Ameenah and Dalmar no doubt that the best nature is the one of embracing Allah and his religion. However what is the value of being a Somali, is it killing, clanism, Qad,division, fragmentation, greed or is it being the one that is reflected in being a Muslim, united, caring, just, peaceful etc. Thats what I pray fo that I will live long enough to see Somalia and the Somali's reflecting that which is best in our nature. Peace and prosperiy Insha Allah

I pray many a time for days Prayed so hard at times I cried Lord the ever lasting the one Guide me so I can clearly see the sun Why this shadow over me? My people have been gripped by madness The night is never ending They refuse to see Why do we die in vain? And who if not us will contemplate this pain? Mothers suffer for the sins of our fathers Sisters are blamed, brothers are maimed Rest gloat and the confused seek fame The promised land is misery Qad, loneliness and envy Merciful lord give me the strength to speak Lift me up for my knees are trembling, weak No longer do we care A caring soul amongst us is rare I love my land but I have doubt Doubt that I will be lost in this time In this injustice and never ending crime Never to see peace and prosperity I doubt that we have the strength to change So I seek refuge in the lord of men I prey that Allah will give Give his servant the chance to see True value in being a Somali

I pray many a time for days Prayed so hard at times I cried Lord the ever lasting the one Guide me so I can clearly see the sun Why this shadow over me? My people have been gripped by madness The night is never ending They refuse to see Why do we die in vain? And who if not us will contemplate this pain? Mothers suffer for the sins of our fathers Sisters are blamed, brothers are maimed Rest gloat and the confused seek fame The promised land is misery Qad, loneliness and envy Merciful lord give me the strength to speak Lift me up for my knees are trembling, weak No longer do we care A caring soul amongst us is rare I love my land but I have doubt Doubt that I will be lost in this time In this injustice and never ending crime Never to see peace and prosperity I doubt that we have the strength to change So I seek refuge in the lord of men I prey that Allah will give Give his servant the chance to see True value in being a Somali

