You disappointed me. Besides, you resorted to personal insults, remarks like 'sucking thumbs in public forum'. In the first accord, the courts and the government agreed to have joint police and military and not capturing cities out of their jurisdiction. It seems they have violated that accord. I don't know how the next reconciliation meeting, scheduleed Oct. 30 for powersharing, will go into consideration when the first one didn't even materialize.

^^What structure? educate me? Btw, use[........]if you are cutting off my statement above.

RedMan, Abdilahi Yusuf accomplished something of that sort which accrued to his credit before he became president. Now that everything is in peace in Mogadisho, the courts should also be the president of Somalia, from Hargeisa to Kismayo. Is that your belief? However, Abdillahi is leading proportional goverment of over 250 members whereas the courts, except one, are associated with one clan only and its sub clans. Each court tries its own members, sometimes, if not all the time, leading to a contraversial decision when it comes to members of the minority.[the above article] Abdilaahi Yusuf refrains from violent means of achieving things though he is well armed and has behind the alleged support of Ethiopian troops whereas the courts accuse everyone who is not part of them of working with the devils and should be eradicated in the swiftest possible means.

"As for this article, what it shows is and has been clear to all sane people." That was my understandnig of the article but the guys and girls of pro courts did the biased selections of minor things while bypassing his thesis and major points.

Is this the darkness you're talking about. Aminarts paints reality all the time altho he has his shortcomings sometimes as every human being.

Waa xagee meeshaasi?

"Anyone who underlines(mines) the success of the ICU, is in serious darkness, what is not serious about that son?" underlines or undermines? Or you mean both?

Somalia: Baidao will fall soon and we don’t recognize the UN – Hassan Turki Tue. October 24, 2006 12:54 pm. (SomaliNet) Number-two leader of the Islamic Courts Mr. Hassan Turki announced his organization’s immediate intention to chase President Abdulahi Yusuf and his powerless government out of Baydhabo in the coming days. In a telephone interview with Horn Afrik radio in Mogadishu, he said the southern part of the country is in our hands and we are going to Burao (in Somaliland) and Galkaio (in Puntland). Mr. Turki who is now in a small town near Kenyan border said we don’t recognize the United Nations as it has become American interest group. When asked if the Islamic Courts are worrying about possible external intervention such as African Union troops, he replied with “We have enough power to defeat anyoneâ€. Sheik Turki also talked about his view on the US and accused America of labeling Muslim people as terrorists. He was equally critical on the United Nations whose agencies he said are corrupt and lie about Somali refugees in Kenya. "They repatriate Somali refugees back to Somalia and return them back into Kenya only to open new accounts and misuse more money by claiming more influx of refugees. United Nations is a corrupt organization." He said. . In a confident tone, Mr. Turki promised to bring all Somalia under his organization’s rule and declared war on self declared Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland. The Islamic Courts seem to be unstoppable and the neighboring countries are unease about Somalia’s current situation. Ethiopia and Eritrea are both accused of meddling with Somalia civil war although no concrete prove has been presented on the Eritrean side. Somaliland and Puntland administrations have ample time to prepare themselves for possible showdown with the Islamists as their hands are now full with the federal government and other foes in the south. Both Sheik Hassan Turki and his boss, Sheik Aweys are on international terrorist list by the US State Department.

Walaahi somalida waa cajaaib. any issue that is being discussed on this board, someone comes out of the woodwork claiming to represent one element of the participants of, say, a contemporary conflict. We had an Aussi shareholder, Eritrean with a name like esterie, and now Oromia.

Wiilo, oo ma adaa ka nadiifinayaa mise adeeradaa? Red Sea, horta ninyahoo ma geed hoostiis baad ku dhalatey. You take things seriously even if it takes you to write 2.5 meaningless pages for a small viewpoint someone writes on the board.

You will come to know soon the truculent devil or the veiled devil, which one is the real one. The article has some mechanical problems but it carries honest and objective analysis. The Islamists like to call their usurpation of power as a popular uprising but the refugee camps in Kenya have more than double in size since the Islamic Courts came to power because of large numbers of people fleeing the dreary future waiting for them. Popular uprisings, as we have seen in Ukraine and elsewhere, do not use militia and firepower to subdue opponents. Goth

Taaladii Sayidka miyaa.

