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A Pirate's Life For Me! Hijackers Bring Boom to Somalian Towns

LibertySugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:30:35 -0800

In chaotic Somalia, economic stimulus packages come in the form of pirate booty. The country's weak central government cannot stop rogue seamen from hijacking huge commercial ships and demanding millions of dollars in ransom. Right now, these pirates are asking for a record $10 million in exchange for a Saudi oil tanker carrying over $100 million worth of cargo.

Thanks to the surge of cash, pirates bring a surge of commerce most places they go. CNN reports on life in the pirate-centric towns:

Savvy Somalians have created a pirate economy, selling cigarettes, food, and orange soda to pirates coming back to shore daily.
Since pirates often take things without paying, sellers have set up a special credit program for them, hoping to be reimbursed when the ransoms come in.
Formerly destitute towns are now lively centers filled with restaurants, luxury cars, and cyber cafes.
More income has allowed residents to purchase generators that provide day-long electricity, previously unattainable.
Pirates treat their captives well, hiring caterers to cook Western favorites like spaghetti and grilled fish.

Can you think of any way for pirates to channel their capabilities toward positive contributions to Somalian society that doesn't involve pillaging and plundering?

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Front Page: Pirates Anchor Largest Oil Rig Ever Hijacked

LibertySugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:17:15 -0800

A giant Saudi oil tanker seized by Somali pirates Saturday has been anchored off the coast of Somalia. The cargo in the biggest tanker ever hijacked is estimated to be worth $100 million. — BBC News
US officials warned lawmakers that more economic aid is urgently needed, even though the Bush administration has decided not to spend more of the $700 billion bailout funds approved in October. Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke appeared at a congressional hearing today, where they described a gloomy economic situation and defended their actions. — New York Times

Washington DC officials are preparing for as many as four million people to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama, a tally four times larger than any other event. The city hopes to avoid a situation similar to the 1976 bicentennial, when millions were stranded in cars and buses for hours. — Washington Post
Finland's government plans to raise the alcohol tax by 10 percent, not to raise money but to discourage heavy drinking. Officials say alcohol is the country's most common cause of death.— AP

Front Page: Taiwan Arrests Its Former Leader

CitizenSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:06 -0800

The ex-president of Taiwan was detained by his country's police on charges of corruption and money laundering today. The defiant Chen Shui-bian raised his handcuffed hands above his head while shouting “Long live Taiwanese independence."— New York Times
In his White House meeting with Barack Obama, President Bush indicated that he would support another economic stimulus package, which includes aid to the auto industry, if the Democrats stopped opposing the Colombian free-trade agreement. — International Herald Tribune
Somalian pirates captured a Philippines chemical tanker, carrying 23 crew members, marking the 83rd hijack in Somalian waters this year. — Associated Press

After the Mars Lander ran out of batteries last week thanks to a dust storm, NASA announced that the mission has ended. — CNN
The surrogate grandmother in Ohio that gave birth to her triplet grandchildren last month, told Good Morning America that she is feeling fine, and was happy to serve as his daughter's surrogate at the age of 56. — Associated Press

Somalia: Is the Chaos There a US Problem?

LibertySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

An exaggerated fear of "Islamofascism" ignores a complex reality, causing the US to overreact and damage its own interests. So says columnist Nicholas D. Krsitof, who argues that the situation in Somalia is one of the least-known Bush administration failures. Kristof explains that in 2006, a movement made up of moderate and extremist Islamic groups was close to uniting the country. Fearful of an uncooperative government in Somalia, the US supported Ethiopia's invasion of its rival, crushing the best hope for peace.

Events this week bolster the argument that paranoia of Islamic extremists has led to disaster. Today in Somalia, five suicide bombs hit government security posts, UN offices, and an Ethiopian consular unit, killing dozens.

On Monday, the human rights chaos came to a head as well. A rape victim was stoned to death for adultery in an Islamist-controlled region. Buried up to her neck, thousands gathered at a soccer field to help execute her.

Perhaps extremists win when international powers stubbornly refuse to reach out to moderates. Would you rather see the US abandon a strictly ideological viewpoint, instead opening its eyes to nuanced reality, or does security require zero tolerance?

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Front Page: Foreclosures Grow by 70%, US Hands Province to Iraqis, Pirate Attacks Up 75%

CitizenSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:58:31 -0700

Foreclosures Grow by 70%:
The number of homes in a state of foreclosure grew 70 percent in the third quarter of this year, compared with the same time last year. Almost 766,000 homes received at least one foreclosure related notice between July and September. By the end of the year it's thought there will be a million bank-owned properties for sale, or a third of all houses on the market.

US Hands Province to Iraqis:
Iraqis have been given control of security of the province of Babil by the US military. This marks the 12th of 18 provinces to be given back to Iraqi control. Babil has seen much sectarian violence including a clash two days ago between militants and tribesmen which killed 15 people.

