Originally posted by J B: I´ve always wondered why Mogadishu and the Nolanders care about that country a little bit more and play the patriotic card to the full ( the curse of having the Capital Its patriotic to rob and burn down schools, hospitals, and any other nationally-owned public institution. Its patriotic to dig up Italian graves, to shut down the nation's air and seaports. These, my friend, are all acts of patriotism. Under the federal idea, Somaliland (if they choose to join), Puntland, and any other-land have full power to rule over their domain. So, why can't Puntland self-govern? Lemme put it to you this way: Al-Xaaji Muuse Suudi Yalaxow, Maxamad Dheere, Aydiid Jr., Cismaan Caato, etc. are all welcome in Garoowe - they'll be welcomed as federal ministers anyday. Yet, Mogadishu won't welcome the President their MPs voted for. Ironic, no? Like Ina Yeey said: "Clean up your house!"

Originally posted by NGONGE: Apologies if the map annoyed you, wind talker. How does IS 22% and DA 21% strike you? (A whole 1% is not something you could scoff at you know). No reason to apologize, homie. You weren't the one who made the map. It doesn't strike me as anything but a mockery on the part of the ever-resourceful CIA. Remember, all I said was its a 'funny map.' Its a funny thing with Somalis and population censuses. Each region, district and township wants to double its actual size. Plus, its almost impossible to find realistic data with a 5% or so margin of error - esp. since the last census was taken in 1975. The UN, the CIA and other int'l org simply go by estimated pop. growth to measure today's Somali population. That's why the figure is anywhere between 7 and 14 million (a huge margin).

Originally posted by NGONGE: Looks like a good map LOL That's a funny map. D-a-r-o-d = 20% I-s-a-a-q = 22% Need I say more?

Originally posted by LANDER: the real enemy of the ppl indeed is not so much the American imperialist but those arab regimes who betray their own. Very true. I'm still waiting for another Gamal Abdelnasser to spring up amongst the Arabs. XU - The majority of the people of Iraq are Muslims, which makes them "believers." As in believers in Allah swt. Saddam Hussein was a terrible tyrant, and I have a hard time seeing a distinction between him and the bin Saud family. But, the bin Sauds allowed non-believers to launch an attack on a fellow Muslim nation, whatever the cause! Which is betrayal of the highest caliber!

Recent GedoNet.com interview with Col Barre Hiiraale, Jubba Valley Alliance chairman: EXCERPT: GEDONET: Generaalku waraysigii uu siiyay Bogaan Gedonet waxaa uu ku sheegay in uu labada todobaad ee ugu horaysa bisha soo socota uu imaanayo kismaayo taas ma isku ogtihiin. Col. BARRE HIIRAALE: Maya maya waxaas adigaa kaa maqlaa iyo dadka saxaafadaha ka sheeg sheegaya Moorgan in uu yimaado kismaayo waxaa ka horaysaa in la wada hadlo oo la heshiiyo oo process badan ay wadahadaladu galaan la islama gaarin dadka internetka ku qoray iyo kuwa kale ee idaacadaha ka daayay waxaan idiin sheegaynaa in waxas waxba aysan ka jirin. More at: http://www.gedonet.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1072 So, it seems like the Internet and Radio folks rushed to conclusions. A deal has not been reached yet. What say you, Duke?

Double Post

Jecliyaa jabkooda!

Originally posted by Duke_Valantino: 2. Wasiirka Qorshaynta iyo xiriirka Caalamiga, C/raxmaan Maxamed Faroole 3. Wasiirka Maaliyadda, Dr. Maxamed Cali Yuusuf (Gaagaab) 5. Wasiirka Horumarinta arrimaha Qoyska, Caasha Geelle Diiriye Adde Muuse's list is impressive. These three standout for different reasons: Caasha Geele becomes the first woman to hold a ministerial position in Puntland. Gaagaab was the VP for M.A. Hashi, ex-Puntland pres - a sign of Adde Muuse's willingness to work with the opposition. Now, I have to say I am dissappointed with Faroole being named Minister of Planning and Int'l Relations. Faroole is a very corrupt individual, which is why ex-President M.A. Hashi removed him from his post. I guess Adde Muuse had to return him because 14 of Faroole's votes went on to give Adde the presidency. (Faroole had 15 votes in the 2nd round of the (s)election. 9 Nugaal votes and 6 Sanaag votes.) A favor for a favor, I guess.

