Al Qaeda and their Associate in Mogadishu Declared War on Somali Government, and its people Radio Jigjiga Editorial The failed attempt on the life of Somali transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had proven what many of world opinion pointing toward global terrorist organization known as Al Qaeda, and their affiliate in Mogadishu. For the last several months, Al Qaeda, and Its side kickers in Mogadishu have been willfully planning to disrupt the ingoing work of Somali transitional Government based in Baidao town. Read More http://www.radiojigjiga.com/opinion/06/al_qaeda_and_their_associate_in.htm

me, There is nothing more that angers the ethiopian moslem, than being considered less, because he doesn't have american petro-dollar or because he never made dirty deals with Israel like the egyptians do at the expense of palestinian suffering by those who accepted Islam under the sword. There is nothing more that angers an ethiopian christian than being considered less, because he is not white, or he did not hate and persecute other faiths, by those christians who accepted christianity under the sword of the roman church crusades. Keep these two in mind. They are very important in the moral and cultural strength of people. One need not get paid for stating their views and sometimes inner feelings about a situation.

Originally posted by Red Sea: Muslim brotherhood has no borders.They "foreigners" and us have something in common which is very important commonality,and that is our faith,Islam. So the Nagash is not a moslem or is regarded less moslem (blasphemous speak)and has nothing in common with you, but you can go far to pakistan and find a lot lot in common with you? This is one of the few times I admire ONLF. It respects the wishes of the O provinces and respects also that all moslems are brothers including those of Nagash. ONLF says the conflict around SSICU has nothing to do with religion or somalia unity. What do you have to say about that Mr. internationalist. The hipocrisy has no bounds here. Even the declaration and writings in the books of Islam about Nagash can be thrown away, because Nagash has no petro-dollars, he is materially poor. Nagash may be poor, but has principles and faith that sustains him. I don't know how much you are aware of it, but if your SSICU ventures into ethiopia with your pakistani or joradnian brother, It will be a moslem chief of the general staff, a moslem commander of special forces and moslem commanders and soldiers in the regiments that they will face. The argument is not worthy, and even blasphemous, but if Mr. Red Sea thinks ethiopians are less moslems than your supreme leader or pakistanis, you are putting yourself in place of the almighty and judging someones faith.

ONLF has answered almost all of your questions, those who seem to propagate about religion or somalia vs. ethiopia kind of shenanigan: ONLF statement clearly point by point shows: The conflict in southern somalia is not about religion; The conflict in southern somalia is not about somalia unity; Its clan war pure and simple. ONLF states not include its name in any accusations or praises. It also warns Mugadishu not to speak for the O peoples of Somali state ethiopia. The O people will not be party to any clan wars in Somalia. The ONLF is only fighting for the right of self determination of the O provinces in Ethiopia.

After so much discussion, survey of the O provinces population in Somali State Ethiopia, split in the leadership and afraid that the people of the provinces will punish it if ONLF allied with Mugadishu in somalia clan wars to fight against immediate neighbors of the O; ONLF came out with the following statement: _________________________________________ ONLF Statement On Events Unfolding In Somalia Nov 28, 2006 There has been much written about the events unfolding in Somalia with frequent mention of the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) and speculations on our position with regards to the events unfolding in Somalia. Hence, we would like to take this opportunity to clarify to the international community and members of the media our principled position on the Somali civil war and Ethiopia’s involvement in that country’s internal affairs. First, the ONLF categorically denies assertions by the TPLF led regime in Ethiopia and members of the media that ONLF military personnel are in Somalia. As a matter of principle the ONLF has never been and does not intend to be a party to the conflict in Somalia. We wish to affirm that the scope of our military operations is and will continue to be limited to ****** and Ethiopia. We further wish to make clear that the ****** cause in not a territorial dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia but rather a legitimate struggle for the self-determination of the Somali people of ****** Secondly, the ONLF strongly cautions the international community against permitting an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia as that would have dire consequences for the entire region. An Ethiopian invasion of Somalia will trigger a catastrophic regional war with massive loss of life and continued instability in the Horn of Africa for years to come. Thirdly, the ONLF wishes to affirm that we will not allow our territory to be used as a launching pad for an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia without stiff resistance from our armed forces. Fourthly, the ONLF bears witness to the fact that the TPLF led regime is in continuous breach of the arms embargo placed on Somalia and has been since the inception of the embargo. The current Ethiopian regime has clearly been the primary obstacle to the peaceful settlement of the Somali conflict for over a decade by actively interfering in the internal affairs of Somalia by arming various factions, training their militias and undermining through diplomatic maneuvers nearly all attempts at a peaceful settlement between conflicting parties. In This time of increasing tensions in the Horn of Africa, the ONLF wishes to confirm that the people of ****** stand in strong solidarity with the people of Somalia to reclaim their sovereignty and achieve a lasting peace free of foreign influence and manipulation. Despite the Ethiopian regimes policy of deliberately undermining peace in Somalia, the ONLF urges all parties in Somalia to solve their differences through dialogue and recognize that they are at the threshold of a crucial decision that will usher in a period of sovereignty or foreign domination for Somalia depending on the choices they make. The ONLF will continue to support and encourage every legitimate effort to provide all necessary assistance to the Somali people so that they can fully grasp their political future into their own hands and move toward a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future built by Somalis and for Somalis. ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) ONLFPRESS@onlf.org ______________________________________________ This statement is a clear indication yet that: The SSICU is not about religion; The SSICU is not about somalia unity Its clan war pure and simple and ONLF is staying out of it. ONLF asks the rest of Somali state ethiopia to do the same. A warning also to the Mugadishu supreme leader to realize that he has no business talking about the O provinces of somali state ethiopia.