Pirate Attacks Up 75%:
On the Ukranian arms ship hijacked by Somali pirates, food and water are running low. So far only $1 million has been collected toward the pirates' initial $20 million ransom demand. Pirate attacks are up 75 percent this year off the coast of Somalia. A NATO flotilla is sailing to the waters now to begin anti-piracy operations in the next few days.

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International Flotilla, Maybe Mercenaries, to Take on Pirates!

LibertySugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:23 -0700

Warships from 10 countries are joining together to take on some of the world's most dangerous, and successful, pirates. (Can you say "arrrrrrrr" in 10 languages?) Not even the presence of US military vessels is enough to prevent these hijackers from seizing commerce ships, grabbing booting, and demanding ransoms.

Since 250 international ships use the pirate-infested waters to move goods each day, the world's trading powers worry that it could be too expensive to conduct business. The pirates also pose a threat of increased terrorism, as they use their proceeds, as much as $30 million this year, to fund more crime and extremist groups.

But officials in Somalia, which has a weak central government, have little faith in the flotilla. To see who they might hire to fight the pirates,

Front Page: Bush Implores Congress, Pirate Shoot-Out, More Than 140 Dead in Temple Stampede

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:55:38 -0700

Bush Implores Congress:
Speaking this morning at the White House, President Bush said that the economic damage will be "painful and lasting" if a bailout bill is not passed by Congress. The House is not scheduled to meet again until Thursday but lawmakers are looking for a new deal following the failure of the bill yesterday and the worst single-day drop of the stock market in 20 years.

Pirate Shoot-Out:
Somali pirates who seized a Ukrainian ship for a $20 million ransom last week have been involved in a shoot-out at sea among themselves. The pirates dispute the report saying, "This is propaganda being spread by some people who are not aware of our situation. We are united in punishing those who abuse Somali waters." A spokesman for the Seafarers' Association warned negotiators to pull back so the pirates can cool off.
More Than 140 Dead in Temple Stampede:
At least 147 have died and 55 injured at a stampede at an Indian temple as the faithful gathered for one of the year's most important religious festivals. With witnesses saying that the crowd was trying to pass through too narrow of a passage in the climb, another says, "People were falling over one another. Many ran but were trampled under the feet of thousands." A similar situation happened at a Hindu temple last month.

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Front Page: Bush to Meet Candidates, China Launches Space Mission, Civilians Flee Violence in Somalia

CitizenSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:54:22 -0700

Bush to Meet Candidates:
After his address on the economy last night where President Bush said, "we're in the midst of a serious financial crisis," Bush is set to meet with both candidates plus leaders of Congress today. It's a session he hopes will, “speed our discussions toward a bipartisan bill.” It was Bush's first prime-time speech devoted to the economy that he says, is "in danger."

China Launches Space Mission:
China's third manned space mission blasted off today on a journey that will last 70 hours and will include the country's first space walk. China's president was on hand to see the astronauts off on their riskiest mission to date. China became the third nation ever to put a man in space in 2003.

Civilians Flee Violence in Somalia:
Thousands are fleeing the capital of Somalia following fighting between AU peace keepers and insurgents have left 50 dead since Monday. Aid workers say between 15,000 and 18,000 have fled the city and are now living in terrible conditions in makeshift camps. Aid will likely not reach the needy as conditions in the country are too dangerous for agencies to operate.

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Against All Odds Teen Somali Sprinter Heads to Olympics

CitizenSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:00:58 -0700

Getting to the Olympics is tough for anyone — imagine training in a country in the midst of 17 years of civil war and chaos, where militia men try to prevent you from training. That's the case for 16-year-old Somali sprinter, Samiya Yuusf Omar. Battling her way up from poverty with a single mother, and facing pressure from friends and relatives who tell her that running will prevent her from marrying and from a better life, she's qualified to represent her country in Beijing.

Despite literal roadblocks that prevent her from going to practice, and when she does get to it, training at a track pocked with mortar holes, Samiya runs through all of the insults and warnings. She may come by her speed naturally; to see how,

Which Countries Are Most Corrupt? Not New Zealand, Denmark

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:59 -0700

Money could very well be the root of all evil — though in the latest study of corrupt countries, it's actually the lack of money that sparks trouble. The new report by Transparency International found that in two-fifths of the world's nations, corruption continues to intensify — a trend that can be traced to economic realities. In the countries found to be the most corrupt, 40 percent are classified by the World Bank as low income.

Transparency International's rankings range on a scale from 10 (on the up-and-up) to 1 (rampant corruption). How common is corruption? Of the 180 countries surveyed, 132 of them had scores below a 5. Other factors that contribute to a cloudy ethical picture are weak governments and conflict. The chairman of Transparency International says, "Countries torn apart by conflict pay a huge toll in their capacity to govern. With public institutions crippled or nonexistent, mercenary individuals help themselves to public resources, and corruption thrives."

