Warlord or Wadaad

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

In the following post, i will like to share with everyone information about who the member of ICU really are. Also what this courts have done. I for one, was shocked by the number of somalis falling for the newst ploy of the oppressors of the Somali Nation. no matter what you call them, hogameye, governatore, warlord, they are all the same.

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

The Vampire of Barawe

The Untold Stories

Omar Hassan Sheegow

Every new era brings new realities that are harsh and difficult to contemplate. The continuous subjugation and torture exposed to the natives of Banadir, lower Shabelle and Jubba are new realities that are the consequences of the Somali Civil war which is mainly fought to conquer the Southern regions of the Republic. Somalia is a country that is politically dominated by the central region tribes, the domination is not however, because they exceed by number other Somali clans, but it is simply because they succeeded to transform the nation into a mobocracy. It is the result of the mobocracy that caused the natives of breadbasket regions to be marginalized and targeted. After the fall of the military regime warlords have emerged and instituted a clan based power or mob with instantaneous formation of ring leaders claiming to be the blessed representative of the Mogadishu warlord(s). This has led hundred of thousands of the natives of Banadir, Lower Shabelle and Jubba, including the Somali Bantus to flee to the neighboring countries. Cities like Hamar Weyne, Shingani, Afgooye, Wanlaweyn, Qoryoley, Marka, Barawe and the surrounding villages have witnessed horrendous crimes against humanity as they launched a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the natives of these cities.

Barawe which is one of the districts of lower shabelle is under the complete control of a mobster who is alleged for willful killing, torture, inhumane treatment, taking of hostages and extensive destruction and appropriation of property. The man, who could be compared as one of the cruel mobsters of Italy was resettled in the area in 1976 by the Somali military regime as the result of the famous Dabadheer drought that hardly hit the central regions of Somalia. Prior to the collapse of the military regime, the man, Mr. Abdullahi Halane Duhulow worked as guardian at the Sandune Fixation Project in Barawe. He started to pursue his dreams when members of his sub-subclan who were part of the USC militia captured the city in early February 1991. He commended his closely related militia to remain in the city and he is alleged to have ordered them to loot, rape and kill. These actions were widely reported by the media at the time. His violence and intimidation tactics led him to gradually emerge as the most unchallenged ring leader in the area. His conspiracy and intimidation has led to the displacement of more than 80% of city residence and the surrounding villages. He collects taxes from the locals on anything and everything. He is a staunch advocate and a shareholder on the charcoal business that has caused a desertification of millions of square feet of land. â€œKilling you is easier for usâ€ Mr. Halane repeats all the time when he meets local elders. His mobsters terrorize the city by shooting indiscriminately to crowded areas. The latest shooting took place in early January 2004, in which 1) Mohamed Yahye Jeilani was killed 2) Mohamed Haji (lost his both legs) 3) Muhsin Abu-Mazeyn (injured) and 4) Mohamed Aweis Omar (lost one of his hands). After the events, Mr. Halane personally briefed Shabelle Radio on the matter where he accused these young natives as terrorists. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Halane calculated that he could get away with impunity from the many atrocities he has committed. Similar ring leaders do exist in every city and village of lower Shabelle and Juba region, subjecting the residents of these areas to massacre, rape, displacement and endless intimidation.

The heartbreaking facts are that people like Mr. Halane have found a suitable environment to continue committing crimes without any one questioning them. The country is in shambles, consequently becoming a breeding ground for criminals. The only way to make Mr. Halane and his likes accountable for their criminal acts is to collect and record the witnesses and build the case for each crime they have committed in the last 14 years. Every Somali should honestly record the date, time of each crime, the name(s) of the victim(s) and the perpetrators and be confident that justice will be served one day. Somali lawyers with interest on human rights should lead and play role in bringing these mobsters to justice. No government can ever survive in Somalia without committing itself to justice and equal rights to its citizens.

Martin Luther King jr. once said â€œOur life ends when we become silent on things that mattersâ€. It is time for Somalis, particularly those from the suffering regions to speak out against the mobsters and clan organized criminals.

Mr. Omar Hassan Sheegow (e-mail:

Omaradde5@hotmail.com

)

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

Sharif and Inda cade in jowhar today

capt.7896c3b82c264927bba1cb01aa6ea09b.so

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

The Unspeakable Atrocities in the Lower

Shabelle: Untold Stories

The information contained in this article is a collection of facts that is obtained by the

author through a research. The sources of the information are from individuals who

visited the area, news media and from victim's relatives. The reliability of the information

in the article is verified and confirmed prior to the release in the media.