Its about time the sunni arabs in lebanon recognize that what ever respect they have its all thanks to the shiiia. The respect to the shiiia should be shown by doubling the ministerial posts they hold in the government. Most of the posts taken from sunni arabs. You cannot have the sunni arabs who are prepared to trade their votes with america or france with financing of saudi arabia against syria and the palestinians representing the moslem lebanese. The shiiia have earned a new respect and a new position in lebanon. The lebanese christians would love nothing more than having shiiia as partners. BTW the christians and shiiia have the least of problems in Lebanon. Everything is just sunni arab propaganda financed by saudi arabia trying to prevent its own shiiia time bomb and limit Iranian influence. Syria will be invited back to Lebanon if all goes well and france will realize its a spent power and a middle power in the world. The same in Iraq. Karma time for sunni arabs. They never hesitated to treat everybody else as Abid so its Abid time. The day the kurds and shiiia come out with a formulae among themselves it will be an all out war, unless syria can come out with some sort of protection for the sunni arabs. If the US doesn't ask Syria for help the whole thing is hopeless for any federal solution. The shiiia only need few months to put together their super state. Most of the provinces have structure and governance. The country wetting its pants or jelabiya is saudi arabia. Even Jordan is not afraid of the possible conclusions of Iraq. The poor palestinian people are victims of greedy and cowardly arabs, more than being victims of Israel. Egypt is the one screwing Gaza. I wish the Palestinians just fight egypt and take the sinai, set up strong base there to fight israel. Palestinains have become source of income for egypt. Never forget that Gaza was captured from Egypt and if Arabs had won the war, there would never be a palestinian state, it would just have been egptian and jordanian palestine. Palestinians need to fight sunni arabs as much as they do Isrealis and also their corrupt leaders. The palestinians by now would realize that fighting israel while under the influence of corrupt arab dictators is no win and waste of time and energy. By now the palestinians should have taken control of jordan at the very least. When it comes down to it, the palestinains got more sympathy and anger from Jewish at the Isreali government after sabra and shatilla than they did from arabs. That should have been a clear signal to them. A lot of diatribe, but thats what I think should happen in all three places you mentioned.

It all looks like Yemen is driving and speeding up this process. Sudan also has got perfect opportunity. I can see the US and Sudan talking about this. If Sudan in the coming days shows support for the deployment openly and speaks of participating as before, it means US and Sudan have reached an accomodation. The Darfur and Somalia are very much interrelated for Sudan. If Sudan pushes for African IGAD forces in Somalia then US will accept continuation of African forces only for Darfur. Kenya at last has ended its hesitant policy and seems now is in support of TFG no matter what. The Ugandans would not fully start their deployment without Kenya's full agreement. Do you know BTW that Uganda also wants to meet Eritrea for Eritreas dirty role with LRA. That was the dirtiest and nastiest case of rape, mutilation, child soldiers..etc but the Eritrean leader seems to have no moral boundaries in the service of Arab masters. The egyptians will stop at nothing to preoccupy countries on the NILE so they would not have any energy or money to do some use of the water.

