"All I remember is being covered in dust. I looked across, and the young guy who was sitting next to me was dead. The seat he occupied was mine. We had changed positions briefly when I left momentarily to move my recorder nearer to the speakers." More than 20 people died in the attack. How lucky is Mr. Olad to survive that Shaamo carnage? Olad is very talented, methodical and fairly ethical in his reports and analysis. It's undeniable feature of his personality and profession unless you have an ax to grind.

I like America's system of Governance. It's very democratic and progressive. I think we should drop the British colonial system. Surpisingly, I have made an earlier comment in which I highlighted the need for us Somalis in Somalia to adopt the American form of federalism, @ my thread of positive nationalism inspired by K'naan' 'wavin flag' performance in South Africa. Good for Kenya! Good for Africa!

Adeer, Atam said it at VOA/Somali that he is not affiliated with al-Shabab in any shape or form. Yours is politically motivated, thus the world won't heed to your desperate lies and call to ethnically cleanse a whole communities in Western Bari region. Btw, no such thing as "Eastern Sanaag" and Bosaaso, of course, is one of the indigenous areas Makhiris call home. From the Airport area upto the New Bosaaso to Laag are native territories of Maakhir.

Originally posted by Amistad: quote:Originally posted by Nassir: The Patriot Act also treats representing the claim of any designated group before an international tribunal court as a material support and thus a federal crime. Civil rights advocates and concerned citizens rightly claim that the law violates their rights to First Amendment guarantees of free speech and association; it also hinders humanitarian efforts to mediate conflicts, promote democracy and human rights. Ralph Fertig, president of a non-profit Humanitarian Law Project argued that he was unjustly sent to jail for his organization’s advocacy for peace because of its track record of helping armed organizations like PKK of Iraq renounce violence and make negotiated settlement with its government. It was a position backed by former U.S president Jimmy Carter. very interesting and scary that.... thats a really fine line to walk if you are in the mediation business. Indeed. I think al-Shabaab days are numbered. More AU troops are already promised & coming and several countries that sponsor terrorism in Somalia like Eritrea are threatend with economic embargo. Obama's Executive Order is now fully enforced. This sends an implicit message to the Northern seperatists that, in hopes of seeking an international recognition, fuel the crisis in Mogadishu. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-concerning-somalia

City part of terror pipeline? Columbus tie found in scheme to aid Somali militants; extent downplayed By By Jonathan Riskind and Jack Torry THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH August 6, 2010 WASHINGTON - An unidentified person from Columbus helped raise money for a terrorist group in Somalia, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, a handful of Somali women in Columbus who raised money door to door for health-care aid in their native country were questioned in the federal case, a leader of a local Somali community group said yesterday. In four indictments unsealed yesterday in federal courts in Minnesota, Alabama and California, the Justice Department charged 14 people with terrorist violations, accusing them of "providing money, personnel and services to the foreign terrorist organization al-Shabab." An indictment in Minnesota says that someone from Columbus is an unindicted conspirator who helped one of those charged - Amina Farah Ali, 33, who court documents say is a Somali national who became a U.S. citizen in August 2004 and lived in Minnesota. The person from Columbus is called "unindicted conspirator 7," or "UC7," in the court documents. He or she was "a resident of Columbus, Ohio, who assisted Ali in collecting money and forwarding it to al-Shabab." It isn't clear whether that person remains here. Being an unindicted conspirator "simply means that the government believes the person was involved with the conspiracy but at this time has not been charged," said Jeanne Cooney, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota. The term does not indicate whether the person will be charged. The documents say that on Jan. 12, 2009, Ali directed "UC7" to "always collect under the name of the poor" so the money could be sent to terrorist fighters in Somalia. The court documents say that Ali and others charged in the case "raised funds by soliciting door to door among Somali communities located in Rochester (Minn.) and Minneapolis and elsewhere in the United States and Canada," some of which Ali directed to al-Shabab. Ali made 12 money transfers to al-Shabab in 2008 and 2009 totaling $8,608, the indictment said. In addition, the indictment alleges that Ali raised money by appealing to participants in teleconferences during which she and other speakers encouraged financial support to back violent jihad in Somalia. A leader in the Columbus Somali community said he does not know who the unindicted conspirator is and that he had never heard of anyone collecting money for terrorists under the guise of charity. "I'm very much disappointed with what I heard," Mussa Farah, president of the Horn of Africa Community Center, said yesterday. "That's what we have been preventing for the last two years." Since 2008, Farah and 11 other volunteers have gone door to door in local Somali neighborhoods telling parents to be cautious of anyone who might try to lead their children toward extremist ideologies. Now, Farah said, he'll tell them to be wary of anyone asking for money. "People should only give to institutions where money can be followed," he said. Somali community members meet quarterly with police and the FBI to discuss concerns and address problems, and a Columbus-based anti-crime program announced in April allows Somali immigrants across the country to report crimes in their native language. Jibril Hirsi, executive director of SomaliCAN, a local advocacy and outreach organization, said some Somali women in Columbus presented prospective donors with sad stories of people who needed surgery for cleft lips, tumors and other medical issues. But Hirsi said they likely did not know where the money was headed. He said the women typically carried photographs of people said to need surgery outside Somalia. "I don't think anyone in Columbus did anything intentionally to support al-Shabab," Hirsi said. Columbus has the second-largest Somali population in the United States after greater Minneapolis. Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking in Washington, said: "The indictments unsealed today shed further light on the deadly pipeline that has routed funding and fighters to the al-Shabab terror organization from cities across the United States." Roughly 20 men - all but one of Somali descent - left Minnesota from December 2007 through October 2009 to join al-Shabab, the government says. Al-Shabab, which routinely beheads its enemies, is an Islamist army whose several thousand fighters are battling Somalia's weak government. It has been branded a terrorist group by the U.S. and other nations. In turn, it has declared war on the United Nations and humanitarian organizations in Somalia. The group claimed responsibility for a bombing last month that killed 76 people, including an American aid worker, who were watching a World Cup soccer match in Uganda's capital. It is not known to be responsible for an attack on U.S. soil. Al-Shabab members began pledging allegiance to al-Qaida last year. One of its most famous members is known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, or "the American," an Alabama native who speaks English with an American accent. He appeared in a jihadist video in May 2009. Some of those charged were in custody, but yesterday the FBI arrested Ali, and Hawo Mohamed Hassan, 63, both naturalized U.S. citizens and residents of Rochester, Minn. Each is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to al-Shabab from September 2008 through last month. Ali also is charged with 12 counts of providing material support to al-Shabab.___ Dispatch reporter Collin Binkley, the Associated Press and McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this story. Source: Columbus Dispatch

