^^^ So you're telling me that you wish to prove a negative by stating a non-fact positive??? Hmmm....infinately fascinating, I must say. :confused:

Originally posted by General Duke: lool. Its all talk adeer. Yusuf is in Puntland and has the support of the people. Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o: But he cannot go to Lasanod where you say he has the support of the people ,,,,, ] Waryaa jacaylbaro...how dare you imply that Las Anod is part of Puntland...muxuu ka soo doonayaa?

by Abdullahi Dool, hornheritage@aol.com [2:269] He [Allah] grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted indeed receives a benefit overflowing. But none will grasp the Message except men of understanding. “…Say: ‘Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition.’” Qur’an 39:9 I am grateful to Idris Ahmed Osman. His article (Religion and Rule) has given me the opportunity to examine in depth some of the issues lingering from my last article (Separation of Religion and State). What we are engaged in is a national debate and the aim should always be to educate and help build awareness so that our nation may move forward. Seldom is there the need to explain the obvious. Those who lead a Muslim society will naturally base their decisions on their religious beliefs and values. Those values are based on righteousness, compassion and peaceful coexistence with all mankind and with peoples of other faiths. There is no need to point out that religion is one of our Qiyam (values). When we write we should not lose sight that the reader is knowledgeable. It is true Islam guides us (Muslims) on all aspects of life such as legal, social, political, financial (banking) etc. However, separation of religion from modern politics is not distancing from the path of Allah. It is to safeguard the position of religion as the moral guardian of society. It is also to spare both religion and politics from damaging one another. Modern politics attracts evils such as greed, envy, corruption, selfishness and many mor e. Mixing religion and politics will benefit neither religion nor politics. Let us not bring Umar Ibn Al-Khattab into this. The reverence of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab did not come by accident. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was not egoistic, tribalist, money-minded and a lover of the limelight. He was not after power per se. He was an exemplary man: a Khadim: servant of the people — as every politician should be. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was a righteous man and an able leader. He was never after worldly possessions. He was anointed by the Prophet to carry forward his legacy. The world today is a different place from the days of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. In those days the people were pure hearted. The followers in those days were receptive to their leaders. It is true, even then there were mischief-makers such as the Khawarij who went against Ali Ibn Abi Talib (the Caliph and inheritor of the Prophet’s legacy) and called him an apostate (Mushrik). [1] There were also the mischief-makers who murdered the Prophet’s grandsons Hassan and Hussain. Didn’t they also murder Othman Ibn Afan, the Caliph? The world today is even more awash with troublemakers. Worse mischief-makers are today on the march in multitudes with no Caliph to stop them. They are everywhere packaging themselves as true Muslims. What are they? They are conniving murderers who lust after power and affluence. The Prophet himself foresaw the tribulations and trials of this modern era. He warned Muslims that charlatans will emerge from within. The examples are all around us. Today, the biggest challenge in the Muslim World is the threat coming from the enemy within. These individuals are driven by conflict. Their agenda is to dominate and oppress. It is the nature of extremists to disrespect civil liberties and deprive others of their freedom. In pursuit of power at any cost, the extremists have forgotten the one cardinal message of the Qur’an that Islam requires a Muslim to be a good person! They take things out of context and misuse the message of Allah to indulge in crimes against humanity. We have seen how back home hundreds have been murdered in cold-blood in the name of religion. Ironically, many were gunned down as they exited from mosques. What type of Muslims are those who murder when the faithful finish their prayers. Where does the Qur’an permit the killing of the innocent? One of the latest examples of such senseless and incomprehensible crime is the brutal murder of Osman Ali Ahmed, the head of the UNDP on 6 July 2008 in Mogadishu. Osman Ali Ahmed has remained in the capital amid the 18 years of violence and destruction to distribute relief and aid to the needy.His life was snuffed out as he emerged out of a mosque. It is a fact of life that humans interpret or misinterpret things to their liking, dislike or understanding. People can distort or take things out of context. The Prophet was aware of this human deficiency. Didn’t he say:"What I fear most for my nation is a man who mis-explains the Qur'an and takes it out of context."