President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda believes that if all the sea and air roots to Somalia are blocked then these alqaida inspired thugs in the name of alshabab will be defeated easily because they will not be able to re arm and get money for their activities.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1027700/-/cmytk2z/-/index.html
I agree with him in this case that one way to stop these guys is to allow only humanitarian cargo to the Somali airspace.
but who can enforce this?
WE have over 50 warships from the worlds top navies patrolling the waters off the long Somali coast and yet the piracy problem still lingers.
The Kenyans can easily stop all flights connecting through Kenya like moi did at one time until the tribal factions came to see him in Nairobi's leading to the resumption of these flights
plus of course we have the Mira (khat) trading cartels from Meru who will loose out big if those planes do not take of from Wilson airport for Somalia.
IT seems that nobody will listen to Somalia until they directly threaten the western interests and M7 is waging a lone ranger battle.
M7 in all manner and considerations is a throw-back of the sixties in Africa, un-accountable strong men created by the West primarily to safeguard the West’s Vital Interests through suppressive savagely. He has no democratic ideals to speak about, and manifest instead dangerous autocratic tyranny the likes that were perfected by these postcolonial rulers and today only practiced by Mubarak and Santos of Eqypt and Angola. He has identified the fears of the West, and plays to them to stay relevant. Subsequently his pronouncements and actions have the suspicious tinge of acceptability to the West, which only dove-tails to pan-africanism by chance of circumstance and not intention or planning. He now ratchets the rhetoric about war in the Sudan and purports to speak for the rests of the IGAD Nations as well – despite not having any credibility left in this situation due to his war-mongering shenanigans in this very Country over the last 25 years. And as the Blue-eyed boy of the Western Hegemony, and therefore a member of the Security Council presently, he holds fort that he can subjugate Somalia with the support of the West by equipment, financial and political support. I have stated often that Somalia has been in this flux state in consequence of external actions and planning, some of it Kenyan, but mostly and originally to obviate the possibility that a united and stable Somalia will result in the exploitation of their Hydrocarbons Wealth which would undermine the Western Economies that are benchmarked on the stability of the World Energy prices and supply – a glut would upset the present monopoly of Arabic Oil supplier which is controlled by Western Companies in the bargain. I disagree with M7 pronouncement and without equivocation see them as self-serving by M7 to exploit Western fears and interest to propagate and sustain his tyrannic hold on power in Uganda
ReplyDeleteole Nkarei: I hear what you are saying but what interests me, as a layperson, is that Kenya, unlike Uganda, never makes explicit its aims or objectives. I realise that there are some things which are to be kept secret, but Kenya, I feel, is taking this secrecy business too far. Even the big guns in the world do lay out, in general terms, what their national interest and objectives are.
ReplyDeleteIf "Wanjiru" doesn't know what their gava is doing - and why, in broad terms of course (also considering that we are supposed to be a "democratic" society), what's the point? and how are we supposed to judge if what the gava is doing is in our best interest? especially considering that government in Kenya, and Africa in general, has not covered itself in glory RE: acting in the interest of the countries they lead(a point you have made RE: Museveni).
Sorry if my post is a bit rambly and incoherent but i'm tired and have been drinking (mwacha mila...) but i'm really interested in your thoughts RE: how the gava engages with its people.
