Egypt remains optimistic about good results in Somalia’s expected talks Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 26, Nov.06 ( Sh.M.Network) - The Egyptian government has shown optimism that Somalia’s vying groups can meet and talk once again in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. In news conference held in Egyptian capital Cairo, Ahmed Abul-Gheyt has pointed out that the fourth round of Somali peace talks could occur in mid December next month, stating that peace talks would avert a very possible war that may take place between the transitional federal government forces and the Union of Islamic Courts fighters that are facing off near Baidoa, a seat for the government. Abul-Gheyd said his government would extend a handful assistance for the Somali interim government by calling his counterpart, Somalia’s foreign minister Ismail Hurra Buba. Abul-Gheyd promised his government would take part in the reconstruction of Somalia’s foreign ministry, inviting Ismail Hurra Buba in Cairo. He also said Egypt was sketching a way to help the flood effected victims in Somalia where torrential rains triggered floods that devastated the livelihood of more than one million Somali pastoral communities in central and southern provinces in Somalia. He incited both Islamists and the government to resume talks to rescue their civilian population that was in racial war in the past sixteen years. He said it would be a violation if Somalia’s competing groups utilized force to implement their political personal interests by turning blind eyes on the general interest of the Somali people who lost their central authority in 1991 when warlords ousted former president Mohammed Siad Barre. Abul-Gheyd has, on the other hand, denied the UN report that was posted on the internet couple weeks ago. The report indicated that Egypt included ten countries meddling in Somalia by providing Soamlia’s challenging groups with arms. He said the report was compiled by writers that have scarce knowledge about Somalia, adding that Egypt was always neutral in the Somali affairs.

Originally posted by duuliye: Maybe you know better than Yeey's master duuliye, One suggestion if I may. Never call your fellow countryman by forsign names, if you have any intention at all of living together in one country after the mess is cleared. Even though its wrong to speak of master and slave terms, Its always preferable if you speak of master yourself or master your opponent as fellow countrymen. There are in ethiopia also similar type as you who used to call most of the current government as eritrean at one time, somalian another time now they only call it Tigray, because those people are themselves in America. Its a very bad culture of saying things that would prevent a conversation with your fellow countryman. Because once you start using those names its the end of the raod, no conversation after that, there is nothing to negotiate about. You also need to consider that your side or clan or whatever your corner is may have masters if thats the language you like.

Strange bedfellows. Are you folks for real? Do you all realize that you are talking about people's lives in the poor villages and towns of ethiopia or somalia? Oromia, What could possibly get you who seems to speak about the Oromo being opressed by the Haabeshi get you in touch with those whose every other word is praising menelik and mengistu? What could posibly be in common that brings together those extreme menelikites and Dergists with supposedly moslem? There is only one thing in common for all of you. You can see that its do or die. In ethiopia the federal system is becoming absolutely irreversible and these so called ethiopian paltalk have given up hope of getting back the old ethiopia. They have become completely hopeless they are hugging just anyone who can say a word or two against the current government. I think its the same situation in Somalia. SSICU has hit a wall. They cannot expand anymore and the longer they stay in their current territory social, economic, political problems are just around the corner. The only escape for them is to put as much part of somalia as they can on war footing and no one would ask them to govern. I see this a collection of the do or die who do not see any other way for tomorrow. Eritrea has 300,000 of its working age population in trenches all these years. Eritrea is saying this is unsustainable. Problems are already showing up. All the while ethiopia after the last war reorganized and its armed forces is only 120,000 strong. It spends the least money on defence. Eritrea spends 30% more than ethiopia, and eritrea doesn't pay wages, no contract, unlimited time is called national service. If this was not about human life, it would be such a commedy to see the menelikites with you an oromo moslem kkkkkkkkkk.

