Any time Qoorshel, i must inform my people with usefull articles.

Duke, you never know, the author refers to potential effect, the slow genocide that it may cause on Somali people. The first article is more critical .

Secrets About Somali Annihilation and The Indonesian Tsunami Faisal Roble March 19, 2005 In Nuruddin Farah's novel, “Secrets,†we learn that Somalis have layers of, cultural, clan, family and individual secrets. They can hold and stay tight-lipped about these secrets, which if unveiled could have repercussions for many years. The society is so secrecy-ridden that even the deadly AIDS is given the code name “caateeye,†or the “slim disease.†In this way, neither the killer disease nor the identity of the soon-to-die patient is revealed. Every now and then, though, unexpected social or natural waves come around and stir up the state of secrecy, throw out every thing in to the open air, and expose the collective guilt of the society. It is only after such happenings that what was yesterday's secret becomes today's much talked about subject. For Somali society, it is not uncommon that someone would learn about the divorce of his/her mother and father only when the patriarch is on his deathbed. Likewise, Somalis have recently found that the Indonesian Tsunami in December stirred up the nuclear and other toxic waste materials that had lain secretly undisturbed in the Somali shores for more than a decade. Jonathan Clayton of Johannesburg, referring to United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), says that “initial reports indicate that the Tsunami waves broke open containers full of toxic waste and scattered the contents†which include “everything from medical waste to chemicals.†Not secret anymore is the serious diseases that nuclear and waste materials, dumped in this stateless, ancient land of northeast Africa, can cause both in the short- and long-term. When these materials come in contact with humans, never-seen before diseases will come part of our not-so-secret vocabularies. As graphically described in M. Gaildon's article, “Radio Active Waste on the Shores: A Call for Action†(Wardheernews, March 12, 2005), hematopoietic syndrome, neurological disorder, ulcer bleeding, revulsion and gene mutations are some of the terminologies we need to familiarize ourselves with. And worse, “low levels of radiation†from these materials “can induce cancer and lead to gene alteration in “cells, … or cell killing.†This certainly terrifies us all! But the real secret that is yet to be revealed is who are those western companies that have taken advantage of this nation – a nation that has lately been inflicted with another damning disease, known as self-hating syndrome (Said Samatar) and laid down the foundation of what could be the annihilation of millions of innocent citizens? And who are the local agents who have collaborated with greedy, old dead white men-owned multinationals that have decided to potentially poison the pristine Somali shores. We must look for answers to Italy's Famiglia Cristiana newspaper and to the Greenpeace party. As Clyton describes it, in 1997 and 1998, the Greenpeace and the Famiglia Cristiana “jointly investigated a serious of articles†that placed the Italian waste broker, Progresso, in the center of our secret dumping. And, boom, in the center of this secret episode is our own North Mogadishu warlord, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, and his government, who accepted $80 million in exchange of 10 million tones of toxic materials dumped in Somalia's shores. And more secret dumping and the murder of journalists, as reported by VOA, March 16, 2005, is done under the current Mogadishu warlords who are yet to be scrutinized. As to past Mafia secrets in Somalia, we turn to a less known, but fascinating article (Horn of Africa journal, 1982) written by G. Miller, a medical anthropologist. In it, he presented a persuasive case that Italian Mafia fully controlled Somalia's fruits export, insurance business, livestock and pharmaceutical plants, thereby documenting how Somalia's plants had been processed by European pharmaceutical companies into some of the widely used medical drugs. This is a secret that could only be stirred up by another force as powerful as the Indonesian Tsunami that just blew up the cover off of one our deadliest secrets – the nuclear and waste dumpsites in our own (shore) backyard. Mr. Gaildon, in his short, yet critical article, advanced some valuable recommendations and has already planted the seeds for a plan of action to deal with this predicament. The UN and the European Union are identified as the agents for future clean up. In addition, I would like to recommend the following: • A team of Somali and non-Somali legal experts must be identified to follow up and contact the Famiglia Cristiana and the Italian Greenpeace to build on what these groups have so far done. Make all those involved accountable for recent and past dumps and have them reveal all that they know. • The Transitional Federal Government of Cabdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister CAli Maxammed Geedi, if it ever survives, shall establish special czar to work on this matter with the UN and EU for a comprehensive clean up program. • The Somali nationals whose relatives have fallen victim of this deliberate poisoning in the hands of multinational companies must seek and retain legal representation here in the west with the decided goal to seek compensation for their impacted relatives. • For this is a sinister and a racist deliberate action against the stateless, and helpless African Somalis, Somali community groups in the U.S.A. must publicize and disseminate information about this issue, particularly among the African American communities in major cities. Transafrica must be contacted to publicize this matter. Secrets take their own toll. This time around, the secret dumping of toxic and nuclear waste materials in Somalia's shore is expected to exact a much serious toll on both Somalis and the people in the region that may even change our daily health and medical vocabularies for a long time to come. If not quickly addressed, the West would certainly be watching CNN airing of the death of many Somalis and other East Africans in mass. Faisal Roble E-mail: fabroble@aol.com

