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Docda bari, dorooriga baddiyo, Seylac deriskeeda
Dusha koonfureed iyo ilaa, wabiga daaciisa
Degmadeena oo idil haddaan, dayey abwaankeeda
Nimaan duubiyadu naafo noqon, deelka laga waaye

Dul iyo hoosba waan ugu dhigaye, waa dix-dhagaxeede
Anuunbaa damqanayee dheguhu, uma daloolaane
Dadkaan la hadlayaa baan lahayn, dux iyo iimaane
Bal inay dalfoof tahay caqliga, dooni laga saaray
Wixii hore usoo daashadaay, degashanaysaaye

Doc hadday u wada jeedsatooy, dhowrto danaheeda
Ooy duul walaala ah tahaooy, duunka ka heshiiso
Dadka kama yaraateene ways, dabar jaraysaaye
Dubba madaxa wayskala dhacdaa, daa’in abidkiise
Goortay is wada dooxatay baa, daad u soo geliye

Cabdillahi Suldan Timacadde

As Timacadde said almost a half a century ago “Bal inay dalfoof tahay caqliga, dooni laga saaray, Wixii hore usoo daashadaay, degashanaysaaye”. We do not seem to learn from our past mistakes and as result, we somalis are going backwards.

Erich Wiedemann and Thilo Thielke of the German Magazine Spiegel asks:

Decades of Western aid have done little to ease suffering in Africa — indeed the situation is worse than ever. Is it time for the West to rethink its aid strategy?

Well, my answer to that question is; YES! You do not need to be a brain surgeon to figure that out! This is what I wrote about this issue before.

Click here to view the full articles on Spiegel . You may also like to click here to read a review of Jeffrey Sacks Book “The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time” on the Commentary magazine by the David Frum of the American Enterprise Institute.

Khaled Al Maeena; the editor-in-chief of the Arab News writes:

(….) I state here and now that I will not apologize. I did not commit these acts — neither did Saudi Arabia nor the Muslim world. Individual acts should not be blamed on our Ummah, and we must be brave and not listen to PR companies and acquiesce. Let us be brave and stand tall. Our religion is a religion of peace, and it is we Muslims who have been both slain and slandered in the past few decades.

Yes, we are against terror at home or abroad. But those who accuse us should also understand that terrorism exists everywhere. In some countries there is state-sponsored terrorism. And as for the apologies I have not read one apology for the massacres of Muslims. It would be understandable to say “Let them apologize to us first.” But humanity needs to move beyond that.

The media, be it British or American or Arab, needs to curb the subjective drivel that spawns hatred and division and get back to the business of seeking the truth — and objectively reporting it. And let us all stop asking one another to take the blame for the problems that plague all of mankind.

Well, I have somewhat different take on this..! However, I think it is fair to say that a community of millions cannot be punished for the acts of few mad individuals. Terrorism is a global problem and it can only be rooted out through collective global efforts. Finger pointing is just counter productive.

Click here to view the full column on Arab News Online!

It appears that the British security forces are making progress with lightning speed by apprehending the London terror suspects.

Richard N. Haass, former Director of Policy Planning in the United States Department of State and the current President of The Council on Foreign Relations argues in article on Project Syndicate:

The fact that so many problems persist despite tens of billions of dollars of assistance and years of effort is a sad reminder that aid can allow governments to undertake foolish investments that accomplish little, or can easily be siphoned off by corrupt officials. Moreover, aid is inherently uncertain, leaving Africans at the mercy of outside forces beyond their control.

Well, the depressing fact is that Africa needs external help despite the fact that it is rich with national resources and young manpower. Unfortunately, the medicine prescribed for Africa’s economic and social ills will do more harm than good in long run. As noted above, what Africa needs is not more handout from Western donors but the ability to engage free trade in the international markets. Dismantling the European unfair trade practice, in particular, the enormous agricultural subsidies will, in the long run, help alleviate the prevalent poverty in Africa than the aid promised at the G8 meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland. (more…)

According to the Al Ahram Weekly, President Hosni Mubarak today called today for an extraordinary Arab summit to be held in Sharm al-Shaikh on 3 August, 2005.

The Egyptian President was quoted as saying:

I call for an extraordinary Arab summit on Wednesday 3 August in Sharm al-Shaikh, which will be preceded by a meeting of Arab foreign ministers … with a view to reviewing the situation in the Arab world.

This is certainly too little too late! An Arab summit, indeed, an Islamic summit on international terrorism should have been held long time ago. However, this is an important initiative from the Egyptian president. We believe it is just about time to root terrorism out of our societies. To achieve that goal, there must be a collective approach by all the Arab countries including Somalia. (more…)

A young Somali girl, member of the Ogadeni Women’s’ Association showing off her Somali national with a great Somali pride! This blog salutes those Somalis

No wonder they say, a picture says more than thousand words! . Certainly, the picture above of that little Somali girl says more than what one could describe in several pages of writing; the smile with pride, the hopeful expression on her face for a better future for our Somali people in that missing region of ours, the beauty of the her dress symbolizing the Somali culture and Islamic dress code, and the vitality of the Somali young nationalists! There seems to be a hope for our people in the Ogaden region after all!

