You right, but that will only happen through the peaceful coexistance of the existing nation states. Regional trade a.k.a bilateral trade now dominates as opposed to the world trade or globalization. The WTO hardly tries to regulate protectionism and restrictions of trading regions versus other regions. Globalization will not be effective or possible in the long run. Here is the article for readers like Viking and others."Full Article"

Originally posted by Viking: I think the author is totally misplaced in attempting to tie Huntington's [ridiculous] theories to what is going on in Somalia. Somalia might be a bit similar to Israel, the forces of secularism in conflict with the orthodox. Dear Viking Have you really read Huntington's article(1993) and its later expansion 'The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order' (1996)? The core concept of this whole article of Huntington boils down to the West vs the Islam Fundamentalists--which confronts non-Western ways. All other civilizations are infused to sugarcoat his theories. Edward Said highlighted that by stating,"major civilizations, of which the conflict between two of them, Islam and the West, gets the lion's share of his attention." The movement of the crazed radicals is universal and it can seep into any country. Somalia is no exception. I think that is the message of the author above. It confronts non-Western ways in terms of legal, culture, forms of human government built on the values and enlightenment of Western civilization. The Islam, esp from the Middle East, is infuriarated by the control of the West over their resources and adminstrations, so it seeks to reverse it through the galvanization of the illeterate in the street. Islamic courts, for instance, is a small entity that could be part of this whole international movement in the Muslim World I am sure you are familiar with Evangelists like Pat Roberton and Billy Graham. Pat is the founder of CBN, Regent University(Prof. Said Samatr teaches here), and he is also the host of the “700 Club”. This man is very influential and sometimes claims that he uses his power to avert catastrophic events. Jerry Fallwell and Benny Hehn are two other evangelists to note. These men advocate the return of Christ shall occur with no single Muslims left in the Middle East. And the only possible way of purging Muslims out of the holy land is by the sword. Billy Graham once advised former president Nixon to bomb the dikes in North Vietnam and Cambodia. Muslims particularly the Wahabist, on the other hand, advocate the same thing, puritanical position in regards to religious practice, although religiously as was prescribed it is the grace of Allah for the return of Muslim power. The Wahabi “confronts non-Western ways” in the Middle East. They advocate, as Bin Laden said over and over, that infidels should be removed from the holy lands. Their strict interpretation of our religion creates tension in all over the world. They seek to destroy all tombs, including revered ones. For instance, they completely leveled Al-Baqiya where most of the Saxaaba(companions of the prophets) were buried. They seek to destroy the tomb of Umar ibn al-Khattāb and the three other Caliphates built next to the mosque of the Prophet (PbUH). The Saudi government is preventing them from doing this. They even want to destroy the tomb of our Prophet (PBUH). If we allow these radicals attain their goal, traces of history will vanish. Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan attests to this fact when they used dynamites to demolish the Budhist statues. What will happen to Pyramids in Egypt if the Islamist there also takes over?

Xariiri-I read the editorial peace of Wardheernews and was very much impressed with the depth of their research. You see this is an area that I have some experience with and probably as the objective of the article is to simply point out how people can benefit from the experience of a similar community. That is something that is a fact of life in today’s world and scholars write books about these issues. The irony is, however, that these Bush men from Togdheer can not comprehend that simple fact. To them everything is black and white. Probably they are content to listening to Ina Ali Waraabe’s thrash talk which fills them with false pride and makes them feel larger than life. They have no capacity to comprehend such a piece of scholarship. What they like most is “Yo Yo tan” which is probably what they do best. Whether Hargeysa was shown in a not so good picture or not is frankly not the issue here. Very educational piece, many thanks to Mansa Musa for posting it. Smile @ "Yo Yo tan"

Beautiful pictures. Thanks all

I think the [author] above underlines that the influence of the Islamist whose root cause is the Middle East has reached Somali soil. And he does not wholly agree with Huntington's thesis that is why i think he is questioning the reality or illusion of this influential concept as the "Clash of Civilizations" argues is the reality. You probably misunderstood his points. Besides it is a cummulative analysis of current issues from opposite point of views, based on the theoritical foundations of the "Clash of Civilizations" by Huntington. Due to the glaring evidence, it is probably true that International Al Qaeda and affiliates have joined the Islamic courts based in Mogadisho and parts of the southern Somalia. They probably share staff and financial services. The goal is the same--to create an Islamic state. The general identity they use is also clear cut--It transcends national boundaries. Their obsession to regulating moral behavior, reducing our beautiful religion into a penal system is also obvious. The West's dual role in playing a leading role in international stage of the influence of the Islamist by brute means is also current.

