There's a huge difference between a regular pistol and an Assault-Rifle. In the United States, almost anyone can buy an assault-rifle for a relatively cheap price. Which is absolutely ridiculous. You don't defend your family with an Automatic Assault Rifle. You don't go hunting in the forest with an automatic assault rifle. These weapons are military-grade weapons, and are available to the american population. This is an absolute disgrace. Bill Clinton put forward an assault-rifle ban in 1994, but the ban expired in 2004. Obama should do the right thing and ban these weapons once and for all.

Xaaji Xunjuf;899656 wrote: ^^ Maybe they have destroyed the Somali republic because of Qabil iyo reer hebel banu nahay And until we bring back our Republic, these things will keep happening. I hope we learn from this incident

Jacpher;899556 wrote: If I were to call someone baboon, I wouldn't expect them to be nice because baboons aren't capable of being nice. Baboons belong to the zoo, away from society that's speaking of actual baboons. And no you don't have to be nice but you must obey the law. Laws are made to protect the people, not to be nice or friendly. Do the Zambians have the right to call Somalis "baboons" due to the suicide bombings, indiscriminate killings, and tribal-motivated massacres which have occurred inside Somalia since 1991? We Somalis have a lot of blood on our hands, don't forget that brother

Che -Guevara;899546 wrote: ^You implied that you are not African by referring to them as African baboons. Does it matter who Somalis loot from? We do and kill indiscriminately. I completely agree. We shouldn't be demonizing non-Somali Africans. It doesn't help anyone and it only causes further conflict.

Jacpher;899537 wrote: ^What respect are you talking about? The poor Somalis running for their lives asked for this? Basically he's saying what many Somalis feel deep-down; That we shouldn't even be living in Zambia, South Africa or any of these other foreign nations. We should be living amongst ourselves, and invest in our country, instead of building up the wealth of a nation like Zambia only to have our hard work destroyed by a bunch of xenophobic Zambians. Whether this viewpoint is right or wrong is for you to decide. But it's a widespread viewpoint nonetheless.

*Blessed;892775 wrote: I think it's safe to say that the Al Shabaab era has ended, as for the average Faarax, like Che says they are far too lazy, apathetic (Wal Hamdulilah) and there's always the threat of an arweelo revolution... Go to the Somali sections of Nairobi, and you'll see nothing but walking curtains, and men subscribing to the Saudi ideology. It's ridiculous. Somalis weren't like this in the 1980's

*Blessed;892663 wrote: I wouldn't recommend Faaraxs to attempt this..... With the transformation of Somali culture in the last 20 years, I wouldn't be surprised if Faraxs begin attempting this....

The Palestinian Issue could be solved if the Arab countries could simply get their sh!t together and stand united behind a common cause. The 300 million Arabs (and millions of more Muslims) should actually stand behind Palestine and ACTUALLY support our unfortunate Palestinian brothers instead of throwing around empty rhetoric and burning Israeli flags, which solves nothing. It is collectively all our faults the Palestinians are under siege..

Chimera;892633 wrote: Great initiative by the Federal Government, it stands firmly behind a popular cause in the Islamic world, a sentiment shared by the people of Somalia, and another nail in the coffin of Al-Shabaab's propaganda charade of fighting an apostate administration. Its amusing though to see the outcry by some members here when they have no respect for the government nor appreciate what it stands for. One little spat against your clan-interests and you'll be demanding for these MPs to be in Timbuktu, in Kathmandu, anywhere but your clan-state lol. Why would the MP's visit Gaza when the people in Palestine are far better off than the people of Somalia? At least Gaza has functioning institutions built by Hamas, what does Somalia have? Stop assuming that everyone who's against this Federal Government is automatically a clannist. This is a complicated issue. I consider myself a Somali Nationalist as well as you. Read the Thread I posted 1 month ago, and it outlines in detail my vision for Somalia, and what Somalia needs to do in order to become a prosperous, functioning state.

