Originally posted by Tyjwania: I'm usually not one to brag, but many people who hold the same position that I do are in their 40's. So here is a little young me kicking @ss when it comes to "what I do for a living" Looking at your coworkers, Ms. "little young me", could give you a glimpse of how you will be when you're in your 40's. And yes, you are one to brag. :rolleyes:

^ How do you do it?

^ LOL. It's a no contest. Banaadir wins hands down.

^ Though I don't know for sure, good Alle-ubaahne, I have a feeling you're not in Muqdishu joining the "Dagaalka Barakeysan". So, what makes you think you'll succeed as a recruiter when you have little street (i.e. wartime) credibility?

Well intentioned but could easily backfire. Has the ICU banned Qaad yet? Or does its leadership use the "mild narcotic" during its long and difficult policy meetings such as deciding on banning trade in charcoal. :rolleyes: All it takes are a few miscalculated steps from the ICU and we're back where we started. While the ultimate goal of reducing charcoal and wildlife abuse is good, outright and sudden bans are not only difficult to enforce but are only politically expedient in my view.

^ Your uncle (and his ship) is doomed. You can deny, cry, lie, kick, scream, howl or wax lyrical all you want. He's doomed and neither you nor any of his other nieces and nephews could wish him into a head of state.

Originally posted by NGONGE: you’re moving the goal posts there, saaxib. It’s not fair or nice to do so. From the start of this discussion my argument was about Muslims who intentionally cause the loss of innocent lives. I could've sworn we settled this more than a year ago, saaxib. Few people encourage, support or condone such depraved indifference to innocent life. But the way you used that broad brush prompted me to solicit the above from you. We're on the same page. Wax on, atheer. As for SB, I believe he brings a healthy diversity of opinion here. That he's often wrong on these matters shouldn't deter him from contributing. Wax off, atheer.

Originally posted by NGONGE: If our starting point is that terrorism is FORBIDDEN then none of the cause and effect arguments should really matter (in an Islamic sense). Tell me good Ngonge, do you believe that blowing up an Israeli tank with a rocket or a US Humvee with a roadside bomb is terrorism? How about "kidnapping" enemy soldiers and holding them as prisoners of war in exchange for your own prisoners of war? No? Well most western governments and their media outlets do. In fact, killing a US/British/Israeli/NATO soldier in full combat gear and in a war zone no less, is a form of "terrorism", they tell us. Now, tell me saaxib, is this the same form of terrorism we're talking about here? Is that what will erode our faith? What about killing those who support (morally and financially) the wars being waged against Muslims? How about killing those who directly benefit from these wars? Finally, if in the process of targeting what is ostensibly a legitimate target, innocent people are killed, does it still count as a sin? Isn’t then the greatest of follies to allow a bunch of ragtag dodgy ‘freedom’ fighters to erode on our faith and cause untold damage to the way we and those that follow us would understand it and practise it? One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, is how the famous line went. Saaxib, American and Israeli leaders have the audacity to say they use "gentle" and "smart" bombs to carpet-bomb civilian areas. We know they're full of cow dung when the devastation is later shown. There's much evidence (in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, even as far back as Vietnam and WW2) that much of the carnage inflicted on civilians and civilian targets was intentional. And the lions share, if not the whole thing, was committed by non-Muslims. Remember Japan? As Muslims, intentionally targeting defenceless civilians is out of the question but I dare say much of what is labelled terrorism nowadays is legal and rightful resistance. So atheer, define terrorism first then you can wax philosophical.

^ You couldn't sleep at night saaxib. No person with a conscience could do this for such pittance of a salary. My soul, if it were for sale, is worth much, much more than $160k.

Originally posted by SOO MAAL: Somali Muslims are Sunni and quite homogeneous, with one language, one sect and one religion One nation (of 200+ clans), under God, very divisible, with no liberty or justice for anyone. Xaax.

^ Uncle Yeey, as some lovingly call him ( ), is where the rubber meets the road in this proxy war. Can you spell r-o-a-d-k-i-l-l, good Libaax? LOL.

^ I was thinking the same thing. Sheh will go underground if she's got any loot coming and then we'll know she got PAID. Next stop, CAMBODIA. LOL. Good for you Sheh.