Meeting Between Meles Zenawi And Hassan Dahir Awes, By Dr. Omer Ibrahim By Dr. Omar Ibrahim H. Husssein A secret meeting between the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the Islamic leader Sheikh Dahir Awes took place in Ferfer on the border between the two countries soon after the meeting between the Somali government and the Islamic Courts came to a dead end. Since the two Somali sides could not agree even on the agenda of the meeting, it was obvious that a war between the two was inevitable, a war in which Ethiopia and Eritrea will take sides. It will be a catastrophic war that will destabilize countries of the Horn of Africa. Both believe if hostilities erupt, there will be no winners only losers. To pass the impasse, the shrewd Dahir Awes visited Egypt while the meeting in Khartoum was going on, a meeting he planned to be a stillborn. While he was in Egypt he contacted the Ethiopian Embassy to arrange a meeting between him and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The Ambassador was glade to arrange such a meeting and conveyed the message to Prime Minister Zenawi. At this time Sheikh Dahir was convinced that doing business with the President of Somalia was a waste of time. He decided to pull the rug under his feet and directly negotiate with his arch enemy. Zenawi was at this also convinced that he had betted with the wrong horse and staying the course will lead him nowhere but disaster. He decided to talk to his arch enemy as well. As a responsible leader he has to bend in order not to break. The meeting was successfully arranged but kept in complete secrecy. President Zenawi came to the meeting without many of his body guards and heavily disguised. Sheikh Awes also came heavily disguised. His body guards were not heavily bearded as usual.They met in a small house on one corner of the town.At six o’clock Zenawi and Awes met. After the usual greetings they sat to business Awes: I am glad you have accepted my call without any pre-conditions attached. I am also happy that you have finally come to your senses and realized that Islam is a force to be reckoned in Somalia, and the big Sheikh is the man to talk to. Zenawi: We don’t attach conditions to things that are a matter of life and death to our people. We are not the Islamic courts to have unreasonable conditions for even talking to the other side. I believe talking should not only be between friends. Awes: I believe the same thing. We have a lot in common. The truth of the matter is, I am talking to you; my number one enemy. You have to appreciate that. Zenawi: When did I become your enemy? You have never seen me before today. Awes: I agree we meet for the first time, but we fought deadly holy wars for the last fifteen years. Your army crossed the border and fought with me. You also armed my enemy Abdillahi Yussuf to the teeth and that tilted the balance of power in his favor. As a result he routed my army and killed many of my Mujahideen. And I was forced to seek refuge in Mogadishu far way from my home. Now that the balance of power has tilted in my favor, it is only fitting to route you and your protégé. ‘Every dog has a day’, they say. Our time has come and Inshaaleh we will prevail. Zenawi: My army did not cross the border to fight you. But Abdillahi Yussuf is a friend and friends help each other. But I did not tell him or arm him to fight you. If he has misused our friendship or our armies, is that my fault? Wouldn’t you help a friend in need? He asked for defensive weapons and we gave him. However, we are not a part to your dirty civil war. Don’t blame others for your mistakes. You are engaged in Islamic wars in a country where everybody is a Muslim. By the way why do you have an army of your own and with whom do you fight, and why do you fight in the first place. To the best of my knowledge you either carry the Book or the gun. They don’t mix. Under what authority have you mixed the two? Awes: After our government and system collapsed, we were forced to fill the vacuum to preserve peace and security in our land. We did not take armies with any malice but you have armed some or all of the murderous warlords to occupy us. Your unholy interference in our affairs forced us to take armies against the warlords. However, we found their weapons and their foreign ideologies were no march for the holy bullet from the holy barrel of an Islamic gun. They took to their heels routed and disgraced, and I am convinced you will follow suit. But if you leave us to our own destiny, we will silence the roaring Islamic guns, because we have no quarrels with you. Zenawi: That is crystal clear, but I have a question for you, how can you declare jihad on a country that has at least four times as many Muslims as you have. What is the point of declaring Jihad on other Muslims? Wouldn’t somebody call you an Islamic warlord? If your bullets are Islamic and more effective, we have the same weapons with highly trained and hardened soldiers, very unlike your amateur Somali and foreign Islamic Youth. Tell me what do you plan to achieve; death and destruction of Muslims on both sides of the border. Awes: I agree the Muslims of Ethiopia are much more than that of Somalia, but the leadership had always been Christian though more than 65 percent are Muslims by the most conservative estimate. How many Muslim Ministers are there in your government? Muslims trusted you and you betrayed them. Zenawi: That is a fair question and you must be happy, I am the first Prime Minister to nominate Muslims to responsible positions like Ministerial posts. I must also tell you that we made an all out efforts to change the lopsided justice in Ethiopian government and I have succeeded to certain extent. I want to do more. Ethiopia is now a secular democratic country where the majorities or minorities if they can sway voters have their way without bloodshed. I was elected democratically without coercion or intimidation. I proudly represent the new Ethiopia, and I can say with full confidence that I represent both Muslims and Christians. We are Ethiopians before we are Muslims and Christians… our motto is Ethiopia Tick Dom (Ethiopia first). We are convinced that only pluralistic and secular and democratic Ethiopia will be able to tackle the enormous task of nation building. In complete contrast, you believe in tribalism and you want to use Islam to achieve that objective. Sometimes I wonder if tribe is your religion. You have more allegiance to tribalism than to Islam. Siyad Bare brought tribal Socialism from Russia and you brought tribal Islam from Afghanistan. As Siyad failed you will fail too. Awes: Tribalism and Islam are incongruent. They can’t mix. When you were elected Prime Minister of Ethiopia we were all elated, because we thought injustice and bigotry based on Religion will end there. But you turned out to be a new autocrat, and a powerful monster, using democracy to achieve dictatorial aspirations. You use both Christianity and tribalism to cling to power. Ethiopia Tick Dom is an old motto not yours. Yours is unabashedly Tigrai Tick Dom (Tigrai first). The whole world knows the crimes you have committed against your people. Let me quote you what your fellow citizen Fisseha Tecle wrote on 19th June 2006, “From the massacre of over 400 Anuaks in Gambella in 2003 to June and November killing of innocent civilians, there is a substantial body of evidence implicating Zenawi and associates in crimes against humanity.” This is serious stuff even judged by an African standard. Strangely enough you want to add Somalia to your Tigray Tick Dom. We see that as megalomania without borders. Zenawi: The world knows that I was elected democratically. I introduced good governance by decentralizing power. The seat of power is no longer in the hands of the Head of Government in Addis-Ababa, but distributed to various players in the country. Ethiopia is now composed of autonomous States free to rule themselves or free to secede at will. As far as the last election and your accusations are concerned, the independent commission’s report speaks for itself,” History is the witness regarding such developments in countries where fundamental transformations have taken place and our country is no exception. Based on this reality, the Commission believes that according to the responsibility accorded to it by the proclamation, the actions taken by the security forces to control the violence was a legal and necessary step to protect the nascent system of government and to stop the country from descending in to a worse crisis and possibly never ending violence upheaval. The issue of proportionality can not be seen outside these realities.” I lay that to rest, but to the question of Somalia under my rule, you are wrong about it completely. If I wanted to rule Somalia, I could have done that long time ago. Somalia belonged to nobody for the last 16 years. It was an orphan State destroyed and deserted by its people. Somalis have no enemy other than itself. You destroyed your country, massacred your own people, and forced them to refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. We tried to pull heaven and earth to help the helpless Somalis We opened our houses and our countries and Addis Ababa is now swarming with Somalis. We tried to engage the Somali politician to come to some sort of reconciliation and understanding, but we failed. We spent a lot of our scarce resources and efforts on that, and we are proud of our record. We are still feverishly engaged in helping your elected government to stand on its feet. This is our way of helping you to help yourself. If we wanted to occupy Somalia we wouldn’t have engaged in making a government that can protect its own people from foreign occupation. You are the one who want to occupy Somalia in the name of Islam not me. You are preparing another round of genocide far more dangerous than what the warlords did. If you have a religion as you claim you wouldn’t call for Jihad and an unjustified war at this time. This is not the right time to call for a war with Ethiopia. Ethiopia is far much stronger than you are. Awes: You have a point there, but your help was only a camouflage to support your protégé. You single handedly destroyed the democratically elected Government of Abdulqassim Salat of Arta, because you accused him of being a good Muslim, and you support Abdillahi Yusuf on being