[2] It is true that people have different capacities of understanding for similar things. The more knowledgeable an individual, the better one’s understanding. Many things require intellectual understanding. This enables the person to see things from different perspectives. Judgment is for judgment day. Let Allah judge the deeds of His creation. In reaction to my last article, I received many correspondence covering myriad issues. There were many wise and positive suggestions. One person has suggested stoning those who commit adultery. First and foremost, the Qur’an says no one should be convicted without a complete proof. No less than four persons are required to have witnessed the act of adultery. Otherwise, one will be guilty of slander. How is one going to prove this? Who can place cameras in every building? Another person has suggested anyone who did not fast during Ramadan should be severely punished. I pointed out: “What if the fast was broken because of illness?” So what are the obligations of a Muslim state in a modern world? A balance should be struck between the wellbeing of society and civil liberties. During Ramadan no one should be allowed to eat in public. Those caught once should be cautioned. Those caught again should be re-educated. It is possible that such individuals did not have a family life or good upbringing. The state should rely more on educating than using the stick. It should never resort to draconian ways. What about the needy masses who have little to go by? The state has moral duty to provide for the needy. There is a difference between what we see and what the extremists see in the Qur’an. What we see is beauty, His Grace and Infinite Wisdom, Guidance, Compassion and Mercy. Another important aspect is repentance. It is repeated in the Qur’an that those who repent after wrongdoing are forgiven: “Do they not know that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and takes the alms and that Allah is the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful?” Sura 9. [3] The state has the obligation to look after its citizens. It has no time chasing after petty matters. The state is required to guide, regulate, facilitate and care for its society. The sick need caring. The homeless and the displaced need looking after. The hungry need feeding. It is immoral to allow people to go hungry under their flag. The state has also the duty to fight public immorality. Public immorality is obscenities committed in the open. For that matter no government should tolerate kerb-crawling or the practice of selling one’s dignity or body. When it comes to human correction, I am from a household where my late father has never flogged anyone — but taught and guided by example. Abuse can harm children and turn them into damaged adults. A government should never flog its citizens as though they were cattle. It should never depend on punishment alone to keep its citizens in line. In this modern age, flogging is not acceptable. Those who have committed crimes should be sent to correctional facilities for re-education. Let us not forget that people do not grow on trees. Let us also keep in mind that humans are the most precious assets on this Kingdom of His Majesty. Running a nation in a modern and complex world will require special qualities, knowledge and talent. Everything depends on knowledge. Even simple horse-riding requires training. That is why there are trainers who make a living out of their professions. It is a dangerous belief if our people think that it takes nothing to run a nation. While we should uphold our Islamic religion, values and heritage, separation of religion and politics will make the state function effectively and accountably. Somali politics is unclean and tainted. Let us not bring opprobrium to our religion by throwing it together with politics. If we put religion and politics together — religion will be used as a loophole to remain in public office and escape from public eviction. In all functioning democracies public confidence is withdrawn without delay from those who abuse power. One of the reasons why the system of democracy has become the success it is, is because of its checks and balances. This would not have been possible without separation of religion and politics. In the UK, the Westminster Parliament (the oldest functioning institution) is 700 years old. It has never been stronger. Mechanisms are in place to reform and correct the system. The independent media is at the forefront of