Email Promises $10000 in 24 Hours - Has Microsoft Gone Crazy?

Microsoft u - not fake - can make money really fast with Microsoft u. This was the contents of an email I recently received which was the kind of email everyone forwards to everyone else. The email promised a lot of money in a very short period of time being on the Microsoft U program. I did some research and this is basically what I found out.

Northern Somali City Houses First Local Prison For Pirates

Out of necessity, Somalia's Northern city Hargeisa is now the home to the first Maximum Security Prison for the Pirates. Apparently no country in the world wanted to keep pirates in their prison for the long term. However, the UN, which gave the northern Somalis about $1.5 million (£940,000) for the refurbishment of Hargeisa prison, announced that the facility is equipped to receive international transfers. It is expected that the opening of this maximum security prison could theoretically relieve the burden on other nations affected by piracy that are unwilling to imprison pirates long term.

Entering the U.S via Mexico Route is Now Known by U.S officials - Find another Route Dear Immigrants

While Mexicans have entered into the U.S for decades just by simply crossing the border, not until recently has people from third world countries have used this unattended route. However, the U.S government now knows the Mexico route is been used not only by the Mexican natives, but that refugees coming from remote countries as far as East Africa are utilizing the vast border between Mexico and the South of U.S.A.

Danish Girl Costs $5 Million To Marry Her by Somali man - Naja Johansen's Story

Somali pirates got so rich that now they no longer want your money! They want your virgin teens. This is the indication given by one pirate who decided it was better to marry a white Danish girl than to collect at a least a portion of the $5 Million ransom fee they wanted for the girl and her family whom they have for ransom.

Basketball To Produce Stars for Somalia

When I first searched for players that originated from Somalia, I found a refugee who studied and played ball in the Midwest of the United States.
After securing an interview for Africabasket.com with him, he later mailed me to take the interview off the web as he feared that his family back home in Somalia could be threatened by reprisals.

Somalia is primarily known these days for its pirates and the lack of a government to most of the world.

Basketball seems not to be associated in any way with the Eastern African country located at the Horn of Africa.

When I first searched for players that originated from Somalia, I found a refugee who studied and played ball in the Midwest of the United States.
After securing an interview for Africabasket.com with him, he later mailed me to take the interview off the web as he feared that his family back home in Somalia could be threatened by reprisals.

As you can see, getting a better inside look into Somali hoops seems to be a tough task even nowadays with the World Wide Web being a big help. When talking about notable players emerging out of Somalia, then you have to talk about guys like Yaseen Musa, Salah Abdo and Saeed Kosar who all succeeded to put their country's flag on the basketball map in different ways.

While Musa and Kosar are both on the Qatari national-team, Abdo is on the way to be a future pro player while attending college in the United States.

As Somalia does not provide stable competition within the country, most players are leaving the country towards other nations like Egypt, Yemen and primarily Qatar.


Yaseen Musa has been a household name in Middle-eastern basketball for years but only a few know that he is originally from Somalia. The lanky forward even applied for the NBA Draft a couple of years back but went undrafted and played also in a US minor league before settling back to Qatar where he is still star of the local league. Just check out the link to the video above!

Saad Abdulrahman Ali representing Qatar

Another Somali professional basketball player is Saeed Kosar who nowadays goes by his Qatari name Saad Abdulrahman Ali. The 1,93 meters-tall forward grew up in Canada where he excelled in high school hoops and later also at Algonquin College under the eyes of coach Trevor Costello who calls Saeed and his brother Abdul "tremendous players with excellent basketball smarts". Kosar, who moved to Qatar in 2002 after graduating from college, represented then in 2004 the Qatari U-20 national-team since he had no chance to represent Somalia as there was virtually no national-team program and there is still none up to this day. Nowadays, the 1980-born is a regular fixture on the senior national-team of Qatar and in the starting five of his club-team AS Sadd for who he competed for in almost all of his years in the Qatari league. His younger brother Abdul is a standout at Algonquin College these days as the 1,88 meters forward is following in the big foot steps of Saeed. In twenty games played, the sophomore averaged 11,5 points per game and 4,5 rebounds per game for the Thunder who finished the season with 15 wins and five losses. Once he graduates, he could be heading over to the Gulf region as well to join his brother to form a formidable one-two punch in the league and maybe even in the national-team of Qatar.

Point guard Salah Abdo struggled through injuries early in his career and is now back to full speed at tiny Trinity College in Connecticut. I found a great story that tells more about his struggles and how he sees himself as a role model for young Somalis around the globe. Abdo, who enrolled for a year at New Hampshire in the NCAA Division 1 ranks, could have strong 2010-2011 season to follow the few players out of his country into the Middle East to play professionally. But he is not the only one in his family who fell in love with the sport. Abdo also pointed me into a new direction. Better: To a new face on the block.

Osman Olol, a cousin of Salah, is currently enrolled at Monroe Community College in the state of New York.

Being a six foot nine inches tall forward, Olol should be receiving already some looks by NCAA D1 colleges who are in the need of a post player as he displayed his raw talent this first year by averaging 6,2 points per game in only 16 minutes per game. If given a chance, he might resurface in a solid program with more playing time available for him.

There is some Somali talent hidden across the globe with strong ties to the country of its ancestors.

But with the current situation being pretty unstable in their home-country, the Somali diaspora won't be given a chance anytime soon to defend the colors of their country in international competition. With the country’s lack of environment there is no chance of seeing a home-grown national-team and the near future of the sport in Somalia looks more than dim these days.

