You are still back. Please come forward. Before he took the othe, President Barack Obama was president elected. You stated that Senator Barack Obama in your frist paragraph. He left the Sentor after elected. Please make correction.

At the same time, these last two days have been very emotional for me. I am very fortunate to live in the most powerful and richest democratic country in the world, but my heart ache for my people who live back in Ethiopia with one of the worst leader Ethiopia has ever seen. My heart is bleeding for all the parents who have lost their children and children who have lost their parents and siblings. It didn’t have to be this way. All they wanted for their country is Democracy. One of the hardest things for them must be to see this ugly illegitimate so called leader Meles, the very man who has slaughtered their children living in the palace paid by their tax money with out any consequences of his crimes.

I pray to God that I hope to see a real democracy in my mother land Ethiopia soon and sing: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

One of Ethiopia's unique virtues is its multi century tradition of the coexistence of people with various Semitic faith which exists to the present day of Ethiopia. Religious conflict has long affected mankind before any political discourse ever descended in arming conflicts and indeed the subjugation of any nation by conquest of war even in today's modern geopolitical theater. What makes today's terrorist conflict more dangerous is it mushrooms not from super power ideology of the cold war, but indeed from long unresolved religious conflicts that has reignited with such unprecedented zeal for global political domination. From the world snapshot and especially the geographic location where our nation lies, Ethiopia remains the only independent nation who have contained these elements of highly explosive mixtures to live together side by side in peace and tranquility for hundreds of years.

By in large, The Ethiopian Christians, Moslems and Judaism followers have long recognized the individual right to worship free from any coercion and persecution is the only way to social cohesiveness of the nation. Throughout Ethiopia evidence of common inter-religious marriages, co-observation of holidays, social assimilation, mutual dependence for trade and even the gallant sacrifices shared to defend the freedom of the country is a rare find anywhere on earth. It is a unique model in play when considers the approximation of the very region to these religions originated from, and thus remains the great wonder of Ethiopia's history. This virtue is in our genes passed on from our fathers, and it is truly Ethiopia's greatest gift to the world.

As the writer correctly articulated the current ruler of Ethiopia represents a self obsessed ethnic faction, who have sworn to dismember the very state it rules and purposely planning to create civil conflict in its final days as it retreats to the cliffs of Tigray. The Woyane regime who rule with impunity is devoid of the tiniest drop of national interest thereby relinquishing the mandate fir Ethiopia's history nor her legacy. The people of Ethiopia and only them who collectively continue to exhibit these important element for peaceful coexistence among different religion across Ethiopia are the owners of such asset. Ironically, those were the Ethiopians who in 2005 went out in unprecedented numbers to give the opposition party the clear choice, and more importantly the necessary mandate to govern them. There lies the unique opportunity and the necessary tools to fight global/regional terrorism which the world was never privileged to see under Meles.

Therefore it will be up to us to articulate the benefit of such unparallel virtue of a nation at the time when the US is desperately seeking to combat global terrorism. The number one issue for the US is National Security aka war against global terrorism. The knee jerk reaction of 911 and its aftermath combined with the jingo foreign policy of the Neo-Cons is for everyone to see. It led The adventure of the US to get involved in the Persian gulf and the blind support to Meles like dictator such as the ex president of Pakistan with nothing to show for. Similarly, with a desperate attempt (madness) by Woyane has led the invasion of Somalia which has spiral out of control on land and sea. The sum total of the current foreign policy of the US to date may be summed as reckless, bankrupting and counterproductive and even the most ardent supporter of this policy now start to question it altogether.

That is where president elect Barack Obama comes in. In his inauguration speech today he said, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." Furthermore, he is well aware that the candidate of change cannot continue a policy that has proved to him and the American people that it will never work. As for Ethiopia therefore, it will be up to us to sell him the two distinct choice before him. Continue the same disastrous support to a criminal thug despised by his people and expect different result or execute a new foreign policy based on democratic principles worthy of an ally. The US can source this great virtue of the Ethiopian people built for centuries as the bed rock foundation for fighting terrorism in the region. Besides the obvious emancipation of 80 million Ethiopians, establishing a valid parallel in supporting democratization in Ethiopia will have a far reaching effect to the the national interest of the US.

Arguing for the this historic Zenith, I call all the opposition groups to be clear in addressing what Ethiopia brings to the table in this endeavor without Woyane. If one does not have it one cannot sell it, and in the same fashion one cannot expect for one to buy its asset if one has not taken the lead to inform and surface its hidden value. Self interest is the motivation of any nation to invest in other nations and our opposition leaders need to seek wisdom buried deep in our history and reconnect it to the present.

The reckless behavior of Meles in hopes of getting US favor once more has now essentially ended with defeat. However, the aftermath of his action is now affecting the maritime safe passages of world goods and possibly launching a new menace front in the Indian ocean. The weapons being carried by pirates today are in part possible thanks to petro dollar, which in the past were used to destabilize Ethiopia and strengthen Woyane hold on power via Sheik Al Amudi. Ethiopian observers should never lose sight the significance of such unexpected development including the rapid fall of the Agazi army in Somali which undoubtedly will remain as a major concern for the US for long time to come. I am sure everyone remembers the recent collapse of US support to Musharaf, once they realize he is a dead horse although over $10 billion have been vested in his name.

I have no illusion that the last act of ridding this alien forces out of Ethiopia can only be done by a united front of the Ethiopian people . To allies in the global theater, however, the opposition need to articulate why and how the alternate government plans to provide Ethiopia's strategic position to counter global terrorism, all while create a national security force free from any political party. As to Meles and his gangs The lesson is coming home 'never bite the hand that feeds you' in the form of a new front opening through Somali, Eritera and Sudan.

I believe the successful planning and its execution will force the great powers to deny Woyane the very reason they want to stay in power. MONEY.

Long Live Ethiopia
Bertu