"He may be stealing the spotlight from his bosses in MOG. Bad idea. I already see pro-ICU sites such as Onkod spewing criticism against him." Libax, anticipate conflict of interest eh

Somalis don’t need relapse into a civil war By Liban Ahmed Somalis have had enough civil wars. The tribulations Somalis have been through since 1991 should weigh heavily on the mind of any leader contemplating a civil war. War between forces of the Union of Islamic Courts and Transitional Federal Government troops will deal a massive blow to the legitimacy of the weak Transitional Federal Government. The TFG can try to avert a deadly war if the president and prime Minster remember that theirs is a government of reconciliation. Reconciliation needs a mindset that is hardly a rabble-rouser’s. The assassination attempt on the life the president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, was a sad event. Leaders of the Islamic Courts have distanced themselves from the assassination. In the absence of Criminal Investigation Department in Somalia, it is difficult to pin the blame on anyone except terrorists. Since 2004 the TFG has been beset by the dame problems that made the Transitional National Government of Somalia led by President Abdulqasim Salat (2000-2004) stillborn. These problems range from powerful warlords and visionless leaders to squabbling and scheming parliamentarians. The verdict on the TFG will be harsher than the one reserved for the TNG because the TFG has had plenty of time to learn from the mistakes of the TNG. The neighbouring countries are arguably on its side as well. Talks in Danger Since end of the first phase of Khartoum peace talks, new events have taken place: Kismaayo city fell into the hands of the Union of Islamic Courts. The TFG wants the forces of the Courts to leave Kismaayo and other regions they conquered since August. It is a tough precondition that does not show readiness to share power on the part of the TFG leadership. Why does the TFG want Barre Hiraale, the Minister for Defence, to recapture Kismaayo?. At the height of the war between the vanquished warlords and Islamic Courts, the TFG made it clear that the Mogadishu war was not a war between Anti-terrorism Alliance—the name warlords used in an attempt to rebrand themselves—and terrorists. The TFG stance was a sound basis for negotiation. Who has blown this chance? The TFG has a moral duty to accept the facts on the ground and avoid using the language that was discredited by the warlords: calling Union of Islamic Courts terrorists. Deployment of Peace-keeping forces is a matter that can be dealt with through negotiation. Some people argue that any parliamentary volte-face on the peace-keeping troops is an unwise decision that can put the credibility of the Somali parliament at risk. I beg to differ. The credibility of the parliament and leaders will always depend on their ability to address legitimate questions posed by the power brokers. President Abdullahi Yusuf has a large role to play in this matter. The Islamic Courts have won the hearts and minds of many people who were bedevilled by lawlessness. That is where their power base lies. President Abdullahi Yusuf rose to prominence through the establishment Puntland Regional Administration. Recognising the contribution of the Islamic Courts in terms of pacifying one-time lawless Mogadishu is a step in the peaceful direction. The president’s and TFG’s legacy depend on development of a strategy that is based on reconciliation. The TFG ought to consider extending the olive branch to the Islamic Courts for the sake of war weary Somalis. Liban Ahmad E-mail: libahm@gmail.com

Libaax, you shouldn't have deleted that thread of Eritrea pictures? I was about to post my reply lol

duuliye, we are not here to judge who is good and who is not, but who is flaming fire, who is inviting war, who is transgressing into far and far distances unaware of the consequence of their actions, and finally who in the middle of Ramadan have created more refugees and starvation? The bad president has been avoiding war and still asks for a conciliatory attitude from his tribesmen. Why are they so extreme and aggressive?