Challenging Another Dictatorship In Somaliland Ibrahim Hassan Gagale — ( ) — 02 June, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenging Another Dictatorship in Somaliland On May 18, 2004, marking the 13th Anniversary of Somaliland Independence from Somalia, the mothers fell again to their knees crying and wailing of the illegal arrests of their innocent children who were scooped on the streets of Hargeisa by the police while expressing their grievances in peaceful demonstration. Equally Shocking, they were transferred immediately to Mandera prison cells at midnight by the kangaroo court of the outlaw and extra-constitutional security committee of Riyale`s Clique without due process in the court of law- A typical Siyad`s dark justice. There are reliable reports that two pregnant girls in the 154 students detained by the police miscarried in the prison cells due to mistreatment. The indiscriminate firing upon the students by the police in the heart of the capital, Hargeisa, maybe conspiratorial attempt by the Ruling Clique to show the world that Somaliland is as violent as Somalia in order to undermine its sovereignty and long-awaited recognition. This act could be just the tip of an iceberg of Somaliland`s transition into another dictatorship where law and democracy are buried and one man`s rule prevails. These sad sounds and sirens of wails were commonly heard in Somaliland during Siyad`s brutal campaign against Somaliland people in the 1980s. When dictatorship delivers to another dictatorship with no light at end of the tunnel after 44 years of independence, then it is justifiable if the Somaliland masses believe that life itself or existence is only fear, injustice, and atrocities, and that poverty, diseases, and ignorance are undefeatable parts of their own creation. True meaning of peace, justice, progress, and prosperity are only mental images to Somaliland nation. Before the current regime, this small nation, in the Horn of Africa, lived a thirty long-year-history (1960-1990) of unratified, disastrous union with Somalia and witnessed only South-led derelict, corrupt civilian governments (1960-1969) followed by Siyad`s savage dictatorship (1969-1990) that committed all kinds of attrocities in Somaliland to eliminate an entire nation and replace it with refugees from Western Somali Province in Ethiopia and others just for tribal ambitions. The slow recuperation of the Somaliland people from the devastations and ravages inflicted by Somalia and the subsequent traumatic and depressive life in Refugee Camps in Ethiopia is shattered by the new threats of the native, corrupt, egomaniac government run by Riyale and his clique. Signs of new dictatorship are again creeping across Somaliland that may kill all hopes for stable, democratic, prosperous, and recognized Somaliland. Somaliland people blamed Somalia for their past calamities but today they should blame themselves for the growing uncertainties of Somaliland`s future because they failed to choose the right leader at the right time. They chose Siyad`s loyalists over their founding heroes with tested integrity, patriotism, and nationalism and that is why Somalilanders are suffering today from the consequences of their bad choice. There is no question that every Somaliland citizen has the right to be elected president but it is the people`s descretionary duty not to elect controversial figures that could embark the nation on disastrous route that endangers the lives and properties of Somaliland citizens and threatens their hard-won sovereignty. The era of deception and misleadership is over and Somaliland people, due to past experiences, can easily distinguish a good government led by democratic institution that governs with uniform progress, respecting freedom of speech and press, promoting welfare of its citizens, and respecting the rule of law from a dictatorship run by a clique that reigns with terror and fear, chocking all sorts of progress and violating basic human rights through terroristic police control. Dictatorship is a system of government in which one person or small group of people have absolute control in a country with unlimited power that can not be restricted by constitution or by laws. Dictators come to power either through military takeovers like Siyad Barre or through dictatorship-turned-presidency by rigging presidential elections like Dahir Riyale Kaahin. When Somaliland people reclaimed their independence in 1991, they, at the same time, unanimously chose to govern the country with democratic system to avoid future dictatorships, to reach quick progress, and to hasten Somaliland diplomatic recognition by the world. Since Riyale`s government came to power in the mid of 2002, everything is deteriorating and falling apart in the countrty - The economy, defense, security, social services,infrasrtuctures, national unity and territorial intergrity etc. The behavior of Riyale`s Clique does not only amount to dictatorship but it could be a combination of foreign-imposed dictatorship and treasonous conspiracy well crafted by a secret group with political objective of returning Somaliland to Somalia. This group consists of: President Riyale of Somaliland, Ismail Omer Ghelle of Djabouti, and IGAD officials in cooperation with warlords of Somalia. In light of what is happening in Somaliland today, this covert group is plotting to take the country through three destructive conspiratorial phases. The first phase is to replace democratic system of Somaliland with Riyale`s dictatorship to make sure that he stays in power through rigged presidential elections until the above objective becomes reality. The second phase is intended to destroy the essence of Somaliland Constitutional Statehood with tribal influence under Riyale`s absolute power and promote widespread corruption to weaken Somaliland politically, socially, economically, and militarily for future merger with Somalia. The third and final phase has three simultaneous steps to bring down Somaliland independence. The first step is to facilitate for Puntland Administration to invade and occupy Sool and Sanaag Regions of Somaliland to disintegrate Somaliland Republic; the second is to secretly involve Somaliland in the peace talks of Somalia through the channells of Djibouti`s Ghelle to reunify with Somalia, and the third step is to ultimately create tensions and confrontations among Somalilanders, by financing and arming clans against each other, in order to plunge the country into violence, anarchy, and despair making it a failed state similar to Somalia in order to breakdown Somalilanders morally and make them accept unconditionally the outcome of the third phase which is to share another union with Somalia. In the process of these three phases, there is a campaign of concerted efforts by the Clique intended to hypocrtically blame opponents and opposition party leaders for creating instability in Somaliland, for fighting Riyale over the presidency, and for underminding international recognition so that the reactionaries can look patriotic in the eyes of the people in order to divert the public attention from their political, conspiratorial sabotage against Somaliland sovereignty. The country, Somaliland Republic, is passing now through the last or final phase to put Somaliland sovereignty to death and force its people to join another unwelcome, humiliating merger with Somalia unless it is salvaged by its people soon. 1.Evidences of Riyale`s Dictatorial Rule Dictatorships all over the world have the same characteristics and Riyale`s rule qualifies for them as the following descriptions show: 1. Rigging of presidential elections of April 14, 2003 by wielding the powers of the presidency and the chairmanships of the parliament, Supreme Court, and Election Commission. It is embarassing how the most important four powers of Somaliland Republic, with which the Republic can be brought down easily, were seized by these four individuals who were loyal to Siyad`s Regime: Dahir Riyale Kahin, President of Somaliland Rep; Ahmed Mohamed Aden (Qaybe), President of the House of Parliament, Saeed Farah Ahmed, recent President of the Supreme Court, and Ahmed Ali Adami, the Chairman of the National Election Commission . The blanket amnesty offered by the Congress of Somaliland Council of Elders, held in Burao in 1991, was commendable, but that did not mean to elect leaders or appoint cabinet ministers and other important government officials without public scrutiny and careful descretion. The coming parliamentary elections maybe manipulated dishonestly with public money by the Ruling Clique in order to avoid Riyale`s impeachment for ouster by the new parliament. 