According to a dispatch by Frances D’emilio of the Rome Bureau of the Associated Press:

one of the Somali suspects of the July 21 London bombing attempts, now in Italian custody, left Britain by train five days after the failed attacks, Italy’s interior minister said Saturday.

Click here to view the full dispatch on Charleston (South Carolina) Daily Mail newspaper.

The terrorist attacks perpetrated in Egypt recently and in London earlier this month are outrageous. We stand with the world in seeing all terror acts as violation against all nations and the values of humanity. The Somali TFG joins the international community in the fight against terrorism. We will cooperate fully to help bring the perpetrators of these horrendous acts to justice.

President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Somali Federal Transitional Government

Obviously, this is somewhat belated statement, but we whole-heartedly stand behind the President’s strong stand against terrorism. We believe that the world should consider what terrorism really is: an evil act of mass murder. It must not be tolerated!

Despite the obvious hardships, the fatigue on his face (most probably he did not eat for days!) and the lack of proper military equipment, this proud member of the Somali National Army (Xooga Dalka Soomaaliyeed) is willing to stand up and serve his country and people. With all honesty, it brings tears to my eyes to see brave Somalis, like this man, who are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifices for their country and people. We must acknowledge the fact that our national security and the well being of our country rests solely on the shoulders of those brave Somalis! I think, we should all stand up and help rebuild our country.

President Abdullahi Yusuf is right to call to arms of what is left of the Somali National Army and ask them to join the new Somali security force that will bring the misery of warlordism to an end. It is our hope that many former Somali military officers and soldiers will answer positively to that call and help the restoration of once proud and mighty Somali army. In my humble opnion, it is a national duty that everyone of us has to take part. We owe that to our people, our army and to those who buildt our national security forces from ground zero, in particular General Daa’uud and his colleagues who made us all proud!

General Daa’uud; in all accounts, the greatest Somali military officer in recent Somali military history is probably having “sleepless nights” in his grave and wondering how could the proud, mighty and nationalist Somali Army, sworn to serve and to protect the Somali people be reduced to such a dismal state of affair. Unfortunately, I do not have a simple answer to that question but I would like to tell the General that there are Somalis who are striving hard to make him proud again!

Rest in peace General! Hope is on the way!

The BBC News reports that the Somali interim federal president Mr. Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed arrived in Jowhar despite the ill-advised threat made by the destructive Mogadishu warlords. The BBC quoted Qanyare; one of the destructive Mogadishu warlords as saying:

His (President Abdullahi Yusuf) actions are totally illegal and are wrong.

Well, I could not disagree more with that blood-thirty madman. It is astonishing to hear Mr. Qanyare accusing the elected Somali president for acting illegally while he and his like minded Mogadishu warlords have kept the Somali capital, its citizens and indeed the entire Somali Nation as hostages with their act of terror. As the saying goes maroodigu takarta ku taal ma arkee ta maroodiga kaluu arkaa. Qanyare should look his own backyard before he accuses anyone else for engaging illegal and criminal activities!

Click here for the full text of the BBC News’ text.

Jihad El Khazen of the Lebonese newpaper; Al Hayat writes:

Will the war on Iraq produce another Islamic republic, allied with the one in Iran? President Bush denies this possibility, but in a speech on Iraq about a month ago, he didn’t mention that the majority of the Shia coalition that won in the elections is trying to set down a Constitution of an Islamic republic, where responsibility for marriage, divorce, and inheritance will move from civil courts to religious courts.

Well, considering the way things are going in Iraq that may very well be the case!

Click here to see the full column.

The London Daily Mail newspaper says:

Two of the real suicide bombers turn out to be the dependants of asylum seekers who were given safe haven in this country in the early 1990s. One of them, Yasin Hassan Omar, 24, arrived at the age of 11 from Somalia, was granted indefinite leave to remain five years ago, and has pocketed approximately £38,000 in welfare benefits (oh yes, and he has a council flat). The other, Muktar Saed Ibrahim, 27, arrived from Eritrea when he was 14, becoming a British citizen and receiving a passport last year (even though he’s served time in prison for violence) and, oh yes, he has also been living on state handouts.

Welcomed here as the dependants of asylum seekers, educated in our schools, taking full advantage of all the benefits this country so generously offers - now they want to destroy us. Could there be a more chilling snapshot of the madness of a system implemented by successive governments that has left this country at the mercy of murderous fanatics?

The Daily Mail newspaper sells widely in Britain mainly due to its cynical and hostile anti-immigration campaign but isn’t fair to say that they have a point now to condemn those who want to destroy the country that treated them so well? I am sure many British people feel that the guest they welcomed into their home is setting fire onto their very house.

Unquestionably, these are unsettling times. The London Tube bombings have brought a new context to our national life, and no one can afford to be complacent. Yet we must never give the terrorists a chance to claim a success. It is therefore incumbent on all of us in Parliament to find the right balance between the conflicting demands of security and individual freedom.

Charles Kennedy; Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, UK.