secular and an Ethiopian friend. If you are right about your good intentions, you would have supported the man whom Somalia elected as its president for good or for worst. You had no right to choose what type of President we should have. That is precisely what you have done in Nairobi and it is not acceptable. Zenawi: I did not elect the President; for I don’t have those magical powers for sure. The President was elected by a General Assembly representing all Somali tribes properly constituted and balanced which satisfied all participating and supporting institutions. No member of parliament was forced to vote this way or that way. A little cash or persuasion may have taken place, but that is the nature of democracy. You wouldn’t call 275 strong carefully selected leaders representing all Somalia a bunch of fools bought and sold in a market like sheep. If I can buy 275 Somali leaders for a friend, I could very well buy you. What is your price? If the price is right, I am more than willing to buy you to avoid an unjustified holy war with you? Awes: It is you who say ‘Gunzab Ale Sama Mingid Ale’. ‘If you have money there are ways in the sky’. You did have money and you made highways in the hearts of our needy Parliamentarians, but I am a different breed. You can’t buy the Sheikh and I must tell you I am a true Muslim I am not for sale and no price is right for me. Any attempt to buy me is disgusting and unislamic. That is not the person or character of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Awes; the shining star of Islam in the Horn and possibly in the Islamic world. Zenawi: All those you accuse me of buying are good Muslims too. The logic that every Somali have a price except you, does not sit very well with me. You are also accused of being a pawn in the hands of international terrorists. I am a Christian and I can’t see the fine differences between Muslims; please tell me how your Islam is different from that of Abdillahi Yusuf. And mind you, you are accused of harboring international terrorists, Yusuf is not Awes: I am glad you ask me that question. I am a good Muslim and he is a bad Muslim. He wants human laws while I want God’s law to be the basis of our government as God wants us to have. He has no support in Somalia. All his support is you and other enemies of Islam. I can’t imagine a leader of a Muslim country who is opposed to the rules of God. Zenawi: I understand that to mean a Muslim extremist is better than a moderate one. But you know religious extremism is now equated with terrorism. Our learned Sheikhs told me there is no extremism in Islam. On my part, I am proud to be a moderate Christian. I am secular too. For your own information Islam came from Ethiopia to Somalia and not from Saudi Arabia. Islam flourished in Ethiopia while you were still pagans and Idol worshippers. Islam reached Ethiopia on the 6th year of the Hijra by the cousin of Prophet Mohamed during the reign of King Negus Al-Asham. Since then till now Islam and Christianity are at peace with each other in my country. It serves no purpose to radicalize Muslims at this time. Awes: They are right; there is no extremism in Islam. But at the same time Islam requires a specific way of life. You don’t just claim to be a Muslim, but you live like one. Equating Islamic extremism with terrorism is farce, sinister and you are one of those who propagate that preposterous idea to discredit me and Islam. Zenawi: Enlighten me then, the Islamic way of life; I need to know that, because our Muslims and Christians live alike. But one goes to Church and the other goes to Mosque to pray, and they warship the same God. There is no inherent conflict between the two faiths at in my country. Awes: One of the reasons why Muslims in Ethiopia feel oppressed and why so many of them are here with us to take part in the Jihad is because they are forced to live under the mercy of Christianity. Ethiopia is not a secular State; it is a Christian State. To get a better feel of what a Muslim State should look, see what we have done in the areas we control. To start with, we do not dress like Somalis but we dress like Muslims. My son will not be called Ina Awes ‘ the son of Awes’ like Somalis do, but I will be called Abu Ali ‘ the father of Ali’. It is symbolic but extremely important for Muslims. Sharia law is the law of the land. Zenawi: Before I left Addis Ababa, I consulted a group of our learned Sheikhs and they quoted me a verse of the Quran which says,” And dispute you not with People of the Book, except with means better, unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong; But say, we believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you: Our God and your God is one: and it is to Him we bow in Islam: (Quran 29:46). So even if we are Christians we are the people of the Book and you wouldn’t declare Jihad on us, would you? On the question of dress, I better see you dressed like a Somali not like an Arab, and I better call you Sheikh Awes rather than Abu Ali or Abu Mansur. I lived in Mogadishu, and to the best of my knowledge, I have never seen a conflict between Islam and the Somali way of life. Awes: We love Arabs and we are glad to adapt their way of life, because it is the Islamic way. We are politically aligned with the Arabs too. Zenawi: What did Arabs do for you to deserve your love and what have we done to deserve a holy war? We are your friends and your neighbors; we stood by you in thin and thick for the last 16 years. Thousands of Somalis live in our country like our citizens. If they visit or remain there after the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia; the leader of the Islamic and Arab world, they will be deported in handcuff, beaten and imprisoned or even physically abused. It was only a year ago when a Saudi Court chopped the head of six Somali men after a mock trial accusing them of harassing a Saudi tax driver in Jeddah. The countries of the IGAD tried their level best to help you in any way they can. But the Arab league did nothing for you. It was shocking and a surprise to know that you prefer Arab league mediation to IGAD after all that we have done for you. When will you know your friends from your enemies? May be when your heads are chopped by an Islamic sword. Awes: You don’t understand or you are pretending not to understand. Countries of the Arab league support an Islamic State while the countries of IGAD support a secular and a Satanic State. That makes a hell of difference at least to me. Support an Islamic State and we will be your friends. We want friendship at our own terms not on your terms. Stop supporting Abdillahi Yusuf and take back your soldiers and we will love you without any help. Zenawi: I am willing to support you provided you swear in the name of God that you will never engage in any activities contrary to the interest of the Ethiopian people and its elected government. Promise me you will bridle the Islamic Ethiopian insurgents whom you are harboring in Somalia who want to ferment terror in Ethiopia to destabilize it. I am at war with Eritrea on two fronts. This war has drained our human and financial recourses and I want to avoid another war with you. I say that not with any sense of weakness but out of strength and out of concern for innocent human lives. Awes: That is easier said than done, because I have already created an infidel monster out of you in order to prepare the Youth for Jihad. It is not practical to tell them that I have slept with the devil and suddenly all is well. Our Islamic Youth will insist to carry out the call for the Jihad. The only way that can stop them is if you behave as though you were defeated and disgraced by supporting the enemy of Islam in Somalia. However if you are honest about supporting me, I will declare an edict in your favorable. Zenawi: If I leave the President in the cold, wouldn’t that satisfy you and your cohorts to halt your holy war. The Muslim Youth have nothing to do with the war. It is your war and the Youth will get nothing except death. Abu Mansar, Abu Ali or your children will not be sent to die in a holy war. Your aim is to use others peoples’ children to die for your greed, which is very unfortunate. I am told that you have killed more Muslims than the warlords did. Would that make a good Muslim? Awes: There you go again. You can’t understand what Islam is all about. Those Youth are the pride of Islam and will be fighting for Islam not for me. I have no ambition to become a President or a Prime minister. My ambition is to firmly establish the rule of God in my country. I want nothing more than a spiritual leader (Emir Al Mu’minin). As to your accusation, let me make it crystal clear, I killed infidels and enemies of Islam and I will not hesitate to do that again in self defense. Zenawi: If you opt for Emir Al Mu’uminin out of humility, will that include Muslims of Ethiopia, and what will be your powers. What role will Sheriff Ahmed play in the system of government you have in mind? I like to know who is who within the Islamic Courts. Is he likely to form an Islamic government if your endeavor succeeds? Awes: There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that I will be Emir Al Mu’uminin for all Muslims in the Horn of Africa. Sooner than later, there will be an Islamic uprising in Addis-Ababa similar to that of Mogadishu. Warlordism has no future in the Horn. As far as the power of the Emir Al Mu’mineen is concerned, put it simply, both the President and the Prime Minister and the Parliament will come under him. He will be the Commander in Chief of the faithful. On the question of the role and fate of Sheikh Sheriff Ahmed, he is not one of my close associates. He is only for window dressing; when the right time comes he will be safely disposed. Sheikh Turki is a pain in the *** and he is already on his way out. He caused some embarrassment for the Islamic courts. Sometimes I ask myself whether he is with us or against us. He is trigger happy both with his gun and with his mouth. My top lieutenants are Sheikh Yusuf Indhade and Adan Hashi Aro; of course the big man behind the big Sheikh is our ex President Abdulkassim Salad; thanks to him Islam is no more an orphan in Somalia. Zenawi: I am glad we met today, let us talk again, after a week or so, because as the Somalis say ‘there is no consensus before talking’. Dr. Omer Ibrahim; Omarh1980@hotmail.com