Okay Chip, I heard you, and not to worry about the Mwacha-mila bit, I love my Tusker Lager to death too. This is a grey area that I am afraid we must bravely explore together, the Civilians and the Uniformed. Because it is not historically our fashion of doing business in the Armed Forces. Our paradigm is borrowed from the British and their hysterically obsessive preoccupation with Secrecy emanating from the two World War experiences when on their better security of the Military and Intelligence Planning finally destroyed the Axis Forces of Hilter and Mussolini. But you are right that there is a need adjust to the changing times, and probably push out the envelope of secrecy to allow for some sort of discourse with the intentions and actions of the Military and Intelligence. We are very conscious of this imperative, a bit frightened by it too if you allow me to be blant, and there are efforts at the Centre to redefine this and develop some sort of framework that will guide it. I know because there are bits and pieces of queries and ideas being thrown about, that I personally know of, and some think-tanking at various places in the Command Structure and Schools too. I will invite certain other Uniforms to contribute to this discussion, and string you along with tit-bits which I am certain you are competent enough to put together and generate some clarity to this – as we all await guidelines from Big Brother kDoD. In the interim, allow me to remind you that the brashful arrogant posturing of M7, akin to that of the School Bully, attracts all manner of insidious chaps with intentions to testing themselves against the bully – see who pees further, if you want. It is the reason that M7 has been a consistent conflict with virtually everyone in this neighborhood for the past twenty years, and essentially this is what defines his leadership and his presidency. He thrives on this senseless empty bravado. Thus far, the victims of M7’s adventurism have been hapless societies and weakened governments, until he stuck his big foot in his mouth with AQ in Somalia. Now he needs to be refitted with Military Hardware, Offensive Systems and Equipment, and financed to make a honorable disengagement from Somalia, and hence his coddling up to the EU/USA playing of their fears that this monster they created will bite them in the backside unless it is stopped – they are engaged in two wars against the Islam and will not start another direct war with Islam in Somalia. M7 is so shamelessly conniving that he is ratcheting up rhetoric and tension with the Sudan using the same blatantly manipulative modus operadus. But despite M7 spending just under USD340Million on Defense (albeit disproportionately in Offensive Systems & Equipment Acquisition t) in 2009 and about 3.5% of Uganda’s GDP, M7 is woefully inadequately prepared to engage the Sudan (USD1,970 Million and 4.4% of GDP same period – mostly on Offensive Systems and Equipment Acquisition and Refitting of existing Ordnances). In Kenya, our attitude has always been to quietly and decisively prepare ourselves both offensively and Defensively (USD680Million 2009 and only 1.9 of GDP). We have also thoroughly defined and developed a strategy of Defensive-Offense-to-Depth which has kept out open conflict from our borders thus far. We shall keep chatting, buddy?
ReplyDeleteOkay Chip, I heard you, and not to worry about the Mwacha-mila bit, I love my Tusker Lager to death too. This is a grey area that I am afraid we must bravely explore together, the Civilians and the Uniformed. Because it is not historically our fashion of doing business in the Armed Forces. Our paradigm is borrowed from the British and their hysterically obsessive preoccupation with Secrecy emanating from the two World War experiences - their better Integrity and Security of their Military & Intelligence Planning finally overwhelmed the Axis Forces of Hilter & Mussolini. But you are right that there is a need adjust to the changing times, probably push out the envelope of secrecy to allow for some sort of discourse with Civilians on the intentions & actions of the Military & Intelligence. We are all very conscious of this imperative, a bit frightened by it too if you allow me to be blunt; there are efforts at the Centre to redefine and develop some sort of guideline / framework. Bits and pieces of queries /ideas thrown about, that I personally know of, some think-tanking in the Command Structure and Officer-Schools too. I will invite certain other Uniforms to contribute to this discussion, and string you along with tit-bits which I am certain you are competent enough to put together and generate some clarity to this – as we all await guidelines from Big Brother kDoD. In the interim, allow me to remind you that the brashful arrogant posturing of M7, akin to that of the School Bully, attract all manner of insidious thugs with intentions to testing themselves against the bully – see who pees further, if you want. It is the reason that M7 has been a consistent conflict with virtually everyone in this neighborhood for the past twenty years, and is what defines his leadership and his presidency. He thrives on this senseless empty bravado. Thus far, the victims of M7’s adventurism have been hapless societies and weakened governments, until he stuck his big foot in with AQ in Somalia. Now he needs to be refitted with Military Hardware, Offensive Systems and Equipment, financed to make a honorable disengagement from Somalia; hence his coddling up to the EU/USA playing on their fears that this monster they created will bite them in the backside unless stopped cold– they are engaged in two wars against the Islam and will not start another direct war with Islam in Somalia. He is so shamelessly conniving that he is ratcheting up rhetoric /tension with the Sudan using the same blatantly manipulative modus operadus. But despite spending USD340Million on Defense (albeit disproportionately not in Offensive Systems & Equipment Acquisition t) in 2009 / 3.5% of Uganda’s GDP, he is gravely inadequately prepared to engage Sudan (USD1,970 Million and 4.4% of GDP same period – mostly on Offensive Systems & Equipment Acquisition & Refitting of existing Ordnance). Our historical attitude is to quietly & decisively preparations both offensively & Defensively (USD680Million 2009 / 1.9 of GDP). We have a effectively thoroughly implanted and further developed a strategy of Defensive-Offense-to-Depth used effectively down south in the early eighties. We shall keep chatting, buddy?
ReplyDeleteChip, I hear you, Kenyan, and not to worry about the "mwacha-mila" influence, hell man, I love my Tusker Malt to death. I have posted a lengthy note for you on the nairobichronicle.wordpress.com site, under Kenya-armed-forces-pictures, which was too long to carry here as a comment.
ReplyDeleteWeb-shooter, how can I get to post a "post" here, buddy? You are making good waves, Spider,Iam certain Jasiri will be telling you that himself soon!