^^Wiilka Dhahareedoow, inantu waa mid aan la heli karin. I like her confidence lol. She'll be a nice girl so long as she stays with ariga iyo haamaha ay culeyso .

Oh, the nerve! You met heavyweights, huh? Well, I am humbled to be at your presence your highness .

^^LOl@poor thing! No, I was amused by your 'haven't written so much since leaving uni' comment. I was hoping you wont percieve our pleasant exchanges as politics . If that was the case, dismay would have set in. High politics is of high discussion!

Ibtisam, lol. Daal? That is a good sign. Do you feel you've discussed a bit of politics?

^^Lol. Ibtisam, war is fighting an opposing side by using military means. media war isn't high-politics, or is it? It is 'propaganda war' All other phrases with war in it and are simpy redundant are meant to mislead someone somehere. About the detterence, you are right. As realists say, don't make an ultimatum if you can't deliver your threats effectively. So, like you, there might be many others who deem detterence and threat as very important in maintaing security and balance of power. But have you asked yourself 'is it possible that this seemingly uncompromisable importance attached to detterence can be used to achieve an advantage other than the obvious one?' 'Look weak when you are strong, strong when you are weak', wasn't that some sort of Chinese saying? If I were a superpower and have killed hundreds of people, how can I steal the attention of others? Since I know even I admit that my military is thrashed cannot harm me, if this can divert attention, why should I admit it? Simple mind games in IR policy makers. Now, the media -sometimes even Al-Jazeera is thinking it is uncovering how things are happening- could be doing someone's job quite nicely. I, as a state, can use the media's eyes or attention to paint a grim pictur of myself, while my real concerns lie somewhere else. As far as the media and the public are concerned, they are percieving things according to the prevailing 'common-sense' and 'common-perception'. Yet I might have several common-senses and perceptions under my sleaves, only to proliferate the most suitable one at one given time. PS: I forgot to thank you for the applause. Feels good to be applauded .

^^Lily, has Lebanon marched an army on Israeli soil? No. The missles thrown into Israel are internationally recognized as the acts of terrorists and not of other nation-states - except American foreign policy makers. The reality is, the Israeli army marched into Lebanon in scale and did what they wished to do. The last time any Arab army has tried to do such a thing was the 6 lol or was it the 7 day war?

^^Hey Ibtisam, I am back to disagree with you. But this time I won't just disagree, I will try to show the logic behind my conclusion. Scenario 1: Two sovereign nation-states co-exist like Lebanon and Israel. one nation-state (Israel) decides to invade and bomb the other nation-state (Lebanon) and does so. What has Israel done? (a)By invading Lebanon, Israel has violated the former's sovereign right to non-intervention. (b)By Bombing and shelling, Israel has killed many Lebanese citizens and has destroyed the country's infrastructures and properties. All the while, the Lebanese side has only managed to throw misguided Katyusha missiles into Israel, at most killing 5 Israelis tops. When Israel bombs, however, it kills civilians by the hundreds. Militarilly, therefore, Israel has won the war by creating the possibility to be mobile within another nation-state's borders and kill whom it wishes to. The same cannot be said from the Lebanese side, they spent most of the time hidding and the reminder of the time, fleeing. Does this look like winning to you? Now, let us move to the 'illusion' called 'media war' created to divert attention from the real casualties and making people become cheat themselves into believing that they are at least winning a different kind of war - a media war. The whole idea of 'media war' is there to make a group of helpless people or civil societies in democaries feel empowered. This media-war idea doesn't cost lives - its negative effects only reduces dollars. Instead of feeling like losers, many citizens of the world are lulled into the perception of being victors of some sort. It is simply doctoring public opinion to tame it. You are an IR grad, it shouldn't work on you. The world is still as black and white if you are willing to see it. Many people have been made believe otherwise. I give expection where this is required but I cannot be made to lose track with facts and values. So my dear, Ibtisam, somethings never change. It is a realist world still. Better believe it .

^^Yes, there must be winners and losers. The recent Israeli attack on Lebanon had produced a single winner. And I am not going to daftly say 'Hisbullah'. Ibtisam, in every war, forgetting modernity or post-modernity, produces a winner. That is the truth; if I were a liberalist, I would create grey areas as to who is the winner and who is the loser. Whether it is a fist first or tank-fight, there are only two outcomes -winner and loser . I am not claiming an all-out nuclear war here. I am saying all other wars are subject to this rule. There is no such childish notion as 'Murkacasho' . PS: Lets have a break. I need a kitkat.

Originally posted by Hunguri: Aliya, the guy has a good name, that would match the prayer , Yeah, Sheekhoow Kulmiye dee waxkale garan maynee Alla hakula kulmiyo tu yaroo daadax ah . Amiin, Hunguri. Allow sahal umuuraha.