I & xiin concur on many points as I did explain before in one of my comments (re-posted below). Ngonge has raised great points and one can glean from his criticism of Faroole's inept leadership nothing but fair evaluation of his administration as many would agree with him. Btw, Farole vowed to deploy anything at his disposal to defeat Atam. It's NOT only the weak PIS. As a matter of fact, there are reliable reports indicating the shipment of two full planeloads of weapons and ammunition to Garowe for the invasion of Galgala. Many from the region such as Elders and politicians are wary of the possibility that should the first bullet is fired, it might develop into a full scale civil/ethnic war. Originally posted by Nassir: I fully concur with you on PIS now rechristened as PIA--a shrewd move to reassure its American/western backers and financiers that reform in its techniques, methods and standard procedures for balanced representation and service has been put in place. The rise of the public against this independent apparatus reflects poorly on the leadership of PL which are now seen as "puppets" of western and regional intervention as far as restricting people's liberty to worship, work, live or seek refuge is concerned.. I do think any reform would be inchoate and the underlying social problems won't go away that fast. The notorious PIS and its regime is derided all over Puntland. It is corrupt, weak and ruthless in its methods of hunting down terror suspects. What I really don't understand is what further benefit could be had from a clan-dominated, western-financed, security organization. Bosaaso had always been a peaceful and prosperous city. Once coined as the Boston of Somalia, this reputation has been under slippery slope. Alas, Somalis are inherenly clannish and more foreign intervention in one dimension (like security) will make things worse rather than drain the swamp that spawns extremism.

A critical advice from Dr. Alim Fatah, an accomplished research scientist (inventor of many products) to the higher educational institutions of his homeland.. Just a reminder! Someone should pass it to Prof. Abdirahman Hersi @ Badhan. I was impressed. As for accreditation and recognition, the Universities and Colleges that are now operating in Somalia have to join the international accrediting organizations and they also have to develop cooperative sister relationships with universities in other countries who are willing to help with books, curriculum development and other educational and academic guidelines and standards. WDN: How and what the Somali professionals in the Diaspora can contribute to the new higher education institutions that were and are being established in the various regions of the nation? Dr. Fatah: The Somali professionals in the Diaspora have to take an active and supportive role in encouraging and nurturing the new higher education institutions that are springing in many parts of Somalia. They should help materially, with fund raising efforts, books, and establishing useful connections between Somali Institutions and those of the countries where Somali expatriates live and work and where they may have good connections with the local educational institutions. Most of all, professionals should provide direct service by taking sabbaticals when they can, travel to Somalia to teach or help in whatever capacity they can contribute. Finally, they should consider going back home if they retire or want to start new businesses and careers; that way, they may be able to give back some of their education and experiences to the communities in their native country. .

^lol Attorney General Eric Holder is doing a great job.