Oromia, Why is this not a Somalia problem and being handled by Somalis? Why does Tigray with its 5 or 6 million be the brains for 40 million Oromos, 6 million somalis in ethiopia and now you are giveing them Somalia as well. You always accuse them of having djibuti in their back pocket and kenya in their other back pocket. Where was this Tigray through the centuries?kkkkkkkkkkk It all smells fakery and lies. The only reason SSICU talks insesantly about ethiopia is thats the only and only way they can get some support. When they lose, they can say they lost to ethiopia and somalis didn't help them and if they take over even a village they can multiply it by saying ethiopia was there. These are the only group in the whole world that can lie outright and yet claim to be religious. The Taliban always told reality win or lose, Iran Ayatollahs told reality win or lose in their war against Iraq, In lebanon Hizballah told their loses or wins and everybody trusts their numbers. These Mugadishu shiekies are an exception. They capture and decapitate a colonel or they bring for show a few technicals under thir control and parade them as captured....its quite a fakery. Oromia, Please think of uniting your own people in supporting you. If you cannot win the support of the Oromo, don't you think there is something wrong with you and not the Oromo people? The people of somalia can help you but don't expect them to come to oromia and fight against the rest of ethiopians including the oromo for you. Ethiopia has neither the need nor the interest to go into clan fights in somalia. We are poor and backward country, but if we can we help if we can't we keep our border safe which is our duty to ourselves. Tigray this Tigray that will not hide that the problems of somalia are now in less than a 1/3 of the country. If another state is established and starts running like Puntland you can count the days of mugadishu, just like that of addis ababa in the 90s.

Originally posted by Lieutenant Xalane: Somali friend,in short,would u agree with the Legend Revolutiuonary ,Who said,''Liberators do not exist,pple liberate themselves'..Is that what u are trying to raise in ur post? Thank you putting it all in one concise description. As an ethiopian, its very easy for me to swallow if my fellow ethiopian in Jijiga told me that, there is no reason for him to share one country with me, he is disatisfied and he doen't see things getting better, so lets part ways. On the other hand if Colonel Awetye from far away seat in Mugadishu tells me that he will take the land and the reason is somalis leive there and I want it under my control and my rule, that I cannot swallow. In addition to it when I ask my friend who is ethiopian somali and he tells me I don't like that mugadishu system or call, It makes it even harder to contemplate me saying to colonel aweye here you can have it take it. T also find it very disenginous for any people including the ethnic I come from to be friends with far away peoples, but be enemies with immediate neighbors. Let me give you an example from somalia: If Somaliland wants to be friends with Mugadishu, but not with Puntland or somali state ethiopia or Djibuti..its an indication that there is a problem and that friendship is fake. If the O part of somali state ethiopia wants to be dear friends with mugadishu but not with Bay and Bakool or Puntland or Somaliland...I think there is something wrong with that. Its never long lasting and is mischivious. Thats the way I see it. But you stated something, I couldn't have said it any better. The somali ethiopian is an important block now. He can speak for himself without some mugadishu hot head spoiling the road. The somali doesn't have enemies now in ethiopia, from the federal to the states. The biggest enemy is poverty and technological backwardness. That is being tackled and the results so far are beyond any expectation. All ethiopia "the superpower kkk" had 200MW electricity until 1991, now is closing in 2.2GW, There is nothing worthy therse days that can be done without electricity. imagine what level the country must have been. All the areas that were rebel areas are the ones that fared the worst..the Afar, Tigray, Somali..were lands of rebellious people and now have relative peace and are making progress starting from minus. The ethiopian empire had only one university in addis ababa....now there are 9 and with 4 that are in construction will be 13. One of them is in somali state. Afar did not have a high school until the current government came, now they have 8 and this 5 year plan will have 20. The somali ethiopian is the only one who legally, morally, constitutionally and by force if necessary that can excercise his right, his wishes and expectations. Everyone else is secondary and maybe just supportive role.

Let me start with the whole issue reduced to its simplest form, but before I do that let me explain the most important parts of the ethiopian constitution that is 10 years old now and the somali ethiopian was one of the main architects: 1. Any nation, nationality or peoples in ethiopia has the right to self determination up to and including secession. 2. The said peoples elect in their government (kilil state or zone) with the clear intention and stated intention of excercising their right of self determination. This in a nutshell means that the party, front or organization advocating for self determination has to have campaigned in an election with this issue and won the election. It shows the intent of the people. 3. Upon winning an election and forming state parliament, the said state or zone will present the house of federation (senate and body with ultimate say on constitutional matters) with the items of disatisfaction of the peoples with the current state of affairs. 4. The federation has 3 years to answer the complaints to the satisfaction of the agrieved peoples. The said state or zone in 3 years will have a referendum. The self determination side should win by 66.6% of the vote. In the case of somali ethiopians: If its someone from Mugadishu raising the issue, its just someone trying to grab land from ethiopia and except with the force of arms there is no system or structure the mugadishu group can use to speak on behalf of the somali ethiopian. You only need to read the decades old quarels between Mugadishu and WSLF to see the mistake of this strategy. Most officials in the somali state government or the ethiopian federal government who are somali are past cadre, fighters, leadership of WSLF and other organizations with the same objectives. The only one that has the right and the power as well as legitimate structures and means to self determination is the somali ethiopian. If any party front or group convinces 66.6% of the somali ethiopian, its farewell to what ever the somali ethiopian chose to do with his right. You may say the 66.6% is too high, but would you determine future of a people with less than that? Would you allow a group of people deciding the future of 5-6 million somalis that will have changed the horn of africa, if not africa and depending on what the somali ethiopian chose to do with his future. I wouldn't. Win hearts and minds of 66.6% of the people, show clearly your intent and ask for their support and the 33% will accept gladly if it was a clear question voted upon. Otherwise if there is any cheating, or misleading intentions shown the 33.3% will have the capacity to make your life miserable along with theirs. What do you think? BTW there is ONLF who, atleast accepts the structure and formula, but is afraid will not succeed in convincing 66.6% somali, so is trying the armed fight short cut. The OLF for Oromo is also in the same boat. They are sure they cannot win 66.6% of the Oromo, so the only way they see is find outside friends and do away with ethiopia. OLF also clearly and repeatedly stated that they accept the constituion. This constituion and the states is opposed by past regime supporters, but those have a lot of reasons for being against it. These people are centralists and do not accept for peoples to have their own self government, speak their language and preserve and develop their culture.