Radioactive Waste on the Shores: A Call for Action Dr. Mohamoud A. Gaildon March 12, 2005 The reports of bleeding, abdominal pain and, more recently, death of people who had been exposed to waste washed ashore by the tsunami waves are alarming. To explain why, let me provide a brief description of the effects of radiation. Low levels of radiation can induce cancer and lead to gene alteration in cells. These are delayed effects that can take decades to develop. The hallmark of high levels of radiation, on the other hand, is cell killing. A small part of an organ can (unless it is a serial structure like the spinal cord) take a lethal dose of radiation. (This is what radiotherapy is all about: killing the tumor and, with it, some surrounding healthy tissue, with radiation). Irradiating the total body, however, is a different matter. Hiroshima , Nagasaki , and the Chernobyl nuclear accident, along with experiments on animals, have supplied us with abundant data on clinical response when the whole body is subjected to high levels of radiation. Acute radiation syndrome, as this condition is called, manifests itself (in order of increasing severity) as hematopoietic (mainly affecting bone marrow), gastrointestinal, and neurovascular syndromes. Mostly, healthy adults with proper medical care can survive low levels of radiation damage to the bone marrow, an appreciably increased risk of leukemia not withstanding. But severe damage to the bone marrow is almost always fatal. Platelet loss leads to bleeding, while the depletion of white cells causes infection. It is the combined effect of the bleeding and the infection that leads to death. The next level of ARS (acute radiation syndrome) is gastrointestinal syndrome. The intestines suffer ulceration and hemorrhage, and the damage to the bone marrow is even more severe than with hematopoietic syndrome. Death occurs within 3 to 10 days after exposure. Neurovascular syndrome, the most severe form of ARS, gives little chance for the lower levels of ARS to take hold as the victim goes into severe neurological disorder and cardiovascular shock. Death occurs within 2 to 3 days. Now, I hope, you can forgive me if in the beginning of the article I came across as too much of an alarmist. The reported symptoms are consistent with exposure to lethal levels of radiation. What is more, this is surely only the tip of an iceberg, and maybe a whiff from hell. Just how much nuclear waste is out there and exactly where are only two of the many unknowns. How many victims will die from radiation overexposure today, tomorrow, next month, next year, twenty years from now, fifty years from now, or centuries from now? How many will suffer and die slow deaths from radiation-induced cancer, ten years from now…fifty years from now…a hundred…? How many children will grow up, if you can call it growing up, mentally retarded? The daunting list of questions can continue, but at the risk of turning it into an overkill. Then What? What Should We Do Now? • Dispatch a team to survey the suspected areas. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE UN. For now, it is not necessary to have an accurate and detailed study. We just need to confirm the presence of significant levels of radiation. The instruments needed are inexpensive hand-held Geiger-Mueller survey meters and ionization chambers. We will also need to secure personnel monitoring film badges; • If the presence of high levels of radiation is confirmed, there is only one of two choices: a) do nothing and leave tens of thousands of poor, unsuspecting Somalis at the mercy of an enemy they cannot see, touch or smell; or b) mount a rescue operation by mass-evacuation of the local populations to nearby towns and regions. How? I do not know. At the very least, children and pregnant women must be rescued. Then What? • Fence off areas with significant quantities of radioactive material; • Bring together a team of Somali scientists, engineers, doctors, environmentalists, lawyers and official representatives from the affected areas. The mission of committee would be to study and work on the issue for decades; • Responsible companies should be held accountable. We should seek the help of European environmentalists to bring them to court. The offending companies should divulge crucial information (exactly what has been disposed of and where) and make monetary compensation for damages caused to local populations and to the environment. Payments should be used for the benefit of affected populations alone; • Ask the UN and the European Union to shoulder cleanup work, both offshore and onshore. This will most likely be a long-term, massive project, which may never be complete; • Devise ways to educate the local populations on the dangers of radiation. If they have to go into an area suspected of contamination, time (seconds) and distance are of the essence. Children under the age of 18 and women of childbearing age should never venture into a suspected area. NO ONE SHOULD GO INTO AN AREA KNOWN TO BE CONTAMINATED. This is an attempt on my part to draw the collective attention of all Somalis to the grave danger this matter presents. WE HAVE A MORAL DUTY OT ACT NOW. Mohamoud A. Gaildon Medical Physicist Atlanta , Georgia mgaildon@aol.com

Today, irrespective of past affinity, all these groups are using Ethiopia as their bogyman to get to the top price and that is derailing Abdulahi Yusuf's government. They all have somehow agreed to shame Ethiopia not because they love Ethiopia any less, but because they hate what Ethiopia is doing for Abdullahi Yusuf more. It is a reminiscent of Shake Spear's assessment of the Rome of Caesar's killing of Brutus when he wrote: “It is not that I Love you any less, but that I love Rome more.†Though this premise seems conclusive remarks of the status of the government today, it is not true at all. Somalis envison a positive development in their government's work to relocate to Somalia despite the contraversial peacekeepers from Ethiopia. The author touches the political reality of Somalia since 1980s that has forsooth engendered the erosion of Somali nationalism(Killing innocent Somalis viewed as enemy combatant by Ethiopia) and growth for parochial, clannish motives .

