Silaanyo on a scapegoat mission Fresh from the Press By Qurbo-Joog Cimi-Dhegood Unplugged Gazzete Silaanyo is in Las Cano! So I heard. Why now? And what is the end game for the visit. I don’t know, however, if I were to take a guess and put my talking head and pundit hat on I would say that Silaanyo’s move is a day late and dollar short. First a lil background to set the stage; there is a debate within SSC that pivots the interest of SSC clans. Some influential folks from that community are in the view that before the proposed transition to post-conflict era commences, they need to claim their seat at the table not as a junior partner with Hargeisa admin or Garowe admin but as a building block and recovery area on their own in par with other clans of their size. Sub clans that are aligned with the two admins in the area argue that the time is short, the gap between SSC politicians are sizable and hence its in the interest of the SSC community to throw their lot to one of the admins (majority as well as the SSC rank and file are leaned toward PL for purely clannish reasons). Secondly, Garowe is ahead of the curve, sort to speak, when it comes to clan machinations and political calculations. Farole admin figured that if transition to post conflict Somalia were to proceed, it must be based on building blocks concept which originally underpinned reconciliation roadmap. With informed PM in place and PL in advantageous position of being called established recovery zone and autonomous region of Somalia, he wields a big stick. Farole task was to make sure the venue of the grand bargain Somalis is expected to have is in his backyard. He gets to play the host with all its perks. With this backdrop, Silaanyo presiding over population with high expectation of getting recognized solely because of the relative calm in their zone and historical anomaly of being colonized by different European power coupled with internal opposition colored by clannish motivation, sees the hurricane cat 5 heading to his way. So he heads to the center of gravity: Las Cano, Sool. The conventional wisdom has it that if he shows he can go there and sip tea with the local folks his presence there has the potential of putting all these rumors of defection and reconsideration of alliance with Hargeisa admin to bed. He’s not coming with empty handed either. It is said that SSC areas that fall in Hargeisa sphere of influence will receive 5% of the SL budget (through clans aligned with Hargeisa). The Hargeisa belligerence has also the potential of provoking sub clans aligned with Garowe admin. In Silaanyo’s calculation a war is not necessarily a bad thing so long Hargeisa admin does not fire the first shot. If war were to break out in the area (very unlikely for Farole admin is too adamant not to engage in Hart-on-Hart blood letting), Garowe will be hard pressed to host a grand bargain dirrin deliberation on Somalia soil with its backyard on fire. So what has Silaanyo achieved? Nothing. For sure Qurbo Joog will wear the bragging bandana on their head for few days. However, the news has no staying power if Silaanyo’s belligerence does not give way to full blown sub clan conflict within SSC. SSC is well advised not to take the bait. Hargeisa admin has no willing partner in Garowe to engage in this sort of unnecessary civil war. All eyes are on Silaanyo. He is expected by vocal minority of his constituents to convince the world why Somalia that once existed should be dismembered into two on the basis of colonial precedent. The opposition will hold his feet to fire on that score. The world preoccupied by far reaching complex problems with monumental impact will keep encouraging this recovery zone to do what’s right for their folks and find ways and means to negotiate their brethren for path forward. And die hard secessionist will keep bragging about how they don’t engage in destructive civil war as the case is in some parts of Somalia. Brought to you by Waxa-La-Yirri in collobaration with Cimi-Dhegood Unplugged Gazzete.

Typical politician! You would think someone with his background would be in a position to understand and sympathize with self-determination struggle Palestinians are fighting for. Again he bought into the distorted world view that says ‘might makes it right’ and apparently he thinks denying Palestinians their right to request a consideration is being pragmatist. Again the choice was simple; do the right thing and let Security Council consider the Palestinian request or face the wrath and furry of the Right and the Jewish lobby and risk his chances of getting reelected. He conveniently chose the later. The fix is in. Scratch my back and I will reciprocate the favor. Obama tenure in the white house is full of fumbles. Awoowe waa duni la kala iibsadoo, nala ogeysiine.

