SHASNA MediaWatch

BOSTON, MA

[January 31, 2001]

Month-in-Review

SHASNA MediaWatch department follows news analysis, commentaries, trends, news reports and press releases of the week. We pay special attention to Somali news in general, and to Arab financed and UN supported ‘ARTA TERROR CELLS’ in particular. We analyze, digest and separate facts from fiction. With so many news outlets and so many groups, each one vying for your attention, we will try our very best to fairly analyze what you have read or missed reading.

United States of America

United Nations

Middle East

Somalia

President Bush: First State of the Union Address – “America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere.”

President Bush: First State of the Union Address – “We will be deliberate, yet time is not on our side. I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer.”

Ken Menkhaus, Davidson College: Foreign Policy in Focus – “… Al-Ittihad is a small, relatively weak organization, with mainly domestic agenda. Some individual members have had links to Al-Qaeda that merit close scrutiny, but the group as a whole is in no way a subsidiary of Al-Qaeda.”

The war against terror cells worldwide is heating up. Al-Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan has been severely damaged; their financial networks, especially al-Qaeda’s al-Barakaat western operations, have been shut down; their worldwide finances are severely disrupted; and Somalia’s terror cells are broke and disoriented. Terror cells in Somalia and their sponsors are getting restless and sleepless.

But Somalia is a widely misunderstood country; and UN officials, history buffs and pundits are all having field day speaking for Somalis and for Somalia! But please don’t despair; SHASNA is always there to keep you informed and educate all the learned minds willing to learn!

Al-Itihaad: al-Itihaad has a domestic agenda! All al-Itihad members in Somalia are al-Qaeda foot soldiers, recruiters and storekeepers for the parent company. They control close to 75% of the commercial activities of the region. They trade with each other; finance each other; collaborate with each other; and they spy on each other. Any member caught tracking off the guidelines of the organization is initially warned and financially severely punished for a period of time. Sometimes they are altogether eliminated! 

In almost every town and village in Somalia, there is an al-Itihad cell and a hierarchy to follow. For international travel purposes, each member has a special internal identification in the form of an assigned number. Each cell has a cell leader, every region a leader, and a supreme leader for each country.

With this cohesiveness, discrimination against nonmembers is prevalent in Somalia and widely accepted and practiced by the group. And given their power of the purse, and abject poverty in the country, recruiting is a no-brainer for the organization.

Prior to the civil war, al-Itihaad recruiting was limited mainly to Mogadishu. But, during the past ten years, as Somalis turned inward and each into his/her tribe and clan, the organization has expanded into villages and small towns. They built schools, mosques and organized charities. With this kind of base, previously never thought of and imagined by the al-Itihaad leadership, the organization sought help from foreign donors and al-Itihaad has never been the same.

Foreign donors, mainly Saudi religious zealots, recruited Somali expatriates within Saudi Arabia, mainly in Jeddah and Riyadh. These Somalis, armed with Saudi petrodollars, were asked to return home and start charities in their home bases. As they built businesses and capitalized new ones by newer members, the organization grew by leaps and bounds. At one point, members were flocking in by the thousands that the membership interview process was conducted in overseas bases and in Dubai and Sharjah, UAE.

As the organization grew, newer members flew out of the country and returned home with more capital to their home bases; and a new era began in Somalia. With capital and foot soldiers all throughout the country, al-Qaeda had to think of a way to control the cash flow generated by individual members and their businesses in Somalia. With additional capital from the parent company, it did not take long for big corporations, i.e., al-Barakaat, to get started in Somalia, Dubai and Sharjah.

Within couple of years, al-Barakaat group of companies grew into over sixty companies. In addition to usual skimming of the top, and as a vehicle to channel parent company funds, excess funds generated by local and overseas businesses were deposited in secure al-Barakaat and associates controlled banks with dual signatures. And thereby and finally, Al-Qaeda found the solution for the cash flow problem. And to boot, their investments generated very good rates of returns.

As their financial chains tightened around the Somali neck, al-Qaeda set out to recruit more members, to arm their foot soldiers and recruit drug addicted local militias. Before long, al-Itihad cell leaders and their corporations in Somalia, mainly in Mogadishu area, had a standing army of well over few thousands. The expansion into southern Somalia continued, and just like the Taliban, local inhabitants were rooted out of their farms and properties.

As the organization grew bigger and stronger, the expansion continued. They collaborated with and recruited the invading sub-clans, and armed with more militias, they set out to conquer fertile areas from Marka to Kismayo. With a full control of Somali finances, the organization started new investments in the fertile fields of southern Somalia. They grew drugs, exported bananas and controlled all of southern Somalia produce. In places where they didn’t or couldn’t control the farming fields, they made sure that no one was able to farm. They were on a roll!

