Originally posted by Jimcaale: Where and when did that battle of Eithopia and Hassan Dahir Away took place? When Hassan Tahir was doing his terrorism against Somali ethiopians. He even took credit for the attempted assassination of Dr. Abdul Majid, because Hassan Tahir thought the good Dr. was going to die of his wounds. I don't know if Hassan Tahir has been in any battle in person, but he was commander of Al-Ithad which at the time is the Alqaeda for east Africa. Those handed to their arab countries were captured in battles. How come of all the people, you Taliban lol missed the news of the Alqaeda leader in Saudi Arabia that was killed. The news was everywhere at the time that he spend two years in jail after being handed by Ethiopia.

Originally posted by Jimcaale: You've got a severe case of Arabophobia. Seek some professional help before it's too late. Jimcaale, Where did you get that? Is giving information also considered phobia these days? Yes. Ethiopia captured more than a hundred Arab fighters which Hassan Tahir the commander had abondoned. Ethiopia gave to the arab countries their citizens. Is that anti-arab?

If Djibuti overplays its hand on this one, it could be the first casualty before Eritrea. Both French and Americans can stay until their agreements under Somaliland.

Originally posted by mystic: The fact that you actually think the ICU is in any way linked to AQ is preposterous and creates an image that depicts you as an imbecile. The only term I know of that starts wit ‘A’ and ‘Q’ is Al-Qabil. Is that your proof that Al-Ithad was not linked to Al-Qaeda? Do you think Ethiopia needs more proof than the more than a hundred arabs that were handed to their birth country or last country of citizenship. The AL-Qaeda leader killed in Saudi Arabia was one of them. The Saudi released him after two years.

“I want to make one thing clear the government and the Islamic Courts are never planning to open negotiations here in Yemen,” he (Ibrahim Hassan Adow) stressed. This Yemen trip must have been a big disappointment. President of Yemen was unfazed by all the ICU announcements of capturing re-capturing villages and hamlets far back from their front lines. The Joke is that evey Hamlet or town between Barhakobo and Mugadishu will be captured and recaptured on a slow news day.

Che-Guevara, Have you ever heard the name Tigray before "Colonel" Hassan Tahir started using it in place of Ethiopia or Haabesha? I have met Somalis from ICU held areas, admitted that they didn't know about Tigray until ICU made it a household name in Mugadishu.

Somalia: The Islamic Courts are now able to announce a government--Islamist Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 14, Dec.06 ( Sh.M.Network) – The Islamist delegation led by Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Islamic Courts chairman and Ibrahim Adow, foreign affairs chairman of Islamic Courts explained their meeting with Yemeni authorities in the capital Sana. Prof. Ibrahim Adow Ibrahim Hassan Adow, who spoke with Shabelle radio in Mogadishu by the telephone, said they have convened with Yemen president Ali Abadalla Salah over the mounting crises in Somalia. He denied rumors that government officials and Islamists were due to negotiate in Sana. “I want to make one thing clear the government and the Islamic Courts are never planning to open negotiations here in Yemen,” he stressed. He pointed out Islamists were not prepared to talk with the Ethiopian government as long as it military forces are in Somalia. “We will talk with the Ethiopians if it withdraws all its combatant troops from Somalia if it wants peaceful dialog with us,” he said, He added, “The Islamic Courts are now able to announce a government because we administer the capital and most strategic provinces in central and southern Somalia, but however we are still ready to negotiate with transitional government based in Baidoa.” Yemen president and the Islamists delegation also focused on the Somali migrants crossing the Red Sea by impoverished boats as more Somalis lost their lives during adventurous voyage. Ethiopia that is accused of having thousands of troops in Somalia denies the accusations, admitting it only has several hundred military trainers and advisors that it said came to Somalia with the request of Somali transitional government.

Maakhir, Where would the world be if it wasn't for some like the one you met and his counterparts among Somali?lol What folks from Mugadishu ICU need to understand is that Somalis from the north are very familiar with Somali ethiopian and the population from Northern Somalia was most enthusiastic about greater somalia for the longest time. You cannot claim land from another country from Mugadishu. Its only and only the Somali ethiopian who owns that land and if you want access to it, he has to agree. Outside of this there is nothing that is worth doing unless someone in Mugadishu ICU doesn't care what the somali ethiopian thinks, wants and does. At the moment Somalilanders, Puntlanders and majority of Somalis everywhere seem to agree that each must organize where they are, improve the life of the people, establish peace and the somali can recuperate and recover. You cannot have people fighting all the time without threatening their existance. They cannot farm, pastoralists who could be millionaires with the number of herd they ahave are left destitue with one draught another flood because there is no organization, state and support system to take care of them. Let alone in poor africa, the US could not do much during hurricane they had last year. It was a bad site. The majority of Somali ethiopians are now at a chapter. What they chose to do in 1984 has all been accomplished. They have self government which uses somali language, they are doing the best they can in all fields of development. Believe it or not the state will meet the Millenium Development Goals. So if you are an ICU Mugadishu who wants to speak on behalf of somali ethiopian and be commanding him what to say and what to do - take a hike is the current response. Put your own house in order first is the second answer.

