Originally posted by Entrepreneur: In sweden three somalis have been accused for the same offence. Their assets were frozen without due course as stipulated by swedish laws. Two of the guys have been removed from the list after they agreed to provide the US embassy with fingerprints and taken an "oath". The third dude has refused and wants his case heard by the european court of justice. He refused to sign any agreement because he is afraid this might be prejuidice his case against the swedish government. His case would be heard next week in belgium and according to reports he is going to win. I heard about those cases. Since the 9/11 attack all governments around the world did whatever the US told them to do. They arrested and imprisoned thousands of muslims around the world. Even if they were innocent-they were held without any charges or evidence. In the US mainland there are 1000+ muslims r being held for more then 2 years now. Most for 'immigration' excuses. It's good to see that some are being freed and getting justice. They should do all they can against their respective governments so that this does not happen again(sue, file grievences etc.) InshaAllah they will all be freed.

Samurai, Thanks for the link. It's good to see that the PL Gov is investing in the protection of the Somali coast and resources. Here is a story I found earlier: PUNTLAND NAVY IMPOUNDS SPANISH TRAWLER FOR "ILLEGAL FISHING" BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom ; 20-Apr-2000 12:00:00 am A Spanish trawler fishing illegally in Puntland's territorial waters was seized on 16th April, 2000, a statement issued by the navy HQ in Boosaaso [port city in northeastern Somalia] on 19th April, 2000 said. The trawler, Al-Bacora Quattro, with 24 crew members aboard, is said to be carrying 400 tonnes of Skipjack tuna. This is fourth one caught illegally fishing off the Puntland coast. The trawler is said to be carrying an illegal fishing licence authorised by companies that have no legal powers to grant licences to those wanting to catch fish in Puntland waters... Source: `Kaaha Bari', Boosaaso, in Somali 20 Apr 00 p 2 LINK

1. The SNM(Somali National Movement) was never for seceeding from Somalia. That's why they weren't called the 'Somaliland National Movement'. 2. In 1991, Egal chaired the first Arta conference in Djibouti to form a new Somali government. This ultimately failed. 3. May 1991, Abdirahman Ahmed Ali (tuur), head of SNM, reluctantly declares Somaliland a seperate state. This was in reaction to the USC declaring itself the new Somali government and excluding all other groups. After he resigns(1993) he condemned the seperation of Somalia and supported federalism(he still does today). 4. Mohamed Egal(Allaha u naxriisto) took over in 1993-2002. It was widely known that he was pro unity and was using the SL presidency as a stepping stone to Somalia president. The only thing missing was peace and stability in the south. He was almost impeached in 2001 for 'treason and obstructing justice'. "The motion, also accusing Egal of usurping the powers of parliament and the judiciary and behaving unconstitutionally, was presented by 36 deputies of the breakaway region, which split unilaterally from the rest of Somalia in 1991. The deputies have complained that Egal sacked High Court Judge Mohamed Hagi Said last year without consulting them, and cancelled several judgments handed down by the court. They also accuse Egal of treason because, they say, some of his speeches have not been firm enough in their opposition to union with the rest of Somalia." LINK "Egal is not working for the recognition of Somaliland. He is working for leading Somaliland and the international community back to the unity of Somalia," claims Mohammed Kahin, the only surviving founder-member of the Somaliland National Movement’s (SNM) military wing. "He wants now to be the man who once again establishes the union of Somalia ... despite all that political mess in the south." Residents of Burao, the location of the 1991 conference that resulted in north-western Somalia unilaterally declaring itself an independent republic after the fall of dictator Siad Barre, offer their own evidence of his allegedly luke-warm attitude to independence: they point out that despite the town’s symbolic importance and the fact that it remains a nationalist hotbed, Egal has never set foot there." LINK 5. In 2002 Riyaale took office ; He seems to be the least competent of the three. His political views seem to a mystery and his focus seems to be on corruption(increasing it that is...). But does he really want the seperation of the NW? Is he using this as a political stepping stone to bigger and better things? If the presidency of Somalia was handed to Riyaale(or even Siilanyo), could they resist the ultimate dream of all somali leaders? Or would their morals(or lack of), would force them to continue on their current course? Do you think this inconsistant policy of sucessive hargeisa governments affect the goal of some for seperation? Please, no emotional outbursts...

