Salaan... I see, few of you really answered the question at hand. Let me join the few, to show how I was once "rejected," whatever it means. It was in 94, back in Nairobi. There was this Soomaali girl in our neighbourhood of Southland, Langatta {I know, I am giving more information than needed, but heey...} We used to go to this private school in the same xaafad. Anyway, after a couple weeks of not trying, not being a brave teen enough and regretting each night, I finally made a personal compromise for my dignity and for my infatuation. I decided to write a note, instead of in-your-face style of telling her. So I wrote a note with all the usual flattering remarks and praises, including, "Gabar waligaa sidaadoo kale ii cajibisay wali ma arkin...{I admit, the note was more about complimenting her beauty than her personality} I handed the note the next day after we finished class and hurried fast to reach home. I passionately waited until the next day. She kindly wrote back and after class session, handed me a hidden note. I quickly read it, and as expected it was kind enough with a few sympathetic and caring words, such as: "Aboowe waa aqriye waraaqdaa, waana ku mahadsantahay, laakiin waa iga yar tahay..." yada, yada, yada. Who needs in ee ii sharaxdo, yes or no would have been suffice. I know it was only a pure teenage infatuation I used to crave in those days. That same girl now lives in America and I had seen a video and picture of her, I swear I don't know if she is even that same person. Once again, what do they keep saying? Beauty fades quickly? Or your style changes? She surely changed or it might be my taste changing. ________________ A note to those who have never tried: un-rejected man never knows how cold or hot the water is, since he never even attempted to put a finger. So teens and soon-to-be teens, explore the world. Try the water. Put a toe or your whole feet, no problem. Don't resist. Don't be disappointed with rejection. Don't even give a second thought to that word. Life goes on. And you will surely gain sufficient experience when you finally past your teeny years. And would never regret, believe me. It is just like a hunting job, more rejection, the more it fills your experience on resumé. And one further point: The more a Soomaali girl SANKA KUU TAAGTO, the more she interests you, honestly believe me. See a Soomaali girl at a street, upon seeing you and realizing you are a faarax, her shy face suddenly goes to like a French waiter, looking at heaven. It is only a sign, their hint of expressing: tsk, tsk check on me...

Salaan... Caramel, hadal macaleesh aa wadaa, anigana qaaraan aa u imaaday. Ma is af fahmoynaa hada? Mise kista la aruurinaayo aa diidee, saas maa baqeyl u tahay? Yaahuu... Ninkaas waxaa meesha usoo giliye Xamar aa kusoo xasuustay in ee dadkii saas dhibaato u haayaan anagana meeshaan aa dal dalan iskaga heynaa {laakiin masawirka hadaa diiday waa lagaa bixinaa....saas ma rabinoo, cajiib gabdho aa noo talinaayo, siiba kuwa...never mind } Teeda kalena hadaa dhibsatay ereyga bajaq ka raali noqo, koleey waa ogaa intaanan qorinba ereygaas in ee gabdho badan ka xanaaqaan, waligeeyna wajigood maku hor dhihin, geesinimadaas ma qabi oo loo maqaarsiibaayo. Laakiin from now on kaasmaayo mise cismaanta aa la idinku wici doonaa.

Salaan... Read it and tell us what do you think I stumbled that page accidentally, so folks try to see what I had read. I think I should start building a huge compound for our sisters' protection from... God, gabdhaheena labada meelba waa laga soo wiideynoyaa. Shuut. Leave the sisters to us skinny faaraxis. Say it aloud, "NO AJNABI NOO!"

