This is a case of biting the hand that feeds you.

The Age Now that Western troops and prestige are on the line, we have to make the Libyan intervention a success. To do so we must get the diagnosis right and not lazily assume that protest in Libya is a simple contagion of the same impulse we have seen in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere. A substantial body of evidence suggests that Libya is not undergoing a ''liberal-democratic'' revolution but rupturing along an ancient regional fault line. To avoid a long and bloody civil war Libya may need a partition through the two independent entities, which it had always had before 1951. The Roman and Ottoman Empires administered Libya as two distinct colonies - Tripolitania in the west (with Tripoli as its capital) and Cyrenaica in the east (with Benghazi as its capital). In 1912 Italy defeated the Ottomans and took control of the two colonies, merging them, for the coloniser's convenience, into ''Italian North Africa''. With the benefit of 15 years' experience, the Italians re-split the colony in 1927. Mussolini did later nominally reunite east and west, not because they belonged together, but as part of a plan to merge these colonies with the Italian possessions in the Horn of Africa and name the entire entity ''Libya'' - a term last used by ancient Rome to describe all of north Africa excluding Egypt. World War II rendered Libya a key battle theatre between a German/Italian force and the winning British/American/Commonwealth opponent. Tripoli supported the Axis and Benghazi supported the Allies. When hostilities ceased, Britain was asked to administer the region and, not surprisingly, made arrangements that reflected the wishes of its Benghazi allies. Advertisement: Story continues below Italians felt such a bond with Tripolitania that even in humiliated defeat they lobbied to retain the colony but 1951 was the age of de-colonisation. The UN declared the Emir of Benghazi King Idris of a new nation ''The United Kingdom of Libya''. Its title belied division as did the compromise to alternating capitals between Benghazi and Tripoli. A decade after the discovery of oil in 1959, King Idris was removed by a military coup led by Tripoli loyalist Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. All political power moved from Benghazi to Tripoli. Gaddafi's internal enemies - centred around Benghazi - were brutally suppressed. Oil allowed poor Libya to rapidly vault the prosperity ladder with per capita GDP exceeding New Zealand's by the 1970s. Gaddafi used oil wealth to become the world's pre-eminent sponsor of terrorism. After the Berlin disco bomb in 1986 US president Ronald Reagan communicated with Gaddafi in a language he would understand - 60 tonnes of laser guided bombs on five Libyan targets. The Colonel pulled his horns in. His most notable foray since then was funding Slobodan Milosevic - although the Serb was slaughtering Bosnian Muslims he qualified for Libyan largesse as an enemy of the West. The image of Saddam being dragged from a rabbit warren in Tikrit brought a penitent Gaddafi out of hibernation in 2003, unilaterally inviting the West to dismantle his nuclear weapons program. Former British prime minister Tony Blair dispensed absolution with a state visit to Tripoli and foreign technicians and investors poured in to grab the spoils of 100 privatisations. The Libyan economy has grown impressively since, with benefits flowing more to Tripoli than Benghazi. When protests erupted this year in two of Libya neighbours, Tunisia and Egypt, Western media viewed them through the prism of liberal-democratic uprisings. Time will tell. When an uprising began in Benghazi the same liberal-democratic assumption was pressed into service. West Point's Combating Terrorism Centre has since revealed that the city of birth most common per capita among foreign suicide bombers in Iraq is Benghazi. We also see Benghazi protesters carry icons of King Idris - so these ''freedom fighters'' are deeply fragmented and after 30 years of totalitarian rule, their instincts and loyalties are largely unknown. Benghazi fell quickly to the rebels, who began a march on Tripoli, but each step to the west was met with greater resistance. The ''no-fly zone'' was initially sponsored by three leaders, British PM David Cameron, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, each with an eye to domestic dividends. Then in a truly historic moment, the Arab League called for a ''no-fly zone'' and the UN agreed. It is clear that Gadaffi must go - but it's likely western Libya will then rally behind a new tribal chief. By arming the rebels of Benghazi along the glorious road of liberation to Tripoli we could easily be fuelling a civil war. The end game here is the partition of Libya along its historic division. Partitions are never easy but sometimes the only solution if two people can't live in one tent. The partition of the former Yugoslavia was fraught because the geography of the Balkans invites border disputes. Libya, however, is a small nation with fewer people than NSW and 90 per cent of its citizens live along a thin coastal strip. The availability of oil deposits, spread fairly evenly between east and west, gives the chance of viability to two small states. The eastern and western Libyans are already marching under their own flags but they will need two currencies, two constitutions, two football teams, two armies and they will share a long border through the Sahara. There could easily be border disputes and displaced tribes on either side of the line, but partition could be the least worst option. Our objective should be to stop the killings, deliver humanitarian aid, return daily life to normality. The Libyans must then be offered a path to self-determination but if the historical record is any guide, a one-state solution will only prolong the bloodshed. - with John Ruddick Ross Cameron is the former Liberal member for the federal seat of Parramatta.

