The Washington Post: ONLF captured 7 towns

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Good news guul inshallah Dhulkaasii wuu xoroobi

[ElPunto]

A lot of woo-hooing for very little. Will these gains be consolidated through political dialogue since the warring parties are so unevenly matched? If as is likely the answer is no - then all that this will result in is a further violent military offensive by the Ethiopians.

[Abtigiis]

unevenly matched? do you know anything about the history of gurrilla warfare? Anyone, this is the sentiments of most Somali's across the border. They shudder when they hear the name Ethiopia. Wax wayn bay u haystaan.

 

You will see what will happen in few years time.

[Kamaavi]

I have respect for people who raise guns to defend their rights and freedom( as the cost of liberty is less than the price of repression)

 

Those who oppose this are quasi political analysts who run their own political laboratories. They have no idea whatsoever of the real political game.

 

They think that free dialogue will solve the problem, how stup!d they are?

 

The O people have spoken and have decided they don’t want anything to do with Ethiopia…

 

To prevent the bloodshed, freedom must be given to those who desire for it…

[Abtigiis]

It is an issue of resolve dear Nogobawi, and The Point et al are not famed for that. For them everything has to be started to qucikly reap something out of it or the course must be changed.

 

Anyway, ignore the crocordile tears and elephant milks. Waxa hadda kolkaad war yar oo guul ah sheegto, talo aan jirin loogu ordi waa quudhi waa!! I was wrong to respond to him.

[Abtigiis]

Ethiopia denies rebels have captured seven towns

 

Barry Malone

 

* Government says 245 rebels killed

 

* Ethiopia says oil companies have nothing to fear

 

 

 

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia on Monday denied that rebels fighting for independence for a region with potentially lucrative oil and gas reserves had seized seven towns near the border with neighbouring Somalia.

 

The ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) said on Saturday it had taken the towns after almost a week of fierce fighting with the Ethiopian army.

 

"They haven't taken any towns at all," Bereket Simon, Ethiopian government head of information, told Reuters. "Their attacks last week were simply the desperate act of a dying force and about 245 of their fighters were killed."

 

Bereket said the ONLF were repelled by local militias allied to the government and that no Ethiopian soldiers had been killed.

 

The ONLF wants autonomy for the ****** region, whose population is ethnic Somali. The area is said to contain mineral deposits and international firms including Malasia's state-owned Petronas [PETR.UL] and Sweden's Lundin (LUPE.ST: Quote) are exploring its deserts for oil.

 

The rebels in 2007 attacked an oil exploration field owned by a subsidiary of Sinopec, China's biggest refiner and petrochemicals producer, and killed 74 people. They now regularly warn foreign companies off prospecting.

 

"NO FEAR FOR OIL COMPANIES"

 

"International companies have nothing to fear from coming to explore in Ethiopia," Bereket said. "Our forces weakened the ONLF after they attacked the Chinese company and they are no threat anymore. They were easily repelled."

 

Addis Ababa says the ONLF are "terrorists" supported by regional rival Eritrea. The ONLF accuses the Ethiopian military of killing and gang-raping villagers and burning homes in the region as part of its effort to root out insurgents.

 

The Ethiopian and Somali governments say the ONLF are helping the Islamist al Shabaab group wage war against Somalia's U.N-backed government. The Ethiopian rebels deny they are allied with al Shabaab, who the United States says are al Qaeda's proxy in Africa. Ethiopia is a key U.S. supporter in the Horn of Africa. The regular accusations from both sides are impossible to verify. Journalists and aid groups cannot move freely in the area without government escorts.

 

The ONLF said its fighters had been "warmly welcomed" by residents in the seven towns and were giving treatment to civilians hurt in the fighting.

 

Bereket said the attacks had not been in remote villages.

 

The separatist cause has gained momentum due to a low level of development in the region. Until Chinese engineers arrived in 2007, the entire area had only 30 km (20 miles) of tarmac road in an area of about 200,000 sq km.

------------------------------

Nogobawi,

 

Nimankii Tigre'ga ahaa way wareereen! Waxay ku leeyihiin local militias died but no Ethiopian soldier. They are admitting in locals'gu ay yihiin ajinabi.kkkkkkkkkkk

 

Anyway, 245 bay sheegteen. Ninkii dhintay ciddu ka maqan yahay waa la ogyahay. Laakiin it confirms the intensity of the fights. Jigjiga isqabqabsi xoog leh ayaa ka socda. A number of military commanders and military intelleigence ayaa la qabqabtay oo xabsiyadda la dhigay.

