You know, i'm sure i know this girl

Kouchner must have been there in his capacity as Health minister in those days. He's also a doctor and co-founded Medecins sans frontieres.

^^You need to ask a question now

yes What is your opinion on first cousin marriages?

My, you are a bit wordy aren't you? STOIC does seem to be enjoying denouncing these kids a bit too much, but nevertheless these kids should have been taught better than to engage in the mindless hounding of anybody.

Eggs are actually only viable for up to 36 hours, sperm can survive for several days, she ovulated at a time when there were two different populations of sperm present...and voila!

The point is Sheikh Shariif is doing NOTHING. By not taking the initiative he is on the defensive and people will prod and poke for weaknesses, errors will be made like the sea boundary fiasco. -Set up a milita -Begin building a judiciary -actively seek meetings with the opposition with promises of powersharing in a shariica based government -Consult with local as well as national clan leaders -Announce plans for UNISOM departure upon peace agreements All easier said than done, but these are the some of the steps Sheikh Shariif should be taking, he needs to gain control of the capital within months, for any hope of success.

What is clear is that Shariif's inaction is costing lives. The worst thing he could possibly do is do nothing, what is he doing Xiin? He hasn't tackled the problem of these misguided fanatics, he hasn't tried to bolster his local support, he hasn't made any steps towards producing this joint security force he proposed. Sheikh shariif is fast losing his credibility. And Me, the shabaab and their umbrella group are unworthy of governing even a square inch of Somalia, they have killed, maimed and destroyed more lives than any other group since the civil war, they are led by myopic savages who's taste for blood belies anything Islam stands for.

The Alshabaab and co have been using the presence of AMISOM and fear of a secular TFG to bolster support, since the TFG declared it would be Shariica based- the only pretext left for the shabaab is the foreign fighters in the capital. The TFG could ask them to leave ASAP to appease Aweys and Alshabaab, but have no doubt they would turn on the TFG for being a puppet of the US and the west, ultimately they want to rule Somalia on their own. The TFG and sheikh Shariif should go as far as to offer to declare a timetable of exit for the AU troops upon the shabaab accepting to come to the table for genuine talks. If the Alshabaab don't accept this, the TFG needs to root them out. Because if the leaders of the alshabaab have any sense they will realise that if they come to the table NOW they can have a lasting impact on future Somali governments by creating a firm Islamic foundation and constitution. This is the best moment to cash in, as it were. If they stick to their myopic view of the situation and continue to be uncompromising it is very likely that they will take this TFG down with them, and they will be responsible for the years of anarchy to come. The latter scenario is more likely i'm afraid , we Somalis are cursed with calooshooda u shaqestayaal and religious fanatics who can only thrive in a disunited and chaotic land.

Anyone know whether there is any footage of this conference on the net? The world is ready to throw money at the problem that is our country, laakin there needs to be peace in the capital and a final reckoning with the alshabaab - this the international community cannot help the TFG with. What sheikh Shariif needs now is a political coup of some sort, something to kick start the pacification of the country.

First things first, the US government needs to prop up this latest TFG before it falls to the zealots, anarchists, foreign profiteers and qabiliists. It needs to persuade Sheikh Shariif that his priority is hammering out a peace deal with the main players on the other side as soon as possible. Sheikh Shariif should be making multiple moves right now, he should realise he doesnt have much time before things get stagnant and his popularity with the people plummets. At the moment, although he does reiterate his government is willing to talk to all parties, he needs to take the initiative and focus on internal reconciliation rather than courting International support. Because real support from the UN,EU and US will only be based on political progress, and even then their support/funds will only ever reinforce peace. Sheikh Shariif first needs to 'build' a makeshift peace.

Shiikha ma duceysanaayey?

Earlier today a colleague of mine who apparently has Synesthesia said my personality came across as moss green. And now this test tells me green is my colour. Strange.