Cabdirizaaq Xaji Xuseen, the former Somali prime minister (1964-67) was recently interviewed by the BBC Somali service. Following are short extracts from that interview:

BBC: Waxaa jirta in adiga iyo Cabdullaahi Yusuf ay idiin dhaxeyso colaad soo jireen ah, marka maqaalkan aad qortay ma taasaa u sababa ah?

Cabdirizaaq Xaji Xuseen replied by saying:

(….) Dowladda Soomaaliya hadda u dhisan waa nooca midda Talyaaniga iyo Britain ka jirta oo kale oo madexweynuhu uu yahey mid sharafeed. Sidas datreed, waa khalad in mar walba la yiraa dowladda Cabdullahi Yusuf. Dowladdani waa tan Cali Maxamed Geeddi, sidaas darteed waxa uu ku jiro Cabdullaahi Yusuf ma ahin wax uu shaqo ku leeyahey.

Well, the former prime minister is not only flatly wrong but he does not seem to understand the basic ideas behind the interim Somali federal constitution and how the current (..and most probably future) government should function. Perhaps he did not even read the constitution or perhaps he was not paying much attention. In any case, I happen to believe that he is being blindfolded by hateful tribalist vengeance fueled by a personal vendetta against President Abdullahi Yusuf. He is also hopelessly trying to find a political role for himself! (more…)

Dag Herbjørnsrud har takket ja til å bli Ny Tids neste redaktør. Han har overtatt etter Anders Horn.

There is a great mind behind the serious look on the picture!

Click here to read more about Dag’s editorship of Ny Tid.

The United States Department of State issued a travel warning regarding Somalia. The travel warning advices American citizens, “westerners” and other foreigners agains travelling to Somalia. The statement reads as follows:

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Somalia, including the self proclaimed “independent Republic of Somaliland”. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little warning, and kidnapping, murder, and other threats to U.S. citizens and other foreigners can occur unpredictably in many regions. There is no U.S. Embassy or other U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia.

This time the travel warning covers the entire country including the northern and eastern regions! This type of travel warning is usually considered as a bad omen in the diplomatic circles!

Click here to view the text.

Polly Toynbee, a senior columnist for The Guardian newspaper says:

It is time now to get serious about religion - all religion - and draw a firm line between the real world and the world of dreams. Tony Blair has taken entirely the wrong path. He has appeased, prevaricated and pretended, maybe because he is a man of faith himself, with a Catholic wife who consorts with crystals. But never was it more important to separate the state from all faiths and relegate all religion to the private - but well-regulated - sphere.

Click here to view the full column.

According to the Times newspaper:

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, today blamed Western interference overseas for the growth of Islamic extremism and for creating the conditions to drive terrorists to commit acts such as the London bombings.

Click here to view the full article.

Bob Herbet of the New York Times writes:

Last week’s terror bombings in London should be seen as a reminder not just that Mr. Bush’s war was a hideous diversion of focus and resources from the essential battle against terror, but that it has actually increased the danger of terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its allies.

Click here for the full column. (PS. Accessing the New York Times resources requires free online registration)

Will Hutton of The Guardian newspaper says:

What happened on Thursday morning in London is so seared in our minds that it has cast everything else into the shade. The list of missing, mainly young, ordinary Londoners, is heartbreaking and to offer condolences however profoundly felt seems trivial alongside the scale of loss. And yet the world has to continue turning. We have to carry on both as the best response to the atrocities and because there is no alternative.

I think Mr. Hutton said it all.

Click here to view the full article

Jeffrey Bartholet of the Newsweek International pays tribute to slain Somali peace activist Abdulkadir Yahya Ali and says:

the assassination of a Somali mediator may indicate that Al Qaeda is gaining ground in the troubled African nation.

Click here to view this web exclusive column on Newsweek.

“Ogaadeen haddaan ahay dad wow amar sareeyaa”

Sayid Maxamed Cabdille Xasan (Somali Nationalist)

Well, Perhaps I am bit bias but I think Sayid Maxamed had a point there!

According to United Nations’ chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric, the UN launched an effort that will aim to:

“bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace”.

Stephane Dujarric went on by saying there is a growing sense of

“lack of mutual understanding between Islamic and Western societies — an environment that has been exploited and exacerbated by extremists in all societies.”

Click here for the full report on UN News Wire.

The United Nations (UN) Security Council issued a press release few hours ago after a formal discussion regarding the security situation in Somali and lifting the arms embargo.

Click here to view the full statement

The United Nations (UN) Security Council has a session on Somalia this morning. We are currently waiting the release of documents from the UN System. We will publish as soon as those documents become available.

Click here to learn more about this session.

“My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you fell - it is, above all, to make you see. That - and no more, and it is everything.”

Joseph Conrad (The author of Heart of Darkness)

The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement issued by his spokesman that:

“Mr. Yahya had devoted many years to foster peace and reconciliation in his country and was widely respected by his countrymen and by many in the international community”. The Secretary-General went on by saying calling the attack “a brutal murder”.

Click here to view the full report on the UN news Wire.