Warlords Don't Love Ethiopia Any Less But Hate Yusuf More By Faisal Roble March 21, 2005 The story of Somali collective memory is told and retold as being short and selective. Here is another variation of such a story pertaining to the controversy about Ethiopian peacekeeping mission in Somalia. In the 1980s, the Somali National Movement (SNM), the United Somali Congress (USC), and the Somali Salivation Democratic Front (SSDF) were all housed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They all collaborated to overthrow Mohamed Siad Barre, the late dictator that ruled Somalia from 1969 to 1990. Most of the constituents that these movements claimed to have represented showed or seemed to have shown a high degree of affinity towards Ethiopia throughout the last 20 or so years, a period that has one of the lowest points and marked the speedy erosion of Somali nationalism. One way that the above-mentioned groups and their followers showed gratitude towards Ethiopia was carried: By helping the late Ethiopian dictator Megistu Haile Mariam to dismantle Somalia and create what has since then deteriorated to the current disarticulated stateless nation; By killing and or throwing Somali Galbeed refugees out of their respective districts. In Mogadishu, for example, helpless civilians who hailed from the Somali Region of Ethiopia were killed mercilessly during the early years of Somalia's civil war. In Jalalaqsi refugee camps, hundreds of people were beheaded and thrown to the Shabelle river and were denied any proper Islamic burial ceremony. In Hargeisa, thousands of refugees were slaughtered in what was called the Dam, or “Biyo xidheen.†And not many refugees went to Garowe or Bossaso, although these cities were as hostile when one looks that the sternest verbal abuses came from these regions. And so far, neither Ethiopia nor its yesteryear's or today's allies in Somalia has raised this human tragedy. Somalilanders are on the record to say that they loved Ethiopia more than their own Somali brethren inside and outside of the republic. This sentiment is represented by one of the leader of Somaliland, Faysal Cali Warabe's [in] famous saying: “a boy born in Hargeisa has more commonality with one born in Addis Ababa than one in Mogadishu.†In the case of USC supporters, love for Ethiopia was captured by a pamphlet that I read in the early years of the 1990s that said some thing akin to “Hobyo port for Ethiopia.†As a result, the late General Caydid used to be the only warlord who received in Ethiopia with a red carpet stretched out to his Pole Airport arrivals. As to Garowe's loyalty to Ethiopia, retelling the story here would be an overkill. Suffice it to say Bosaaso port is almost to replace the role Berbera had hitherto played for Ethiopia. Today, irrespective of past affinity, all these groups are using Ethiopia as their bogyman to get to the top price and that is derailing Abdulahi Yusuf's government. They all have somehow agreed to shame Ethiopia not because they love Ethiopia any less, but because they hate what Ethiopia is doing for Abdullahi Yusuf more. It is a reminiscent of Shake Spear's assessment of the Rome of Caesar's killing of Brutus when he wrote: “It is not that I Love you any less, but that I love Rome more.†One Somalilander Website (Awdelnews) ran an editorial (Ethiopia as an enemy is engraved in the collective memory of Somali people) and went as far as suggesting that Ethiopia's animosity with the Somali people goes back to the war of Imam Ahmed Gurey in the 15 th Century. That is precisely the case. But, can one talk about Ethiopia's animosity and its role to stunt Somali national aspirations, and then let have Ethiopia train its navy at the coast of Berbera at will? Other websites prematurely wrote in droves op-ed pieces to condemn Ethiopia as Somalia's eternal enemy while Yalaxow was telling the press that Ethiopia had in the past supplied weapons to himself (Yalaxow), Aidid, Qanyare and of course Abdullahi Yusuf. In another instance, one Somalilander, who recently decried about Ethiopian troops as peacekeepers in Somalia, once equated the search for Somali unity to racial purity, hence equating greater Somali nationalism with racism. To make matters worse, this piece was posted on Ethiopian websites! Where does really Ethiopia fit in each group's particular and narrow agenda? As the Somali clan politics shifts like the weather of London, we may never give a precise and short answer to this question. It is intriguingly puzzling, however, to know that Ethiopia, as an old and more complex country, correctly reads the uncontrollable and immature emotions of Somalis for the authorities in Addis Ababa refer to Somalis as a simplistic tribal groups, as in “ armane ya Somale Zalan gosawoch,†pagan Somali tribal groups. As such, Ethiopia perhaps reads where every one of these different interest groups stands and it claims to understand their agenda in the current fiasco. The issue of Ethiopian peacekeeping mission in Somalia itself is as strange as Ahmed Silanyo of Kulmiye party carrying the banner for the reinstitution of the former Democratic Republic of Somalia. That does not mean all of the critics of Ethiopian peace mission in Somalia do not have merit. Some of them may have. However, painting Ethiopia as a cruel colonial force that is Somalia's eternal enemy is quite a laughable matter. Did we suddenly wake up as of January 2005 from the slumber that Dr. Ali Abdul Rahman Hersi, a genuine proponent of Somali nationalism and critic of Ethiopian intervention all along, identified as a plague in today's Somalia? All of the groups beating the drum against Ethiopia have in the past used or are still using Ethiopia (as in the case of Puntlanders and Somalilander) as their friend to weaken Somali nationalism. As viciously as clannish Somali clans and groups are, the current controversy surrounding Ethiopian peacekeeping mission is a classical case where a Somali clan or a political group would use anything at its disposal to advance its narrow tribal interest, even if that is smoking up the nation. And one may suspect that the rest of the world, with the exception of some gullible western liberal groups like the International Crisis Group (ICG), sees said controversy as one of the many manifestations of Somalia's clan politics. If so, the entire Ethiopian bashing is nothing more than a political gymnastics by one political group against another. What is disheartening is that Somalis in Ethiopia have lost what is estimated to be a third of their land in a sham plebiscite this past October that the Ethiopian parliament hastily rubber-stamped. Not a single Somali group, party or news group ever mentioned this historical miscarriage of justice with the exception of Wardheernews. Ethiopia is carrying the most comprehensive land grabbing policy Most of the groups shedding crocodile tears have their own hidden agenda about their bone of contention with Ethiopia, but are masquerading it as Somali nationalism Having said this, I join those on the other side of the fence and argue that Ethiopia may not be the right force to enforce either disarmament or peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Ethiopia is already, though, in Somaliland, Puntland, Hiiraan region, Baydhabo. Worse, Ethiopian Airlines have been flying into Somali cities, violating its air space for a number of years. But, the very forces that have destroyed anything that was good about being Somali must not opportunistically use the cause of Somali nationalism in their political gymnastics to reach their parochial agenda. Using Ethiopia as the bogyman must not be read outside the web of clan politics. To maximize one's clanist agenda, no stone is usually left unturned and that is the story of the 1980s and 1990s that would be told and retold. The Ethiopian bogyman is nothing more than one such a stone to be turned by as many groups and individuals as we have seen within the last two weeks. This is the real story retold, unflattering as it may sound. Faisal Roble E-mail: Fabroble@aol.com Source: WARDHEERNEWS.COM

Thanks Duke.