Folks thought I should share this tidbit with you. With Apple TV2 ($99), PLEX software (free) and internet connection (high speed), TV, and HDMI cable -- you don't need cable service. How it workd, you hack Apple TV2, download PLEX program, and nitoTV. Combinations of the two software and plug-ins will be able to get feeds over the internet in real time. It is just awesome and free as well. Advantages -- you save about $70 bucks every months. you can watch programs of off iTunes potcasts (built in) you can watch programs of almost all TV/Cable networks with restrictions in some cases (through plug ins). you will have your movies in external HD nicely mapped on the TV screen with original posters and synopsis. The best kicker is you will be able to watch all football tournaments for free live on the big screens. Even better than that is that all games are archived and you can watch them on your time. Disadvantages -- Some of foreign markets block the plug-ins -- such as BBC. The program is there but I just didn't figure out how to get the hack installed to jailbreak it. Not all TV shows are available. Hulu is there but has some commercials. I don't watch much TC but with this I didn't miss it in 9 months. The one good advantage is that you don't need labtop or desktop computer as this is wireless connect through Apple TV2. Try it if you are interested. If you have OS X I might be of help even though I am not on line most of the time. But I do visit SOL once a week or even every three to four days. Pls share any utility that might be useful.

To understand I shall wait the good folks at PBS to let NOVA take crack at this. Mark my word NOVA or FRONTLINE is on this as I write.

Interesting. There is something lurking under the radar in America nowadays. I can't put my finger on it. But there is something wrong in the air...! I don't know about you Xiin but I kind of noticed an agreement btw opinion makers of the far-right of political spectrum (Pat, etc) and the GOP moderates/Dem progressives. Both sides agree on the fact that country is short of revenue to support spending. Both agree on a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts. Yet folks in Potomac River succumb to interest-groups' demands. The other night I was watching Morning Joe and Jeffrey Sachs was debuting his new book on the set. Strangely enough he had Ross Perot like charts to promote his book The Price of Civilization. The economic data he shared with the set's audiences were a shocker! He pointed out that super wealth's income peaked on 1930s and 2000s. The graph points are perfectly aligned. What do the two deacdes have in common -- depression. He then articulated quite powerfuly how politicians demand of spending cuts over tax hikes benefits the untouchables -- super wealthy. He reminded audiences Obama's schedule and who gets one to one meeting with the president. Pax Americana is not over yet. Ironically what's over is the free reign of big fat cats. Game over boys. Voter ingnorance...not anymore. Pat is for defense cutting is very telling.

Fair enough Jacpher. Understand this though, the man is celebrated not because of his philanthropy but because of his leadership and skills in technology. You don't have to be an apple fanboy to appreciate his contribution to tech gadgets and his revolutionary prowess in product design. Not to mention he singlehandly changed how we communicate. Awoowe taxanaha taariikh baa qori far waaweyn. Wiilakana boqolaal sano waxa looga warrami buugaagta dugsiyada lagu dhigo. Sidaa u garo.

chubacka;750359 wrote: If the company has asked them to clock out while they pray that seems very reasonable. Other nomads made comments similar to yours, chubacka. Here is the catch though. The low wage jobs have 15, 15, 30 minutes breaks slots, on avergare, in a given shift. Friday prayer takes an hour and half minimum excluding commute, parking time. Hertz is in the clear here. The company have every right to demand adherence to work schedule and rules. You see there are two sides to the issue. Now one has to resolve the issue amicably without granstanding. I know nomads who managed to get prayer breaks and make up the time they are out for prayer.

Union will fight for these folks. System works. Hopefully all of them will be back to work soon. Only in America can one argue with employer who is not Muslim over a prayer.

