^I once saw an aurora borealis right here in Montreal. It was just like the first pic. I couldn't believe my eyes.

BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8516275.stm Somalia's defence minister has survived an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber in the capital Mogadishu. Yusuf Mohamed Siyad told the BBC how a car was driven towards his vehicle and explosives on board were detonated, injuring two of his security guards. He said more explosions went off as he tried to collect the wounded guards. The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the attack is the latest challenge to a government plan to tackle Islamist insurgents. Militant groups control much of the south of Somalia and are in constant conflict with the government. 'Committed to kill' But Mr Siyad said the latest attack would not distract him from his job. "I used to patrol in the city at midnight and I will keep patrolling until we restore law and order," he said. "This attack was a message from my enemy that they are committed to kill me and all the other government officials like me but for me it encourages me to be ready." He said an assassination attempt had been expected, and he had changed his plans to avoid being killed. In December, a suicide bomber attacked a graduation ceremony for medical students which was attended by senior officials. Three ministers died at the scene, and another minister died from his injuries last week. Rumours have been circulating for days that the transitional government is about to launch a major attack on hard-line insurgents. While hundreds of rebel fighters have poured into the capital in preparation for battle, thousands of civilians have fled the area. Somalia has been wracked by violence for much of the past 20 years. It has not had a functioning central government since 1991.

Some very high moral horses some people are riding on, I see.

Well I think she looks like a Somali version of Condoleeza Rice.

^damn Layzie, why are you so agressive?

THE GUARDIAN ------------------------------ The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, has sacked his health spokeswoman in the House of Lords after she called for an inquiry into allegations that Israeli soldiers were involved in organ trafficking in Haiti. Clegg described Baroness Jenny Tonge's remarks about Israeli troops sent to the earthquake-stricken country as "wrong, distasteful and provocative". It is the second time Tonge has been fired as a Liberal Democrat frontbencher for making controversial comments about Israel. The latest row followed accusations in the online Palestine Telegraph - of which she is a patron - that members of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had been harvesting body parts in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. She subsequently told the Jewish Chronicle: "To prevent allegations such as these - which have already been posted on YouTube - going any further, the IDF and the Israeli Medical Association should establish an independent inquiry immediately to clear the names of the team in Haiti." Fellow Liberal Democrats were said to have complained to Clegg about her comments. In a statement last night, the leader said the peer "apologises unreservedly". "Following discussions with the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Lord McNally, I have decided that Jenny Tonge will stand down as Liberal Democrat health spokesperson in the Lords following her unacceptable comments suggesting an inquiry into highly offensive allegations against the IDF humanitarian operation in Haiti, Clegg said. "The comments were wrong, distasteful and provocative and I recognise the deep and understandable distress they have caused to the Jewish community. "While I do not believe that Jenny Tonge is anti-semitic or racist, I regard her comments as wholly unacceptable. Jenny Tonge apologises unreservedly for the offence she has caused." Tonge was a Lib Dem MP between 1997 and 2005 and then became a peer. She regularly ran into controversy for her critical stance towards Israel. In 2004, she was sacked as a Lib Dem spokeswoman on children's issues after suggesting she could consider becoming a suicide bomber. Then leader Charles Kennedy dismissed her after she told a pro-Palestinian meeting in Westminster: "If I had been a mother and a grandmother in Palestine living for decades in that situation, I don't know, I may well have become one myself."

^Just in parts of the world where they don't use condoms, actually.

I'm not making judgements, and these are not my words. They're straight from the horse's mouth.

That's not what I said, is it? I just disagree with you saying no self-respecting woman would turn to prostitution by choice. The reality is that some women *choose* prostitution, because they prefer it to other jobs, because they feel it's empowering, etc.. I don't know what the situation of these Somali women is, but I'd just like to point out that not every prostitute in the world was forced into that field by circumstances. Some choose it, that's all I'm saying.

Originally posted by Malika: Further more,no self respecting women would turn to prostitution if they could help it. I disagree with that statement.

Originally posted by 2+2=5: Why white hands? LOL I was gonna ask the same question, but then I got lazy.

^LOL gotta love old man ndongo

Originally posted by Shaakirullaah: May Allah destroy both entities. And may He destroy Al-Shabaab too.

Originally posted by Sayid*Somal: quote:Originally posted by Sherban Shabeel: Prostitutes are some of the smartest and most educated persons you will ever meet. & Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Maybe in other parts of the world, saaxib. Somali prostitutes are some of the most deprived and ignorant people you will ever meet. Can someone tell me what is wrong with this exchange here??? :confused: Sherban & Ngonge - have you guys met any prostitutes and more specifically Somali and non Somali to make such statements?? I haven't met any Somali prostitutes, but plenty of non-Somali ones.

He prayed on a fluorescent jacket in a bus full of people? I say, that sounds highly irregular to me! lol

Prostitutes are some of the smartest and most educated persons you will ever meet.

Happy Birthday

LOL if Israel recognizes Somaliland, it'll be the final nail in the secessionists' coffin.

If I was an ant I could probably read that flyer lol

The theory of evolution is not godless. I'm tired of this misconception coming up in debates OVER and OVER again.

LOLOLOL Akbar Zeb

Kindness to animals is one of the foundations of civilization.

A&T bro, you know personal attacks are forbidden on SOL. The people in that list never did anything to you

LOL @ Norf

She looks like she has a beard.