I believe that the problem of governing is the real threat for SSICU. Government is always a dangerous job. What was a saint can become a devil the next day, dur to some decision of water well, farmland, charcoal..etc. This is the main reason SSICU wants to focus everything on ethiopia and nothing else. The day they don't mention ethiopia they will be challenged about government. That scares them more than anything else. The day they stop their shouts on ethiopia, will be the day the people will ask them - are you a state government or trying to be a government for all somalia. Thats a question they hope will be hidden and not asked by the anti-ethiopia fridays. All things have to come to an end or take a break. The ethiopia this ethiopia that false propaganda will also come to stop or temporary break. At that time the SSICU has to come clean with whats that they are intending to do and what is their contribution to reconstituting somalia. That will be the checkmate. Now they are fighting to capture all somalia, but at that time they will be fighting to hold on to what they have now and in dire straights to be governors of a state and probably a city state at that. Welcome Mugadishu. Have a visit to Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa the center of power in ethiopia for a century has gone through and still going through the loss of power to the villagers, outerlanders, illitrates, sheep herders...etc. It looks like Mugadishu needs to have a chat with Addis Ababa to lesson the pain and cry of losing power to what were considered lesser something.

I have one question if I amy,to all, but most importantly to those of you who still see ethiopia and somalia through the old glasses as if nothing has happened to both countries in the last two decades. My question is: Why do you define somali interests in terms of ethiopia? Shouldn't you first define clearly somali interests and then line up or put the outsiders on which side they belong and how far or how near they are to the somali interest? For example: I see some somalians (those in the republic)all of a sudden waking up that there is a country called ethiopia next door. This happens everytime without fail, when ethiopia attempts to do something with its rivers that flow northwest to sudan and egypt. Doesn't the somali has the same interests as egypt does about water from ethiopia? Ethiopia will take water from both northwest and southwest and southwest. The game is to make ethiopia take less from rivers that come to your country as the egyptians are openly advocating now for themselves. They are saying that ethiopia can use its other rivers, why does she need to use the nile. Shouldn't somalia think about this and say ethiopia should be made to use her north and west rivers and leave alone the southeastern rivers? Only few politicians and intellectuals from somalia have raised this issue and it doesn't seem to register with many. Why would the Kenyans negotiate with ethiopia to take them into consideration in its MEGA projects that are underway and not a word from Somalia. Even far away Djibuti has its interests made part of the electrical grid. It will not be long before the world starts across nations pipelines for water. Thats just one example. If I start of the somalia the most endowed with ports and the best positioned for redsea or indian ocean trade to all of africa east up to Uganda...thats a subject in itself.