[Kamaavi]

Have they also denied the loss of Hayle, head of intelengce in Hararge?

 

War Tigre been jeclaaa indho adakaa...

[ElPunto]

Originally posted by Abtigiis & Tolka:

 

unevenly matched? do you know anything about the history of gurrilla warfare? Anyone, this is the sentiments of most Somali's across the border. They shudder when they hear the name Ethiopia. Wax wayn bay u haystaan.

 

You will see what will happen in few years time.

 

It is an issue of resolve dear Nogobawi, and The Point et al are not famed for that. For them everything has to be started to qucikly reap something out of it or the course must be changed.

 

Anyway, ignore the crocordile tears and elephant milks. Waxa hadda kolkaad war yar oo guul ah sheegto, talo aan jirin loogu ordi waa quudhi waa!! I was wrong to respond to him.

I assume this is more of your balls talking rather than any brains - you've been on a tear like that lately. The two sides are unevenly matched. Guerilla warfare can work but it requires skills. You need a political strategy to consolidate your military gains. You need to talk to your enemy to give him a way to save face. Go and study Vietnam before mouthing off.

 

What's up with this claim of Somalis except Os wilt in the face of the Ethiopians and only Os can defeat them? Are you telling me Os are a superior breed of Somali and not the average geeljire? Walle dad baa caqli oo dhan ka tagay.

 

I guess I was supposed to join the woo-hooing brigade. Carry on chappies.

[Abtigiis]

Guerilla warfare can work but it requires skills. You need a political strategy to consolidate your military gains. You need to talk to your enemy to give him a way to save face. Go and study Vietnam before mouthing off.

1-Ah! the simplicity of the novices. That is what I hate. The statment I quoted above is overused to the extent it is nothing more than a cliche nowadays. This is what I always warn against; the ease with which some people utter general truths that are not context-alligned and not specific enough.

 

Go tell me what ONLF should do, and not what the vietnamese did. The context is incomparable. The stages of the struggle is different. The global political setting is different. Models touted with presumed impeccability are not always actionable.

 

Do you know that there is a standing invitation of ONLF to meet and discuss with Meles wherever it is as long as there are independent mediators? Do you know that Meles still feels there is no need to do so, because he believes he will be able to defeat the ONLF? Why do you imply ONLF is only firing guns?

 

More importantly, what tells you that what you, a cyber persona who is out of touch of what the reality is on the ground, know will not be known by those who are engaged with the matter full time? What makes you feel you can peddle petty recycled ideas as if there are no capable thinkers among a committed executive committee that is constantly advised by intellectuals?

 

2- You asked, "What's up with this claim of Somalis except Os wilt in the face of the Ethiopians and only Os can defeat them?". The first part of the sentence is sadly true. Let us talk with evidences. Whoelse dared to face the Ethiopians? Is it not the case when their Ural's march from FerFer, Beletwien is vacated!! It is a true statement. The second part of the statement is your deductions. Anyone who is committed can defeat the Ethiopians (who are not by the way a monolithic group as you present it). The Issa community are not afraid of them and have beaten the Tigre's around Afdam and Meiso in 1992. But they are preoccuied with the fight with Afars. Whoelse ever shot at an Ethiopian army? I am talking about the rest of the clans in the region? Even when the dead body of a raped 15 year old girl was displayed in Filtu, Liban zone, no one raised a finger. Forget Jigjiga.So, it is true.

 

3- No, you weren't supposed to join the woo-hooing as you said (but actually it is the celebrations of those who enjoyed a limited victory, which you are desperately trying to belittle). You were hoping that when you handover few of the fighters, the whole struggle will end, and you will gleefully chant 'haven't I told you, you fools'! You were bitter and used reproducing old cliches and utterances of novice political scientists to defile the enormously moral-boosting victory of the liberation fighters.

 

I will not be hoodwinked by your clever-by-quarter crocordile tears, saaxiib!

[ElPunto]

Originally posted by Abtigiis & Tolka:

1-Ah! the simplicity of the novices. That is what I hate. The statment I quoted above is overused to the extent it is nothing more than a cliche nowadays. This is what I always warn against; the ease with which some people utter general truths that are not context-alligned and not specific enough.

