What we are about to witness is how empires end Messenger of Doom that Buchanan is,Why my wasnt he one of those calling for Saddam's head? But,If it collapses,it is all because of Dubya; Personally,for selfish reasons, i really dont want this Great American Empire to collapse.

By Scott Johnson and Abukar Albadri Newsweek Updated: 12:33 p.m. CT July 17, 2007 July 17, 2007 - For a peace conference, it was a particularly inauspicious beginning. Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was mid-speech when the explosions began. Shells blasted around Sunday's congress venue in Mogadishu's Shibis district and in a nearby residential neighborhood, wounding five people. Ahmed tried to tough it out. "I want to tell those sending the mortar shells to fire an atomic bomb at us as well," he intoned ironically to a smaller-than-expected audience of peace conference delegates, many of whom had arrived in Mogadishu that same day. "We are not going to stop the reconciliation congress." But Yusuf didn't get a chance to finish. A conference organizer told delegates they would have to wait until Thursday to resume talks—and then quickly urged Yusuf to exit the stage. Somali clan leaders who braved three security cordons and a raft of death threats to attend the peace congress, were not reassured. Wearing turbans and fanning themselves in the intense heat, some of the delegates milled around inside the security cordon, unsure whether to stay or go. "We are shocked," Ugas Abdi Idis, a tribal clan elder from ********* district told NEWSWEEK. "It is not safe here, the bad guys have threatened to kill us and they have found ways to bomb [us]. The government must make it safe, otherwise we'll go back [home]." Making anything safe in Somalia these days is a tall order. Indeed, for nearly 17 years now one government after another has succeeded only in worsening an already bad situation. The last bloody upsurge came in December, when Ethiopian forces, covertly supported and financed largely by the United States, invaded Somalia and routed the fundamentalist Islamic Courts Union from the capital. Since then, fighting between radical Islamists and the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has killed several thousand Somali civilians and forced hundreds of thousands more to flee the capital in search of safety. In the last month, some 120,000 Somalis have returned from squalid refugee camps and cold floodplains, where some were desperate enough to rent space under trees. But the situation remains tenuous this week as the transitional government struggles to put together the first-ever peace conference designed to bring all the fighting factions to the same table. The conference is a last-ditch effort to jumpstart the political process. With less than two years to go before the transitional government mandate runs out in January 2009, the stakes are high. "This is the only game in town at this point," says Mario Raffaele, the Italian Special Envoy to Somalia, who returned to Kenya from a fact-finding mission to Mogadishu over the weekend. "If this conference doesn't produce anything, if it collapses, then I don't know what happens." The Islamists seem to be doing everything they can to make sure the conference fails. For weeks they have been warning Somalis to stay away from the meeting, which they have derided as an effort by the TFG to "rubberstamp" the American-backed Ethiopian occupation of Somalia. The government has tried to bill it as an inclusive gathering of tribal elders, sheiks and opposition figures, and has left registration open to latecomers and skeptics who may decide they want to join at a later date. The conference is scheduled to last between 30 and 45 days, and one reason for the Sunday postponement was the non-appearance of top opposition leaders. A hardline youth group called the Shebab, responsible for much of the targeted violence against the government and peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu since January, wants to make sure it stays that away. Last week, members began distributing fliers warning residents not to go to the conference. "Anyone who attends the conspiracy meeting is sentenced to death," the fliers stated. "We will shoot him or her in the