Horn, We dont have to agree on everything. But I dont think that someone can argue for 'good' warlords and 'bad' warlords and divide them into different leagues and divisions(this isnt football). But everyone has their own opinions. Salaam

Since, the companies assets are no longer frozen will AlBarakaat reemerge in Somalia? Or has the competition already moved in permanently? ____________________________________________________________________ Government pays off victim of smear Ottawa man was arrested, his business ruined The Canadian government has quietly paid off an Ottawa man it falsely accused of financing terrorism, arrested, and financially destroyed in the post-9/11 rush to cut off money flowing to Osama bin Laden's network. Canadians, however, are not being told how much businessman Liban Hussein has been compensated for what one critic calls the "abuse" he suffered at the hands of the government. Before admitting it had no grounds to do so, the government seized Mr. Hussein's assets, made it a crime for anyone to do business with him, jailed him, and moved to have him deported to the U.S. to face charges. From early November 2001 to June 2002, Mr. Hussein was devastated emotionally, financially and socially because he ran a money-transfer business in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that U.S. officials said was linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist group. In mid-June 2002, the Canadian Justice Department announced it was discontinuing proceedings against Mr. Hussein, a Somali-born Canadian citizen, because further investigation revealed there wasn't any evidence to suggest he had anything to with terrorism -- which was what he told officials all along. After extradition proceedings against him were stopped, it was expected that Mr. Hussein would file a civil suit against the government for damages. He had been a successful small businessman who supported his parents and several brothers and sisters. But the civil suit was never filed because after his lawyer contacted the Justice Department, they expressed interest in settling out of court. A deal was recently reached, but terms of the settlement are subject to a non-disclosure clause. Mr. Hussein's civil lawyer, Al O'Brien, says he cannot speak about the case. In the past week, Justice Department officials have not returned calls requesting information. And Mr. Hussein could not be reached for comment. Confidentiality clauses are common in civil cases, but Randal Marlin, past-president of the Civil Liberties Association, National Capital Region chapter, says this is one case the Canadian public deserves and needs to know about. "The public should know how much the government paid this man," he said. "In the post-Sept. 11 hysteria, the government abused this man's rights in an incalculable way. The public should know what kind of compensation he was awarded for what they put him through. "Was it a million? Was it $50 million? I guess we'll never know." What is known, however, is what happened to Mr. Hussein, and how a series of U.S. and Canadian government decisions conspired to deprive him of several fundamental rights. On Nov. 7, 2001, Mr. Hussein and his Massachusetts-based money transfer company, Barakaat North America Inc., a subsidiary of al-Barakaat, headquartered in Dubai, were included on a U.S. government list of 62 people and businesses who allegedly supported terrorism. In a speech that day, U.S. President George W. Bush said clear evidence showed that people on the list were "quartermasters of terror." Mr. Hussein's money-transfer business was raided and shut down. His brother, Mohammed Hussein, 35, who was in Dorchester, was arrested and jailed on a charge of operating the business without a licence. Liban Hussein was charged with the same crime, but he was in Ottawa. The U.S. asked Canada to extradite him to face the charge. On the same day Mr. Bush released the names, the UN Security Council adopted the list, as did the Canadian government, using an order-in-council with no public or parliamentary debate. Mr. Hussein was arrested by the RCMP but, a day later, a judge released him after a bail hearing because neither government brought any evidence of terrorist links. Still, as a penalty for being listed, Mr. Hussein's assets, including his business, were frozen, it became a crime for anyone to have financial dealings with him, and Canada announced it would try to extradite him to the U.S. From the minute he became aware that he was accused of financing terrorism, Mr. Hussein denied it. He said he was a businessman running what is called a hawala, a money-transfer business, similar to Western Union, that helped Somalis send money to their home country, where there are no banks. To extradite someone, the alleged crime in the U.S. must be akin to a crime in Canada. Since conducting such a business without a licence is not an offence in Canada, Justice Department lawyers decided they would argue that Mr. Hussein should be extradited because he was on the terrorism list. Mr. Hussein's defence lawyers, Michael Edelson and David Paciacco, planned to fight the extradition by challenging the constitutionality of the list itself and how it was adopted by Canada. Mr. Hussein lived in limbo for seven months, until mid-June 2002, when the Justice Department, after receiving the defence lawyers' written argument, abruptly announced it was halting extradition proceedings. Justice Department chief general counsel Ivan Whitehall said he'd reviewed the material the U.S. used to place Mr. Hussein on the list and found "no evidence he was connected to any terrorist activities." Mr. Hussein was removed from the list in Canada, and, eventually, at the UN and in the U.S. Since then, he has been trying to rebuild his shattered life in Ottawa. Mr. Hussein was allowed to access his bank account after the extradition proceedings were stopped. But his janitorial-services franchise had been revoked, his hawala business had been shut down, and any money he had was used to repay people who had supported him during the seven months that he was under suspicion. His brother was tried and convicted in the U.S. of running a money-transfer business without a licence and given 18 months in jail. The U.S. government never alleged any terrorist links at his trial. Mr. Marlin says the unacceptable way in which Mr. Hussein was treated is a lesson Canadians should not soon forget. "I hope the public now understands that the government destroyed this man's life without a single shred of evidence, that he had absolutely nothing to do with terrorism, and that his name is completely rehabilitated," he said. "The settlement is an acknowledgement of this, but the public should know the details so we can judge for ourselves if the government has been held accountable for what it did to him." © Copyright 2003 The Ottawa Citizen Link