Salaan... Why is this topic on bajaq's section? Hmm... Idinka ma maqasheen: Wardhiigleey Wasaarad Waaye, inta kalena Wakaalad waaye, Washingtona waab waaye... Ciyaal Warta aa ku shirbi jiray waxaas. Marka na dhaafa, hadaan nahay Ciyaal Wardhi...yac, Ciyaal Hodan dheh, Wardhiigleey kulahaa. Wardhiigleey Xamar waxee ka ahayd Jane & Finch ee Toronto. Mise Harlemkii New York. Ciyaal siyo dhan aa ka buuxay, xaasidnimo iyo qaacinimo. Saaxiibiyaaloow, Xamar aa isoo xasuusiseen ee ninkaan jidka Tarabuunka ee Xamar aan kusoo arkay fiiriya, oo daraad markaan website kale ka aqriye aan soo xasuustay maskiinka. Walaahi markaa Xamar ku arkaayi ooliyadda ma marsaneen laakiin ciidda waa cunaayi, saa'idna waa ugu naxay oo xataa dhagihiisa, afkiisa dhan caro maanyo iyo ciid aa ka buuxday. Waa wareysan lahaa, nasiib xumo baabuur aa saarnaa, mana istaagi karin. Sheekadaan ila aqriya *Picture is removed, considering Caramel's fierce, demanding san ka hadal political correctness* {see, I am nin la iska baacsanaayo, torobo maskiin... } Ilaahoow ummadeena dhibaatadaan na hab qabsaday ka bixi, aamiin, aamiin.

Salaan... Where do we indeed go from this point to thaaaat point? Indeed, an humble question, Baashi. First off, the majority of Soomaalis are witty, clever, intelligent and most are amazingly skeptical about politicians, that cannot easily be misled by anybody, because since most of themselves are wanna-be politician advisers, if not politicians. Even those whose support and nepotism to their warlords know that they are wrong, but only support because of some murky, centuries-old clan allegiance system. Those some positive signs are the ones we should commend of. However, there are others that we took granted for. We need to evaluate ourselves, we the public masses. Let's look closely what Soomaalis are. Let's take a glance what we take for granted. Soomaaliya, in all over the world, is blessed something unique {and this is no exaggeration} in a league few other nations in this planet are members of: Af Soomaali being one. Diin: Islam, Sunni, 100 per cent. Culture, tradition, heritage, we all share it. History, at least the narrated versions we've heard have something consistent. When we realize that NACIIMOOYIN Allah noogu bishareeye, we can then take a step forward. Some values when you take granted for centuries, you may not realize to appreciate, and Soomaalis are no different. Step by step, we need to re-focus these points in these predicament times. Every Soomaali have to realize this. It is about time the little details, clan rivalry, over-doubting each person's intention stopped. We have to bury all of these negative thoughts, cleanse it from hearts. Just an example of this cynicism intention just happened recently. C/risaaq Xaaji Xuseen wrote an opinion piece, advising two mistrusted large clans should not vie for power for the next five years if a government comes out of Nairobi. One clan was his. The other being Aadan Cadde's clan. He advised these two large clans should step aside from power positions for some years, as they are the fiercing opponents and most distrusted about some misgivings. And guess what happened? He was severely criticized, denounced, slammed from all sides. With their dubious guesswork and thoughts, they focused unfounded, baseless, speculative ill-intentions of his heart. Some even revilled him personally by going far being the orchestrator the assassination of C/rashiid Cali Sharmaarke. God forbid. How can you deal someone that have conjecture thoughts like that? And why all those negative thoughts? What would've happened if he said those things about other clans? Oh, I don't want to hear. To some, it is not easy while they have some grudges to settle from what happened God-knows-when. As long as some bad apples in Soomaalis exist, they will always try to mess up the majority, seasoned, peace-loving citizens. We will not despair, and insha allaah maalintee ahaato waa ka bixi doonaa masiibadaan. And if the honourable men of SYL did overcome something greater than this, we can surely then.