With al-Islaah, one of al-Qaeda’s many subsidiaries and a notch above al-Itihaad in the corporate hierarchy, controlling the agenda, the movement set out to establish a government for the group and by the group. In short, with the help of corrupt UN officials and Djibouti elite, the Somali transitional national government was born. And surprise, surprise … it was headed by none other than the regional al-Islaah leader, Mr. Abdiqasim Salad Hassan!

The investment has finally paid off, or so they thought!!

Meanwhile, this is nothing new to Somalis. We know who they are, and they are among us; they forcefully control southern Somali clan territories; they collect each other when the need arises, and they disperse when necessary. If there is a rapid reaction force anywhere in the world, they are it! Lately, for protection and safekeeping purposes, the organization’s militias and armaments are taking more of sub-clan colors and presences, as in last month’s departure of al-Barakaat owned battlewagons (technicals) to al-Barakaat owners’ and associates’ clan territories in Galgaduud Region, central Somalia. The remaining al-barakaat militias, battlewagons and armaments are still in Mogadisu (TNG), Marka and Kismayo. In Boosaaso, Puntland, with the help of Dubai financiers and additional Mogadishu foot soldiers and materials, they are hastily regrouping. Afghan war veterans are also pouring in daily in Boosaaso.

Now that you know a little bit about al-Itihad, of course they have a “domestic agenda.” Their agendas and finances are so sophisticated, that in comparison, the Talibans seem like the cave men that they really are!

Taliban Fact: at the beginning, the Talibans were local students of the Koran with very limited domestic agenda, mainly in rural areas, and with very little outside support!

TNG and al-Itihad Fact: from the beginning stages to today, they were conceived in foreign lands; and they are ran and financed by foreign hands. They are no Mullahs, but hard core previous Siad Barre Butchers, communists, generals, ministers, imported foreign agents and rich religious zealots turned Islamists! They are supported and sustained by Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Middle East Paragons of virtue and democracy. These terror cells in Somalia and their sustainers are “axis of evil” and they represent a clear and present danger. And as President Bush said “thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes [or friendly outlaw regimes,] are now spread throughout the world [regrouping in Somalia] like ticking time bombs – set to go off without warning.” 

Knowing who they are, and knowing that their agenda will not be a limited to “domestic agenda;” and to paraphrase President Bush, Somalis will be deliberate; we will not wait while dangers gather; we will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer; we will fight back against evil forces and their hired hands. Somalia will be liberated from the shackles of corrupt UN political officers, from Siad Barre era generals and al-Itihaad politicians.

And we hope, before the peril draws closer and closer that the US navy will continue to patrol the Somali coast to prevent and block the constant shipments of Arab weapons and armaments to the TNG faction and their al-Itihad allies. And in the coming days, as they get flashed out of Somalia, we hope the US navy will be there to interdict them.

And the saga continues – stay tuned for more SHASNA reports!

And as we keep exposing the truth, nothing but the truth, we wish, hope and trust that every individual, government, organization, and UN official that supports these terror cells will be “stopped and defeated.” And by gosh, Somalis everywhere will see to it that Egypt, Libya and Saudi religious fanatics’ Mogadishu TNG terror cell will belong to “history’s unmarked graveyards of discarded lies.”

Asides

The Hague – For all UN officials and other world bodies that are concerned about human rights abuses and about Siad Barre’s regime; for all those who were concerned about the Hargeysa, Berbera and Burco massacres; for all of those who were concerned about the mass executions and mass rapes of women of Mudug; for all of those who were concerned about the poisoning and destructions of water wells and water bores in Mudug; for all of those who are concerned about the massacres of Jazeera beach in Mogadishu; for all of those who are concerned about the mass executions and tortures of Somalia’s finest and brightest military men; for all of you who are concerned about the destruction of Somali intellect and Somali intellectuals; for all of you who are unable to find the good and kind Somalis of yesteryears; and for all of those who are still unable to find their loved ones and their finest Somalis, please note that the war criminals who directed Siad Barre’s war against all Somalis; who are responsible for above actions are at it again and are headed by none other than Mr. AbdiQasim Salad Hassan, Hassan Abshir Farah, Gen. Galaal, Gen. Jilicow and other related terror cells and certain entourage in Hotel Ramadan, and of course the Hotel owner who is the local representative for Al-Qaeda, have again directed other crimes against humanity: the massacres of Baraawe and Kismayo; and the torching of Garasweyne, Hejmacood and Kuunyo-Barrow villages and where most of the resident were either massacred or chased away by the terror cells (Islamic court militias) and sub-clan militias. We hope the UN and their remaining highly regarded political officers pay close attention to these devastating wars and heinous crimes against humanity committed by the Arab supported Arta sub-clan. These men in Hotel Ramadan and many others, members of Osama bin Laden and the UN pet project, got us where we are today. The UN should not only pay lip service to human rights abuses, but also should lead the way and show some action. Unless of course, as always, crimes against the Blackman and Africans in particular are not considered real crimes! We sincerely hope it ain’t so.