No doubt Somalia needs a womens nurturing to bring her back to life. If I could vote it would be for Ms. Asha. But I doubt the warlords and old men(elders) of somalia would want or allow such a thing to occur. But in the future, if a woman were president, would she have the capability to change and overhaul the corruption and nepotism that permeates Somali politics? Or is that expecting too much from a woman and too little from a man... I'd like to think they would be able to change it.

Originally posted by African: Bari_Nomad, can you put me intouch with the Qat trader??? I wanna be the queen of that castle. Why you trying to imply that I have some connections with drug dealers?!? But I'll see what I can do...you might have to become 3rd or 4th wifey....is that cool? Originally posted by Ibtilo: Warya Bari These are pictures of SOmaliland, and Axmed never even told us who these houses belong to, so please stop puting useless captions under the homes and lives of people you dont know, just because you have hateraid flowing in your vains. VIVA SOMALILAND, and much luck to all my Landers building up Somaliland. Bari Nomad Stick to what you know best, MOgadhisho ya dig. LOL. I don't know whether you are illiterate or suffer from some other 'problems' we are not aware of....but I advise you to seek help immediately.... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Rahima: The point i was making - as it seems you missed walaal- was in the big pond of those who have harmed our nation Cabdiqaasim (even if we assumed he has harmed our nation) is a small fish compared to those who you support so blindly. So now being in the highest levels of Afweyn's government(cabinet/Prime Minister) does not harm our nation? Will you be excusing Barre of his war crimes as well? And start calling him 'small fish'? Yet you talk about being 'blind' and 'biased'.... Why don't you be kind enough and post all the atrocious and catastrophic evils Ina Yusuf has caused our country and people. I know it will be a strenuous exercise- considering the damage he has caused is so great- therefore just write 10% of what he has done. I think that in itself might keep you preoccupied for some time- i know it would for me. Will you, in turn, do the same for ina salaad boy? It's about time we stopped this unproductive bias and started being fair. Let's clean our land of destructive elements beginning with in my opinion Xuseen Caydiid and Cabdulaahi Yusuf- partners in crime who should be judged ASAP. LOL. Talk about hypocricy. Do you consider salad a warlord? His term is over-yet he still calls himself 'president'. And now he has made an unholy alliance with warlords in mogadishu. NOW, is he a warlord? Further he has made it his mission to destroy the peace conference in Kenya. Whateva happened to making a quiet and discreet exit :rolleyes: P.S. If caydiid and yusuf are 'partners in crime' what would you call the salad boy, yalaxow, hiiraale, Cato Quartet? Either you are against ALL or you are against NONE. Don't pick and choose...