Thankful;703478 wrote: The African Union has the courage to stay out of a war that is solely based on Oil (like always when it comes to Africa and the Middle East). Yet the secessionists are going to use it as a way to call them "irrelevant?" Just because they don't want foreign intervention to take place that can potentially destabilize the entire region, doesn't mean they are irrelevant. More importantly, just because the AU refuses to accept the illegal secessionist’s agenda in NW Somalia like every other country and international body does; doesn't mean you need to criticize them now. The AU seems to know that France and the rest of the West are just defending their oil interests and have absolutely no concerns of the civilians! The West wants a puppet and useless government in place - like Iraq - that they can exploit. What does Somaliland got to do with this topic? On the contrary to your gibberish. The very reason why the AU is quiet about the change which is led by the people in North Africa is symoblised by the current leader who serves as the President of the African Union. Teodoro Mbasogo came to power in Equatorial Guinea about 31 years ago, he himself is a despot and a dictator by all difinitions of the word. He commands neither any credibility nor legetimacy whatsoever to challenge the Libyan dictator to listen to the people and leave office. Teodoro Mbasogo is scared to death that sparks of liberty and people power in North Africa will reach his home and he would do exactly the same tactics employed by Gaddaffi to quell and put down any challenge to his despotic rule. And because of this inept dictators who are at the helm of the organistion, the AU has been rendered toothless to address African issues, visionless to lead the continent and missionless to put a road map for the future of the continent. By all means, it is a coffee shop by dictator for dictators. It is just shameful that other organisations of other continents are standing up to the dictators, and African leaders are quiet. Just shameful.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1627288.php/African-Union-fails-to-attend-Libya-summit-in-Paris Paris - An emergency summit of world leaders called to discuss the implementation of no-fly zone over Libya took place on Saturday without the African Union (AU), diplomatic sources said. According to French media reports the AU, which had been invited to the meeting in Paris, was preparing a last-minute mediation effort in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott. Around two dozen world leaders including British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have been debating how to implement the no-fly zone since midday. The UN Security Council gave the green light for the zone on Thursday

It is just mind boggling that dictators like Gaddaffi would amass so much of the country's richies, only to be frozen by the US and EU. In the US alone, more than 30 Billion dollars belonging to Gaddafi's sons and family was frozen and billions more in the EU. And today, we learn that it only took 110 missiles to disable his air defence system and military installations. Even Belgrade, Serbia, managed to shoot down a US stealth bomber... It only shows the inept and utter ridiculousness of so many dictators. I feel sorry for anyone that is supporting Gaddaffi today. What a looser.

He has been in power for 40 years, Gaddaffi should leave before Libya is bombed back to stone age.

Gadaffi lost all credibility and legitimacy to rule Libya when he started bombarding and levelling Libyan cities and killed his own people. I say let the West give the old dictator a taste of his own medicine.

General Duke;702917 wrote: ^^^Thanks for the update, we know who wanted to change their ethnicity, nationality and flag after the last real war between these clans. Thus spare us the false brovado. If NW Somalia was so great you and Siilanyo would not have been refugees in the west like the rest of your Somali brethren.. Anywho the old man wants to be a war criminal in his late years, good for him.. Your silly old strawman arguments again. Forget about the old women who are standing out in the cold beating on a lost cause... when will SOL going to see Dukey standing infront of the White house or State Department building with a banner saying "Somaliland Ha Dhacdo" :D

Hanbadii Afwayne's ka dhintay crying in Western capitals. Somaliland response: Habar ayaa iska HawHaw lehe heelada inoo tuma. :D

Hanbadii Afwayne ka dhintay, oo Somaliland Ha Dhacdo leh. Quiet a historic moment.

African Union chief: "No comment" on North Africa Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equatorial Guinea and African Union Chairman Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equatorial Guinea and African Union Chairman © AU/afrol News afrol News, 2 March - The opposition of Equatorial Guinea today denounced President Teodoro Obiang Ngeuma, who is also the current African Union (AU) President, for keeping quiet on the North African revolutions. The main opposition group in Equatorial Guinea, the Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) in a statement forwarded to afrol News today strongly criticised AU and national President Obiang over "not having opened his mouth" regarding the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya; even having prohibited news coverage of them in Equatorial Guinea. "The events in North Africa, which in addition to Tunisia, Egypt and Libya also have affected Algeria and Morocco ... at this very moment preoccupies the international agenda in the European Union and the UN Security Council. But the AU, where the events are taking place that are the greatest revolution since African independence, has now made any comment," the CPDS statement said. The Equatoguinean opposition goes on criticising Dictator Obiang, "who has been in power for 32 years," for being the main reason behind the AU's silence on the North African revolutions. "Even worse, he has prohibited media in Equatorial Guinea to inform about these events," the CPDS told afrol News, referring to an earlier direct order by Equatoguinean Information to national broadcasters to stop reporting about North Africa. With these acts, according to the CPDS, AU President Obiang was standing out as "the accomplice of Ghaddafi, Ben Ali and Mubarak, making us believe that if the same events should happen in Equatorial Guinea, he would also use the army to shoot at his own citizens to defend his dictatorial powers." Contrary to President Obiang, the Equatoguinean opposition said it was celebrating and "congratulating the citizens of Tunisia and Egypt for their bravery and determination in their fight for freedom and democracy." The CPDS urged Equatoguinean citizens "to follow the reporting of foreign broadcasters with the aim of getting correctly informed about the historic events happening in North Africa and the Middle East." The election of President Obiang as AU President in February caused an outrage by human rights and civil society groups all over Africa and beyond. In fierce competition with Eritrea's president Isaias Afewerki, Mr Obiang is widely seen as the worst dictator in contemporary Africa, and his election to the AU presidency was widely called a "shameful moment" for Africa. By staff writers © afrol News

