Turkey must be thanked for doing what Somalis could not do for themselves, and others failed or dared not do. it has done more in Somalia in the last few years than the EU and US put together in 20 years and for that Turkey must be thanked and remembered. Only Arab countries have done more but Somalis do not acknowledge that. On the army front, Somalia needs a proper "national" army but i do not think its current leaders have what it takes to build a "national" force. plus neighbouring countries have not forgotten the 70s and do not want to see a strong, united Somali national army which is deemed a threat to their own security. What is in Xamar today could not be classified as a national force. i admire the current commander of the national army. he is a true soldier with the right military training but he has no army or junior officers to work with. however I envisage a national army arising from federal member states where each would create its own local army, and then start formulating a nationalisation programme of state forces under a federal command and control centre. this is where Turkey comes in by training junior officers and by instilling army discipline in young cadets who aspire to be army officers and generals. it is not as if Turkey is unfamiliar with that strategy. just check into its history and consider what successive rulers incl. Sultan Soleiman had done to not only conquer, but expand their reigns in Eastern Europe.

what a bloody nutter. as you said he sounds like a typical redneck in red states in Merica.

Galbeedi, I think when Phase II has been completed the cost would exceed 20 million from what I hear. i am glad Bosaso finally got a decent airport. i wonder where you could book a flight. i am planning to visit the old country in the summer with Bosaso being my target destination at first. True, ladies forced the flavour to the fore.

Bosmanoglu, I absolutely agree with respect to the issue concerning tradition vis-a-vis Islam. I was having that very conversation with a hardline Republican ex-army colleague who had trouble differentiating the two. Arab culture, with its jahiliya customs, is not wholly Islamic the same way Pakistani or Malay cultures are not. This is where the west struggles with Islam. Some of the practices I saw in Xinjiang region of China, a predominantly Muslim region are highly UnIslamic yet perceived as if. The same is true with Somalis and other nationalities. Galbeedi, I think you will enjoy it even more if you take the family and unlike other west European countries, cost-wise it is not prohibitive - relative I know - with the US dollar, Euro or Sterling currencies going a long way. it is much better than Dubai, the Las Vegas of the Middle East. the downside is most Turks speak very little English with the average Turk being as proud as a mule in its natural habitat full of fodder and chaff with less care for the rest of the world, except perhaps Italy and Germany of which influences are evident in its culture from architecture to manufacturing to language. Arab and Farsi cultures are very visible in all aspects. Xabad, I was referring to the mention of satire in your earlier post in the west versus the muslim world. Good to be back into the fold. what happened to the forum? it is as if it was declared mortuum with new names and faces abound.

Xabad, Conservative muslim culture deeply rooted in venerable morality and decency in conduct and ethos is no comparison to the decadency of the more socially liberal, if mature western cultures. nevertheless, not so long ago, in the western world, someone would be hung for speaking ill of, or speaking truth to power. let us not be hasty. else, Aesop's famous fable of the Lion and the Antelope will come to pass.

Well, according to Gaas the original budget was 6.3 million US dollars but it cost three times as much. not exact figure but you get the drift. i am not Mooge by the way.

Well then, I am glad so long as you are not an imposter. tell you what, I toured Turkey in the summer of 2015 from Taqsim Maydani square to Antalya to Marmaris to Euphesus to the recently finished underwater rail system built by Japan to Instanbul to Ankara, and come back with greater respect for its culture, history, cuisine, and politics. Bosphorus rail tunnel is a modern marvel. I must say I admire Erdogan along with Ataturk for what they have done for modern Turkey. I am yet to see any Muslim country including Saudia with as many mosques and learning institutions in its major cities as Turkey. Harika elalem ve ülke.

In all seriousness, Hargeysa is now much larger and prettier than it was back in the 60s. May it grow with grace and glamour.

CCTV news bulletin

SO, finally the terminal construction has been completed. I must say it is a good beginning and much better than expected. Let us hope phase II for the extension and airport building will be as good.

Bosmanoglu, Are you sure you are a genuine Turk? I ask 'cos you must be the first English speaking Turk I have come into contact in a long time, barring an old mate from university, including inhabitants of North London. Plus your disposition, approach, and general predilection to politics is highly UnTurkish. Am I paranoid?

This is democracy in practice. Good progress all round.

See, haddana haadaan kale ayaad isku qaaday. War ilayn annagaa bela aragnay. The point was to demonstrate how easy it is to point fingers and make claims, but when push comes to shove and you are asked to produce proof and evidence, you throttle yourself as if committed to geriatric respite. From my experience, I have listened to stories of and about corruption in all cities I visited. I have tried to compile concrete, tangible evidence to that regard in both regions, but other than immaterial incidents, I could not find material evidence of corruption. I observed disorder, lack of technically proficient workforce, poor hygiene, and many other things uncommon in developed nations. And for disclosure, I am not an auditor and my time in my target places was limited. Is that to say there is no corruption. Definitely not. Does it mean it epidemic. I do not know. Again, if you have got substantive data to share, let us hear it. If not, and until you have taken the trouble to do so, then exercise humility, wisdom and refrain from making allegations. <cite> @nuune said:</cite> llyria, okey sxb, Putland wax musuq kama jiro, now you are very happy, intaas baad rabtaa soo ma ahan, wa kaas, ka dharag hee, sidii cayaalkaad iila hadleysaa, hadaad rabto officialska magacyadooda I told you and said to you: "waa kulligood from wasiir to agaasimo, all officials", marka qof xamaasadeysan oo oranaya yaan Puntland waxba laga sheegin wax aan kala doodaya ayaaba khalad ah marka adeer Puntland waa ceeb-ka-saliim ee sidaas ku wardi.