Originally posted by Rahima: Walaahi we have had enough, let us just be brothers and want the best for one another, maybe then we might achieve peace and be able to return to our sweet land. Good advice for everyone. Insha'allah. Originally posted by Mujaahid: [QB]Of course, you can say whatever you want about Somaliland, but just know that whatever you say about Somaliland could also be true about Puntland. Yes, corruption seems to be a corner stone of Somali politics. And instead of *reducing* corruption, it is becoming the rule rather than the exception Some people awhile ago even raised the question of "Somaliland", they argued that it is not a Somali name. Had they asked themselves about "Puntland" in the first, they would have saved themselved the time to waste hard-drive space on this site with their ****. LOL. A bit off topic but very true

The people of Mogadishu are beginning the task of bringing lasting peace and security to their city. Good for them and Insha'allah they will succeed. Salaam _____________________________________________________________________ Decade After US Debacle, Mogadishu Warlords Falter By William Maclean MOGADISHU, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Clad in wraparound skirts and flip-flops, 10 Somali gunmen cradling assault rifles parade for inspection before their evening patrol of a Mogadishu district. "The criminals are stealing from us and raping our girls!" barks former army captain Mohamud Afrah Weheliye, inspecting the men in the front yard of his home. "If you see any thief, fire a warning bullet. If he tries to kill you, kill him! But the best result is: Capture him alive." Weheliye's men are part of a trend towards self-help policing in Mogadishu , the city that buried America's post-Cold War enthusiasm for international peace operations a decade ago. Neighbourhood patrols by gunmen answerable to local elders and Islamic courts rather than militia bosses have sprung up in the past year in the lawless capital of one million people. The growth of Do-It-Yourself security puts in question the clout of warlords whose lust for power over the city triumphed 10 years ago on Friday, when the U.S. military was humiliated in a battle recalled in the Hollywood film "Black Hawk Down". The fire fight on October 3, 1993 destroyed any U.S. appetite for further military involvement in Somalia with the deaths of 18 U.S. special forces supporting a U.N. force called UNOSOM II. More than 1,000 Somalis and two U.N. soldiers, a Malaysian and Moroccan, also died in the failed U.S. bid to seize warlord Mohammed Farah Aideed. U.S. forces were gone within a year. Today support for the warlords is weaker . Their predatory behaviour and thinning wallets have earned the disdain of many in Mogadishu, although their military clout is still feared. But crime is rampant due to the presence of tens of thousands of displaced, hungry youths who see the gun as the only passport to employment . So three years ago Weheliye and other elders decided to create a police force to enable their Hamar Jediid area of south Mogadishu to live in peace. The force is part of a new self-help trend seen in many walks of life in Mogadishu. The movement is driven by a belief that substantial Western aid will not return anytime soon and Somalis had better roll up their sleeves and help themselves. U.N. development work in Mogadishu began winding down after the 1993 U.S. debacle and has been meagre for years. Washington now sees Somalia primarily as an ideal location for "terrorists" wishing to operate beyond the gaze of global law enforcement. Weheliye says warlords tried to disrupt his police during their first two years of operation but gave up because the force was so popular with the area's multi-clan population. Today, common thieves are put on display in a big metal cage that stands outside Weheliye's house alongside his cattle-pen. "The political factions cannot affect us because we have enough force to defend ourselves," he said. "We do not respect them. We do not obey them. We do not support them." Most households pay 1,000 shillings or five U.S. cents a day as a contribution to the 150 gunmen who patrol the neighbourhood of 6,000 homes. Not all homes can afford to pay but when they eventually can, Weheliye said, the force will be expanded. "Many times the warlords tried to make us collect tax. But the community met and decided not to allow them inside the area," he said. "We have a right to defend our children and women. We will never obey and support any political faction." The experiment among Hamar Jediid's sand-blown alleyways, corner shops and bungalow homes has been copied in several Mogadishu districts, prompting observers to wonder whether this is the birth of a new sort of local administration in a city devastated by conflict for more than 12 years. "It is a serious trend, because it has genuine support. But at the same time a return to full-scale factional fighting would do it real damage," said peace activist Abdullahi Shirwa. Elsewhere in south-central Somalia, communities in the mostly rural areas have an easier job maintaining order because makeshift local administrations tend to be organised on clan lines and clan tradition ensures some respect for authority. The job is more difficult in Mogadishu's cosmopolitan society where clans are mixed and social tensions, aggravated by the daily influx of internally displaced people, are acute. Hamar Jediid's force has built a network of popular support. Khalif Ahmad Diini, who runs the "Little Aden" corner shop in Hamar Jediid, is content to pay $3 a month towards the force. "Before my suppliers were afraid to deliver -- their vehicles would be robbed before they even got close!" he said, his elbows leaning on a display of soap detergents and Kenyan cigarettes. "That doesn't happen now. I respect the police force as a civic action, and I will continue to do so until we have a national government again." "Policeman" Abdi Ali Mohamud, a former driver, says he enjoys the prestige his new job gives him. "My wife and kids respect me for this. It's dangerous work, but there are always three or four of us. And it is compulsory, because we have to protect our people." Decade After US Debacle, Mogadishu Warlords Falter Other Stories: Sick of male leaders: Somali Women Vie for Presidency Arms, Miraa Trade Keep Somalia Aflame