Lieutenant Xalane, The respect is mutual and thank you for your generous comments. Duulye, Thank you for making me Lieutenant Xalane, evn on the internet. There were more than a few occasions whre I wished I had his precision, brevity and to the point, matter of factly statements. You amy also have noticed, if you are into reading the contents that I don't comment or discuss military matters. I limit myself into reading them and understanding. But thank you none the less.

Originally posted by Ahmed_Guree: ^^^ listen you are on your own if things Go wrong which will. then US etc will surely disown you coz they have problems of their own rember US are not neighbours with Iraq or Afganistan they can leave and the only damage will be on their reputation but for you guys you are in Deep Shi*t. The first untruth or afraid to say lak of knowledge you showed is that the US doesn't only lose reputation in Iraq, but its shirt. I don't know how much you have read or understand, but US is in its current position cortesy of WWII. The US didn't know Saudi Arabia existed on the map before the preparation or conduct of WWII. Take it this way, the US knew Somalia or parts of it before Iraq or Saudi Arabia. US and Ethiopia celebrated 100 years of diplomatic relation, where as france, britain even russia have been in that neighborhood for centuries. Look at France it didn't just lose respect in Algeria, but was the end of france as big power. For ethiopians and somalis its the ghetto they are born and get raised. They can make it better, they can destroy this ghetto and biuld better in its place or destroy this ghetto and live in tents like their anscestors did before, but there is just too many of them now, to avoid bumping into each other herds of camels, goats, sheep..etc. If I always define myself in terms of US or Tigray like you seem to do, US goes China comes, China goes India comes and India goes Iran comes or we go into second cycle and Italy recovers from its slumber and comes.....thats a waste of human life. Think in terms of yourself first. Define yourself and see where your place is in the world. Never the other way around. If you look at the rest of the world first, you will be wasting your life trying to find a seat. If you define who you are first then its easy to see your seat in relation to Tigray or America. What if Tigray tomorrow is replaced by the Afar? Are you oing to write again all your histeronics in relation to Afar? Thats the wrong approach. Know thyself first and define thyself first.

Lets see how east african and arab countries line up based on this proposal, but first the big bad five. US, China, Russia are already on one side France is hesitant and britain will make some statements, but will fall in line with US. Arabs: Yemen is in support of it Saudi Arabia will not say anything publicly Egypt will be all over the map diplomatic speak, but SSICU corner when it counts. The Gulf states will be divided in their public statements Sudan will support as long as its african force, actually sudan will promote this idea for two reasons. 1. It sets precedence to reject UN, NATO etc and deal only with african forces for its own case of darfur 2. Its a talking point with US and a bargain to be had as well as carry favours with ethiopia and kenya that are crucial to south sudan. Djibuti might voice opposition, but not a single truck will go to help ICU and risk the very existance of djibuti itself. As it is Djibuti strong man hands ethiopia any of the opposition "unlucky" enough to go to djibuti. Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda are already committed. Nigeria and South Africa are on side of the resolution/proposal. Libya is also believed to have second thoughts. If Gaddafi cannot command at will the SSICU, its of no use. Gaddafi supports Eritrea only because he can send them whereever he feels like to darfur, to chad, to south sudan, east sudan, LRA uganda and now Central African republic.

Ahmed_Guree, The thread is about somali state ethiopia in case you need a reminder. If you have nothing to say on that, I understand, but please respect that there are threads and is quite easy to start one for diatribes of other subjects. I can only remind you that Meles was born in the 50s, where as these issues are more than a century old. If you heard the name Tigray for the first time from Shiek Aweye in his Al-Ithad command of arab fighters, that were handed to their birth or last citizenship countries, keep on, but the somali will outlive any border, flag, anthem even countries that are here today. I prefer to look at issues from that angle than with every leader or group that comes and goes.