Here's something that caught my eye: Travel to destinations that are near bye such as Dubia, Kuwait, Thailand, Paris, Brazil, South Afrcia and Turkey Most Airline flights are less than 8 hours away from Iraq and Jordan! LOL. Only an American would think Brazil was near by to Iraq and put that country in the same sentence as Paris, a European city. No wonder these fools can't get the job done in Iraq. They think it's next door to Brazil. Bwahahahahahaha. Also in the same ad: Experince living on a military bases. Some offer Pizza Hut, Coffee Bean, Buger King, Hardee's KFC Chicken etc.... Pools, Recreational games, libraries, videos, ect... Most bases are even equiped with US cable!!! Damn, that's it. I mean with perks like cable TV, who could honestly say no to a job that pays $160,000 per year TAX FREE. LOL. No wonder they can't find anyone to fill these "jobs". For one thing, their target audience of candidates is too sophisticated to be lured by Pizza Hut and cable TV. Second, those who would be lured with this nonsense perks of travel and pizza live in the Midwest and speak no arabic. Third, who in their right mind would watch the attrocities America commits against women and children and still want to be involved in that ethnic cleansing. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Suldaanka: "The security men who were held in a room at Ambassador Hotel told the media that they were not aware that Somaliland and Somalia were 2 different countries." Rubbish. They went there knowing precisely the geopolitical situation. So what is the official line of the Somaliland government for "arresting" these security men? That they lacked the proper paperwork to enter the country or that the alleged deportee was not, I repeat not, a "native" Somalilander? P.S. So if I show my face in Hargeisa without a visa, will I be arrested as well and "jailed" at the Ambassador hotel?

Originally posted by Libaax-Sankataabte: Diplomats fear that Ethiopia and old foe Eritrea are using Somalia as a proxy battleground to antagonise each other. Who writes this nonsense anyway? Exactly how are these two antogonizing each other through Somalia? Is this journalism? Ethiopians are already in Baidoa and the biggest loser will be Abdillahi Yusuf. Having shown his complete and utter incompetence as a statesman, he should return to wherever he came from and save the Somali people the blood that is soon (and sure) to be shed fighting the Ethiopians. Does he really think he'd be president of the Somali people using a foreign force? What an imbecile for the ages. Someone should end his miserable existence and send him to a not-so-early grave.

^ I didn't pay my DSL bill atheer. It happens.

^ Usheeg atheer. Sowka idin mooday inaad madoobe dheere wali ku dhooftaan.

Originally posted by NGONGE: I’d go as far as call it offensive in its unwitting duplicity. It's duplicitous, I admit, but it sure feels good.

^ Congrats on your 1000th post, good SB. How you survived this long with writings such as the above, I cannot explain. Who said there was no nepotism on SOL?

^ There's still much to be discussed in this story without having to tell another. For example, the psychology of innocence (of the young boy) is very complex. Specifically, if the postman had been repeatedly engaging in illicit (and damaging) activity with the young boy's mother and the child had to witness the very real effects this had on his family (constant fighting, lack of loving atmosphere, betrayal, distrust, etc..), he may grow to believe that the world works this way and that the use of violence (sex here) is the normal, nay preferred, way of doing business. And as if to add insult to grave injury, his frog is brutally murdered by none other than his mommy's fornicating boyfriend (possibly using a guided missile). The child could easily grow up to be hateful, merciless and understand that violence begets violence, or in his case, deadly sex begets deadly sex. So while his behavior may not be morally acceptable on any scale, it is certainly understandable, if not entirely expected. The child's behavior is part and parcel of the violent, unjust and immoral surroundings he ingests daily. So on one hand, it's important to teach the child proper values but it's just as important to create an environment for this child where he must not live in an unjust environment and suffer any more inequities than is absolutely unavoidable. So think of this letter from UK Muslims to Tony Blair as one that is written to the postman in your story.

LSK, WTF? LOL. Are you spreading rumors atheer? What has Iran got to do with this? Atheer, we don't need any more attention from the trigger-happy Americans who're getting their butts kicked in Iraq and Afghanistan. They're like a wounded lion now. Salaamat min kuli aafat.

Xiinow, I think you're right about the deeper meaning of the allegory. It's not just about the unlawful killing of a frog. The major themes that jump at me when I think about it are betrayal, injustice and revenge. Furthermore, are you wondering, like I am, just who is who in this story? Perhaps good Ngonge could help match the real players to the ones in the story. 1- The Young boy 2- The frog 3- The Madam 4- Diseased prostitute 5- Healthy prostitute 6- The maid 7- The father 8- The mother 9- Il postino a- Americans b- Israelis c- Lebanese d- Iranians e- Palestinians f- Other Arabs g- Other Muslims h- Hizbullah i- Rest of the world (UN)

Originally posted by NGONGE: Hope you got the moral of the story, saaxib. Protect your pet frog from evil postmen?

^ Apart from die-hard clannists, the Bush administration and Abdillahi Yussuf, I can't think of anyone who's unhappy with the courts. However, what I read above, good Nur, is "irrational exuberance". Let's wait and see how the UIC works out its growing pains. The truth lies somewhere between your overly rosy picture ( ) and the more realistic view that the obstacles are great and success, though not impossible, is improbable.

Originally posted by Janna: I must confess my virtual admiration and affection towards you. Throughout the three years of my membership on Somaliaonline; The depth of your love and admiration may be clouding your math skills, dear. You've only been a member just over a year.