By Omar H. Sheegow

I have recently written an article entitled the VAMPIRE OF

BARAWE detailing the continuous harassment of the Somalis in

general and in particular the humanitarian crisis; loss of life and

the killing of civilians in Barawe district. I am extremely

encouraged by the amount of support I received from a cross

Somali clan groups, who supported me and persuaded me to

continue exposing the injustice in Somalia .

Mr. Jorge Mera wrote, â€œ Disclosure of the truth is part of ensuring that justice will be

done, but it does not replace justiceâ€. As the series of the untold stories continues; the

focus remains on unleashing painful realities about Somalia that never gets into the

headlines. The most afflicted regions of the country are the Lower Shabelle and Jubba

with gangs teaming up to keep the natives

of these regions under continuous

suppression.

One of the merciless war booty mafia

bosses is Mr. Yusuf Mohamed Siyad

(Indha cadde) . Mr. Yusuf M. Siyaad

(Indha Adde) who calls himself the

Governor or the Ultimate Sultan of Lower

Shabelle is a man who benefited from the

lawlessness of the country. His militias

employing heavy technicals are engaged

in clan-targeted killings of unarmed

civilians, killings of defenseless Somalis,

kidnapping and systemic campaigns of rape and terror. Mr. Indha Cadde has served as the

leader of the Islamic court in Merka; for many years he used Islam to subdue the poor

Somalis in the Lower Shabelle . Later when the Transitional National Government

(TNG) was formed in the year 2000, he and his militia was called to join the TNG army

where he was given an opportunity to build up his militia with the money donated to the

poor Somalis in the name of the Somali Nation.

In recent days, 13 Human Right Groups in Somalia have accused him of being massively

engaged in confiscation of family owned farms and growing narcotic drugs along with

forcing the farmers to work as slaves on the field. Not long ago he ordered the closure of

all stores and business centers in Bulo Marerta and told the locals that he would only

allow them to continue their business if they abide to his newly adapted taxing system for

his self-proclaimed administration. He also jailed several local elders in Bulo Marerta

after complaining against the confiscation order issued to their farms.

His militia establishes and reins uncountable checkpoints. They force the bus and truck

owners to pay money at each checkpoint, causing daily price increases of the public

transportation and therefore, making traveling between cities absurd.

Some analysts believe that the region is doomed to perpetual poverty and economic

slavery because of Mr. Indha Cadde's heinous activity. The daily life and destiny of the

Somalis in the south have become telling stories of bloody and tear-jerking events.

The statistics bear grim witness to the

plight of the Somali children in the south.

The mortality rate of the children under

five years is more than 40%, higher than

any other African nation. The number of

native children who have access to

education is less than 0.001%. Among the

Somali children, the children in the

Lower Shabelle have the worst life

chances in the world. They usually end up

of being orphans at very early age of their

life because of the economical genocide

facing the region as well as the killings that is occurring continuously. Even those with

parents do live under extreme poverty due to lack of jobs and with basically no sources of

income.

After losing their farms, their financial belongings & their freedom, the natives of the

Lower Shabelle remain the most brutally abused human being on earth. Many of the

natives of the Lower Shabelle are transformed to beggars in the streets of Mogadishu .

Because of the chronic hunger affecting the region, Lower Shabelle has the most

tuberculosis cases in the nation. This is a generational genocide that will have a

catastrophic impact to the human race.

There are stories where families are found to have nothing to wear and share an outfit

during the nighttime; while the rest of the family stays naked in the house during the

daytime, the father uses the outfit for search of food for the family. There are reports

where women and children are forced to collect and carry grasses or woods on their

backs/heads for a distance of more than 5 kilometers.

Local fishermen have complained of not being allowed to fish without prior consent of

his militia and in cases where permission is granted they have to wait until his militia

fishing boats come to the shore. Additionally, the local fishermen could only sell fish to

his preferred and well-connected business individuals on prices they had established.

To get to the nitty-gritty of such unspeakable atrocities requires understanding of Somali

tribal culture, which advocates collective rather than individual guilt. Mobsters like Mr.

Siyad (Indha Cadde) hide themselves into a clan umbrella and habitually seek support

from the clan by claiming to be doing the right thing.