head." One of the Shebab insurgents involved in the fighting, speaking to a NEWSWEEK reporter shortly after the mortar attack over the weekend, said, "We didn't intend to kill the delegates, it was just a warning." Later on, however, the fighter warned that anyone who chose to "disobey" the warning volleys would face a more serious confrontation if they continued to participate in the days to come. "You are selling your religion for a pittance," the fliers warned. "We will kill you before you get to benefit from it." Outside the conference, a crippled man named Omar Salad lamented the bloodshed that has tainted his country. Salad, a grizzled elder himself, lost two legs during 16 years of civil war that turned Somalia into one of Africa's most anarchic corners. Now he wants the elders to force a change. "I know the pain of war—what I want is to see the test of peace," he said. "I don't want to lose another part of my body." The violence, however, continued unabated. Last week a mortar round killed a deputy commissioner of a district neighboring Mogadishu; insurgents killed two government soldiers by tossing a hand grenade at them, and an Ethiopian soldier was killed in Suqa Holaha, north of the capital. Lately, the government has been hitting back hard, executing two men accused of killing two TFG intelligence agents and arresting scores more in massive sweeps across the capital. Government agents blindfolded the men and shot them in front of a crowd of at least 30 people. Much is riding on the success of the conference. Under U.N. guidelines, Somalia must establish some sort of power-sharing government before the TFG mandate expires. That leaves less than 18 months to draft a new constitution and a central system of government—a first for Somalia, which is comprised of numerous warring ethnic and tribal constituencies. In addition, the warring factions need to agree on a power-sharing arrangement that includes all the major clans and subclans, including the powerful Hawiya group, whose members are scattered throughout the government as well as the opposition. And then there's the question of what role Islam can and should play in a new federal Somalia. In the best of all worlds, those questions would be resolved before January 2009, when the U.N. guidelines decree that a free and fair election should take place. "If it works, great," says Tariq Chaudry, a U.N. political officer involved in the talks. "If it doesn't work, you have to find other ways of doing it. We are putting a lot at stake in this." The conference also comes just as the 1,500 Ugandan peacekeepers who have been in Mogadishu since March are set to return home. The African Union peacekeeping mandate runs out on July 19, but so far none of the other African nations who were expected to send some 8,000 troops have done so, nor has the Ugandan mandate been extended. To make matters worse, the Ugandan troops in Mogadishu haven't been paid their May or June salaries. The Ugandan contingent lost four soldiers in May when a roadside bomb struck one of their patrols. Since then, the troops have scaled back their operations. "Mogadishu is a burning place," Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for the AU troops said last week. "If other peacekeepers come, Ethiopia can pull back to its borders, but right now we can't dominate the security situation." Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to plague Mogadishu. Just as conference delegates were recovering from the shock of the mortar attack, Shebab insurgents declared that they would be targeting the vehicles and hotels the delegates were using as well. As the news spread, six more people were killed in violence across the capital. Not surprisingly, ordinary citizens have little hope that the conference will bring significant change. "These talks just mean a new era of civil war," Abdi Mohammed, 40, said wryly as he watched from outside the conference venue. "These clans have their grudges and they will bring up old resentments instead of going forward." Mohammed believed it would take "a miracle" for the government to get them to put aside their differences. After the latest stalled reconciliation effort, most Somalis would probably agree. Source: © 2007 Newsweek, Inc