Mr. Red Sea, Ethiopia is the most insignificant one in all this fuss thats happening in less than a 1/3 of somalia. Let alone ethiopian soldiers, even ethiopian visitors to somalia cannot move outside of the permission of the TFG. The only reason you do not want to focus on TFG, is simply the truth and your conviction that you will not have support from the somali. You think that ethiopia today is the bogeyman of yesterday, but facts on the ground speak otherwise. In ethiopia internally decisions about somalia cannot be made contrary to the wishes of most somali ethiopians. Governments come and go, countries can change maps, flags and anthems, but todays neighboring clans and subclans will be also neighbors tomorrow. If the ethiopians along with Yemen, Uganda, Kenya and others are asked for peacekeeping force, its the responsibility of the TFG to deal with elders and leaders of the territories where the TFG wants the peacekeepers deployed. From some of your postings I see that you seem to be from geographically far away from the territories where people are living under constant threat of war. So is your friend the Djibuti man. Its only human to wish well for people and not expect to gain independence or whatever at the expense of their suffering. In Djibuti's case economic financial benefit from ethiopian business and french, american, german, british bases, which except for the french would move in a heart bit to somalia. I hate this kind of politics and its only too common with arabs. Sloganeering against Israel day and night and talking about Al-Uma Al-Arabia and the Jihad and all that, but Arab governments are the first ones to abondon the palestinians as they see a cheque of american dollars or american protection. Lets not bring this culture to east africa. Its karma is very bad for generations to come.

Originally posted by Allamagan: Folk, lets be realistic here, shall we? in case a war broke out, who will fight for the this so-called UICs? Even in Mogadishu anti-uic sentiment is soaring high forget about people of Gedo, Jubooyinka, Bay & Bakool. most of the people of these regions don't like the uic's attitude. It is unpopular there, come to central somalia from parts of Hiiran, parts of Galgaduud, whole puntland and somaliland they are not liked in these areas as well, so yeey isku halaynayaan oo u dagaalamaya illeen soomali badidood mahaystaane. Thats the only reason the SSICU and its friends trying to make it look like its a war between ethiopia and somalia. Most of the media says "the ICU that controls most of somalia including the capital" and "the TFG that only controls a town" Thats the funniest thing and I am amzed even somalis use the same line. All the conflict and pull and push is happening in less than 1/3 of somalia. That is fact on the ground. But the SSICU never wants this uttered, written or said.

Thiery, What happened in ethiopia from 1991-94 is exactly happening in somalia. The SSICU is dead set against Federal system, because it will completely lose its status as opposed to having a centralized system from Mugadishu. In a federal system, the regions or states are more powerful. Depending on their capacity, they can also tatlly govern themselves. In Somalia now, you can rest assured that Puntland will be the most assertive state, because it has complete institutions to govern itself. The federal government from Mugadishu will only come as a witness to business contracts, to collect its share of income, and pass by the sea with the navy smiling and waving at Puntland. For somebody from Mugadishu this is not easy to take. Addis Ababa is still fighting, sometimes with blood for lost power and influence to the regions. Thats at the heart of the fight. Mugadishu groups still wamnt to have a say on Bay and Bakool affairs, but if federalism is instituted the mugadishu group will be told to keep their hands in their mugadishu pockets as well as shut their mouth and deal with their state or region only. The rest of the propaganda is cover up and to raise money and supporters. Now after a decade, its irreversible in ethiopia. Ethiopia cannot go back to centralized government, without some states seceeding, which means the end of ethiopia as known. Mugadishu and area is too small for the shieks, they want to rule everybody directly and not work through a very convoluted system of checks and balance of power. Its very easy to see if you live in Canada or now also britain moving very fast to it. The provinces can stop the federal government dead on its tracks if the FG steps into their jurisdiction. On top of that you have some foreign countries like egypt that are not interested in any problem being solved, but to be there ready to be used anytime they need it.

Its now becoming clear and obvious that the SSICU remembers ethiopia whenever some trouble is brewing in the territories they hold. Djibutiman, If war happens, I believe will be nothing what you are wishing it to be. It will not be an ethiopia somalia war. Two countries will be no more and you are one of them. The other one is eritrea. Your president knows this and thats why he brings back to ethiopia anyone somali or non-somali who tries to use Djibuti as refugee to fight against the ethiopian government. He grabs them by the collar of their shirt or their ears and hands them to ethiopia. Its not islamic to wish others to suffer be it ethiopians or somalis for you to enjoy french and american friendship and a monopoly of ethiopian business or port services. You are doing typically what arabs do with the palestinian people. Talk a lot against israel, but when they are threatened they are the first in line to be friends of israel. From past history, the karma from this kind of policy is very heavy. Egyptians may be having fun now with the 2.2 billion cheque they get every year for being friends with israel and at the expense of the palestinian people, but they will pay back for this in chaos and misery one day. I don't wish them, but I know it will happen. Djibuti can be split in two. The easiest thing to do from all of east africas problems. You should know this. You should not wish others to suffer, so you can keep your benefits. Ethiopia is doing everything possible to avoid making war against any somali organization. The SSICU makes news every other week mentioning the border with ethiopia, be it a village or town. They are trying their best to provoke and make ethiopia react, but they have been denied this lifeline. The only life line they have to continue to exist as a force. If they don't get this lifeline they have to govern. The day they govern, all their fake mask will be unmasked. No amount of slogan can hide you when you govern. Its either you are there or not. If there is war, it will be war between somalis. Its not religious, but political and economic. Even if there is war between mugadishu and ethiopia, it will not be religious one. The ethiopians are also moslems, unless the SSICU people have brand new islam never heard of before. In that case of course the ethiopians and the somali that oppose SSICU would not be followers of the new religion.

Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar, First of all, calm down. There is no reason for you to get angry. Ethiopian is a citizenship. Who ever is a citizen of ethiopia at this time is ethiopian. In ethiopia there are ethnics or call them tribes, but its just peoples identifiable as different from each other some by anscestry, some by language and culture..etc. The somali is one of them, The Afar, the Oromo, the Amara, the Tigray...etc are others. There is nothing wrong in saying the Oromo ethiopian as opposed to the Oromo Kenyan. The same applies to the somali. There is a somali djibuti, there is a somali ethiopian and so on. I didn't create them today. Its normal to use prevailing names, as long as its clear to all that citizenship and ethnicity are seen as separate sets or subsets for this purpose. There is nothing wrong for a journalist concluding his reporting by saying Salihadin Ahmed, reporting from Jijiga, Ethiopia for Al-Jezeera.

SSICU is in a pickle. They cannot expand territory anymore without losing what they have by starting a new realignment of forces. The Arab countries that help them can only do so in hiding. There is not a single country that will speak as being in their corner openly. The Egyptians wanted TFG to fall, but not to be replaced by SSICU or any body that is influenced by SSICU leaders. The main reason is the brotherhood, but its also personal. The attempt made for the assassination of president husni mubarek in Addis Ababa, though blamed on the Sudan government, has a connection to Al-Ithad. Gaddafi is having second thoughts, afraid that Ethiopia may actually fake to Somalia, but go to Asmara eritrea instead and deny him a messenger boy eritrea. The egyptians have the same concern that if Ethiopia attacked eritrea they will permanently lose an instrument by which to torment and preoccupy ethiopia. Some of you are making it look like its ethiopia vs. somalia or the otherway around. You are knowingly or unknowingly hiding facts on the ground. Territorially more than 2/3 of somalia is not party to your formation. All the tag war and competition is happening in 1/3 of somalia. Why not respect each other and call a spade a spade. I am afraid some of that arab culture has filterred into some somali. Arab governments and strong men always bark against Israel, not to firght and win against Israel, but to opress and eliminate their compatriots from competition. Thats sick culture. The facts on the ground in somalia are clear: SSICU doesn't want federal system, they are convinced or believe its against their interest. lets leave somalialnd for now and state whats only clear. Puntland will not accept any arrangement that prevents it from governing itself, which means a federal system of some sort. If war happens the other territories in southern somalia will also be forced to choose between these two options. If I were one of them I would choose self government, autonomous to manage my life. Can Ethiopia be used as a begeyman and somalis will be made to forget that they are fighting each other, but in name only using ethiopia and somalia as cover? The Jihad card is fake and has been called so by both ethiopian and somali moslems. The Sheria courts chairman of Tigray actually called it, the use of Jihad, the holliest act, cannot and should never be used to attack for personal material gains. Its only to defend and if you have to attack for the faith. Ethiopian moslems do not see the country as so called island of christians or as an entity wronging moslems. Somali nationalism card can only work if supported by somali ethiopians and their immediate geographic neighbors. Both these conditions are not there. The facts on the ground is that, let alone the non-******i somalis, even the ******i is half half split between those who have concluded there is no need to fight with arms at this time in ethiopia, all thats needed can be achieved through the federal arrangement including secessation, and those that believe that force of arms is needed to achieve secessation. ONLF is now in alliance with other ethiopian opposition, so all ONLF wants is power and not much else. It is clear even ONLF is divided by the current alignment of forces in somalia. The explanation by the Central Committee member that abondoned ONLF and Joined the federalists made it abondantly clear the issues that are before ONLF. Nothing that came out of Mugadishu has ever benefitted the somali ethiopian either for outright secessation, autonomy, self government, respect and share of development what ever small there is in ethiopia...in the past. Military campaigns did not bring any political or economic benefit to the somali ethiopian, because these campaigns were not designed with the somali ethiopian at the core. Some of them were openly related to any activity ethiopia does on river nile. The SSICU may wish for any war to be between somalia and ethiopia, at least in name, but this is not achievable. The TFG has been so patient and brilliant, it has cornered the SSICU without waging a simple military campaign. The TFG can outwait the Mugadishu shekies who cannot wait, the more they wait, they will be forced to be government and thats something they avoid like a plague. They only want to rule, just like the Ayatollahs. Government is too messy, to dirty, to real for them.

