^^^(above redsea) proves my earlier remarks i.e intellectual bankrupcy

Nephythys (magaca adkaa!) Africa is home to many dictators of all kinds. Western media is suffering from a Zimbabwe disease (read mad cow diseas). Ask yourself the question of why Zimbabwe is in the news? Mugabe came to power in the 70s and has since pursued a policy of dictatorship; ´Western media/intellecia loved him as long as he was killing africans. When he discovered that his hold on to power was coming to an end , he orders the beating of white farmers- and hell broke out on the massmedia front. Where was the media when he was butchering africans (blacks).? Additionally, why are they obsessed with Zimbabwe when Somalia is under occupation from Ethiopia from a dictator (who has incidently imprisoned killed the oppisition). Meles is murdering people in Somalia galbeed. No one talks about this. I am not condoning what Mugabe is doing but the writing is on the wall. As long as africans are killing each other- hakuna mtata. But when there is race/religion involved the dogs of war (massmedia) is there. Double standards

Kashafa is killing TFG-dabadhilifs, amxaaro la-ckeys on SOL bidix iyo midig, galab iyo habeen with well chosen words. Sometimes, when I read his reponses to poorly expressed, intellectually empty rants, that have become the trademark of the da-dhilif supporters, I can't help but feel sorry for the dab-odhlif bunch who portray the behaviour of a mentally retarded baboon. Kashafa, bro, your likes (Isseh, Xiin, Xoogsade et al) would do somalia/somalis good if you contributed to the article sections of wardheere, Hiiran and Awdalnews network. Don't waste your time on arguing with tribal bigots who support the murders of children and women.

reminds me of an old song;I always feel like somebody is watching me.

Why is the canadian government not pressuring Meles the dictator, the butcherer of kids/women in Muqdisho, the supporter of the Da-bo-dhilif government in somalia? Canada could use her economic (aid) might.

Waryaahe Ina-dheeg (this name reminds of an old pal) I don't know whether what you wrote is true but I have experienced at first hand the story you wrote above. I understand why that kind of circus takes place; the little village is so proud that their son has accomplished something (education, money etc). But don't forget to bring some books, pens for the school and a few shillings for the chief! The last time, I was back home to my little village, I held a presentation about my journey: devise incentives for the young kids(very little symbolic amount)to be given to the best student. Promise to pay the school fees of the best student (it is not that much) Be diplomatic when abti, adeer, eedo, habaryar etc propose you to marry their daughters. Thank them and tell them politely that you are already married to four women (don't forget to give a few shillings to show that you are flattered).

Baashi, true , greed and crime are human traits. But this crime was committed by a "somali" woman; the xawaalah guys were in the news as aiding terrorits. The somali name is at stake. From my context, it hurts me as a somali to read about this kind of stories. I wouldn't mind if these people were called criminals (in sweden, the identity of criminals is not usually exposed).

There are numerous studies that show people who move once tend to do so again and again. Gypsies are a good example. Somalis would keep on moving until somalia is hospitable (in terms of dhaqaale, nabad and what have you). I once met a somalia woman who has lived in the USA/Canada for 32 years (she was 43) but moved to Manchester (of all places!). I Met another guy in Fiji and this dude has lived in japan, Indonesia, Australia and NZ. His name was Dalmar! Aduunyada intaan dabadeeda ka soo taabeeyno waan soconaynaa.

Somalis in Sweden are going through a tough time. Magaceeni ba! We have been shamed by greedy people who don't care about what they are doing to our name which has already hit a new low. It is like kicking a dead person! A few months ago several somalis were arrested for "terrorism". A few others were arrested in Gothenburg on charges of tax fraud. Reading the papers, I have concluded that these people are guilty of book-keeping crimes. Many of them operate Xawaalah businesses (with transactions in excess of millions of dollars). They don't pay taxes; they live on the dole and in many cases these xawaalahas are officially NGO presumely catering to the needs of needy somalis and/or integrating somalis. The somalis in big swedish cities live in areas where they have created their own norms- tribalism, fadhi-ku-dirir culture. Fraud/deciet are institutionalised. The icing on the cake for magaceena dhintay came yesterday when a somali woman was found guilty of stealing 18 million SEK: this is the story I read; She ran a private kindergarten that is financed by public money (In Sweden, you are allowed to operate a private school- and offered public finance!). This private kindergarten, BISMILLAHI was attended by somali kids. Through false invoices, false number of kids etc she managed to direct 10 million to Dubai, and Muqdisho. She was given 5 years and her accomplices 3-1 year jail term. Dozens of somali kids without a kindergarten; the papers/bloggs having a field day invoking the "S" word... what a shame!!!!!!!!!

