One of the reasons for the crises is because some “smart” scientists came up with the idea that wheat can be used as a substitute for non renewable energy. Him/her not knowing the first rule of economics (demand and supply) is ingenious idea has increased the demand of the commodity that is used in most food.

Sister Cara You have very good points and some of them I cannot argue with and I respect you sincere concern for the inhabitants of Mogadishu However sister who is doing the fighting who are the folks resisting the Ethiopians and who are the Shabaab, are they not the sons of Mogadishu, if the civilians did not condone this war why not go to the party with much more military power and say they are hiding over there. When the warlord were overthrown from Mogadishu not only did the civilian condone the battle to free their capital but they gave the ICU their wealth and sons to defeat them, to the extent that the warlords and their boys had no where to hide. Mogadishu is not a big plays what is preventing the masses in supporting the stronger party and bringing this war to anabrupt end. I think the resliance of the people of Mogadishu is being under estimated here their sons are fighting a heavily armed and well funded enemy yet they refuse to give up. Once again I state that Al shabaab and all those who are resisting the Ethiopian forces should not use the same tactics as the aggressors and therefore risk loosing the popular local support. This war has effected us all and most of all the resisdence of Mogadishu we need to support their resistance and pray to Allah that the lives of the innocent are spared and some form of peace which will enpower the Somali people is achieved.

Well Cara It depends what is important to you occupation and subjugation or having your sovereignty back? (Even if it leads to death). The fact is that the Ethiopians are going to do the killing anyway but you have a choice whether to put your hands up or defend yourself. It is very tragic that civilians have been caught in this cross fire, however subjugation is no choice, I was just watching a youtube video on the Siege of Sarajevo, it was the resistance of the average Joe that fought off the Serbs, it was sad that many women and children perished but I don’t think any of them regret their actions. As for giving you figures one must remember this is a war and not feasible (this isn’t paintballing where the referee gives quotas) Look when the side I support break the rules of conduct I will be the first to condemn their action, and I have said it before Al Shabaab should not adopt the indiscriminate tactics the Ethiopian aggressors use. However to put up your hand and say “you won lets have peace now and I will settle peanuts while you get the lions share of my country in not an option and certainly not one for a Muslim. Jimcaale if every time a relative of mine died in this war I huffed puffed and changed sides I would be the new Ayan Hirsi by now.

Al Shabaab have my utmost support in driving out the mercenary aggressors that have invaded our land, my only reservation is some of the tactics that have been adopted in this noble quest. However this could also be propaganda coming from the Somali media. One must understand that if it wasn’t for the resistance Ethiopia would not want to cut and run and their imperialistic vision would perhaps be achieved. So those calling for peace and negotiation by any means must understand that there would be no negotiation if they didn’t you had strength. They must be fought up until the day they Leave (unless some form of agreement has been signed) unfortunately a lot of innocent people will perish but I believe it is sacrifice worth taking.

Without a shadow of a doubt the victorious will be does that fight for their faith and land. Just last Afghanistan, Vietnam and all nations that faced aggressors it always end with the natives winning. After all it is their land and they have no where to go. The US with its vast interest in Iraq are desperate and want to cut and run saxiib victory will always be with the locals. What will the nation be after it is another question?

Adeers negotiation first and foremost starts of with goodwill, I know Nur Cadde is doing his utmost to bring peace to Somalia however unfortunately the man is a member of an organisation that not only condones the killing of civilians and Imams by the Ethiopian Mercenaries but encourages it. Now tell me how one can negotiate with the TFG when they sit back and enjoy the killing of civilians. First the Need to publicly condemn the Ethiopian actions in recent weeks They need to come up with some solution of how to separate the civilians from these barbaric aggressors. A very good move by the ICU