The Clash of Civilizations: Reality or Illusion The “Clash of Civilization” by Samuel P. Huntington(1993) puts forth an intriguing claim that has attracted a sizable number of people’ reactions and counter-reactions. Huntington, an influential theorist and professor at Harvard, writes with clear and concise style. It seems he is writing to an audience of policymakers from both the rightists and leftists and the general public about the shape of the world in the future. His article first appeared in Foreign Policy in the summer of 1993. Huntington’s claim is that leading source of conflict will be cultural. He states, “It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic.....the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilization…”(paragraph 2). As he puts it, nation states will still play a dominant role in world politics but the chief friction of global conflicts will take place among civilizations. Huntington defines civilization as “cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural identity…” (paragraph 4). For instance, a Saudi is a Saudi in Yemen and Middle Eastern in either Europe or the United States. He predicts that interactions among civilizations will perpetuate inevitable conflict. This clash of civilizations, as he argues, “will be shaped in large measure by interactions among seven or eight major civilizations. These include Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin American and possible African civilization.” (paragraph 5). Huntington provides several cogent reasons as to why interactions will cause clashes among civilization. One of the reasons is that our differences are fundamental, and they relay different beliefs or understandings to things we hold dear. For instance, we have moral relativism to every aspect of our lives. Second, the international relations among nation states are increasing, which in turn leads to “consciousness and awareness of differences between civilizations…”(paragraph 7). He provides evidence as to the recurrent, racial incidence in France, for example. Not only have these interactions been confined to resentment and native paranoia but also political receptivity from the more tolerant segment of the host society. Third, due to technological advancement, trade, and demography, there has been a decline to local identities as people of different nationalities intersperse and mix together. Consequently, these trends, as Huntington argues, “weaken the nation state as a source of identity,” (paragraph 8). World religions have filled the gap and cemented the new relationship. With the rise of a group labeled as “fundamentalists”, this group as he argues will emerge from Islamic civilization. They will disrupt the world order and might wreak havoc on the western fringes. Members are identified not by the country he or she is from but the religion he or she embraces. The new identity transcends national boundaries. However, “The Clash of Ignorance” (2001) by Edward Said, a rebuttal to Huntington’s article, comes from different view points. Said dismisses Huntington’s view on global politics as “bold, belligerent, and vague notions.” Conversely, Said claims, “the major contest in most modern culture concerns the definition or interpretation of each culture, or for the unattractive possibility that a great deal of demagogy and downright ignorance is involved in presuming to speak for a whole religion or civilization”(paragraph 5). In this claim, Said argues a misconception of the modern culture, be it Islam or Hindu, is widespread, and there are insidious labels involved in grouping a whole group of people or religion as belonging to one civilization. Said reasons that no civilization is unadulterated. The history of different civilizations have coexisted, borrowed from each other, and together created the world order as it is today through “cross-fertilization and sharing”(paragraph 5). The clash of Islam and West, which Huntington argued will be inevitable, was already contained by human history of different civilizations, so it is correct to say and in support of Said’s argument that the “clash of civilization” has provided “fluid ideas full of ambiguity and skepticism…”(paragraph 7). On the other hand, the most interesting reason, important enough, is the mass confusion and labels that fly between Islam and the West. Said relates to an experience while teaching at a West Bank university; a Muslim student challenges Said’s ideas as western while wearing suit, a main symbol of Western culture. And when the student was reminded of the roots of his formal dress, he was embarrassed at his attempt to put people into a pigeonhole. Similar to this is the analogy that Said disputes exist as a prevalent stereotype of which Islam is labeled and accused of not being part of modernity: “how they(terrorists) had mastered all the technical details required to inflict their homicidal evil on the World Trade Center…”(paragraph 5). Hence, these outright labels and generalizations are blindly exchanged by both groups. Said reasons and provides enough evidence of how Islam has grown exponentially in the west. The presence of a large number of Muslims in the West has fostered, despite the mistaken and continual paradigm of right versus wrong between Islam and the West, “closer ties between apparently warring civilizations…”(paragraph 7). The West’s dominancy over [our] scarce resources and the world order it created prior and after War World II, entail the basic source of conflict, or the internal dynamics of our cultural differences, ethnicity, and religion, are reemerging as new forces or movements whose goal is to form the world into non-Western ways. First, although Huntington mentions the phenomenon, the true nature of conflict the world might be facing both now and the future is not cultural but political, or the friction between the maintenance of the status quo and a new voice for a change. In fact, Huntington is a realist whereas Said is an idealist. The former provides a persuasive but a hypothetical point of view of the nascent phenomenon, the “fundamentalist” and its determined threats on the fringes of the West in order to reverse the balance of power in their own countries. They accuse the West of playing active role in supporting countries (in the Middle East) whereby virtuous of equality or democracy is a nonexistent. For example, the Islamist is a political force that comes to light as grassroots movement. Its goal is to create an Islamic state, so it invites the unwavering support of all constituents inside its country and any person who is Muslim regardless of his or her national origin so long as that person fights for them and identifies himself as a member of the organization. In