Lieutenant Xalane, I don't think its necessary to speak in terms of somalia ethiopia war. The little that I know, these two countries have never gone to war on their own timing and plan. There is always an outside hand telling either one to go in now, right now and they go without complete mapping of their movements. At the moment, I agree with you that ethiopia is doing everything it can to avoid war, unless the Mogadishu groups choose to make it their only ticket to survive. Currently they are stuck in quick sand and are looking for a way out. The TFG by simply outwaiting them has put them in a corner. The only exit they have is ethiopia and the TFG is denying them also that exit. The only way the SSICU can garner support is on somali nationalism. The Jihad card will not work even against ethiopia that is viewed as christian country. If the Jihad card doesn't work in Harar and Jijiga don't expect it to work anywhere further, and over there its not working. There is no issue in ethiopia that shows the slightest, that the current ethiopian government is not respectful of Islam. If war happens it will be North south or south east and south west in somalia. In that case ethiopia will only be part as much as the somali ethiopian would be part. Addis Ababa today cannot and doesn't have the will or capacity to decide anything in regards to somalia thats contrary to somali ethiopian. Thats why I said its unnecessary to make comparison between somalia and ethiopia using the old paradigims. Both countries have fundamentally changed. The forces are all different. My wish of course is that all the states in somalia organize their home bases and have a good federal system that they can leave with. The ethiopian model seems to work. Mugadishu then can become like Addis Ababa. crying over past position, but competing against the baydoas and garowes that become power centers.

Oromia, Do not give up hope. To my knowledge there is nothing more the Tigray moslems resent than other supposedly moslems telling them that they are less moslems, because they don't go to war against their fellow tigray christians. As the prime minister of ethiopia mentioned it today in his parliament, Islam was accepted in Tigray and peacefully long before there was peace in today's Saudi Arabia and the acceptance of the religion. I only commented to the fact that you are calling everything Tigray Tigray to show you, first of all its not true, and the best example I could give you was the somali who is the closest to tigray in population numbers as well as being a rebel. Don't believe for a minute that the Afar would be friend with the Tigray because he is afraid or defeated. You need to realize the fact that the Afar and Tigray never fought against one another, and they have matching heritage of fighting, but always in support of each other. The truth is on the ground for all to see. You may think that your statement may have currency in Mugadishu, but little do you realize that Colonel Aweye is not a new person even for the current government in ethiopia. He was after all one of the Ithad commanders and the terrorist acts that happened in Addis Ababa, including the attempted assassination of Husni Mubarek. Don't take things personal. I am only pointing out to you what I know or what I think are the facts. For example: Your friends of CUD and Eritrea accuse Tigray of making ethiopia most Islamic friendly in its history. You are going even overboard as to make the Tigray look like crusaders. First of all these two accusations are so far apart, only one of them could be true or closethest to truth.

Oromia, I am afraid you are a sad case for the oromo. Yes Tigray are good fighters, so are the somali or Afar too. What made Tigray winners and so successful is they have the capacity to live in peace and good friendship with their immediate neighbors. OLF doesn't have a single member in all the provinces of oromia that border TIgray. The Afar and Tigray are inseparable and so are with the Amara (not the fake Amara in Addis Ababa). Tigray are also exemplary in the harmony of different religions. Unlike your OLF, Moslems in Tigray are most active participants from ordinary fighter to the top most commanders. Thats how they make you call Tigray Tigray for everything. 7% of the ethiopian population but have friends everywhere in that empire. surprisingly the somali ethiopian is actually one of their best friends. They both have similar culture of rebellion in the past and its a friendship that was established long ago. Most of the prominent federal officials in ethiopia from somali were also officials of WSLF and the somali democratic league. Oromia, why can't you unite the oromo before you jump hundreds of miles to mugadishu? Why can't you be friends with the somali bordering you instead of always fighting against them in the service of mugadishu old warlords or new warlords under cover of religion.

