Somalis hate each other. Why should Arabs get a free pass?

If the SOL elites - presumably educated and worldly - are disappointed about the clan this man hails from rather than his character, agenda or skills - what hope can there possibly be for Somalia? I could care less if the entire Puntland government or whatever regional government was dominated by X olan or one of the 'triangle' - let them fill all the posts - I don't care - provided they have good character, a progressive agenda and the necessary skills to move the region forward. My assessment of this man is that he is an old guard corrupt politician who will not change the situation for the better. I could be wrong. If only the criticisms of him were made on that basis rather than he is another of the supposed 'xukun jaceyl' clan etc.

^Somaliland way duushay!

^Shidoola aan harayn - war dadka ka har.

Are these local girls or the ones who are shipped off from the west? Ileen si walba waa loo duulay.

Somali piracy backed by international network MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN and ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writers Mohamed Olad Hassan And Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Associated Press Writers – Wed Dec 10, 3:35 am ET MOGADISHU, Somalia – Ahmed Dahir Suleyman is cagey as he talks about the global network that funds and supports piracy off the coast of Somalia. "We have negotiators, translators and agents in many areas ... let me say across the world," said Suleyman, a pirate in the harbor town of Eyl, where scores of hijacked ships are docked. "These people help us during exchanges of ransom and finding out the exact person to negotiate with," he told The Associated Press. Before cutting off the cell phone call, Suleyman snapped: "It is not possible to ask anymore about our secrets." The dramatic spike in piracy in African waters this year is backed by an international network mostly of Somali expatriates from the Horn of Africa to as far as North America, who offer funds, equipment and information in exchange for a cut of the ransoms, according to researchers, officials and members of the racket. With help from the network, Somali pirates have brought in at least $30 million in ransom so far this year. "The Somali diaspora all around the world now have taken to this business enterprise," said Michael Weinstein, a Somalia expert at Purdue University in Indiana. He likened the racket to "syndicates where you buy shares, so to speak, and you get a cut of the ransom." Weinstein said his interviews with ransom negotiators and Somalis indicate the piracy phenomenon has reached Canada, which is home to 200,000 Somalis. John S. Burnett, a London-based author working on a book about hijackings off the Somali coast, said there is no doubt Somali pirates are part of "transnational crime syndicates." He said information from sources, including people involved in ransom negotiations and payouts, indicates the money goes as far as Canada and capitals in Europe. "Places like Eyl are getting only a portion of the millions in ransom being siphoned off," he said. "The Somali diaspora is huge." Sheik Qasim Ibrahim Nur, director of security at Somalia's Interior and National Security Ministry, said evidence points to Somali expatriates in Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, but declined to give further details. He said there is "no doubt" the pirates have links outside Somalia. Kenya's government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, said the issue was under investigation. In Dubai, a police officer at the Interior Ministry denied claims that anyone was funding piracy. He asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media. The deals with "investors" appear to be fairly informal, with family or clan networks stretching overseas. The lack of a proper banking system in Somalia, which has not had an effective government in almost 20 years, makes it difficult to trace how much funding the pirates get from overseas or how it is channeled. Somalia is a failed state with no banks, only a cash-based, informal transfer network called hawala. A hawala operator takes in money on one end, then instructs a relative, friend or another agent in another country to hand a like amount to someone else. The paperless system, based on trust and oral agreements, is commonly used in the Middle East, parts of Asia and Africa. There is some concern that the system is used for overseas payments to and from the pirates — especially now that they are getting their ransoms in cash, sometimes dropped in burlap sacks from a buzzing helicopter. The pirates acknowledge using foreign help. "All I can tell you is we have people in Nairobi, Djibouti, we have people in Dubai and many other countries," said Gamase Hassan Said, a pirate in Eyl speaking by telephone. Aden Yusuf, another pirate in Eyl, told The AP that foreigners in Dubai, Nairobi, Djibouti and elsewhere help pirates get sophisticated equipment, such as money-counting machines seen at foreign exchange bureaus, in exchange for a cut of the ransom. Roger Middleton, an expert on East Africa at Chatham House think tank in London, said ransoms in the past have been "channeled to expatriate Somalis around the world." But pirates appear to be opting for direct cash payouts more often now — bypassing even the hawala tranfer system — because of concerns about scrutiny by governments, he said. In one instance at the beginning of this year, he said, the pirates wanted the money delivered through the Gulf but nobody was prepared to take it. "That may be an indication that the (UAE) government was stepping up pressure," said Middleton, whose information comes from private security firms and people party to hostage negotiations. In the Emirates, hawala operators have been ordered to register with the Central Bank and to report transfers larger than $550, but it is unclear how many actually do so. The Somali pirates also rely on a local network of corrupt officials and villagers eager for money in a region with no real economy. Somali pirates generally dock hijacked vessels near the coast in the northern Somali region of Puntland as they negotiate ransoms. Rogue security and government officials there allow the pirates to use ports and move freely around towns while they restock ships, said Abdullahi Said Aw-Yusuf, a district commissioner in Eyl. "This is the main reason why pirates are stationed in Puntland," Aw-Yusuf said. Piracy has turned many tiny fishing villages off Somalia's coast into boomtowns, where pirates build sprawling homes, cruise in luxury cars and marry multiple wives. Often dressed in military fatigues, the pirates are typically armed with automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and grenades. The weaponry is readily available throughout Somalia, where 20 years of anarchy means nearly everyone owns a gun and a bustling arms market operates in the capital. The pirates have attacked more than 90 vessels this year and successfully seized more than 36. ----------------------------------- Pirate helpers on SOL - identify yourselves!