this case, Huntington lends credence to his definition of civilization as the broadest rank of cultural grouping. Second, while Said was basically right to pinpoint the hidden target of Huntington’s article in which he discusses the clash between Islam and the West as the main key players of the new phase that is to come and dominate the global politics, he argues that it is the definition or interpretation of the two groups of Islam (moderate versus radical Islam) and cultural plurality that matters as opposed to lumping them with a whole civilization such as Islam. Said goes into detail the internal dynamics of Muslims and their distinct culture, an important view to note. However, the Islamist, which “distorts the religion and debases tradition…”(paragraph 6), as Ahmed stated, is the most important case moderate, majority of Muslims both in the West and in Islamic countries have advocated ever since the September 11 and beyond. For example, I personally experienced and even debated over this phenomenon of Islamist movement in my country, Somalia. It has been the subject of much debate. Many people in my country have exchanged constructive dialogue of how Somalia would be once the Islamist takes full control of the rest of Somalia. The Islamist came into light after they defeated the warlords in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, a city where constant rape, looting and pillage were the rites of passage to its residents. The Islamist garnered nationwide support in its earlier success of defeating the warlords, but over the years, they have shown an expansionist attitude and a willingness to lay siege to peaceful regions. Neighboring countries started playing proxy wars. United States were then alarmed of the movement and expansion of the Islamist organization, named as Islamic courts. How these Islamist group that has sprang up in Somalia celebrated victory was its cause to becoming an alternative resolution mechanism for the anarchy and lawless nature of the capital city, Mogadishu. Regional experts and intellectuals admitted the cause. However, the Islamists are now on a campaign to debase our tradition, history, and culture. They banned listening to Somali music, burned the Somali flag, closed down two public media that were critical of their activities, and prohibited women from going to the beach, etc. It seems as though the late Ahmed Eqbal knew what is happening now in Somalia when he stated, “an Islamic order reduced to a penal code, stripped of its humanism, aesthetics, intellectual quests, and spiritual devotion”(paragraph 6). However, majority of Somalis are becoming knowledgeable of the true colors of the Islamists, so the initial support they gained from the folks when they pacified, restored law and order to Mogadishu---dubbed as the most dangerous city in the world, are now on the wane. This experience of mine supports the position of Said that religious distortions and fanaticism occur in every religion and hence in any country. Theirs is contrary to peace and tolerance that our religion teaches. It is not fair to group civilization as the highest level while not paying heed to the critical differences within the civilization itself, differences that trigger conflicts of bloodshed. Third, the dual role of the west as Huntington pleads his case among several touches off today’s reality of global politics. Even though I disagree with his whole thesis, this one reason is compellingly real and can be detached on its own. The second role of the West which confronts non-Western ways, for instance, the “re-Islamization, is a trend that is taking a big shape and which relies on the reasons I stated above. On the other hand, the means and ways to confront the Islamists either in brute force or negotiation are already at the center of discussion. Islamic countries, for instance, are extending their support to the United States and its war on terror but the impatience and political miscalculation of U.S foreign policy are complicating the current issue of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries. While Islamism is a radical ideology that seeks to take over all forms of authority in the region it emerges through the galvanization of the illiterate persons in the street, they do not constitute a large number of the population of any countries. In fact, they are minority and it is crucial to distinguish them from the majority of Muslims who have been subject to misplaced aggression and stereotypes created by this radical group. Huntington, for instance, fears that the Western democracy introduced in Islamic countries have strengthened the growth of this group. He states, “in short, Western democracy strengthens anti-Western political forces”(paragraph 15). In this particular case, he might rely on the past event that led to the election victory of the Islamist political organization in Algeria as I recall in which the autocratic government of Algeria denied the results of the election and started hunting down leaders of the Islamist party. Fourth, the dominancy of the West over the control of the oil resources in the Middle East and the presence of American troops has left many feeling resentful of the West. In the past, the significance of the interactions between Islam and West during colonialism and imperial conquests, and how European colony fought bigger battles in their colonies and how the natives protested against the unfair taxation and treatment of the colony and won their independence, still remains as the legacy of modern conflict in the Middle East. Still, the presence of American troops, both a distinction of power and political dominance for the U.S, and both humiliation and occupation for the Arab people in general, could be said to have intensified the conflict, particularly, of radical Islam and the West. When and how a compromise will be reached is very uncertain as long as the West supports Israel and protects its economic interest in the region. “This centuries-old military interaction between the West and Islam is unlikely to decline,” (paragraph 15) writes Huntington. In Conclusion, what is important is to state the obvious that the conflict is mainly political and economic. Said’s position seems strong even though Huntington has made one realistic case based on the reality of today’s politics. It is unfair to single out civilizations as broad since it would only foster misconceptions and generalizations. Civilizations have been violently interdependent and will be so. References Huntington, Samuel P. (1993) “The Clash of Civilizations.” Said, Edward.(2001) “The Clash of Ignorance.” Hirad, Abdalla.(2006) “SOMALIA: A NATION IN LIMBO: BETWEEN ISLAM AND TRIBALISM.” Wardheernews.com