Che-Guevara, Here comes proof for the point I was trying to explain. The UN will deal first with TFG regardless where the work is to be done. The TFG can at the very least contact local elders and leaders and intermediaries even in SSICU controlled areas. Its almost impossible to do the other way around. _________________________________________ UN relief officers arrive in Baidoa as floods effect fresh areas in Somalia Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 23, Nov.06 ( Sh.M.Network) -A plane carrying UN officers has landed at an airstrip in Baidoa, a temporary headquarter for the UN-backed government. The officers, who have met with the Somali cabinet ministers, have indicated they came to Somalia to asses the humanitarian aid needs in the country where the worst floods are stilling having devastating impact on the livelihood of over one million pastoral communities. Khad, a local popular narcotic leaf, which was banned by the Union of Islamic Courts in all areas it administers, has not arrived today in Baidoa where the Khad was available following the ban. The Islamic Courts in Baledweyne have seized sacks full of Khad reportedly brought from Ethiopia after smugglers attempted to transport the Khad into Hiran province, central Somalia, by means of donkey carts. The Courts authorities in the area pointed out they caught three sacks full of Khad, which they said, would be set on fire in a matter of time. Huge tones of Khad worth thousands of dollars were burnt since Islamist officially announced the ban on Khad. In some areas under Islamist control, smoking was also prohibited. The latest floods in Somalia is triggering an alarming humanitarian plight as fresh areas began to be submerged by the water floods that have already claimed the lives of number of people and animals in villages in central and southern Somalia. The arrival of UN assessing team followed a visit paid in the Islamists administered areas in southern Somalia by UN security officer Chris Mores who convened with senior Islamists over the disastrous floods in Somalia on 20 November. The torrential rains in Somalia are the worst in fifty years, experts say, causing many families to be stranded on trees or their home shelter roofs. ______________________________________ Caamir, Thank you.

Che-Guevara, I am afraid you missed one important point. The UN, ICRC etc agencies have had discussions with the TFG, even knowing full well that some of the territories most affected are under SSICU control. Every international official or agency, any foreign dignitary doesn't just fly even to Mugadishu without informing the TFG. Actually the SSICU now has to change all its ways of working with western agencies and work the way the TFG wants it to. No other option unless the SSICU wants expelled for preventing aid agencies.

The more you look at Somali political leaders representing the North-Eastern Region, the more you find them an exact copy of their self-serving counterparts in the TFG based in Baidhaba or those in Jigjiga claiming to be the leaders of the Somali region under Ethiopian occupation. Their common denominator is their abject and slavish submission to their Ethiopian or Kenyan political masters. Nothing gives a bitter taste of their treachery than the nauseating speech on the BBC the other day by Abdullahi Hassan, “president” of the Somali regional State in Ethiopia who went overboard in denigrating the Islamic Union movement as Al Qa’ida terrorists. Here is a turn-coat who was in days gone by feasted in Mogadishu as a member of the Western Somali Liberation Front and who is today casting himself and his associates in Jigjiga as more Ethiopian nationalist than the true Ethiopian highlanders. It makes you wonder whether such sickening and shameless opportunism manifested by Somali political leadership in all Somali-speaking regions is not an isolated ephemeral lapses or aberrations as we may wish, but rather something rottenly innate in the Somali character. Wouldn't it be fair to ask the writer, as to how people who spent a good half of their lives fighting against Addis Ababa, could be now feel comfortable in Addis Ababa or Jijiga? Could all the people and political leaders from Puntland the horn to deep inside ethiopia be all traitors to the somali and the writer and few sloganeering persons in Mugadishu are the only loyal somali? WSLF, to speak the truth was a thousand times more harmed from Mugadishu than from Addis Ababa. The Northern mountain highlanders the author speaks about were also in the same boat against Addis Ababa as the somali. Now that they both are working together is not a surprise to anyone, but the author. Not everyone that slogans one greater somalia works for it. It also can be achieved in more ways than one. Don't go to war for something you can achieve without war. The scars of war are deeper, more dangerous, retaliatory and the outcome unknown and shortlived. BTW its the same accusation those in power in Addis Ababa also get from supporters of past ethiopian regimes. They are called traitors for introducing federalism instead of central dictatorial and one language, one everything state. What if the writer in accusing all those somali areas of being traitors, is himself one, but to a different hidden master like egypt? Wether in ethiopia or somalia, I see that those who simply accuse everyone thats on the ground doing their best to help the population survive and if possible thrive, without offering the slightest alternative route are high horse gallopers, afraid to come down to the graound and get muddied with the people.