This is simply BIZZARRE. ICU and Hassan Tahir in Mugadishu (for a few monthes) Mengistu and old ethiopia nostaligic (15 years) Isayas of Eritrea (since embarassing defeat of 2000) Strange buddies. All crying their top lungs Tigray Tigray Tigray.....well lets see some information here. 1. Those against Federalism in Ethiopia should have actually blamed WSLF more than TPLF. It was WSLF in 1984 that first officially came up with the Regional Outonomous States and Federal Government controlled by the States through a Constitution and a body of State representatives. Tigray may have been the most receptive and supportive of the idea, but the Afar are also another most staunchly supporters of the idea. But nobody wants to give credit to the Somali. On the contrary they call the somali a fool being cheated and decieved by Tigray. I have one word for these goons- losers. 2. Tigray at the most is 7% of the ethiopian population, there are 3 ethnics in Tigray, 3 Religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism very small community now), All centers and high historical places for religion are in Tigray Axum for Christians, Negash for Moslems especially. Tigray revolted against King Haileslassie in 1943 and the British Ryal Air Force used fire bombing to defeat the rebellion named Weyannie. The current Weyannie II started in 1974 and is called TPLF which the prime minister led from 1980s. The population of Tigray origin is Kushiiitic, Semitic and Nilotic. All three peoples are divided into two between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The ICU seems to have replaced the name ethiopia with Tigray lately. I heard that in Mugadishu the ICU doesn't want it known that Isayas is himself from Tigray, but born in today's Eritrea. ICU also doesn't want it known that Negash is in Tigray. Again ICU doesn't want it known that some chiefs of army including chief of staff of ethiopia are moslems, but ICU makes sure that its known he is from Tigray. The deception is incredible for people that call themselves Shieks and supreme leader in Islam. The funniest thing is when one sees the Mengistu and past ethiopia nostalgic, who are totally defeated in the country are cheering for ICU. That is comedic, except when you realize that a lot of poor Somali and Ethiopian is being victimized for these unprincipled losers some hiding under democracy and others under religion.

Since the early 1990s, Mr. Zenawi has shrewdly succeeded to disorient Somalis while at the same time undoing the Democratic Republic of Somalia. While publicly misleading the easily believing and magnanimous Somalis (both in the Democratic Republic of Somalia and the Ethiopian “autonomous region) that his Tigrian-ruled Ethiopia is a friend and not a foe to Somalis, everything that he has done so far is indeed a devil’s duty. Whats the need for calling the Somali easy to disorient, easy to fool, I don't want to say the articles frastrated and demoralized writing in the words they wrote. These must be some defeated power hungry liers writing lies from comfortable life in the west. The writer/s seem to have given up all hope of being supported by the Somali and are calling the Somali names and demeaning characters. These must be person/s who have no courage to ask the question to themsleves as to why they failed.

My contribution from what I see are the realities at this time in Ethiopia: 1. The prime minister is a christian, but the last thing he can be accused is of being not just anti-Islam, but less friendly to Islam. He is accused by past regime supporters in Addis Ababa of making every center of power; courts, military, police, intelligence, majority of his cabinet filled with Moslems. The false accusation kite cannot fly anywhere except in ICU world of lies and deception. Best example would be Hassan Al-Turabi of Sudan, who curses and cusses at the ethiopian prime minister, but stated unabashedly that he doesn't accuse Meles of any issue on religion. Al-Turabi is a man not afraid to accuse Al-Bashir as being Weyannie or Tigray. 2. The article seems to call the somali as being fooled by the prime minister into friendship. This is denigrating the somali to attempt to get at the ethiopian prime minister. This is the most useless and meaningless of the accusations. The friendship between the prime minister and his Front with WSLF goes a lot longer than all the accusers from Mugadishu would want you to know. Do you think its the easiest thing to do accusing a prime minister for being pro somalia when a resolution against ICU is being passed? The best answer for this is on the ground rather than on the internet or ICU world of deception of saying different things in different places. 3. Why can't the Mugadishu ICU supporters see Somalia problems as primarily Somali. Foreighners if bad can make it worst and if good can make it better, but cannot invent something that is not there to begin with. Somaliland, Puntland and other regions that prefer to live in good neighborly relations with ethiopia can't be all anti-somalia and only a small gang in Mugadishu stands for Somalia. Thats the most dishonest speak and creates more animosity in Somalia itself.