accountability in public life. When you mix religion and politics, how can anyone go after those who breach trust? Politics is my field but I know my religion from my good upbringing. Our dedication is to our nation. What we have learned, we have learned to contribute to the wellbeing of our nation. One of the crimes committed against the Somali nation by individuals, is the wasting away of our human resources. In our prime, when we should have been looking after the nation and its interests, half of the nation has been exiled. We know politics has not delivered yet for the Somali nation. This does not mean politics is the wrong application. The main reason why politics has failed to deliver for the nation is because Somali politics has not been about honesty and integrity as it should be. Power has become a much sought after commodity. It is seen as the quickest route to wealth and privilege. The solution is to establish accountability and the mechanism to safeguard the practice of clean government. We are not examining issues from a shallow point. Without politics there can be no functioning society. Unfortunately, the profession of politics has Achilles heels.It attracts crooks, the same way a drop of honey attracts insects. We are also aware that anyone can hide behind the cloak of respectability of religion. We have seen how anyone can abuse the honourable position of Imams. It is only the Almighty who has the power to know the inner being and feelings of His creations. In progressive politics accountability is a must. What we need is to hold those who go into our political system (public domain) — accountable. Leaders are the product of their time. We cannot compare past leaders with today’s leaders. While technology has enhanced the quality of life, the fast pace of life is fuelling greed, selfishness and decadence. That is why Somali politics is tainted and unclean. It is only separation which can make it possible for religion to retain its position as the moral guardian of society. It is imperative that the judiciary of the nation is independent and free from state manipulation. That way it will ensure our society to be governed by laws and not by men. In this age, Fatwa is one of the most abused words in the Muslim world. Our purpose in life is not to instigate conflict, disharmony and division. These are the work of Shaydan (the devil). Somalia may be in a terrible state, but at least what has been damaged is not our religion. For the past 18 years what we have been robbed of is not our religion but our homeland, nationhood, security etc. Fanaticism has no place in Islam. Islam is the religion of moderation. Islam commands us to desist from transgression. This is not a monolithic world. This is a diverse and interdependent world where there are multi-nations and faiths with which we share common humanity. A common religion on its own does not guarantee peace and harmony either. The best example is Somalia where Muslim Somalis fight one another on the lines of clan and sub-clan. Let us not delude ourselves. Your true brother is anyone who wants your wellbeing and progress. Our politics has become like a muddied pond in which anyone can have a go. Stateless Somalia has become like the Somali proverb: Nin jirran boqol u talisay. (A sick man gets advice from a hundred). No-one in their right mind is suggesting the formation of a government which denies Muslim Somalis to live in accordance with our religion. What we want is a forward-moving nation which upholds our religion. A nation that is at peace with itself and with the rest of mankind: a government that will meet the needs of its people. We know what works! In a modern world Somalia shall require modern governance. We have the knowledge of our divine obligations. Islam has laws which regulate followers — individually as well as collectively. What we also know is that power can corrupt the individual. Humans have also the capacity to abuse. Without mechanisms to ensure sound governing, the trust of public office will be abused. Mixing religion and politics will bring neither sound politics nor spare religion from the stain of modern politics. Somali politics is a mess. It has been so for a long time. What we are endeavouring for is to find a way, to one day establish the mechanisms to clean our politics. If we throw religion together with politics the outcome will make both religion and politics worse of. These are the realities of modern statecraft! Notes: 1. Ali Ibn Talib was the son-in-law of the Prophet .He was the first intellectual Muslim thinker. 2. Bukhari narrated by the route of Ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described the Khawarij as those who took the verses revealed about the blasphemers and attributed them to the believers! 3. Sura 9, verses 102-106 more on repentance.

