Great comment by Libaax. He came there without any change of view, I think. Zaylici, we will see but his unexpected arrival in Mogadisho seems to be a muscle flexing on his side. He is there to remove the AU by force and dislodge the TFG in the process.

I remembered Mohamoud Gaildon's, the author of ***** in Las Burgabo, about an article he talks of these fake acrynyms and tribal organizations. He said something of this sort. 'What was Democratic about SSDF, National about SNM, Patriotic about SPM, United about USC.' Lol

No end in sight to our mayhem. Our problems are both structural and attitude. Let me try to inject my thoughts from an objective perspective, using this particular case as a springboard to highlight the nature of this incidence, and its recurring mode. In Post-anarchy Somalia, the people of Bulo-Haji have been denied of their long kinship ties with the Northerners, perhaps, in an attempt to pigeonjole this great clan into a corner of isolation. I think It's a matter of hidden agenda for land grabbing, and Territorial competition for political survival. The alternative side of this apparent denial subjected on the people of Bulo-haji and Jubooyinka is nothing but fear. Fear that they will form majority in the region and then launch a political campaign to preside over the administration and polity of Jubba-land. Otherwise, there is nothing else to explain this prevalent politics of denial against rer Cabdale Biroole and Qooqaani. They produced Somali heroes from the day Somalia's struggle for an Independence began. And they have thus far maintained an amicable and peaceful environment with their neighbours throughout the 18 years of tribal war. The Founder of the Great Somalia League, Haji Mohammed, was born of reer Bulo-Haji, though he was born and grew up in Xamar. His party was critical in the Greater Somalia Ideaology and had once wrung SYL members out of their excesses after they were suspected of leaning towards the colonial schemes of Somalia's divide and rule. Consequently, as it was then, there is no need to defend an indefensible act of aggression by an unholy alliance of an Islamist group. This conflict is no more unusual than the endless violence that marked the Deep South over scarce resources such as Banana and Charcoal. One group tries to invade another clan's territory under the pretext of civilizing administration and then establish a dominion or control over them. This is done, as it has been, to win political participation of future Somali Government. But, the consequences of such attempts have always been disastrous to the Nation and the Somali Republic. The sooner we allow people their rights and respect and recognize their traditional territory the better we find a comprehensive solution for Somalia's long Anarchy.

Every warlord is a Sheikh now huh?

Originally posted by Ashkiro: quote: Originally posted by XamarGalle: [ Ignorance is the enemy of love by Faarax M.J. Cawl. I was like Hayem, reading this book in the end. It has tragic end. [/QB] Where can I find this book? (I've looked everywhere) [/QB]Ashkiro, it's hard to find this book. Hopefully someone might republish it. If you are still going to school, see if your Uni has Interlibrary Loan (ILL)program with other colleges. First, Go to your school's research database and access WORLDCAT, which is a catalog search engine. Type the exact above title and the author. Then try to order it through interlibrary loan. If your school has a copy of it, good luck other wise, borrow from whichever school has it through this program. That is how I get it back in 2005. Great book sis.

Lol @ I sold the sea to Kenya book by Shariif.

Well said moonlight. The implementation of Sharia law is the way forward, but its application needs circumspection and careful deliberation and established national judges with great credentials of religious background and probity, who can understand time's prerequisites. Good Times and circumstances of the past have dramatically shifted towards a chaotic world and a world of dishonesty and perfidy, greed and poverty. It's hard to implement the application of the cutting of hands for a mere shoplifting given the circumstances we are in. Human beings are fallible, judgemental, biased, subjective and divided over the complete and fair interpretation of the laws of Allah according to the right circumstances. Case in point is the stonning of the 16 yearl girl--that we all wept and grieved for her great deal of suffering--under the shaddow of the power struggle between the opposing forces of the TFG. Look at how the scarcity of trustworthiness rooted in our culture today manifest itself from the past. When an English traveler under the contractual service of the Common Wealth Ministry visited Sanaag in 1843, he was marveled at the hospitality and extreme honesty of the inhabitants. He reported that "to call a man thief is a deadly insult to be washed by blood alone." That you could leave your personal property in an open marketplace with high concentration of particapants without having to worry about their loss was the norm. Compare that era to the present one, you are hardly equipped with such thoughts of complete integrity with todays' people.