Nope, Ibtisam. I think you are equating the differing natural disposition of both genders to each other. Isn't it true that both genders are naturally disposed to percieve things differently? While most men wish to treat matters in their 'exclusivity' most women seem to be 'inclussive', both emotionally or otherwise. So, while you, as a young lady may be naturally in a better position to comprehend the emotions of even my 'future' children, I may end up somewhat out of depth in understanding them. This ability of comprehension and empathy is a strength in itself. When I fail to comprehend others' emotions, I get the natural urge to make things clear. 'War, xaalku ma nabadbaa mise?' comes to mind. Heavens, this is even the tradition of Somalis (mostly men) when greeting each other. If peacefulness is not percieved from the other, war is the most effective tool to achieve results. Now, the chaos that usually comes with this is expected but if it doesn't come, that creates a very unsettling situation. If men fight, some 'must' die and others 'must' survive. Some must win and others must lose. If that isn't the order of things, it is a change - and change disrupts the harmony of things.

^^When you look around, your womanly eyes see men beating the hell out of each other . while I, on the other hand, see all political (in its thearetial, practical and if one is lucky experience it, its physical aspect) wheels moving in tandem and harmony. That makes it a beauty. War and peace are the things we play for. Dying, killing, winning, losing is all that makes up a picture which then historians document in detail. The events might not be beautiful but the results of politics are. PS: We might be using different definitions of beauty.

Ibtisam There is a beauty in one's honest display of his enmity towards the other. It takes a certain amount of courage to declare yourself as the enemy of a political group or someone else because you disagree with their ideologies. Most people don't have the courage to say 'I oppose you on this'. Only the brave form true enemies, the rest who pass themselves as extreme enemies are a passing farce. On my part, if I were in opposition to someone's ideology, at least I would do him/her the honour of letting him know it. No mix-up needs to occur.

But the solution is to find a middle ground and compromise (even amongst enemies ) rather than push back into two extremes. Actually I like extreme enemies, in debate or in real life.

^It is one thing to convince one but is altogether a difference game-ball to destroy someone's argument beyond repair. When I am dealing with individuals with border-line political views, I try to convince them. However, when I have met the opponent before and have had the opportunity to sample their argument, I never try to convince them, but I work towards nullifying whatever they believed in. Compromise takes only between friends not between enemies. PS: Maybe we should leave the topic for the reasons Cambaro intended. We shall continue our talk some other time .

Originally posted by ibtisam: ^^^lool^ I'm sure they are, Bit too round I heard: OK, Ibtisam, not that kind of roundness . I meant that they are well-rounded charactors, just like you here. Now, if they are otherwise well-rounded, in the sense that they are really well-rounded in figure, ah! all that is a bonus! On the issue of bullying females in politics into tears, I mean, it is politics. Ideational bullying is part and parcel of the game called debate, if you know what I mean . Sometimes, the art of politics involves the employment of many tools to defeat someone's point. A psychological approach and a great attention to detail can break the opponent. You just have to place each word of your opponent in a context that is assured that make him/her sweat, in the middle of winter. Some females, instead of sweating, do cry, thats all. Nothing wrong with that. I kinda like seeing re-afirmation of human nature . Men fret when cought between a rock and a hard place and sweat .

Lol@Contemporary British Politics. I did well in Devolution Politics, actually. Ibtisam, in Politics, especially in seminar debates - when you have people who are in reality of opposing sides - extremely angry at the way things are - the likelyhood of winding each other till tears come flowing is not a rarety. When you have Palestinians and Jews in the same room. Members of Al-Muhaajiruun and pro-Empire BNP, the debates could be very interesting. Not to mention, having an Ethiopian and a Somali head to head about the goings on in the Horn. The strangest quarel I have seen, and the most bitter, seems to exist between Sunni Arabs (especially the Saudis) and Iranians! I never use to think there was much friction between the latter groups but after seeing their debates I thought, God, they are even worse enemies than non-Muslims are to them. PS: Women in Planet Pluto are nice and round .

^^ 'twas politics darling, simply politics.

I discussed both Politics and Psychology with females, especially with Somali females at uni and at conferences. Three of them cried. As for the non-Somalis, two were Jewish and one was pro-Colonialist . I didn't intend to but at the end of the seminar they had tears on their cheeks. I don't think they were emotional. I think that my points were simply favoured by the audience than theirs. Simple as that. As for Somali girls, I was lucky enough to have many Somali girls as students at uni. Some of these girls were fire-brands, I tell you.

Waan fiicnahay, marka hore. marka labaad, adigu see tahay? Run ahaantii waa qiso murugo leh oo qiiro iyo qarracan ku abuurta naf waliba. Saxansaxo, aad ayaan uga xumahay arrintan la soo deristey eheladaa, waxaanan Eebaheen ka baryayaa in uu, Isagaa Qafuuro Raxiim ahe, u maciino guud-ahaan dadyowga Xamar ku tabaaleysan ee madaafiicda iyo hoobiyayaasha lala beegsanayo. Gaaladan iyo gaala-raacda duullaanka nagu ahna cagtooda iyo ciribtoodaba Allaha tirtiro oo cirka haku dumo Idin Alle.

