Originally posted by Caamir: He presents his claim cogently and with enough support. He doesn't. For example, he claims: "Easy words to say but difficult to accept when it means beheading people for not praying five times a day" No Somali has been beheaded for not praying five times a day. It was a few weeks ago when FOX News reported this propaganda. No major Somali news site reported such propaganda. It's one thing for Goth to claim beheadings that occur on a regular pace, it's another thing to claim a propaganda as fait accompli. He also claims: "while forgetting that Islam owes its existence to Ethiopia" Now, what kind of irrelevant claim is that? Allah's religion was saved by Ethiopia? Without Ethiopia, Islam would have ceased into existence? How can one expect objectivity from a writer whose claims or allegations are based on propaganda or incidents (i.e. beheading) that have not occurred a single time? BTW, Bashir Goth is a Somali who hails from Waqooyi Galbeed.

Originally posted by Rose: There's no P in the lingo..but if the P switched to a "b" then it would mean "close it" You are wrong. Here's proof: http://www.arlaadinet.com/language/Alif%20Maay.htm http://www.cal.org/co/bantu/sblang.html http://www.dooynet.com/Alif_maay1.htm

shufeer = chauffeur (French) Originally posted by Rose: Na kalmayaay! (Oh help us!) What's the meaning of "hapoog"? I could't read or understand that though I am Rahanweyne and speak Af-maay There's no P in the lingo and I see quite a few Ps. Weird Maybe you speak a different dialect of af-Maay. How can you not read it? It's written in English alphabet, and even those people whose alphabet is the English can attempt reading it. And you're wrong; Maay have the "p" letter in their language.

A L L A H U - A K B A R! Guul to Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga, insha'Allah.

Originally posted by Abdi2005: This traitors(ina yeey iyo fanaxle) will be rememberd in the history, c/yusuf deserves deth penalty for again leading xabashis to somali as he did in 82, this dud is the bigg time traitor. Abdullahi Yusuf has a long history (dating back to the 70's) of collaboration with Ethiopia. Somalis should have been very careful of letting him back and becoming a leader of some capacity. What do you expect from a Somali sheltered, nurtured, trained and armed by Somalia's nemesis? Obedience at the least. My top beef with Abdullahi Yusuf is he represents the epitome of secularism; the man hates anything that has to do with Islam and Sharia'.

For those who think Af-Maay and Af-Soomaali are the same, I invite you to listen to these audios: http://www.maayradio.com/dood.ram http://www.maayradio.com/myx.ram

Very interesting article. I hope sister Joanna Francis embraces Islam.

peacenow, the Wahhabiphobia, Arabphobia and Talibanphobia propaganda have been exhausted and miserably failed. Islamic militancy is on the rise. There's a new world order that favors Islamists. The Islamists are defeating the mightiest military (US) in the world. They have given the US a month of truce offer to withdraw from Iraq. The US has been given a two week deadline to consider the offer. It's a matter of when not if when the entire Islamic world is overtaken by Islamists. I know there are those kind of Muslims who support the winning horse, but the wait is over because you know Islamists are winning. Allahu akbar.

An inspiring video. You watch a firsthand recent video of ICU's leaders, Mogadishu and its airport, port, schools, iwm. I didn't know their leaders were humble and all smiles (especially Dahir Aweys and Abu Mansuur). This is a video worth watching (duration 24:15 minutes). The quality of the video is much better if you watch it with Google Video Player.

Originally posted by me: The question still remains whats a somali language? Are these people Somalis or not? and if they are Somalis, isn't their language a Somali language? Somali is an Afro-Asiatic language, of the East Cushitic branch. It has borrowed a significant number of words from Arabic since the arrival of Islam. It borrowed from the English, French and Italian languages, by way of colonization. It also borrowed some limited words from the Hindi and few other languages, by way of trade. Yes, these people are Somalis. They speak their own language along with the Somali language (some speak little Somali). It's worth to note that Af-Maay was once an official language of Somalia along with af-Somali; it will remain a strong language spoken by millions of Somalis.