Salaan... This whole affair of taking someone out is way overhyped. I remember how the old "boys" used to do the shukaansi at back home. Simple. Easy. Inexpensive. The shukaansi was used to be done and dealt at the luuqooyinka in xaafada and at tarjiinooyinka isgoysada, not taking the person to some fancy restaurant {heey, no body used to afford Curuba, and don't even think about dining in an existing maqaayado named Baar Jilbo Jabso or Baar Feer Feer}. You don't know how many times--while playing kadhimeey kadhim--I stumbled laba isku heyso oo bariga dhexe sheekada u mareyso at Isgoyska Bakaaraha tarjiinooyinka ubaxa iyo fiyooriyaasha dhexdooda. So mugdi, that I only used to hear, not seeing their faces, "Waryaa shaqo yeelo wasqaanyahoow...!" See, that was how our brothers mastered the art. But I see now living in the West, it is inevitable. I know, I sometimes do {even against personal beliefs}. Now, even some of us here take them to parks and Lake Shore {a Toronto lake}. Sitting there in the comfort of their cars, viewing the city, with no one seeing...Aha! I see we've taken a page from the isgoyska shukaansiga iyo jiirooyinka guidelines. Funniest episode was seeing this dude taking her to airport fence, watching over the landing and departing planes. Now, that is romantic! Ilaahoo na cafi, doolarkeenana noo safe gareey: aamiin.

Maskiinka iga koreeyo: You were charged {thank God, you were spared from the usual invective insults from the usual suspects mob} by failing to apply unwritten rules of collective mentality thinking {read: you-must-always-support-your-qabiil-regardless-of-right-or-wrong-and-you-must-always-say-negative-things-about-other-Soomaalis-if-you-must-speak-about-them}. That is one huge major step for you. Baraawo, sinyore. :cool: And as for the topic, this editorial cartoon sums it up: There goes another magnum opus by Aamiin Caamir again. _______________ Macsalaama.

Salaan... Nuune, widaayoow midaa iloowday: Sadexna waa in ee ugu macaanataa: Sariirta Cuntadda Hadalka See waaye, list-kaas dhanaa iloowday. Hadii list-kaas kasoo baxdo, inta kale negotiation aa lagu sameyn karaa. Cadaanimo tii rabto boorbaro iyo huruud aa loogu luujiteenaa. Gabadhii dheerarnimo rabto, kabaha dhaadheer bilaash miyaa. Tii dhuubis laga waayana, diet aa la gilinaa looguna bixinaa. Madoownimana indhaha iyo suniyaha indha kuul aa u yaalo, bishimahana waaba og tahay... This reminds me, by the way, a certain friend of mine's dooq. He likes to look at Jameekaan girls on certain places on the lower body. Markaa dhahdid wajigaas see ku fiirinee hee, he would say, "Nah, don't worry; you can put barkin on the face anytime. That takes care of it." That cracks me up everytime. Wa salaam.

Salaan... No wonder the Western world's media tone instantly changed labeling Liibiya from a pariah state to a friendly respected terms. Why? Nothing changed there. Absolutely nothing. Qadaafi is there. So is his Islamic Socialist idealogy. The only thing is that he bowed to Bush, Blair and the minions by scrapping the weapons {a good grief for Israel}. A senior official travelling with the prime minister said: "We will be using the visit to continue the process of bringing Libya into the international mainstream... What kind of official is person? Liibiya was a respected and effective member of interntional mainstream community yesterday, and it is a member now. Liibiya was the vehicle and architect behind the now-celebrated African Union. It always was a fierce member of Arab League. And an appreciated member of the Organization of Islamic Conference. It never was a reclusive country, save it to West. Macsalaama.

Salaan... nacalla iyo kawaanleydaa tihiin cuna. Aabahaa iyo sambacaa taacun, maxaa tiri? Waraa dadkaas abkoowgeey aa ku jiray oo Suuqa Miijiska ku qali jiray, kuna rifi jiray ee dhaaf yaah, hakaa shaqeystaan. Kawaanleey kulahaa. Have you been to Alberta or Minnesota lately? Kii shaleey wasiirka ahaa iyo kii cariishka daganaa oo mooro doora daris la ahaa tutigooda maanta kawaanleey ee noqdeen oo farihii dhiiga ku istaagay, intee hilib baraf oo doonfaar eh wali kala goonayaan. Wa salaam.

