Exactly ten years have gone by. My memories, however, are still fresh; they have lived with me for one third of my life. I consider those enduring memories of trying times as blessings, because they have kept all of my comrades-in-arms alive and by my side.

Have you ever tried to stop doing any thing and meditate for a while, asking your inner being if there exists any thing worth than giving your life for a noble cause? And, did you come to figure out the main reason as to why people go too far beyond, even to the extent of losing the sight of their individuality and become willing to sacrifice themselves to a group’s interests even if that sacrifice was their own life? Wow! What a noble determination! Then, is some one, who has given his life for his community’s sake said to be dead? Absolutely no!

The minority mercenary regime in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi, the Bush Administration's “staunch ally” in the “war on terror”, finding itself in yet another self-created quagmire, has unleashed its loyal cadres, K-Street lobbyists and members of the Eritrean Quislings League to divert attention away from his lawlessness and belligerence, to white wash, downplay, and if possible, cover up its bloody tracks in Ethiopia and Somalia. Observers have described the childish and ignominious display by the regime’s cadres in New York as “disgraceful and embarrassing”.

The BBC and other media are reporting the “return of Ethiopian troops to Somalia”. How can they “return” when they never left? My sources, who served as advisors to Abdulahi Yusuf, leader of the Eldoret formed Transitional National Government of Somalia (TNG), tell me that Meles Zenawi’s forces never left Somalia. They may have left Mogadishu but they certainly did not leave Somalia. The Ethiopian regime has lied abut its presence in Somalia from day one. After denying its presence in Somalia in 2006, it was forced to admit that it had forces all over Somalia. Then it came up with a convenient lie and claimed that it was there at the invitation of Abdulahi Yusuf’s TNG. The media reported about the presence of 8000 Ethiopian troops. That too was a lie. There were over 25,000 Ethiopian troops in Somalia.

President Barack Obama got a taste of what Eritreans around the world have had to deal with for the last 8 years- Astroturf campaigns-where digital media is used to generate “fake grassroots activity”. The recent campaign against President Obama was orchestrated by none other than Dick Armey, the former Republican Majority Leader who leads Freedom Works and who is known to both Eritreans and Ethiopians as the million dollar lobbyist for the minority regime in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi. Eritreans are also familiar with the various deceptive tactics and faux grassroots efforts orchestrated by the regime’s mercenaries.

My athletic career started on New Year in 2004. Four years later, I became an Olympic marathon runner in Beijing 2008. I am not afraid of dreaming big dreams. With my little experience, I set out to Beijing to stand on the podium with an Olympic medal. My technical errors in the last few kilometers did not allow this dream to come true, though. However, I comfortably stood 8th. It was all God’s will.

The EPLF, parallel to the struggle for independence, organized musical troupes for recruiting the youth, preserving the national cultural values, strengthening the national unity and entertaining the people. Sibrit cultural troupe is among the different musical troupes, which are playing an important role in displaying such activities.