Originally posted by Ambassador: waraa qudhac you know the real purpose of riyaale's trip man.to djibouti, so he can up with his homie cumar geele. to ethiopia to hand over some mo' west-somalia freedom fighters to addis abab. to south africa, for a medical chekup and a manicure.than he comes back to somaliland with new enegry to keep up with his dictatorship. That's harsh! I guess this trip makes sense. Riyaale obviously doesn't want to hold the parliamentary elections for fear of Kulmiye/UCID dominance, which would derail his plans for UDUB political monopoly. I guess the cries from Siilaanyo and Ina Waraabe got to his nerve. Dude needs a vacation. MY ADVICE: Stay away from them South African women. They're venomous, if he knows what I mean

This clown's thesis is: "The clannishness, corruption, and coups frequently observed in countries such as Iraq appears to be in tied to the high rates of inbreeding." Clannishness, corruption and coups happen everywhere in the world, not just the Middle East. So, what's his point? This clown wanna further demonize the Arab populace by making so-called "in-breeding" the thesis statement of his essay. He's simply playing into the "cousin marriage" taboo common in American culture to deliver his hate message. Only a baafoon or a redneck would believe his crap! People been marrying their cousins for centuries. Its never had any socio-political effect of the magnitude he speaks of in the past. Why now? And why focus on the Mideast?

Originally posted by Wiilo: During this period, it raised several important issues for Somali political development, including the necessity of undertaking a census of the Somali population as a basic step toward to democratic government, and demanded the adoption of a federal system of government as the only way of creating a harmonious Somali state. The HDMS call for decentralization and a federal system of government was motivated by fear, later justified, that the powerful nomadic Clans would dominate the Somali state. The HDM Party saw the faults in a centralized system of governance long before any other political organization. Somalis in the early post-colonial years were too busy "uniting" the country that they didn't even listen to the wisdom in the HDM's federalist outlook. I wonder if the living Somali politicians from the '60s era now recognize the HDM's political wisdom that promoted self-governance and self-sufficiency at the tribal level. Unitary governance was always the wrong choice for Somalia. History has proven this.

Originally posted by NGONGE: I wonder what political consequences such sick acts will have on Somalia’s situation! This sick act will further reinforce ideas the world already has about Somalia: its best to keep a "watch-and-observe" stance. No nation wants to dirty its hands in the mudpits of Mogadishu politics! Sad that whatever happens in Mogadishu is a reflection on the entire Somali people and land!

^^ I second that. All the sources I've read in relation to the Adal Empire had Zeila (Seylac) as a major trade/government city. The piece on Ahmed Guray was excellent tho!

^^ You think they got rid of OTALI for good? Originally posted by Admin: NOTE: most of you slip and make a mistake or two. We are aware of everyone's shortcomings and we do try to be easy on the nomads when they break our rules. Even Nationalist broke our rules before. But what we don't appreciate is such long list of insults and the open defiance of our rules and staff. It is just not fair to let that go. Y'all sound like Communists! Or worse, Big Brother watching all our comments. Ain't that freaky, though? To read every single thread on SOL. Anyways, Comrades, I'll Stalinize outta here before y'all ban me too!

Muad's maps are excellent. When a tribe's name is linked with a certain region of Somali-inhabited territory, it doesn't mean that certain tribe has a 100% dominance in that region. It means most of the people who live in that region are from tribe hebel. The 4.5 formula is the dumbest political power-sharing agreement in the history of civilization. They allowed an entire Somali people to be categorized as "Others" - what the hell is that about? Instead of focusing on and building upon what we have in common, they opted to focus on our tribal differences and to further reinforce and cement the already-prevalent "us and them" mentality. This so-called government is neither Islamic nor democratic. So what the hell is it? I've always been a fan of the "bottom-up approach." UN chief Kofi Annan had once commented on the theory of "building blocks" - it one that we ought to take a closer look at before jumping on the 4.5 formula!

Originally posted by HornAfrique: Qudhac dabanaageysga iga daa. Uma baahni inaa sidaas iga daba hadashid. Waar jacda kulul ka daa inanka. Dabo-naageesi is his political rhetoric. I think its a residue from the old days of British master-servant relations. DUKE - Horn does raise a point though: why is this government taking the same route as the Arta initiative? I know its not gonna be a rosy ride to Mogadishu, but still.. They're doing the same fancy crap the Arta mechanics used to do.

This is bad news. Seems like we're heading back to '91 all over again - Galgaduud wanna join Puntland, B Hiiraale & Morgan wanna sign peace agreements. Where does that leave Yuusuf Mire Seeraar (the other side of the JVA coin)? The factions of the former USC aren't blind when they see these types of political factions joining forces. They'll undoubtedly think its a political plan to do them some harm. I applaud peace. But I also know Somalia's political reality: this might be a good sign, but ultimately, it'll be a sign seen around Somalia as unity amongst one clan-family. But we can always hope for the best.

Originally posted by HornAfrique: I think Nationalist called for his banning, but if the Admin decided to bann him then they should have included Jumatatu and Waayeel. I second that. BALLERZ & Qudhac - Did Nationalist's comments really irk y'all that much? I think NGONGE said it best: Just words on a screen. No need to hate on Nationalist. Its okay to disagree - but to laugh at him when he gets banned. That's plain hatred yo. Good luck with that..

