Where has this girl gone? I want to know if I have maintained the good name of SOLers.

Er...Northerner..please take note of the population clue she gave us. I doubt the one child policy has been that effective.

New Zealander?

Perfect portrayl of Geedi.

Brilliant article.

Fred Ortega, Staff Writer San Bernardino County Sun Article Launched:01/10/2007 12:00:00 AM PST Hussein Mohamed Aidid's path from ordinary Covina High School student to a ministerial position in Somalia's fragile transitional government was an odd and tortuous one. Aidid has been in and out of the international spotlight since 1996, when he took over his infamous warlord father's forces in the long-embattled Somali capital, Mogadishu. In recent days, he has resurfaced in news reports as internal affairs minister for the Transitional Somali Government (TSG), which was installed to head the war-ravaged country after a New Year's offensive led by Ethiopian troops. His current job of trying to disarm the gun-infested capital after months of rule by the fundamentalist Islamic Courts Union is a far cry from his days plotting roads and updating water records at West Covina City Hall for $9 per hour. Aidid's position was the "lowest level" in the engineering department, former City Engineer Pat Glover has said. "He did various and sundry assistant-type duties, running blueprints, making maps," Glover said. A naturalized U.S. citizen who graduated from Covina High in 1980 and later joined the U.S. Marines as a reservist, Aidid later followed in the footsteps of his father, Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The elder Aidid, killed as a result of a gunbattle in Mogadishu in 1996, was responsible for the infamous "Black Hawk Down" attack on U.S. forces in Somalia in 1993. Despite his checkered background, which included praising an attack against American troops during a rally in Mogadishu in 1996, Aidid's inclusion in the transitional government should not affect U.S. support for the country, said Somalia expert Andre Le Sage. "`Black Hawk Down' does not carry any substantial negative stigma for the son in terms of U.S. policy," said Le Sage, assistant professor for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. "I don't think it influences U.S. policy (toward the transitional government) in a positive or negative way." And that policy has been generally positive. The U.S. government has sided with the fledgling government in its struggle against the Islamic Courts, elements of which have been accused by State Department officials of harboring al-Qaida fugitives. "The U.S. position has been officially to support the TSG, which is recognized by the U.N.," said Princeton Lyman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and adjunct senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ethiopian Governments have been notorious in their diversion of humanitarian aid/assistance. How can they expect a criminal government to live up to its duties? I can't believe they churn this stuff out with a straight face. It defies comprehension.

"We will withdraw as soon as possible, in the coming weeks. But we will do it responsibly, in a way that does not leave a security vacuum." What a joke! "I don't think the risk exists because we do not have any project to remodel the country according to our own views. Our program consists of supporting Somali solutions aimed at resolving Somali problems," Zenawi said LIE!

For those who might be interested: Rally in Washington DC, January 22, 2007 For Immediate Release Jan 8, 2007 (Washington DC) —The Ethiopia-Somalia Friendship Committee (ESFC) announces a rally in Washington D.C. in front of the White House and State Department on January 22, and calls on all Ethiopians and Somalis to a Special Day of Friendship as we come together in protest of the War in Somalia. The ESFC is calling on other groups to organize similar rallies in the cities and capitals of countries throughout the world. The ESFC that was formed on December 28, 2006, is moving ahead to organize this rally as a show of solidarity between peoples of both countries. The committee is comprised of a group of Ethiopians, Somalis and Ethiopian-Somalis dedicated to promoting human rights for all and contend that peace, justice, equality, and the rule of law will only succeed under governments where the people have a say. The Committee wants to send a strong message that the people of Ethiopia and Somalia are ready to stand together against dictators, puppet leaders, warlords, radicals and extremists wanting to oppress them. The illegitimate government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has invaded Somalia. Somalis should know that this is a war of Meles, not of the Ethiopian people, as the invasion was not supported by the Ethiopian public. The Ethiopians on the committee contend, “Meles is already at war with the people of Ethiopia and now he’s waging a war against the people of Somalia.” Somalis on the committee declare that it is time to bring to a halt the kind of killing done in the peoples’ name by the elites while the rest of us pay the price. The Committee emphasizes that this rally is not only for Ethiopians and Somalis, but also for all peace- loving people who wish to stand up for justice, freedom and peace for all human beings. We call on all Somalis and Ethiopians in the Diaspora to communicate to your families, friends, neighbors, churches, mosques, local radio and TV stations, your newspapers and websites about this rally and the call for a different kind of Africa that can start right now! Join us in Washington DC in front of the White House (Lafayette Park) on January 22, 2007, or organize a rally in your own locale. Detailed information about the rally is to be announced later. The Ethiopian and Somali communities should start by calling each other to start organizing a similar rally on the same date. It can be done in your town hall, at your state capital or in the capital city of your country. Let us show the world we are ready for real change! ==================================== For more information, please contact us by E-mail: ethiopia.somalia.friendship@gmail.com

Originally posted by Cambarro: May Allah forgive the sins of the dead somalis. Ameen. I can't watch the news any more. There is too much unsubstantiated bull passed of as statements of fact. How can things become any more unjust?

Originally posted by Northerner Al Burcaawi: ^^where have you been? Was that question for Seylaci?

There are some here that I advice have a read of my signature. Blind clan loyalists helped tear apart Somalia and they will play no part in reconciling it.

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar: Afxabash barta. Soomaali ma jireyso by then... That's the spirit!

I am no hater. The first post was just a tad ambiguous. In any case we need more authors out there to wipe away the stain caused by books like "Aman". Pity the trees that were destroyed for that shocking book and even more so pity the precious time lost by unsuspecting readers.

Perhaps he is in the book binding business?

This has to be a joke. These politicians have already shot themselves in the foot by introducing Ethiopian troops in the first place. Any mention of Ethiopia as some trustworthy friend is an insult to the intelligence of every Somali. I cannot believe there are Somalis out there who are turning the Ethiopian Imperialist dream into a reality.

Indeed. Think also of the never ending roll call of "Abdi"-"Present Miss", "Abdi"-"Present Miss", "Abdi"-"Present Miss","Abdi"-"Present Miss","Abdi"-"Present Miss","Abdi"-"Present Miss","Ayan"-"Present Miss",","Ayan"-"Present"...in schools. My non Somali friends have already pointed out the lack of creativity we have when it comes to names.

You must admit this is also a slightly frightening prospect.

Originally posted by ibtisam: You made a book. Erm Okay

Some cheerful news. For a second I thought the title to the thread was a joke. I was nicely proved wrong.

I found these wonderful and intense portraits and I thought I'd share them with you all. Here are a few of my favourites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Boy attending Camels Boy attending Camels Sheikh Mohamed Idris-Muslim Sage Camel Trader of Barca Region Bogos Clan Chief Woman of serae' Muslim Priest ...Im sure he meant sheikh. Mind you all the photos are great. Check out the full collection here- Black and White People- By Mariotto52 P.S The titles given to some of the photos are a little confusing. If you know whom or what they are referring to it would be much appreciated. Eid Wanagsan all.

*Sigh*...somebody invent a Time Machine so I can visit this dreamland.

Good news amongst all this chaos and uncertainty. Makes me wonder what the fate of Somaliland will be now?

wow, sad indeed.

Dead Ringers!!!! I don't care what anyone says this show is pure genius! * They happen to be reruns.