Maybe the Somali MP's should spend their time visiting their constituents INSIDE SOMALIA, or are they instead just interested in the glamour and prestige of being "on the ground" in Gaza. This is a sick joke

The D-Block Clan is missing. You see the I-Block, the H-Block, and even the R-Block But No D-Block..... Carafaat I caught you

We Somalis need to go home to Somalia. We will never be truly welcome in another country, except ours

Talk about digging up an old topic. That being said: The Somalis on this Forum should have a little more regard for their dhaqan and marry within their race. We already have enough problems as it is as a society, and if we start to marry foreigners, these problems would increase. Most Arabs would prefer to marry their own kind. Most Chinese would prefer to marry their own kind, and so should most Somalis. But then again, no one should be forced to marry someone they don't want to

Here is an interesting article I found, written by the Intelligence Agency STRATFOR, regarding the conflict in Somalia and the role which Al Shabaab plays: Summary An AMISOM soldier stands guard in Mogadishu on Oct. 24 The recent decentralization of al Shabaab makes it extremely difficult for its enemies to identify a center of gravity to attack. The group has successfully reverted to guerrilla warfare against the forces of the Somali government and their allies following its ejection from the southern city of Kismayo and from the capital, Mogadishu. Analysis The decentralized nature of al Shabaab allows it to make use of different tactics depending on local conditions. In order to guarantee its survival, the group has consistently declined combat where it saw little chance of victory. It still occupies Baardheere and Lego; the latter city has seen pitched battles between al Shabaab and the Somali National Army. Meanwhile, in other parts of southern Somalia it has adopted tactics such as ambushes, the placement of improvised explosive devices and hit-and-run attacks. Al Shabaab transitioned to guerrilla tactics in Mogadishu after abandoning its strongholds in the city in August of 2011. The group continued a conventional fight in Kismayo, Baidoa and Beledweyne until those places became untenable as well. Al Shabaab demonstrated an aptitude for guerrilla warfare during the 2006-2009 Ethiopian incursion into Somalia. This capability is one of the major reasons al Shabaab will be so difficult to defeat (though without dominating southern Somalia it becomes more challenging for it to host jihadists from abroad). Puntland Smuggling Routes One possible center of gravity is the arms smuggling network that sustains the group's operations. Al Shabaab's loss of Kismayo's seaport and airport, along with other coastal towns such as Merka, has deprived it of the smuggling operations instrumental to its struggle. Furthermore, Kenyan and Ethiopian troops secure their respective borders, while the forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia, commonly known as AMISOM, control airports and seaports around Mogadishu and elsewhere in southern Somalia. All of this makes al Shabaab forces almost completely reliant on inland arms smuggling routes. These routes run through Puntland north to Yemen, where relations with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula facilitate smuggling. Even though al Shabaab's guerrilla tactics are less resource-intensive than conventional pitched battles are, the group still needs access to ammunitions, explosives and even food. Though the militant group can steal food from local populations and possesses ammunition, its access to supplies it receives through Puntland is vital to the group's long-term survival. The group's smuggling routes in Puntland include the western outposts of Ceelayo and Qaw as well as another outpost near the seaport of Bosaso in the Golis Mountains, where al Shabaab has a limited presence. These mountains are home to the militia leader known as Atom, who reputedly ran al Shabaab's smuggling operations in Puntland. Atom led a local rebellion against the Puntland government from the Golis Mountains, an area where al Shabaab forces began relocating in early 2012. The mountains are part of an al Shabaab supply chain that runs from Bosaso down to Garowe and Galkaayo into southern Somalia. Despite several offensives, Puntland forces have failed to dislodge the militants from the mountains -- the region is referred to locally as Somalia's own Tora Bora. The rough terrain has made ousting al Shabaab forces from the region challenging. Al Shabaab leaders have selected the area as an ideal refuge from the foreign forces that have come to Somalia to fight them, but the main significance of the group's presence there lies in its ability to protect its smuggling routes. Mogadishu and Southern Somalia Al Shabaab remains very active throughout southern Somalia. While most of its attacks are concentrated on the capital, Mogadishu, and the surrounding regions, al Shabaab forces continue to attack outposts in and around Kismayo, Baidoa and Beled Weyne. Near Kismayo, al Shabaab