Good news Duke. Peace and prosperity to Somalia

Duke, The article is powerfully preemptive against potential eradication of Somalia from the map of the world. ___________________________________________ UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Council Resolves To Ensure 'Secure Environment' in Somalia RECOGNIZING the unique character of the present situation in Somalia and mindful of its deteriorating, complex and extraordinary nature, requiring an immediate and exceptional response, DETERMINING that the magnitude of the human tragedy caused by the conflict in Somalia , further exacerbated by the obstacles being created to the distribution of humanitarian assistance, constitutes a threat to international peace and security, GRAVELY ALARMED by the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia and UNDERLINING the urgent need for the quick delivery of humanitarian assistance in the whole country, NOTING the efforts of the League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, and in particular the proposal made by its chairman at the 47th regular session of the General Assembly for the organization of an international conference, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other regional agencies and arrangements to promote reconciliation and political settlement in Somalia and to address the humanitarian needs of the people of that country, COMMENDING the ongoing efforts of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and humanitarian organizations and of non- governmental organizations and of states to ensure delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia , RESPONDING to the urgent calls from Somalia for the international community to take measures to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia , EXPRESSING GRAVE ALARM at continuing reports of widespread violations of international humanitarian law occurring in Somalia , including reports of violence and threats of violence against personnel participating lawfully in impartial humanitarian relief activities; deliberate attacks on non- combatants, relief consignments and vehicles, and medical relief facilities; and impeding the delivery of food and medical supplies essential for the survival of the civilian population, DISMAYED by the continuation of conditions that impede the delivery of humanitarian supplies to destinations within Somalia , and in particular reports of looting of relief supplies destined for starving people, attacks on aircraft and ships bringing in humanitarian relief supplies, and attacks on the Pakistani UNOSOM (United Nations Operation in Somalia ) contingent in Mogadishu, TAKING NOTE with appreciation of the letters of the Secretary-General of 24 November 1992 (S/24859) and of 29 November (S/24868), SHARING the Secretary-General's assessment that the situation in Somalia is intolerable and that it has become necessary to review the basic premises and principles of the U.N. effort in Somalia , and that UNOSOM's existing course would not in present circumstances be an adequate response to the tragedy in Somalia , DETERMINED to establish as soon as possible the necessary conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance wherever needed in Somalia , in conformity with resolutions 751 (1992) and 767 (1992), NOTING the offer by member States aimed at establishing a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia as soon as possible, DETERMINED FURTHER to restore peace, stability, and law and order with a view to facilitating the process of a political settlement under the auspices of the United Nations, aimed at national reconciliation in Somalia , and encouraging the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to undertake at all stages work at the national and regional levels to promote these objectives; RECOGNIZING that the people of Somalia bear ultimate responsibility for the reconstruction of their own country, 1. REAFFIRMS its demand that all parties, movements and factions in Somalia immediately cease hostilities, maintain a cease-fire throughout the country, and cooperate with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General as well as with the military forces to be established pursuant to the authorization given in paragraph 10 below in order to promote the process of relief distribution, reconciliation and political settlement in Somalia ; 2. DEMANDS that all parties, movements and factions in Somalia take all measures necessary to facilitate the efforts of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Somalia ; 3. ALSO DEMANDS that all parties, movements and factions in Somalia take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of United Nations and all other personnel engaged in the delivery of humanitarian asssitance, including the military forces to be established pursuant to the authorization given in paragraph 10 below. 4. FURTHER DEMANDS that all parties, movements and factions in Somalia immediately cease and desist from all breaches of international humanitarian law, including from actions such as those described above; 5. STRONGLY CONDEMNS all violations of international humanitarian law occurring in Somalia , including in particular the deliberate impeding of the delivery of food and medical supplies essential for the survival of the civilian population, and AFFIRMS that those who commit or order the commission of such acts will be held individually responsible of such acts; 6. DECIDES that the operations and the further deployment of the 3,500 personnel of the United Nations Operation in Somalia OS . . . authorized by paragraph 3 of Resolution 775 (1992) should proceed at the discretion of the Secretary-General in the light of his assessment of conditions on the ground; and requests him to keep the (Security) Council informed and to make such recommendations as may be appropriate for the fulfillment of its mandate where conditions permit; 7. ENDORSES the recommendations by the Secretary-General in his letter (S/24868) that action under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations should be taken in order to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia as soon as possible; 8. WELCOMES the offer by member States described in the Secretary-General's letter to the Council of 29 November 1992 concerning the establishment of an operation to create such a secure environment; 9. WELCOMES also offers by other member States to participate in that operation; 10. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, AUTHORIZES the Secretary-General and member States cooperating to implement the offer referred to in paragraph 8 above to use all necessary means to establish as soon as possible a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia ; 11. CALLS upon all member States which are in a position to do so to provide military forces and to make additional contributions, in cash or in kind, in accordance with paragraph 10 above, and REQUESTS the Secretary-General to establish a fund through which the contributions, where appropriate, could be channeled to the States or operations concerned; 12. AUTHORIZES the Secretary-General and the member States concerned to make the necessary arrangements for the unified command and control of the forces involved, which will reflect the offer referred to in paragraph 8 above; 13. REQUESTS the Secretary-General and the member States acting under paragraph 10 above to establish appropriate mechanisms for coordination between the United Nations and their military forces; 14. DECIDES to appoint an ad hoc commission composed of members of the Security Council to report to the Council on the implementation of this resolution; 15. INVITES the Secretary-General to attach a small UNOSOM liaison staff to the Field Headquarters of the unified command; 16. Acting under Chapters VII and VIII of the Charter, CALLS upon States, nationally or through regional agencies or arrangements, to use such measures as may be necessary to ensure strict implementation of paragraph 5 of resolution 733 (1992); 17. REQUESTS all States, in particular those in the region, to provide appropriate support for the actions undertaken by States, nationally or through regional agencies or arrangements, pursuant to this and other relevant resolutions; 18. REQUESTS the Secretary-General and, as appropriate, the States concerned, to report to the Council on a regular basis, the first such report to be made no later than 15 days after the adoption of this resolution, on the implementation of this resolution and the attainment of the objective of establishing a secure environment so as to enable the Council to make the necessary decision for a prompt transition to continued peacekeeping operations; 19. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to submit a plan to the Council initially within 15 days after the adoption of this resolution, to ensure that UNOSOM will be able to fulfill its mandate upon the withdrawal of the unified command; 20. INVITES the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to continue their efforts to achieve a political settlement in Somalia ; 21. DECIDES to remain actively seized of the matter. U.N. Security Council Resolution 794 is a historic and welcome step to assist the people of Somalia . By voting to authorize all necessary means to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia, the United Nations has provided new hope for the millions of Somalis at risk of starvation. I commend President Bush for taking the lead in this important humanitarian effort. I appreciate his keeping me informed of developments as he makes decisions regarding possible courses of action for the United States under this new Security Council resolution.