Mr. Indha Cadde is in complete denial for any wrong doing because he believes that

slavery, robbery, confiscation of land and property has been normally practiced in the

region during the military regime and when he is confronted to his despicable acts, he

always points out the number of plantations illegally appropriated by the supporters and

former members of the military regime. At one point during an interview that he

conceded to a Mogadishu reporter, he characterized the accusations against him as a

campaign smear machine organized by individuals who are seeking attributions from

foreign countries. He and his gangs claim to have liberated the region from what is called

Haraagi or remnants of the Barre regime and therefore, it gives him the legitimate right to

rule and impose whatever is necessary to keep his power. Mr. Indha Cadde is stubbornly

convinced that the natives of the region do not have any right to blame his administration

since they never complained and fought against the fascist military regime. In addition,

he argues that the elders of the region elected him, but the biggest question is: who are

these elders and do they have the ability to oppose the ruthless administration of Mr.

Indha Cadde?

Conceding total impunity through a general amnesty would not bring justice in Somalia .

In practice, it would open the door to new violations by the same perpetrators, like Mr.

Yusuf M. Siyad (Indha Cadde), who would continue to silence his victims, and the

process would encourage other war criminals to hope to go unpunished.

The TNG claims to be the legitimate government in the country, with such a position

comes the responsibility to help shine the light of justice on those who have denied to the

others their most basic human right. However, the heartbreaking truth is that TNG have

helped strengthen Mr. Yusuf M. Siyad (Indha Cadde) to broaden his power.

The future is gloomy and reviving the Somali nation will take generations to come as

long as the international community is not holding accountable the criminals for their

despicable acts. Any one who is following the Somali politics will admit that the country

is turned into a private entrepreneurship with warlords, crooked politicians and their

henchmen wiping out every little hope for peace and stability to be accomplished. The

political domain in most of the unstable African nations remains in the hands of ruthless

criminals forcing the UN and the international community to negotiate and abide to their

rules for peace and stability to be achieved. At this time in the Somali history the country

needs a hero that could unite and build the society based on respect and justice. The

warlords and the crooked Somali politicians are nothing but bloodsuckers that must be

brought to the international criminal court of justice.

Stay tuned as the untold stories continue. The next article will unleash another crooked

veteran warlord. Don't miss it; we have a lot to reveal.

Omar H. Sheegow

E-mail: Omaradde5@hotmail.com

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

U.S. can't afford to ignore young militant, Somali leaders say

By Hannah Allam

Knight Ridder Newspapers

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Even in the violent, anarchic landscape of Mogadishu, Adan Hashi Ayro stands out.

Some describe him as a ruthless holy warrior, a student of the Taliban and a relentless fighter who can scale walls and jump from moving trucks without dropping his weapon. Others offer a more sympathetic portrait of a misguided young militant who is at odds with his own clan, bitter over foreign meddling in Somalia and the scapegoat of U.S. agents who needed to put a face on their enemy.

Somali community leaders agree, however, that the United States can't afford to ignore Ayro, who they say was crucial to the recent victory of the militant Islamic Courts Union over U.S.-backed warlords. If Ayro splits with the Islamic Courts' relatively moderate leadership, he could form an army of extremists prepared to attack American interests in the Horn of Africa, they fear.

"The Courts have a very extremist wing, and maybe Adan is leading this wing. He is said to be the real commander of the fighting, the mastermind," said Abdullahi M. Shirwa, a secular peace activist who supported the Islamic Courts as an antidote to Mogadishu's violence and disorder. "This is a critical time. The United States should not threaten the Islamic Courts with bombings or military action. They should show a deep and committed plan for Somali reconstruction."

U.S. officials are meeting with Somali counterparts in New York this week to help craft a new policy toward the impoverished, battle-scarred country, which has had no real government for 15 years. Many here urge the Bush administration to try to begin a dialogue.

"Go straight to the Islamists and see what they have achieved," said Osman Hassan Ali, a member of Somalia's figurehead transitional government whom American forces detained during fighting in the 1990s. "If the U.S. pushes too much, then they will go against everything. But at least open the dialogue, create some trust."

An International Crisis Group report last year named Ayro as the "main protagonist on the jihadi side" and implicated him in the assassinations of four foreign-aid workers and at least 10 Somali former military and police officers.

"The group is also believed to have helped al-Qaida operatives in Somalia with logistics, jobs, identities and protection, and to operate training sites," the report said.

Ayro, said to be in his late 20s or early 30s, is a relative and protege of a commander of a now-disbanded militia. The Crisis Group report says Ayro was sent to Afghanistan for training and, by at least one account, arrived on the eve of the American offensive against the Taliban after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He didn't return to Somalia for several months.

