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Nigerian militants to guard oil pipelines in Niger Delta
The president of Nigeria Umaru Yar'Adua has taken steps to indoctrinate the abundance of militants in the oil rich Niger Delta region into a defence scheme for the pipelines in the area.
The Defence Minister Alhaji Yayale Ahmed stated to the House of Representatives Committee that the federal government in conjunction with local and state levels have cultivated plans of “constructive engagement " meaning the forming of limited liability companies for the legitimate employ of the militants.
The area of the Niger Delta has suffered from unrest for many years due to the rich wealth in resources of the region and its exploitation paralleled with the poverty of the population in the region and the damage to the environment caused that effect all life in the area. MarianaVanZeller's pod will explain a lot about the situation: http://current.com/items/77541711_rebels_in_the_pipelin....
MEND have not stated if they will be involved with this “constructive engagement “scheme but their leader in negotiations has recently given his faith to peace in negotiations with the
Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee chairman Chief James Jeftha. There has been criticism of “constructive engagement " in the Nigerian and international communities, as questions such as; whose arming them, who do they answer to, how do you know they won’t continue hostile actions inside installations ? More constructive questions consist of; why not focus efforts on the Nigerian Local Content Policy to stop sucking up money and actually be applied to areas in need of it. Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko addresses these issues in the linked article, here is a taste:
“The truth of the matter is that offering security jobs to the militants will not solve the problems at hand in the Niger Delta. A holistic approach, which requires integrating and domesticating the largely foreign-controlled “enclave” oil and gas economy, is what, is desirable. The militant youths need education, quality of life that comes with productive employment, training opportunities and an environment free from oil and gas related pollution etc.” The president of Nigeria Umaru Yar'Adua has taken steps to indoctrinate the abundance of militants in the oil rich Niger Delta re... more -
Taliban-Pakistan truce means more insurgents for coalition.
Recently hostility in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan has ceased after a deal was agreed upon allowing the Taliban their tribal sanctuaries across the afghan border and FATA, including undisrupted training and manoeuvres. Prisoners of war, including Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin, were also released to both sides including 200 Pakistani soldiers.
The deal was brokered in the tribal areas on border where nearly everyone has a weapon at home; it’s a practical quirk of tribal culture there, although admittedly I don’t know if everyone still carries the traditional Khyber Knife. In any case this is bad news for the Coalition in Afghanistan because among the deals that went on like the Taliban allowing polio vaccinations, agreeing not to harass barbers that cut beards, and to not harass girls going to school. However the Pakistani government also let off Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud for Benazir Bhutto’s supposed murder, which resulted in him ceasing operations against them. Now I have nothing against her murder, but this is going to cause some increased insurgency over the border as Baitullah Mehsud commands 20,000 fighting men of Waziristan (a large province divided into north and south on the southern Pakistani-Afghani border).
Among other things the social development seems at the fore-front off issues being addressed in the area, as the demand that a sprawling Madrasah is to be turned into a university was granted also by the Pakistani government. At the end of the day, we can’t blame them for not being interested in our war, but 20,000 men and operational security over the border is a big help to the Coalitions enemies in Afghanistan. Recently hostility in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan has ceased after a deal was agreed upon allowing the Taliban thei... more -
Analysis: Should YouTube censor al-Qaida?
'Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., called Monday for YouTube to take down al-Qaida videos that users had posted, but the site said most of the videos his office had flagged did not contain material that violated their guidelines and rejected his request that they act to remove all material from U.S. designated terror groups.'
'In a letter to Eric Schmidt, the chairman and chief executive officer of Google Inc., which owns YouTube, Lieberman urged the popular video-sharing service to enforce its own "community guidelines" against " graphic or gratuitous violence" and said the company should change its rules "to address violent extremist material." '
The Senators case apparently is that this videos should be removed for several reasons; they are morally wrong, that the videos allow terrorist groups to show 'provenance' with logos and icons, and finally that many attacks show US soldiers being attacked injured or killed.
You tubes response to this is the videos haven't broken their guide lines and people like seeing extreme videos (obviously considering the war is actually going on). My personal response to this is you can find videos more easily of US soldiers doing all of the above things and much worse, but then i suppose the Senator would love them banned as well.
Among all of the above it was an attempt on free internet media, something this site is built on, so we don’t want any of those rights getting knocked do we. 'Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., called Monday for YouTube to take down al-Qaida videos that users had posted, but the site said ... more -
Blackwater incompetent in An Najaf
In April 2004 8 Blackwater " commandos " were involved in the defence of Camp Golf/ Al-Andalus Base in An Najaf after an escalation in violence from protests and demonstrations. Muqtada Al Sadr broadcasted this message to the protestors "There is no use for demonstrations, as your enemy loves to terrify and suppress opinions, and despises peoples. I ask you not to resort to demonstrations because they have become a losing card and we should seek other ways. Terrorize your enemy, as we cannot remain silent over its violations."
On April 4th the demonstrations turned violent and the Mahdi Army was on the scene (it seems supporting the demonstrators), and the battle of An Najaf commenced.
This event is not in question, but eight Blackwater commandos have been praised for the defence of the compounds in the event, with the notable videos Blackwater in Najaf1/Blackwater in Najaf2.
'Now, however, we need to revise that account, according to the new book "Wiser in Battle" by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq.'
Lt. Gen. Sanchez's reviews the reports he'd received, firstly from the major in Camp Golf saying the Spanish had abandoned their post and that they were close to being over-run. 'The situation sounded so dangerous that Sanchez immediately ordered close air support. But when the fighters flew over the area, they could see no enemy activity.'
With the conflicting reports Lt. Gen. Sanchez decides to go himself to see what’s happening, continuing to receive reports on his way there. He goes on to conclude that the Spanish had acted competently and defended their compound, and that the Private Contractors in the area were delivering confusing reports and complicating the situation. However I seriously recommend you read the account at the bottom of the article linked for yourself. In April 2004 8 Blackwater " commandos " were involved in the defence of Camp Golf/ Al-Andalus Base in An Najaf after an esc... more -
Niger-delta militants highjack oil vessel
Parallel to Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua gesture of good faith by offering to tackle the problems in the delta (suggesting reforms to the economy and petroleum sector), a Chevron Corp. oil vessel was highjacked off the coast of Port Harcourt on tuesday night. Eleven men were captured, two of which were foreign (Ukrainian and Portuguese) along with the vessel, however no group has claimed the action. MEND (Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta) has claimed it had nothing to do with the incident. Hopefully this incident wont effect President Yar'Adua's attempt to sympathise with the Niger delta's problems. Parallel to Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua gesture of good faith by offering to tackle the problems in the delta (suggesting r... more
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The Medellin Mechanic
This is the personal story of Frank, a former Colombian paramilitary soldier, who was part of a massive demobilization process that forced more than 4100 men to give up their weapons.
Frank has suffered from his past, but lives to tell his story. This is the personal story of Frank, a former Colombian paramilitary soldier, who was part of a massive demobilization process that fo... more -
France Offers Freedom to FARC Rebels in Exchange For Hostage Release
France is willing to take in Colombian guerrillas as part of a deal to secure the release of hostages held by the country's leftist rebel group, the French prime minister said Wednesday.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the guerrillas, imprisoned in Colombia, could be freed in France as part of a swap deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. In exchange, FARC then would release the hostages it holds deep in Colombia's jungles, he said. France is willing to take in Colombian guerrillas as part of a deal to secure the release of hostages held by the country's lefti... more -
Iraq War Does No Good for US
It only serves the interest of the elite and the rich.
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