A weak government and firm Islamist grip on Somalia deal another blow to U.S. efforts to stabilize the country Disaster looms over region By KAREN DEYOUNG Washington Post WASHINGTON — Six months ago, the Bush administration launched a new policy in war-torn Somalia, putting the State Department in charge after secret CIA efforts failed to prevent Islamic fundamentalists from seizing power in Mogadishu. It hoped that diplomacy would draw the Islamists into partnership with more palatable, U.S.-backed Somali leaders. Today, that goal seems more distant than ever. Since coming to power in June, the Islamists have expanded their hold on the south. A largely powerless, U.S.-backed government remains divided and isolated in the southern town of Baidoa. U.S.-sponsored talks and a separate Arab League effort seem to be going nowhere. Al-Qaida, long hovering in the shadows, has established itself as a presence in the Somali capital, said U.S. officials, who see a growing risk that Somalia will become a new haven for terrorists to launch attacks beyond its borders. Meanwhile, a major war — promoted by Osama bin Laden — looms between Somalia and Ethiopia, threatening a regional conflagration likely to draw more foreign extremists into the Horn of Africa. Pointing fingers Among administration officials, Congress, U.S. allies and other interested and fearful parties, there is a rising sense that Somalia is rapidly spinning out of control. And events there have led to a wave of finger-pointing and a feeling that there are few good ideas and little time for turning the situation around. Interviews and commentary this month provided assessments that differed only in their degree of bleakness and apportionment of blame. "The Council of Islamic Courts is now controlled by ... East Africa al-Qaida cell individuals," Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer said of Mogadishu's new rulers. Early hopes of a power-sharing deal with secular politicians have dissipated as Courts Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys — put on the U.S. terrorist list in 2001 as the head of a militant group accused of having links to al-Qaida in the 1990s — and Aden Ayrow, who heads the Courts' military arm, have increased their power. Moderates remain within the Courts, a coalition of local Islamist groups and militias that drove CIA-supported warlords out of Mogadishu, Frazer said. Islamists have ignored U.S. insistence that they turn over three al-Qaida operatives — the core of what is called the East African cell — who the administration says took refuge in Somalia after terrorist attacks in Africa, including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Bin Laden's call for battle In a taped statement released in July, bin Laden called on Somalis to begin preparing for regional war. U.S. intelligence officials described the statement at the time as part of bin Laden's failing claim to the leadership of a worldwide Islamic movement, despite the dispersion of the al-Qaida network by the U.S. terrorism fight. Now they are not so certain. Still, the intelligence community is not prepared to fully endorse Frazer's conclusions about the level of al-Qaida's control of the Courts. Somalia "has come back on the radar screen only fairly recently," and the question is whether the Islamist government "is the next Taliban," John Negroponte, director of national intelligence, told the Washington Post. "I don't think I've seen a good answer." But a U.S. counterterrorism official, while reluctant to dispute Negroponte's assessment, cited intelligence reporting that "people with links to al-Qaida are assisting with training and weapons." "If the situation heats up," said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the issue on the record, "it could draw in more jihadists from abroad." The United Nations reported last month that Ethiopia has sent thousands of troops to help prop up the two-year-old transitional government in Baidoa. The same report said Eritrea, whose 1970s war with Ethiopia is still smoldering over an unsettled border dispute, has deployed thousands of troops to train and fight alongside the Islamists. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4422522.html

Originally posted by me: Those are Somali languages. They are dialects of the Somali language. So they counnt as Somali. Whats a Somali language to you? You're incorrect; they aren't Somali dialects. If you have listened to or read those languages, then you would know it's not Somali. Sure, there are some words they have borrowed from the Somali language, but it's a small percentage of borrowed words. For example, it's not like: Maxaad rabtaa? or Maxaad dooneysaa? It's: May fadaase? How close is that to a Somali dialect? The following are excerpts I copied from a Maay site: Farty Afky Maayky may liing etheegsythey Alifky Roomangky, yeetho haruufo bersho liing doorythi weerdhingty Afky Maayky ing gaarky e. Alifky Afky Maayky may leyaa lapaatung i afar shibly 24, shang 5 shaghal oo aasa'aas e, i hal 1 shaghal ing yaal. Afky Maayky may leyaa hal shaghal ing yaal oo e harafky (Y), kaasoo weerdhingtis ku gediising weerdhingty shaghale (i , e). Shaghal ing yaalky “Y” may liing etheegsythey weerdhing ing gaar e Afky Maayky, oo e “ieh” taasoo eed liingku dereemow dhamaadky kelmetho Afky Maayky. Misaal: teesy sedy lamy misgy bary Maadaama harafky “Y” liing etheegsythow shibly i shaghal haangby, sy liing shak kasy madi usy shibly eyi i madi usy shaghal eyi, may liing suubiyey sher’e ly erraw Shorongshoor Harafky “P” may ly etheegsythey madi harafky “B” weerdhingtis futhudy, weerdhingtiisny may ku kooyase faruuy’o mayny ing dhowya harafky afky Ingriisky ‘P”. Misaal: apaal heped lipee hapoog Hapiipy Harafky Y' may liing etheegsythey weerdhing ing gaar e Af Maay, weerdhingtiisny may ly too etaa weerdhingty ky jerty kelmytho afky Telyaanighy (signore, agnello). Misaal: y’aay’ur y’isaang maay’y muy’y Now, be honest and tell if the above Maay excerpts are Somali dialects.