He does not single out the Wadaads as good-intentioned.

Shaacir, you are such a well-intentioned thinker and you unearth the ugly reality of present-day Somalia, of the "mistaken priorities of our president," of the "subversive duplicity" of our foreign minister, and of the "loyal conformity" of our novice Prime minister that they are all nothing but tribal chiefs. You do not fail to mention our "gallant Wadaados" and their "gullibility and outright futility" in falling to the trap of regional war with Ethiopia--very risky gamble. Thanks for the concern and I hope we change for the better the evil Ws of Somalia: Wadaado, Waranle, Wariyayaal, Waraabe, Waxgarad, Warato. I read into the article that you still prefer the Wadaado over the rest. I hope they learn their mistakes and risky adventures by doing social services that would help our war-wearied masses alleviate their sufferings. The courts seem to be going after power, which i think will depcreciate their former good intentions and acheivement. Power is a terrible thing to pursue. Drumbbeats of War:Warlords vs Wadaado! By: Shaacir Mataan November 3,2006 Somalia dhankeedii dhawaaq farax leh mooyeey dhiilo kama sugaayo should be rearranged to Somalia dhankeedii dhiilo mooyee dhawaaq farax leh kama sugaayo: Total collapse was the verdict of the much hyped Khartoum peace talks between the TFG warlords and the ICU wadaado. And now it seems the clash of the Maryooleey, Macaawisleey, Moooryaan , Macangag, Mahbar, and Meles's Maxeeysato is unavoidable. I won’t be betting good news to come out of this at all. For now I know that Somalia is a land blessed, or should I befittingly say, cursed with mediocre and backward politics led by wrangling nomadic chieftains who cloak themselves with sacrosanct and sinful garments stained with the blood of its innocent and poor people. Laba gardaro ku hishiisay, xaq kuma hishiiyaan: two that have agreed on what is wrong can never agree on what is right. That is precisely the adage my petrified frozen brain cells can summon up at this moment of daze and desolation. Longtime ago, I gave up on Somalia’s many predisposed spoilers of peace: The warlords. Now, I may as well give up on the many overrated swingers of belief: The Wadaado. Don’t get wrong, I prefer the Wadaado over the ruthless warlords of the TFG. At least the Wadaado mean business and are true to their Somali patriotism and pride. The heroic leaders of the Islamic courts can’t be bought with few pennies by our neighboring detractors. The courts had already won our hearts and mind because of their determination of pacifying the areas under their control. Their success of ousting the cruel warlords and, above all, the impetus they had to restore the peace in Mogadishu defined them as the real deal. The achievement they have brought into much of southern Somalis could be summed up as spellbound miracle. For that, I still have a higher regard for our Wadaado for that impressive accomplishment and I think the Wadaado are so far our best hope to recover from the self-inflicted wounds of failure and statelessness. Maybe, they are the real transition to democracy, peace and stability in Somalia. Nonetheless, I am little bit apprehensive with our Wadaado warrior mentality to dialogue. The quick call to wage Jihad on the warlords in Baidao and the invading Tigre hordes, as the TFG protectors, is very tempestuous to say the least. Instead of bolstering the sudden peace on their expanse home turf, Mogdishu and much of the south, our spirited Wadaado, blinded by their sudden sway on Somali politics, are bound and determined to wrestle with the TFG devils in Baidoa. Because of gullibility and outright futility, I hope against hope that things could change a little bit. I hope our gallant Wadaado will think over this risky approach of attacking Baidoa and thus not fall to the Ethiopian Dictator’s trap. So far, Meles has outwitted Somalis of all political persuasions. He ingeniously managed to provoke the Islamic Courts to declare Jihad against Ethiopia with the hope of warding off and externalizing his internal woes and homegrown opposition. By this threat from the “Islamists”, the Ethiopian dictator, by design, gains a domestic and nationalistic sympathy from his subjects. True that Meles Zenawi gave the courts the perfect pretext to fight to the end to liberate their land from an Ethiopian hegemony. Meles have studied the fierce pride of the Somalis while he was a rebel guest of Siad Barre’s regime and thus exactly mastered how to pull the right strings to invoke the Somali ire. And that is why he forced our sanctified Wadaado to so amiably extend him the provocation of war in the name of Jihad. Thus, now we are technically at war with ourselves and with our intrusive neighbors. Meles, the Ethiopian dictator’s thousands of militarized peasants are already in our soil to back an already weakened and ostracized warlord regime. But the paradoxical farce is even if the Wadaado attack Baidoa, the TFG warlords are no where to be found. They have already departed the city, trekking around the world. The TFG president is taking a break from his Baidoa prison and is in China to take part the China-Africa trade summit. I wonder what a military man will sell to lure the emerging giants of the east to invest in a chaotic and unstable Somalia.Talk about mistaken priorities! Maybe, it would have a good gesture if he had included few business-minded and entrepreneurial Wadaado in his delegation to China. The TFG's foreign Minister is in London to unthinkably plea with the British to recognize the secession of its Ex-Colony from the rest of Somalia. Talk about a subversive duplicity! And I bet the accidental novice prime minister is either in Nairobi or Addis Ababa to shine his IGAD master’s boots. Talk about a loyal conformity! Sidee xeero lagu xagtaa ilkana ku nabad galaan: Instead of offence, an alternative approach the Islamic courts could employ to further weaken the already weak TFG is possibly to enforce the economic sanctions they have previously declared against Baidoa. Or perchance they could bring the many good and sympathetic parliamentarians in Baidoa to their fold and gradually convert them to their celebrated cause. But if the Islamic Court’s logic is the warlords in Baidoa are not smarter than the ousted Mogadishu buffoons, it is emphatically prudent to engage the Ethiopian invaders in a very desolate territory far from Mogadishu. Still it is going to be a disastrous gamble. The grave consequences of such war are definitely not that encouraging. I hope the courts are not accepting the resigned and fatalistic wisdom of waxba dhowran meynee alloow dhagaxyo soo daadi or Kala bax kitaabadaa qaba! In conclusion, Somalia is the land that proves that it is possible to be both a warmonger and a leader at the same time. Not one practical blueprint for peace comes out of the muddled minds of the primitive tribal chiefs of Somalia. In reality, that is what our self-styled leaders are, tribal chiefs who still live in the stone ages of darkness and debauchery. No matter what they call themselves, wadaado, waxgarad, warato, waranlayaal, wariyayaal, or warlords, they are still Geeljirayaal and Burcad: warring camel-herders and marauders who know only how to pillage and plunder. Sadly the loot is and has always been Maandeeq: Somalia. In order to have the supreme power in the land of the living dead, a land already dubbed hell on earth; blood must be always shed to justify these labels.The lack of finding the middle ground and the lack of wisdom to avoid face-to-face catastrophic war is why after many years of failure and collapse, our people are cursed with unremitting clannish conflicts and wars. All the repetitive political deadlocks and many ensuing peace conferences in distand lands point toward the inescapable fact that peace and unity are already placed in a Somali deeply digged grave. If this predictable carnage is not averted, we will be dealing a very frightening calamity. So it is opportune of Somalis of goodwill to intervene before it’s too late. It is clear our neighboring enemies and other meddling actors set us on a collision course of bloodletting and chaos. The litany of all this despair is that the blood thirsty Somali leaders learn how to avoid another senseless bloodshed. I hope we are not geared for a more violent and bloody regional rumble. Shaacir Mataan abaadir2002@yahoo.com

Kuma aflagaadeen walaloo ha ii gefin. Asalaamu Calaykum.