Salaan... Hibo, walaashiis cadeey, yaa sidii yaanyuur camal laguu xag xagan. Dad meeshaan ku jiro qabiilnimo hilfaha intuu ka galay, lafihii sii maray, oo wadnihii dhaafay oo hadaa dhahdid Soomaali ha midoowdo, dadkaan qabiilnimada cabay aa kuleh "qabiilist" aa tahay, oo qabiilkeena aa kasoo horjeeda {paradoxically, at the same time waxee ku lee yihiin Soomaaliland qabiil maku dhisno, iyaga lee contradict isku sameynaayo}. Ilaahoow adigaa caadil eh. Waligeey ma arkin dad saas camal eh. Qabiilnimadii aa blind ka dhigtay walaahi waxba ma arkaan, ka ahayn in ee aaminaan wax walba ee dhahaan labada la dhalatay oo ilmo adeeradooda eh. Back to the topic, kuwa ugu qabiilist xun, oo ugu Soomaali neceb baasaboorka Jabuuti ee ku socdaan oo ma arki karaan kan greenka calanka baluugan ku dhagan. Kuwa "moderate" oo wato baasaboorka greenka markii lagu qabto maalin cadeey ku dhahaayo, "Waa kumeel gaar." And the masses iska dhaafba oo Xajka waxee ku aadaan that old green one. Maka maarmaan, taasna waxee xaqiijinee in ee Soomaali kala maarmin. _________________ P.S.: Hibo, abaayadiis u sheeg hadaba in aa tahay "Soomaalileen" intii hadhoow laguugu soo boodin sidii gang camal, oo laguugu soo eedeynin qabiilist in aa tahay. Laakiin qabiilnimadooda heer wuxuu gaaray lahjadaa lee fiirinayaan, bas hadii lagaa arko ereyo qaas eh oo iyaga isticmaalin bas waaye oo waxaa lagu lee yahay "anaga nama tihid." Dad heerkaas taagan maa la doodi kartaa? Soomaali ilaahey hasoo hanuuniyo, Rabigoodana ha tuso iskaashiga iyo walaaltimada micnahee leedahay, wax kale aa dhahno maleh. Kuwii ilaa shan jirkooda cuqdad iyo xaasidnimo loogu soo aqriye at their living rooms hadee rabaan in ee saas u dhintaan iyagee jirtaa. Cafis wacan.

Salaan... Soomaali maxee dhaheen? Wixii xunba Xaawa leh?? Bar iskeerso maloo dhihin. Tribal skirmishes were there long before C/qaasin came to the scene, and there will certainly be there long after he is gone. Soo bari.

Salaan... There is nothing impossible about this game. First, do not start the first move. Let the jinni-dude start. As a person who used to value playing jar duqeed, the first move is very, very important, so let's be careful about the first move. I am gonna beat this evil-dude, even though I suspect there is something fishy about this game. Doesn't seem like a fair game.

Salaan... Ilaahey ha u danbi dhaafo, aamiin, aamiin... Ilaahaa weyn oo waaxid eh ha u naxariisto, aamiin, aamiin... Maanta maanta, maanta... yaa iloobi karo iyo qofkii qaaday. Magooleey, Allaha hakuu raxmado hana kuu danbi dhaafo, aamiin Allahayoow aamiin

Salaan... Can anybody guess who this person is? No wonder the white dude is beaming and surely wants a piece of that pure beauty See how natural beauty attracts. The guntiino garment reminisces me the days our ladies were proudly wearing their cultural garments. I wish today she re-adapts wearing a guntiino or dirac again. And what is that thing on her neck? They put it on her to make her appear as an African Queen. Maan, those people wax walba...

Salaan... Hethrow Intarnational Airport Macalinka weyn, Hethrow garoonka diyaaradaha la dhaho London maku yaalo. Ar amuu "madaxweynaha" iyo wafdigiis dhumaan oo laga dajiyaa Stansted instead. If that's so, then perhaps Ryanair uu ku imaadaa filaa. Good luck with his speech at the Commons. His Honourable Mr. President should be warned, though. In that Commons house, anything goes. From whistling to pounding-your-chair to protest. So if he hears a couple of MPs hammering their desks for whatsoever reason, he should continue his speech and give no mind over it. Macsalaama.