Maybe it's up to the next generation of players that will be growing up elsewhere and may remember it roots, to lead a new financially-backed project into a possible qualifier to the African Championships in a couple of years from now. Only time will tell…
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Source: TalkBasket.net
http://www.talkbasket.net/blogs/not-only-pirates-somali-hoops-2998.html
Somali News Videos - Somali Blogs - Somali News - Somali Videos - Somali Chat

Amanda Lindhout: I will feel completely free when my sisters in Somalia are no longer suffering (New Photos and Video)

Amanda Lindhout has finally spoken out about her captivity in Somalia. She said, "As long as women are experiencing oppression in Somalia, I feel so personally connected to them because I experienced similar suffering."

Journalist-turned-humanitarian Amanda Lindhout spoke of finding inspiration during her darkest days in captivity as she launched her scholarship program for Somali women at a packed Red Deer church.



Amanda Lindhout has finally spoken out about her captivity in Somalia. She said, "As long as women are experiencing oppression in Somalia, I feel so personally connected to them because I experienced similar suffering."

Amanda feels that she has to be the voice for the, 'oppressed, Somali women' as puts it herself and that she at one point in the past (during her captivity) was one of them.

"I feel like I will feel completely free when my sisters in Somalia are no longer suffering", said Amanda speaking about the pain she feels which unites her with her counterparts in the war torn african country.

Amanda's feels being a woman in Somalia influenced the treatment she got from the Somali men who held her from nearly 15 months.

"Some of the boys (her captors) treated me and abused me in ways they have not abused Nigel" recounted Amanda of her ordeal. But she also reminded everyone that the Somali culture does also have its finer caltural upbringing. She added, "Nigel was 15 years older than the boys so they had harder time being mean to him."













Somali News Videos - Somali Blogs - Somali News - Somali Videos - Somali Chat

Askari Maraykan ah oo Afgaanistaan Talibaanku Ku Qabteen oo Video Bandhig ah laga Soo duubay Netka lasoo geliyay

Askari Maraykan ah ayaa dhowaan bishii June 30keedia Taliban ku qabteen Afghanistaan. Maanta ayaa waxaa soo baxay video 28-daqiiqo ah oo ninkaasi Talibaanku kusoo bandhigtay. Qayb ka mid ah video-gaas waa kanaa.

Liiska video-yada cusub iyo kuwii ku dhaafay ka fiirso bogga hore ee Somchat.com Fadlan Riix Sawirka Bidix ama riix halkaan oo gaar Front Pageka Somali News and Blogs - Somchat's Somali news Videos


WASHINGTON – The American soldier who went missing June 30 from his base in eastern Afghanistan and was later confirmed to have been captured, said in a video posted by the Taliban that he's "scared I won't be able to go home."

Two U.S. defense officials confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the video posted Saturday on the Internet is the captured soldier, but the Defense Department has not released his name. The video provided the first glimpse the public has had of the missing soldier.

The soldier is shown in the 28-minute video with his head shaved and the start of a beard. He is sitting and dressed in a nondescript, gray outfit. Early in the video one of his captors holds the soldier's dog tag up to the camera. His name and ID number are clearly visible. He is shown eating at one point and sitting cross-legged.

The soldier, whose identity has not yet been released by the Pentagon, says his name, age and hometown on the video, which was released on a Web site pointed out by the Taliban.

He said the date was July 14 and that he was captured when he lagged behind on a patrol.

He's interviewed in English by his captors, and he is asked his views on the war, which he calls extremely hard, his desire to learn more about Islam and the morale of American soldiers, which he said was low.

Asked how he was doing, the soldier said on the video:
"Well I'm scared, scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner."
He later chokes up when discussing his family and his hope to marry his girlfriend.
"I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America. And I miss them every day when I'm gone," he said.

He is also prompted by his interrogators to give a message to the American people.
"To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home," he said.

"Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country. Please bring us home. It is America and American people who have that power."

A U.S. military spokeswoman in Afghanistan, Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, said the Taliban was using their captive for propaganda.

"I'm glad to see he appears unharmed, but again, this is a Taliban propaganda video," she said. "They are exploiting the soldier in violation of international law."

It is unclear from the video whether the July 14 date is authentic. The soldier says that he heard that a Chinook helicopter carrying 37 NATO troops had been shot down over Helmand. A helicopter was shot down in southern Afghanistan on July 14, but it was carrying civilians on a reported humanitarian mission for NATO forces. All six Ukrainian passengers died in the crash, and a child on the ground was killed.

On July 2, the U.S. military said an American soldier had disappeared after walking off his base in eastern Afghanistan with three Afghan counterparts and was believed to have been taken prisoner.

Details of such incidents are routinely held very tightly by the military as it works to retrieve a missing or captured soldier without giving away any information to captors.

But Afghan Police Gen. Nabi Mullakheil said the soldier went missing in eastern Paktika province near the border with Pakistan from an American base. The region is known to be Taliban-infested.

Afghans in contact with the Taliban told The Associated Press that the soldier was held by a Taliban group led by a commander called Maulvi Sangin, who operates in the area where the American went missing. They said the fighters initially planned to smuggle the soldier across the border into Pakistan but ruled that out because of U.S. missile strikes and Pakistani bombing attacks against militant targets in the area. Instead, they decided to move him north into Taliban-controlled areas of Ghazni province.