Hadaad dooneyso dadkaga iney hor'umaraan, waxad taageertaa dowlada la soo sameeyey. Prentending as someone who knows what is good for Somalis by asking us to support a movement that would introduce a totalitarian regime is a crime. The courts, should they be interested in going to the good page of Somali history, should assist the transitional government. I know they know peace is central to our faith and life. They must not go after a centralized government by means of warlordism. The warlords, powerless they were, pursued the same rule and their manifest pursuit died hard. However, if courts walk on the same road, they will be plunged into an intermitent, clannish war. As was explained by Eqbal Ahmad and in reflection of the courts' actions, "The phenomenon distorts religion, debases tradition, and twists the political process whereever it unfolds.....the modern Islamist are concerned with power, not with the soul; with the mobilization of people for political purposes rather than with sharing and alleviating their sufferings and aspiratons. Theirs is a very limited and time-bound political agenda" I hope you get the gist of that message. The Islamic courts are better defined by a modern Islamist-cum warlordism. God bless Somalia

About Abdullahi Yusuf getting red carpet treatment, he does not need a red carpet. What he needs is to wear a macaawis and cimaamah and declare an islamic court in Baidhoba. In another thread, you opined the president terminate his government and install courts. Does your message carry truthfulness that what you preach here is what you want Somalis to know. You pretend a lot.

Caaqil, adiga ma isku dartay dadka aan la qancin karin?

Originally posted by Nayruus: Duke, Mele Zanawi haddii uu fiiisaha u soo qaado wuu iska tagi karaa shirka........wataa caddatey in uusan wax citiraaf ah ka haysan shiinaha...ma hubtaa in uusan ahayn wakiil sharaf ka socda sayidkiisa Mele Zanaawi? Oo uu sidaa ku galay sawirka? President of of the presidential office ... something like that!!! I searched the article posted by Dhahar. I don't know how in the world they gave this article the wrong date. The article was written on 2003 China-Africa Economic Forum. Official website China recognizes the transitional government and the president. I raised a conscious question because I knew the content of that article was outdated. Dhahar site has at my best guess become anti-TFG.

Caqil, Are you anarchist?

Talks on the sidelines of the summit among east African leaders are likely to be heavily dominated by the crisis in Somalia, where the transitional government is facing the threat of further attacks by the Union of Islamic Courts. Business Day I don't understand, how will the east African leaders tackle the threats of Islamic Courts?

China has completed ahead of schedule the debt exemption on all 32 African countries except Somali where a unified central government has not been established. Link China recognizes no Somali government or is it?