2. Abandonment of the Constitution, replacing it with Riyale`s personal directives, and disrespecting the system of checks and balances of powers of the Somaliland Republic by influencing the parliament to reconfirm cabinet appointments rejected by this body previously (Most of Current parliament members are corrupt and unpatriotic for being sold out by Riyale, they betray their nation and remain indifferent). 3. Prevalence of widespread corrruption of public funds mismanaged by government officials without transparency, accountability and reliable financial auditing system in governmental entities. Opposition leaders and other public figures have recently accused Riyale`s government of allegedly stealing $16M from the people. The top members of the Clique might have deposited this money in Europe. These crippling corruptions have devastated the nattional economy, defense, internal security, infrastructure, basic social services such as health, education etc. 4. Basing government appointments and promotions on loyalty to Riyale`s Regime, preferring ignorant, inexperienced individuals to educated, experienced people, forming inflated-government cabinet that is very burdonsome to the country`s economy, and expelling ministers that challenge Riyale`s dictatorship or committed to Somaliland cause - Mr.Mohamed Hashi Elmi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, was fired recently when he challenged thedictatorship. 5. Supressing and repressing peaceful demonstrations, firing upon them when come out to streets to express their grievances, inflicting casualties, and carrying out campaigns of unlawful arrestes and detentions of Somaliland citizens. These deliberate violations and abuses of human rights drew outcries and condemnations from human rights organizations. 6. Constant censorship of media, threats and detentions against jornalists. 7. Plundering land in major cities of the country with public funds by government officials, turning them into landlords, displacing the poor, volnurable,and the helpless. 8. Destroying the good of the individual claiming falsely to protect the good of the whole. 9. Imposing unlawful state of emergency and unnecessary curfews to suppress the public andquell the dissent. 10. Making the presdiency of the country inaccessible by surrounding it with heavy weapons and guards that prevent political leaders and traditional elders, and the public as well, from seeing the president for national issues- A typical Siyad`s presidency. 11. Riyale`s consulting with the top members of his Clique on national issues such as Ahmed Mohamed Aden (Qaybe), President of House of Parliament, Hussein Ali Duale (Awil), Minister of Finance, Ismail Aden Osman, Minister of Interior, Abdullahi Mohamed Duale, Minister of Information, and Mohamed Ege, Commander of National Police Force, and distancing himself from the vice president Mr. Ahmed Yussuf Yasin. 12. Meddling in the functions of local governments and preventing them from holding their routine local meetings without the approval of the Intertior minister, Ismail Aden Osman. 2. Conspiratorial Nature of Riyale`s Government Riyale`s government is not only dictatorship but conspiratorial too intended to bring down Somaliland Republic, and the followings are the evidence: 1. Desecrating the sacred history of SNM struggle (1982-1991), attempting to prevent people from celebrating it, and trying to remove it from Somaliland history knowing that it is the most important part of the country`s history. After Somaliland reclaimed its independence in 1991, the new governments were expected to found and promote a Historical Society of The Armed Struggle of SNM to make it a living history for ever for having in hand the three major components of collecting and making history, which are: a) The primary source (People: accounts of SNM veterans such as leaders, officers, and fighters, with real stories of the armed struggle. b) Documents (About SNM foundation, strategic mission,leadership and military wing, accounts of battles and final liberation etc. c) Artifacts (weapons,equiments of communications, uniform, shoes,transport, and cookingwares used in the armed struggle of SNM etc).Equally important was to found the Historical Society of Somaliland History. 2. Dishonoring SNM veterans and blocking them fromparticipating in the government while filling ranks of the government with proSomalia elements whose mission is to undermine Somaliland sovereignty for federalism with Somalia. 3. Concentrating the power of the Somaliland government in the west of the country, investing inthe Western Regions and neglecting the Eastern Regions so Riyale can create an impression that the government belongs to the West of the country in order to devise tensions and confrontatons between the two sides intended to bring down Somaliland sovereignty with violence. Somaliland people, both in the west and east, are aware that Riyale`s Regime have done nothing for their welfare but killed their hopes for progressive, stable, democratic Somaliland with conspiratorial schemes to destroy Somaliland Republic. Somaliland people is indivisible with same destiny and united to oust Riyale`s government to salvage Somaliland Republic. 4. Letting Puntland`s armed militia invade and occupy Las-Anod, the capital of Sool Region since December 2003 and ignoring its ongoing gradual advancement toward Sanaag Region thus underming national unity and territorial integrity of Somaliland Republic to disintegrate Somaliland for Somalia`s union revival. 5. Shutting down virtually Berbera Seaport, the life line of Somaliland, forcing the Western Regions of the country to use Djibouti Seaport to boost its economy, and the Eastern Regions to use Bosaso Seaport to boost Puntland`s economy too. President Ismail Omer Ghelle of Djibouti is behind the virtual closure of Berbera Sea Port and is running Somaliland`s internal affairs secretly through Riyale. Ghelle`s advocacy for unity is not from the heart but he just hopes that if Somaliland returns to the Union with Somalia there is good chance that Mogadishu will shut down Berbera Seaport for ever for Djibouti`s economic development. 6. Scapegoating and blaming opposition leaders and Eastern Regions of the country for the insecurity in the country to cover up the involvement of Riyale`s Clique in the political sabotage against Somaliland sovereignty. The silent delay of prosecution against the killers of the five international aid workers murdered in Somaliland recently created growing suspicion in the public that Riyale`s government itself might be involved in their deaths to undermineSomaliland diplomatic recognition and its reputationfor stability and peace in the Horn of Afica. 7. Somaliland currency is working only in the WesternRegions of the country and its absence in the Eastern Regions created a perception and picture of two different countries. Considering the above mentioned dictatorial and treasonous characteristics sabotaging Somaliland sovereignty, democratic system, and peace, it is time to oust Riyale`s Regime. No dictator can maintain power through brute force. If he rejects calls of resignation or the current parliament fails to impeach him for quick ouster, which they may not do, then it is the patriotic duty of Somaliland people (Opposition leaders, masses, armed forces officers, intellectuals, traditional elders etc) to challenge the rising Dictatorship of Riyale and bring it down to its knees through popular uprising and civil disobedience for their own survival, and replace it with transitional president, in national Congress, who is honest, patriotic, natiolistic, and committed to Somaliland sovereignty, and then hold national presidential elections within 1-2 years with limited term for presidents to avoid future dictatorships. LONG LIVE SOMALILAND REPUBLIC. Written by: Ibrahim Hassan Gagale. Email: Ibrahim_hg@yahoo.com June 1, 2004.