Thirty-four Somali Muslims who drive airport shuttle buses for Hertz were suspended Friday over a dispute over praying on the job. By Lornet Turnbull Seattle Times staff reporter In the three years she's worked as a shuttle driver for Hertz at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Zainab Aweis, had always taken time out of her shift each day to pray. An observant Muslim, she prays five times a day — with one, sometimes two of those prayer times falling during her shift. "That was the one benefit of the job," the 20-year-old said. On Friday, she and 33 other drivers — all of them Somali Muslims — were suspended indefinitely from their jobs after they took religious breaks to pray while at work without first clocking out. A spokesman for Teamsters Local 117, which represents the workers, said it is trying to get the workers back on the job. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016429949_hertz07m.html Both the company and the union late Thursday said they were waiting to hear back from the other. While the drivers were allowed two, 10-minute breaks during their work shifts during which they could pray, Teamsters officials said managers had agreed in negotiations that workers would not have to clock out and in, though the contact itself does not address the matter. And the workers and their union said Hertz had previously not required that workers clock out for prayer. The union said it has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Hertz for failing to notify the union in advance of what it called a policy change. But Hertz said the rules aren't new; that it had been trying for some time to enforce the terms of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settlement it reached with the workers two years ago that required them to clock out. A Hertz spokesman said the workers had been repeatedly told they needed to clock out and that the 34 suspended workers had not complied. "We felt it was reasonable for our Muslim employees who need to pray a couple times during the workday to clock in and clock out," said Rich Broome, spokesman for Hertz. Broome said it's not about pay — break time is paid time — but to ensure that workers were staying within the 10-minute time slots, which has been a problem. He pointed out that Muslim workers who clocked out were not suspended. On Wednesday, a few dozen people from area labor and faith organizations protested on behalf of the workers outside the Hertz counter at the airport, waving signs saying, "Respect me, Respect my religion." The Teamsters represents about 79 drivers at Hertz — about 70 percent of whom are Muslim — earning between $9.15 and $9.95 an hour. They receive no health benefits, vacation or sick leave. Aweis said she was not aware the rules had changed until she arrived at work on Friday and managers told her and six other women who were about to pray that several other workers had been sent home that day for praying. "He said, 'If you guys pray, you go home,' " Aweis recalled. "I said, 'Is that a new rule?' And he said, 'yes.' " They prayed anyway, she said, contending that managers stood over them taunting and disrupting them. "I like the job," Aweis said. "But if I can't pray, I don't see the benefit." Mohamed Hassan, of the Somali Community Services Coalition, said the workers cannot afford to be away from their jobs. "They need to pay rent and buy food for their children." Lornet Turnbull: 206-464-2420 or lturnbull@seattletimes.com

If the news is true, I would be worried of adverse consequences. I wouldn’t associate having mercenaries operate in your backyard with progress. Having mercenaries in your midst is indicative of some sort of deep seated dysfunction. PL being a recovery zone, implies that it’s recovering from all the dysfunctions associated with failed state. Current admin wants to make the case that folks in PL circle of influence are building institutions, establishing government organs, promoting law and order -- and succeeding at doing that. Recovery is slow but progressive. Admin should not cozy up to the idea of hiring mercenaries in order to eradicate local grown piracy. Yes it needs the help and it can certainly use aid in implementing anti-piracy program. The image admin wants to project and the environment mercenaries operate and thrive in contradict each other. Go down that path and the recovery zone image will go out of the window and this place will be synonymous with mafia lala land. Not only that, mercenaries market themselves as long hand -- unrestrained by law and conventions -- that can reach to places that states are either unwilling or unable to reach, but they are also notorious in fomenting trouble by pitting one faction and against another. Invite them in at your peril. With the news that there is secret drone base built in Ethiopia by US and aimed at Somalia, one has to worry and worry deeply. For any leader who do not take the dictates of junior colonel in these bases at service of his country is at risk of elimination. Anyone accused of terrorism is a fair game. Military aid, yes - check. Training security personnel on the use of the donated hardware, yes - check. Employing mercenaries and giving them opportunities to develop networks in your zone, no. Absolute no. Sharing donated money with middle men is not good use of aid package anyway. I certainly understand where gulf countries are coming from and their idea of taking the fight to the pirates home turf. After all piracy threatens the maritime order in their backyard. I acknowledge the fact that they have stake in this. However, Somalis should also take their interest to the heart and deal with these foreigners with open eyes. Someone has to tell Farole to not fall in to the trap in thinking that making contacts and dealing with foreign leaders will somehow elevate his status as Somali leader and give him an advantage over other political competitors. No. In Somalia, everyone is expendable including Farole himself.