Sheik Sherif Ahmed, the chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, confirmed in an interview with Knight Ridder that Ayro had been in Afghanistan, but he declined to offer details. Ahmed said his group didn't shelter al-Qaida or other terrorism suspects and that U.S. claims to the contrary were false.

"Adan is a normal citizen, a Somali individual trying to contribute," Ahmed said. "Anyone can go to Afghanistan, and people like Adan should not be blamed for it."

In Mogadishu, several Somalis who've met Ayro or know him through his clan said they doubted he was the terrorist chief portrayed by international intelligence agencies.

"He looks like a starving kid," said Ali Iman Sharmarke, a managing partner of HornAfric, a media group in Mogadishu whose radio station last year broadcast the only known interview with Ayro. "I think they are blowing him out of proportion, but that is the culture of the Americans. They have to create a monster so they can take action. Unfortunately, the monster they `create' then becomes a monster."

Sharmarke, who's met Ayro twice, said most Somalis had never heard of the militant until January 2005, when Ayro's forces dug up a colonial-era Italian cemetery in Mogadishu, removing the remains from about 300 Italian graves. Part of what's now Somalia was an Italian colony until World War II.

Sharmarke said the desecration was in part to embarrass Ayro's clan because it had failed to defend him when the forces of a U.S.-backed warlord, seeking a senior al-Qaida suspect, raided Ayro's house. The suspect wasn't there, according to the Crisis Group report, but raiders found a bomb-making manual and Ayro's brother-in-law, a fugitive who was wanted in connection with assassinations in the Somaliland region.

Ayro's role in the recent battle for Mogadishu is in dispute, though all Somali officials said he was crucial to victory. Some said he was valued for the insurgent tactics he allegedly picked up from the Taliban. Others said his battlewagons, equipped with antiaircraft artillery used as ground weapons, were able to penetrate even the best-defended warlord positions.

Somalis here said Ayro represented a faction of Islamic Courts supporters who came of age in vicious, modern-day Mogadishu and were less educated and more dogmatic than the older clerics who form a moderate majority. Many think the moderates can stay in power only if the United States and other interested countries engage in negotiations without recriminations.

"If they come with the mentality that the Taliban is there, let's get them out, we will see a very harsh Courts that's probably capable of driving out 20,000 peacekeepers, like what happened in the past," Sharmarke said.

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

Somalia: Sheik Aweys proclaims war on the interim government

from Somali net

The most powerful Somali religious leader and founder of Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI) armed Somali militia, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys said he and his followers are getting ready for war with SomaliaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s enemies. In an exclusive interview with SomaliNetÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Hassan Ali in Mogadishu, the Sheik said they will no longer be mere spectators of what Ethiopia and its cronies are doing to Somalia. "High ranking Ethiopian military officers have been in Jowhar, 90 KM away from Mogadishu for the past few months. We must wage Jihad against them" he said.

Sheik Aways accused Jowhar based interim government of selling the country to Ethiopia and renewing SomaliaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s civil war. "We have been mobilizing all of our assets in the past few months and we are ready to die for saving Somalia" He said.

Al-Ittihad al-Islami had fought with Ethiopian forces inside Somalia many times in the past.

Sheik Aweys who has been silent for a longtime is now open about his intentions. Political analysts say he can no longer be on the sidelines because his longtime foe and worst enemy is at his doorsteps. Alitihad tried to assassinate then Puntland president, Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and capture port city of Bosaso in early years of the civil war. Alitihad members and sympathizers were persecuted in Puntland ever since that failed coup. Now, Mr. Yusuf is the head of the interim government and is in Jowhar. The interim government is mainly symbolic with no power at this time. However, it is seen as a growing monster by many.

Mogadishu warlords who are opposed to the interim government are also threatening to unseat Jowhar based fragile government by force. They tell Mogadishu residents that Ethiopia and Abdulahi Yussuf of Puntland (northeast region of Somalia) are right on their doorsteps in Jowhar and it is time to defeat them.

The US government believes Al-Ittihad al-Islami has ties with Alqaeda and is on the list of US watched terrorist organizations.

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

42-16756401.jpg?size=67&uid=%7B3dd8d71a-

This is the kind is an example of the barbaric actions of these "Islamic courts". there are pics that I thought were too graphic so if you want to see them at your own risk at corbis.com by searching for somalia and Islamic. They include pics of them cutting of the hands and legs of children with kitchen knifes. Worst thans the Talibans, is this what somalis want?