Minister Edna Aden: Somaliland Women Are Being Brutalized By Your Government, Will You Speak Up On Their Behalf? Khadra Ibrahim — London, England — 03 June, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minister Edna Aden: Somaliland Women Are Being Brutalized by your Government, will you speak up on their behalf? As if recent arrests and maltreatment of the protestors were not shocking enough, we learn that among those young people, who were unlawfully detained, beaten and then sentenced in a kangaroo court, were two pregnant young women. I will certainly be justified to lament Somaliland's current disastrous state of affairs. However, I will not venture into explaining how we got to this disastrous state of affairs. Instead I like to register my outrage and extreme sadness over the brutality and beating of two young Somali women. We learn through the paper that these young women were brutalized to the point of miscarrying. To make matters worse, when these young women were brought to hospital, they were chained to their hospital beds, as thought they were killers of the first order. After a reported shock and outrage from the citizens of Somaliland, the injured women were transported back to jail without even being properly treated. This is an outrage. These women could suffer lasting effects; they might never have children because their body was brutalized so badly in a sensitive time which caused miscarriage and bleeding. These young women might very well be dealing with infections that could be the beginning of long lasting health problems. Never mind the psychological and emotional toll the experience might bring. Therefore, it is shocking that Minister Edna Aden, is silent about this brutality. Edna after all is well aware of the health hazards and lasting affects of torture and beating on pregnant women. As a midwife and an experienced nurse, Edna knows that pregnant women need rest, nourishment and care not beating and brutal treatment. So why then our beloved minister is silent about this, why isn't she demanding the release or at least the treatment of these young women? Why isn't she resigning over this outrage? Minister Edna, we expect that you will share our outrage over the brutal treatment of young women. This goes against everything that people of Somaliland's liberation movement has fought hard to establish. After long liberation, which we sustained countless losses, we expected that young Somali women will never again be used to terrorise, intimidate and punish their society to submission. This is against everything a free and democratic Somaliland should stand for. What took place is criminal. International law confirms this; it recognises this sort of treatment as violence, a weapon of war and a form of persecution and torture, especially when perpetrated by soldiers or police in the course of carrying out an interrogation or arrest of women, regardless of where such interrogation or arrest takes place. Minister Edna, we expected more from you. We expected that you of all people will be up in arms and will demand at least that these young women are offered medical treatment. We expected that you will be scandalised that a government you are part of is inflicting torture on young pregnant women. Clearly, we were mistaken and you are part of this corrupt political system and your slogans were just that slogans. Will you rise and proof that our initial believe in you were not misplaced. Will you restore our faith in you and proof to us that you truly care about the well-being and the development of Somaliland women. Minister Edna will you speak up against this inhumane treatment of women? I am hopeful that you will not forget your moral responsibility to these helpless young women? Khadra Ibrahim London, England khadra_ibrahim75@hotmail.com

