994) that female rats given extract from khat leaves from day 6 to 15 of their 21-day pregnancies ate less and gained less weight. While that sounds like a good thing to women in industrialized countries, the treatment also increased the number of rats that died while still in the uterus, and, in the smaller litter size. Reports by Jansson and Associates of Gothenburg University (1988a, 1988b) show that female guinea pigs similarly also had smaller pups, and this was shown to be due to decreased blood flow to the uterus. Eriksson and Associate of Karolinska Institute (1991) also reported similar effects that babies born to women who chew khat habitually are smaller and their mothers produce less milk. Clearly, their mother's use of khat retards their development, and this retardation is likely to have long term consequences. Female rats and guinea pigs apparently respond to khat a lot like people do. Based on the above mentioned and other studies, the observed adverse effects of khat on the male and female reproductive tracts should be viewed as a serious concern for the public health. While many effects of khat are of consequence only or primarily to the user, the increased susceptibility to infectious disease and the threats to normal development of the children of the chronic users are public health concerns. Furthermore, as the tolerance of drug use among employers drops to zero, khat users will find themselves closed off to many best jobs. Thus, because of unemployment and low-paying jobs, khat use will damage the financial status of individuals, families, and communities. While more research is always desirable to better understand the small details, we know enough now to say clearly that the use of khat should be discouraged. http://www.somalilandforum.com/web/qaad.htm

Notice how Farah ID is 4 Legend.

loooooooooool @ Malaakh.

Glad to see you back to the nomad site Yusuf. How are things going with you? I will private you brother. I just realize my private messages account wasn't accepting privates because it was full. BTW: If any nomad wants to contact Yusufaddie, please private him and he will talk to you about the project in more detail.

looooooooooooooooooooooool Should be ranked as one of the classics of Somalia Online. Very creative indeed. Good One

Deeqa, these poor Somali women are lying to the authority simply to avoid trouble down the road. It is easier for them to say BOYFRIEND rather than HUSBAND because government aid will be cut off. I understand the situation. I think it is haraam to gain wealth by means of lying to others. The question is: Is our marriage considered official in this country, if the parties involved didn't do the paper work required by the US government? Some Wadaado claim they are not lying when they mention the "boyfriend/girlfriend" excuse to the government because the Muslim marriage or any other marriage isn't recognized by this government unless you have an American marriage certificate. Many of the Somalis don't have that, specially the refugees. I am wondering who is stopping them from getting the certificate from the city hall? Is it haraam to get it?

looooooooool. Not surprised though. Koreans are way ahead of us. They got the most "PC ROOMS" in the world and Korean society is considered to be the most INTERNET savy on earth.

(scotsman.com) -- RELATIONS between Britain and France reached breaking point yesterday as Jacques Chirac refused to sanction an Anglo-US deal on Iraq and clashed with Tony Blair on reform of the European Union. The unseemly diplomatic row between the two erupted after the French leader reacted furiously when Mr Blair opposed his plans to delay the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The collapse in cross-Channel relations threatened to spill into a wider diplomatic confrontation as France continued to oppose British and US demands for the United Nations Security Council to accept a new resolution on Iraq. Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign minister, repeated his country’s insistence it would not agree to any UN mandate that gave the US the automatic right to military action should Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, breach the new terms. "We reject any clause on automatic recourse to force because recourse to force can only be the last resort," he said. The continued French intransigence came despite increased pressure from George Bush, the US president, and Mr Blair for the Security Council to reach an agreement before the end of the week. Campaigning in America, President Bush said Saddam "has made the United Nations look foolish". He added: "Either the United Nations will do its duty to disarm Saddam Hussein, or Saddam Hussein will disarm himself. "In either case, if [uN nations] refuse to act - in the name of peace, in the name of a security tomorrow, in the name of freedom - the United States will lead a coalition and disarm him." The tough rhetoric was echoed on this side of the Atlantic, with Mr Blair’s official spokesman saying Britain was calling on the security council to "bring matters to a head" quickly. He said: "Obviously this has been under discussion now since the middle of September, and given that time scale, it is coming to the stage where we will have to decide whether this is going to be resolved through the UN or not." In the Commons, Mr Blair remained optimistic a UN deal could still be reached. "We are working hard for agreement on the terms of a tough new Security Council resolution," he said, adding that should Iraq breach the terms then " action must follow". Downing Street played down the breakdown in Anglo-French relations had jeopardised the chances of reaching an agreement in New York. However, personal tensions between Mr Blair and the French President are understood to have reached such a low that an Anglo-French summit planned before Christmas has been put on hold. Disagreements between the two leaders followed a stand-up row at the EU summit in Brussels last weekend during which Mr Chirac is reported to have walked up to Mr Blair and launched a direct personal attack in the presence of other EU heads of government. The Conservative Party seized on the troubled relationship as proof that Mr Blair’s claim to be at the heart of Europe rang increasingly hollow. Mr Blair was reportedly furious at the way Mr Chirac had attempted to hijack the summit to railroad through a pre-arranged deal with Germany to postpone indefinitely any CAP reform. There was also anger that the French president had then attempted to link any compromise on the issue to the question of Britain’s rebate. Most diplomats believe the deal presented by France and Germany on the eve of the summit was a diplomatic coup for Chirac which caught Mr Blair unawares. However, there are advantages for both leaders to talk up their positions. http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1201962002