^^^ Saaxiib, it must be, garka cusub aan labaxay. Oh yeah, I also got a brand new Yasser Arafat head rag for my birth day.

^^^that depends on how many innocent lives he took! As you know Allah(s.w.t) has a strict DONT ASK, GO TO HELL policy for murderers.

Originally posted by unknown1: abu quteyba hasn't the same clan as hassan dahir. and why don't you mention abu mansur, abu zubeyr and turki? it's because you want to confuse others with one sub clan. Damn right! dhulQarnayn too "hasn't the same clan as hassan dahir"- so we aint having your hogwash mayn! dhulQarnayn, Republic Of California.

Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o: 1- Somaliland to Fall Apart 2- Civil war in the country 3- Hargeisa to be demolished again 4- Somaliland to join Somalia again 5- Borama people to come against Somaliland 6- Somalia warlords to enjoy living in Somaliland just like the old days. 7- Siilaanyo to announce unity with Somalia to be continued ...... Personally I only like to eat Hargeisa babies, the Boorama ones are too zesty for my taste and cause me to have agita. You see fellow Somalis, the "wannabe" secessionist entity amongst us can't even project it's own argument perforce, but rather retreats into a parrot, or is that parroquet, manner and mimics anything it's despised enemy(Somalia) is employing, and then rather pathetically, it's use of irony, sarcasm, and so forth, borders on compunction and stilted employment. It's very dilation would most probably fail a mediocre turing test, but I'll let the forum of TFG/ARS supporters who all happen to be secessionist aficionados, address the nation of qhaat addicts appropriately. Three hoorays for our somali disaffiliates, and their delusional dreams!! hiphip hooray! hiphip hooray! hiphip hooray! With future 'enemies' like this, I just wanna kick back and watch their farce comedy show with great ebullience. dhulQarnayn :cool: The tide is high,I’ll be Kayaking!

"Abstain not! Life and Love like night and day Offer themselves to us on their own terms, Not ours. Accept their bounty while ye may, Before we be accepted by the worms," WE MUST HAVE PEACE!

Originally posted by Ibtisam: I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn’t looking good either. But I can pay top dollar for your services. INTERESTED?

Love Poem with Toast by miller Williams Some of what we do, we do to make things happen, the alarm to wake us up, the coffee to perc, the car to start. The rest of what we do, we do trying to keep something from doing something the skin from aging, the *** from rusting, the truth from getting out. With yes and no like the poles of a battery powering our passage through the days, we move, as we call it, forward, wanting to be wanted, wanting not to lose the rain forest, wanting the water to boil, wanting not to have cancer, wanting to be home by dark, wanting not to run out of gas, as each of us wants the other watching at the end, as both want not to leave the other alone, as wanting to love beyond this meat and bone, we gaze across breakfast and pretend.

Originally posted by General Duke: Adeer dont flatter yourself. I have more clan members from the said clan than you, was raised by them, lived with them and still do. thus my understanding does not from your clans point of view but from theirs. Saaxiib Duke, reer abtigaa maad ka xishootid?

The Layers by Stanley Kunitz I have walked through many lives, some of them my own, and I am not who I was, though some principle of being abides, from which I struggle not to stray. When I look behind, as I am compelled to look before I can gather strength to proceed on my journey, I see the milestones dwindling toward the horizon and the slow fires trailing from the abandoned camp-sites, over which scavenger angels wheel on heavy wings. Oh, I have made myself a tribe out of my true affections, and my tribe is scattered! How shall the heart be reconciled to its feast of losses? In a rising wind the manic dust of my friends, those who fell along the way, bitterly stings my face. Yet I turn, I turn, exulting somewhat, with my will intact to go wherever I need to go, and every stone on the road precious to me. In my darkest night, when the moon was covered and I roamed through wreckage, a nimbus-clouded voice directed me: "Live in the layers, not on the litter." Though I lack the art to decipher it, no doubt the next chapter in my book of transformations is already written. I am not done with my changes.

