Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar;783272 wrote: The argument is still valid and nothing to do with personalities. The theme of the argument is this: Soomaaliya is a war-torn country, with corrupt, marginalized, divided weak leaders. Soomaaliya is no position to sign long-term natural resources agreements with shady companies now. It was the same valid argument raised by that Garoowe Online editorial in 2008. It still stands, nothing to do with Faroole's son, Faroole himself or the author of this article, Bilan. What are you are saying here is that Somalia will make a poor bargain given it's current situation. It's not invalid point in general but what I'm saying and have been saying - is that at this point it's premature.

Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar;783253 wrote: Of course he is working for it now because his father wato. But the argument did and does remain still valid. This is the main and basic argument: But the Muse (read Faroole now) administration of Puntland has placed much focus – and fuss – on fantastic daydreams of getting rich by exploring for oil and other natural resources in a country torn apart by years of civil war, foreign military occupation and terrorism. It is the same argument raised by the sister, Bilan A. Aaden. What does that mean? Iraq is a country that is/has been torn apart by years of civil war. Does it mean it can't or shouldn't export oil?? That Somalia is unstable and in a civil war is clear - but why should it not hunt for or export oil if it finds it. That makes no sense. Whether it is a daydream or not - we will soon see. But it is odd that a daydream should concern people so.

The Zack;783244 wrote: Punto, WHAT? Agreements, sxbkey, when they are made, can't be altered unless otherwise stated. How do you know if this one can be modified at any time? Of course they can. Ever heard of oil industry nationalizations of the 1970s or that Chavez kicked the US oil majors out of Venezuela when he came to power. Besides we're an African country - why the hell would any foreigner expect us to honour a contract?

Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar;783243 wrote: Punto, what changed from 2008 to now? What made Garoowe Online endorse it now and against it in 2008? Aren't the arguments the same and valid? Faroole was fired by Cadde - he was bitter. Ergo what was written then. You know as well as I do - that everyone has an axe to grind in Somali politics. That piece wasn't written out of the goodness of Garowe Online's heart and the well being of the Somali masses. The arguments are about essentailly about splits. Let's find the damn oil first and then talk about splits.

^MMA - I don't believe she did raise good points - see my post. Zack - tell us the good points she raised. Range Resources may or may not be a shady company. And the Puntland administration may or may not have entered into a poor bargain. But all that is negotiable - it's not as if any of this is set in stone. At this point her commentary and others like it s premature.

^You don't need her credentials or background. Her arguments should suffice.

There isn't much substance there. The splits she's talking about can and will be (re)negotiated. Small companies make big finds all the time - and yes they do get bought up by majors - but it doesn't negate the actual find simply because a small company found it. The environment?? - we're talking Africa here - people need to eat first. And her last 5 points are irrelevant - war torn South Sudan was exporting crude oil for many years with little of those she mentions. Somalida need to relax. At this stage - what's needed is to pray that anything found will be of benefit to the Somali people not gratuitous negativity. Warya Somalia - why do you keep saying the crude has to be refined - it doesn't. You can sell crude as is. It's internationally priced - here - http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=clh12.nym

Who knows if a trusteeship is coming, If it is or not - kolay the argument of the south is just anarchy will cease being a relevant go to for Somaliland.

^LOL. Kaalay adiga shareholder miya tahay?!

NGONGE;782801 wrote: I do not oppose the Khaatumo lot from going their own way, if that's their wish. It is all to play for BECAUSE the people of Khaatumo want it so The best guage for finding out what the people of Khaatumo wish was at the meeting in Taleex. They were clear as to their collective position notwithstanding a number of individuals allied with Somaliland. It is not all to play for because the people of Khaatumo want it so. It is because Somaliland and you think you still can get them into your tent, not without reason, DESPITE the people's collective wishes.

Carafaat;780828 wrote: It has little to do with border closure. But the clashes of the last year in Buuhoodle have to with a recently established armed militia. Which the goverment sees as a danger and go against all the peace treaties signed in the last two decades. Other villages "borders" have not been closed nor was there fighting in Boocame, Taleex, etc. When you establish an armed militia, you can expect that it can lead to violance. When my "tuulo" armed itself and clashes with nearby nomads from other clan, army intervened leading to many casualties on our side and the siege continued till we gave up and excepted a peace treaty, wish we refused for the years before. That was the cost price of peace. You're not making any sense here. Armed militia exist everywhere - every beel, particularly nomads, has weaponry including in Somaliland. No one broke any peace or attacked anyone apart from the Somaliland army. Your 'tuulo' falls under the jurisdiction of Somaliland and if your tuulo attacked other nomads from another clan without cause - the government was right to intervene. Both of these conditions aren't present in Buhoodle. Somaliland doesn't have jurisdiction nor did the people there attack others and begin the fight. This is about responding to Khatuumo and trying to close the border.