Call me "behind" but LST never used PALTALK ... I am familiar with the technology though ... cool technology. I hate to downlaod anything on my beloved SUPER computer.

loooooooooool.Sanweyne, nacalaa waxaa tahey ku yaal. For once I thought you were somebody else. Glad to hear from my T.O. soldier. Keep yo head up. I didn't delete your message sxb, but other moderators or the Administrator did because they probably saw you write my name on here and it is against the rules of the site for people to do that. Welcome qaxooti. I sent you a private message saxib. One love. Hows school and work saxib?

loooooooooool.Sanweyne, nacalaa waxaa tahey ku yaal. For once I thought you were somebody else. Glad to hear from my T.O. soldier. Keep yo head up. I didn't delete your message sxb, but other moderators or the Administrator did because they probably saw you write my name on here and it is against the rules of the site for people to do that. Welcome qaxooti. I sent you a private message saxib. One love. Hows school and work saxib?

Paul Wellstone just PASSED away an hour ago in a plane crash. Sad news for the democrats.

Najamah, waad iga qoslisey. GOOD ONE for sure. Haven't had this kind of laugh for days.

loooooool. Hodann makes me laugh.

loooooool. Hodann makes me laugh.

loooooool. Hodann makes me laugh.

loooooool. Hodann makes me laugh.

Maxamed Cade, saxib maxaad haysaa? lool @ diodes. No I am not an electrical engineer. I am a chemical/process engineer ... Ask me about Reaction kinetics, fluid mechanics and seperation processes. Glad to see a fellow Canadian here. SEND ME a private message and we talk.

Maxamed Cade, saxib maxaad haysaa? lool @ diodes. No I am not an electrical engineer. I am a chemical/process engineer ... Ask me about Reaction kinetics, fluid mechanics and seperation processes. Glad to see a fellow Canadian here. SEND ME a private message and we talk.

There are widely circulated rumours on "confederation between Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea". Some ethiopians are outraged by the idea. I found this article on Addis Tribune. ************************************************ Confederation With Eritrea? A Reply By Adugna Lemi Michigan, USA I was reading comments of Dr. Teketel Haile-Mariam and Dr. Messay Kebede on the issue remotely considered as a threat for the Ethiopian nation- “Confederation of the Horn.” As I read through lines of the views of the two well-recognized scholars, I gathered that they are against the move of the confederation or at least they back only the ideal case of “Ethio-Djibouti” confederation. I respect the views and opinions of the two scholars. But are we being realistic here? I don’t mind grabbing Djibuti, a country with port but with little economic power in the region compared to Ethiopia. However, no deals with a country like Eritrea or Somalia, with starving people and all sorts of political chaos. Are we thinking to prosper in the middle of such economic and political unrest just next door? In a world of integrated economies, it is not only domestic issues that matter, regional and border issues matter too. I do understand the pain and the grief from previous wars and inhospitalities between the general public, friends and the governments of these nations. But our ego doesn’t take us anywhere. We need to learn where the world is heading. Be it for the fight of terrorism or for regional economic and political stability, the option of excluding one or two doesn’t and won’t work. We may think that we are better alone because we haven’t seen and smell the real flavor of the real integration. Not integration of past years, where one side benefited or trying to benefit at the expense of the other, the real integration is one that the majority believed in, voted for, will benefit from. Can we agree on a situation that yields mutual benefit? I also understand the saying that goes as “better alone than in bad company.” I do agree that “bad” comes probably from the bad mentality of the people at the different hierarchy of the administration in each country. But I believe that this won’t be forever. As we all learn patience to entertain others idea and live together even if we don’t agree on issues, our leaders will do so, or somebody will teach them how. My point here is that the world is not static and the situation in the horn isn’t either. The administration and the people are learning and will learn how to tolerate each other. Do we have to block any forum that deals with possible integration, political or economic? These countries are at the bottom of all sorts of rankings, rated the most risky area, world’s poorest region and so on. Can the confederation help these countries get out of this? At this point the answer to this question may be just a guess. But the situation we are in now doesn’t seem to work either, and we all know we should come up with an alternative. But don’t get me wrong I am not backing the formation of confederation of the horn today. I believe that there are a lot many things to do to get there. First we all need to solve our internal problems, especially political problems. People and only the people of each nation can vote on the formation of confederation. For that we need to first agree among ourselves, otherwise we will end up importing dozens of related and unrelated problems from our neighbors. The current move seems a cover up for our domestic problems, which is the root and mother cause of all problems. Even if there are theories in other disciplines that argue that if you combine two infected (biased) subjects, you will get uninfected (unbiased) subject, there is no such evidence in politics just yet. Teaching and advising our people to blindly, illogically and based on a less than ten years history may sound inappropriate to me. As indicated in one of the comments, lets leave the decision to the kids but we shouldn’t brainwash them with such outright exclusion of one option that they should look into.n