Qaddafi, the Psychopath, giving everyone a death Sentence (According to his Green book). Very funny video. Video

Libaax-Sankataabte;697741 wrote: Just for the record, there were many demonstrations in Somalia and sadly all ended up in massacres. The last one was that of June, 1989 . Scores of innocent protesters were murdered in that peaceful demonstration as Koofiyad Gaduud regime loyalists mercilessly gunned down anything that moves. The regime down-played the numbers and claimed only 23 people have died in the official news release. There were numerous attempts by the citizens to "peacefully" protest in other parts of the country and nothing but death and destruction came out of it. The famous Jaziira Massacre on which 59 peaceful demonstrators were picked up from their homes in the middle of the night, taken to Jaziira beach and shot dead one by one, serves as another reminder of the brutality citizens faced if they tried to exercise their rights. The 59 were not even demonstrating. They were picked up from their homes in the middle of the night, some wearing nothing but the macawis they went to bed with. Anyways, here is some interesting comparisons. * Libya like Somalia (Southern Somalia) was an Italian colony. * Col. Qaddafii like Siyad Barre was a soldier trained under the Italian colonial power. * Like Somalia, Libya is also a very clan divided society. * Like Siyad Barre, Col. Qaddafi used the Libyan Airforce to bombard and level Libyan Cities.

Instead of packing his belongings and leaving the country peacefully, Qaddafi unleashed a deadly clanish war pitting the local clans and tribes against one another, a remake of Siyad Barre's bad judgements of 1988. Gaddafi loses more Libyan cities Video:

Most people identified with the old simple one because of its ease and simple design.

I thaught lap dancing to American tunes was only a business that Arabs and the Third world countries were good at but come to think of it, the whole world does it. Here is how the UK behaves behind the scenes to appease the Americans. Mr Hague told an official the entire Conservative leadership were, like him, "staunchly Atlanticist" and "children of Thatcher", in a reference to former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Liam Fox [now defence minister] "Whoever enters 10 Downing Street as prime minister soon learns of the essential nature of the relationship with America... "We want a pro-American regime. We need it. The world needs it." Sources

Abwaan Ali Ahmed Raabbi (Ali-seenyo). Xumaha Dhaafaha, Wanaaga Dhisaha Wixii Dhacayaba, Dhankiisa hayaha Wadaniga Dhabtaha, Alaw Dhawr, Alaw Dhawr Somaliland, Alaaaw Dhawr.

Now they are gonna hate on him.

Originally posted by xiinfaniin: Xaajigu meeshuu hadda joogo rag joogi jirey oo sallimay baa badan Ayyoubow . Alla maxaan u soo joogay Suldaanka iyo Ayyoub oo faruuryo qaniinsanayya Give xaaji xunjuf few months and he will see the light as others before him did Awoowe, since Faroole has become the unofficial advocate for Somaliland and is playing to our tunes, we have nothing against Pirate Land - politically and militarily. There is no Pirate Land military facing off Somaliland and hence there is no need to be confrontational at all. Like Interior Minister, Dr. Gaboose mentioned the other day, we would like to work with Puntland to dismentle common issues such as the Buuhoodle anti-peace group.

That last question Yusuf Garaad posed to Siilaanyo was an interesting one. A very good answer from odey Siilaanyo as well.

Good one xaaji. Thanks for posting it here.

Good development there.

Looma kala hadhin. Nabadu waa lama huraan. The forces of peace winning the day, yet again.

NSUM has been forecasting doom and gloom for many years and they have been proven fools every single time. Somaliland is not a reckless administration. There is a lot at stake that requires calculated political moves. That is why it takes Somaliland many many years to gain few kilomtres of ground. And its not because Somaliland doesn't have the military capability to carry out its objectives fair and square. Rather its about winning the political war - which is much more time consuming and requires very patient hands. Just like Laascaanood has been for many years, Somaliland is working to make the right political environment to make its move into Buuhoodle. The small SSC militia is no match to the well armed and equipped Somaliland military just like Puntland's melitia was no match in 2007. It is only a matter of political ground work which is between Somaliland and Buuhoodle. It requires alot of hard work and patience to create the right atmostphere before any military move into Buuhoodle. And as Somaliland forges ahead, the merchants of conflict and foretellers of doom and gloom aka NSUM will lement in their armchair clan warmongering.

Halkuu xaajigii xamaanta dhigtay iyo Xajj-keenu Xiis iyo Maydh weeyaan