Originally posted by Rahima: Anyway to me i disagree with any gaalo troops setting foot in Somalia, the troops (if indeed they are required) should only be from Muslim countries. The troops from Muslim countries have been mentioned walal, but their contribution to Somali peace process would be counterproductive militarily to pacify the hostile and unfriendly Warlords, and they are not very much concerned of the plight of our people. If they were, they would have helped Somalia long time ago instead, they have been too silent, uninterested, and aloof of our political problems. Good on all of you (bravo, give yourselves a pat on the back), make futile the efforts of the true heroes of Somalia, from Axmed Gurey, to the Sayyidd, to the countless Shuhadaa’ who we could never mention by name Please read the new article i posted "The Gatekeepers of the Status Quo"

THE GATE KEEPERS OF THE STATUS QUO: A PROFILE By Said Saryan, Dubai , UAE March 20, 2005 “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.†Edmond Burke, (1729-1797) For the past fourteen years, while the world watched, thousands of Somalis died of starvation, mal-nutrition, diseases, and thousand others were forced to seek asylum in foreign countries or languished in Refugee Camps in neighbouring countries. Hundreds more lost their lives in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea as a result of aborted human trafficking operations. Imbedded in these tragedies are the stories of mothers who lost their children, pregnant mothers who died due to lack of health care, women raped during their arduous journey out of the country or while staying in Refugee Camps, and farmers who either lost their farms or were forced to work under master-slave relationship, not dissimilar to the 18 th century Southern United States plantations. Also under reported is the catastrophic environmental devastation brought about by the Warlords-sponsored dumping of toxic waste from industrialised countries on the unguarded coast of the country, the continued cutting of trees for the purpose of exporting charcoal to the Gulf Emirates and beyond, thus turning the country, specially in the fertile southern regions, into a desert waste.LINK An indicator of how miserable life is for the average Somali, the UNDP's Human Development Index (HDI) released last year found Somalia to rank below Haiti, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan in terms of mortality rate for children under 5 years (225 per thousand), average life expectancy (48 years), adult literacy (36 % for men; 14% for women), and Gross National Income per Capita (US$130). http://hdr.undp.org/ This human tragedy, which perhaps is unprecedented in modern states' history in terms of its ferocity, its longevity, and its tragic short-term and long-term consequences is nourished and sustained in a sub-human environment, aptly described by a prominent Somali Professor as a “cesspool of injustice and deprivationâ€. Then the earnest question that begs an answer is why this rotten Status Quo continues to exist for more than 14 years? Why the absence of will to help the Somali people to move from this decadent and depressing situation? Why the absence of forceful intervention by the international community? Why the Somali elites who are mostly in the diaspora did not form a unified front and help liberate the brothers and sisters they left behind, from a fourteen years of miserable lives in this ‘cesspool of injustice and deprivation'? The answer to the above perplexing questions lies in the fact that there are beneficiaries of the rotten Status Quo, who are always on guard against any attempt to change it. These are unholy alliances of Warlords, War Profiteers, Warlords masquerading as Islamist Movements, international toxin dumping Mafia-affiliated Syndicates, thieves who occupy private and public property and Pastoral Nomads, who invaded and occupied the southern regions on the banks of the Shabbelle and the Juba rivers (the agricultural heartland of Somalia ). As a result of this invasion and illegal occupation thousands of peaceful farmers were driven from their farms to a life of destitution and a forced exile in refugee camps in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia .. Last but not least, this unholy alliance also includes Ethiopia which, for malicious strategic reasons, is taking advantage of this Somali-made mess. Who are These Guardians and Gate Keepers of the Status Quo? ‘Secular' Warlords This group constitutes the front line defense of the status quo. Their background, before assuming the role of hostage takers of a nation, ranges from a low ranking policy officer, a Crane Operator to a Street Vendor. The most effective weapon in their arsenal is the clan card, which they wave whenever they perceive a threat to the status quo. This lethal hot button weapon is so effective that unfortunately at times they are joined, not only by the extreme segments of the clan, but by elites who are sipping cappuccinos in the comfort of Europe and North America. More than any other group, the Mogadishu Warlords were responsible for the destruction of the capital and the total obliteration of the State's intellectual and physical assets. They illegally occupy private and public properties, including the capital's international airport and seaport, which have out of commission for the past 12 years. They subsidize their income by running Moryaans for Hire businesses. Among their clienteles are visiting UN officials, NGOs, and visiting Somalis from the diaspora. ‘Religious' Warlords These are Warlords camouflaged in holy Shiekh attire. They claim to be promoters of peace and order. However, in reality they are competitors and sometimes collaborators with the ‘Secular' Warlords. If not, why they continue to co-exist for fourteen years with the “cesspool of injustice†next door? A classical example of this group is a self-styled pastoral ‘Sheikh', with the menacing neck name “White Eyesâ€, who occupies and rules by iron fist the Lower Shabelle region, which includes the ancient coastal cities of Merca and Barava, inhabited by urban population whose ancestral roots goes back 1200 years. According to a recent interview with the Elders of this town, The ‘Sheikh's' militia forces the population to pay property taxes without providing any municipal services. He also works closely with local and international NGOs in bogus projects. One such project is flagged as “Guns for Pens†project, funded by an international NGO operating from Nairobi and supposedly aimed at collecting arms from the roaming militia. The local indigenous population protested that they have no Guns to trade for Pens, but would be grateful if Pens are given to them in the form of funding their community-run schools. They were told by “White Eyes†to engage in their traditional fishing and leave the intricate businesses of NGOs and holy men to us. War Profiteers Members of this group are the protagonists of sad rag-to-richness stories. Following the civil war, they took advantage of the resultant chaos and lawlessness and embarked on a frenzy of environmentally devastating activities, such as the exporting of endangered animals, plants, gems, and the indiscriminate cutting of trees in the only remaining tropical forest in the country. They burned these fallen trees for charcoal and exported them to the Gulf States. Among these War Profiteers are the pioneers of printing fake currencies abroad to be smuggled back to the country, thus causing runaway inflation, which in turn caused havoc to the economical well being of the average Somali. The leading members of this group also set up make shift Seaports where any goods are loaded or uploaded without inspection or control. Using these tax-free seaports and other established docks, such Merca and Kismaayo, they import consumer goods from the Gulf States and smuggle them to neighbouring Horn African countries, to South Africa and beyond. Some of the proceeds from these smuggled goods are invested in businesses in Nairobi , Cape Town , and Djibouti , and the profits are deposited in overseas banks in Dubai , Rome , and Switzerland . International and Local NGOs These are members of the Lords of Poverty fame who are attracted to anarchy and misery as flies are attracted to organic decay and decomposition. They work from the comfort of villas and hotels in nearby Kenya. They periodically jump on chartered airplanes and fly to Mogadishu , where they land on a Warlord-run airstrip, hire militia loyal to a Warlord for protection, and stay in hotels run by one of the afore-mentioned War Profiteers. They stay few days and leave some token unaccounted aid and relief projects to Local NGOs. Most of these Local NGOs are a ‘brief case' NGO, belonging to an individual who is tied by clan lineage to one Warlord or another. Insecurity and lawlessness instigated by the Warlords are blessings in disguise to this group because it keeps away the UN Agencies who are supposed to oversee these projects. International aid organizations, including those from the UN, engage in this cozy unethical collaboration with the Warlords, thus strengthening and prolonging the status quo. Some insiders of the now defunct Transitional National Government recall periodical visits from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia , Mr Maxwell Gaylard, who will intentionally ignore them, and instead meet with the local Warlords. Academicians and Milking the Sick Somali Cow In a recent article a well-know Western-based Somali academician confessed that the Somali Problem is an Allah' sent Milking Cow, from which we derive a hefty number of research papers, expert reports, and situational reports to which we peddle to academic institutions and sometimes to Western intelligence organizations. To be fair some of these academicians do actively participate in reconciliation and peace initiative, thus trying to affect change from the rotten status quo. However, they are in the minority. A substantial number from this group do indulge in the profitable milking of the sick Somali cow or remain silent on this pressing issue facing the Somali Nation. The Ethiopian Vultures Although Ethiopia, at the early post civil war period, played a constructive role in trying to reconcile the warring factions, as of late it took a predatory posture feasting on the anarchy and mess inflicted by the Somalis on themselves. Contrary to popular belief they have no permanent friends among the Warlords. They will use a Warlord as long as he is able and willing to foil the plan of another Warlord or a group who is a threat to the continuation of the decadent Status Quo. In Conclusion , this unholy alliance who maintain the rotten Status Quo pause a formidable challenge to Somali citizens who are sincerely working and striving to liberate our people from 14 years of killing, displacement, man-made famine, and lawlessness, which are the bread and butter of this predatory paradigm. The Guardians and Beneficiaries of this project will fight tooth and nail to protect and prolong the Status Quo, and by extension our misery. Depending on the burning issue at hand they will promote themselves as protectors of clan interests or religious values. This is in spite of the fact that the overwhelming majority of their clan's members are actually their victims and all tenets of the Islamic religion, which propagate justice and compassion, are trampled upon daily in the decay of the â€cesspool of injustice†next door. This is the reality on the ground and these are the Gate Keepers of the Status Quo. The linchpins of these Guardians of the “cesspool of misery and deprivation†are the Mogadishu Warlords and the War Profiteers. The containment of these two segments of the alliance is the key to positive change from the prevailing Status Quo. The rest of the beneficiaries will, by default or otherwise, easily go out of business. Therefore, it is incumbent on all Somalis with conscience and who sincerely care about their people and their country to combat without delay these evil elements in our society by any means necessary; lest our beloved country will sooner than later disappear from the map of the nations. We have to think out of the Clan Box and think in terms of a country and people at the brink of oblivion. Said Saryan Dubai , UAE E-mail: ssaryan@hotmail.com Source: wardheernews.com