Local goverment office "Mayor office"

House 5 House 6 Owned by The Boss of the Qat trade "571"

This is a very nice Picture weblog by a Somali develpment worker based in Burco. It's very nice to see Somalis rebuilding. I wish there were other picture weblogz in all the other Somali towns and cities. Keep up the good work Ahmed!! Salaam P.S. There is a calender on the left side. Click on a highlighted date for pictures posted on that day. _____________________________________________________________________ Ahmed In Burco "I created this Weblog to share with my friends all over the world my new experience as a Development Worker in Somaliland. I am the new HIV/AIDS Youth Advisor for ICD (International Cooperation for Development). I am stationed in Burco but my work covers the entire Country. Burco is located around 310KM to Hargeisa, It a dusty town with it’s own particular charm. Burco is the second city of Somaliland after Hargeisa. My family is from here so I am very lucky to be posted here. I will be uploading picture of Burco and the surroundings. Stay tuned." -Ahmed Ahmed In Burco

Originally posted by Mujaahid: From simple calculations...The monthly income from passengers alone, is as follows: 4000 * $40 ($30 for arrivals, $10 for departure) = $160,000/month LOL. The discussion is not whether Hargeisa Airport has enough revenue, but where does money go? And why isn't it being reinvested into the airport? By your calculations HA makes 160,000 X 12(months)= 1, 920, 000 Almost 2 Millions USD per year!!

Post the article and I'll try my best to post a reply. BTW its almost a year and your leaders are still in a foreingn country talking utter rubish while the hoteliers are demanding they pay their bills and Mughdisho Airport is still closed. Laught it up....I know how much you and the rest enjoy it.... Bari Nomad, what planes land at Garowe International Airport? LOL. So, I'm a liar now? Garowe already has a smaller airport. But I think GIA is still under construction. But I'll let you know as soon as it's complete--as I know you love to hear about a Somalia success story...

Originally posted by African: The point that Rahima was making (correct me if I’m wrong) is that these nomads post positive articles about their region & negative articles about other regions. Business Thrives in Sea of Poverty Positive article about Mogadishu. Kaalmo Orphanage Center in Borama city Awdal Achievement Award Somalis' hearts call them home Somalis return to Hargeisa to rebuild. HADRAAWI’S PEACE MARCH Peace march by NW Poet through South Somalia. GSM improves in Somalia (Nationlink Telecom) Mogadishu/South Somalia. Somali Success Story Somali MD-in-training. Radio Education Helps Somalis Positve throughout Somalia. More? I have never seen a negative article posted by someone from the same region. Now this would have showed that this person want to encourage debate & get ideas from other fellow nomads as to how to improve the situation. If you want negative news about PL...just say so...lol. Seriously, there have been some but perhaps too few. You raised a good point. However we see these characters posting negative articles about other regions and like children saying “naanananaah” and expressing happiness about the downfall of their brethren, how sad indeed. Is this a political debate? I wouldn't call averting the closure of an airport the 'downfall of their brethren' I think discussing the mismanagement of such an important facility by a government warrants a debate, dont you think? Lets take the politics in the west: Are people who come from the same city/region as Tony Blair less critical of his policies as others??? They are equally if not more critical to his policies then people from other regions. True, good point. BUT, I think it's more comparable to football teams, in which there is a (usually) healthy competetive atmosphere between cities/regions. While we have nomads here supporting warlords when they should be condemning them because they belong to the same qabiil as the warlord and praise him. I dont know where warlords came into the discussion but somalis shouldnt be supporting any warlord or warcriminal because of clan affiliation. Weather they are modern day warlords or the ones that terrorized our people between 1969-1991.