My dear old friend Shirwac Jama well done, the man has become a topic of his own. So much for Somaliland and "its getting closer" recognition oh well.

One should seek to unite the people and not create further obsticles, we are one nation and we are all suffering, there is a drought in the North East/ North West there are killings in Mogadishu and central regions and we are discussing passports? Lets set our prioraties people, our people our vulnerable people, our land our neglected land and our name our dirty name should be the priority and not that inflated ego of ours.

US soldier 'photographed having sex' 13/05/2004 - 17:14:13 A female soldier at the centre of the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal was photographed having sex with other military guards, sometimes in front of detainees, senators said today. Private First Class Lynndie England has already become the face of the scandal, shown in pictures pointing at a naked Iraqi and holding another by a leash. She has claimed she was following orders from senior personnel and the photos were used to terrify other inmates into talking. But unpublished photographs show Pte England engaged in sex acts with other soldiers, some senators told NBC. The 100 senators were able to view hundreds of sickening pictures of prisoner abuse last night – images which the Pentagon now say will not be made publicly available. “She was having sex with numerous partners. It appeared to be consensual,” said one senator. “Almost everybody was naked all the time,” another said. Other senators branded the images of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, near Baghdad, “disgusting”. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said: “I expected that these pictures would be very hard on the stomach lining and it was significantly worse than anything that I had anticipated. “Take the worse case and multiply it several times over,” he added. Some snaps showed Iraqi women commanded to expose their breasts. “I don’t know how the hell these people got into our army,” said Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, from Colorado. “There were several pictures of Iraqi women who were disrobed or putting their shirts up. “They were not smiling in the pictures, that’s for sure. But it didn’t look like they had been beaten or hurt.” “It was pretty disgusting, not what you’d expect from Americans,” said Senator Norm Coleman. “There was lots of sexual stuff – not of the Iraqis, but of our troops.” Pte England went on American television yesterday in a bid to defend herself. She said she was following orders when commanded to appear in photographs. She told the KCNC-TV station: “I was instructed by persons in higher rank to stand there and hold this leash and look at the camera.” The reservist said the pictures were intended to put psychological pressure on the Iraqi prisoners to talk. She said military intelligence officers would tell the prison guards: “This is working. Keep doing it. It’s getting what we need.” She said: “We think everything was justified, because we were instructed to do this and to do that.” Pte England, is a petite 21-year-old from a trailer home in West Virginia. According to some reports, England is engaged to, and carrying the baby of, Specialist Charles Graner, 35, who faces a possible court martial on criminal charges of maltreatment and indecent acts. She was trained as an administrator and was sent to the Abu Ghraib centre to keep prisoner records. Pte England, who wants to study to be a meteorologist, signed up for the Army at 17, before she had graduated from high school. She is a cat-lover and sent money from her Army pay for her two sisters’ newborn babies, her family said. Meanwhile, further evidence of soldiers mistreating Iraqi detainees came to light in a military prison guard’s video diary. The unidentified female soldier said of the deaths of two inmates: “Who cares? That’s two less for me to worry about.” Other soldiers are seen on the CBS 60 Minutes II programme, detailing poor conditions and overcrowding at Abu Ghraib and the Camp Bucca prison in Southern Iraq. Two more soldiers are to be court martialled over the prisoner abuse scandal, it was announced yesterday. Sergeant Javal Davis, 26, of Maryland, and Staff Sergeant Ivan “Chip” Frederick of Buckingham, Virginia, would face general courts martial, said US military spokesman Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, making a surprise visit to the Iraqi prison at the centre of the abuse scandal, said lawyers were advising the Pentagon not to publicly release any more photographs of Iraqi prisoners being treated badly by US soldiers. He dismissed as “garbage” any suggestion the Pentagon tried to cover up the prison abuse. After meetings in Baghdad, Rumsfeld travelled to the Abu Ghraib prison. Speaking about the unpublished photographs, he said: “As far as I’m concerned, I’d be happy to release them all to the public and to get it behind us. “But at the present time I don’t know anyone in the legal shop in any element of the government that is recommending that.”