Below is a very sarcastic editorial but worthy rude-awakening to all of us. "Somalia MPs a disgrace" published by Kenyan newspaper The Standard on 19 March It is said that people fight because they cannot argue. This was amply testified to on Thursday [17 March] when members of the Somalia parliament abandoned all pretence to reasoned debate and decided to go hammer and tongs at each other. What started out as a peaceful meeting involving MPs allied to different factions in the still shaky Somalia political establishment ended in a most shameful bloody fight. The participants started attacking each other with chairs and anything they could lay their hands on. The scene at a Nairobi hotel where they were meeting was left resembling a veritable battlefield. The bone of contention was the involvement of front-line states in the composition of a proposed peacekeeping force to Somalia. The MPs were supposed to vote by secret ballot on whether the front- line states of Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti should be involved in the disarmament process. This, agreeably, is a touchy matter. There are those who have argued that the Somali people are the only ones who can ably disarm the warlords now staggered across Somalia. There are those who favour foreign peacekeepers. But this should not be reason enough to engage in a bloody fight. Given the still volatile situation in Somalia, the MPs fight does not inspire much hope that, once they are back in their country, they will be able to argue intelligently and sort out matters affecting their nation without resulting to brawls. When leaders, who are entrusted with the onerous task of restoring order in Somalia display such an astonishing incapability to reason, what should one expect of the ordinary citizens? And, are these the same people expected to lead Somalia? _________________________________________________ "Fighting Somali MPs cautioned" March 20, 2005 NAIROBI (Daily Nation) Kenya yesterday told the Somali transitional government: Behave as we prepare you for your return home. Regional Cooperation Minister John Koech said the fighting among that country's MPs on Thursday [17 March] night showed disrespect for the people and government of Kenya that, he noted, had spent 6.4m dollars (about 500m shillings) on the peace process and to sustain the government's activities while in Nairobi. "Such behaviour is deplorable and unwelcome. The MPs and ministers should think about their position. Instead of physical confrontation they should opt for dialogue," he said in an interview with the [Daily] Nation. The fight was likely to disrupt their return to Mogadishu, which is behind schedule by about four months, he pointed out. But he said their move to the capital, Mogadishu, would depend on how fast the African Union would mobilize troops for the exercise. His statement came as Kenyan police said they would not investigate the fracas in which five MPs were injured. "They lack decorum; they should have opened for dialogue in case of any disagreements," he added. Earlier, a senior police source said it was not possible to arrest and charge all the parliamentarians. "The issue involves another country and we do not want to interfere with their internal squabbles," he said.