Ahmed_Guree, Unless you are an ethiopian imposter appearing as somali, please try to recognize these facts: The somali ethiopian is big enough to say what he wants and strong enough to go and get what he wants. The interests of the somali ethiopian can be defined in and of itself without constantly transposing it to Tigray, Amara, Afar, Oromo or others. The somali ethiopian is not waiting for IndCadde to be the "Immam" of nagash or for colonel Aweye to be the Ayatollah spreme of east africa. Please stick to whats being discussed as much as you can. Tigray or no Tigray, the somali ethiopian will be neighbor to Afar, Oromo, Hareri ...and so on. Actually somalia or no somalia, ethiopia or no ethiopia, that remains a fact of life. BTW. What are you and your likes afraid of the somali ethiopian? Is it the possibility that the somali ethiopian will ignore colonel Tahir Aweye at best and fight against him at worst for you and your ilk. What will come will come and very soon, because colonel aweye doesn't have time, he either has to govern or create constant war and ignore governing using wars as excuse. He cannot afford to stay one day without mentioning ethiopia. Otherwise people in Mugadishu will go, eh ya shiek we need a government here, we also need to know how we work with other states to reconstitute our country...what do you say shiek.

Lieutenant Xalane, I think the best thing to do for our discussion is have a common understanding on what freedom is and how you or I think it applies to the situation. Freedom is a relative term. Freedom to the Americans meant that they want to elect their own government, don't want their taxes to go to the british empire, but it never meant their ability to speak some other language (although it meant to some that wanted german), protect a culture ..etc. Freedom to black Americans meant not to be bought and sold like goods at the time. I have no doubt, that what you said about people wanting to do something is true. If one struggles hard enough, smart enough and if need be long enough he can get what he wanted. That I fully agree. Let alone poor and backward ethiopia, even empires that seemed where the sun never set had to give up peoples or lands that they held by trickery or war. On that I will not and cannot argue against your point. But every given theory has to be applied to reality and every corner of the world has its own peculiar characteristics. If you are one of the somalis who believe that the somali ethiopian became ethiopian due to british machinations, I say, you are wrong. No other empire wanted to have greater somalia than the british empire. For their own interest, yes of course, but if your interest and someones interest intersect or meet, what could be better. It did not happen not even for ethiopia or egypt that were almost colonies of britain themselves. Ethiopia was liberated enemy territory as classified by the british and so was egypt. Eritrea has same historical background and same process as Somaliland. Worst yet for eritrea, the Afar has no interest in being divided into a third country as if djibuti and ethiopia were not enough. If you and I are alive when their dictator Mr. Isayas goes it will be mini-somalia and worst. Eritrea has nine different peoples from very different heritage, anscestry and bloodlines. The tigrigna speakers that rule it now and make eritrea synonimous with themselves are only 40% of the population at most. Freedom is relative. Eritrean freedom has become freedom for the few in less than two decades. For many it has become slavery already. If ethiopia was to engage in tit for tat support of eritrean opposition it practically would be the easiest regime to overthrow. Ethiopia is avoiding this old practice with sudan, eritrea, somalia. Sudan is holding its end of the bargain, so ethiopia and sudan have a well managed relations. They both realize they live in glass houses. Freedom for somali ethiopian has political, cultural, economic and social aspects and definitions. Political is 1. Be an independednt country 2. join somalia republic 3. be autonomous part of ethiopia. Lets not argue on numbers, but all these objectives have support. culturally it means that he should speak and use his language, practice his heritage and tradition. This was impossible to do until a decade ago, but now there is nothing to stop him except poverty. The example of Somaliland, I would say, that whatever you folks end up doing, try to do it peacefully or put best effort to do it peacefully. countries are temporary, so are flags and anthems. Borders will be drawn and redrawn to the needs of the times political or economic, but the people should have the minimum of violent changes as possible. Its the definition of freedom in terms of current conditions that you and I have different understanding. BTW development did not stop the Scottish re-establishing their state and are becoming more and more autonomous and almost independant by the day, centuries after they had become just a district or lesser. I have no disagreement with your basic belief that people will get what they fight for or are prepared to fight for, one way or another.

Paragon, Lets leave aside for who should pitty who for this or that. Shouldn't you instead do some reading about the Walwal Conference and its implications for where we all are now, rather than blaming british or french? Shouldn't we all start identifying our weakness in being tools of britain, italy, france, ottomans or egypt, rather than making them the reason for our misfortunes. Even if we are not strong enough to blame ourselves, shouldn't we start accepting that the egyptians or the british have outsmarted and defeated us against our own interest? Never underestimate yourself. You can get the chinese tomorrow and play them against the british in a heart bit. You have all the ingredients to be able to do so. As long as we are materially poor and backward, those who are higher in the ladder of development will play us against ourselves. Thats the rule of the game in every continent. I don't for a minute think that britain was happy to go to iraq or Canada was happy to go to Afghanstan, but big brother wanted it. I don't think Saudi Arabia wanted to go as far as condemning HizbAllah, but big brother wanted it and the biggest clerics of saudi arabia went on their microphones and media condemning HizbAllah.

Lieutenant Xalane, Let me ask you a question if I amy. Lets say you are a somali in somali state ethiopia. You look to your east your kins in Dgibuti are building their lives regardless of what comes tomorrow, wether they stay as a country with the Afar, because they are not the only choosers. You look still to the east of you and your kins are building their state and leaving the majority minority for now seem to be wanting to be a country of their own. Still keep looking to east and maybe move your gaze a bit south and you see your other kins are building a strong state, doing what they can to revive somalia, but if all else fails they are ready and capable to keep on their own. You visit Bay and Bakool and you realize that your kins there want to be just like Puntland, united somalia to be reinstituted, but each governing themselves with a negotiated mechanism. Yet you have the best rare opportunity to do the same. Build your state or call it enclave or whatever name, but build it in everything possible and with everything you can lay your hands at. Now is not the time for war, because that war has the possibility of bringing chaos which no one can even guess the end possibilities. What if the war brings more fructuring in somalia republic instead of unity that includes everybody? There is time for everything. What would you have chosen to do at this time? Please also consider that if you have strong institutional infrastructure you can be the leader of all somalis, but if you remain weak and backward, the mugadishu guy will always try to give you orders and will never take you as his equal. I think at the moment thats the prevailing reality. If the somali ethiopian one day decides to revive the greater somalia project, he can do so from a position of strength not only in ethiopia, but also with his kins in other countries now including somalia republic. He can easily be equal to puntland or Somaliland. That can be achieved easily and very soon without much fuss or the need for arms. What do you think?