2 days ago: This handout picture released by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) and taken by an AFM Air Wing helicopter on February 5, 2009 shows a group of 115 Somali would-be immigrants allegedly adrift at sea for a couple of days onboard of their wooden fishing boat, before they were rescued by an AFM patrol boat. The ship had been located about 40 miles (70 kilometres) off the coast and the passengers included 30 women and 15 children. 2 days ago: Somalian would-be immigrants © talk with police officers and Navy soldiers before leaving a Maltese Navy patrol boat upon their arrival at Valetta port on February 5, 2009. The115 Somali would-be immigrants, including 30 women and 15 children, allegedly adrift at sea for a couple of days onboard of their wooden fishing boat, before they were rescued at about 40 miles (70 kilometres) off the coast earlier in the day by the patrol boat. 2 days ago: Somalian would-be immigrants © disembark from a Maltese Navy patrol boat upon their arrival at Valetta port on February 5, 2009. The115 Somali would-be immigrants, including 30 women and 15 children, allegedly adrift at sea for a couple of days onboard of their wooden fishing boat, before they were rescued at about 40 miles (70 kilometres) off the coast earlier in the day by the patrol boat.

The next Prime Minister should be Professor Samatar of Rutgers University. A clean man. fat chance of that. In any case, even though Sh Shareef is not C/Yusuf, the prime minister will need to be someone who wont be at loggerheads with the President. Sh Shareef will have a short tenure indeed, if he is made to look like his predecessors who were only interested in consolidating their 'power' in political infighting.

Insecurity all round

Here's a list of Primary Schools in Muqdisho. The information was gathered by UNDOS (United Nations Development Office for Somalia) in 1995. SCHOOL NAMES STUDENTS NO. CLASS WORKERS LOCATION Hamar J/Jab 520 17 42 X.J.Jab 20 Dcember 460 15 31 Waberi 21 October 360 12 29 " Raage Ugaas 365 12 30 " Dr. Ismail 550 18 44 Madina 1 May 455 15 35 Hodan Taleex 334 11 29 Hodan Dayniile 382 13 34 Hodan Xasan Qaridi 389 13 34 H/Wadaag Sh. Sufi 539 18 45 " Hamar Weyne 245 8 24 H/Weyne 12 October 740 18 40 B/Dheere G/X. Diiriye 722 18 45 Shibis Kamaal 390 13 36 " 8 Maajo 595 18 40 Yaaqshid Mohd A/Ali 419 14 37 Kaaraan Saqaawo Diin 380 13 35 Shibis Janaral Daud 525 15 38 Yaqshid Ceel Cirfid 445 15 40 Xoriyo Cabdulcasis 350 12 29 C/Casis Sh/ Kowsar 530 18 44 Shibis Sh.X/Barsame 338 11 30 B/Dheere Muuse Galaal 532 18 44 H/Wadaag Jabuuti 296 9 24 Madina Ban Africa 250 8 22 Hodan Cali Hussein 278 9 24 Madina SCHOOL NAMES STUDENT NO. CLASS WORKERS LOCATION Amiir Nur 233 8 22 W/Dhigle Waxar Cade 232 8 22 Xuriyo Dhagax Tur 298 9 24 Hodan Maxamud Mire 256 8 22 Waberi Wiil Waal 516 15 38 B/Dheere Shekh Muxdin 560 16 40 Kaaraan Warsame 548 18 40 Kaaraan GSWQ/.Xadid 448 15 37 " Imaan Cumar 312 10 26 Gubadley X.W.Naasir 485 16 38 Kaaraan Aw Honest KF 399 13 34 Shibis Honest RB Is 479 16 40 B/Dheere Barakow F.F. 451 15 38 " Yagore J.Ban 540 18 44 " B.Fatax Doon 440 15 38 Shangani C.Africa TRO 570 19 46 " Hogal Doont 542 18 44 Dh/kenle S.Bilaal M.F 539 18 43 B/Dheere C.B.Dalib RE 482 16 38 Yaaqshid Khalid Abt 380 13 33 C/Casiis Alamagan Anc 565 19 46 Kaaraan Alla Mag.Nur 854 25 59 Shibis AL Anda Nahd 510 17 42 H/Wadaag I.M. Al Huda 420 14 34 Dh/kenle Towfiq 1 & 2 467 16 39 Yaqshid Waberi 303 10 34 Waberi

What is the .. protocol when you come upon a new thread? I suggest you make it (reading the first post that is, in case you haven't pieced it together yet) a habit, barging into a thread is immensely rude.

My turn, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens" remember Somalis, Google is Forbidden! E: Hints you will get along the way

Nevertheless the victories were sweet while they lasted. But thePoint has it right, it was primarily to distract people from the economic and political stagnation at home, and of course boost his popularity.