Mintid is becoming too desperate and clownish. Keep distorting the content of the article. As for the three ships held in Sanaag, there is a lot of evidence of toxic waste by the Italian tugboat and acts of illegal, pirate fishing by the Egyptians, that were discovered by the locals. This evidence will be forwarded and even access will be given to any technical fact finding team, preferably from the UN.

Mintid, the fact is Puntland needs help, for its Government still lacks the full capacity to deal with pirates that have now grown more powerful and stronger. To deal with the issue, help, or at least try to, strengthen Puntland security forces, which is admitted to be stronger and more legitimate than the fragile TFG in Mogadishu.

Somalia's piracy offers lessons on Governance The unanimous passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1851, in December 2008 authorising members to take all necessary actions against Somali piracy has been cited as a rare instance of the Councils' decisiveness and unity. International anti-piracy operations off Somalia have attracted multinational media attention and have largely been heralded as a noble effort to protect the global commons. The unanimous passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1851, in December 2008 authorising members to take all necessary actions against Somali piracy has been cited as a rare instance of the Councils decisiveness and unity. A closer consideration of the issues involved, on the contrary, reveals it to be pyrrhic victory that masks long-term failure in local and international governance that would ensure continued insecurity. The wave of piracy off Somalia began in 1991 following the collapse of the Barre regime. Dumping of toxic and hazardous wastes by international companies (possibly with organised crime involvement) increased. Unlicensed foreign fishing vessels eagerly targeted Somalia`s fish-rich waters.Local fishermen claimed that foreign boats use intimidation tactics such as ramming and hiring local militants to harass. them. In response, disaffected fishermen then began attacking foreign vessels in the early 1990s, ultimately leading to full-scale piracy and hostage-taking. In 2005, a UN agency estimated that 700 foreign fishing vessels were operating in Somali waters, many employing illegal and destructive fishing methods. In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a coalition of Islamist courts (that had sprung up to provide local law and order after 1991) seeking to create an Islamic state, seized power in most of southern Somalia. They reasserted some control over Somali waters: foreign incursions and piracy declined. Ethiopia (supported by the USA and the West) invaded Somalia in order to oust the ICU. After the ICUs ouster the chaos off Somalis increased. Fishermen fruitlessly complained to the UN about renewed poaching and dumping. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, UN Special Envoy for Somalia, in July 2008 called the situation ...a disaster off the Somali coast, a disaster (for) the Somali environment, (and) the Somali population. The situation that developed has been described by Peter Lehr, of St. Andrews University, as a resource swap with Somalis taking $100 million annually in ransoms while Europeans and Asian poach $300 million in fish. What began as a defensive movement by local fishermen has evolved into a complex amalgamation of banditry, organised crime, freebooting, and insurgency targeting all types of vessels from fishing trawlers to oil tankers. Somali waters emerged as the hotbed of piracy, accounting for close to 32% of attacks reported globally between January and September 2008. Some fishermen independently attack foreign vessels, others join well-organised pirate groups consisting of criminal gangs, warlords, and clan militias who in turn attack foreign vessels, local fishermen, and each other.The failed governance of the country also comes into play. Officials from Somalia`s semi-autonomous region of Puntland issue licences to foreign vessels that then employ pirates as security. With local and Diaspora businessmen and clan leaders providing logistics and capital to pirates Puntlands coastal cities are experiencing a piracy fuelled economic boom. Pirates masquerade as Robin Hood-like defenders of Somalia, supposedly protecting the country from exploitation.The surge in piracy warrants immediate security measures, but ultimately calls for a