Allah yarxama. Sooner or later all of us will drop in the grave.

Oh Steve, iSad. Your passing is loss for tech consumers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and biz leaders everywhere. We associate Steve with the following products: Apple Pixar NeXT (Mathematica platform -- in academia and engineering world -- yes it’s form him too), Mac OS X, iProduct series (iPod, iPhone, iPad) And finally iOS Few man has ever achieved the biz feat of taking their creation to US$354 Billion. Remarkable feat. Gone now fifty-six years young. I'm feeling awe at this guys talent, motivation, confidence and determination. He was oneuffa kind as they say out here. Waari meyside war ha kaa haro -- He did that in this life. The afterlife is another story and that makes me sad that he went to the other side with empty handed. iSad -- wordcloud in twitter shows that iSad is one of the biggest word in the cloud.

Abtigiis is posting this corner of the forum something to wrap our hands around. That does not mean he is always right or wrong or have a sinister motives. The man just put up something on the dirrin for discussion. That’s good. Put your magnifying glasses and rip his write-up apart. Just refrain from accusation of sinister motives on his part solely because he aired his views. Faroole is a fair game folks. Remember the old Somali adage "Nin xil qaaday, eed qaad. Now... He is the head administrator of a clan construct that is Puntland. Puntland is created -- with deliberate speed I may add -- in part because of the collapse of the central state. Puntland supporters are straight on this. It is clan construct and it will remain so until a unitary, central state gets reinstituted. Reasonable folks understand the necessity of putting peaceful and recovering zone in place for clan constituents that share common lineage and inhabit in an area that is geographically contiguous. UN and Foreign states endorsed this arrangement. They called it a building blocks of future Somali state. With a recovery zone with institutional capacity, blocks get tools in which states can channel aid and other assistance. Managing your neck of the wood in the absence of the legit central state is not an issue folks with enough noodles in their cranium took issue with. The admin is a different ball game. It just so happen that during Faroole’s leadership some of the clans who founded the state are opting out. Security is getting out of hand in some areas. In this regard the clan construct has either outlived its era or the leadership has failed to articulate a vision that is acceptable to all stakeholders. In either case, Faroole is at the helm and therefore he is responsible - good or ill - what goes in that recovery zone. I think Abtigiis has a point in critiquing Faroole in those areas I touched upon. Where I disagree Abtigiis is the insinuation that because Faroole is playing clan politics in order to get his constituents their fare share or he is ambitious enough to position himself to lead next phase of the TFG he somehow undermining the state. Granted Somali politics is despicable and dirty and even below decent Allah fearing Somalis. True. But remember whatever emerges out of the ashes of our beloved Somalia that once existed will be achieved through clan machination. Sad but true. In this context Faroole is one of many politicians doing their bid in the name of their clan constituents. I am with Islamists. Not the type that ravaged the country and maimed innocent civilians. Abtigiis awoowe put your magnifying glasses again and put Islamist -- not the usual suspects -- but the ones that operate under the vision that Somalis are loyal to their religion and will accept political Islam if educated and Islamic tenants are implemented gradually and carefully. I think only enlightened Islamists can cure this clan-is everything-mentality Somali society is cursed with. Lately their credibility has been tainted by folks who claim that they abide Islam but what they practice have no resembles with what the true Islam stand for.