in a few years time we will take them over economicly in their own house and then we will annex not just NFD but the rest of kenya to Greater Somalia and Ethiopia will follow insha-ALLAH David_Letterman, That was brilliant and also humaine way of take over. It also lasts the longest. Take a look at the British in Africa. Their takeover, most violent one was South Africa and it was the first one they lost. Places they took over with a mixture of trade and co-operation of locals, is still there proud to be in the common wealth, even after having independence and flags with all the works. If the somali made an economic takeover, expect the Tigray and Amara to be the first somali with all the other peoples tripping over each other. Nur Japan is protected by the US and Germany by Brittian,France and the rest of the EU Somalia doesn't have that type of protection somalia needs to build at least a 1 million man army so we don't have a repeat of 77 were we defeated the ethiopians and then were stabbed in the back by the soviets if anyone switches on us in the future it doesn't matter we will still beat them David_Letterman, What got into you in between the two postings.This not only is impractical, but not a wise strategy. Somalia can only raise a million man army if attacked and occupied, but not when expanding. It has never been done, that when a country goes on adventure, be it the turks, russians, british, french and now americans its ability to raise the temperature and rise up its people is always cut in half. The average man in Mugadishu will go, whats in it for me, just like the average man in Istanbul, London, Paris and now in Minneapolis thinks. Take one look at Eritrea, It has 300,000 working age of its people in the trenches on top of their regular army which is also big. Ethiopia has only 120,000 army, confident it can raise a million man army in a heart bit if needed. Eritrea is going downhill with most of its young looking for a way out (20,000 of them UN registered, of all places escaping to ethiopia in one year). I would say, unless you are doing this being Letterman, and late at night, please go back to your first post and stay there. Most of all, I have to admit, I found this thread most interesting. I wish such creative and presentation of serious issues in a light hearted way was common for east africans. Its a good culture to have, unlike our common culture of quick to anger and quick to quarrel.

Mr. Red Sea, I am afraid you misunderstand Dr. Kissinger in all his faces and characteristsics. You missunderstood him in his Yahudism, Americansism, Israelism, Commercialism...and all isms the man has capably integrated all his life. If you think the TFG is not in the picture, you are mistaken. Take one look at the shift of policy by USA in somali affairs and you will see it. Temporary noise, especially by those who have access and have had access is very misleading. The ICU or SSICU has run into quick sand and is stuck. If you are a passenger you will not notice until your forward movement changes into one big slamming against the rail infront and the vehicle is not moving anymore.

Lieutenant Xalane, A one sentence answer to your question would be, I do it out of animosity towards anything Egyptian. The explanation to that would be as follows: I have no opposition to the somali choosing his flag, his country, his anthem, his peace and direction of development as he see it fit. But I have one big problem if the somali chose to also serve somebody else interest for no benefit to himself. I am not the judge, wether the somali has benefit to himself in some activity or not, but some of them are quite obvious to see that even the somali will tell you he has no benefit on this one. Egypt always becomes active, whenever either the possibility of peace between ethiopia and somalia seem possible, example the confederation idea of the 70s, or the TFG currently. All these activities coincide with something else very far away from somalia, actually in an area geographically the opposite side of somalia, northwest ethiopia. Its the nile and its tributaries. There is currently projects under construction that are to generate close to 2 GW of electricity and quite a lot of irrigation. Some are close to completion others are half complete. Sudan for the first time had broken (to some degree) of egypt's clutches and sided with ethiopia. For that Sudan has paid a heavy price, but the price sudan would have paid if it went against ethiopia would have been more costly. I have read an interview Mr. Aeydeed did in 2000 on the problems with egypt, including the old plan of ressetling egyptians in somalia. Yes the Egyptians are doing things for their interest and legtimately so. Its just a little bit unfair when they fight for water skiing against starving people. Mainly its my anscestor's weakness. I don't blame europeans or egyptians. They simply outsmarted, outhussled us, including in somalia. I don't get paid a penny for this, I wish I did.

UWSLF seems to have been created for just this purpose. United between who and who would be a good question to start with. The WSLF that famous one has decided to fight in the political arena and without the force of arms. WSLF is convinced that their objective can be achieved without war and it might even take shorter time than doing it by force of arms. WSLF is in Jijiga.

Lieutenant Xalane, As you clearly and elequently state what you see in the military and war subjects, I happen to have some little, but just enough knowledge of the political realities of taday's ethiopia.