The Afghans spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest or reprisal, and it was impossible to independently confirm their information.
A brigade commander for the Afghan national army in southeastern Afghanistan, Gen. Asrar Ahmad Khan, said Afghan and coalition forces have been working together for 15 days searching for the missing soldier.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the militants holding the soldier haven't yet set any conditions for his release.
Somali News Videos - Somali Blogs - Somali News - Somali Videos - Somali Chat

OOPS!! Youtube Down For Maintenance? For How Long?

If you visited Youtube on July 9th 2009, then you're in for a surprise! One of the Internet's leading web sites, youtube is shut down by Google(TM) for maintenance. This is shocking news by any standard to the hundreds of millions of visitors that go to www.youtube.com daily to watch videos.

So, how does this effect the millions of web sites that embed youtube videos? After checking the videos on this site, it appears the videos will continue to work during the outage of the world's leading video sharing web site, youtube.com.

How will the outage of Youtube.com effect the Internet traffic?
Youtube is ranked 3rd on Alexa which means there are two web sites on the Internet that get more traffic that Youtube. So, where will all those visitors go on the Internet since Youtube is down for maintenance? The answer is, those same visitors will search for news on Youtube being down.

So, here is the scoop. Youtube announced the past few days via a message on youtube.com web site telling its visitors that the web site will be down for maintenance for a few hours. So, those who noticed will know what happened, those who didn't will see the message on the web site right now that tells them they need to come back later because there will be no video watching happening at this time.

UPDATE: It appears Youtube is no longer down for maintenance. This is probably good news for everyone that watchs videos online!

Earn cash from Adsense and Google Adwords, a Must Read article

Today, I will teach a basic lesson. What is Google Adsense?Today, I will teach a basic lesson. What is Google Adsense?

Adsense is a term used by Google for their online ads. It is the program they offer to webmasters like me so that Google's advertisers (the companies that pay Google to show their advertisements) can display their ads on publishers web sites.

In simple terms, Adsense is on of many ways to cash in on the Internet. It is closely related to Adwords.

When a company is to advertise on google, they buy adwords. and Adword is a keyword - basically an english word like for example 'cash', 'money', 'advertise on google' etc. So the advertiser pays google x amount of money just so they can advertise on Google.

Remember I told you that google has Adsense which lets webmasters show Google Ads? Well, Google shares the money the advertiser pays them with webmasters who display the Adsense Ads. Are you following so far?

Let me recap. Advertiser Advertise on Google through Adwords. Then Google publishes the advertisements on websites through Adsense. When Ad is successful, Google charges the advertiser and shares the Income with the webmaster of the website.

Does this seem simple way to make money?
What if I told you that none of this cost any money to you!?

Are you reading this? That is true! You can get some of the advertiser's money because Google will give it to you!

Now that you're interested, (if not that I haven't clarified it enough) let me explain it in simpler terms.

How to earn Money through Google Adsense and Google Pay Per Click

I told you earlier that AdSense is one of many ways to earn money from the Web. AdSense for content is a system of Google contextual ads (How Businesses Advertise on Google) that you can place on your blog (Such as this one), search engine, or Web site. Google, in return, will give you a portion of the revenue generated from these ads. How much Google will pay you depends how the value of ads you've displayed.

Each text ad is called Google Ad, and these text ads come from Google Adwords program which is how companies advertise on Google. These advertisers bid on each keyword. So, because certain keywords are searched more on Google and are discussed more on websites and blogs, their values vary depending on their popularity. Generaly, popular adwords pay more adsense money.

Finally, if you interested, here are some things you may have to consider.

Restrictions:

Google restricts AdSense to non-pornographic Web sites. In addition, you may not use ads that may be confused with Google ads on the same page.

Google also restricts you from disclosing AdSense details, such as how much you were paid for a keyword.

Payment Method:

Google offers three payment methods.

CPC, or cost per click ads pay every time someone clicks on an ad.

CPM, or cost per thousand impressions ads pay for every thousand times a page is viewed.

Cost per action, or referral ads are software ads that pay for every time someone follows a link and takes the advertised action, such as downloading software.

Payments are generally monthly by either check or electronic funds transfer. US residents must supply tax information to Google, and the income you receive will be reported to the IRS.

Advantages:

AdSense ads are very unobtrusive, so it provides a better user experience than flashy banner ads. Because the ads are contextual, many people will want to click on them anyway, since the results may be relevant.

You don't have to be big or famous to start using AdSense, and the application process is simple. You can even insert ads in your Blogger blog, so you don't need to host your own Web site.

AdSense acts like your own ad broker. You don't have to negotiate prices or find appropriate advertisers. Google does that for you, so you can concentrate on creating quality content and publicizing your Web site.

New York Times' "Article" Promotes War Against Somalia

In what appears to be the drum beating of far off American Invasion in Somalia, the New York Times news paper adds more fuel to the the hidden U.S. Administration's agenda which is to invade Somalia, in the name of fending off Somali Pirates, then fight the Islamic groups based in Mogadishu. Here is an article - by Black Star News that sheds some light in the secrets of American Propaganda.

The premise of the story was that Somali elders and religious leaders have rallied the populace against the pirates, including Asbhir Boyah, who was featured in The Times' article under Jeffrey Gettleman's byline. Read

The New York Times gives new meaning to "All The News That's Fit To Print."

Long ago, knowledgeable readers have already determined that it actually means "All The News We See Fit To Print."

Take for instance the corrupt war-baiting front-page article yesterday under the headline "For Somali Pirates, Worst Enemy May Be Waiting Back on Shore."

Normally good journalists run with the lead; in this case, the reporter, whether by design or by instruction from somewhere, ran away from the lead.