^Interesting - but it seems more of a nuisance attempt rather than doing any real damage. The other thing is the anonymity factor. If next week a small group of ppl in the US attacked the US through cyber warfare - whom will the US retaliate against? The options are severly limited.

NGONGE;780799 wrote: ^^ Is it confirmed that it is two dozen deaths? Who attacked whom and how and when? Is there proper confirmation from a trustworthy SSC member? Qof runta sheega uun wax hana sheego dee. I don't know if it was 2 dozen but I do remember people being displaced. And surely some died. I think for many people you can't square overall support for Somaliland's attempt at border closure with what's happening in terms of killings and attacks. To a degree yours is a nuanced position but it is, imo, not very tenable for if people don't want to come over willingly - you can't support any border closure since it can only come violently.

^You're right to a degree about resources attracting talent but you completely forget about ideology as a factor. Let's say you're the best hacker in the world - would you work for the Mossad even if they offered you tens of millions - I don't think so. With cyber warfare - all you need is talent and to a degree resources. Even if talent is amoral - you can probably buy a lot more talent than the couple of planes you could get for a billion dollars. Speaking of which - did you hear about the 30 billion dollar Saudi arms deal with the US - could have bought a lot of hackers. Caku carab.

^Dervish - you say that but it is you who is repeatedly invaded - best to hunker down and focus on the task at hand rather than empty rhetoric. 2 dozen deaths in Las Anod? - best to get Ngonge's take on what is acceptable to him in terms of 'closing' the border.

^Watched the first video. Actually it's a good development for smaller and poorer nations. Now you don't need billions upon billions to buy state of the art aircraft and other weaponry to wage war or to defend yourself against one - all you need is a team of dedicated hackers.

^I think he was clear in that he doesn't support a war to 'close' the borders - more a Las Anod style situation of sides simply switching. This whole saga has gone on too long. It's time the Khatuumo leadership devised a strategy of repelling these repeated attacks once and for all.

Heh. SOL's cyber warriors - take note - this is how it's done.

^The litmus test is to free LA - can't have real clan unity or a mamul to follow with the capital in 'enemy' hands.

I think the meaning of home is hard to pinpoint - generally defined in contrast to some other - often idealized. Somalis and other Muslims may not feel at home in the west because of the dichotomy of the lifestyle with Islam which is its own way of life. And you can't feel at home in the Arab world because you can never be recognized as a citizen despite the religious commonlity. The reality is that western countries accept you as a citizen and accord you equal rights(at least in theory) and treat you as one of their own. The degree to which Somalis(or others) feel at home is a matter of how they see themselves in their adopted countries as long as these countries offer the chance of full citizenship in the broadest sense. I feel at home in Canada - I would feel more at home in a Muslim country provided I was accepted as a full citizen - I would feel most at home IN Somalia given a decent functioning state.

Honestly the potentially disastrous outcome depends almost entirely on Assad - he has to do sommething that changes the whole situation radicaaly and can go a long way to appease the protestors.

^It has support from the Alwaites because the military and the state is dominated by them and they have the support of Chrisitians and others who fear Iraqi style chaos but the reality is that this is a minority. Just as the demonstrations in Egypt were led by only a sub set of the population - they did reflect the genuine political will. So it is here. The Free Syrian Army started as off as an adhoc group who took what weapons they had as part of the military with them. That it may now receiving weapons from the outside is not all that important as long as it is they who initiated this rebellion and they are leading it. What is true is the rebels haven't come together and offered a coherent inclusive message to appeal to all Syrians and especially the minorities. I have no desire to see chaos in Syria but it is important to distinguish between Xaq and Baatil here. Assad should go - it's up to him and those overthrowing him to ensure a decent outcome for all. And the onus shouldn't be on the rebels simply because they rebelled against a tyrannical regime.

^The average protestor in Syria doesn't give a damn about this map or the vying factions. He/she wants to get rid of the oppressive and brutal rule of Assad who sought fit to murder over 5000 ppl to stay in power. Saying othewise is muddying the waters.

^I think Ngonge is saying show me the money. For now - nothing much has changed in the day to day reality. What is also true - is that the SSC folks seem to have spoken with a united voice and made their position regarding secession and Somaliland clear. We all await how that changes the situation in Las Anod which would be the clearest indication of real authority.

Where does the Awdal state president control in his own state? Has he actually been there? It's important to not confuse being anti-secession with what looks like a phantom state born in the diaspora. But I guess it is nice to needle the secessionists though...