Originally posted by me: how many words does the Somali language have? whats the percentage of borrowed words? 2%? It's not only about how many words the Somali language has, it's also about non-Somali languages (with some Somali words) spoken by Somalis. Af-Maay, Af-Mushunguli and Af-Baraawe are few examples. Those non-Somali languages are spoken by at least a combined 25% Somalis. About the percentage of borrowed words, I would put it in the range of 35%-50%.

Originally posted by peacenow: i don't see any other Somali other than Bashir Goth, who is advoicating this alternative. That's because it's a system incompatible with Somalis or Muslims. Only few Somalis, you and Bashir Goth (so far) advocate for it. You should respect the wishes of the majority who want an Islamic system based on Sharia'. BTW, is Bashir Goth Muslim? I ask because the name Goth isn't Muslim.

ICU ≠ AL-ITTIHAD ≠ ARTA

Originally posted by me: aabe waa soomaali That's not the only one used by Somalis. Some use abaa, abaabo, iwm.

Some corrections: abaa is Oromo (or Somali Abo) farkeeto - forchetta shukumaan - asciugamano roti is from India sitimaan - settimana kubeerto - coperto

peacenow, didn't you post the same topic? Please stop flooding the forum. http://www.somaliaonline.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000819 Originally posted by me: We? Habash speak for yourself. Is there a way we can take these habashes of the forum? Is peacenow Habashi? A Habashi disguising as a Somali nationalist? Interesting. However, Somali nationalists like the TFGs are the first to betray Somalis by inviting and collaborating with Somalia's nemesis Ethiopia.

Somalia: Battle for Baidoa Begins, Islamic Courts Employing Feint Tactics By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross I have been covering the situation in Somalia since early June, when Mogadishu fell to the radical Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU has steadily gained control of strategic cities throughout the country since then, confining its secular rival, the transitional federal government (TFG), to the south-central Somali city of Baidoa. This morning I have a major piece of breaking news over at Pajamas Media, where I reveal that the ICU has begun its final push to take Baidoa. An excerpt: Baidoa is heavily fortified and protected by a large contingent of Ethiopian troops but its defenses will not hold, intelligence sources tell Pajamas Media. Ethiopia has allied itself with Somalia's embattled transitional federal government. Reached by Pajamas Media, Dahir Jibreel, the transitional government's permanent secretary in charge of international cooperation, confirmed that a massive offensive is underway. Jibreel said that the ICU launched an "offensive on the seat of the government from three directions: Burkhakabo, Idale and Dinsor." Jibreel is guardedly optimistic, noting that the Islamic radicals "sustained heavy losses." "They will overrun Baidoa," a military intelligence officer told Pajamas Media. "It's only a question of when." It's worth noting that the military intelligence source with whom I spoke believes that the ICU's early attacks on Baidoa -- which got beaten back -- were not intended to take the city, but instead were feint operations designed to make the transitional government and its Ethiopian allies overconfident, and perhaps cause them to advance from their fortified positions. If he is correct that these were feint operations (and this source has been extremely reliable in the past), then the ICU succeeded in driving up the the TFG's confidence. I spoke to a number of sources close to the TFG's leadership this morning, and they were convinced that the TFG is winning. COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG

Originally posted by General Duke: My suggestion is that you could do the honour of disproving me, hence saving me allot of time. Sir, do you understand what you are asking for? You are asking me to do your homework. You are asking to disprove the integrity and accuracy of your topics, comments, claims, allegations, iwm. The onus is on you to back up your allegations and claims. You do not have to make an allegation or claim that has no basis or that's not true. It's totally unnecessary, unprofessional and waste of time. If you want to make a statement that includes numbers or statistics, there are many easy sites that you can consult. Two of those sites are CIA Factbook and Wikipedia. Sir, please don't waste our time and stick to professionalism. Thank you.

Originally posted by General Duke: Taliban, thus you know nothing about what you speak of. Saxib, I said that Iraq's insurgency is made up of the Sunni's correct? Incorrect. You didn't mention "Sunni" and you don't need to mention it. Well who made up the army 400,000 strong that was disbanded? a mistake the US admin admits now. These same soldiers went back to their villages and cities which is in the Sunni triangle. This includes the area known as AL-Anbar province. Sir, we aren't talking about the disbanding of the 400,000 Iraqi army, the US's mistake, the Sunni triangle, Anbar province, iwm. We are talking about your percentage, 90%, the composition of the Iraqi insurgency. A simple research will back up the argument and the act that the Bush adminstration always blamed outsiders and not the 5 million Sunni for the insurgency. Again, we are not talking about a research, the Bush administration's blamings, iwm. Sir, stick to your allegation. This is what you alleged: Iraq insurgency is based on the fight of the 5 million Sunni's who amde up 90% of Sadams 400,000 well trained and battle hardened troops. Please, no more of things that don't relate to your allegation. Simply back up your allegation. A simple link (or two) will do.

Originally posted by General Duke: However what I dont get is, how come this intellegence did not tell them to expect the tanks and thus not compensate for it? Perhaps it wasn't even about telling them what to expect in order to compensate. If this was an incidence that has occurred a number of times, then I would understand your persistent question. These are the initial stages of many battles to come. It's testing stages meant to test the strengths and achilles heels of each other. Iraq insurgency is based on the fight of the 5 million Sunni's who amde up 90% of Sadams 400,000 well trained and battle hardened troops. I have been following Iraq's news since the first Gulf war, and have never heard or read 90% of the Iraqi insurgency is compromised of Saddam's 400,000 well trained and battle hardened troops. This is a test of the integrity and accuracy of your topics, comments, claims, allegations, iwm: Do you care to back up (a link or two) your allegation of what 90% of the Iraqi insurgency is compromised of? Originally posted by Ahmed_Guree: Taliban, Ethio soilders are just conscripts and are more of mercenaries and bounty hunters with no discipline or trainning Coz of the sense of pride they have on their number. tahts why they were defeated by Eritreans. Good analysis. I concur.

Originally posted by General Duke: Taliban, why did that intelligence not tell them there where tanks there in the first place and thus to expect excessive force? I don't get your obsession with "excessive force." It's not about expecting Ethiopia's excessive force; it's about knowing what Ethiopia's excessive force is about. Ethiopia's excessive force doesn't differ from the Shock and Awe debacle of Iraq. It's only meant for the initial stages. You have to understand the TFG and Ethiopia will not be fighting a conventional army (in the ICU); they will be fighting an Islamic insurgency with the help, experience and expertise of the global Islamic insurgency. Originally posted by Somali_Friend: Does it mean you would do it if I got you in touch with a teacher, a cleric, an Immam, a Shiek (respected one not self appointed)..etc. No, it doesn't mean if you got me in touch with with a teacher, a cleric, an Immam, a Shiek, etc. It means if you are one of those, or a practicing Muslim.

Originally posted by Somali_Friend: repent for the misuse of Islam. How can you call for that when you are secular? you also need to answer to your brothers for giving Islam a bad name You do not understand Islam. No one can harm Islam. Islam is protected by Allah. No amount of badmouthing or smearing Islam will harm it. Those that badmouth or smear it only harm themselves. Islam is a religion when you badmouth or smear it, it attracts more converts. Islam isn't a human product; it's divine.

Originally posted by General Duke: How could they know who or what is operating these tanks? Intelligence.