by Dr. Mohamed Abdi "Gabose" Chairman of QARAN (Opposition Party unrecognized by Somaliland administration) We can all appreciate that our previous elections may not having been perfect but it is worth noting that there was a large reservoir of good will among the electorate and the competing parties that facilitate glossing over the difference of opinion and the inevitable resentment generated by the close margin of victory for the current party. I submit to you that this time the landscape is quite different, after five years of economic stagnation and display of abusive power reminiscent of the old Somali regime, this president and his administration managed to extinguish any hopeful sign for a better life and liberty for the individual to flourish. People are poorer and with very few prospects to improve their lot, and in this kind of environment when the only source of income is attached to who one knows in government as opposed to what one knows about running a government, there are going to be very few gracious losers in the coming elections. An election that has been postponed three times so far and still likely to be postponed yet again because of the caveats and conditions attached. The electoral process of Somaliland is terribly broken and has been hijacked by a government intent on remaining in power by any means possible, and opposition parties who are more interested in maintaining their stranglehold on the political process than respecting the laws of the land. It is distressing to watch the ongoing process and see the manner in which the president extended his term in office by utilizing the Guurti, a very much discredited body whose term was illegally extended by this president. This action was a blatant quid-pro-quo to say the least, not mention outside of the conditions set by the constitution which will allow an extension in office for the president. It is equally distressing to observe the reached compromise which allowed new election dates to be set with the condition of having the registration completed before said elections are to take place. In other words, elections may or may not take place, and in the event that this new date is reached and the voter registration is not in place, then it is "dayjavou" all over again and the elections will be postpone once again. But the most odious agreement they reached (the three parties) is to hold the presidential election before the local election thereby removing any chance of new entities with fresh and different approaches to emerge and infuse the stale politics of this nation with new energy and vitality. This too is another affront to the law and a recurring habit of constantly changing the rules to suit those in power to remain in power. Fundamental freedoms endowed in our constitution are being trampled when anyone can get illegally detained for simply forming a political Association like the leadership of Qaran did, and to add insult to injury, we have been also stripped of our right to participate in the political process as ordinary citizens of this country. A country in which we all fought for, sacrificed for its creation, and work diligently in its continued stability and success. When treating a patient and the available regiment to address the condition is in doubt, and may actually worsen the condition, doctors throughout the world adhere to the true and tried creed of first do no harm. It would be wise for the donor nations to adopt that stance and question the impact of their actions before they enable the cancer of totalitarian rule to mastesize and take root in Somaliland. In an effort to find a quick and relatively painless solution for the political impasse in Somaliland the International community seems to be willing to accept all the above mentioned insults of disregarding the laws of the nation and abuse of power perpetrated by this administration. Funding a flawed election where all the levers of power are under one entity (the administration) is sure to produce the devil you know, because as it is demonstrated by Mugabe and countless other strong men, dictators do not loose elections. The question is what happens the morning after? It is this question and its possible ramifications which is compelling me to write this letter to you so that you give this matter its due consideration, nuance and weight, after all advancing democracy and the rule of law is the object of your contribution in this very volatile corner of the world, and simple solutions and good intentions won't do, because as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It is my fervent hope that you appreciate the incompatibility of your mission and the inevitable result which you are helping bringing about.

Ouch!!! or like Homer Simpson said, "D'oh!"

Money , These 6 congressmen have names right? May I please know who they are. I will be much obliged to you for your gracious answer. dhulQarnayn, Republic Of California

Masha-Allah, ilaahay ha daayo Sheikh Shariif. He is working tirelessly to fix the flaws of the opposition. I hope we can get someone like him from the TFG to fix the faults of the government. Only contructive dialogue and negotition is required to achieve a win-win situation for all of us.

This was sent to me by a friend who lives in Durban- ------------------------------------------------- You wouldn't think there were so many ways to misstate a health problem.The following are comments from doctors as recorded on patient charts in a Mpumalanga Hospital... 1. The patient refused autopsy. 2. The patient has no previous history of suicides. 3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital. 4. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with B only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days. 5. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night. 6. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year. 7. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared. 8. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed. 9.The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993. 10. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission. 11. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but forgetful. 12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch. 13. She is numb from her toes down. 14. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home. 15. The skin was moist and dry. 16. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches. 17. Patient was alert and unresponsive. 18. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid. what?????? 19. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce. 20. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy. 21. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation. 22. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized. 23. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function. 24. Skin: somewhat pale but present. 25. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor. 26. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall. 27. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her. Sacha Guitry After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other but still they stay together. Hemant Joshi By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. Socrates Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them. Dumas The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want? " Sigmund Freud I had some words with my wife; and she had some paragraphs with me. Anonymous "Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays." Henny Youngman "I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years." Sam Kinison "There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage." James Holt McGavran "I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn't." Patrick Murray Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it, 2. Whenever you're right, shut up. Nash The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once... Anonymous You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to. Henny Youngman My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. Rodney Dangerfield A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong. Milton Berle Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy. Anonymous A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine." Anonymous First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!" Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