is believed to have found refuge in the Lower Juba "jungle." This is a wooded savannah area that provides cover from observation and airstrikes and that now grants al Shabaab fighters a staging area for attacks in the Juba region. A similar situation exists between the Bay and Lower Shabelle regions, where AMISOM's operations have not extended. While this area does not present the protective terrain features of the Lower Juba jungle or the Golis Mountains, it has granted al Shabaab a certain freedom of movement that facilitates its guerrilla-style attacks. Many of these attacks have targeted transports and convoys moving between Mogadishu and the extended territories under AMISOM control. These convoys are relatively soft targets for al Shabaab fighters, and attacking them allows the group to reduce security forces' freedom of movement and to limit their influence beyond Mogadishu. In Mogadishu itself, attacks were at a lower level as al Shabaab was temporarily preoccupied with the advance of Kenyan forces in the south and AMISOM's advance out of Mogadishu. Now, a return to the type and volume of attacks that were seen in early 2012 is taking place there. The change of operations in the south from conventional to guerrilla warfare after the group abandoned Kismayo has allowed al Shabaab to concentrate on Mogadishu, where it has begun to mount more sophisticated and complex attacks. Since al Shabaab no longer controls key cities in Somalia, their main goal is to destabilize the newly formed federal government. Destabilizing Mogadishu provides a useful way to force AMISOM and the Somali National Army to refocus on security in Mogadishu. This relieves pressure on al Shabaab elsewhere, such as in Baidoa, Beled Weyne and other locations along al Shabaab's vital land-based smuggling route to Puntland. At the same time, an unstable Mogadishu challenges the legitimacy of the new government, potentially enabling al Shabaab to expand its support in the capital. The Leadership Under the pressure of military operations, including the U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle campaign in southern Somalia, al Shabaab's leadership has reduced its visibility, though it is not thought to have fled the country. Top leaders Sheikh Mukhtar Abdirahman Abu-Zubeyr, Sheikh Ali Dheere and Mukhtar Robow are reportedly in the Hiiraan region north of Mogadishu. Abu-Zubeyr reportedly is accompanied by foreign fighters, which is consistent with his position as a supporter of foreign jihadi activity within al Shabaab. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of the Hizbul Islam militant organization, appeared shortly after the fall of Kismayo to announce the separation of his group from al Shabaab. The pressure placed on the group's leadership has forced it into hiding and limited its use of telecommunications and of other means of effectively coordinating group operations. But this has been the case for some time now, and al Shabaab has always found a way to deal with the lack of visible leadership. But the expanded presence of Western intelligence and strike assets in the region, as well as the greater potential for intelligence gathering due to al Shabaab's loss of popular support, has put greater strains on the group than during the Ethiopian intervention of 2006-2009. Even so, the activities of al Shabaab show that the organization is very much still around. This seems to be an accurate analysis of the problems being faced by the Somali Government in relations to Al Shabaab. Any feedback would be appreciated. This is NOT my article, and it was published by the Intelligence Agency STRATFOR, which specializes in this sort of thing.

Mario B;887885 wrote: There' s hope for us. China will soon be an economic superpower and by default a military power even though they haven't invented a thing of worth for the past 2000 years. Ironically, the west conquered the world using Chinese inventions of printing, compass and gun powder. The west can cry foul all it wants when it comes to theft of 'intellectual property', but they should remember how it feels when shoe is in the other foot. So what did i mean by when I said there is hope for us ? it means we don't have invent for now but instead utilise the knowledge and technology that is out there to get our house in order. We need desalination,waste treatment and finding means of collecting rain water in order to solve our water problem. If Germany with its few months of sun can produce electricity that is equal to running 24 nuclear reactors, then through solar energy and technology, we should meet most of our energy demands. No more burning of mango trees for charcoal Let's start with building a Somali Government that controls it's own territory. Everything else comes secondary. If by the day I die, Somalia is a nation with a competent Government which controls it's own borders, provides basic services along with stability, then I will be a very happy man I'll let my grandchildren worry about creating a Somali Space Program and other technological feats . Let's start with the basics first