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

Af-Qurac â€œIsbedelka ka dhacay Muqdisho waxaa keenay beelihii USC oo maxkamado u xuubsiibtay, waxaan uga digayaa culumaaâ€™udiinka Puntland inaysan u durbaan tumin

Boosaaso

Madaxwayne ku-xigeenka maamul goboleedka Puntland Xasan Daahir Af-qurac oo ah ku-simaha madaxwaynaha Puntland oo ka hadlayey munaasabada furitaanka Kalfadhiga 16-aad ee baarlamaanka Puntland ayaa sheegay in kalfadhigga 16-aad lagu soo qaadi doono ajendayaal ay ka mid yihiin baaritaanka Khayraadka Puntland, heshiisyada lala galay shirkadaha ajnabiga ah , xisaab xirka dawladda , iyo ansixinta wasiiro aan wali la ansixin oo dawladda ka tirsan.

Madaxwayne ku-xigeenka Puntland Xasan Daahir Af-qurac oo ka hadlay isbedelada ka dhacay dagaallada Muqdsiho iyo maxkamadaha Islaamiga oo la wareegay gobollo dalka Soomaaliya ka tirsan ayaa sheegay in arinta Muqdsiho ka dhacday ay ka mid tahay isbaddelladii beeleed ee marba soo dhacayay intii uu dalku burbursanaa laga soo bilaabo aasaaskii ururkii USC oo uu sheegay in hadba ururkaasi uu heer soo gaaray, iminkana beelihii ay maxkamado samaysteen.

Wuxuu dadka reer Puntland u sheegay inaysan u durbaan tumin maxkamadaha Islaamiga Muqdisho , isla markaana aan la isku dayin in nabadda Puntland khal-khal la galiyo.

Wuxuu sheegay Af-qurac in dadka reer Puntland ay samasyteen maamul ay raalli ka yihiin, sidaasi daraadeedna qofkii raba inuu maamulkaasi ka mid noqdo ay u banaan tahay inuu tar tan soo galaa ayuu yiri hase ahaatee aan loo sacabba tumin qorshaha maxkamadaha Islaamiga. .

Af-qurac wuxuu sheegay inay jiraan dhallinyaro fikrad la wadaagta maxkamadaha, kuwaasoo uusan si cad carabka ugu dhufan, isagoo codsaday in midnimada Puntland aan lagu xadgudbin.

Waa markii ugu horaysay oo masâ€™uuliyiinta sare ee Puntland ay si toos ah uga hadlaan mowqifkooda ku aadan ku aaddan maxkamadaha tan iyo intii maxkamaduhu ay la wareegeen awoodda dhowr gobol oo Soomaaliya ka tirsan oo ay ku jirto caasimada Muqdisho.

.

Cabdishakuur Cilmi Xasan dayniile ,Muqdisho

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006

SOMALIA IS GONE FOR GOOD, UNLESS â€¦

By: Abdalla A. Hirad

Saturday, June 17, 2006

The mixed feelings of many Somalis and the international community about the new developments in Mogadishu northwards are not only justified, but clearly raise a cause for concern. What had seemingly started as a rebellion by the masses of Mogadishu against the control of the alleged US-supported warlords may now transpire into a headless, leaderless uprising all over the country. That should have been expected. An alliance of the warlords, with the US and Ethiopia in the mix of actors, is a natural anathema in Mogadishu, especially with the Islamists in the helm.

The containment of the fire started in Mogadishu now very much depends on the â€˜Puntlandâ€™ and â€œSomalilandâ€™ administrations ability to avoid its spreading into the whole country. However, there is no telling if these two clan-based administrations could stand against what some Somalis already call a â€œkacdoonâ€â€”a revolution. It is also unlikely that the so-called Islamists will ever come to negotiate with anyone. But even if they do, they will never be able to deliver. They neither have the right leadership nor the organization to do so. At best, they are loosely related, not even connected, religious sects, which are also structured by kinship. The only thing that unites them is a common enemyâ€”the warlords, the TFG, secularism, and anything remotely to do with Ethiopia, the US and the Western world.

Hardly can the Transitional Federal Government, based in Baidoa, stand against them militarily, or can persuade them diplomatically, on its own, either. The fact that Sheik Sharif Ahmed has refused the mediation of the Yemen is already telling. Let us just hope upon hope that the Islamists do not attack Baidoa; or that some ****** local cleric does not claim his own â€œCourtâ€ in there, to complicate matters. Suddenly Somalia is a multi-headed monster.