SOMALIA IS GONE FOR GOOD, UNLESS … Saturday, June 17, 2006 The mixed feelings of many Somalis and the international community about the new developments in Mogadishu northwards are not only justified, but clearly raise a cause for concern. What had seemingly started as a rebellion by the masses of Mogadishu against the control of the alleged US-supported warlords may now transpire into a headless, leaderless uprising all over the country. That should have been expected. An alliance of the warlords, with the US and Ethiopia in the mix of actors, is a natural anathema in Mogadishu, especially with the Islamists in the helm. The containment of the fire started in Mogadishu now very much depends on the ‘Puntland’ and “Somaliland’ administrations ability to avoid its spreading into the whole country. However, there is no telling if these two clan-based administrations could stand against what some Somalis already call a “kacdoonâ€â€”a revolution. It is also unlikely that the so-called Islamists will ever come to negotiate with anyone. But even if they do, they will never be able to deliver. They neither have the right leadership nor the organization to do so. At best, they are loosely related, not even connected, religious sects, which are also structured by kinship. The only thing that unites them is a common enemy—the warlords, the TFG, secularism, and anything remotely to do with Ethiopia, the US and the Western world. Hardly can the Transitional Federal Government, based in Baidoa, stand against them militarily, or can persuade them diplomatically, on its own, either. The fact that Sheik Sharif Ahmed has refused the mediation of the Yemen is already telling. Let us just hope upon hope that the Islamists do not attack Baidoa; or that some stu'pid local cleric does not claim his own “Court†in there, to complicate matters. Suddenly Somalia is a multi-headed monster. The renewed American interest in the Somali question—which comes too late—is neither very clear nor immediately encouraging. At best, the contact group is a matter of an exploratory expedition. Several flaws are already apparent, which are indicative of the continued confused stance of the US policy towards Somalia. The Contact Group mechanism does not reflect the urgency required to curbing the influence of those war-profiteers and warlords turned Islamists. It is not so much that the Mogadishu gangs, turned Islamists, have the military power to conquer the whole country. It is just that they establish an encouraging example for every power hungry cleric to claim a “Court†as is already happening in places north of Mogadishu. These comics have three mechanisms in their advantage: (a) the good will of the population to anything labeled Islamic (b) the public jubilation over the fall of the dreaded warlords (3) the media support in so far as the BBC Somali Service is concerned, which has shown more than tacit support for the so-called “Alliance of the Islamic Courtsâ€. The BBC, Somali Services, is headed by one Yusuf Garad who uses the Institution as a tool for his ****** sub-lineage and who, by all indications, currently and rightly sees the new uprising as practically an opportunity for the Cayr domination of Somali politics—an effort which had once failed under Abdiqasim’s presidency of the former Transitional Federal Government. What the world does not know is the fact that the so-called uprising is immediately a matter of an intra-****** civil war disguised as an Islamist revolution by some. The ****** family sub-clan (*****) spearheading the upheaval have already been in control of a large junk of the country between Mogadishu and Kismayo, 500 km. South. Locals of the area in their control are already complaining that the ****** militia have conscribed their youth for the war, against the will of the people, and in the name of Islam. Alternatively, these kids, poor and impoverished, see an opportunity in the bandwagon to feed themselves, at a minimum. Hardly do they have any idea of what they are into. So far, the new American policy posture towards Somalia is focused on efforts to drum support for the “federal institutions†of Somalia. I do not know what to read into this phraseology; but it definitely falls short of explicit support to the Transitional Federal Government. In fact, the Contact Group, by its composition, alienates all the relevant countries, sub-regional and regional groups, as well as the international organizations immediately concerned and traditionally interested in the Somali question—except perhaps, that is, Italy and the UK. I do not know what to make of this either. It gives mixed signals to the TFG and its friends all over the world. Unfortunately, the same policy has encouraged Sheikh Shariif and his mob to advance on more localities north of Mogadishu. It seems that the US policy has hopped from support to the infamous warlords, which has brought about the current failure, to providing an unintended support to those Islamists-feigning gangs. It is understandable that the US is probing the political mood all over the place before it can pledge support to the TFG. However, treating other entities such as the “Islamic Courtsâ€â€”which, at best, symbolize very local initiatives and sharing nothing but the past misery of the Somalia population between themselves—as an equal to the TFG is a greater mistake. It is tantamount to that, now defunct, earlier policy of supporting the warlords. The TFG, I believe, could fare much better than the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan under the current circumstances of Somalia. If the US is fully supporting those, the advantages are greater, if they do the same in Somalia and support the TFG now rather than later. The concern about the position of “Somaliland†in the mix of things, at this juncture, if at all, should be minimal and should be shoved to the back bench. It is true that there are some governments who are sympathetic towards the position of “Somalilandâ€. “Somaliland†will, however, cease to exist if a popular uprising erupts in the North, any way, which is about the only good thing that the “Islamists†can bring about, short of a disaster to Somalia. In fact, Somalia will fall into a greater abyss, if it falls into the hands of these mobs, with or without them sponsoring terrorism. But the concern that the immediate and explicit support to the TFG, by the US, may bring about the same result as in the lack of it is genuine. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, it would be prudent if the US would put its weight and will behind the TFG, which is already internationally supported. On balance, it might work as the better option in the immediate term. At a minimum, that may trim the claimed jurisdiction of the “Islamists†and their advances into other parts of the country. Such a policy would also, not only streamline the focus and inputs of the international community into the ongoing process of reconciliation; but would give the TFG enough clout to goad the “Islamists†and other challenging entities to seek to negotiate with it. More importantly, it would present the TFG as a clean-cut option for the people to choose vis-à -vis the “Islamistsâ€, if they so wish. So, the US should make hay while the sun shines. Otherwise, SOMALIA IS GONE FOR GOOD, UNLESS …, as the title, above, says: …GOD SAVES IT from its own. Abdalla A. Hirad E-Mail:MHirad@aol.com http://www.wardheernews.com/Articles_06/june_06/17_Somalia.is.gone.for.good_A.Hirad.html ______________ No explicit clan names. [ June 18, 2006, 01:57: Message edited by: Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar ]