Well considering that China has a population 4 times larger than the USA, then this isn't surprising. And the Chinese having the largest economy doesn't mean they will be the most powerful nation either. China also had the largest world economy in the 1800's, when the British were subduing them in the Opium Wars....

Do you really think a bunch of Duksi Macalin's are capable of running a Nation? Are you kidding me?

General Duke;885959 wrote: This is a national security matter. The foreign ministry should not be given to a secessionist.. Unfortunately common sense is in short supply amongst Somalia's politicians

My Dad lived in Dhagax Buur and my Mother lived in Beledweyne. And I live in the United States....

Does anyone want to place bets?

Xaaji Xunjuf;885225 wrote: Nationals of Somalia between raskambooni and raas caseer Ethnic Somalis live in Djibouti Somaliland Kenya Ethiopia What about me Xaaji? I am a Somali living in the United States with a US Citizenship.....Do I count as a Somali National or .....?

This is a disaster! Few African States are as militarily capable and disciplined like the Ugandans. This is a classic case of UN Bureaucrats ******* it all up for everyone

Xaaji Xunjuf;885073 wrote: There must be another way why not something in between the government of Somalia and the Alshabaab Militants talking and uniting for the sake of their country. Alshabaab they did something which was quiet remarkable they controlled much of south and central Somalia with strict authority compared to when sh sharif came into office a government given its legitimacy by the international community but little legitimacy on the ground why not form a coalition its possible they just need to try it. Alshabaab was a power to be reckoned with but they had no long term plan they had no structure how to govern Somalia they had no clear foreign policy nothing other than embracing Ayman Al zawahiri. They are kinda facing the same dilemma the ICU was facing few years ago. The policy of Shabaab is going to resemble Al Qaeda's policy on Somalia. These foreign jihadists want to use Somalia as a base to launch attacks on Western interests. Godane's interests are trans-continental, which stands in stark contrast to the interests of men like Dahir Aweys, who was only concerned on Somalia. Why do you think Shabaab was launching threats against Britain, simply because Britain extradited a Syrian Sheikh to the United States. Shabaab is actually declaring war on Britain over this 1 irrelevant Sheikh who was deported. This is their mentality

Somalia;884993 wrote: We cannot ignore the plight of the minorities. I do not believe Somalia is the homogeneous country some of its inhabitants claim it is. Just turn on the TV, all you see are starving Somali Bantu, where is the skinny starving Somali? This is why it is important that a census is made as soon as the country is freed of Al-Shabaab. Kismayo belongs to reer Waamo. Maybe this is because the Somali-Bantu don't have many diaspora members as the rest of the Somalis. So therefore they don't have a well-off cousin or Uncle in Australia or Canada willing to send them money. So they starve to death. It's unfortunate

Xaaji Xunjuf;885063 wrote: Alshabaab might have pledged their allegiances to Al Qaeda but the foreign troops are very minimum compared to the Foreign boots on the ground in Somalia. When we--as Somalis--take orders from foreigners, then you know we have a problem. Even if Shabaab conquered and stabilized Somalia, a best case scenario would be Somalia being isolated by the Western powers as a result. The difference between AMISOM and Shabaab is: 1. AMISOM has the stated objective of stabilizing Somalia, and then withdrawing from the country when the time is right. 2. Shabaab has the objective of uniting Somalia under the leadership of Godane and his kind. But then they go and f*** it all up by pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda. So even if Somalia is united under 1 leadership, it would lead us to being isolated, just like North Korea is isolated.