Marka, Somalia – UN officials based in Nairobi were again performing their often practiced drill of checking the country for safe zones! Of course the results of this drill will take the same road taken by Messrs. David Stephen’s and Randolph Kent’s “committee of friends” for Somalia.

However, we hope they have learned something from their umpteenth fact finding trip to southern Somalia. Since Mr. Abdi Salad Hassan’s IRIN (brother of Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, TNG faction president) will not report the truth and about the Marka incident, Dear Mr. Steve Glunning, please remember those heartfelt demonstrations by the people of Marka against the invaders and al-Itihad associates. People of Marka are only demanding that their daughters, farms and properties be returned; all they are asking for is justice! And as President Bush said, we hope you too will “lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere.” And most of all, justice should be right and true and unchanging for the persecuted indigenous clans of Marka. Dear Mr. Glunning, speak the truth and let justice ring in southern Somalia!

IRIN – [Their reports don’t necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, but do definitely reflect the views of Mr. Abdi Salad Hassan, brother of al-Islah president, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, and UN political officers based in Nairobi]

This UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is a misnomer, and should be appropriately renamed the UN-al-Itihad Office for the Coordination of instability in East Africa!

Is IRIN’s Abdi Salad Hassan running out of sources in Puntland or what? We were wondering why a source is never quoted more than once! We will tell you why: journalists or other sources are never properly quoted and therefore people are dismayed by his fictitious fabrications! No more SAHAN, no Yool, no YAMAYSKA and no more Radio Midnimo; but instead, it is unnamed sources and freelance journalist! Welcome to IRIN brand of ethics in journalism!

Osama’s allies – What do Mr. Salad Hassan (TNG), Ina Deylaaf (fake currency dealer), Col. Hassan Dahir Aweys (US most wanted list – Kandahar/Marka/Mog), Yusuf Garaad (BBC Somali Sub-clan Section), Hassan Barrise (BBC Sub-clan reporter in Mogadishu) and Abdi Salad Hassan (IRIN) have in common?

What do the above individuals have in common with Ahmed Nur Ali Jimale (Al-Barakaat and detained in Dubai), Abbas Ali Abdi (US most wanted list – Mogadishu), Abdullahi Hussein Kahiye “Asbaro” (Mogadishu), Abukar Adane (Hotel Ramadan: Al-Qaeda Hotelier and financier of the TNG) Mohamed Atef (dead in Kabul) and Osama bin Laden (missing in action)?

What do Ismail Hassan ‘Kutubaweyne’ (Dubai), Yusuf Jama Degel ‘Cambe-Cambe’ (Dubai), Sheikh Mohamed Food-cadde (Dubai), Abdilatif Yusuf Barre (Dubai), AbdiWahab Mohamud Gurey (Dubai) Col. Abdiaziz Gureye Karshe (Dubai) and Abdinasir Gureye Karshe (Garoowe) have in common? What do they have in common with Col. Hassan Dahir Aweys (US most wanted list – Kandahar/Marka/Mogadishu) and Ahmed Nur Ali Jimale (Al-Barakaat and detained in Dubai)?

By the way, is Dubai, UAE, the new-found-land and safe haven of Osama’s allies, followers and financiers from all corners of the globe, of course including Somalia and Puntland in particular?

Financial Times – Mark Turner – “No one has provided clear evidence that al-Itihaad remains a serious threat. ‘They are no different from other people, they are not politicians, they are not military’ says Abdinassir Gureye, the founder of Garoe’s Library of Islamic Heritage and a former member of al-Itihaad.”

“Beam me up!” Is there such a thing as a former member of al-Itihaad? And is Mr. Gureye, the same Mr. Abdinasir Gureye Karshe, brother of Col. Abdiaziz Gureye Karshe, the Garoowe, Nugaal Region al-Itihad militia wing leader? If so, then we know one Mr. Abdinasir Gureye Karshe, al-Barakaat representative in Garoowe and a member of the local al-Itihad militia!

One more fact for Mr. Mark Turner: it is Garoowe and not Garoe!

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” 

TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS AND CONCERNED SOMALIS:

Thank you very much for your support in the ARENA OF IDEAS in these trying times. The true and tested hard working and devoted Somalis need leadership and unbiased information. We will try our very best to provide that. To other Somalis on the fence: the days of one clan forcefully dominating the other are over. If each one of us doesn’t clean his/her own house, nobody will clean it for us! For all the young men and women: don’t waste your time in this clan rubbish. Stay in school; we may need you someday. For the few who disagree, please be specific in where we err, if we do at all!

SHASNA* Editorial Board
cc: SHASNA Members

*SHASNA is an advocacy group based in Boston, Massachusetts. It stands for the unity and peaceful coexistence of Somali people. It supports the creation of a federal system of governance to safeguard the emerging free markets of the Recovery Zones. SHASNA encourages corporate and individual investments in the Recovery Zones. It has presences in both Puntland (Boosaaso, Garoowe, Buurtinle, Bacaadweyn and Galkayo) and Somaliland (Hargeysa, Berbera and Burco).