Taliban, Do you have any opinion about the subject and if yes, do you mind sharing it? lol I think the hipocrisy of ICU is affecting you. One minute you are saying we should not question sincerity of ICU and the next minute you are questioning how I practice my faith. What ever I do or tell you will have no effect what so ever wether the Jihad call by ICU is legit or not. So again I ask you if you can share your opinion. Jihad is one of the most known subjects and you as Taliban should not have any difficulty with it.

Originally posted by Ahmed_Guree: So it also means Ethiopia too as the chief financia & investor is Alamoudi non other than a Saudi. So the Woyanes are in deep shi*T You seem to know a thing or two about ethiopia, but you missed the basic character. We do not teach our children to dislike Shiia as the other Sunnis especially the hypocrite arabs do. Ethiopians always have matured and polite relations with Saudi Arabia. They have never been involved in open animosity to us as Saddam Hussien or Egypt does. Can't you leave the good Shiek alone. I am sure he will be good friend of Puntland and Somaliland if not allready. And when Somalia is reconstituted he might even build a railroad from Kismayo or Mugadishu to have commerial shared interest between both countries. You should actually thank the good Shiek for helping poor ethiopians, while he could have had ten times the return of his investments if he had put it in Scandinavia, US or North Africa. He is only spending in Ethiopia for no profit, from the profit he makes from Scandinavia, North Africa and Saudi Arabia. He is a good man. Don't be a name dropper or does it make you feel like bigger than you are? We know who hates the Shiek in Ethiopia for his origin, wealth, religion...in that order.

Originally posted by David_Letterman: telling me unsourced stories Is there a "higher" source of dictator Isayas mumblings in Eritrea than Shaebiat? Isn't that the official if there is anything called office in that banana republic, news media? What kind of source do you want for Isayas than the man himself on Shaebiat or it was too late of a night you didn't see Shaebiat mentioned start and end of statement?

It is good to see that both realize the benefits of shared risk and shared work. Ethiopia and Sudan came to similar understanding some 10 years ago and have never looked back. Now commerce has been added to the friendship, which means they both need each other even more. They both have good will and best wishes that they both keep the peace. Ethiopia is customer of Somaliland and who wants bad things to happen to their customer. The same goes the other way. Djibuti has also implemented this good neighborly relation to the letter and spirit of the agreements. Eritrea is contained and there is 25km deep in their country that they cannot deploy over 1000km. That has taken care of the border for now. Thats why they are bringing OLF through Mugadishu a long way. Kenya of course has been in this kind of arrangement for a long time. For Ethiopia only a small window left with Somalia and that hopefully will be a border of friends soon. This is good news for all.

"One of the first consequences will be massive Saudi intervention to stop Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias from butchering Iraqi Sunnis," Mr Obaid wrote. "Options now include providing Sunni military leaders [primarily ex-Baathist members of the former Iraqi officer corps, who make up the backbone of the insurgency] with the same types of assistance - funding, arms and logistical support - that Iran has been giving to Shi'ite armed groups for years." Desperate times bring strange friendship. Saudi are alone on this one. Kwait is too afraid to do anything and doesn't mind the Saddam camp getting the short end of the stick. Yemen will not move anywhere with more than 15% of the population so does the gulf states. Egypt will do only if there is tons of money from Gulf arabs and the Americans are looking the other way or helping. It will be bonanza for egypt from all places from Arabs, America and Europe.

Originally posted by Northerner: I really hope people who know what they are doing are in place for SL. The WB and IMF are not what i would call reliable and transparent organisations. Looks like more homes for Mr Riyalle in other countries! Northerner, A lot has changed in recent years. There is some transparency these days, which with the help of zone or district admins in the area of the projects can go a long way to satisfy even the most cynic. example: In Ethiopia you have the federal government, state government, zone government, provincial government and so on until the smallest size and level. The world Bank now can deal with Zone and provincial governments directly for some projects. It minimizes the hands that can reach the money. Its also public information now the amount of loan and for what purpose. Many ordinary ethiopians now can speak of how much it costs to pave a km of road. There is quite significant change that has happened in the whole mechanism and management of the development projects and loans.

Why are you behaving this way? Don't you realize that the forum has better class than the ones you like that have exchange of slurs and no content what so ever. This is news from the horses mouth, so you can take it with the belief that the "good" dictator knows it all and it cannot be bad. Have a good late night show.

Congradulations. I hope now ex-president AbdulKassim who blocked this with the help of Egyptians doesn't blame ethiopia again. Ethiopia has nothing what so ever to do with this, but he made ethiopia as reason for his objection. Credit also goes to TFG for not objecting with the belief that no matter what happens in the future or whatever arrangement somalis decide to do, the people of Somaliland deserve to work with the rest of the world and build their home. Its a big achievement. Congradulation to all for a happy ending of a chapter and happy beginning for many in the future.

