Congratulations and a half! Perhaps now Dave/DS/Adam Zayla will add you to the Somali wall of fame.

Why do these things always happen in Britain?

^I'm not sure which century was better! Perhaps you meant you would rather have been born on another planet.

Helluva title there Che.

^North Americans certainly do. The distances are longer and the weather colder in many parts. And public transportation isn't as good and the gas is cheaper.

^Trademark Marc! You go buddy!

^War shuddup. Nothing to do with this thread. I caught a good chunk of the program. It was interesting though a little uncomfortable at times. I can't understand Sohail's motivation to be a spy on his own community. I think it is appropriate and right to report suspicious and nefarious activities. But to seek out the authorities as a spy - I can't understand the motivations.

^I refuse to have a cellphone. Speaking of which some ladies in this city refer to them as ismawaaye - I thought that was clever.

^African Arabs aah? Don't let the Arabs hear you say that. BTW - speaking about Afars - is there any truth to the practice of toplessness of their nomadic women? *Question is asked in all innocence folks*

Sensationlist American crap. Who made the calculation that Somalia is more dangerous than Iraq? Likely folks who can't find either country on a map.

^It's your fault for living in Alberta when the Pacific coast is only a little to the west.

^Personification? Is this English class? Somalia's problems are bigger than one individual even A/Y. Anyone who argues otherwise is simply foolish. Political redemption? Newsflash - the world thinks of him as the 'legitimate' president of the country. The Asmara group enjoys no such distinction. Can I get a non lightwieght argument here? PS - "People such as I were wrong to turn against the ICU for whatever reason" - now that's funny. It wasn't whatever reason - it was that they were threatening your 'beloved' Kismayo and your uncles there.

^I am not aware that he did. Could you please provide the proof? I disagree with Mr. Yusuf if he said that. That is a foolish position to take. 'Defeated terrorists' are not my words. Kindly refrain from questioning my position with words not my own. Whether the mayor cares or not doesn't matter in the end. What matters is whether you care.

^Yes A/Y is the sole reason the country is in this mess. Before him it was all - kumbaya! Talk about an insult to one's intelligence. :rolleyes:

^Your cartoon would be appropriate if anyone was holding a gun to the Asmara Group's head. Alas - the international community is pleading with them for their involvment to no avail. Good try there. Funny cartoon tho.

A nasty, grasping bas*tard getting far too much attention.

The daydream will come to an end someday chaps. Good luck in the meantime.

Honestly - would it even matter what was said? Folks seem to have picked their horse and they're sticking with it.

Kismayo issue doesn't belong here. There is no point in engaging in that sort of mudslinging. Eminent nomads need to preserve their dignity and refrain. Trust our friend from the north to muddy the waters and cause bickering. I think it is time for a little honesty from the no negotiation folks. You really don't care about the dying and the destruction. What you want is your side to win. At whatever cost. And to hell with the consequences. Simply state your positions that clearly and please don't pretend to care about the country and its inhabitants. Whether one side is sincere or not or what they had done or didn't do before and preconditions are all just a bunch of hot air. One has to decide - yes, I want to try and at least talk even if the outcome is a failure. At least one would have demonstrated good faith and put the country before one's petty political ambitions. Really - how can one claim Islamnimo and refuse to even discuss a conflict with your opponents. :rolleyes:

^Hehe. Cold being a relative term over there.

What! - Rudy with no punch line. What is going on here?

'I will come up with a new name' nick is even more annoying then the blank that Che had. D&D - you lucky woman. Enjoy your break. It's minus 20 degrees celsuis here.

Nice. I had to google UCL though. Self important Brits! One other thing - why is the title the 'first Somali ...'? I am always amazed by how some Somalis think their mere presence in a particular field means they are the 'first'. Superiority Complex Nation!

I'd like to see this report confirmed by more sources first. It sounds a little far-fetched but I could be wrong.

^It is the same sort of doublespeak there Xiin. I'm all for peace but x, y and z has to be done before I even sit down. I think any sincere Somali wishing peace for the country has to sit with anyone and everyone regardless of how loathsome you may (justifiably) think they are. On the rest of the thread - I'm not sure it's about just reconciliation or addressing grievances. That is certainly part of it. At the core of the problem for Somalia is the monopolization of power. Kursi, Kursi, Kursi - and once in you can never get them out. I think Somalia has to really concentrate on making the system a truly federal one and then bring the opposing groups together by letting them govern(where they have majority support) in various regions with government support and money. If the folks holed up in Asmara have something to offer in the various regions of Somalia where they have majority support - let them come and show what they've got. But if each side is about the control of a centralized government and the assets of the commercial capital of the country - then nothing can get done. One thing to note - where regional administrations have been set up - the resulting failures or successes(precious few there) are owned by those administrations. A system like this removes the excuses that Somalis like to trot out for their particular failures - Amxaaro, Clan X, the Arabs, the wadaads. At the end - I think this thread needs a lot more talk on power sharing(if such a thing is possible for Somalis) and its mechanics.