Salaan... S. Ma waxaad isu diyaariseen inaad falal gacan ka hadal ah samaysaan, miyaanay taasi ceeb ku ahayn idinka iyo dadka Somaliga ku hadla oo dhan ? J. Waxay ceeb ku tahay qofkii isagu xaq-darro ku socda, laakiin anagu waxanu nahay dad xuquuqdooda difaacaya, halkana waa laga yaqaan inay Somaliland iyo Somalia laba dal kala yihiin markaa iyaga ayey ceeb ku tahay. ...anagoo ugu talo galnay inaanu dhallin yarta ku soo gurno marka aanu maqalno inay dibad bax samaynayaan cadowgu. ...ka mudaharaadaan arrinta Somaliland oo aan haba yaraatee iyaga khusayn, anagoo isu diyaarinay inaanu jawaab fiican ku siino meesha ay rabaan inay ku mudaharaadaan. This is not the jungle and desert's of Africa, for God's sake. This is London. Don't give a field day to news-starved, hungry tabloids of London to smear Soomaali people at large. I don't want to see no two dimwits' hatred and violence kicking one another on the streets of London publicized on front pages on the next news day. That is going too far, people. I thought maryooleey people have mastered the art of arguing in Diaspora, but, but, but, but resorting to this...??? Absolutely not! *Sigh...* Soomaali goormee wada tashan doonaan oo conspiracies-kaan, xaasidnimadaan iyo cuqdadnimada ku jirto iska dhaafi doonaan. Goormee advantage ka qaadan doonaan their common background instead of tiniest details that disunites them. Soomaaliyeey saan si ma'aha isku dhaama. ______________ P.S.: There are LAWS in that country they sought refuge, including a right to match peacefully. You cannot distrupt that. Save that for your tuulo.

Salaan... Police said the stalker, believed to be the brother of her former handyman in Cardiff I didn't know she lived in Cardiff, Wales, because when I visited there last year, I too would have knocked {err, "lectured"} her down--to bring her back to Soomaali fold. When her father, Dahire, arranged for her to marry an elderly man in exchange for five camels, she ran away from home. Just 13 years old, the skinny girl walked 300 miles across Somalia to the capital, Mogadishu.... Ms Dirie wrote the best-seller, Desert Flower, about her life as one of 12 children born to desert nomads... She moved to Britain, where an uncle served for four years as Somalia's ambassador What are these inconsistencies? Her father is a "nomad" who wanted to "sell" her for some five camels. Her uncle, supposedly from her paternal side, is an ambassador to Great Britain. Don't you guys notice the discrepancies? As the Soomaali culture we know {families helping to full causes}, I don't think her father would have remained a nomad "selling" his children for some camels whereas her paternal uncle served as an ambassador. Her father would have lived a villa somewhere in Soomaaliya. A good fairy tale for a book, but anaga sheekadaas mana marsiin karto, ha ula tagto anjabiga.

Salaan... Ilaahey ha u naxariisto eedo/habaryar. Qoyskeedana cafis iyo samir suuban Ilaahey haka siiyo, aamiin.

Salaan... Barwaaqo, abaayadiis yeah, but how can I even try to believe a disheartened person? Walaashiis waran? Laakiin what is up with these despairing and disconsolate personality change about? Don't worry, we will soon defeat those evil capitalist people--with full spirit. Yeah, I will join fully for now. Jaaw.