What brings you here late night? Eritrea is now sleepless. Ethiopia may be talked about ICU, but the news is that their special forces that crossed through difficult terrain on mules and donkeys to make your skyline trenches useless in 2000 are no where to be seen in southern or eastern ethiopia. Its believed they are either in Amara or Tigray states. What happened your Isayas doesn't like Sudan mediating anymore? He now wants IGAD that was considered an Ethiopian appendage just yesterday. How times change? so fast. Don't trust Al-Bashir to go against Ethiopia, he has 1000km border himself and to make matters worst its trouble area that has been kept peaceful with ethiopian help and good neighborly relation.

Originally posted by Taliban: You're in error. There are no impostor Islamists; all Islamists can only be genuine. Why? Because the West can't take any chance in impostor or genuine Islamists; they destroy all kinds of Islamists. Historically (at least in modern history), there has not been documented any impostor Islamists. I challenge you to bring any example of impostor Islamists. I also challenge you to bring any example of genuine Islamists. Therefore, jihad called by Islamists is genuine, not fake as you allege. Its easier for you and I, if you either did some reading or talked to knowledgable person on the subject of Jihad. In General here is how it should be done: 1. Verify that the call is Legitimate 2. Verify that the proper process of validation was followed 3. Verify that its agreed and called by the proper procedure, proper persons and body. None of this was done in Mugadishu. Not a single Islamic organization or state has agreed with the call legitmacy or appropriatness and not with the callers standing. What more do you want more than this to tell you that Hassan Tahir is just an imposter calling himself supreme leader in Islam? If he was a shiia and a farsi his official name he took for himself would be Grand AyatoAllah.

Originally posted by mystic: The ICU declared jihad on the ET’s in Somali soil. [/QB] I don't think one can joke with a call for Jihad, unless one knows he is calling fake Jihad as ICU did, thus harming the religion.

Originally posted by mystic: We have a somali who is trying to act as if he is a ET. Stop meddling in somali politics. Mystic, At the very least, I am directly affected by what happens in Mugadishu. There is a Jihad call on my head, even though it has been proven to be fake and by imposters. How about you who defends Egyptian machinations with the misery, war, tears and destruction of Somalia? Do you think thats fairness, although the way Egypt plays games with poor palestinian people while getting paid by America Israel is open to the public. I am directly affected by what happens. Somali regional state peoples and Hassan Tahir know each other very well. The brunt of Hassan Tahir terrorism victims were Somali State citizens and officials.

Eritrea: President Isaias Calls for Special Meeting of Igad Foreign Ministers On the Somali Issue Shabait.com (Asmara) December 13, 2006 Posted to the web December 13, 2006 Asmara President Isaias Afwerki called for a special meeting of IGAD Foreign Ministers on the Somali issue in view of the fact that the recent UN Security Council resolution on deploying peacekeeping force in Somalia is both distorted and one that would further aggravate the situation. The President made the call in a message he sent yesterday to the IGAD executive committee. President Isaias stated that deploying peacekeepers in Somalia, partially lifting the arms embargo and supporting one side not only worsens the problem but also lacks clear objective. He stressed that if a peacekeeping mission is at all to be deployed; it has to be done purely with the consent of both parties. Indicating that the so-called Security Council resolution lacks legal and moral responsibility, the President underlined that in order for the Somali problem to be solved peacefully, the peace process taking place under the auspices of the Sudanese government could be facilitated by IGAD. Copyright © 2006 Shabait.com.

Originally posted by mantra: (whether these men are indeed on the right path or not Allah knows, yet for the simple fact that they ascribe themselves to the deen, I give them the benefit of the doubt), is met with severe opposition simply because of just that, Islam. Islam not only allows you, but obligates you to expose someone misusig the laws. Its your obligation and duty to protect the religion and its laws from imposters. it's my belief that you cannot question the deen of others, and unless you have knowledge of the unseen you cannot know for sure whether they really are on the right path or not. My friend. I agree that one should not question wether Hassan Dihir is a good moslem or not. That is between him and the Allmighty. But what Hassan Tahir says and does is to be questioned against the rules and laws of the faith. There is enough laws and preceedence to show that he is not a worthy leader. He is unfit for a supreme leader in Islam. Thats my view and I know I am perfectly legitimate to have that opinion. It says nothing of Hassan Tahirs strength in faith, but speaks loud of his capacity and benevolence to be a supreme leader in Islam. It is to my understanding that we are more angered by the use of the word jihad than anything else, could it be shaytaan fuelling our unjustified anger? Not really. Proper investigation was done in ethiopia. Questions were asked and answered. 1. The Jihad call was not Legitimate 2. ICU did not follow the validation process on purpose 3. ICU did not follow the procedure on purpose There was no emergency and ICU should have done the Jihad call by the prescribed way in the religion. As a result ICU was not able to get accptance for their Jihad call from a single Islamic organization or state in the world. The ICU JIhad call violated everything of Islam.