Ciid Mubaarak

SOMALIA: ISLAMIST LEADERS SAY ATTACK ON INTERIM GOVERNMENT IMMINENT Mogadishu, October 23, 2006 (AKi) - Fighters from the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) are planning an attack on the seat of Somalia's interim government located in the provincial town of Baidoa, unnamed members of the UIC leadership have told pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat. The UIC - which has consolidated its control over much of southern Somalia after seizing Mogadishu in June - believes pro-government Ethopian troops are stationed in Baidoa. Arabic satellite TV network Al-Jazeera reported Islamist fighters were re-approaching the town of Burhakaba, some 60 kilometres south of Baidoa, after government forces took the town on Saturday following clashes with Islamist forces. Ethiopian soldiers are said to have helped the Somali government troops, and the UIC claims Ethiopian forces have in recent days been threatening the cities it controls. The interim government has repeatedly denied its has any Ethiopian troops on its side. The Ethiopian government also denies its troops are present in Somalia, but diplomatic sources quoted by BBC estimate that 6,000-8,000 Ethiopians are now inside Somalia, bolstering the government's faltering control. Some 2,000 fully equipped Eritrean soldiers are also involved in the current conflict in Somalia, ranged on the side of the UIC, according to analysts. Both sides in the Somali struggle for power are reported to have major outside backers: Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen supporting the interim government; and Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States aiding the UIC. Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has been without an effective national government since 1991 when military dictator Siad Barre was ousted. Source:Adnkronosinternational (AKI)

Ilahow hanaga yaabin. Are you amazed of the possible intervention to protect the transitional government from your horrid military advancement into its temporary and peaceful city,Baidabo----a reminiscent experience to many of the horrors of the civil war in the 90s. What is holding the courts to initiate things that are of paramount importance , such as social services, education, heightening of the security of Madina district in Mogadisho, transfering adminstrative positions and power to the locals in Merka, Barawe, Qoryoley and Janale???

Between Warlords and the Clan Islamic Courts - a choice between Pest and Cholera Ali Osman Samater Dearest country men and women, I must admit to you that I was not happy about the fact that the clan organized Islamic courts or Islamists groups took over the power in Mogadishu after they have defeated all notorious warlords in the trouble town of Somalia. However, the so-called new conquerors of Mogadishu are not new to me. May be they can present themselves as pragmatic Muslims to someone who don’t know them but for me and for many of my ideological brothers and sisters, these guys are the old and well know murders of Mogadishu. Every honest Somali knows that the new masters in Mogadishu took a major part of the mass killings of innocent people in Mogadishu for the last decade and a half. They are responsible for a systematic and organized assassination of many engaged Somali intellectuals in Mogadishu for the last 15 years. They are responsible for hundreds of controversial so-called court decisions that have been exclusively applied to minorities groups only. Hundreds of young and poor boys from the minority groups in Mogadishu lost their weak hands simply because they have stolen tomato from a market or a mobile phone from a shop. It is undisputable that thieves from the major rivaling clans in Mogadishu were excluded from all that draconic religious punishments. In Mercca and Baraawa, self declared Sheikhs and Allah warriors took the property of the native clans and compelled them to work for them as fishers, farmers and in Mogadishu nearly every thing belong illegally to them. More than a half of the previous state properties and buildings are in the hands of the clan Islamic courts and groups. It is true that the new religious political power in Mogadishu are inter-related with many other fanatics in all over Somalia included the Northwest of Somalia, through a sophisticated business and religious network. The Mullahs of Mogadishu and their friends own the most profitable Enterprises and productive land in south Somalia to-day. The Mullah clique in Somalia applies two effective strategies in order to achieve their bloody profit oriented targets. In the first instance, they organize brutal militia on the bases of their clans. Secondly, they propagate religious propaganda so that the poor people are narcotized and they don’t feel the pain when Mr. Indhacade for example wants to rube the properties of the weak people. In Qoryole area for example, the people in that area became literally slaves in their own villages. The new masters in Qoryole are well organized on clan bases and armed with motorized techniques. Brutal killers known as militia compel hundreds of families to work in the Banana Farms and pay illegal taxes. The militias of the new masters in Mogadischu are primitive, brutal and criminal. It is reported by international NGOs that the Militia loyal to Mr. Indhacade kill every day one member of innocent Jerer-Ween Somali farmers in their homes or farms between Mogadishu and Kismayo area. Islamists did not win the war against the warlords only but they also won the indoctrination of a whole nation. The Somali Muslim version was known long enough as the most liberal one in African and the Arabic world. Today, Organized Islamists groups are dominating the daily life of the people in Somalia. In the Koran schools of Mogadishu, Islamic groups produce their future killing machines. Somali women, whom Brother Bashir Goth once correctly describes them as the bread winners of the Nation are the mostly misused and manipulated group by the Islamists in our country. The Islamic groups are not feeding our nation like our sisters and mothers are doing between Zeila and Kismayo. In the contrary, they are parasites living from the blood of our people just like the warlords. Some of our Somali intellectual has a very short memory because they have almost forgotten that the warlords and the Islamic business establishment in Mogadishu had a year ago a common interest and a common enemy.. Their common major enemy was for a year his Excellency the President of Somalia Mr. Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed and his Excellency the premier Minister of Somalia Dr Ali Mohamed Gedi. However, as we know and witnessed many political coalitions and criminal partnerships collapsed in Mogadishu for the last 15 years. I am expecting that the recent armed conflict in Mogadishu which is not yet over will bring a new criminal clan coalition in the ex-capital of Somalia. For example, Osman Atto’s new proclamation in the BBC Somali section today were he says that he handed over the largest part of his militia arsenal to the Clan organized court militia is smiling after a new dirty clan coalition and that underlines my thesis. The choice between the Warlords and the clan Islamic courts is a choice between Pest and Cholera. Finally, if the Islamist groups are truly not interested in establishing a new Taliban State in Somalia, they have to talk immediately to the TFG and remove all their militia from the town and be ready to hand over all the clan arms first to a neutral International Institution.. Any other Friday speeches in the countless Mosques of Mogadishu from the Clan Islamic courts will be considered as a lie and has absolutely nothing to do with my Islamic believe/faith and they will never be my heroes. Ali Osman Samater E-Mail:Osmansamater@yahoo.com