Saxiib firstly let me apologise I didn’t read my friend Xoogsade comments and the man can defend himself. Secondly never have I uttered that the TFG is a clan entity, although have said on many occasion that it is a collection of all the dark horses from every clan. Nevertheless the support of the man is to support his policies and his policies are to get into power by any means necessary, (remember he called for Ethiopian troops within weeks of being elected, they never came as they shared good relationship with the warlords of Xamar) Thirdly how long was Sheikh Sharif and the ICU in power and where was their power based. It was a grass root organisation that started of in Mugadisho and within 6 months they were ousted by the Ethiopian aggressors. Now every organisation requires time to evolve to have more representation. Having said they are now based in Asmara and have support and membership from every corner of Somalia. Saxiib me, xoogsade and many other that oppose the TFG now cheered for their inauguration in 2004 because we believed (naively) if warlords are given an “official” title they might change their ways, unfortunately for Somalia they didn’t change. So the notion that people were against the TFG from day one is false.

ina Illaha wa ina ilarajicun

Somalipride What's that say about our people, regardless of what side they are on? Our people will always support the person that is their reer, but what I dont get is that eventually they will get the top job and maybe it'll be their precious Sheik Sharif that is named president. But because they refused to recognize this pres and government way way before Ethiopians came, I'm talking about from day one when he was still in nairobi, I guess people won't support there's. It's a never ending cycle. Even the so called Islamic Courts was a qabiil and refused to share leadership. Saxiib this is complete rubbish Xogsade has more folks represented in TFG than he does on ICU and you can go back to SOL archive to see what the likes of him and myself felt about the election of 2004. The Majority of Somalis would not be caught dead in such event, for who wants to be associated with the man who committed the most treacherous act in modern Somali history. The sooner we see the back side of him the better. Saxiib people do not support Sheikh Sharif for clan reason if that was the case might as well support Gheedi, the masses support him and his group because they are nationalist who want to bring the glory of a nation back. They don’t have deep rooted vendetta against Somalis nor do they harbour viscous ambitions of sitting in Villa Somalia by any means. As for me you wouldn’t catch me dead in that event even though the intercontinental is one of my favourite hotels

My premonition is coming true the US will have a base some where in the Lands of Somalia. It only makes sense that Africom is based in the East Coast the gate in which China and India enters. What better place than Berbera, the leadership wants it and its relatively safer than the rest of the country. As for whether it will help with the Somaliland recognition we shall wait and see although I believe the African Union holds that Key. However economically it will help Somaliland

Yet the brother is still disillusioned he tries to glamorise Yey position, Saxiib Nur Cadde is calling the shots in TFG, Europe speaks to him and he is a very reasonable man who has bypassed both Yey and his master Meles. Like the above gentlemen stated why would one negotiate with folks that are irrelevant further showing you and Yey are out of touch. Sheikh Sharif is still head of the ALS and their goal still remains the same to liberate Somalia from the Ethiopians Yey and his comrade Gheedi invited. The methods might have changed but the goal remains the same.

yusuf makes it clear if you say so mate

By far my favourite tv show, Sir Alan S is a character some of the comments he comes up with gives me stitches. The funny thing is for the last three series Muslims on the show have been the best entertainment. Tre Azam is the man. Norf watch series 2 and the Blagging Bengali Saeed

Folks there is no doubt that Al Shabaab is the backbone of this resistance against the Ethiopian occupation, they are brave young men who are fighting for the cause of Faith and country. It could be true that a lot of the media reports out their regarding them is fabricated however when leaders such as Abu Mansur condones live on Universal TV suicide bombings and killing albeit accidental of civilians due negligence, one must ask them selves are these warfare tactics in accordance to Islam. Gentlemen you make seem that the only way to resist is by any means and even unislamic acts are permitted. Lest you forget history has shown that Muslim men and leaders have faced mightier aggressors yet they never abandoned their principles. I condone the resistance the Al Shabaab are carrying out but I condemn the some of the tactics they have opted to take just as the Ulema condone Hamas resistance and condemn the un-Islamic suicide bombings Isseh you made a good point with regards to a Sien Fein and IRA like relationship between ARS and Al Shabaab, however it is hard to see this unity when Sheikh Sharif says we will speak to Nur Cadde and a day later Abu Mansur stating that the war will continue even after Ethiopian leave. There was a clear difference in ideology between Al Shabaab and ARS and hence they speak in different tones. Also you are right they are major stakeholders in terms of negotiation, but the question is what is their negotiation point, if it is what I think it is (negotiation only after all forces the Ethiopians, AU and possible Muslim Forces) then this goal is unrealistic and we won’t achieve it. With regards to Al Shabaab being a fitnah we shall wait and see, will they obey their leaders ARS even if it is against their interest, will they lay down arms once the good sheikhs tell them to do so? One must remember that the Khawarij were the best of warriors however their disobedience to the Caliph is what caused the first and continuous fitnah of the Muslim world (I am not insinuating that they are the new Khawarij however we shall see in the coming months and years).

