Me! You are smart man. Laakiin, walaahi waa quraafaad. Angola government waxaa la siixey 9 boqol iyo labo iyo konton milyan oo doolar upon signiture iyadoon la ogeyn waxa dhulka kujira. Marka wadanka in lakhiyaamo ma aha. Walee waan sii socdaa.

Me: I am going to Nugaal hada! waaba sidii aan warlord ku noqon lahaa.

Art, the contractual agreements between Puntland and Range is confined to hard commodities. Oil and Gas isn't in their sphere matey.

This is a farce indeed. Range approached couple big guns in the oil industry and were told to hit the road. Puntland now has realised that they (Range Resources) don't have the capacity to deal with exploration of this kind and as such opened discusions with another African based oil company.

Chaps, What grips hold most people with suspicion about the ICU is the wholesale support of those who were unti-Islam yesterday but of all the sudden taken up the placards shouting with loudest voice of support. The singular factor that unites these people (some of whom are known Cilmaaniyiin) is the clan lineage. Is this a fair judgement? Perhaps not. But we should deal with practical consequences of such sentiments combined with the political naivety of our brothers on the steering wheel of the ICU--- the latter impediment isn’t their fault for they have found themselves on the stage of the National Oprah Theatre without the proper acting training. So long as individuals in this forum and the society at large continue to cloak themselves with Islamic garments due to the above-mentioned reason then we shall have these continued cynicism and scepticism towards the rise of ICU. Many people here are doing disservice to the ICU without them even realising it. On personal attachks As muslims this is sinful indeed. It is Ramadan for allah's sake. Allah Halaga Cabsado/Jeclaado. I know General Duke personally. He is a man of enormous integrity, intellectual intensity and unparalleled patriotism. He is indeed the embodiment of what a good Somali ought to be. Brother Duke, rise above this petty debates of which your good name might be sullied. Ramadaan Wanaagsan

In lahabaartamo ayaantaan Airka ayey ku jirtey. Soomali ahaan, ninka ragga ahi Habaarka waa uu kareeboon yahay.

Is that a reaction to SOPRI's conferance?

Let me tell you that as someone who have been studying closely the Islamic movement in Somalia the above article is littered with historical errors that even those who give fleeting attention to the Islamic movement will see without a fail. It seems the author's sources are gleened from Maankahadal forums.

I actually enjoyed reading that; though I disagree with the concluding remarks. Well done old boy.

Horn, you were cheering for the courts before you have realised that they were going to take over Kismayo. Doesn't this tell us a thing or two why you are so vahemently against the movevemnt of justice and equality. Hiiraale was invader himself and he has brought with him his peeps from Galgaduud; it is just logical that they protest against the uprrooting of their adeer. Aloow umadaad u gargaar.

Suldaanka, walaale Ramadaan weeye ee Rabi kacabdo. Ceydu Calaamad Rageed ma aha.

LOL! Ayaantaan Xaaraantii ayaa macaan noqotey hade!

Muraadoow, Beri hore ayaa waxaa jirey nin hunguri weynaa laakiin sabool ahaa. Wuxuu kunoolaa Maalitii danbe ayuu wuxuu arkey qaalin candho weyn oo caano badan laga heli karo; laakiin waxaa qaalinta lajoogey kurey hangool watey oo laakiin yara xoogan. Ninkii saboolka ahaa ayaa waxaa hunguri kagalay qaalintan. Waxa uu kudul wareegoba; maalintii danbe ayaa waxaa kobtii soo degay nin geel qaad ahaan jirey; laakiin ka toobadkeeney geel qaadnimadii. Ninkii ayaa wuxuu arkey qaalintii markasoo isaguna uhungoroodey laakin waxaa ka celiyey xaaladiisa uu markaa ku jirey. Mudo kabacdii ayuu wuxuu bartey ninkii saboola ahaa laakiin hanka weynaa. Kadib markii lasheekeystey ayuu wuxuu gaadey saboolkani inuu hunguri kahayo qaalinta. Wuxuu ku jiri, war heedhe, qaalintaa waa caano badan tahay, aniguna geel qaadnimada waan joojiyey. Laakiin aryaa waxaan kuu sheegaaa hashaan nooqaad, qori anaa kusiinaa. Kadib ayuu amaahshey qori; ninkii hashii sidii buu kudhacay. Qadar lag joogo bilo, oo labadoodiiba dooxada nageyreed degan yihiin. Ninkii geel qaadka ahaa go'aan sadey in ninkan uu hasha ka kaxeysto; wuxuu sugey inteey walaalilihii ka imanayeen. Markii ey yimaadeena; saboolkii ayaa waxaaa lagu yiri "aryaa caga wax kadey hadii kale adaan kububaneynaahe"!!! obligingly without resistance the poor guy left his loot. This is what happened in Kismayo mate.