The renewed American interest in the Somali questionâ€”which comes too lateâ€”is neither very clear nor immediately encouraging. At best, the contact group is a matter of an exploratory expedition. Several flaws are already apparent, which are indicative of the continued confused stance of the US policy towards Somalia.

The Contact Group mechanism does not reflect the urgency required to curbing the influence of those war-profiteers and warlords turned Islamists. It is not so much that the Mogadishu gangs, turned Islamists, have the military power to conquer the whole country. It is just that they establish an encouraging example for every power hungry cleric to claim a â€œCourtâ€ as is already happening in places north of Mogadishu. These comics have three mechanisms in their advantage: (a) the good will of the population to anything labeled Islamic (b) the public jubilation over the fall of the dreaded warlords (3) the media support in so far as the BBC Somali Service is concerned, which has shown more than tacit support for the so-called â€œAlliance of the Islamic Courtsâ€. The BBC, Somali Services, is headed by one Yusuf Garad who uses the Institution as a tool for his Cayr sub-lineage and who, by all indications, currently and rightly sees the new uprising as practically an opportunity for the Cayr domination of Somali politicsâ€”an effort which had once failed under Abdiqasimâ€™s presidency of the former Transitional Federal Government.

What the world does not know is the fact that the so-called uprising is immediately a matter of an intra-****** civil war disguised as an Islamist revolution by some. The ****** family sub-clan (Cayr) spearheading the upheaval have already been in control of a large junk of the country between Mogadishu and Kismayo, 500 km. South. Locals of the area in their control are already complaining that the Cayr militia have conscribed their youth for the war, against the will of the people, and in the name of Islam. Alternatively, these kids, poor and impoverished, see an opportunity in the bandwagon to feed themselves, at a minimum. Hardly do they have any idea of what they are into.

So far, the new American policy posture towards Somalia is focused on efforts to drum support for the â€œfederal institutionsâ€ of Somalia. I do not know what to read into this phraseology; but it definitely falls short of explicit support to the Transitional Federal Government. In fact, the Contact Group, by its composition, alienates all the relevant countries, sub-regional and regional groups, as well as the international organizations immediately concerned and traditionally interested in the Somali questionâ€”except perhaps, that is, Italy and the UK. I do not know what to make of this either. It gives mixed signals to the TFG and its friends all over the world. Unfortunately, the same policy has encouraged Sheikh Shariif and his mob to advance on more localities north of Mogadishu.

It seems that the US policy has hopped from support to the infamous warlords, which has brought about the current failure, to providing an unintended support to those Islamists-feigning gangs. It is understandable that the US is probing the political mood all over the place before it can pledge support to the TFG. However, treating other entities such as the â€œIslamic Courtsâ€â€”which, at best, symbolize very local initiatives and sharing nothing but the past misery of the Somalia population between themselvesâ€”as an equal to the TFG is a greater mistake. It is tantamount to that, now defunct, earlier policy of supporting the warlords. The TFG, I believe, could fare much better than the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan under the current circumstances of Somalia. If the US is fully supporting those, the advantages are greater, if they do the same in Somalia and support the TFG now rather than later.

The concern about the position of â€œSomalilandâ€ in the mix of things, at this juncture, if at all, should be minimal and should be shoved to the back bench. It is true that there are some governments who are sympathetic towards the position of â€œSomalilandâ€. â€œSomalilandâ€ will, however, cease to exist if a popular uprising erupts in the North, any way, which is about the only good thing that the â€œIslamistsâ€ can bring about, short of a disaster to Somalia. In fact, Somalia will fall into a greater abyss, if it falls into the hands of these mobs, with or without them sponsoring terrorism. But the concern that the immediate and explicit support to the TFG, by the US, may bring about the same result as in the lack of it is genuine.

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, it would be prudent if the US would put its weight and will behind the TFG, which is already internationally supported. On balance, it might work as the better option in the immediate term. At a minimum, that may trim the claimed jurisdiction of the â€œIslamistsâ€ and their advances into other parts of the country. Such a policy would also, not only streamline the focus and inputs of the international community into the ongoing process of reconciliation; but would give the TFG enough clout to goad the â€œIslamistsâ€ and other challenging entities to seek to negotiate with it. More importantly, it would present the TFG as a clean-cut option for the people to choose vis-Ã -vis the â€œIslamistsâ€, if they so wish. So, the US should make hay while the sun shines.

Otherwise, SOMALIA IS GONE FOR GOOD, UNLESS â€¦, as the title, above, says: â€¦GOD SAVES IT from its own.

Naxar Nugaaleed · June 18, 2006