comprehensive approach that mixes hard and soft measures, similar to that advocated by counterinsurgency experts. In this case, such an approach should have a long-term focus on seeking a political solution to Somalis turmoil, effective governance and promoting economic development. Intermediate efforts would focus on assisting Puntland which is the epicentre of piracy and has a somewhat dysfunctional government. In his briefing on Resolution 1851, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon did emphasise, Anti-piracy efforts, therefore, must be placed in a comprehensive approach that fostered an inclusive peace process in Somalia and assisted the parties to rebuild security, governance capacity, addressed human rights issues, and harnessed economic opportunities throughout the country. The Secretary-General also noted that he appealed to 50 countries to commit resources for a broader multinational force for Somalia, yet he could find no state willing to take the lead. The international response has been almost entirely naval. At least 20 countries have committed or promised ships for what, on the surface, looks like a 19th century punitive expedition where the strong collude to protect their economic interests while protecting civilising efforts (in this case delivery of food aid). While over half the nations contributing ships are major global or Indian Ocean fishing nations; none have offered significant resources to help address the deeper roots of piracy. This military-centric approach erodes the legitimacy of international operations and instead creates anti-imperialist responses that help fuel extremism and discontent. **Al-Jazeera**, for instance, has taken up the Robin Hood theme reporting that ...pirates were victims of a US-EU run system that still uses the developing world as a dumping ground for toxic waste. One commentary posted on 12 June, 2008 alleged: The dumping continues to this day, even though we have been assured that were living in a post racial era following the election of Barak Obama...that rule doesn`t apply to the many black and brown people who still find themselves in the imperial crosshairs. The fact remains that the UN has failed to include in its Resolution 1851 the enforcement of Somalia`s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or the relevant convention that bars dumping of toxic waste. What insights can be gleaned from this situation? A cynical view suggests that the powerful still prefer military approaches to problems rather than measures requiring broader, multifaceted solutions. A more charitable assessment would suggest that, intent and rhetoric to the contrary, the capacity and will to tackle every problem comprehensively does not yet exist. Reality undoubtedly lies somewhere in the middle. Three points stand-out. First, it is now assumed axiomatic that ungoverned or under-governed spaces have become breeding grounds for rogue groups threatening the international community and global economic system. However, this assumption is incomplete. Weakly governed and failed states are often themselves victimised by foreigners. Second, that the nature of warfare has changed is another accepted truth. War is no longer characterised primarily by conventional clashes between states, but fought amongst the people by combatants including not only states but hybrid networks of, criminal gangs, insurgents and international terrorists. In this situation military force alone is not sufficient to combat such threats; it should be employed to support political solutions and human security. This, however, requires non-military capabilities, resources, patience, and political and public will that are often lacking. Third, despite the prevalence of rhetoric about preventing threats through human security, states often resort to application of force in pursuit of short-term self-interests. Ultimately, the will and capacity to pursue comprehensive strategies that protect both the winners and losers of globalisation appear insufficient. This begs the question of whether the global commons really can be secured for the common good. Yet such a question must be answered soon as global inequalities, economic recession, degradation of and competition over natural resources, climate change, and demographic pressures threaten not just the weak but all humanity. (The writer is Associate Professor, National Security Affairs, at the US Naval War College. from Yale Global Online)©

