July 31, 2006

MAKING THE PLANES RUN ON TIME:

Somalia Has 1st Commercial Flight in Years: Somalia Has First Commercial Flight in Decade; Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote (MOHAMED SHEIKH, 7/31/06, The Associated Press)

The first commercial flight in a decade departed Mogadishu's newly reopened international airport Sunday, demonstrating how Islamic militants have pacified the once-anarchic capital and much of southern Somalia.

Local airlines had been operating from private airstrips outside the capital.

Now, Islamic militiamen are guarding the airport for commercial passengers, said Sheik Muqtar Robow, deputy defense chief for the Islamic group.

"This is a historic flight for me," passenger Hawa Abdi Hussein said before boarding the Somalia-based Jubba Airways plane to the United Arab Emirates. "I think we at last gained peace and security."


Security has to precede Freedom.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 31, 2006 9:00 AM
Comments

Yeah, never mind that the first two flights in were carrying more weapons for the Islamic Courts to use in their pursuit of "freedom." Uh, yeah, whatever...

Posted by: M. Murcek at July 31, 2006 9:11 AM

So that was the Taliban's and Saddam's true sin, that their tyrranies weren't administered efficiently.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at July 31, 2006 9:24 AM

No, that they didn't provide Security.

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 9:28 AM

Thank you, OJ. Finally someone who understands. The trains must run on time.

Posted by: B. Mussolini at July 31, 2006 10:22 AM

Security is required for Freedom, but it is not sufficient.

Posted by: Mike Earl at July 31, 2006 10:47 AM

Yes, which is why folks like Churchill admired Mussolini so much.

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 11:26 AM

I believe Churchill's comment about Mussolini was in response to a pestering question by the son in law he detested. Churchill said he admired Mussolini for having the guts to have his own son in law assasinated.

Posted by: David Rothman at July 31, 2006 11:57 AM

The airline appears to have been founded by a bunch of Canadians unless there is a Calgary in Somalia.

I may have to go to Dubai in September. I'll see if I can route through Mogadishu and take one for the team in the interests of research. I'll report back, if I survive the flight on their Russian planes.

Posted by: Rick T. at July 31, 2006 12:01 PM

Rick:

Glad to see someone else reads airliners.net.

Posted by: jim hamlen at July 31, 2006 12:12 PM

It wasn't a comment. He admired what he did.

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 12:32 PM

Security may have to precede freedom, but there is no evidence that Islamist parties are interested in providing freedom once there is security.

Posted by: Brandon at July 31, 2006 12:47 PM

They do everywhere the've been elected.

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 1:35 PM

Which is . . . where, exactly? Iran?

Posted by: PapayaSF at July 31, 2006 1:51 PM

Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Iraq...

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 1:56 PM

Thought experiment: what would OJ say if Kim Jong-Il announced his conversion to Islam? Or Hugo Chavez (who was in Tehran over the weekend as was hailed by Ahmadinejad as a 'spiritual' man)?

Posted by: ratbert at July 31, 2006 1:57 PM

If Kim reformed his society accordingly and held elections it would be a good thing.

Posted by: oj at July 31, 2006 2:12 PM

Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Iraq...

Interesting definition of freedom you're using there.

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'

Posted by: Brandon at July 31, 2006 9:39 PM
« WHAT'S A WORD FOR LESS THAN GENEROUS? | Main | THAT BITCH: »