This has nothing to do with article but it reminds of situation orchestrated by an old man (part of the old guard). The story involved the old man (once good buddy of Barre), a boy, Siyad's barre's daughter and her kofi cas entourage and barre himself. The old man was known to use different antics to highlight Barre's oppressive rule. The story goes , the old man knew when Barre's daughter arrived at her school in land-cruiser and with kofi cas entourage. He hired a boy and tasked him with the job of farting just as Barre's daughter climbed down from the cruiser. The boy did as was asked and let out big one in front of Barre's daughter. Eager to impress or please Barre, the Kofi cas roughed up the kid and chided him for farting in front of the President's daughter. The old man was hiding nearby and watching the situation unfold. As if by coincidence, the old man strolled towards the commotion and inserted himself into the situation. The Kofi cas gave him the proper greetings since he was known to them and they knew Barre was fond of him as person. He asked them why are they roughing up the boy. They told him what happened. And the old man goes, Ayaa qandho xumuu fildaran, ya madaxweynaha igartiisaa ku dhuusto. Ar wajigiisa iga doow gaalshiraha geey. The Kofi cas obliged and whisked the boy away. Ever so happy to impress their Boss, the Kofi cas told the events to Barre and how the old man instructed them to put the young boy away. Barre knowing the mischievousness of the old man told the Kofi cas to fetch him and bring him to the Villa. The two sat down together and Barre asked the old man if he would like something to drink. The old man paused for second and said maya laakin siyaad baroow awalaa la,isku ogaa in afka laxirey laakin hada maxaa lagu darey dabadaa.

Three things stand this cable, the TPLF is highly paranoid and its foundations are not firmly rooted. The ONLF is becoming a force to reckon and TPLF did not succeed in convincing Uncle Sam that ONLF is terrorist and the suffering of the people is acknowledged within the corridors of State Department.

They are not quite there, I like how he preempted them. Algeria lifted emergency. Apparently people can now demonstrate except in Algiers :-)

Zack-It's not so much allowing them to use the Berbera, more has to do huge displacement of peasants who will be left with no source income and will become economic migrants in Somalia. Majority of Ethios are subsistence farmers and the land policy in Ethiopia is detriment to their livelihood.

LoooL@Norf bless you:)

^There's difference between toppling hated regime and destroying an entire state. You are saying Nassir lived off Barre's regime hence him being sad about its fall :-)

This is a phenom called "land Grabbers' and it's happening all over Africa. Wealthier nations or corporations in bed with corrupt African leaders "buying" land for commercial use It's causing social upheaval that will explode soon or later. The Government of Ethiopia relocated hundreds of thousands from their lands to "communes" to free up land for foreigners. I think influx of poor peasants will not just be in Somaliland but in Puntland as well if not entire Somalia.

You know in the strict sense, one is more democratic but on different level, one is actual country, the other is just secessionist province.

^You didn't get me-you are insulting the little by comparing her to Xaabsade. She's better.

^Gabar maxaad uceeney.

So high unemployment, lack of vibrant political space, nepotism, corruption, and puppet dictators has nothing to do this uprising. And I guess self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi was not impetus for Tunisian uprising-what an !diot. LooooooooooL@progressive Muslim...I laugh when I see these words together.Talk appeasing Uncle Sam.

Ibti-you had a little powdery dust thing.Boston is having sixth major snowstorm so far and more to come. Apparently, 75% of the country is affected by the snow.

Britain & reached Ethiopia. agreement between Britain and France ctual demarcation of the trijunction point of the British/French Somaliland and Ethiopia was delineated by the 1 936 British Somaliland-Eithopia Boundary Commission. The boundary between Somaliland and Somalia was defined in the Anglo-Italian Protocol of May 1894. Why should Somalis honor agreements that were never part to?

Ayeeyo....There's is no Tim Hortons there, I don't think I could stay long enough even if I'm willing to join. I'm all for the struggle but I still need my caramel cafe' mocha. Zack...What are you on about?

C&H...So true, they are only democracy, that's they want the west to stop "criticizing" Mubarak for the stability. Promestheus....I'm rather surprised you are perpetuating the stereotypical argument that Arab Muslims have only between 'evil' theocracy and dictatorship and also do you think is rather silly to expect Egypt to adopt 'liberal' democratic ideas and institutions. If it's history is any indication, it's unlikely Egypt will be model democracy in the European sense.

^How so?

^One could have made the same argument about Egypt's two weeks ago. Same conditions exist in Jordan, maybe not so acute.

Jacpher...The era of he's SOB but he's our SOB might be coming to end but you should credit Bush's invasion:) Amazing how American choice of words evolved from 'Biden's Mubarak is not dictator' to 'Obama's transitional order'

^It's alternative universe considering how destroyed the rest of the city is.

I hope to go there soon.

Jacpher-Are you being serious or sarcastic? LooooooooL@NGONGE.

Nagadaa Sayid Xamar burburtey dhaanta Qandho dhaanta-meesha bus iyo dhagax ma,ahow.

Preempting demonstrators :p

(CNN) -- The king of Jordan dismissed his government Tuesday and appointed a new prime minister, a move follows protests calling for political reform. King Abdullah II asked Marouf Al Bakhit to form a government that will implement "genuine political reform," the Royal Court said in a statement. The government will "take practical steps, quick and concrete, to launch a process of genuine political reform, comprehensive development, and take genuine steps towards strengthening democracy," among other tasks, according to Al Bakhit's letter of instruction, which was also released. Last week, Islamists, leftists and union members marched in downtown Amman, demanding more significant economic and political reforms to help struggling citizens. Police estimated several thousand people gathered in the Jordanian capital for the event, although about half of them demonstrated. There were protests in six other cities as well, authorities said. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz and Journalist Amy Hybels contributed to this report.

^I used to go to Waqooyi as kid-don't know about the hospitality thing. Unfortunately, I will be taking the Nairobi route. I will go if Ibti will be there, I don't trust JB;)