Note not any media has this info unless they steal it from me. Text of report by Somali Puntland-based Radio Midnimo on 19 March Students, elders and other citizens have participated in a demonstration organized by Bari regional administration and Information Ministry [of the regional administration of Puntland] The demonstrators were addressed at the local government's hall by Information Assistant Minister Bakiin, Deputy Police Commander Abdi-aziz Sa'id Ga'amey, Bari Region chairman Yusuf Muhammad Waceys, Boosaaso Mayor Rooble Umar Gudur and other officials. They criticized the Speaker of the federal transitional parliament of Somalia, Sharif Hasan, and said he is someone who cannot take responsibilities and that he was responsible for the problem that erupted at the parliamentary session in Nairobi following the decision he made, which they say was not just. The leaders also told the demonstrators that BBC is not neutral and that the BBC thrives on confrontation and hostilities among the Somalis clans. The assistant information minister said they might impose a ban on the FM station relaying BBC Somali service. He also added they will give approval to other international media bodies like Al Jazeera TV, Al-Arabiya and the rest, which he described as neutral. Recent parliamentary session of Puntland also criticized the BBC Somali Service. Credit: Radio Midnimo, Boosaaso, in Somali 1030 19 Mar 05

There appears contradiction between the message of the article and quotes being used to support its information. Quotes indicate that State Department disapprove of the deployment of troops from frontline states but not overall the deployment. And the article is made to appear as though it is overall rejection of deployment. Can you provide the link? Yesterday, March 18, Peacekeepers Approved

Don't lose hope. There is great future ahead.

lol rahima, well the Amxaaro has been exluded from IGAD peackeepers. But my point above was that Amhaaro would have been part of IGAD troops as one team. Such an extreme reaction to Amhaaro is groundless when there is indifference to the daily sufferings of our own people at the hands of those you share with this domino effect .

Indeed BAchelor, but the warlords have varying degrees of capability to leadership qualities. The ones with lesser capability have kept Somalia in anarchy heedless of the circumstance of their own people whom they claim and represent to benefit their opportunistic agenda. But A/Y's experience as a colonial officer and war veteran in his struggle against the fascist government puts him in a suitable position to purge this country from our current state, a country that is deteriorating at a rapid pace. If given full support and trust, he certainly will bear positive fruits. It is apparent how his proposals are working at an enthusiastic coordination. He is the one formulated the need for peacekeepers in Somalia. (If i am right, the AU troops were approved and affirmed by the IGAD despite the exclusion of frontline troops that would have only enhanced the quality of government's strategy for peace.) His future plans also make him a great leader if he will achieve them: To unite Somalis under federalism, to improve the rights of women and minority, most importantly conciliate our vendettas, and compensate those of us who had lost property and territory. At this juncture of our history, to undertake such heavy-duty task seems far-fetched and wild. With the support of his Somalis, they can all be attained and let us wish optimism and resilience for our president and his government.

Wind talker, the enemy is undoubtedly from within. The opposition to Ethiopian troops is an absurd to begin with. Ethiopian troops don't have a flag on its own. They are under the flag of IGAD, thus, its involvement in Somalia is to protect the government and help its rebuilding state process become viable. These Warlords even allege Djibouti as having ulterior motives and should be excluded, which is what the author above points clearly and truthfully.

Thanks Rahima. I cherish the day to see these houses and farms again. The country is beset by extreme poverty and years of civil wars have destroyed its infrastructure. A humanitarian emergency in several regions has been compounded by the tsunami which hit the north-east coast in December. The transitional government and parliament plan to relocate from Kenya to Somalia as soon as security permits. When it does, one of the most pressing issues will be how to address and punish the crimes and crimes against humanity committed by warlords who are now part of the government, without jeopardizing the government's viability. Press Release AMNESTY

The well-orchestrated campaign against peacekeeping forces from the frontline states is a charade calculated to confuse the issue. This is particularly true as it relates to the shrill outcry concerning Ethiopian troops. The reasons offered for the increasingly high-pitched war of words surrounding this topic, including the fear of AIDS, supposed Ethiopian enmity towards Somalia , etc., does not hold water. For people who would indulge in immoral behavior would be at risk for all kinds of diseases irrespective of where they live or with whom they come into contact. Regarding alleged fear of Ethiopian designs on Somalia, all these now obstinate warlords have in the recent past sought military aid from that country in their failed campaigns to kill, clan-cleanse and otherwise pillage fellow Somalis, on a large scale. So lets have a sanity check here: who poses the biggest threat to Somali national unity and territorial integrity now? The selfish warlords who want to rend it asunder? Or, Ethiopia which wants to sacrifice blood and treasure to help put humpty dumpty back together? Lame excuses and crying wolf may be the wont of warlords, but they are of no use to Somalia now or in the future. Fatah Excelent point that reflects what happened yesterday in the Hotel.