AN APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN UNION IN RESPONSE TO THE ICG REPORT By: The Unionists of Northern Somalia (UNS) June 03, 2006 Your Excellency, We, the Unionists of Northern Somalia (UNS), a newly formed Somali group, wish to express our shock and disappointment at the position taken by the International Crisis Group (ICG) in relation to the Somali crisis. Their report: “Somaliland: Time for African Union Leadership", which reads as an open letter to the AU, stands for non other than dismembering our country—the Somali Republic. We believe that the African Department of the ICG has lost its credibility on the question of Somalia. The ICG Report, we believe, is mainly contaminated by the influence of individuals such as Suliman Baldo and Matt Bryden. It is noteworthy that the latter of these two individuals is married into “Somalilandâ€, and particularly into a ‘zip code’, which staunchly supports the secession. Both of these individuals have, in the past, openly drummed up support for the secession of “Somalilandâ€, and, therefore, the dismemberment of the Somali Republic. Marrying into a different nationality offers a lot of opportunities to both sides, but does not, should not include, helping to dismember the entity into which one marries. Indeed, with all its benefits, marriage does not, should not, necessarily become a ticket to cause havoc and turmoil in one’s new community of in-laws. Marriage should not either be exploited as an opportunity to destructively delve into the affairs of the nation of one’s in-laws with a view to fulfill inbred or unwittingly acquired imperialistic tendencies and objectives by individuals, such is what Mr. Matt Bryden’s actions reflect. Their new found skills to speak the Somali language, does not give them the authority to claim expertise on the Somali affairs, either. These individuals, and similar others from other organizations, have become a plague in the politics of our nation and are misrepresenting themselves by claiming to be authorities on the Somali affairs. They advise on policy without ever having the moral realism, deep understanding and/or the intellectual or emotional capacity that one requires to appreciate the issues and questions facing a nation—including its history and the depth of interdependencies between the sectors of its beautiful people. The ICG should therefore review its stance on the inputs provided by such individuals as Suliman Baldo and Matt Bryden. “Somaliland†is part and parcel of the Somali Republic. The members of the UNS are all Somalis, originally, from that part of Somalia which the ICG calls “Somalilandâ€, we repeat. We wish to inform the world that “Somaliland†is a misnomer for our North West region of Somalia, formerly, the British Protectorate of Somaliland. The protectorate re-amalgamated with the Italian Somaliland, an Italian trusteeship, upon their independence on 26 June and July 1, 1960, respectively. We are glad that the ICG has finally come to reckon with the voice of the unionists of the North West of Somalia, albeit, it calls us a “small but vocal minorityâ€. That description in itself is suggestive of the bias of the ICG towards the secession. We wonder why! Far from being a minority, those who reject the secession in the NW comprise not only the regions of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Cayn, but also the silent majority of the people of the Awdal region, to the west of Hargeisa. Even the population at the heart of the area calling for the secession—namely the triangle between Hargeisa, Berbera and Burao—is far from being monolithic on that stance. A significant segment of the population, among the clan spearheading the secession, is questioning the motto and rationale of the secession, if not indeed vehemently objecting to it. The ICG knows this for a fact; but deliberately ignores it or maliciously conceals it. Again, we wonder why! The Transitional Federal Government (TFG), although at an embryonic stage, is a representative government in which the people of the North West are equitably represented in both its legislative and executive branches. It is not a “government of the South†as the ICG advances. This confirms the fact that the people of the North West region are divided on the secession. The point further confirms that the conflict is more regional than it is national in this respect. Hence, there is no evidence that the TFG will ever attack its people in the North West, as the ICG Report openly and maliciously predicts. In our considered view, there shall never be an attack on the North West from the TFG—which neither has the warewithal nor the intention to do so. Hence, the call for intervention on the AU, by the ICG, is a misconception, at best, if not a deliberate piece of sophistry at dismembering Somalia, on the part of the ICG. Otherwise, there would be no other way for them to conceive of a Somalia at war with one of its regions—a region already proposed for autonomy under the new Federal Constitution. Hence, the intervention of the AU, if at all, in this matter, should be one in which the august organization of Africa would encourage, consolidate and complete the reconciliation process commenced in Embagathi, the Republic of Kenya, and build on its fruits, as founded under the aegis of the sub-region of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and conceived by delegations from all over Somalia, including the North West. We urge IGAD, the African Union (AU), the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the European Union (EU) and the Security Council of the United Nations to unequivocally condemn the Report of the ICG, since it merely and staunchly call for the dismemberment of Somalia, contrary to the position of all these distinguished international bodies. We urge our brethren in the North West not to succumb to the callous and irresponsible action taken by the ICG in producing such a report in an attempt to sow discord within the Somali nation. We, instead, pray that our people everywhere come together to prevent any such calamitous option of war which the ICG looks forward to instigate We pray that things never escalate to a situation where there will be war to settle the differences, on other side. On the contrary, we are indeed worried that, if recognition for “Somaliland†is propelled forward, as the ICG group seems to advocate, the result may become a rekindled civil war within “Somaliland†itself—a region which has hitherto been the envy of many other regions in terms of peace and stability. Further more, such violence can spill over the border with Ethiopia. All must know that the peace in “Somaliland†is only as delicate as a spider’s web, built, indeed, on the tolerance of the unity-oriented community of the region from all clans. An illegal and reckless push towards the secession can cause renewed tension and violence. The last thing Somalia, as it is, needs is the instigation of war, such is what the ICG Report may do. The ICG should, hence, publicly withdraw its proposal and apologize to Somalia and the international community for this reckless action. Excellency, therefore, the ICG cannot act as an honest broker to suggest solutions on the Somali question, at all, lest we become prey to its un-objective advice and dishonest designs. The Unionists of Northern Somalia (UNS)

Art, I gather you are an investor , so why are you interested in this risky project. If you can diversify your portfolio or change your investment to a promosing company , It might be fine return for your money, but your coming here to avert or convey a positive image for the Range company, it will not help.

Red Sea, You right it wasn't air bombardment but a land and sea bombardment on the coastal towns of Bereda and Bander Kasim. Again, I have made another error since I was writing from my memory. Bargal and Alula weren't bombarded but were where the colonial army confiscated 500 rifles and 30,000 cartridges. Every thing then was resolved at the Convntion of Bender Olok on 18 August 1901.

Paragon, I agree with Xiin. That is the most painful argument I have ever seen. You equate Somali unity to tribalism whereas Sub-lands and the dismembering of Somalia appear to you the best way forward for the Somali people. I don't know why the achievement of some individuals/heroes can be steered into a created myth when in fact that past achievements, some unheralded, came naturally. You have to know sections of our people, or clans, have come/came into contact with civilization longer before other sections. Thus, Sultanates, the rise of nationalism ,etc. pre-nationalism era of Ahmed Gurey, were all dominated by sections. Now this is where things change on the wrong thinking to you and the secessionists that you see it coming again in its former shape or type. The OBBIA sultanate, for instance, ruled as far s Bulo Burti and Belet Wen. It was one of the three protectorates that existed prior to Somali government. Every thing took on a wrong turn after the WWII when Italy was defeated and its influence weakened. If you ask questions like where was the first place to be bombarded, the answer that comes first to our mind is Taleh, then Gidali, then Badhan. But, It was Bargal and Alula in the North Eastern region that Italians used air bombardment in April 1901 in a punitive expedition to stop the penetration of the North Eastern Sultanate into Obbio. The colonial administration also created another Protectorate, the Nogal protectorate after the Illig Agreement with Sayid in which he was given an expansive territory and access to a port. It later collapsed after the English retreated from the interior of British Somaliland to the coast for the lack of a defense budget for its colonial interest. [A. Baldini, Somalia Italiana, in Enciclopedia Italiana, XXXII, 115."] All of these protectorates are defined by their colonial history. Somalia is indivisible no matter how long