Salaan... Originally posted by Spadez: MMM, I already told you in the other thread, you base your analysis on what some one has told you. You need to a lot more reading, a little less "Qaldaan" jokes, a lot more soul searching and a little less denial. Don't make me get you the post in which you said Somaliland equal clan X. This is the misassumption part where it starts. Since you like to bring the "old man" back into discussions, I therefore have to make it clear to you about one fact: As far as I know, the "old man" and his children---especially the younger ones--never, never, never ever talked about siyaasad and its implications--wrong or right. That is where the wrong misassumption starts. What I base about '60s leaders are purely based on the materials I read time to time and some other facts I heard from others {not the "old man"} And for your information, I am NOT defending that parliament and its former members. Whether Timacadde called it a qablaayad's institution or not, I am not defending anything or any person. Ee marka saaxiiboow ha ula dag dagin dadka sidaa adiga u fikirtid in ee u fikiraan--xaaraan caleeg dheh. Ilaahaa weyn aa cuqdad naga bixiye oo Soomaalinimo ma baray, ee hala soo boodin seeftaa qabiilka ku dhisan. We don't all have same sick mentality of qabiil-based thinking. And yeah, yeah, I know if it was not about qabiil why are you every time at FRONT ready to defend anyone that writes something about Soomaaliland, ready to use your weapons and at the same time are very mute when it comes to other Soomaali-based regional politics. Waxba ha ganbanin, macalinka. We ALL know Soomaaliland is about qabiil-identity. Hadii runta ku dhibeyso, raali ahoow, beenta ku nooloow. Laakiin anagoo soo jeedno qaaf na nagu marsiin _________________ P.S.: I heard the "old man" defeated one of your fellas when he rose to that position by a unanimous support from the members. Perhaps, you might be that guy's offspring and still have a little grudge. Don't worry, it is over saaxiib, that was 40 years ago. Waala iska raayaa saaxiib ee don't hold the resentment, hokey.

Salaan... Its an open Secret that the top 3 position in Government, namely the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judciary are not in the hands of the tribe, you, MMA, BN, Guraad, Sophist, Sammurria, and who ever else associate Somaliland with. Saaxiib, maxaa iga rabtaa aniga nin yahoow? Aniga qabiil malihi saaxiib, iga dhaaf qabiil nooh. :cool: Soomaalinimo igu wac. Mise maalintaa soo ogaatay the qabiil of the "old man" bas yaah, maalin iyo habeen from now every of my topics would be viewed from qabliilist angle miyaa??? Ga iga siiso waraa. Top positions Soomaali dhan adiga iyo xulufadaa ha qaataan, kuleel iyo qaboob midna ma igu heyso. _____________ P.S.: If you didn't know, the prime minister in the country I reside is called Paul Martin and as far as I know the TOP three positions are all occupied by white Caucasian figures. Marka ii sheeg sidaa cadaankaan ugu soo dajin lahaa jaraanjartaas ee isku camireen ee saaran yihiin. Macsalaama.

Salaan... *Sigh* Some Soomaali people... First thing first, I never was into any silly qabiil politics {I might be against secession of any Soomaali populated land, even if my qabiil tries to secede; against federalism, etc, but never into qabiil}, even if my people suffered. And I never was against any qabiil since ALL my family's relatives are made off every imaginable Soomaali qabiil out there. Even if they were not. This forum existed close to three years and every single day we were/are bombarded by certain folks about "their" suffering. Not once, prove me wrong, did I see them mention other Soomaalis' suffering. I dare you to prove me wrong. Their suffering was deplorable and should be condemned in every possible way. However, others suffered too and you aren't alone in that league. And no one is comparing any tragedy in here or any other place. I never posted these pictures before because I didn't want to evoke the sad chapter of our history. It happened, we can at least forgive or have some grudge until we face the grave. It is upto the individual. To the guy who had even the tendency to question that deliberate man-made genocide as a "natural" famine, I don't know what to say to you and this proves when I say only you care your suffering, not even acknowledging other Soomaali people's suffering speaks volumes. Does famine count as genocide? Then I suppose all natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and typhons can be labelled genocide Did you read the background piece I accompanied. I put that piece to make more awareness to the oblivious people like you. Again, if this was not genocide by burying hundreds of these emaciated bodies everyday, what do you call it then? Baliis, leave the hypocritical qabiil politics and see if you have a heart If adults can get like these two skeletal people, I don't want to see how the children turn out to be If you were in this father's shoes, I know what you would have thought today... _______________ P.S.: The worst victims who are still suffering are Soomaali Bantu and Banaadiri folks. For 14 years their women were/are raped, men killed for no absolute reason and their lands confiscated and yet, here we are mum. Sometimes it is good to know who suffered and who are cruelly suffering.