Originally posted by Rahima: The way I see it, there are only two respectable views to this argument, either you support the unification of the land of the Somalis for you want the one land for our people, or you support the independence of your own region and respect others who want the same for their regions. What’s the difference I ask you? You seem utterly confused. PL does not want independence from Somalia like SL. Thats why it's called PL State of Somalia... Is it just me or are these people contradicting themselves. They go on and on about how Somaliland is this and that yet they turn around and bombard us with how great Puntland is. :rolleyes: First, that is not a contradiction. Please look up the meaning in a dictionary. So what if they want independence, don’t you feel ashamed of yourself that you are begging people who don’t want to be part of you to stay with you? Where is your pride, leave them and let them be. LOL. You seem to be all over the place and not making too much sense. Please calm down and try to put forth a rational argument. Go and fix your own house instead of worrying about others. Very cliche to say the least. By 'house' do you mean PL or Somalia? So I can't reply to a post about corruption and mismanagement of an administration in the NW? Honestly, the only person in these forums who I feel has reputable outlooks (even if I may not agree with them all the time) is HornAfrique. LOL. He posted the same article as Samurai, yet one is 'reputable'(in your view) and one is a 'hypocrit'. Yet they are the same posting. Perhaps you are suffering from 'latent qaabilism' you are so quick to accuse others of.... he doesn’t herald some other Land but rather seems to impartial when it comes to these secessionist states. BTW, Look up 'Secessionist' as well.... Everybody has different views, opinions and perspectives of issues. Perhaps you should consider that before you go on another 'outburst'...

HA, Thanks for the article. I think we need more like Dr. Abubakar to return to Somalia and help their people. It seems Somalis are still in the denial phase of HIV/AIDS. Soon, we might just be another african statistic. Insha'allah we will not let this opportunity to stop this desease in the early stages pass us by. Amiin.

Samurai, Thanks for the article. ______________________________________________________________________ Puntland's President Expected to Return to Garowe - Saturday, September 27, 2003 at 08:43 Nairobi, (AllPuntland) – Sources close to the President of Puntland State of Somalia, HE Abdillahi Yussuf Ahmed who has been attending the ongoing Somali national reconciliation and peace talks in Nairobi since October of 2002 confirmed that the President will be briefly returning to Garowe, state capital for consultation, and in observation of state constitution of which provisions state that “head of state must not remain outside the country no more than 60 days”. Mr Yusuf expected to arrive at Garowe within the next 12 hours will be accompanied by members of his cabinet, parliament, political leaders and traditional elders. Our local reporter in Garowe noted state officials in preparation for the arrival of the President at a time when regional mayors presently convening in Garowe for their annual meeting are planning and studying the implications, logistical requirements, challenges and the importance of the upcoming local elections planned to be held in all 6 regions that Puntland state of Somalia comprises by end of October. Talks thus far had been proceeding in a timely and orderly manner with traditional elders and political leaders sieving through perspective candidates representative of their respective clans for the Somali National Parliament. In a recent statement, Spokesman for the State Department reiterated the administration’s support for the Nairobi peace talks commending duly strides that had thus far been made, and urged all participants to seriously consider critical activities of the process, selection of members of the parliament in particular. The EU on its part restated its support for the ongoing peace talks, and praised the progress that had been made hitherto calling for a comprehensive, balanced and all-inclusive institutionally entrusted government. The IGAD-sponsored peace talks which began in October of 2002 in Eldoret, currently in due process in the outskirts of Nairobi is expected to produce an all-inclusive government for the war-torn Somalia. AllPuntland News Desk http://allpuntland.com/news1/eng/news_item.asp?NewsID=879