Somalia : A Time to Lead! Eng. Ali A. Fatah March 17, 2005 President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi ought to be applauded for giving consultation with all Somali factions the widest latitude humanly possible. However, like anything else in life too much of a good thing can have deleterious effects. And so it has been of late concerning the freewheeling exchanges between the President and the Prime Minister on the one hand and a number of Somali warlords within the ranks of the government on the other. By now it is apparent to all that a few warlords based in the historical capital of the country, Mogadishu , are hell-bent on frustrating the agenda of Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The warlords are resisting the very goals, which they swore to advance some months ago ostensibly to help move the country forward towards full membership in the community of nations with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Why then, one might ask, are they going out of their way to oppose the TFG's plans, after having accepted ministerial positions in the government, including some with high profile portfolios? Why not, for example, resign their positions if they found the TFG's policies objectionable on the basis of principle? The fact is after 14 years of anarchy and mayhem, largely of their making, these warlords are neither in a position to claim victory nor are they, at the moment, feeling particularly vanquished. On personal terms, they are reaping the loot from sacking much of the south; a sordid activity from which spawned an entire corrupt but lucrative criminal enterprise that benefits them and their close associates. The warlords' seeming vacillation, at this time, on key issues of governance is no mistake; they want to have it both ways: they want stability that would confer legitimacy to their warped, narrow interests, but not necessarily an effective system that promises to mete out equal justice under the law. There are nonetheless specific reasons for their current confrontation with the TFG. These are many and varied. For one thing, Mogadishu warlords such as Qanyare, Yalaxow and Caato have vested interest in and are desperate to prolong the lawlessness that prevails in their respective domains within Mogadishu and a couple of other locales in the south under their purview. They are not happy about the prospect of the TFG curtailing or even ending the vast extralegal activities that have been yielding them untold riches of ill-gotten variety. They figure that their importation of qat, extortion and all manner of contraband running, among other corrupt practices, would not be able to withstand much less thrive under the rule of law; their antagonism to the TFG may well represent a last stand to safeguard the status quo by other means. The well-orchestrated campaign against peacekeeping forces from the frontline states is a charade calculated to confuse the issue. This is particularly true as it relates to the shrill outcry concerning Ethiopian troops. The reasons offered for the increasingly high-pitched war of words surrounding this topic, including the fear of AIDS, supposed Ethiopian enmity towards Somalia , etc., does not hold water. For people who would indulge in immoral behavior would be at risk for all kinds of diseases irrespective of where they live or with whom they come into contact. Regarding alleged fear of Ethiopian designs on Somalia, all these now obstinate warlords have in the recent past sought military aid from that country in their failed campaigns to kill, clan-cleanse and otherwise pillage fellow Somalis, on a large scale. So lets have a sanity check here: who poses the biggest threat to Somali national unity and territorial integrity now? The selfish warlords who want to rend it asunder? Or, Ethiopia which wants to sacrifice blood and treasure to help put humpty dumpty back together? Lame excuses and crying wolf may be the wont of warlords, but they are of no use to Somalia now or in the future. Herding Cats and Other Pestering Matters Somalis from throughout the country, including great many residents of Xamar can be forgiven for wondering: “is paying attention to the crocodile ears of the advocates of stalemate in Somali polity worth the effort?†“Don't these folks always circle the wagons and close ranks when the heat is on?†Yes and yes. However, on this score, there are other equally disruptive factors at work. The warlords' interest in continuing to self-aggrandize at the expense of tens of thousands of captive populations in and around Mogadishu as well as other places in the South is an open secret. Less known, though, are the external actors that, through ill-advised actions and pronouncements, help stoke the flames of discord in Somali politics. As a result, the TFG would be better able to herd cats than have these seditious warlords and assorted desperados to keep their words (which they routinely disavow at critical junctures). While it is not necessarily useful to blame the external actors for having a hand, albeit indirectly, in setting in motion events that ultimately result in more, not less, instability in the running saga of Somali political discourse, neither should that role be overlooked. The culpable scalawags in this are many. They include Egypt (and her allies'). Their continuous meddling in Somalia 's internal affairs is a matter of record. It is also an open secret that Egypt, once a stalwart among the short list of countries that Somalia counted on as a friends, seeks to thwart any goodwill that Ethiopia might show to her neighbor to the east, Somalia, in what is certainly the latter's hour of need. One can understand the strategic nature of the long running rivalry between Egypt and Ethiopia that stems from the looming conflict concerning how best to share the waters of the Nile . What is inexplicable is that Somali warlords and their supporters are being unwitting geopolitical pawns in this conflict, though they are failing miserably to help put their own house in order. There are yet others who are guilty of undue interference. The International Crisis Group (the name says all!), for one, has never lifted a finger on behalf of Somalia during all the years that the country was deeply mired in an anarchic situation. The same organization is now making mischievous statements challenging the TFG on crucial, proposed policies aimed at leading the nation to real state of self-government. It is hard to believe, but true, that these well healed interlopers want to dictate the countries from which the Somali government should accept peacekeepers or where in the country the TFG should set up shop, while Mogadishu extricates itself from those who continue to hold a good part of the city hostage for so long. In so doing, the ICG seems to be egging on the opponents of the new administration to make trouble for the TFG, before it gets its feet on the ground. The Need for Transformational Leadership For the President and the Prime Minister, the prevailing situation, though by no means easy, presents a unique opportunity to lead the country from the grip of negative emotions of jealousy, greed, fear and mutual distrust by appealing shared values. This is only way to transform the society from the existing disorder. Thus the leaders should articulate the vision of where they want to take the country in coming few years. We already know that the Somali people are sick and tired of the perennial warlord foot-dragging and faction leaders' indifference. They want to be inspired to be able to lead the change themselves from their respective regions, towns, hamlets and the vast dwindling grasslands. They want their leaders to show unflagging sense of confidence, with a sense of humility. They want their leaders to seek justice and they want them to make the necessary sacrifices. Above all, they want national leaders to stick to their vision for the country. If President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi go about their leadership responsibilities along this line and ignore the mixed messages coming from the incorrigible naysayers, the Somali people will be only too happy to follow their lead. The landslide that put them in office attests to this. Ali A. Fatah Washington , DC amakhiri@aol.com WardheerNews

^^ You don't represent the voice of majority people in Mogadisho. People in Mogaidisho eagerly wait to see their government work in Mogadisho and surroundings.

Very SAD

Originally posted by Samurai Warrior: with no invading FTs, rowdy ministers, mostly of warlordism credence, with potential to misconstrue government’s policies to further own ignoble interests shall remain utilised within the government, and so shall their legitimacy as government officials, and not freelance leaders, validated. However, first and foremost the government must speak to its people, address their worries and dispel any illusory, illegitimate concerns. Thus far, they had failed to do so, and all the while their opposition is busy planting insidious, unduly fictitious notions in the minds of the weary, credulous general public. Excellent point

Duke, how worrisome it is for the leaders elected to behave in a such manner in front of National TV. Sadly, the IGAD ministers warned for possible criminal charges against those warlords' behavior and attempt to derail the IGAD peace initiative. "We shall take action against any Somali who will attempt to go against IGAD peace initiative, including measures to isolate any one who undermines the initiative," Kenya's Regional Cooperation Minister John Koech said at the opening of a two-day Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) ministerial conference here.