Salaan... Some folks are already competing how Martha Steward's future cell would look like. Below are some of the best from worth100.com Plain-looking prison cell When the cell is occupied by our decoration expert, Martha Martha lives to the fullest Martha, baliis make a revolutionary change to American prison system. Waaay to go.

A brief background of how this tragedy happened to those who are not familiar: The overthrow of Siad Barre was the prelude to total disintegration. The opposition groups were all clan-based organizations each fighting for a particular clan interest. This is made very clear from an examination of their areas of operation. Some of the groups focused their activities on areas historically controlled by their respective clans. The Somali National Movement (SNM) operated in northneastern Somalia; the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) in the Mudug region; the United Somali Congress (USC) in the territories of central regions; and the Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) in the inter-riverine regions predominantly populated by ****** {qabiil's name omitted, but read the victims' tribe of the famine}. Other groups were fighting to defend the territorial gains they had made since independence in the inter-riverine and coastal regions of the south. The Somali Patriotic Movement operated in the Middle and Lower Juba valley; the Somali National Front was based in the Gedo region; and the Somali National Alliance, a ******** {qabiil omitted} faction occupied the regions of Banadir, In January 1991, Mogadishu was captured by USC, and Barre's regime collapsed. However, this was not quite the end of this story. Barre's forces maintained strongholds in the inter-riverine regions of the country for almost a year, during which they pursued a scorched earth policy, destroying the infrastructure and bringing agricultural production to standstill. Because the ******* {qabiil omitted} were excluded from high ranks in the Somali army, the SDM had no access to arms and lacked sufficient means to protect their people. The inter-riverine people were trapped between Aideed's forces in the north, Barre's in southwest, and Morgan's--Barre's son-in law--in the south, in what became also known as the "triangle of the death." Baidoa the capital of the region became also known as the "city of the walking dead." It is estimated that nearly 500,000 people died in the man-made famine that followed. After Barre's army was forced out of the country in mid-1992, Aideed militia looted Baidoa once again, taking everything the dictator's soldiers had left behind. One relief official in Baidoa in 1992 said of the starving Somalis: "These people look like they are from Auschwitz. The monthly death rate in August in Baidoa was 3,224, that is 104 a day. In September, the figure rose to 5,979 people a month, or nearly 200 a day. The looting and rampage increased when the US Marines landed in Mogadishu, and the feeling bandits went on a last minute rampage in Baidoa." Famine in Baydhaba was neither the result of natural or environmental causes, nor the result of the civil war. Baydhaba is one of the richest cities in the country and the capital of the most productive agricultural region, and did not experience the level of conflict that was the fate of Mogadishu, Beledweyne and Kismaayo. How then could ****** {qabiil omitted} suffering be explained, when they had no part in the power struggle? Some have argued that Baidoa was hit by famine due to its inland location, which made relief deliveries difficult. If that were the case, then Beledweyne and Gaalkacyo would have had the same experience as Baydhaba, for they are located in the interior, too. When General Aideed captured Baydhabo, his militia started a genocide policy when they blocked food shipments from inter-riverine area. Throughout 1992, and before the US Marine landed on the shores of Mogadishu, Aideed militia prevented food from reaching Baydhaba and other parts of southern Somalia. They used various tactics, including forcing relief agencies to use the militia's trucks and drivers for transportation. Whenever vehicles of United Nations headed for the inter-riverine region, the militia methodically looted them en route. Finally, when the UN/US command in desperation decided to airlift supplies to Baydhaba, Aideed militia controlling the Baydhaba Airport had imposed a fee of $5,000 per flight, taking a percentage of the food load as well. ________________ Arlaadinet.com {I abridged and edited qabiil names from it}.