War xiniinyo waaweynaa! Pirates have seized a giant Saudi-owned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean off the Kenyan coast and are steering it towards Somalia, the US Navy reports. BBCnews Some facts on their latest 'catch' -Nearly the length of a US aircraft carrier -Weighs more than three times as much as a carrier when loaded -Can carry 2 million barrels of oil - more than 25% of Saudi Arabia's daily output -Is third tanker, and biggest vessel, to be hijacked in the region -------- Pirates have seized a giant Saudi-owned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean off the Kenyan coast and are steering it towards Somalia, the US Navy reports. The US-bound tanker was captured on Saturday some 450 nautical miles (830km) south-east of Mombasa, and is now approaching the Somali port of Eyl. The Sirius Star is carrying its full load of 2m barrels - more than one-quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output. Its international crew of 25, including two Britons, is said to be safe. Lt Nathan Christensen, a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet, said the attack was "unprecedented". According to the Navy, the ship is "nearing an anchorage point" at Eyl, a port often used by pirates based in Somalia's Puntland region. War-torn Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. A BBC correspondent in Mombasa reports that this is the third tanker to have been hijacked in the region. News of the attack raised crude oil prices on global markets following an earlier slump, Reuters news agency reported. The capture of the tanker appears to mark a worrying new development, both in terms of the size of the ship and the fact it was attacked so far from the African coast. Attacks on shipping off the Horn of Africa and Kenya by mainly Somali pirates seeking ransoms prompted foreign navies to send warships to the area this year. A number of vessels and their crews have been held captive for months, including the Ukrainian freighter MV Faina, seized in September. 'Crew safe' The supertanker was heading for the US via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, Reuters reports. The route around the Cape of Good Hope is a main thoroughfare for fully-laden supertankers from the Gulf, the world's biggest oil-exporting region. With a capacity of 318,000 dead weight tonnes, the ship is 330m (1,080ft) long and is classed as a Very Large Crude Carrier. It is about as long as a US aircraft carrier and, when loaded, weighs more than three times as much. "It's the largest ship that we've seen pirated," said Lt Christensen. The South Korean-built Sirius Star, owned by the Saudi company Aramco, made its maiden voyage in March 2008. The ship's operator, Vela International, said that all of the crew were reported to be safe. "Vela response teams have been mobilised and are working to ensure the safe release of crew members and the vessel," it added. Confirming that two Britons were aboard the tanker, the UK Foreign Office said it could not give any details of their role on the ship. "We are seeking more information on the incident," a spokesman said. The other crew are said to be from Croatia, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia. Captive vessels Figures from the International Maritime Bureau show that attacks in the area - the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast - have made up one-third of all piracy incidents worldwide in 2008. In the first nine months of the year 63 incidents were reported. As of 30 September, 12 vessels remained captive and under negotiation with more than 250 crew being held hostage. Pirates remain active and regularly strike in the region. In the past week alone: • A Russian warship in the Gulf of Aden drove off pirates who tried to capture the Saudi Arabian merchant ship Rabih • Pirates hijacked a Japanese cargo ship off Somalia • A Chinese fishing boat was seized off the Kenyan coast • A Turkish ship transporting chemicals to India was hijacked off Yemen • The UK's Royal Navy shot dead two suspected pirates attacking a Danish cargo-ship off the coast of Yemen

Considering how rogue and not so rogue ships have been taking advantage of our territorial waters, it's a welcome change. And they are effective; hundreds of foreign fishing boats are stranded in Mauritius, and they're doing wonders for the local economy Only problem is, sooner rather than later they will bite off more than they can chew (in fact the 30 tanks they've helped themselves to might already be the last straw), and then the West's reluctance to commit troops into the Horn will cease. Not bad eh?

Ever the optimist ya Xiin! The ICU has split into different factions, the incumbent Prime minister is either incompetent or powerless, most likely both. And Ethiopia still controls the capital. The 'elections' are up in a couple of months, and you think something will come out of these pointless talks in Jabuuti? It is a stalemate sxb, and only something out of the ordinary will take them out of this political rut. All i see is business as usual, merely a continuation of the contemptible state of affairs we have been in since the first attempts to form a transitional government.

This was almost unbearable to watch. The sad reality is that we are far, far removed from the suffering of the Somalis in ******ia. So far, that we have become numb to it, it is easy to ignore the human rights abuses inflicted everyday on Somalis when we are busy with more mundane things in our western lives.

Told you so!