On one hand they fight courageously against the Ethiopian occupation. On the other hand they indiscriminately attack civilians and other AU troops. Some of the news coming from media back home is deeply worrying; it appears that Al Shabaab are out of control. They are not affiliated with Sheikh Sharif’s group and they do not have points or ideologies that one can negotiate with. I believe Al Shabaab is and will be the next biggest (fitna) for Somalia.

Arsene back to the drawing board again, If the old french man takes my advice Out Eboue Senderos Djoure Bredtner In Karim Benzame (urgently) Philip Mexis Hatem Ben Arfa Need to Keep Urgently Flamini

No harm in that the brother had a couple of minutes before he started driving again so he prayed in case he missed the salat and rightly so. The good old media doing a "Fine" job again

Lily I agree with you if you commit a crime you have to do the time the parents or relatives could have taken the easier route of preventing the youth hanging around the streets and hustling and bustling only when it is to late do they start collecting the hagbad money to start sending the youth into hiding. It would have been a lot easier to use the hagbad money to set up community support, education and job centres. Alas we are a community that likes to take long and hard route to solve problems. As for “snitching” it is true that you should tell the truth but who is going to give protection as Kat mentioned a ladies house got burnt down because she informed the police of gangs selling drugs outside her house.

Ladies Mugabe is a hero to all anti colonialist he fought against the oppressors of his people he was imprisoned because he wanted his people to be free and when the country got its independence who was elected as the president of Zimbabwe. He held on to power for to long but do not always believe what the BBC tells you after all it is their cousins he over threw. So with that note Mugabe is in the same league as Kwame Nakruma, Mandela, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Abdullahi Cisse. Yes the man could have taken a different route with regards of getting rid of the White Farmers (personally I would have got rid of them gradually while at the same time improving the skill set of the people) but do not question Mugabes love and sincerity for his people those white farmers who were a minority had a iron grip on the countries wealth I don’t need Bob Geldof to tell me who is a African Hero.

Mugabe although I like the man should step down infact he should have stepped down in the last election. the people need fresh blood and he needs to retire in the same way patriots such as Mandela have done

What a shame we had Liverpool the whole game and that ref if I saw him in the streets dont get to cocky gents the young lads went to San Siro and thrashed AC Milan. we just need a couple of changes such as Eboue out Walcott in and hopefully Sagna will be back

Saxiib I hsve opted to defend for now as soon as couple nice moves are put into place I will become Adebayor

chaps the link does not have a video how can i access it

Emperor good to have you back old friend the place was getting a bit boring (not enough creative arguments in defence of the TFG) I hope all is well and my condolences Brother. As for Yey being President and finishing his term no one disputed this as the man was elected irrespective of how dubious the election procedure was. It has always and will always be his policies. Isseh I very much doubt he will be back after this term the man has formed too many enemies even within his own camp. The Western Donors prefer to deal with the PM and Ethiopians are still upset their adopted son Geedi got the boot. He is no Siyaad, Idi Amin, or Mugabe for that matter as they had grass root support or strong military and Yey has neither. Xiin we are on the same boat chief and so are many of the moderates within the ICU

Congratulation Mr LST Inshallah she will grow up to be a God fearing daughter who is dutiful to her parents