Xiin , why xaal, misspellings is part of our every day writing process. btw, i didn't know I was correct, just making sure.

Xiin, I agree with this little statement that opened Hirad's article. The question is not about religion. It was never about religion. The question is about power. Who will rule? Who will be ruled? Will it be the ballot? Will it be the bullet and the barrel of the gun?†Inshallah, I will present my researched Idea on this as I have now slaving schedule in the next two days. This is also PartII assessment of Prof. Kinfe Abraha. BTw, it is published today by Africa Online Most of the Islamic courts have expressed a clear desire to promote Islamic law rather than clan allegiance, which has divided Somalis over the past 15 years. Nevertheless, all but one of the 11 courts is associated with just one clan - the ******, who dominate the capital, but they are divided into sub-clans. In order to avoid accusations of clan bias, each court tries members of its sub-clan, wherever alleged crimes are committed. Some clan elders in north Mogadishu have now set up their own court, independent of the union. The TFG has over 250 members, not all of them are warlords. In fact, a great deal of them over 80% are regular citizens, representives of every clan. That Shows the TFG is trying to function toward the bedrock of democracy. And most of the defeated warlords aren't even with the Gov. They are somewhere fishing for their own survival. I am just against this whole unapplicable fear of Ethiopia as a design to perpetuate hate towards the TFG and garner unsuspecting support from the public. But the public is not as gullible as they may thought to be. It will take time for them to recognize the real threat of their existance, whether it be a TFG supported by Ethiopia or the one-clan Courts supported by a host of countries from Middle East and Eritrea.

And why are you mad? I might not even know whether mine is correct. It is just an inquiry as I love the Somali literature.

^^is it caqleed or caqlaad

Muraad, That art by Amir depicts the early victories of the UIC and the high hopes it ensued. Have you checked his recent paintings of the UIC, or you wish him curse. Typically, we all seem to receive gladly and eagerly whatever that praises our political ambitions. If this signature you have is true about the warlords that were chased by the Supreme of Islamic Courts, what makes his other artistic expressions insufficient? I give Xaal if my judgement is wrong, but it is time we should all address the wrongs and the underground motive of their goals.