Ducaysane, Are you sure? Maybe you are right- but he was definately a top figure (he was a student of Marx/Lenin- and was very good at his job. I have never met him, but I certainly admired the guy because it takes stamina, wits to be something when you are blind. Abtigiisa iyo tolkiisa, Those are big words for me too even though I consider myself luqad kaste waan daadshe guy. That song was probably written by Sahal Macallin Ciise. This particular song refers to the environment, millet farming, the semi-arid (adabla), proud people and contains some rap!

Whenever I feel despair about the situation of somalia and read the tribally laden comments of TFG supporters on the political section, a thread authored by SOPHIST and entitled "NOT IN MY NAME" comes to my mind. And I say to myself; there are still a few good men who proudly display "Puntland" on their screen names but who did not abandon, humanity, somalinimo and every positive attribute a good somali might have. Where art thee , Sophist akhi? Kashafa's butchering of TFG related SOL warlords is worth mentioning. This character is my favourite contributer. Unfortunately, SOPHIST appears to have left the forum when Las Anod "fell" into the hands of "people" he hates- even our humanist is a human being! Kashafa comes and comments one in a blue moon.

This is probably happening in somalia too; Ethiopian occupaton forces, Ugandan peace keepers and the thugs called "TFG" are committing the worst crimes in humanity. There is an amnesty report out today which details abuses against civilians. On another note even the so called parliament in Baydhabo consists of drug addicts. Did you see "dispatches"? Tesco workers as CID chief (aka human trafiking).

Ani libe la foofe! I like the grand old lady of "Jazz" and Blues- somali style I met her a few years back and she is still rocking and rolling tills the break of dawn. "sidan kuu sheegay soomaliddu ismataqaano" Classic somali expression. The doktoreesa is better than many "real doctors". She can at least cure some people through her foox ( there was this vintage clip where she was a witchdoctor). Is her brother, warsame indhool still alive? You know that blind minister in Afweyne's government. I recall that when he was a minister of agriculture (the guy was very competent, educated in Russia (with a russian wife), he toured the fanoole schemes; and the reporter who was covering his trip was afraid of the repurcassions and reported; Mudane Warsame wuxuu soo indhidheeyey- aan iraahdo soo dhegedhegeeyo masruuca faanole: Classic

I read this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021724/Feared-Somali-police-chief-packed-peas-Tesco.html?IT O=1490

The evil that men do, do live after them (Shakespeare). Dear Juwairiah The so called dead person I am talking about is the murderer who has butchered innocent women and children. He has orphaned kids. He died not as a consequence of a judgement made a judge for his crimes but because he couldn't defy death! Let us see your rationale; I kill, maim, rape etc of a whole civilisation; and once I kick the basket you keep your mouth shut because I am dead?????????

Assalamu calaykum, Nuurow, I hate to say but you have forgotten the "intellectual assets" that somalis have been bestowed with; 1) Af minshaarism 2) Ma shaqeeystesm 3) Jaahilnimo pride 4) and my favourite; Qabqablesm Auction also the venues of the above; Bunge; the fadhi-ku-dirir, the barlamaanka xuroyadda! If we could auction these attributes to say the Germans, the scandnavians etc then we may stand a chance of minding the camels, the cattle, the goats and sheep- and who knows one or two people could turn the iron into steel to make knives. Regarding the media check this out: http://www.hiiraan.com/op2/2008/may/oh_my_gosh_pirates.aspx

Assalamu akhriste, Ummadeena soomaaliyeed waxaay soo martay marxalad adag; Dagaal, dil, dhac, boob, kufsi iwm. Dadka ka masuulka ah arrimahaasi kor ku xusan markay ti rabi u timaado ma saxbaa in la yiraahdo ilaahey ha u naxriisto? Sideen u oran karnaa ilaahey ha u naxriiso? Anigu uma haayi aayad ama xadiith laakin afkeeyga soo mari meeyso "allaha ha u naxriisto"!!!!! Waxaa caado noqotay markuu dhinto dilaa in lala soo boodo allah ha u naxriisto!!!! Anigu waxaan badanaaba dhahaa "Ilaahey uma naxriisto; naarta ku waar"! Ruuxi qof dilo ama amarkiisa lagu dilo ilaahey u naxriisan maayo mise?????