That is the rumour and the fancy of some.

I think it is hoax.

The New Government News just in. After the recent visit of Sheikh Ali Warsame et all, the ICU decided that they needed to establish inclusive transitional government. And rumour has it, the list is as follows. Imam: Sheikh Ali Warame Amiirul Wusaraa: Sheikh Abdulwaxid Hashi Sheikh Shariif: Sheekh Hassan Dahir Aweys Foreign Minster: Adow Minster of Interior: Macalin Mohamoud Minster of Defence: SheikhHassan Dahir Minster of Education: Sheikh Osman Macalin Minster of Reconstruction: Sheikh Mohamed Idiris Minster of Ethics and Religious matters: Sheikh C/Qadir Nuur Farah Minster of Public Services: Faylasuuf Mustafe Xaaji Ismaaciil. Head of Security: Indho Cade

Muraad, welcome back. Ramadan Karim.

Nuune wrote "Kismaayo is gone, as it was gone from the hands of Morgan, and from the hands of Cumar Jees, and from Gabyoow" What is the uniting factor of these three men? Nuune is on to something as he has not mentioned other who lost Kismayo's possesion after temporary rule. Horn, walaalkiis; why are gathering the clouds of war! Miyaadan ogeyn dadka dhiman doona iney walaalahaa Soomaliyeed yihiin? War Rabi halaga cabsado dhalinyaro.

Sophist- "Why does it seem to me like Barraad u caraysantahay because you believe he should have stayed and fought ..?" Walaale, where did you get that from? Perhaps you are super imposing your own thoughts on me. Hiiraale, met with his fate. He was used and when his time came he was shown that he has no power base in Kismayu. Now, why would he want to come back and fight because of Kismayo? Why spill the innocent blood of the boys of Gedo? Oh I know, after reaping the economic benefits of this city, he can not bear the thought of going back to Cabudwaq-- or more importantly his inflated position of power gleaned from Kismayo will be altogether lost. Hiraale is not the most singularly intelligent, diligent, brave and patriotic of the sons of S..E. But he emerged the most powerful of all because of his possession (you might argue he was a front man of a show run by powerful directors who later found out he was not needed anymore) of this priced city. Without it he will disappear into the abeyance of Somali political grave—a place littered with one hit wonder leaders. But of course this is not the picture he will paint. This is a loss to his kinsmen! What a tragedy!!!. Now this should not happen, it is affront to the grace of his kinsmen who feel that without Kismayo in their hands they will disappear to oblivion. What an injurious thought indeed. Kismayo has been seen as the jewel of south and a political magic stick of which whoever is in possession of will eventually get a large bite of the national cake— just look at the share of Hiiraale’s kinsmen in the TFG parliament. This is the real issue, nothing more nothing less. Now, why would Hiraale would be willing to shed blood of his fellow kinsmen (multitudes of them will die if there is confrontation in Kismayo)? Of course you might say what a futile question to pose Sophist! You might shout have already highlighted that dimwit!!!!!, but considering of the contemporary history of Kismayo; is it really worth it? Only those with inflated ego may believe that they can withstand the political karma of Kismayo. As long as this continues, Kismayo will elude those who desperately want to court it for their corporeal pleasures.

Thanks Xiin for the kind words. Akhii, everyone knows that the ICU is not perfect, but that should not stop us to go out our way to contribute to the wellbeing and normalisation of our country. If Mogadishu is anything to go by as an example then we know these guys are capable of pacification and bringing back peace. If those of us who have their genuine reservations about the ICU go and offer their help I am sure they will find these folks welcomingly accepting.