And the beat goes on...........

^Warya - don't be dissing your nation's capital. Most people go to Alberta for work - Somalis go there to get shot. AUN.

This is getting odd. Xiin - I made no prounouncements on the Sheekh's guilt or innocence. I said I would like the matter investigated. An investigation is a broad word that encompasses merely asking a few questions to intense clues gathering and interrogation. It seems to me you interpret the word only as the latter. If as you said earlier - the Sheekh enjoys support from the broader community and is well respected - I see no reason why he shouldn't be allowed to go on xaj. I would trust that such a man would come back. Thus I see no contradiction between my stance on investigation and his being allowed to go on xaj.

Xiin - you know there is a scenario where he goes on xaj while still being investigated. Not sure why you choose to ignore that permutation.

Yes why not? More broadly - I want the religious institutions and its leaders investigated where these guys attended dugsi. The brainwashing and logistical facilitation likely came from somwhere.

Lately on SOL - Somaliland navy, Somaliland peackeepers, Somaliland safe haven ports. War ma Somaliland baa duushay mise dadka maskaxdoodii?

Originally posted by xiinfaniin: ...the said mosque happens to be one of the mosques these young men used to go...the Imam also happens to be the Imam of a mosque where these young men used to go Two reasons that make some basis for investigation that you yourself stated rather than rumours.

^Yep too many to list. Blessed - it's way better than Blighty and a little better than UAE. Ameen - if you want something you go get it. Or is this from a ladies perspective? Same goes.

^It's neither pretense nor superficial concern. It's astonishment and bewilderment at the manner of your continuing the whole tirade. It's been described as mud wrestling by more than one poster. We all know Duke can get, erm, carried away. But you as an elder of SOL... But then I'm not your mother so I'll keep quiet. Given we agree on the facts - my position is that the matter be investigated. Nowhere did I say the Imam's xaj trip should be cancelled or that he be turned back. I have my own positions on issues which I would appreciate not be conflated with Duke's. As for me taking it personally - if you say so. Over and out.

^I'm not sure eh. Big flags are not Canadian eh - the losers down south do that eh.

Yep too many feel good stories on Xamar. Did no one witness any ominous signs, people disapperaing, killings nada? The country was operating in a climate of fear and intimidation the last few years before collapse. Personally - I find the qax stories more interesting - all the stuff people had to survive and go through.

^In all fairness Xiin - Duke isn't shadow boxing with himself - you keep continuing the whole useless thing. I really am at a loss to understand why you've taken it so personally. If there is no basis there - no amount of 'snitching' will work. End of story. As to the question you posed above - if what you said in your last paragraph is accurate - then I'm not sure I see your objections to an investigation of the mosque and the imam. Yes - BG - you and one other person's posts were the ones that annoyed me. I don't know why you keep insinuating this whole incident is made up.

It tells you how stup*id (some) black people are.

It's really quite annoying when some folks choose to dismiss facts for whatever reasons. These are the facts: 1- Young adults including teens were sent to Somalia to wage 'jihad' 2- These young adults attended dugsis in Minn 3- They did not have independant means to undertake a trip to Somalia and their parents were unaware of it until after they were there What/whether and who was behind sending these folks is yet to be fully determined. That is debatable. What is not debatable are the facts above. I would like officials to investigate all aspects of this including the said mosque and imam.

Key lesson here - don't expect any sympathy from Somalis!

^You are a kook. No wonder you're in art school.

^Wimp. Winter begins on December 22nd. Are you sure you're Canadian? 2 stars and a moon - oddly enough - it doesn't excite me that much. I think I'm missing the koolaid. Please pass it to me.

^LOL - you want them all to show up. KK - still have no clue what nigis is?

Those Somali establishments - any issues with folks doubling up in the rooms - say 4 to a double room and using sleeping bags? What about staying at cheaper places in Sharjah? Are cheaper prices worth the commute? Any thoughts would be appreciated.