Horn it is Puntland state of Somalia, Ayoub it [Puntland] has kept the beloved blue national flag flying high in Las Ano capital of Sool. Even if Abdullahi left, died was deposed what ever Abudwaq would not be part of Puntland its not practicle, its not in Puntlands interest to get into Galgaduud what would we gain from it access to more sand? or maybe that gem of a city Ceel Buur? Puntland needs to develop its infrustructure it needs to be secure and open to all Somali's to live in its wonderful that Bossaso we have Somali's from every clan and we need more Somali's living in Puntland and helping its development. What happened in Xeerale was a tragedy and it needs to be resolved by its stakeholders and Puntland can play a posative role in this. Puntland should not expand any further it does not need to expand any further and it should not engage in any millatery adventures outside protecting its borders from so called super Somalians in the Northwest region, south of Mudug we need more integration, cooperation and undesrtanding they are Somali's and our folks.

Like the residants of Fallujah said the US dont keep their word but a year on after "liberation" and the US might try and liberate Fallujah a fourht time.

All Somali's should rebuild their respective zones clan or otherwise, town by town, city by city, district by district then can we overcome these tragedies that take place daily in which innocent Somali blood is shed.

I am against the expansion of the Puntland state any further. Abudwaq ia out of the question because it presents us with no clear benefit other than wasting our resources when they could be spent more wisely in our territories. Its quite funny sometimes how Somali's like to promote their ignorance, people Puntland as it stands is nearly 40% of the Somali independent republic it has 800 mile coastline it has Galkacyu, Bossaso, Qardo, Las Ano to mention a few cities under one single administrative control.The fact that its inhabited by one single Somali sub clan, is the almighty Allah decesion so get over it. Abudwaq ia a nice place it deserves better and it is up to its inhabitants our noble brothers to fix it. Peace to Somalia and Iraq and the Ummah

Fallujah Rebels, Residents, Police Celebrate Victory Over US Marines by Dahr Jamail The US 1st Marine Division sent a small convoy into Fallujah today in order to meet with the mayor and show cooperation with the Iraqi Police (IP) and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC). But the supposed show of force was a pre-arranged exercise. Immediately following the Marines' departure, the embattled city erupted into what could only be described as a huge victory celebration over the US military.Residents were joined by fully armed resistance fighters who intermingled freely with uniformed IP and ICDC personnel. At roughly 11:00 this morning, several American Humvees and Stryker vehicles entered the downtown area of Fallujah, accompanied by pick-up trucks full of members of both the IP and ICDC, who traveled in front of, beside, and behind the military convoy. The small convoy slowly made its way inside the heavily blockaded Tribal Council compound. A 1st Marine Division press release about the exercise says Marines "traveled into Fallujah today to exercise freedom of movement and meet with city officials." Abdul Rahman, a captain in the ICDC, explained the Marines' exercise as a negotiated concession. "There were negotiations between the people of Fallujah and the occupation forces," Captain Rahman said. "The plan is for the Americans to pull all of their troops out of the city after they get this one patrol." After pausing to look at the military vehicles inside the compound, Rahman added, "We want them out of our country." Nervous residents of the recently besieged city watched quietly from sidewalks as the vehicles sat for about 30 minutes inside the Tribal Council complex, behind concrete barriers some eight feet high. The scores of Iraqi Police and Iraqi Civil Defense Core members who had accompanied that patrol now guarded the building. In the Marines' press release, 1st Lieutenant Eric Knapp, the Public Affairs Officer for the 1st Marine Division, states, "Cooperation between Coalition and Iraqi Forces in Fallujah is symbolic of the solidarity between all who share a vision of a secure and prosperous Iraq." But at least some members of those Iraqi forces saw the situation differently. Just outside the compound walls, Alla Hamdalide, a member of the ICDC forces said his unit was required to protect the Marines. "We brought the Americans from the bridge into the city," he said. "They couldn't even come in here alone. The victory for Fallujah remains." Despite the extremely tense and somber atmosphere outside, Major General James Mattis met with the mayor of Fallujah inside the compound where they reportedly discussed plans to rebuild the city. After only half an hour inside the compound, again with scores of IP and ICDC riding in pick-up trucks and surrounding the Marines' vehicles, the patrol slowly made its way back out of the city. No gunfire was reported during the event. Immediately after the patrol left the area, spontaneous celebrations erupted as crowds of residents gathered in the street and began chanting and waving banners. Members of both the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps joined in the celebration, waving their guns in the air and flashing the two-fingered "Victory" sign. An elderly Fallujah resident riding in the back of a truck, waving a traditional Iraqi flag, yelled, "Today is the first day of the war against the Americans! This is a victory for us over the Americans!" Resistance fighters, called mujahideen ("freedom fighters") by locals, mixed in with the crowd of unarmed civilians, police and Iraqi soldiers. Brandishing rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPGs), Kalashnikov assault rifles and hand grenades, they paraded on trucks as thousands of residents began to move up and down the main street in an impromptu victory parade. US military officials have admitted that among the Iraqi forces making up the Fallujah Brigade, which they say will be relied upon to maintain security in the city, are an unknown number of guerillas who confronted US Marines just last month at the peak of fighting here. The new brigade is led in part by Ba'athist officers who served in the military under ousted dictator Saddam Hussein. Ahmed Saadoun Jassin, a uniformed Iraqi Policeman hired and trained by the US occupation authority, didn't bother containing his joy at seeing the Marines leave. "I can't describe to you the happiness I feel right now," he said. "This is a victory for Islam." When asked about cooperating with the Marines, Jassin explained, "This was the deal that was negotiated. They couldn't stay in Fallujah for over one hour, which they didn't." Shop owners threw handfuls of candy at the passing crowds. Many of the people celebrating waved old Iraqi flags, while some held up copies of the Qur'an. Music blared from mosques as vehicles carrying both armed mujahideen and celebrating residents of Fallujah made their way up and down the main street of the city. Members of the IP, ICDC and several of the resistance fighters were seen firing their guns into the air. The 1st Marine Division made no mention of the agreed restrictions Iraqi police and soldiers said were placed on the Marines to ensure them safe travel in their press release. "Fallujans reportedly waved to the Marines as they made their way in and out of the city... Freedom of movement in Fallujah, like that demonstrated by today's visit, is a crucial component in the process of setting the conditions necessary to rebuild and revitalize the city," wrote Lt. Knapp. "This display of teamwork serves notice to those who violently oppose stability in Iraq; they are nothing more than unwanted barriers on the road to a truly free Iraq." One resistance fighter riding on the roof of a truck while wielding an RPG stated, "They [the Marines] just made the people of the world laugh at them. But I think they will come back, because they don't keep their word.