I knew this was coming to some of the Somali refugees in the states. They seemed to have had an amnesia of the harrowing past that actually forced them to leave and seek a prospect for a better future. I watched from the CNN some of those indicted are Somali men and women who have been aiding and abetting the extremists for years.

Lool@Karl. Funny thread!

"A number of journalists and media professionals have been killed in recent months in Somalia. However, Mohamed has chosen to stay in Mogadishu because of a desire to inform the world, to tell the truth, and help bring peace and democracy in his country." His heroic work is well noted and appreciated by every world citizen. Amistad, they should have given him the Visa but u never know the grounds for their denial or other extenuating circumstaces that prevented him from accepting the prestigious award in person.

Soldier of misfortune: How journalist Mohamed Olad Hassan is battling to tell the world the truth about Somalia By Alex Kiprotich The Independent August 5, 2010 Every time Mohamed Olad Hassan bids goodbye to his family of six it is with that same mixture of excitement and sadness felt by a soldier departing for the battlefield. Unlike members of the armed forces, the BBC World Service's. man in Somalia carries only a pen and a notebook in his kitbag. Hassan has survived bomb and mortar attacks, witnessed colleagues die, and seen mass deaths by suicide bombers; yet his determination to tell the world what is happening in the Horn of Africa continues strong. "If I run away, the criminals tormenting my countrymen will have triumphed. The world will not know the heinous crimes which are being committed," he says. His quest for the truth in Somalia comes at great personal strain, he admits. The 33-year-old recalls how last year the militant Islamist al-Shabab rebel group ordered him to refer to them in his reports as "al-Shabab al-Mujahedeen". But "If I did this, it meant they were fighting a holy war [jihad] on behalf of the Somali people – which isn't true," he says. Hassan's impartial reporting from Somalia has now been recognised in his being awarded the Speaker Abbot Award for Bravery by the Parliamentary Press Gallery at Westminster. In December, he narrowly survived death while covering a graduation ceremony in a Mogadishu hotel. "People were making speeches, and we were taking notes, as usual. Then all this brightness turned to darkness," he says. "All I remember is being covered in dust. I looked across, and the young guy who was sitting next to me was dead. The seat he occupied was mine. We had changed positions briefly when I left momentarily to move my recorder nearer to the speakers." More than 20 people died in the attack. In 2007 Hassan suffered a shrapnel injury in the leg when a mortar round landed outside his house in Mogadishu during fighting between Ethiopian troops and insurgents. Reporting in Somalia is a matter of life and death, he says, with journalists preoccupied with their safety rather than thinking of story ideas: "I can equate journalism here to death. A week hardly passes without getting threats from groups who want to influence the way you report, and who accuse reporters as the spies of Western countries." He has been forced to move house at short notice, or even relocate to neighbouring Kenya, when the threats have been most serious. At times, he has to hire security guards just to venture onto the streets. He says he has "never regretted" leaving teaching to become a journalist. However "there are moments when I go out of Somalia, on a short visit to a neighbouring country, and regret the situation in my country, and how my people are deprived of living in peace." In a citation for the Speaker Abbot Award, Joseph Warungu, head of African News and Current Affairs at the BBC World Service, described Hassan as the voice of the voiceless in Somalia. "A number of journalists and media professionals have been killed in recent months in Somalia. However, Mohamed has chosen to stay in Mogadishu because of a desire to inform the world, to tell the truth, and help bring peace and democracy in his country." Warungu noted that Hassan's reporting of Somalia includes stories of the lives of ordinary people. "Even positive and harmless stories, such as a college graduation, carry grave danger," says Warungu. Hassan says it should be understood that mostSomalis are determined to try to improve their society, rather than flee abroad: "Bad things are happening in our country, but most people would rather die in their country than leave." Hassan's remarkable bravery in the field was not enough to get him to Britain to receive his award: the Home Office refused him a visa on the grounds that he had applied too late. The journalist believes there is a stereotyped "Western view of Somalis as asylum seekers". "In my view, the world does not care about Somalia," he adds. "Their fear is terrorism. If they were really interested in its stability, a solution would have been found by now." Source: The Independent

Abtigiis, ilaa aan xogta dhanta helo, waa inaan arrintan ka gaabsadaa, laakinse hadaan nahey reer Maakhir, you have our support, hub iyo lacag iyo baraarujin just like reer Laascaanood.

Xiin, good analysis, but you forget to add the Las Anod issue. It's indeed PL's situational irony.

The Patriot Act also treats representing the claim of any designated group before an international tribunal court as a material support and thus a federal crime. Civil rights advocates and concerned citizens rightly claim that the law violates their rights to First Amendment guarantees of free speech and association; it also hinders humanitarian efforts to mediate conflicts, promote democracy and human rights. Ralph Fertig, president of a non-profit Humanitarian Law Project argued that he was unjustly sent to jail for his organization’s advocacy for peace because of its track record of helping armed organizations like PKK of Iraq renounce violence and make negotiated settlement with its government. It was a position backed by former U.S president Jimmy Carter.