Lively discussion. Waan ka raysanay cantarabaqaskii Jacaeylbaro iyo guul wadayaashii kale. Folks should cut secession proponents some slack. Their vision in dismembering Somalia is discredited. Twenty years and on and the golden cup is not in sight. Now with looming Gol Khaatumo grand meeting of the powerful but divided SSC clan confederacy, the secessionists are signing Bee Gees “stay alive”...I’m going nowhere, somebody help me...somebody help me yeah! Great poet Kaariye put this canard to bed in a poem. Enjoy it awoowe. Duxda hadalku meel lehe annoo kaaga daba taagan, Iska daa rag door ahoo dhintiyo dumar la laayee e, Hal waraabe dilay baan ka nixi, oo dalkeena ah e Dubahaa innagu wada dhiciyo duubiyada naaftey, Ooy laba da’oodoo is xiga daabaca is galisay, Dubkeenaa la qalayaa wadnuhu ila dubaaxshaaye, Dadka kama xigtide ula sinow taa ma dayi weydey. Duda kii u oodaa hadana didiyey geeliiye, Dabka waxuu ka qaataa shacbigu dood abwaan yiriye, Carab dalab leh iyo waa gartaan kii dantooda ahe e In la dalaansan karo ha u maleyn daa’in abidkaaye Dadwenihii waxay leeyihiin duun u hadalkooda, Lama arag dameer geeso leh iyo dawlad reer qudha e, Waxay doonayaan wada jirkee taa ma dayi weydey.

I hardly contain myself! Reminds me famous poem: Waa duni laka iibsadoo nala ogeysiine. That being said, war Libaax are you up for risk venture

I'm tied with the current one. No offer yet. But the call was like: would you be interested in this? When can you start? If all go well will call you probably in early January.

Hambalyo

Allow yaa xabashka cudud iyo caqli is weheliya mar u hela. Ciil oo wey

^War-xume tashiil ma waan af-Somaliga lagu barin. Buraanbur ma ahe ee waa dhowr tibaax gogol sokeeye lala beegsaday.

Allow yaa reer oodeed iyo reer nugaaleed inta gogol u dhiga yaa is gacan galiya. Allow yaa Puntland iyo Somaliland reerka shidada ay kula dhex jiraan *********** ka qabta. Allow yaa Shirshooha inta yar ee laba-garaadleyaasha ah ee maalin ba xaafad sanuuda ka soo qaata ka dhex saara. Khayr iyo nabad waarta yaan idin rajeynayaa awoowayaal. Dantu waa seeto ee waligiin danta ka hormariya nin-jecleysiga. Bal warkan iga gudbiya oo waxa tiraahdaan SOL baa laga soo diray.

It is ironic to ask AU -- victims of that era -- to revisit this painful history. Even I of all people know they will be reluctant to open this Pandora box. They would looove to have this issue resolved internally. Awoowe bal nimankeer farabaxsiga aha xasuusi xikmadii Kuluc naftiisa kula dooday Waxaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad jeceheshay lama helo, nafteydaay Hadaad jamato geed adag, Adan heyn wax kuu jaraa, Jebin mayso gacantuye. Ha ku daalin jeedaal, Ha ku daalin jeedaal, Indho sooma jiitaan, Qalbi kaa janjeedha. --oOo-- Waxaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad jeceheshay lama helo, nafteydaay Nebi Khadar (scw) jid kuu maray, Adan jaazo u lahayn, ayaad jiidh is leedahay Ha ku daalin jeedaal, Ha ku daalin jeedaal, Indho sooma jiitaan, Qalbi kaa janjeedha.

Qallanjo Qaali-Luuleey baayo isma kala bixiyo waayadaan. Berrigaan wiilka ahaa waxa weeye last century CH, Not a doctor but your case is more serious than I thought. Sounds depression to me.

d/p

I would prefer to use secessionist proponents instead of "they". It is good to avoid generalizations lest folks with sinister motives latch on it. Awoowe you are adding value to the forum. I am awaiting a serious look at Puntland, TFG, and Islamists. Put them in the melter and rip them apart. We really long serious discussion on matters of large importance.

Shows how resilient Mogadishu is. Amid the violence folks still send their kids to school.