A famous reporter was astonished to hear about a couple’s successful marriage that lasted over 60 years. Wanting to know more, she interviewed their neighbors and all had one and the same response,i.e, that these two have never shown signs of a troubling relationship and had a blissful marriage. She then decided to interview the couple individually and began with the husband. Reporter: Sir, I understand you have had successful and trouble free marriage that has lasted for over 60 years!!! Husband: Yes Reporter: And to what is this owed to? Husband: Well it all happened when my wife and I went to spend our honey moon in a country known for its great and beautiful mountains. We rented two horses to ride since cars were unable to go up that road. After riding for a while the horse on which my wife was riding suddenly stopped and would not continue. Angry, my wife said “this is your first (warning)”! she was able to convince the horse and we continued our trip. Then again the horse came to a halt and angry,my wife said “this is your second". The horse continued on but shortly after stopped and wouldn’t continue. My wife got off the horse calmly and said “and this was your third and last" She reached into her purse, pulled out a gun and shot the horse in the head! I got angry and started yelling at her Why did you do that for? What will we say to the owner of the horse? How will we pay for it? She waited till I was through and calmly said "This is your first "

Insha-Allah, VIVA the liberation of all Somali territories and lands. I enjoyed this Song...

Maya. the XAAR continues.....

The United States has contributed to the mess in Somalia by failing to grasp the nuances of the Muslim world. By Frankie Martin While the world looks elsewhere, Somalia is in flames. The nation just topped a list of the world’s most unstable countries by Foreign Policy magazine, and the United Nations has declared the humanitarian situation there “worse than Darfur.” In the next three months the number of people requiring immediate food aid will reach 3.5 million. Over one million refugees have fled their homes. Due to a raging insurgency against the current transitional government – which has support from both the West and Ethiopia – Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has earned the nickname, “Baghdad on the sea.” In Somalia, there are no diplomatic superstars like Condoleezza Rice or Kofi Annan, who rushed to Kenya to settle its election crisis; there are no celebrities like Mia Farrow or Jim Carrey to urge international action and awareness as they did in Sudan and Burma. Instead, Somalia’s crisis has elicited a collective yawn of indifference. Just mentioning the country’s name is enough to cause even the most dedicated diplomat or aid worker to throw up their hands in desperation. Ironically, unlike the above conflicts, the current crisis in Somalia has developed in part due to America’s "war on terror" and failure to grasp some of the nuances of Islam. The Muslim world is not a monolith; there is an ongoing struggle among Muslims with differing interpretations of the religion. Somalia is a traditionally Sufi country – the mystic, open form of Islam distinct from more conservative interpretations as those seen in places like Saudi Arabia. But in Somalia, a more conservative movement developed under the secular dictatorship of President Siad Barre and during the anarchy that followed his ouster in 1991. The resulting Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) implemented Shari’a law, and although its stricter tenants were opposed by many Somalis, the grassroots movement gained strength because people sought order and justice in a country marred by starvation, warlord violence, and tribal conflict. Despite internal differences in the interpretation of Islam, the UIC created a state of relative stability that led to the return of Somali businesses, united conflicting tribes and ended piracy off Somalia’s perilous shores. But the ascension of the UIC worried the United States, which believed the group was sheltering Al-Qaeda members seeking a safe haven in Somalia. The United States intervened by backing secular warlords – reportedly some of the same individuals it had fought during 1993’s “Black Hawk Down” incident – against the UIC, strengthening, rather than isolating, extremism in Somalia. Despite their ample firepower, the warlords were defeated by the UIC in mid-2006. In December 2006, UIC extremists threatened Somalia’s traditional archrival Ethiopia, which they accused of