Another troublesome mix? Weak government plus plentiful natural resources, like in Equatorial Guinea where 30 percent of the newly discovered oil profits go straight to government officials' wallets. To see which countries ranked where,

Front Page: Al-Qaeda Killed in Somalia, McCain Qualified For President, Maliki Is "Depraved"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:55 -0700

Al-Qaeda Killed in Somalia: One of al-Qaeda’s top agents in East Africa was killed this morning by a US airstrike, according to officials. Aden Hashi Ayro was the leader of the Islamist comeback in Somalia and a military commander for the Shebab — an Islamist militia recently classified by the US as a terrorist group. His removal is seen as the turning point for the war against extremists who've seized towns recently. Consul for Somalia’s embassy in Nairobi said, "this will definitely weaken the Shebab. This will help with reconciliation. You can’t imagine how many Somalis are saying, ‘Yes, this is the one.’ The reaction is so good.”

McCain Qualified For President: The US Senate voted on the question of John McCain being a natural-born citizen because of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone. The detail is one of the qualifications for the job of president. The Senate unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution recognizing that McCain is indeed a natural-born citizen.
Maliki Is "Depraved": A bloc of Iraqi MPs have denounced the government and used a passage from the Koran to describe Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as "depraved." The MPs support the Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr. Iraqi troops and US-led foreign forces have fought those loyal to Muqtada al Sadr in recent weeks. Nine people died today in a Baghdad bomb blast aimed at US troops, and in recent weeks, more than 400 have been killed and 2,500 injured in Sadr City.

No Parrots and Peg Legs — Real Pirates Are Everywhere!

LibertySugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:00:01 -0700

Yesterday, pirates captured a Basque tuna fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. Four armed pirates used a grenade launcher to overtake the 26 crew members on the Spanish boat.

Last year, pirates seized 25 ships off the Somalian coast. Earlier this month, pirates held hostage 30 crew members on a French luxury yacht. After the crew paid a $2 million ransom for its release, the French authorities apprehended the pirates, and they were charged in French court. How do you say "arrrrrrr" in French?

Somalia's poor excuse for a central government cannot control the 3,000-mile coastline. Victimized countries, like France, are forced to take on the pirates themselves. But, even though the US navy patrols the international waters, they are still extremely dangerous.

Do you think a movie about real-life pirates (and not Jack Sparrow) would be as successful, considering they are a result of lawlessness spawned by a humanitarian crisis and political chaos?

Source

Somali Women in the US Join Together for Business Success

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:32 -0700

Somali women living in Minneapolis, one of the nation's largest concentration of Somali immigrants, are using a custom of home to great business success. Though the women have owned small shops for years, they're pooling their money and moving on up. Relying on a collective model used in Somalia — plus two years of planning — 21 women have socked away $500 apiece. Adding donations of two business groups of $20,000 they're ready to develop their very own mall of shops.

Their mall will be the first such women's Somali cooperative in the country, according to people involved in the enterprise. It gets even more impressive, just

Front Page: Missiles in Somalia, Whaling, Rice Calls for Peace

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:02:32 -0800

American naval forces continued to fire missiles into southern Somalia yesterday, aiming at what the Defense Department called terrorist targets.The missile strike was aimed at Kenyan Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan. He is wanted by the FBI for questioning in nearly simultaneous attacks in 2002, including one on a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the target is a “known Al Qaeda terrorist.” Three civilians have been wounded in the attacks, with no casualties yet.
Japan has escalated the situation surrounding an environmental group's attack on one of its whaling ships using rotten butter. Japan has summoned senior diplomats to complain about the activist attack, calling attention to the fact that rotten butter is a mild acid. The Sea Shepherd group carried out the attack. The International Whaling Commission will meet soon in London for a three-day meeting, an attempt to break the deadlock between pro-whaling and anti-whaling nations.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East calling for a renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Her arrival comes a day after Israel withdrew from a five-day operation in Gaza to hunt down Palestinian militants, who have been firing dozens of rockets into Israel. Rice called attention to both Israel and Hamas-backed militants responsibility for the violence. Rice said, "There needs to be a stop to the rockets. There needs to be an awareness of what is happening to innocent civilians and an effort to prevent innocent people from being harmed."

Front Page: US Bombs Somalia, Abbas Stops Peace Talks

CitizenSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:53:17 -0800

The US fired missiles on an Islamist-held town in southern Somalia this morning. A US military official said the attack was "a deliberate, precise strike against a known terrorist and his associates." Three missiles hit Dhoble town, reportedly killing six people and wounding 20. Islamist insurgents took the area last week and reports indicated a leader, Hassan Turki, had been present in the area. The US is accusing the Somali Islamists of giving a safe haven to those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel yesterday following renewed violence in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 100 Palestinians since last Wednesday. Hamas has continued its campaign of rocket strikes against Israel, prompting reciprocal attacks on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "with all due respect, nothing will prevent us from continuing operations to protect our citizens." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to visit the region this week, and the latest reports say Israel has begun to withdraw from the five-day offensive, while warning their response is not over.