The premise of the story was that Somali elders and religious leaders have rallied the populace against the pirates, including Asbhir Boyah, who was featured in The Times' article under Jeffrey Gettleman's byline.

Gettleman is a useless reporter when it comes to covering Africa. I can't evaluate his reporting elsewhere or on any other beat. But he's not alone. The New York Times has only had a handful of competent and stellar Africa correspondents in recent years, such as Howard French; many years ago, Joseph Lelyveld produced superb journalism from South Africa.

Gettleman is what's known in the profession as a "parachute" journalist. He lands on the scene, and "reports" (or more likely rewrites what has been gathered for him by local stringers) and files his story. The stories are often shaped or coordinated with the editors here in New York; and the editors' slants generally favor the U.S. State Department's; that is, U.S. foreign policy.

Africa would be much safer without reporters like Gettleman roaming the continent.

"Facing intensifying naval pressure on the seas and now a rising backlash on land, Mr. Boyah has been shuttling between elders and religious sheiks fed up with pirates and their vices, promising to quit the buccaneering business if certain demands are made," Gettleman alleges, in his news "report."

Gettleman then goes on to explain how government leaders, religious leaders and even grass-roots anti-pirate militias have teamed up to fight the scourge.

Well and good.

The only problem is that even though Gettleman's dateline is "GAROOWE, Somalia," it's actually very misleading. It's actually intentionally misleading; so therefore the entire article gives a false impact.

He was not referring to the Somalia that has been in the news. The Somalia of Black Hawk Down; the Somalia of Mogadishu, a once beautiful and now ruined city; the Somalia of the Islamists; the Somalia which was until recently occupied by 50,000 Ethiopian troops, at the behest of the U.S., before the occupiers were routed and expelled by guerrilla warfare; so, in fact, Gettleman's story was not about piracy in Somalia at all.

Even though the area from where he "reported" and filed his story is part of contiguous Somalia, it has been self-administered for years and has not been subjected to the chaos that's bedeviled the Somalia of Black Hawk Down for more than 20 years now.

The area is --they consider themselves independent although no country recognizes them-- is actually called Puntland. And even though the writer eventually mentions that --in a "by the way" manner-- he knows full well that most American readers won't be able to distinguish his fantasy Somalia from the real one.

It's almost like a correspondent coming from another part of the world and reporting things in Mexico --since Mexico shares a border with the U.S.-- and filing a story ascribing the conditions in Mexico to the United States.

It's dishonest journalism--by the reporter and his editors.

And why would Gettleman do such a thing?

Because to begin with: the Somalia of Black Haw Down --the real Somalia-- is too dangerous and chaotic for him to go there and file such a story; the conditions in Somalia probably don't match with the premise of the front-page article --that Somalis are mobilizing against "piracy".

The next and more serious question is why would The New York Times want to give the world the impression that Somalis are now rallying in unison against "piracy"

Gettleman has already revealed his cards (or the State Department's cards) when he referred to the "Intensifying naval pressure..."

If Somalis are against the "pirates," and the naval armada is also against the "pirates," then there is a meeting of the mind.

So, therefore, Somalis would conceivably welcome a naval attack----a naval landing on Somalia; or perhaps a landing on the safer "Somalia" from where Gettleman filed his story, in order to prepare assaults against the Somalia of Black Hawk Down.

So, now we see how corporate media colludes with or aligns its interest with official government agenda. The real lead of the story is buried very, very deep in the article: in the 15th paragraph, well after Mr. Boyah has been completely demonized by this alleged journalist --and by extension all "pirates" which could actually include legitimate Somali fishermen or even ordinary civilians; after all, they all "look alike."

Here's what should have been the focus of the story: "Mr. Boyah, 43, was born in Eyl, a pirate den on the coast. He said he dropped out of school in third grade, became a fisherman and took up hijacking after illegal fishing trawlers destroyed his livelihood in the mid-1990s." (Here also, the reference to Eyl as a "pirate den" is malicious mischief; there was no "piracy" in Somalia when Boyah was born 43 years ago; the writer could have easily said "….which has become a pirate den…" These are fighting words).

There are a number of serious problems:
The manner in which the issue of the illegal fishing is introduced, attributing it to Boyah, who has already been demonized as a reckless pirate with no disregard for anyone else, diminishes the seriousness of this calamity.

It is in fact what has converted many Somali fishermen into criminals on the Sea. A Google search by any serious reader will reveal numerous articles in more serious newspapers such as the U.K.'s Guardian, revealing that European pirate ships have been stealing as much as $300 million worth of fish and shrimps from Somalia's waters.

There are also reports --some of which have been confirmed by the United Nations-- of European gangsters being contracted by factories in Europe to come and dump toxic waste on Somalia's shores.

The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia has investigated and documented the criminal acts against Somalia; he is based in Nairobi, where Gettleman is also based.

I found this out by calling the U.N. Why won’t Gettleman interview the UN official for a real story, instead of the salacious nonsense from his fantasy Somalia?

These acts of criminality have spurred a criminal enterprise in Somalia. Boyah and others like him are the direct outcome of a collapsed state that cannot protect its borders; and then outmanned local fishermen, who now have no means of livelihood except the new criminal enterprise.

Somalis have been fishers for centuries. Why is it that "piracy" only started about 15 years ago, at the same time that the European piracy of Somalia's fish also started and the dumping of toxic waste on Somalia’s coast by European shippers?