InshaAllah. We have to fight for our political independence and Territory, land and sea..

Thanks Somalid.

Ahmed Gurey, the Somali leader,lived in the 16th century. He was 18-19 years of age when his Muslim army defeated the Abyssinians.

Yeah I give him credit for his patience and tenacity to seek Change.

Duke, Mr. Siilaanyo has already said he does not recognize the secessionist dream on April 6. No wonder Warlord Riyaale and his henchmen are troubled by that , hence the resort to arbitrary detention of the peacemakers and raids on Kulmiye offices. Lol

LST, why have you removed Xaabbo?

Originally posted by Libaax-Sankataabte: Another LST update from Paradise. This is a development out in the suburb of Mogadishu today. It gives you a glimpse of what Somalis are capable of when their peace is not disturbed. [/qb] Unbelievable!!

An Open Letter to President Barack Obama President Barack Hussein Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 by Heikal Kenneded April 16, 2009 Dear Mr. President: I am writing this letter to raise my profound concern for the piracy off the Somali coast. As a Somali American, like so many others throughout the world, I find these desperate acts by Somali youths - hijacking ships traveling on the Indian Ocean, nothing else but a cry for help. As you are fully aware, Somalia is an utterly failed state in which there’s virtually no infrastructure, education, nor employment because there's been no effective central government for the past two decades. In effect, the self-perpetuating violence has facilitated lawlessness to flourish throughout the country. In a failed Somali state, piracy has become the last resort for survival for many unemployed young people. In fact, piracy threatens Somalia more than any other nation in the world by depriving the country’s poorest of much needed food aid. Previous U.S. administrations went the wrong way about untangling the failed Somali state by either turning a deaf ear to the country’s total collapse, or by engaging in unnecessary proxy wars that caused the loss of life and displacement of thousands of people. These wrong policies eventually backfired and emboldened religious fundamentalists linked to Al-Qaeda and other extremist elements in the country that are determined to Talibanize Somalia. The upcoming Somali donors’ conference in Brussels, Belgium, at which the US will be represented by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is definitely a step in the right direction. Like many intractable crises around the world, the U.S. and the world community should, in this case, use more carrots than sticks in resolving the Somali piracy situation. In a country with a history of clan feud and religious intolerance, there are no easy fixes. In other words, stabilizing Somalia should not also be all about engagement and generous aid, but it should also involve accountability in bringing to justice those who are bent on killing the innocent and profiteering from the status quo of violence and lawlessness. I am fully aware that, with a deteriorating global economic crisis, and enduring challenges in other hot zones around the world, unraveling the Somali piracy crisis will need to compete with a host of other priorities on your agenda. However, as you work on other global priorities, I would urge you to review policy reform in regards to fighting terrorism and piracy in the Horn of Africa, and in your engagement with progressive leaders in both the Somali Diaspora and from Somalia. In conclusion, I recognize it’s tempting to send more naval warships to fight off piracy and keep the sea-lanes in the in the Indian Ocean a little bit safer , but it would not be wise because this might escalate the violent attacks of merchant ships along the Gulf of Aden. Instead, the long term solution to Somalia’s deep ailments is achieved by engaging other helpful nations in the Horn and effective Somali leaders to establish a peaceful nation with itself and with the rest of the world community. Finally, a stable Somali nation-state, with a strong army, will eventually deprive the pirates of safe sanctuary to hide and carry out their illegal activities. At the same time, the Somali people will no longer starve because of such disruption of aid and commerce to the country. Sincerely yours, Heikal Kenneded Washington D.C. heikalk@yahoo.com

How Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia Became a Large-Scale Criminal Enterprise Source: Business News Network

Blessed, when was the last time u went to ur hometown?

Cara, my position has always been a comprehensive and peaceful solution and attending to the root cause of Somalia's sea piracy, not military solution. The pirates(former fishermen) do not act as if the end justifies the means. They claim to levy tax on ships that illegally fish on Somali waters for the last 18 years and to deter private and leased ships contracted to dump toxic waste. They hold both the crew and cargo, betting on the cargo more than the crew, and the more valuable the cargo is, the more money they demand. That is how they measure their demand in exchange for the crews and cargo. For instance, their monetary demand for the release of the Ukrainian ship laden with Russian-made tanks bound for Southern Sudan via Mombasa was priced by the pirates based on the market value of the tanks. Same as the Suadi supertanker. Yet the pirates do not mistreat or kill their hostages despite the illegality of the acts of piracy on the high seas. However, I don't see the legal justification for killing them and dumping their bodies on the sea. Or signing bilateral deal to set up secret prisons in poor countries with terrible record of human rights violations. I don't also see the justification for locating the solution of this problem outside its root cause. The UN resolution clearly violates Somalia's Sovereignty by allowing Nato and the Navy of other powerful countries to invade Somalia while in pursuit of sea pirates in safe havens, whereas the Council hardly addresses the big trawlers that scrape the bottom of our coast clean, drastically endangering the marine ecosystem of Somalia. The drug industry flourishes in Mexico with daily killings of innocent civilians, but no country ever suggests to bombard towns and villages where this activity is rampant. Endorsing the attacking of villages and towns for stopping piracy and ending safe havens is not the solution and it leads to more anti-americanism.

Terrible action by Mr. Riyoole. thanks duke for the news.

"Blow them up? Use an A-bomb? Invade their country? Yet again, aggressive war-like Americans want to use force and kill thousands. Instead of letting each company be responsible for its own security, Americans call for more taxpayer money to be spent murdering more around the globe. The pirates violate the property rights of other, for sure, and this is immoral, but they don't kill people. So the proper response to a violation of property rights is killing? Let each company provide its own security." link

^JB believes the thugs and warlords of Hargeisa are true cabinet ministers of an existing country.

“I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest-wage country is impeccable, and we should face up to that. I’ve always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted.” He said he was being sarcastic. Very shocking words by Summers. Narrow U.S interest trampls on human morality. It has always been like that.