^^^^ brother don't blv statistics about somalia. It is a difficult task to estimate economic indicators in Somalia- and the figures that are circulating around cannot stand a sound scientific scrutiny. Havin said that there are three observable facts about somalia; 1) The diaspora somalis are sending home money and this is crucial for a poor nation such as somalia. 2) There is an entrepreneurship based economy (conflict entrepreneurship, neccessity entrepreneurship and raw capitalism). 3) Aid , NGO involvment etc is also a source of economic activity.

Ciisow, mahadsanid. This is the kind of article that I have been looking for. Nomads at heart! Even within a country we tend to relocate. We are a people on the move (maybe because of our nomad genes- but most probably because we are still searching for our identity). The question of why somalis from mainland Europe and North America/Australia ( I have seen quite a few that have resettled) migrate to the UK is actually one that is odd. We have small dutch/swedish/danish somali colonies in London, and the midlands. Many of these families live in destitute conditions- far from the kind of housing, outdoor environments etc that they were used to when they lived in Holland, Sweden and Denmark. The main reason (this is my own judgement) is that we somalis love to give a destorted picture of our domiciles; As the somali saying goes nimaan kuu furi doonin yuusan kuu rarin, and once when we move to the UK, we engage in the same kind of discourse. The UK offers a receptive environment of integration (we see people who dress, walk and talk like us) but what many of us forget is that living in the UK has its hazards (how many somalis have been killed last year alone?); Qaat chewing- a maligma only second to tribalism- is killing our people!.

Yaabka yaabkiisa (you really are one!). How do economists argue? where did I say ICT is not "a value added2? Eebowgeey, Economics (at least at the higher level) is a hetrogenous academic field. I have several schools of thoughts that have provided intellectual inspirations when it comes to the concept of entrepreneurship; The Austrian market failure school (e.g. Kirzner, Hayek) and Schumpeter's incremental/radical innovations and the entrepreneurship that might arise. But I am not blinded by this conceptual approach; I see even the restaurant owner, the car repairman, the warato, the waranles as entrepreneurs (at least from a modern perspective). That is why I tell ppl that I am a social scientist. My inquiry into what kind of entrepreneurship you excute was merely retorical. I have been to Malaysia (the southern tip the singapore border- something like Johar!) and I am intenting to visit again- so I was thinking of establishing some contacts( nice meeting somalis around the globe-don't you think). About revealed comparative advantages this is what my current research is about. By using a balassa index, it is easy identify the segments of trade that a country is good at. It relates to natural resources (and since this is a thread on economic development, I thought it had relevancy). I read in you reply some kind of straw man phenomenon. ICT is a generic technology (may add some confusion) which is a value added to many industries. If you have read economic history you may note that ICT has been extensively used in natural resource based industries. An economy solely based on the exploitation of one industry (the Indian economy- software) which is the thrust of our argument is bound to encounter severe repurcassions. Furthermore, ICT is a boom and bust indystry. Anyway, I enjoy reading your replies- and stop doubting. Let us turn our attention to somalia and economic development; do you foresee any viable development in somalia? what do you think are the major problems; institutional? P.s have you read the piece on the economist on why India is not china in terms of economic growth?

Yaabka, what kind of inventions do your bring to the market place bro? Are you involved in any business activity in somalia? Or is it Malaysia that you flourish? I am just curious!

Yaabka, LOL@economist by academy! Well, I consider myself an evolutionary economist. And you? Actually, it is usually the case that small business owners are those who bring innovations to the market. Hence, conceptually, entrepreneuralism could involve them. Imitation is not neccessarily a bad thing- Innovations are not always incremental. In regards to comparative advantage is not neccessarily a nexus of development. Some talk about competitive advantage (cf, Porter). I am currently using a term called revealed competititiveness (balassa index).

Isseh, Mahadsanid bro! Waxaad i soo xasuusisay waagi soomaaliya aay fiicneyd!

Adam Z, Well done! I was once told a story about the Gobroon and geladi kingdom that stretched from south of Muqdisho to Baydhabo. Wax ma ka haaysaa arrintaasi? How about the gasaargude kingdom in Luuq?

LOL! Yaa soo faagay? Af qalaad aqoonta miyaa? Ma ahe af qalaad aqoon miyaa? Magool and Hassan diiriye!