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: which include providing material support to a terrorist organization, the official said. cnn Interesting, here is a NY Times report that details on the danger this Supreme Court ruling poses to our freedom of speech. Court Affirms Ban on Aiding Groups Tied to Terror By ADAM LIPTAKPublished: June 22, 2010 WASHINGTON - In a case pitting free speech against national security, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld a federal law that makes it a crime to provide "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, even if the help takes the form of training for peacefully resolving conflicts. The decision was the court's first ruling on the free speech and associations rights of Americans in the context of terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks. The law has been an important tool for prosecutors: Since 2001, the government says, it has charged about 150 defendants for violating the material-support provision, obtaining about 75 convictions... The material-support law bars not only contributions of cash, weapons and other tangible aid but also "training," "personnel" "service" and "expert advice or assistance."...... Chief Justice Roberts said the government had advanced a position that was too extreme and did not take adequate account of the free-speech interests at stake."The government is wrong," the chief justice wrote, "that the only thing actually at issue in this litigation is conduct" and not speech protected by the First Amendment. But he went on to say that the government's interest in combating terrorism was enough to overcome that protection. Source: The New York Times

^Then be the devil's advocate of PL if you are concerned of its viability. Atam actually tried to be the better person after agreeing to the terms of the earlier accord before the hawk uncorked all sort of malice he was harboring for reer Galgala. I have always advocated for peace and for a new change of direction that purges the "state" out of its excesses. The clarion call has never been heeded and we have blind supporters of Farole calling for war at the doorsteps of Puntland's most strategic city while the dire situation in Las Anod is relegated to the bottom of the list.

Originally posted by General Duke: [QB] ^^^ ^^^ if you had attacked the man it would have been fair but for you to say his sub clan is small and thus will not become an obstacle for you was telling. Lol, saxib, The "Garad" is much closer to me than Mr. Atam. All I meant was that he is not a Graad that is backed by the majority of his community to be an "obstacle". In other words, his unwavering and blind support to Faroole's war agenda and ethnic-cleansing will sure come back to haunt him. Like Gen. Aideed, Faroole is riding the storm only to reap the tempest.

Originally posted by Allamagan: [ ^I love your sarcasm! The truth of the matter is that MSB didn't inherit anything tangible, anthing good from the previous one-subclan based admins in the 60s who all were guilty of nepotism and corruptions and who done nothing good to the somali nation. Unlike them, MSB had built up an state and reputable army, implemented 1st time the Somali language, cleaned all the mess and qurun that were inherited from previous admins before the same people once again were back and this time destroyed the country with the help of nation's arch-enemy, the ethiopians, in order to please themselves and to reclaim their 'perceived' and imaginary position in the somali politic. Anyhow, historically, one never expects the slightest positive or anything good from this part of the hood when it comes to Jaale Siyad's (AUN) position in the somali history and fair enough understandably we all aware of that Under Siyad Barre !!! [/QB] Well said saxib. read Governance by Ismail to know how corrupt, nepotistic and venal Sharmarke's admin was before the coup.. It's well-known fact.

^Things might change for the better..

Originally posted by Beer-Gaal: One of their brightest!! that is an insult to the Tolka,,,Don't you think Duke? I am far away from being one of the brightest. Consider me as an average citizen who is concerned of his country's plight.

Nin damiirle lama soo shireen muusannow darane Dadweynaha mindiyo uma direen la isku dooxaaye Dabka iyo madaafiicda ba’an uguma diiqiine Dafaar uguma baaqeen inay Dhahar duqeeyaane

You never know Mr. Atam might outlast his enemies.

Dabaabdaha iyo xoogganaad Laag u daabulaysid Dooyada aad Eyl, Garacad iyo Gaalkacyo u doontay Kalluun dabatadii kolay ku tahay daafta Bari joogay Laascaanood ku daaddihi haddaad daacadda u jeeddid lol>> Hadal xikmad leh.

Originally posted by General Duke: One deplores the state that our cousins are in if this is the mentality of their brightest. Makhir has always been prosperous and stronger than ever. Abdullahi Ciid is a renegade "leader "and he does not represent the majority of reer Makhir contrary to your belief. In fact, he has yet to secure the support of his sub-clan for his unqualified claim to Garadnimo. Your lack of knowlege of rer Makhir's legitimate leadership makes you and those at the helm of PL's rickety boat clowns. Abdallahi Ali Iid can lend free lectures to PL , but he won't make any slight difference. BeerGaal, qolodee bee Garaad u yahey? He is not Garaad.