Why is The New York Times not demanding that the naval vessels now occupying Somalia's waters -- and providing protection to the European fish pirates-- not protect Somalia's sovereignty and go after the illegal fishers from Europe and Asia and toxic waste dumpers?

Why does the reporter only make a glancing reference to "foreign trawlers" which might give the impression they could be from Kenya, when in fact, according to Somali journalists, they are from countries such as: Italy, the U.K., Taiwan

Once again, instead of standing up for the victims --Somalia-- the powerful newspaper sides with the Mafia stealing Somalia's fish, dumping toxic waste, impoverishing Somalis, driving young men into criminality, then promoting an invasion by a naval armada.

The Somalis know how to defend themselves on land. Any invader will learn the lesson that U.S.-backed Ethiopia learned, and which the U.S. also learned in the 1990s.

Thank the creator for giving the world the Internet so that serious media outlets --that care about the truth-- can expose misleading articles in "big" newspapers such as The Times.

Please e-mail and re-post this story extensively to help repel the malicious journalism against Somalia.

"Speaking Truth To Empower."

Please post your comments online or submit them for publication to milton@blackstarnews.com

Video ah: Markabka Dagaalka ee Ruushka oo Qabtay 29 Burcad Badeed Ah: Faahfaahin

A Russian naval destroyer on Tuesday seized 29 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, the defence ministry said, according to Russian news agencies.
"The Admiral Panteleev (destroyer) captured Tuesday at 1412 GMT a boat carrying pirates. In total, 29 people were arrested," the ministry said in a statement.
"Seven Kalachnikov machine-guns, handguns of different calibres, equipment including satellite navigation devices and a large number of empty shells were discovered on board the boat," the ministry said, adding that an investigation has been opened. Halkaan Riix Daawo Video-ga

Ku laabo bogga Hore - Somali News and Blogs

Somali TFG to Soon Deal Decisively with al-Shabab

Somali cabinet minister Abdirashid Irro Mohammed told VOA that the President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's new government is getting its act together to soon deal decisively with al-Shabab and other hard-line insurgent groups in the country.

Somali Government Condemns Insurgent Moves to Annex Parts of Kenya
By Peter Clottey
Washington, D.C
28 April 2009
The new Somali government has sharply condemned threats of fresh attacks on neighboring Kenya by hard-line Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab. The group, which has refused to recognize President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's government threatened Monday to annex parts of northern Kenya and implement Islamic Sharia law. Nairobi on the other hand has begun strong measures to counter such an attack by deploying extra troops to man the Kenya-Somali border and maintain the disarmament of residents in the province.

Somali cabinet minister Abdirashid Irro Mohammed told VOA that Mogadishu stands in unison with its neighbor to thwart the insurgent group's violent activities aimed at destabilizing the region.

"Really, we are very sorry and we condemn such actions. Kenya is our neighbor state and our brotherly country, and they have their own constitution. So there is no reason that al-Shabab should attack them and endorse the Sharia law. So here, that is a very bad action and we condemn it, and we do not accept those kinds of threats, Mohammed said. "So I can say they (al-Shabab) are the enemies for all the region." Read the Full Story on VOA.com

Wareysi The Financial Times la yeelatay Sheekh Shariif.

Wakaalada wararka ee laga leeyahay wadanka Mareykanka lana yiraah The Financial Times ayaa dhowaan wareysi xasaasi ah la yeelatay Madaxweyne Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Axmed iyadoo waydiisay suaalo xiiso leh. . Wareysiga oo dhan halkaan ka aqriso

Waa kanaa Wareysigii oo dhan.

---

Transcript of FT interview with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, president of Somalia
Published: April 28 2009 01:37 | Last updated: April 28 2009 01:37
There have been 15 attempts to create a functioning government in Somalia since the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991. None of them have come close to working. Overrun by warlords and Islamist insurgents, the country is in the grips of another potential famine.

Proliferating acts of piracy on one of the world’s busiest trading routes off the Somali coast have forced up shipping insurance costs and are affecting global commodity markets. But they are also focusing international attention on the need for stability on land as well as sea.

Before Ethiopia invaded in 2006 Sheikh Ahmed was the leader of the Islamic Courts Union, an alliance of Islamic militias that during a six month period came closer than any other body to re-establishing order. In January he returned to Somalia from exile, and was elected by a UN-backed transitional parliament to lead the country out of chaos.

Last week at an international donors conference in Brussels, he won $213m of backing for African peacekeepers and for his plans to build a national security force, raising hopes that finally a concerted effort to put Somalia back together again is under way.

William Wallis, Financial Times Africa editor, interviewed Sheikh Ahmed at his hotel in Brussels after the conference.

Financial Times: What is the significance of today’s events for Somalia?

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed: What happened today is very important for two reasons. Firstly, there has always been this issue of the international community not being forthcoming enough and not being forthcoming at the right time. Secondly there has been a lack of leadership on the Somali side to seize the opportunity and establish a partnership with the international community. Today we believe these two things have come together.

FT: How do you plan to go about using the goodwill that has been generated at an international level, and the cash that is now coming with it?

SSSA: The funds and the political support need to be translated into actions on the ground first and foremost with regards to security. Security has to be established. Then it is important to translate this security and political will into actions that affect the needs of the public and to help reconstruction, education, and all the elements that give normality to life. The public must feel the change and see the change.

FT: But how will you be able to expand the writ of your government from what appears to be the very small part of Somalia you control?

SSSA: There are already many provinces … where government support and structures are present. Where our administration and reach exists, the delivery of services and justice should be strengthened and reinforced. Where it does not exist yet, these areas we must stretch our reach to.

