I really don't give a shit anymore. Everyone will continue complain about the 'system' destroying these kids. Nothing will change until the degenerate cultures in many black communities are cast out. From the one year I spent mentoring kids at a school in Mississauga, I've lost any hope I had for the 'black' community. The only kid with any future in the group wasn't even black (he was an Indian who had far too many Jamaican friends).

Somalia;859185 wrote: It's in Djibouti's interest that there's no Somaliland to compete with. It has the potential to become the only 'service' driven industry in the region, a Malaysia of sorts. It's a dry and resourceless land, I am glad they are developing it to this standard. It should work on transportation between it and Ethiopia. They've already set up a free trade agreement with Ethiopia. East Africa is going to see a boom over the next decade: Ethiopia will be analogous to Indonesia/China (in five years time, Ethiopia will have increased it's electrical production by a factor of 13). There are already large multi-million dollar light manufacturing contracts in place (i.e Shoes, clothing, cell phones etc.). Somalia to Malaysia (mining/oil exploitation + large service industry + specialized manufacturing). Djibouti to Singapore. Djibouti is already the bridge between East Africa and the West/East, just as Singapore is the bridge between the West and East Asia. Kenya is also booming (major oil finds and infrastructure developments as of late), and you can't discount the huge natural gas finds in Tanzania/Mozambique. If corruption is tackled aggressively in East Africa over the course of the next decade, there are trillions of dollars to be made :cool:

Somalia;859066 wrote: ICU's most pre-eminent leaders are Al-Shabaab. Hassan Dahir Aweys - Head of Advisory Committee (Today Al-Shabaab) Fuad Shangole - Head of Education (Today Head of Puntland branch) Mukhtar Robow - Security Branch (former Emir, Spokesman, Deputy Leader of Al-Shabaab) Hassan Turki - Head of Ras Kamboni Brigade (Aligned with Al-Shabaab) Only Sheikh Shariif, Indhacade and an Addow left. You think the ICU was an organic group that didn't have foreign support? Lol Hmm, interesting. I guess I'll have to do some more research on the ICU as I wasn't as politically aware when they were in the spotlight. I was under the impression that they were rather popular in Mogadishu at the time.

Chimera;859060 wrote: The Islamic Courts Union WAS NOT Al-Shabaab! The ICU were 13-15 courts, with Al-Shabaab constituting only one court, with little to no power. The ICU was what the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt is today, the Somali Spring predated the Arab Spring by five years, only to be squashed by a paranoid America. The situation of today where Al-Shabaab is a filthy anti-Somali organisation filled with foreigners, and one of the 5th richest terrorist group as a result of the illegal invasion can't be compared to the ICU period, who were pro-Somali and whose rule is majoritely characterised as a popular grassroots movement providing stability, opening various derelict economic outlets such as the seaports, airports and the destruction of the bloodsucking warlords. However in hindsight, I believe they should have never risen to power, because they had no friends internationally in the Bush era and the consequences of their removal would have extreme dire effects on the country for years to come. But let's not rewrite history! I agree. As much as I personally dislike Sharia law, the ICU was a more holistic movement and used little violence against locals. They were a net benefit compared to the savages that call themselves Al-Shabaab.

This is very similar to Leetspeak, which I knew rather well in my former gaming glory days.

As brutal as Zenawi was, he used Somalia as a case study and enacted federalism from the start. Also, the massive hydroelectric developments underway as well as the securing of foreign investments in the manufacturing sector will make the Ethiopia a manufacturing giant in this decade. So, while he was a douchebag on social issues, he certainly went out with a bang.

oba hiloowlow;858907 wrote: i hope a Tigray guy gets elected, Amhaaro and Oromo are dangerous people An Oromo leadership would be especially dangerous for the Somali region

somalee;858320 wrote: I've learnt: -Don't talk when you're angry, and generally silence is golden. That's great advice! I mentored 'at-risk' youth at my old high school and this is the one virtue they are lacking the most.

Good work! Hopefully we'll utilize greenhouses in the future as the extremely high evapo-transpiration rates and lack of canopy in northern Somalia will limit photosynthesis productivity in plants. I like to use Israel as a benchmark for agriculture has their landscape is similar to ours. They have devised new forms of drip irrigation and soil management to become a large scale food exporter. Imagine what we could do with the amount of arable land at our disposal.

Oh man, I can't imagine what it must've been like working long hours outdoors in that scorching climate. I'm baking in 25C weather in Toronto.

Best of luck to these newly forged soldiers. They put their lives where few would put their money.

Somalia;857458 wrote: Waryaa read between the lines, he is surprised by how much they kissed his white butt. Aren't you supposed to kiss a tourist's butt? I'm sure the locals would prefer he return. Who knows, maybe he'll speak highly of his trip and his friends will visit and do the same, and one day we'll call it tourism

Debating food restrictions in a country like Somalia? *Sigh*

Why can't Somalis be a bit more self dependent? I have yet to see a Somali credit union in Toronto. You would think that with the high banking fees in Canada, and importance of remittance to Somalis, they would be springing up everywhere. Same goes with real estate, and companies outside the restaurant industry. If the Somali community were as vibrant as it claims to be, they wouldn't be strong-armed by the likes of this owner.

Somalia's president is a former terrorist himself, so I don't expect any sympathy on his part towards the future amputees in Kismayo.

I haven't lived that long (21 years and counting), but I've come to the conclusion that I've spent far too much time appeasing others. I would be teased for being the recluse kid who preferred to spend time alone than with others. I've actually embraced my introverted self and am no longer ashamed to hide it. Strangely enough, this change in thought has made me more approachable and outgoing than before (still not enough according to friends). So to the individualists out there, keep your head up. Don't let society's new found obsession with group think deter you from enjoying your alone time.

Wadani;856587 wrote: Alpha, despite your penchant for cynical commentary and at times misplaced negativity, I find your posts to be deeply insightful and most of all raw. Really? I often confuse his posts for satire until I realize he's serious. Juvenile and lacking real depth is how I would describe many of his threads and posts.

Somalia;856485 wrote: Lets give credit where credit is due, they handed out good equipment for a good cause. What credit? If they would stop the fighting, larger scale irrigation projects could be put in to place. I'm not going to congratulate murderers for handing out breadcrumbs.

Where was this equipment during the famine? They just need to increase tax revenues from farming as the latest U.N resolution will cause them to lose sales from charcoal exports. Funnily enough, the charcoal industry has caused desertification in the South and intensified the famine.

Sad to hear. Goes to show you that no border can resolve plain old Somali stup*dity

@ElPunto, the fact that no other Muslim country seeks to incorporate refugees is the very problem. If Turkey were the only country in the Islamic world to set up a refugee system, they would be flooded within years. The refugee systems in place in the western world all came about simultaneously as result of agreements made at the United Nations. Unless all Muslim countries approach each other on these sort of issues (high unlikely), not much will change.

Apophis;855878 wrote: Pro-nice house, plenty of light and space. Con-Australia. How is living in Australia a con? Canada and Australia are my two favourite countries in the world. Although I prefer the the colder temperatures of Canada.

Somalia;855694 wrote: Mooge you are becoming Dr_Osman without pictures Roads!Trees!Air! Toilets! Where else in Somalia can you get all this!

I keep thinking I've stumbled on to Stormfront whenever I see this thread. Can someone care to explain why this thread even exists? There isn't any deep dialogue pertaining to the elimination of this nonsense.

Exports Turkey: Malaysia: Qatar: UAE: Diversity in industry is what separates the top dogs from one hit wonders.