Sooyaal Don’t know about you but my situation is something near Promised Land. I travelled From civil war and distruction in mogadishu in 1991 and came to peaceful country where i can have job, education etc. Sooyaal brother, I too fled Somali before the civil war with my very young family we where raised by a tough focused and all inspiring single mother and with the grace of Allah we have had many success in our new home. However what I have seen in the United Kingdom has been far from being the promised land for the Somali’s as a whole we face many obstacles, fragmentation, lack of employment leading to dependency on the state, failure of our children in general to achieve reasonable results in their schooling, high crime rate, drug abuse [khat] which has led our community to be the most marginalised and victimised community in the country. The picture is bleak for Somali’s in the UK the largest community in Europe with a population which is near 200,000. As an individual I have it good with a postgraduate degree and a good job but what I see around me frightens me and has made me question this utopian idea which Somali’s have of the west, where they are not needed or wanted and seen as a burden to society. This mindless dangerous migration is another failure of the Somali race.

Its great promotion for the film before its opening in Canes next week I hope it stings Bush and his hypocracy. Well done to Moore

No there is corruption in Somaliland dont say

Sooyaal, what have we achieved here? Are we living the promised dream? Qudhac, the orphan of her majesty the Queen of England you guys still talking? And with regards to the post it should not be seen as an insult only to Puntland its a tragedy for us all. Making money is one thing but this activity should not be excused.

Its tragic because so many lives have been lost because of this evil endevour and the authorities have waste resources and time in dealing with it once and for all the rest of the world does not care. If you dont look after yourself no one will. The problem for Somali's is that the grass is always greener, that they will risk everything in order to end up in the promised land, Europe or Yemen it maters not as long as it is not Somalia.

Lander it was kinda funny how this criminal wants to control Iraq. But the Americans are getting fed up with him now.

