The worst,most misleading article I have ever read!The author is biased and he should be cited for everything he wrote.Yet it looks as if he was bribed by some Somali clans to insult them others.Everything he wrote about people,land and history is an insult to Somali people.Shame on you.

Since the first time I came across your website i have noticed one thing,and that is you write negative articles and sometimes sweet dividing news about Somalia.We have good old days in our past ,present and same will come in the future.I usually dont believe what the west says about Africa nor what their students say about my country's past or present.I do read and do my own research to know whats fact and whats fiction.One thing is clear Somalia will come back united,strong and prosperous.For those who are campaigning to separate the North West from the rest of the country;You can not stand against the majority of the Somali people who believe a United Somalia.And the country should be one in peace or two in war.Most clans in the North(Somaliland) including the major powerful Dhulbahante,Warsangeli and the oppressed Gaboye are against the secession

This article is disjointed in its presentation. While the "writer" (I use that word loosely) might be a seasoned traveler, he has only elemental knowledge of Somalia's history, politics and culture. One takes from this article that Al-Shabab and the pirates in Puntland are one and the same group. That is hardly the case.

Somalis in Greater Somalia (the 5 stars) are fiercely independent nation (read here as culturally unique from others in the region) and do not take lightly that foreigners are pillaging their natural marine resources. While I am no fan of the pirates' tactics in enforcing this goal, I nevertheless understand why some say that the end justifies the means and they are playing a crucial role that the international community abandoned long ago.

Mr. Goldsmith,

I enjoyed reading your article. I would differ with you on two points.

First, the placement of a news story on GOOGLE regarding Somali pirates who died from some chemical exposure on a captured Iranian ship has nothing to do with how the rest of the world ranks the current crisis in Somalia.

Second, the death of 3 pirates on the Iranian ship was a claim that has never been substantiated. The claim was issued by a government official whose motivation is the elimination of piracy in Somalia. What better way to end piracy than to bring the West into the problem and no better way to grab the West than to claim chemical weapons on the ship were responsible for the deaths. And no better boggy man for this unproven claim than the chemical weapons were the property of those evil Iranians. Cue Oliver Stone and Michael Moore for the movie of the week.

No one is taking the bait. Unless proven, such cheap theatrics will only backfire on Somalia and reinforce for the West that a decision to remain aloof from the problems in Somalia was the right one. Offer some solid proof sir and you will be money ahead. Otherwise, your arguments fall on deaf ears.

R/ Mike

What stupidity. Does anyone who reads these article possess either intelligence or education or knowledge of the world? True the west has ignored Africa other than protecting its own interest. That must stop. We need to protect all opressed? Just because they cannot make it to our shores does not mean they do not deserve to be free. Stop piracy. We should do as the mullahs did. They steal ships. We steal their life. The world needs to unite to follow this doctrine in these dire times. We cannot even deliver humanitarian aid because we allow these terrorists to live and breed in this lawless area. Stop them. Kill them. Then bring in the aid for all of those who need to feed their children and mothers and who want to live in peace and harmony with their fellow man. For to long we have allowed the muslim fundamentalists to propagate and infringe on the rights of all of the people in this area. We do not need a Christian Crusade to save this area. We need a world Crusade to help our brothers and sisters live without fear or intimidation. So sayeth the Lord our God.

To Irasmus:

We need world JIHAD in the area not crusade. After all Islam is the predominant religion in the area. Crusade has a negative connotation in this overwhelmingly muslim region. I suppose world JIHAD can be brought to your neck of the woods, too. Let's say you.