^ Saddling the fence doesn't look good on you, awoowe. It must be your first time coz it shows. The treacherous TFG must be treated like the coward criminals that they are. Let the Ethiopian mules march them to Muqdisho and install A/Y at Villa Somalia. God knows he's waited 40 years and doesn't have many more years to live. Any analyst worth his coat will tell you Ethiopia will abandon the TFG when it becomes too costly to protect these dogs. That is an eventuality and they will leave licking their wounds. Somalis will pay with a lot of blood but not anymore than already spilt by their own. The second colossal strategic mistake the ICU will make in as many months is to come to a negotiating table manned by the TFG and all its allies and agree to an uneven and unfair ceasefire. I hope they don't. Let them go underground and fight Goliath like David would. One stone at a time. P.S. Goliath here is Ethiopia+US. The TFG is just a bunch of rats and will scatter the minute the last Xabasha heads home.

Ethiopia action in Somalia backed The African Union says Ethiopia has the right to intervene militarily in Somalia as it feels threatened by an Islamic militia operating there. An official also admitted the African Union had failed to "react properly and adequately" to the Somali situation. Ethiopian jets bombed two airports in Somalia on Monday in support of the transitional government's battle against the Union of Islamic Courts. Ethiopia's prime minister has said his country is "at war" with the Islamists. Fighting had flared last week between the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which holds most of central and southern Somalia, and Somali government forces, based around the southern town of Baidoa. Ethiopia admitted for the first time on Sunday its troops were fighting in the country. The UN estimates at least 8,000 Ethiopian troops may be supporting the transitional government. Stabilisation force Patrick Mazimhaka, the deputy chairman of the AU's Commission, told the BBC the African Union would not criticise Ethiopia as it had "given us ample warning that it feels threatened by the UIC". He added: "It is up to every country to judge the measure of the threat to its own sovereignty." Mr Mazimhaka said the international community had a responsibility to support the transitional government. We will overcome the Ethiopian troops in our land. Our forces are alert and ready [to] defend our country Abdirahman Janaqow Islamic Courts spokesman The African Union would meet in two days to discuss the situation, he said. "The African Union must plan to get a force to intercede and stabilise the situation," Mr Mazimhaka said. On Monday, Ethiopian jets bombed the international airport in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and another at Balidogle, in the south of the country. Two senior leaders of the UIC, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, landed at Mogadishu shortly after the air strike, a clear sign that the attack there did not disable the runway. The Ethiopian government said it hit the two airports to stop "unauthorised flights", the AFP news agency reported. A spokesman for the UIC, Abdirahman Janaqow, told the Associated Press the Islamists would stand firm against Ethiopia. "We will overcome the Ethiopian troops in our land. Our forces are alert and ready to defend our country," he said. The Islamist group has appealed for foreign fighters to join its troops in a "holy war" against Ethiopia. Somali and Ethiopian troops also captured a checkpoint outside the flashpoint town of Beledweyne. UIC forces then left the town, the scene of sustained fighting on Sunday. There were also reports of heavy fighting at the central flashpoint of Burhakaba, close to Baidoa. Red Cross plea Ethiopia began attacking the UIC across a 400km (250 mile) front line along the border on Sunday. PM Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia was forced to defend its sovereignty against "terrorists" and anti-Ethiopians. "We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances," Mr Meles said. "We want to end this war urgently and we hope that Ethiopian people stand by the defence forces." The Red Cross has urged all parties to protect civilians from harm. Thousands of Somalis have fled the escalating violence, and the Red Cross says the fighting is straining an already weak support system in the country. Red Cross official Pedram Yazdi told the BBC that the organisation was treating 445 people injured during the fighting, including combatants and civilians. Aircraft are taking some two tonnes of supplies into Somalia from Kenya each day in an effort to keep hospitals adequately supplied, he said. BBC

^ The rift may widen as the losses and retreat will be blamed on the adventurous wing. The West and the Arab league will appeal to the other camp of the Courts Union and try to further alienate the military wing. Then the military wing of the Courts Union will simultaneously fight on three fronts: the Ethiopians, the treacherous TFG and now, their own broken part of the ICU. I know that's an unlikely (and disastrous) outcome but it's possible. These are indeed the birth pangs of a new Horn. Xiinow, is this the end of the ICU? That means they have lasted shorter than the Isbaaro kings or the TFG. A/Y should have died in that decapitation car bomb a few months ago. Laakinse wixii xun ba wadku ma karo.

Originally posted by xiinfaniin: It's a day of infamy! But Baashow, this war, though a bit hasty, is a just war. Xiinow, atheer, you're wise beyond your years and I agree with all that you said. My crystal ball tells me the same thing. But please tell me why the leader(s) of the ICU decided to take this colossal strategic misstep? I know why the TFG is doing what it's doing but what possible motivation could the ICU have? Why now? Did they not believe the Ethiopians would call their bluff? Were they over confident of their power? Did the Ethiopians use both A/Y and the ICU's cries of Jihad to capitalize on this like the Americans did of 9/11 and Israelis of the kidnapped soldier? Was this invasion planned and rehearsed before the TFG was a twinkle in A/Y's eye? By playing into his hands, and in this age of "war on terror", is the ICU the best Christmas gift an Ethiopian leader could have?

Originally posted by Baashi: According to their editorials, they seem to be pro-TFG and pro-Somaliweyn. That's my reading. I could be wrong though. Can one be both pro TFG and pro Somaliweyn? They may be offended by the label pro TFG, awoowe. So everyone is convinced a negotiated settlement is the only out? Onkodkaa baad roob mooden. Diagonally opposed entities don't negotiate. They destroy each other. I may be losing my senses but a long occupation of Ethiopia may be just what the doctor ordered. Provided, that is, it does not produce massive civilian deaths. To rise above primitive clan affiliations, Somalis must suffer a sustained, foreign and fairly brutal occupation. It may be we hate this today but one day, far, far into the future, may look back and thank Ethiopia. Very few will be thanking the ICU and, specially, the TFG for this.