 

More importantly, what tells you that what you, a cyber persona who is out of touch of what the reality is on the ground, know will not be known by those who are engaged with the matter full time? What makes you feel you can peddle petty recycled ideas as if there are no capable thinkers among a committed executive committee that is constantly advised by intellectuals?

Why do you mention novice - unless you fought with the ONLF on the ground or are a political commander or are a credentialed military historian - then I will cede that point to you willingly. In the absence of those criteria - don't give yourself airs sir.

 

I may be a cyber persona but whether I'm in touch or not is irrelevant. What is clear is that the ONLF has been skirmishing with the Ethiopians for many years to little effect - many Somali people in the Kilinka 5 region do not support the ONLF struggle - Ethiopia has managed to divide the Os themselves with some working for it and others fighting it. To wit - where's the evidence of a clear political strategy? Presumably my 'petty recylcled ideas' have to be countered by 'the capable thinkers of a committed executive that is constantly advised by intellectuals' with an actual strategy. Let's see what they do with the latest victories.

 

 

2- You asked, "What's up with this claim of Somalis except Os wilt in the face of the Ethiopians and only Os can defeat them?". The first part of the sentence is sadly true. Let us talk with evidences. Whoelse dared to face the Ethiopians? Is it not the case when their Ural's march from FerFer, Beletwien is vacated!! It is a true statement. The second part of the statement is your deductions. Anyone who is committed can defeat the Ethiopians (who are not by the way a monolithic group as you present it). The Issa community are not afraid of them and have beaten the Tigre's around Afdam and Meiso in 1992. But they are preoccuied with the fight with Afars. Whoelse ever shot at an Ethiopian army? I am talking about the rest of the clans in the region? Even when the dead body of a raped 15 year old girl was displayed in Filtu, Liban zone, no one raised a finger. Forget Jigjiga.So, it is true.

I'm not sure whether it is ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation. When attacked by a superior force - you don't stand there and take it. You melt away and attack guerilla style which is what happened when the Ethiopians invaded southern Somalia. And this is exactly how the ONLF wages war. Nobody is wilting. Where the ONLF does possess an advantage over other Somalis is long experience in fighting Ethiopia. That's it.

 

3- No, you weren't supposed to join the woo-hooing as you said (but actually it is the celebrations of those who enjoyed a limited victory, which you are desperately trying to belittle). You were hoping that when you handover few of the fighters, the whole struggle will end, and you will gleefully chant 'haven't I told you, you fools'! You were bitter and used reproducing old cliches and utterances of novice political scientists to defile the enormously moral-boosting victory of the liberation fighters.

 

I will not be hoodwinked by your clever-by-quarter crocordile tears, saaxiib!

I am 'desperately trying to belittle the limited victory' by stating a truism? - you need a political strategy to go with your military strategy. Do I look like Faroole or the Puntland regime to you? Why do you state - 'You were hoping that when you handover few of the fighters, the whole struggle will end, and you will gleefully chant 'haven't I told you, you fools'! Unbo-liv-able! The charges brigade goes on with 'bitter' and 'defile the enormously moral-boosting victory of the liberation fighters'. What exactly is it that I am bitter about and how did I defile your enormous moral-boosting victory? The fact is that any response other than woo-hooing pisses you off. That't it.

 

Saaxib - it seems you only have 2 modes - either foaming at the mouth or as a producer of sexualized skits. You desperately need a third mode - something somewhat rational and logical if you wish to debate with people.

 

PS - I don't think you know what crocodile tears means - I suggest you go look it up.

[Kamaavi]

ThePoint writes: Why do you mention novice - unless you fought with the ONLF on the ground or are a political commander or are a credentialed military historian - then I will cede that point to you willingly. In the absence of those criteria -

don't give yourself airs sir

.

^Projection.

 

Originally posted by ThePoint:

I don't think you know what crocodile tears means -

I suggest you go look it up.

Translation: Sometimes all one can do is just simple research on the subject and the more he verifies, the more he knows the truth.

 

ThePoint you should listen to A&T, he is right, and, you know it...

[ElPunto]

^Projection? Really? I am a novice but unless he's one of the items on the list up there he is a novice too. So no call to throw that up in my face. That's what you would call putting on airs. Or maybe you could look it up for yourself

 

As to the rest of what you have there - can't make heads or tails about it. But at least you're not foaming at the mouth.