Scar, Brother I can understand you frustration. Brother, what these guys will bring will be stability, calm and more importantly the idea that everyone is equal before God—the later will be enforced greatly as Turki is at the helm. The couple people who died are tragic and my Allah furnishes them his mercy and drink from the fountains of Janna. But brother, Kismayo was not a blood free city itself. It saw couple people being killed every other month with no reason. This insha Allah will not be happening. Only those who are agitated by all this are mainly doing so because they have lost a possession they have looted and Haraamta these days had become sweeter than Halaasha.

Dumarkaan waa in timir loo qeybiyaa. The ICU should must make sure the sons and daughters of Qat merchants will not be hungary. Subad iyo Timir should will do the trick.

Duceysane, because you are the soul of our society. Without you, we will become nothing

They have not attacked a peaceful city matey; they were invited to it. Besides, Indhacade was the true force behind the weakling Hiiraale. I will support the ICU even if they invade Erigabo my home town matey.

The events unfolding in the deep south of our country is indeed not surprising. The fleeing of Bare Hiraale was something that most Somali political analysts knew will happen but we thought he would resist a bit--- did the right thing to avoid any bloodshed. The popular believe that he was a front of what was more powerful than him has been proved to be right. I feel sorry for the old man as he has been used politically. In the meantime, feast your eyes on this refreshing article below; ---- Somalia: Step carefully now! SOMALIA IS RIPER FOR A FUNDAMENTAL change today than any time since the fall of Siad Barre 15 years ago. With a carefully constructed strategy, Igad may yet be able to tip the scales in favour of stability, even with its limited economic and political resources. But if Igad does not change its approach, it may in the near future be forced to participate in an expensive peacemaking or humanitarian relief operation. Pre-emption should thus be the focus of Igad's policy on Somali. Already, there are signs that a major flood of refugees is about to break out of the troubled nation. The UNHCR has reported that its camps in Northern Kenya are receiving refugees at an alarming rate. It is a worrisome trend, because the truth of the matter is that the Igad countries simply do not have the capacity or resources to deal with a major humanitarian relief operation in Somalia. Because of its geostrategic location, Somali can serve as a major agent of destabilisation in the Horn of Africa. However, Igad appears wilfully to be taking the wrong approach, seeking to confront the Islamic Courts Union rather than open channels of communications with a group that currently enjoys huge popular support. Sending armed men into Somalia will simply not work; under the current circumstances, they will run into a popular insurrection worse than that happening in Iraq today. None of the Igad countries promising to contribute troops to a peacekeeping force in Somalia has the military capacity or the resources to deal with a protracted uprising. Igad is also wrong in approaching the Islamic Courts Union as if it were the biggest threat to peace right now. Indeed, the bigger potential risk to peace in the region is a protracted popular insurrection led by the Islamic Courts. It does not make any sense at all to confront the Islamists at this point in time. In its eagerness to install the Baidoa-based Transitional Government, which has no popular base, Igad has failed to appreciate the extent to which Somali opinion has radicalised and how its plans to send troops into Somali have offended nationalistic sentiments. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Islamic Courts do not derive their power from military might alone. This is a popular movement that is riding the crest of a xenophobic wave that has swept the country. The Islamists enjoys wide acceptance and respect, and are viewed as vanguards against Western influence. The second major mistake being made by Igad is to allow Ethiopia to play a prominent role in its policy in Somalia. Currently, perceptions of Ethiopia throughout Somalia verge on the paranoid, with the country seen as directly responsible for many of Somalia's problems. Indeed, one reason why it has been difficult to bring the Islamists and the Transitional Government to the negotiating table is the perception among the Somali people that the Baidoa-based government are surrogates of Ethiopia. Of all the countries in Igad, Kenya has the best credentials to play the neutral arbiter between the Islamic Courts and the government in Baidoa. Nairobi should take the lead in negotiating a power sharing agreement that recognises, on the one hand, the power and influence of the Islamic Courts in the Somali society today, and on the other the international recognition and legitimacy that the Transistional Government in Baidoa commands.