Lieutenant Xalane, You have good points, but the way the situation in the somali state stands right now is quite different from the past or the future as seen from ONLF viewpoint. Does ONLF has the support of the majority in the area that it is interested in seceeding from ethiopia? Why ONLF did not want to speak or fight for all the somali ethiopian? I think the answer to these questions can give you as to the prevailing situation in somali state. Somali ethiopians are not a small population. Its about 6 million. The most important strategic interest they consider at this time is building a strong state and infrastructure for whatever eventuality that comes. Wether the ethiopian somali remains part of ethiopia, joins somalia, or both somalia and ethiopia are changed and the whole horn of africa is redrawn....now for most somali ethiopians is not the immediate concern. That is what I read and thats what I hear as a non somali myself. Come to think of it, it makes a lot of sense. If one is weak and disorganized, he/she will always be victim of others. If one is strong and organized, at the very minimum he/she can bargain. What do you think now will make the somali ethiopian accept Mugadishu lordship which was always the main contention with the liberation fronts. ONLF is now in the same boat. There was a central committee memeber of ONLF who changed his views and became a federalist, recently. The accusations and blame he had for his ex-comrades in ONLF were very similar to what WSLF had decades ago. Please realize that in today's ethiopia there is no will or power to stop or keep a small (in number) ethnic peoples, let alone the somali who is bigger and more powerful than a lot of african countries, against his/her wish. Thats the new reality. There is also another reality. War is very destructive process, thus it always should be done very quickly. This directionless and not result oriented destruction only creates doubters and opponents. Thats what ONLF is facing and is constantly forced to declare ceasefire on its own, because the people fall victim either to draught or the elders decide that this or that project cannot be touched. I think ONLF sees that with every building thats erected the war option becomes less and less attractive, but on the other hand it cannot destroy a school or a clinic and hope that the people will stand with it. The point seems to be that, let our children choose what to do with it, but lets lay the infrastracture in political institutions or transport construction to enable them to choose with strength.

Oromia and Ahmed_Guree, As a non-somali ethiopian, who do you think I would consider to be credible in speaking for the somali, Would it be those that spent half of their life fighting for the right of the somali ethiopian in WSLF or Somali Democratic League or other similar organizations or you the internet "worriors" who have no regard or respect to the principle that the safety and peace of the human being comes first, ahead of any colonels who have taken the shiek doned on themselves. The new rulers of Mugadishu cannot appoint themselves to be spokespersons or rulers of the somali ethiopian. This has been going on for 50 years with nothing, but conflict and grief brought to the somali ethiopian and nothing to show for it. Let the somali ethiopian speak first and then you can either support or oppose, but until and unless you accept this fact, everything you say and do will remain an excercise in futility.

This is the overidng reason for any ethiopian wether they support or hate the government of the day.: ________________________________________ Jijjiga, November 26, 2006 (WIC) – The inhabitants of Somali State firmly stand by the government as the jihad declared against Ethiopia by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) mainly targets the people of the state, Muslim clerics of the state underscored. Imams,representatives of sharia courts,Islamic affairs offices and mosques as well as elders drawn from the state said the war declared by the UIC against the country would above all victimize the people of Somali State. Somali State Sharia Courts President, Sherif Mohammed Sherif Abdi-Seid,said the war declared by Hassen Tahir Aweys and his cliques,former communists who fought hard to destroy Islam,is aimed at impeding the development of the inhabitants of the Somali State and undermine their peace. The declaration of the extremists to seize Somali State and reign on the people of the State whose constitutional rights have been respected is shameful,the President said, further calling on the brotherly people of Somalia to rise up against these forces. Islamic Affairs Office Head,Sheik Omar Farah Mohammed,said on his part that declaring jihad against Ethiopia,the country that welcomed Islam first and foremost,is illegal and unacceptable by the religion. Sheirf Abdulahi Sherif Aden Nur said though the extremist group led by Hassen Tahir Aweys failed to inflict serious damages during the past 15 years due to lack of capacity,it has been attacking Ethiopia and the people of Somali State in particular by blowing up hotels,recreation centers and killing civilians. He also stressed that the group which has declared war against Ethiopia taking advantage of the support of some countries should be contained once and for all before it causes serious damage. He further urged the state government and the muslim community in the state to stand by the government and repulse the invasion to preserve their unity and dignity.

Somali State Sharia Courts President, Sherif Mohammed Sherif Abdi-Seid,said the war declared by Hassen Tahir Aweys and his cliques,former communists who fought hard to destroy Islam,is aimed at impeding the development of the inhabitants of the Somali State and undermine their peace. The declaration of the extremists to seize Somali State and reign on the people of the State whose constitutional rights have been respected is shameful,the President said, further calling on the brotherly people of Somalia to rise up against these forces. Islamic Affairs Office Head,Sheik Omar Farah Mohammed,said on his part that declaring jihad against Ethiopia,the country that welcomed Islam first and foremost,is illegal and unacceptable by the religion. Sheirf Abdulahi Sherif Aden Nur said though the extremist group led by Hassen Tahir Aweys failed to inflict serious damages during the past 15 years due to lack of capacity,it has been attacking Ethiopia and the people of Somali State in particular by blowing up hotels,recreation centers and killing civilians. He also stressed that the group which has declared war against Ethiopia taking advantage of the support of some countries should be contained once and for all before it causes serious damage. He further urged the state government and the muslim community in the state to stand by the government and repulse the invasion to preserve their unity and dignity. Imams,representatives of sharia courts,Islamic affairs offices and mosques as well as elders drawn from the state said the war declared by the UIC against the country would above all victimize the people of Somali State.

Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar, Prime minister Meles Zenawi is an individual and a mortal like you and I. Looking at the problems and opportunities and difficulties objectively would be better and constructive. He is a 50 year old man, born 7 years after the Walwal conference that was done to make greater somalia of all the territories, but failed without any foreign interference. The main foreign interference was britain and britain was favouring uniting all territories in one country. Meles was not born then and as a mortal if we take the average age of an ethiopian he will be long gone and you will be jumping with another somali or ethiopian name with no end in sight.

Egypt is either the most cruel or the smartest in the arab world. Egyptian papers write more about al-umma al-arabia, but egypt will not spend a penny of its own on any arab cause. Egyptian papers write the most against Israel, but not a single palestinian is allowed to operate from egypt. Palestinians are never given citizenship and are always refugees and rounded up and expelled at the slightest sign of anti-israeli. Egyptians want to paralyze ethiopia so it cannot use the nile, and they get libya, saudi arabia and gulf states to pay for it in eritrea or somalia. I hate to be in their shoes when this trickery and the suffering they cause catches up with them; Karma. Either we are all ******, including the palestinians or the egyptians are so smart that can put palestinians, somalia all running in circles working for them.

Ahmed_Guree, Actually the most news of that war was what you seem to have missed or do not want it mentioned. Eritrea had the skyline trenches, which even was money making for turism. Whenever a diaspora eritrean went home those days, a visit to the skyline trenches was a must. The ethiopians avoided the skyline and instead loaded their donkey and mules and went deep inside eritrea through mountains the eritreans never expected and never thought a nations army would go through. The game was over and all the skyline and soviet tanks lined up there were rendered useless. The leadership of Eritrea told President Isayas to resign and for that 15 of their top leadership are in prison. No court, no trial, no family visits and no one knows wether they are alive or dead.

Alle-ubaahne, And here is fake ethiopians speaking their mind.lol _________________________________________ Jijjiga, November 26, 2006 (WIC) – The inhabitants of Somali State firmly stand by the government as the jihad declared against Ethiopia by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) mainly targets the people of the state, Muslim clerics of the state underscored. Imams,representatives of sharia courts,Islamic affairs offices and mosques as well as elders drawn from the state said the war declared by the UIC against the country would above all victimize the people of Somali State. Somali State Sharia Courts President, Sherif Mohammed Sherif Abdi-Seid,said the war declared by Hassen Tahir Aweys and his cliques,former communists who fought hard to destroy Islam,is aimed at impeding the development of the inhabitants of the Somali State and undermine their peace. The declaration of the extremists to seize Somali State and reign on the people of the State whose constitutional rights have been respected is shameful,the President said, further calling on the brotherly people of Somalia to rise up against these forces. Islamic Affairs Office Head,Sheik Omar Farah Mohammed,said on his part that declaring jihad against Ethiopia,the country that welcomed Islam first and foremost,is illegal and unacceptable by the religion. Sheirf Abdulahi Sherif Aden Nur said though the extremist group led by Hassen Tahir Aweys failed to inflict serious damages during the past 15 years due to lack of capacity,it has been attacking Ethiopia and the people of Somali State in particular by blowing up hotels,recreation centers and killing civilians. He also stressed that the group which has declared war against Ethiopia taking advantage of the support of some countries should be contained once and for all before it causes serious damage. He further urged the state government and the muslim community in the state to stand by the government and repulse the invasion to preserve their unity and dignity. ___________________________________________ The only difference is what you call true ethiopians are in DC USA and they are opposed to the govenment in ethiopia because they are of the old ethiopia. What you might call fake ethiopians are in ethiopia and they are the ones that determine what happens next. They are also the ones that implement it. They are the ones that pay the price for the suffering, shed tears and sweat and celebrate if there is anything at all to celebrate. Your true ethiopians will have nothing to celebrate, because ethiopia is never going back to the system they want, the old one.

Please read this, before you get all worked up about the somali ethiopian. If you want some historical background read the Walwal conference and if you want recent facts read the conflict between Mugadishu and WSLF. But for current situation read this news: ______________________________________________ Jijjiga, November 26, 2006 (WIC) – The inhabitants of Somali State firmly stand by the government as the jihad declared against Ethiopia by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) mainly targets the people of the state, Muslim clerics of the state underscored. Imams,representatives of sharia courts,Islamic affairs offices and mosques as well as elders drawn from the state said the war declared by the UIC against the country would above all victimize the people of Somali State. Somali State Sharia Courts President, Sherif Mohammed Sherif Abdi-Seid,said the war declared by Hassen Tahir Aweys and his cliques,former communists who fought hard to destroy Islam,is aimed at impeding the development of the inhabitants of the Somali State and undermine their peace. The declaration of the extremists to seize Somali State and reign on the people of the State whose constitutional rights have been respected is shameful,the President said, further calling on the brotherly people of Somalia to rise up against these forces. Islamic Affairs Office Head,Sheik Omar Farah Mohammed,said on his part that declaring jihad against Ethiopia,the country that welcomed Islam first and foremost,is illegal and unacceptable by the religion. Sheirf Abdulahi Sherif Aden Nur said though the extremist group led by Hassen Tahir Aweys failed to inflict serious damages during the past 15 years due to lack of capacity,it has been attacking Ethiopia and the people of Somali State in particular by blowing up hotels,recreation centers and killing civilians. He also stressed that the group which has declared war against Ethiopia taking advantage of the support of some countries should be contained once and for all before it causes serious damage. He further urged the state government and the muslim community in the state to stand by the government and repulse the invasion to preserve their unity and dignity.