Originally posted by Omer: where's my bone then i find my way home If you tell me Who let the dogs out(woof? Woof?) LOL,Then i will Throw You a Bone! LOL....

Who just Dropped the Bomb!! OK,First of all is this a question or a Loud statement? Secondly,What Bomb? If its about Bombs over Baqdad,Then it is definetly Outkast

Originally posted by Omer: the dog is back woof woof What r u talking about man or woman Oh Crap,Who let the DOG out? Woof woof?

Originally posted by -Lily-: He didn't specifiy? :confused: Exactly,So why did you assume? Who cares anyway what DD Hates or Loves? ,Not me koley

Can you hear me now?....Gooood!!

Originally posted by N/AA: Money, money, and more money. Do these imbeciles not know the world is not half as gullible as they like to think so? You would think so,but somehow they expect the powers that be to somehow agree to these outragious monies they are asking for. Bad salesman indeed & they fired the only eloquent brilliant salesman in their midst,Buuba. Oh well...

Originally posted by The Duke: quote: The same article in Asharq Alawsat claims that the TFG have given the green light to the European envoy to talk to the Islamic Courts and try to bring them to the conference! According to the article, this envoy also claims that Somaliland is sending representatives to this conference! Wonder if any of this is true! Here Shabble news has taken the words out of context I wonder why? SO,which is the better news for your TFG yaa Duke? The fact that shabelle took the text out of context or the fact that Gedi was asked to bring in the courts & JSL for the conference to take off? If it were upto you,you will probably deny the whole thing's existence.

Originally posted by -Lily-: quote: i hate the fact that when you both come back at six from work and she goes straight to kitchen to cook (cock lol). Allahu Akbar! There's no pleasing these Faraxs, and you do what? Watch TV while she 'cocks'? The man would prefer a ready made meal, hear hear. I suggest you ring up her manager and have a word with him, demand he sends her home an extra hour earlier so food is ready by the time you stump through your front door Correct me if am wrong,But didnt DD say he HATES that his wife has to go to the kitchen after a long day at work? Of all the problems in marriages & relationships,i always wonder with the people who squable about who cooks. Personally,I dont feel anyone else cooking my food anyway.not even her. Perhaps,i could teach her my style of cooking otherwise,lets worry about that hedge fund shall we?

Now, back to Mr. Ali Ghedi's trasparent attempt to shift the blame in here; and therefore, one can say, that he is essentially saying, we and the rest of TFG's Stooges have done our bit for the reconciliation thingy; but unfortunately, the international community, have never saw a reason to support our handiwork in here; and hence, if there is going to be political failure in here; it surely isn't one that we - i.e., the TFG's Stooges - are responsible for. For those who are lazy,this above quote is the conclusion & the sum up of this particular lengthy(yet true)analysis of this failure. Kudos,Mr Oodweyne Gheedi is not the sharpest knife in the Kitchen

Whether thats true or not I am sure Gedi knows damn too well that without the Courts,money & Somaliland this whole process is a waste of time. I am sure the Donors are not dumb to just hand out $$ like that.

The Prime Stooge has spoken,The Sham NRC conference will,as predicted will fail. Somalia Pm : EU and U.S. seem to fail the country's reconciliation conference Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 18, July.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- Somalia's premier, Ali Mohammed Gedi, warned Wednesday that his country's national reconciliation conference could fail because of lack financial support from donor countries like the United States and the European Union. The Arabic Asharqalawsat online newspaper reported Wednesday that Mr. Gedi indicated that the United States and the European Union were ignoring the reality of lack of funding, Somalia's reconciliation conference might fail. He said the donor countries that pledged funding the congress fell short to fulfill their promises, specifying that many of the clan elders who were supposed to travel from the country's provinces could not reach the venue of the congress because they had no money to travel by, Asharqalawsat reported. He said only 900 clan representatives have made their trips to Mogadishu and attended the first day of the conference while 1, 300 were supposed to be present at Somalia's N.R.C. Gedi finally stressed that the EU and U.S. seem to fail the country's reconciliation conference after more than 16 years of lawlessness and anarchy, the online paper reported Shabelle Media Network Somalia E-mail us: info@shabelle.net

Originally posted by -Lily-: I think what Aaliya is trying to say is that the term 'housewife' has been given negative connotations to the extend that it’s almost a swear word or it denotes a sense of laziness, lack of ambition or failure. As we all know, it's a difficult job and these connotations are false. Being a (Weired)Guy,I have a completely different(weired) picture on the term housewife. Eva Longoria,anyone? :confused:

Originally posted by -Nomadique-: ^ Demise? The woman is stronger than you think Faarax. She is enjoying the extra free time that comes with staying away from this place. Until she reappears & matches Jbs 100 posts a day,I will feel bad Xanthus, I dare you!!

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: where is Xanthus ?? I still feel guilty about Xanthus's demise.