Casey if you are in doubt who the people of SOOL want then go to Las Ano the capital. Nuff said

The amazing story of an American Jew who "converted" from Shas to Hamas A Satmar Hasid moved to Israel from Brooklyn, but became disenchanted with teachings of Ovadiah Yosef; he converted to Islam and now supports Hamas. by Ellis Shuman July 28, 2002 Yosuf Hatab says that suicide bombings are unavoidable and that a Palestinian state should be established from the Mediterranean until the Jordan River. Hatab sends his children to a kindergarten run by Hamas and believes that allegations about Osama bin Laden's terrorist activities are part of a Jewish plot. The opinions are common among Palestinians, but Hatab is a former Satmar Hasid from Brooklyn. Yosef (Leonard) Cohen, 36, made Aliyah and settled with his family in Israel four years ago. Cohen fell under the spell of Shas and its charismatic leader, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. The new immigrant soon became disenchanted with Shas politics, began learning about the Koran and eventually converted to Islam. Today he lives in east Jerusalem. The story of Cohen's conversion from Shas to Hamas was reported last week on Israeli Channel Ten television, and in Yediot Aharonot. "Ovadiah Yossef brought us to Israel," Hatab says, "and because of Ovadiah Yosef, today we are Muslims." Cohen, his wife and four children settled in the Gush Katif settlement of Gadid in the Gaza Strip. The ultra-Orthodox family eventually moved to Netivot; their newborn son was given the name Ovadiah in honor of the Shas leader. The children studied in religious schools that were part of the Shas network, and even excelled in their studies, Yediot Aharonot reported. Cohen helped the community by distributing food to needy families; some of the food was also given to Arabs living in the area. In his spare time, Cohen surfed the Internet, and that was where he was first exposed to Islam and the Koran. Cohen began participating in an Internet "chat" with a person who identified himself only as "Zada." The more the two chatted, the more Cohen became curious about Islamic traditions and philosophy. Eventually Cohen discovered that "Zada" was actually a Muslim religious cleric from the United Arab Emirates. Cohen was strongly influenced by his Internet friend, who helped him connect with Muslim religious leaders in east Jerusalem. Yediot Aharonot reported that Cohen's wife, Lana, also began to study and find interest in Islam. She told the paper that the religion provided her with the "meaning of life." Finally, Cohen and his wife, and their four young children, appeared at a Muslim religious court in east Jerusalem and were converted to Islam. The family moved to the Arab a-Tur neighborhood in east Jerusalem. Yosef Cohen changed his name to Yosuf Hatab, and the four children received new names as well. Ezra, 12, became Abed el-Aziz; Hasida, 8, became Hasiba; Rachamim, 6, became Abed el-Hamir; and Ovadiah Cohen, 4, received the name Abdallah Hatab. Today Yosuf wears a jalabia and his wife, Lana, wears a traditional Muslim head covering. The children spend their days in the "Al Aqsa" day camp run by Hamas near the Temple Mount in the Old City. The family members pray feverishly according to Muslim tradition, and the children speak Arabic as fluently as their Palestinian neighbors. The Yediot Aharonot report did not fully explain Hatab's decision to convert to Islam, or why he became so radical in his beliefs. Today, what bothers Hatab is the Interior Ministry's refusal to change the listing of his religion on his identity card to Muslim. "What would happen if I would die tomorrow? They could end up burying me as a Jew." Extracted 01/18/03 from Israel Insider

Casey I dont speak for Mr Garaad I suggest you phone him and ask him yourself There are alwasy two sides of opinion to everything however I am in no doubt that the minority are those who support Somaliland otherwise the brave and noble children of her majesty the Queen of England would be in Las Ano

http://villagenews.weblogger.com/stories/storyReader$11281

PPL do you not tire of day dreaming, how long have you been talking about SOOL how long have been wishing for recognition? After all you are the orphaned children of your still living mother the Queen of England

Unmasking the US and revealing its true nature through these pictures has been a remarkable turn around of fortune for the resistance movement in Iraq. Iraqi resistance has been spontaneous and growing; those who believed that the American’s had benevolent reasons for being in the country and there had been many, have been once and for all been proved wrong. Ahmed Chalabi the neo-conservative lackey is being sidelined the occupiers are confused with all their hyper power nonsense they had to retreat from Fallujah and do not know what to do about Najaf. The Iraqi’s are turning against the occupation and the whole western world is scared for if the greatest Judeo-Christian power to ever exist fails against little Iraq what will be the implication? Look at the consequences of their idiotic actions: Ex-Iraqi prisoner turns against his U.S. jailers, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4871554/ There is a new saying in occupied Iraq that “The road to Jerusalem starts in Baghdad but it has to go through Fallujah”