Originally posted by LANDER: Their hearts are so filled with hate that they smirk at even the most meager of problems concerning Somaliland. LOL. I wouldnt call what is going on 'meager' problem. Foreigners have to step in to bail out the second largest income earner(after Berbera) in the NW for another six months. What will happen when this funding runs out? Will there be calls for more handouts to operate this facility? I'm sure Riyaale could of gotten the money from his $600,000 annual salary or his $1 Million dollar 'Ministry of the Presidency' to fix up Hargeisa airport and keep it operational. It's all about priorities and we can see here that the it's more important to pay 50+ ministers chewing qaat in their villas. But I guess you would call all this "more progress"... Contrast with PL where they are not only functioning well but new airports is being built. Like Garowe International Airport by a mix of diaspora, community and government funding. Nugaal Development Projects: http://www.puntlandpost.com/ndp/ BTW, this is the same airport which the Hargeisa government started the second war(1994-97) to get it back from 'militia' which were occupying it. Why would they neglect it so much NOW? I guess it's like children who only want something when others have it....

Originally posted by Mr Oodweyne.: In, conclusion, dear hornAfrique, rest assure, that somaliland will be receiving it's bilateral legal recognition on the Autumn of this year from several countries, at precisely in November of this year, I even know the name of the first country, the exact date in that month of november that this will be announce, at even the name of the minister of that country that will announce the recognition of his country towards Somaliland Republic, I even know at which city he will be in when that said minister announce that crucial information (it will be in Hargeisa!!) as well as how many nation in total that will be recognising the somaliland statehood all in all within this "Autumn" of this year. LoL. You sound very sure of yourself. Shall we start calling you "Ms. Cleo"? I'll be sure to hold you to that claim. And what will you do if this scheduled recognition does not take place?

The whole world, it seems, has moved on. This has lately included Africa as well. From the peaceful resolutions to the confict in the DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leon, Angola, Liberia, and now most recently the finalizing of a peace in the longest running civil war in Africa--Sudan. Are the current talks in Kenya the last chance for Peace in Somalia? What will happen if they fail? When will this endless conflict end? This 'No War Yet No Peace & No Government' political vaccum in Somalia. While these fools are arguing over how to divide the political cake that is Somalia, our people keep suffering... May Allah help Somalia

SNW, I think you'll enjoy this. Dubai,25th September 2003, By Banadir.com The request of the official delegation from the TNG of Somalia to participate the 2003 Annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Groups that was held in Dubai,United Arab Emirates from 23rd September until 24th September 2003, did not materialized due to the fact that the mandate of Transitional National Government of Somalia expired on 12th August 2003 . This was infact apparent from the correspondence between Mr. Hussein Mohamoud Sheikh Hussein, the Minister of Finance of the TNG, who was supposed to head the Somali delegation and Mr. W. Paati Ofosu-Amaah, Vice President & Corporate Secretary of international Bank for Reconstruction and Development. http://www.banadir.com/dubai2003.shtml

To Fellow Sceptics, I thought this pic was fake as well. But after searching the Yahoo news I found the link for it below. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030914/168/59mbm.html It seems Mr. Powell was a bit jelous of the attention that Paul Bremer was getting from the Sheikh. He decided to get a little action for himself.....to the shock of Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio. :eek: If these diplomats are doing all THIS in public....imagine what goes on behind closed doors.... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030923/170/5d0xt.html

African, I think the political climate is much different today then it was in late 2001 or even 2002. I doubt there is the political will or capital for another war. The neo-conservatives are losing ground quickly with both the American public and the Whitehouse due to their miscalculations/blunders in Iraq. Key figures like Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Condi Rice have less influence over GW Bush then Colin Powell and the State Department--who seems to be maneuvering US foreign policy as of late. Although the latest attempts to gain international assistance seems to have failed. Bush Fails to Gain Pledges on Troops or Funds for Iraq "President Bush ended two days of meetings with foreign leaders today without winning more international troops or funds for Iraq and with a top aide saying it could take months to achieve a new U.N. resolution backing the U.S. occupation." "And Peter Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that more National Guard and Reserve forces could be activated if the third foreign division -- 15,000 to 20,000 troops -- is not secured within the next six weeks." For More Washington Post Although it can't be ruled out. American public opinion can be easily shaped and mouled by the spin-doctors in the Pentagon and Media to support yet another war of aggression. We'll just have to wait and see... AntiWar::Best source for antiwar news, viewpoints and activities.