intervening in Somali affairs. Already concerned the UIC would support a domestic ethnic Somali insurgency, Ethiopia invaded. The United States backed Ethiopia’s invasion and its ensuing occupation with intelligence, air strikes, Special Forces, and rendition of terror suspects to Guantanamo Bay. An Iraq-style insurgency soon began inside Somalia, mainly drawn from UIC elements but also members of the ****** clan, the tribal base of the UIC. These tribesmen believe the United States and Ethiopians are attacking them by supporting the Somali transitional government, run largely by tribal rivals the *******. Because they are Muslim, they believe Islam is under attack and seek to defend it. Somalia faces many profound challenges, but a recent ceasefire – which calls for an end to the insurgency ahead of an eventual Ethiopian troop withdrawal in favor of U.N. troops – has brought some hope. The recent momentum in Somalia for a shift to religious conservatism – and sometimes militant extremism – mirrors similar shifts around the Muslim world. However, with quick and responsible action, the United States can still help shift it back. The United States should first pressure Ethiopia to withdraw and bring all Somali factions to the negotiating table. It can also work within traditional tribal structures to reach out to Somalia’s people, effect political change and distribute aid. By reaching out to Somali moderates who would be happy to challenge the extremists themselves, and funding development programs that show a renewed respect for local customs and religion, the United States can help swing the pendulum away from extremists who preach that Islam is under attack from the West. To do this, the United States must immediately change a failed policy. Instead of effectively fighting those individuals who wish America harm, it has taken on the Somali people. The United States should learn from its disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan that using force to myopically crush “terrorists” at the expense of entire populations only strengthens extremists. These days any attention given to Somalia is encouraging. But to create a stable society that would alleviate the suffering of Somalis and address Western security concerns, something more is required: a true understanding of what has gone wrong and the will to effect positive change. Frankie Martin is Ibn Khaldun Chair Research Fellow at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC. He did field work among Somalis in Kenya for the book Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization by Akbar Ahmed (Brookings, 2007). This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews). -------------------------------------------------

Saaxiib Duke---> Hot off the presses:: "Shiekh" Yusuf Indacade has just agreed to replace Nur Cade and take the post of Prime Minister. This happened after President Yey(triple OG) wined and dined the good shiekh at some undisclosed location in baidoa yesterday. Finally,the TFG and AL SHABAB can now direct their war machine at the GREAT SOVEREIGN REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND. Big Freakin mistake, Duke!

Thistles by Ted Hughes Against the rubber tongues of cows and the hoeing hands of men Thistles spike the summer air And crackle open under a blue-black pressure. Every one a revengeful burst Of resurrection, a grasped fistful Of splintered weapons and Icelandic frost thrust up From the underground stain of a decayed Viking. They are like pale hair and the gutterals of dialects. Every one manages a plume of blood. Then they grow grey like men. Mown down, it is a feud. Their sons appear Stiff with weapons, fighting back over the same ground.

This forum is rife with posters who, for myopic reasons, have to collapse discussions which, if allowed to go their own way, sometimes actually lead to the synthesis of new ideas and solutions, into debates, which are by nature bipolar and produce only winners and losers. I guess, this is simply a microcosm of our factional nature as Somalis which has been hijacked by some cocksure individuals who have lost the ability to think creatively, who live in a fearful world dominated by thoughts not of living, but of mere survival. This forum should be re-designated a debate forum, although there are no agreed-upon premises, rules, or judges. You may occasionally stumble across a thread which develops into something more than a pissing contest, but they are few and far between. :confused: dhulQarnayn, Republic Of California.