Originally posted by Dhubad: ^loooooool@Faarax, adi wax saxoow aa maanta kaa soo haray. Waa runtaa sxb, wuu dhunjiyaa, wuxuuna leeyahay aashito oo shiidayso. Waan dabi jiranay intaa laf aan silig dheer ku xirno kadibna murkuu liqo ayaan ku soo jiidi jirany(I know its cruel act but we were young) Faarax, where you from horta? I am from a remote village between Burhajey & Faxfaxdhuun,not far away from the border Seriously, Anu reer NFD baan ahay,but one side of my family has a foot in around Waamo & the other side all the way up in Southern Etobia,bordering Balad Xaawo & Doolow. My Knowledge of Trees,Animals & terminologies is all from my father who was a vetenerian by proffession. I travelled with him as a child all around NFD & the bordertowns of Somalia many many years ago,Very helpful life changing experience that i probably will never ever forget.

^Geeljire,Qabri Cebeed weligaa ma aragtay? Ceeb looma dhinto aan maqli jiray alaylee

Adeer you amde your feelings clear next time dont let us read your mind. Be careful. Ala yaa cizak, Waa Duke oo kululaaday,Adeer,I know things are going elephant for the president but anu haa igu sambiriin yaah. As for Geedi, who cares? Bal eega ninkani,Loool. Geedi maxaa iga galay kulaha,isnt he the Prime Minister? LOL

^No adeer,Am flabbergasted by the sheer stupid1ty & unstatemanship behaviour displayed by the Unhonourable PM. What kind of a govt leader is unaware of such a megadeal?,surely only a Puppet head of state will, in my opinion Why are you against any progress, talks, business deals. All you seem to root for is war, bombings and so on Well if i supported what you are saying,that would make a TFG supporter,DUH!! Anyway,adeer stop being difficult yaa,you I am only against Shady illegal deals that seem to benefit one person. I have never been against talks,I am just against talks by one group of people aimed at legitimizing an occupation & i am for war & bombings against Tigre invadors,quite clear of a deal yaa Duke Now,stop diverting the topic about the stooge PM

^Loooooool Adeer,Baambow or Xantalay wax maruugo,Wuu dhuunjiya lee. Ar unukaa wax aragne,war where are the Kawanleeys?

Originally posted by The Duke: ^^^looool. Geedi was against the Range deal and we know how that played out. Now he is against this, lets suppose he is which we do not know since we have not heard from him. What will be the outcome? Ohhh the same as before. The Chinese are hungry for oil and this is a great step forward. They have proven their abilities in the Sudan. If North Mudug[which will not be explored by Range] has oil, LNG or other minerals, it will be great for the locals in Puntland as well as Somali's every where, Geeljire,Ditto!,if Duke endorses this,Then Scenario 1 it is. This is a Yey & his Puntland cronies deal,looks like Geedi & his clan are clueless then.

Juuje, Three scenarios possible out of this weird development. The first scenario is that it could be true that Gedi has really no idea about this Chinese deal. I am inclined to think that way as well. He is not the sharpest knife in the Kitchen, I mean he & his President had no say in the invasion & they heard about air bombardments in their country through the media. So, it is possible that he really has no knowledge about this. Secondly, I think Geedi is playing dumb and acting Coy with the Americans here, but that’s a far fetched since he is not a man known to be independent Third scenario ,which I believe is what really happened, is that the TFG(Or Ethiopia or America, who ever calls the shots in Somalia) realized that granting an oil contract to China was not a smart idea. Geedi was ordered to deny the existence of such a contract in order to question the legality of the contract and thereby cancel the whole thing. America is not dumb to let China have the exploration rights while they did the dirty work, no they are not dumb sir.

The NYT is being misled by jihadist & qarandiids into believing this reconciliation will not take place. The NYT is agaisnt the govt!

To broaden & to "Somalicize" this obvious 2 clan reconciliation process miyaa sheekadu? All political pundits know that this shir is only attended by the President's clan, Geedi's clan & other powerless little clans. Even the little boy from Burco knows that these men are not legitimate representatives of the somaliland people. I am curious tho',is mr Jirde an elected member of the JSL paliament? Is any member of this congregation a reprensative of the people of JSL? Thursday malaq unbaa naga xigo,ee lets see what the president's new strategy is,Obviously,this is not working!