A couple of things: 1) B_A_L_L_E_R_Z didn't post this topic with the aim of having a valid discussion about the widespread poverty in Somalia/land. If this was truly his intent (which I doubt), then the discussion would talk about the issue of child misery in a broader context. By singling out Boosaaso, he's merely reinforcing his views about Boosaaso and anything South of it as backward, depressed, poor - the usual views of the British. 2) NATIONALIST being banned: I've already pointed out to the SOL government about tribal comments some member(s) have written on these pages. But they (SOL gov't) decided to let it go. Yet, when Nationalist defends himself (although there were better ways to handle it) he gets banned - not even a warning for the instigator(s). Its tragic, isn't it? Every Somali with a tad bit of power seems to abuse it. SOL government included.

Originally posted by HornAfrique: Cabdiwali M. Daahir (Qarboobe) <------------ I think you know him Wind Talker LOL Yeah man. But this is good news. I hope it works.

Originally posted by HornAfrique: quote: Reer Mogadishu really don't know what they want. You got a point there Wind, but expanded it a little. I think reer Somali, as a whole, don't really know what they want.I think it would be immature to say that 'all' Reer Soomaali don't know what they want. Reer Somaliland want independence from Somalia. Reer Puntland and Reer Hiiraan want to self-govern over their dominions. Reer Jubboyinka want the Isbahaysiga Dooxada Jubba to make a regional self-government. Now, Reer Muqdisho are as close to political cohesion as the Middle East. I say they don't know what they want because they've got the capital, a government that includes all the warlords, and a chance to get millions of dollars in foreign assistance as this government attempts to rise from the ashes. Yet, they're busy fighting hard to close down the air and seaport and digging up old Italian graves. Do you think they know what they want? Reer Gedo and RRA-land are politically confused at the moment, but theirs can be solved much quicker than Mogadishu's. Southern Mudug is suffering a bitter clan war right now - but, once again, it can solved quicker compared to Mogadishu. Simply put, there are far too many things going on in Mogadishu than any other national capital in the world. Reer Mogadishu have a chance to rebuild and unite after 15 years of violence. And it amazes me that they still don't know what to do. Some are pro-government, some are anti. And others simply want the status quo to continue - for God-knows-what reason.

Originally posted by Qudhac: now the new craze is the WADAAD Moryaans So very true. Islam has become a scapegoat for power and control. In the name of Islam, they dig up old bones. Which Islam do these men adhere to? JUMATATU - Save us the I have a Dream speech. These so-called Islamic Courts have openly claimed responsibility and they don't even have a hint of guilt. No one's jumping to conclusions because the men in concern have already admitted to these cowardly acts. But too bad, they "gaalo." I wonder if there really is a difference between the dead bones and the ones who dug em up.

Originally posted by besbaaso: walaal, what works 4 u is ur business.....so don't force ur "peacefull" on me....incase u misunderstood....sweetie itsn't an actual door but rather a hypothetical one....got it....besides nobody decides what doors r open to me.....ok... Two things: ONE, I was being sarcastic. TWO, you proved my theory by taking what I said seriously, and finding yourself in a defensive position once again. Then again, I bet you're used to that

^^ How'd the Mogadishu warlords go from "superpower" to "chicks?" Is it because they've agreed (at face value) with this so-called federal government? Yesteryear you had on your colorful pom-poms celebrating the might and muscle of Mogadishu warlords - now, since they're all under the shadow of your nemesis, they've suddenly changed gender? But then again, what did you expect from the likes of Cismaan Caato, the same guy who killed your hero? And the claim that Cabdullahi Yusuf is UNWANTED in Mogadishu - if any of these Mogadishu area warlords were wanted by Reer Mogadishu, wouldn't the city simply have ONE leader? Why does each warlord control a fraction of the city inhabited by the sub-clan of his sub-clan? Fact is, Reer Mogadishu really don't know what they want. JUMATATU - The question of the capital is simple yet people like to overexxagerate it. Mogadishu was, is and will always be Somalia's national capital. You'll have to be an absolute idiat to believe otherwise. Cabdullahi Yusuf and many members of the government and parliament (mainly people not allied to traditional USC branches) are afraid to go to Mogadishu after what happened to their predecessors in the Arta fiasco! Do you blame them?

When news surfaced about people digging up old Italian graves, I was shocked. And to find out that others actually bought the bones. The hell you gonna do with old Italian bones? And the other question: these so-called "Islamic" courts have claimed responsibility for ordering the graves to be dug up. For what purpose? What's so "Islamic" about digging up old graves? Xuseen M.F. Caydiid, in his capacity as Somali Interior Minister/Vice PM, apologized in an official statement to the Italian government. The residents of Mogadishu were stunned at this latest - and disgusting - development in a city that has literally seen it all.