FT: Will this necessarily involve force?

SSSA: Preparations in terms of the readiness of the public for peace are gathering pace by the day, and are already substantially established. In parallel, if we are also able to get the security forces on the ground and operational and these two forces are able to come together we believe it will be almost a natural process for the rule of law and the administration to reach those parts where they don’t already exist.

FT: How formidable do you consider the forces your government are up against?

SSSA: We believe that in essence there is no logic and no sustainable basis for armed forces opposing the government. The only options open for these opposing forces will be to either come into the reconciliation process either as the government or as opposition. Or, to return to civilian life, into their homes and into normal livelihoods.

FT: They seem pretty determined from the outside and at least a minority of them have backing from another pretty determined bunch [of people] headquartered out of the tribal areas of Pakistan [al-Qaeda].

SSSA: Once the government is strong enough and is fully on the ground there will come a time when those who act illegally either have to leave or will have to give themselves up. That moment will come.

FT: How far are you prepared to accommodate these forces in order to absorb them into the reconciliation process?

SSSA: We are prepared in a major way to accommodate and negotiate but the essential factor is there must be dialogue; there must be negotiation for that to happen.

FT: Are you already talking for example to [radical Islamic cleric] Hassan Dawir Aweys, or some of the leaders of the al Shabab militia?

SSSA: Not directly but many well-intentioned and well meaning Somalis are busy and engaged explaining to them the need for dialogue and peace. From our side they know and we have stated that we are ready for dialogue and negotiation.

FT: What do you make of the arrival in Mogadishu today [after more than two years in exile] of Mr Aweys?

SSSA: I think his return today will remind him that he left at a time when there was conflict and war and show him that today we are rebuilding peace. We believe he will choose to take part and support the peace process and re-establishment of security in the country.

FT: Do you consider him someone who is important in that process?

SSSA: There is no one who is not needed for this process of reconciliation and peace. Everyone is needed.

FT: How signficant is the recent passage in parliament of Sharia law in re-establishing state authority?

SSSA: It is very important for several reasons. One Sharia is a normal part of Muslim life and Muslim culture and tradition. Secondly there were people for whom this was a major factor, necessity, and in passing the bill and putting it through cabinet and parliament this enables us to show goodwill and to take that element out of the conflict and ensure it does not become an obstacle. It is part of the reconciliation process but also bringing people on board for the reconstruction of the state. Both psychologically and practically it is very important.

FT: How quickly can you bring back the court system? Is it something you can do very quickly given your experience at the head of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006?

SSSA: The government is actually very busy with that issue. It will need to absorb and take on experienced and knowledgeable people in that field.

FT: In 2006 the administration you were involved in was very effective in fighting piracy. Is that something you can reproduce now and what was the secret before?

SSSA: This is part and parcel of the security infrastructure and policies that we have. We believe that this will also be effective in tackling that issue successfully.

FT: Some of the countries [US, Ethiopia] that seemed very happy to see the back of you in 2006 when the Ethiopia invaded Somalia are now applauding you. Are these countries you can trust?

SSSA: Without a shadow of doubt we have to look forward and not back.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

MSC Cruises chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago Wants Firearms on Board Cruise-ships debated.

“The capture of such a large vessel would have represented a major step forward for pirates off the Somalian coast, but unfortunately their tactics were good and we could not board. “It was not the first time we have attacked this kind of boat and we were very close to capturing it,” Mr Muse told AFP. “We really showered it with bullets.” Read Full Story -MSC Cruises chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago Wants Firearms on Board Cruise-ships debated.

MSC Cruises chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago has conceded the need for an industry-wide debate on the deployment of firearms aboard cruiseships following Saturday’s abortive pirate attack on the MSC Melody.

The 35,000 gt vessel, with 991 passengers and 536 crew on board, was attacked by pirates 180 miles north of the Seychelles on Saturday as it was heading for the Gulf of Aden.

The vessel’s crew and security guards drove the pirates off using fire hoses and, controversially, live rounds from pistols carried on board.

Mr Vago insisted that the company only carried arms onboard under exceptional circumstances, attributing the storage of “just a few pistols” aboard the MSC Melody to the recent escalation of pirate attacks off the horn of Africa.

He also claimed that, contrary to some press reports, security guards aboard the vessel had no independent access to the weapons. The pistols were kept in a safe on the bridge and released only at the discretion of the master.

At the same time, he admitted that the controversial issue of deploying firearms on passenger ships, which some believe will only lead to an escalation of pirate violence, must be debated.

He would not be drawn on the merits or otherwise of company policy on the issue. “It is too soon after the event for me to comment now, though certainly I can’t think of what it would have been like to have 1,000 hostages taken. It would have been a disaster.

“But we need to sit down and discuss this internally, and we need to discuss it as an industry.”

He described next month’s European Cruise Council meeting in Rome as the perfect venue for such talks.

In the meantime, Mr Vago said MSC would pull its vessels out of east African waters immediately. From now on, he said, the company will access South Africa via the Mediterranean and west Africa, calling in Morocco, Senegal and Namibia on its way to Cape Town and Durban.

Mr Vago also insisted that the company had not taken needless risks with its passengers.

“We would never take such risks,” he said. “We are selling holidays, not adventures.”

He said the company had recently changed its two itineraries to South Africa precisely because of the escalation of piracy in the region, and after consultations with the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, run by Eunavfor, and the International Maritime Organization.