The e-mail threats came after LaasQoreNet translated the interview Ade Muse, the governor of Puntland, gave to the BBC Somali service in a News format. Below is the translation. Range Resources is gun toting gang, said by President Adde Muse of Puntland state to BBC-Somali service. May, 2006 BBC- The Somalia service:- Range Resources is gun toting gang and mafia of first class, they do carrying guns on their shoulders and we knew about it while choosing them. “We chose them knowing about their Mafia, gang type characteristics, we knew they are armed and carry guns on their shouldersâ€, said by Mr. Adde Muse of Puntland. "We did not have many choices as the oil magnate did not want to talk to us directly due to the situation in Somalia, instead we chose this gang knowing their background and arms, we knew it and took the risk since giant oil companies were not willing to come in," he continued. He also mentioned that despite their unknown background, the fact that they are a tinny company and their mafia role, yet he believes that range resources may succeed to attract some oil companies. The BBC correspondent then asked the question to the Head of Somalia Parliament, “Sir, now that the president of Puntland informed us about the gangster motives of Range Resources and specially that they are fully armed, what will be the TFG standâ€?. The visiting head of Parliament of Somalia (TFG) Mr. Sharrif Hassan, similar to all the other delegates, was not prepared for this sudden and unexpected change of mood of his host, so in order not to cause any further embarrassment to the many astonished audience, he diplomatically mentioned that Somalia Federal Government will soon have subsoil and mineral laws that will be passed by the parliament and since all Somalis are represented at the Parliament, the law will be for the one and the only Somalia in this world. The unexpected, sudden, frank and true words of the Puntland president about Range Resources, created uproar and disbelief equally to both those who were supporting the deal and those who were apposing it, while Adde’s sudden truth exposed Range Resource in big time specially as far as their credibility and legal stand point is concerned. This sudden comments from president Adde Muse, is preceded by the recent press conference made by Mr. Liban Boqor, representative of the president , nephew and now Range Resources board member who publicly admitted about the death of 7 people after Range Resources security guards were attacked by what he called villagers. This seems to be a major blow to Range Resources’s public denial reported to Sydney Morning Herald on 18th April, where the executive chairman of range resources Mr. Mike Povey is reported to have said “No one killed in Puntland operations, Range insistsâ€. President Adde’s interview with BBC provided volunteered and substantial evidence beyond doubt that Range Resources is armed and had direct role in what happened at Majiyahan and elsewhere in Puntland. For a sometime, most of the families who either lost loved ones or were displaced, during the attacks of militia loyal to Adde Muse and Range Resources ,were preparing a law suit against Range Resources for their direct involvement in the battles that took place at Majiyahan and caused death to more than 20 people and displaced thousands of villagers. This also includes the intended motion at Somali TFG parliament prepared and filled by representatives from Puntland state, asking the Australian government to compensate the death and displacement suffering caused by Range Resources. http://www.bbc.co.uk/somali/somali_1400.ram Laasqoraynet, Bosaso , Somalia.

On top of the Constitutional violations that the TFG officials commited, Somali sites are now being attacked to cease and desist from writing on the controversial deals to dissuade investors and stakeholders from the reality on the ground. Certainly they have felt the heat and want desperately to restore the status quoe ante to their advantage. Inevitably, new clans have entered into the picture and are now very sensitive of the would-be exploitation of their natural resources by a few rogue officials under the banner of TFG and Puntland for their earthly vanities and greed. http://www.garoweonline.com/2004pro/index.php?id=3744 http://www.laasqoray.net/view_article.php?articleid=496

The whole country is in deep political turmoil, fratricidal war, and irreversible anarchy, the remnants of which warlords and their allies have agreed to devour in the swiftest possible time they can achieve. The TFG has lost all its credibility by retrogressing into the status of a government that exists only on a white paper that even the U.S sees it as the least power or interest group it can lay its eyes on. So since every one is shifting for himself or for his temporary friends, you shouldn't expect something out of which comes a constructive result = peace and viable government. There have been accusations and counter-accusations as to how they can share and benefit from the international aid money, illicit oil deals and what have you. Hirad poses several questions which I believe everyone agrees with. "I am sure the people of Somalia deserve an explanation as to what is going on from. PM Geddi. Therefore, the Prime Minister owes it to the people to explain what is going on with his relations or that of the TFG with Ethiopia and other countries in the region including Egypt, Eritrea and Libya. Why is Ethiopia sending presents to Mogadishu? Why have the Americans chosen the warlords over his government to “fight terrorâ€, so to speak? Why do the Ethiopians have a high level Ambassador in Hargeisa? Why would Adde Muse visit Addis Ababa without the knowledge of his government? Sheriff Hassan and his parliament ought to demand of the Prime Minister to answer these questions and many more, on behalf of the nation. Somalia: The Dillema of the TFG

The Illusory "SOMALILAND" Setting the Record Straight http://wardheernews.com/Articles_06/may_06/ILLUSORY__SOMALILAND.pdf By Northern Somali Peace and Unity (NSPU)