Originally posted by Sky: the Transitional Government of which its president was elected fair and squarely (the election was supported by all Somali parties, except for the entity named Somaliland). So you came back from the dead only to give us a historical non-fact?

Originally posted by Baashi: On the other hand, TFG will promise the withdrawal of "front-line states" forces in Somali soil out persuant to UN, AU, US, and Arab League understanding of the UN resolution (I don't remember the numbers). It will recognize the legitimacy of UIC reign over the lands it controls. It will agree to a new power-sharing formula that reflects the realities on the ground. Power sharing? This is the stuff fairy tales are made of. Unfortunately, awoowe, before any gathering at a table occurs, the Ethiopians will rush to grab as much land as possible. If and when they reach the negotiating table, the TFG can claim they control x, y and z areas and thus have no incentive to concede much. Remember the days before Israel and Hizbollah agreed to a ceasefire? The Israelis made a significant push to grab as much land as possible. Somalia may be a little different as the defenses, financing, and the equipment of Hizbollah are missing. The ideal time to negotiate is when there's a stalemate. There will be no stalemate here in the short term. The Ethiopians will reach Kismaayo and be there for a few months before supply line problems, troop fatigue, an insurgency and other logistical cracks begin to appear in their armor. What is really at stake here?

Why is this cowardly copy and paster not banned?

Why is this cowardly copy and paster not banned?

Why is this cowardly copy and paster not banned?

Xoogsadow, atheer you're barking up the wrong tree here. A ceasefire is a must. The question is, how much will ICU have lost militarily and what concessions will they have to make when they are forced to sit at the table. This is no cut and run but cut and assess. You are right tho, one cannot be neutral on a moving train and old Baashi isn't. Edited: But Baashi, it's ceasefire or a route so it's not really a novel idea you're proposing here. Take it a little further. With whom shall this ceasefire be negotiated and under which terms?

General duke is not an ultra conservative racist, is he? No, he's an ultra clanist, racist. What is the difference between the two, you ask? There is a small but significant difference: one can find Ethiopia on a map, the other can't.

^ Do you really think the general will hear your appeal? He's on a mission but one has to wonder why. Even money doesn't completely explain this irrational joy he displays at the invasion. This is a moment of tragedy. There is no glory in this tragic civil war. The fact are the impatience of UIC and indignity of TFG got us in big dhooqo. Ethiopians got the excuse they've been looking for and boy they are milking it like no tomorrow. There is no freedom of speech in a time of war. Anyone who comes here speaking of the benefits of bombing Somali cities from the air should be censored, if not banned. The venues where the Ethiopians and their lovers can celebrate their victories are many but this is not one of them. If SOL is a place for Somalis to seek refuge from the nonsense of the world, they shouldn't have to listen to paid propagandists and their stooges gloat while their cities burn from aerial bombardment. Ban the warmongers now.

^ So you have no proof. That's what I thought. Now, let me ask you this, did you think you could talk out of your rear end around here and not be called on it, friend? That's three hogs in one night. It's got to be a bloody record. LOL.

^ I think you're in safe hands with Kashafa now. I'll get a quick shut-eye and see you later today. You should have developed some traces of nuts by then.

^ I can only praise the Lord for allowing me to skin two hogs in one night. Two for one, baby.

^ I said proof, not lyrical waxing. P.R..F. Proof. Don't give me a lame statistics 101 sob story. Prove to me that more "moslems" than christians approve of this aggression. The onus is on you, friend. Or did you go to general duke's school of talk nonsense whenever asked for proof?

^ Now that I got you fully undressed, whadya say? Still think those Ethiopian jets didn't bomb Somali cities? Was it your uncle's private jet that did it? Or was it Geedi's?

^ The bombers themselves have admitted it. What would you call a person who still denies this. Nacalatulah calayk dheh.

^ The Duke is now fully naked. And it took your disadvantaged brain a full 15 minutes to dig up that post. What pity. Again, you're the wrong choice for the TFG spokesperson. No intellect. No integrity. No linguistic skills. No nothing.

^ Dhexdhexaad? WTF? This is a time of war. I noticed, too, that your mugshot is missing from that gallery.

Originally posted by General Duke: CASTRO You are a simple man with much clan hatred. Duke has no time for simple talk. A man full of internal conflict, and with an inferiority complex. :eek: I remmeber a time when you was praising homosexuality months ago on the general section and, I remmeber how the nomads turned on you..You dont want me to expose you like your friend do you Is that your best defense? Come on, you can do better than that. The question still stands, atheer, do you believe Ethiopians are bombing Somali cities? The whole world knows it, do you? Do you also believe the earth is round? The whole world knows that too. You're such the wrong choice for the TFG spokesperson. No intellect. No linguistic skills. No heart. No nothing. Surely yours is money well wasted. LOL.

Originally posted by Somali_Friend: This is not a joke. This ethiopian government has been supported by ethiopian moslems, percentage wise more than christians. I simply cannot afford to take your word for this, "friend". So prove it, punk!

^ Now you're grasping at straws. Your desperation is increasing by the minute. Whoever wrote that in the link is having a field day to be quoted by you. No matter what you do or say, my contribution to Somalinimo is to stay on your tail. 10,000 posts here I come.

^ And yet the good general still maintains this: Originally posted by General Duke: Also no towns and cities got bombed by anyone