The new route took the MSC Melody considerably further from the coast of Somalia, adding 400 miles to the trip and forcing the ship to drop the Egyptian port of Safaga. In recompense, MSC added an overnight call at Port Victoria in the Seychelles. The MSC Rhapsody followed a similar course in March without incident.

Mr Vago also praised the professionalism of the MSC Melody’s master and crew in averting disaster, and the performance of its onboard security guards. MSC Cruises has a long-standing contract with an Israeli security firm.

He said the pirates announced their presence at around 1945 hrs GMT by aiming automatic weapons fire at the ship. The master immediately ordered the guests to their cabins, instructing them to turn out the lights.

The master also ordered the high-pressure fire hoses to be trained on the aft side, the only feasible area of access to the MSC Melody as it headed north in heavy seas. After the bridge came under fire, he handed out pistols to the security guards, Mr Vago said.

He then manoeuvred the vessel back and forth in order to enhance the impact of the waves, while the crew used the fire hoses and the security guards fired several shots into the air.

“[The pirates] were wet, in huge waves, amidst all this commotion, and then they realised we were armed,” Mr Vago said. “I think they were shocked at that.”

As the assailants departed, the MSC Melody headed east with its lights out.

Separately, wire service AFP quoted Mohamed Muse, reportedly the head of the pirate group, as lamenting their failure to take the vessel due to “technical reasons.”

“The capture of such a large vessel would have represented a major step forward for pirates off the Somalian coast, but unfortunately their tactics were good and we could not board.

“It was not the first time we have attacked this kind of boat and we were very close to capturing it,” Mr Muse told AFP. “We really showered it with bullets.”

Lloyd’s List Newsroom Blog

Al-Shabaab Help Release Kidnapped Aid Workers in Somalia

An local Alshabaab group Representative negotiated the release of aid workers held for almost two weeks as the captors have released the two aid workers kidnapped in the country's southern region nine days ago, a local elder and an aid worker have said.
The Belgian doctor and Danish nurse working for Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) were released by the armed men without receiving a ransom on Tuesday.

Sheik Mohamed Kheyr, the district commissioner of Rab Dhure, where the pair now are, said elders and an Islamic group helped secure their release.

"The MSF aid workers have been released without condition," said Sheikh Aden Yare, a leader of the opposition al-Shabaab group in Bakol region, where the aid workers were kidnapped.

"They are now with us, and we are going to Hudur to hand over the MSF officers. They are free now. And this will not happen again," Yare said.

MSF confirms release

The pair were taken on April 19 after carrying out a nutrition study, while on their way to Hodur, a town near the Ethiopian border.

Their abductors had demanded a ransom.

A local MSF worker also confirmed their release.

A total of 35 aid workers were killed in Somalia in 2008 and 26 abducted, the UN says.

The attacks have limited the ability of relief agencies to respond to one of Africa's longest humanitarian crisis.

More than three million Somalis - nearly half the population - depend on emergency food aid in a country that has been without an effective central government since 1991.

The Bakol region, near the Ethiopian border, is under the control of an armed opposition group that is fighting Somalia's weak UN-backed government.

Al-Arabiya TV Interviews Somali Pirates and Displays Their Mode of Operation

This video is an interview footage with Somali Pirates. The Al-Arabiya video shows exactly how the pirates get paid as a plane dropping the ransom money to the Pirates sea location is seen on the video. Also, the Al-Arabiya reporter interviews the ring leader of this group of pirates. This pirate is the guy that hijacked two Turkish ships from the Gulf of Aden.

Google Video: French hand over Somali pirates to Kenyan Police:

The French navy on Wednesday handed over 11 suspected Somali pirates to the Kenyan police, the highest number in a single batch to be received so far.


Kenya's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer Sebson Wandera who received the pirates at the coastal city of Mombasa, said the suspects had been arrested as they attempted to hijack a commercial ship, Safmarine Asia.

"They were arrested by the French navy 600 nautical miles from Mombasa off Somali coast," he told journalists.

Four AK-47 rifles, two skiffs, two engines and several knifes were also handed over to the police and would be produced in court as evidence, he said, adding that the suspects would be charged with the offense on Thursday.

Wandera was speaking aboard the French Frigate vessel, Nivose, which had been used to pursue the pirates. The suspects were handed over by hooded French navy officers who escorted one pirate after another.

A statement from the vessel said the suspects had been "launched" from a mother ship that they also seized.

"The Nivose had spotted the pirates on April 14 when its helicopter helped thwart the commercial ship's hijack," the statement said.


A hooded French naval officer (L) escorts a suspected Somali pirate out of the French Frigate "Nivose" in the coastal city of Mombasa, east Kenya, April 22, 2009. Eleven suspected pirates, who were arrested by the French naval force in the Indian Ocean 600 nautical miles from Mombasa on April 14 when they attempted to hijack a commercial ship, were handed over to the Kenyan police on Wednesday. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

"The ship was also transporting 17 barrels of fuel each with a capacity of 200 liters and the two skiffs."

Wandera said the mother ship, however, sunk in the deep seas after it developed mechanical problems.

In January this year, the United States entered into an agreement with Kenya to hand over suspected pirates to be tried in the country while a similar agreement was entered into between Kenya and the European Union.

Due to increased piracy activities in the Indian Ocean off Somali waters, the international community has deployed war ships in the area to protect commercial ships from being hijacked.