Nuune, Adigaa xanta iyo annaaniyada inoo keenay, haddii aanad caddayn karin, in aad ka laabato ama aad tiraahdo, waxaa la igu yiri ayay ahayd. Waar ka joog haadaanta ayaan ku leeyaahay, adna waad isa sii maqiiiqaysaa. U fiirsa hadda, waxaan ku weydiiyey in aad cadayma keento, illayn ku tiri ku teen shir la lama yimaadee, markaasaad aflagaado miciin biday. U fiirso tuhunku xaqiiq ma aha. Waxaa la yiri iyo waxay tahay farqi weyn ayaa u dhexeeya. Marka intaad dib isugu laabato, sharafta adna ha iska qaadin, annana karaamada ha naga diline, musuqa aad soo aragtay noo sheeg oo noo tax. Halka aad ku aragtay? Cidda gashay noona sifee. Hadii aanad sidaa yeeli karin, ina adeer billaahi ihaanada inaga daa, garaadkana ha naga dhaawicin.

That is a great platform to run, and those are good principles to found a political party, so go for it, and best of luck. A couple of things to warn you of: a) seek knowledge and wisdom before fame and fortunate, b) leave out the "racial rhetoric - white this and that", and c) to find solutions to problems incl. financial, societal, technological etc., in Islam, study/devour it (do not just read it only to use it a peg to hung your coat on, and only to be whipped out as a escape-goat when all else fails). <cite> @maxamed-maxamed said:</cite> Ideology: 2) Pan-Somalism "Somali Nationalism" 3) Anti- imperialism 4) Single-party state 5) Protectionism (Economic policy): This has been my economic goal for Somalia, to see protectionism in our country. This is all to protect our infant economies from imports, competition, world market, etc... 6) Pro-Nationalization (Economic policy): Nationalizing of all industries. 7) Anti-Laissez-faire 8) Pro-Unity 9) Scientific Socialism (“My kind of Socialism”) etc............

All I have seen in Somalia from Borama to Galkacyo was potential, progress, and hard-working people striving. Yes, there is poverty, lack of proficiency, lack of industry, technical, skilled workforce, but a society trying to move ahead. But despite all of that, the average person has 'qanaacah' and better outlook than those in the Diaspora.

Wow, Somalidu waa cajiib. Have you seen Omar Samatar secondary school in Galkacyo? If so, you would know this building is designed in the same way as the school. Or is this a case of "rahii ceelka inta ka bannaan uun u haystay dunida oo dhan"? <cite> @Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar said:</cite> This looks like the prefabricated, American-built houses of Baay Project of Baydhabo in 1980s for shaqaalihii dowladda. Qofkii arkaa garanaayo.

Again, unsubstantiated, sweeping corruption allegations abound just like any other Somali; can you give numbers, incidents, amounts, names of the now-rich ministers and directors you speak of? Or is this "islaamaha suuqa fadhiya hadlakoodii?" Wax sheegga aan xaqaa'iqa ku salaysnayni waa annaaniya cudur ku ah bulshooyinka faqriga ah oo meel walba wax ka tuhma, cid kastana wax ku tuhma. <cite> @nuune said:</cite> ... xageed ku aragtey wasiiradiisa qaarkood oo sanad iyo badh wax ka yar joogey ay qaarkood dhisteen laba laba guri, iibsadeena saddex saddex gaadhi landcruiser ah, iska daa wasiiree, agaasimayaal ayaa laba laba baabuur maraya iyo guryo already iibsadey, and no, this is not their salary, their salary can't buy all that, these things need to stop and this money need to be invested where it is needed.

Wow, Somalidu always surprise me with their negative observations of all things, and sweeping allegations of corruption everywhere. Is this guy talking about the same presidential compound in Garowe which I have seen a couple of months ago, or is he talking about a second one? Architectural and design-wise, I would not call it a palace at a par with Buckingham palace or Windsor castle, but it is a solid compound, nicely looked after, and in a strategic location in an area designated for government offices, by Puntland's first president, away from residential area. And in my humble estimation, much better than Vila Xamar. Have you even seen the inside of the place? Can I ask what measurements and benchmarks you used to assess the building? A warehouse, it is not. In a terrible state, it is not. <cite> @nuune said:</cite> The presidential palace in Garowe cannot be described as a palace, but rather a warehouse used for storage, I know they only built it recently, but it is in a terrible state, only one who have seen would say that, ask the locals, they will tell you that their houses are much better than the presidential palace.

I am more concerned with the cause and effect rather than the spinoff aftereffect.

A case of the age old phenomenon of convincing the victim to being the villain, and brainwashing him to the extent of branding himself as such, and going so far as to assuming the role of perpetrator to exact punitive damages for his wrongdoings against himself. And all the while, the true villain is on standby watching the fracas among the patsies. go figure.

I know i ma trying to apply logic where there is none. And as the old saying goes "waa duul inta miyirka qabtaa dayaysan tahay."

By far the most bizarre development coming from the central regions. This must be a classic case of "ku qabso ku qadi mayside". Indha adayg iyo qar iska tuur dharaar cad iga dheh. Caqli dhicisoobay iga dheh. Could someone explain how the new State wants to bring North Mudug under its control when they do not want South Mudug under Puntland? Could someone else please explain why Puntland never claimed South Mudug, yet the people from South Mudug (Galmudug and Ximan iyo Xeeb) claim North Mudug? Very confusing.