^^Hunguri, I was trying in la i fahmo easily. I thought af-Somaliga in la fahmi waayo ayaa suurta gal ah so I wrote a paragraph in English as it is the common language in SOL. Belo, I will stick to my Somali.

Originally posted by Haneefah: Funny majajilo. quote: Originally posted by Paragon: simply beauties ..all natural and no make-ups Simplicity and natural beauty are not confined to gabdhaha reer miyiga ah ee bal ha u gafin gabdhaha kale huuno Haneefah, walaaley, Soomaalidu waxa ay yiraahdaan ibni-Aadanku 'waa indha ku garaadle'. Anna isheydu inantaa reer miyiga ah ayaa la qurxoonaatey, ee hadaad i leedahay qaar ka qurxoon ayaa beladada jooga, soo in aan arko kama horreyso? Meel kaga dhici maayo gabdhaha kale balse kuwaa uu midibkooda dhiinka yahay unbaan isaga heesayaa abid. Adiguse, ma la jin baad tahay?

Originally posted by Cawo: quote:Originally posted by Paragon 1-Ma naag aad adiga qabto ama guursato oo kuu og ninnimadaada, mise; Oo ta dibada joogtaa kuma oga ninnimadiisa miyaa? Why would his manliness come into question waaba yaabe? :confused: As for the topic, tuu Allah kuu qoro, bismilah dhe. Cawo, iyo aan ku daree, Haneefa, maya labada erey ee 'kuu og' waxa aan ula jeedaa 'mid aanan ninku ku soo fara gelinin, lana qaybsanin raasamaalka reerka oo aanan la sinnayn Seygeeda marka la eego kaalintiisa ah masruufka reerka'. Taa hadii aan sii faahfaahiyo, Xaas number (1) waa mid aanan marnaba muran ka keenin talooyinka uu Saygeeda reerka guud-ahaantii u go'aamiyo. Waa halka, Xaasas badanoo dibadaha jooga ay wax-barasho iyo fursad gooni ay u leeyihiin oo u suurta geliso in ay Sayga amba nimankooda talo-qaybsi iyo iskaashi xaga masaariifta reerka la yeeshaan. Tani ma aha arrin xun, balse waa guur ka gooni ah guurkii hore loo yaqiiney ee uu raggu ceynaanku amba hogaangu u hayey. In simple terms, my categorization is purely academic and does not value or devalue one type of marriage above the other. While in the olden days, the tradition was that the helm and steer of the family was solely the domain of the husband, especially in matters pertaining to finances, as of late in the Diaspora, another marital arrangement is at hand. There is, in educated circles at least, a role for the wife to play her part when it comes to finances. This is purely down to the difficult circumstances a family might be facing or is purely based on the wife's choice to remain financially independent from her husband. However, for some men, this involvement of the wife in the generation of income degrades their manly roles as providers. It is not just some Somali men that complain about it, but even Western men. So to answer the question of Kulmiye, I only mentioned the two types of a wife he could envisage or plan on marrying

^Looool. I was about to comment of the malugu qabaa? Lol, yaa wax kugu falayaa . 'Oo walaal kaaley, indhihii Illaaheey kuu sameeyey maxaad isaga xihday?' 'Bal illaaheey baan kugu dhaarshee timahaaga bal eeg'. Lol. There is an allure to the reer miyi girl - what Somalis call - jiniyad. And the way she smiles all through the video. I think she can't help but smile . I had to watch the video again and again and she sure brings back my memories of girls from miyi... simply beauties ..all natural and no make-ups 'Laakiin anigu Ubaxa waxaan u aqaan wax dooxadayada ka baxa' lol.

Lol@Brown. Nin waliba dhookhii sxb . Aniga horta waxaan ka careysanahay sida ragga qadaad-xiirta reer magaalka ahi inanta yaree innocent-ka sheekooyin cusub ula yimaadeen . The only sheeko she knows concerns arigii iyo dameerihii iyo in roob da'ay . She is bemused! lol Jimcaale lol, waad igu dheeleysaa. Heedhe is an original northern word...

^^Sadax qaydkii sowtaa xiratey? Timaha oo ay sii deysaa waa laa mushkilo, laakiin cunaabiga ayaa ugu muhiimsan . Anigu mar allaaliyo markaan mala kugu suureeyo, waxaa ii sawirma inantaa yar ee garoorta dhiisha ku luleysa. Cirridaheeda qandiga madowga ah iyo qosolkeedaa qurxoonee laab-qaboojiska ah ayaan kugu tuhmaaye bal warka soo daa, Carfooneey .