Hooded French naval officers escort a suspected Somali pirate out of the French Frigate "Nivose" in the coastal city of Mombasa, east Kenya, April 22, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

However, there have been security concerns over Kenya taking the role of trying Somali suspects, and questions raised over whether the judicial system is capable of carrying out the prosecutions given the massive backlog of cases in courts.

Somali pirates have made away with millions of dollars in ransom payment and continue to demand more money in return for dozens of ships and overt 200 hostages they are still holing.

MOMBASA, Kenya, April 22 (Xinhua) --

Ka Daawo Videoga Halkaan! BBC News Video

	Abdiwali Muse Trial Video Teanage Somali Pirate Tried as an Adult: Watch Video Here
	Ansixintii Baarlamaanka ku Ansixiyey Shareecada Islaamka
	Xiisadda u dhaxaysa Alshabab iyo Maxkamadaha oo faraha ka sii baxaysa.
	A Rare Video Shows Somali Pirates! HiJacking Video

Abdiwali Muse Trial Video Teanage Somali Pirate Tried as an Adult: Video

Abdiwali Muse, the accused Somali pirate could face life imprisonment if found guilty of attacking a US cargo ship and taking the captain hostage. Watch Video

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	Ansixintii Baarlamaanka ku Ansixiyey Shareecada Islaamka
	Xiisadda u dhaxaysa Alshabab iyo Maxkamadaha oo faraha ka sii baxaysa.
	A Rare Video Shows Somali Pirates! HiJacking Video

Who Controls the U.S of America? The Obama Deception The Video is here

Alex Jones’ documentary on Barry Soetoro is now out, but you can watch the whole thing below

“Think about it. If the controllers wish to direct and condition many patriots to give up and accept their domination, there is no better way to desensitize them than to construct a fly paper forum wherein the throngs who care are exposed to the continual, repetitious, non-stop rantings of someone who preaches doom and against servitude.

This NLP technique of repetition, especially, the grandiose and bellicose variety, achieves - over time - a fatalism and desensitization which serves the elite agenda perfectly. People will only be told to go out and take their country back so many times before the futility of same turns them off and they withdraw and give in to the paradigm of control which has been so carefully constructed by Zionism for well over 100 years.”

U.S. Navy SEAL Snipers Shoot Somali Pirates In the Head To End Hostage Crisis

'shot to the head'

In the end, it was a single moment that brought the hostage crisis to its dramatic finish. Three gunshots. All three fatal. Fired in the dark by three specially trained U.S. Navy SEALs as the pirates' boat rocked in the water off Somalia. "Phenomenal shots -- 75 feet away," said Navy Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, who oversees the region. A senior defense official said each was a shot to the head.

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Gortney, in an interview Monday with CNN's "American Morning," described critical steps that led to the rescue of U.S. Capt. Richard Phillips, who was taken by pirates after they boarded his merchant ship, the Maersk Alabama, east of Somalia on Wednesday.

Four pirates had been holding Phillips in a small lifeboat, which had run out of fuel. "One of their pirates had left the lifeboat, needed medical attention and jumped onto one of our inflatable boats," Gortney said. Watch Gortney describe how SEALs shot pirates »

Gortney told CNN's Barbara Starr that the USS Bainbridge rammed the lifeboat Saturday to keep it from trying to return to the Somalian shore about 20 miles away.

"At one point, actually, the two vessels collided" as the captain of the Bainbridge tried to hold off the lifeboat, Gortney said.

Gortney, in the "American Morning" interview, said one of the pirates needed medical attention and "jumped onto one of our inflatable boats."

The pirate's need for medical help was a credit to the Maersk's crew. When the pirates boarded their vessel, a tussle ensued, during which one of the crewmen stabbed the pirate in the hand. Four days later, the pirate's departure from the lifeboat to accept U.S. medical help -- and try to negotiate the captive's release -- left only three for the U.S. snipers to keep their eyes on.

The three were tired, Gortney said. "The sea state was picking up. They agreed for us to tow them into little better waters as the ship was bouncing around. It was very tense."

The on-scene U.S. commander of the Bainbridge, which had come to try to negotiate the captain's release, could see the three remaining pirates "were very, very intense. One of them held his AK-47 in the back of the captain. We were always concerned about the imminent danger to the captain."

The pirates had repeatedly threatened to kill Phillips, Gortney said.

A Navy SEAL team had parachuted in and taken up positions on the Bainbridge's back deck.

The military had orders from President Obama authorizing lethal force if there was imminent danger. Watch how rescue played out hour by hour »

"At one point, as uncomfortable as the pirates were, they exposed themselves where there was an opportunity," Gortney said.

He gave details of that "exposure" at a news conference Sunday. He said two of the pirates had their heads and shoulders exposed, while the third was visible in the boat's pilot house, through a window.

"The on-scene commander saw that one of the pirates still held that AK-47, was very, very concerned for the captain's life -- and he ordered the shots to be taken," Gortney said Monday.

Even with the small boat "moving up and down a couple of feet," the SEALs hit their targets. "Remarkable marksmanship," Gortney said.

The moment came at 7:19 p.m. (12:19 p.m. ET) Sunday -- after sundown, military officials say.

In the minutes after, a special operations team shimmied along the tow rope to the lifeboat, confirmed that three pirates had been killed and took Phillips back to the Navy ships that had gathered nearby.

The fourth pirate was taken into custody.
"These guys [the SEALs] are very well trained, they have a lot of experience and there has to be a lot of communication between the shooters and the people making the decision that they all three had shots, that they could make their shots successfully," retired U.S. Navy SEAL Dick Couch said on "American Morning."

He added, "Credit that on-scene commander