Saturday, January 2, 2016

US Hawks Upset Over Iraqi Army's Successes Against Daesh (ISIS)

Late last month, the Iraqi army entered Ramadi, the capital of western Iraq's Anbar province and one of Daesh's key strongholds in the country. However, as The National Interest contributor Christopher Preble explains, not everyone is happy about Iraq's success.

The last weeks of 2015 witnessed an important turning point in the Iraqi army's struggle against Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists in western Iraq, with officials announcing late last month that they were on course to completely liberate Ramadi, a city in central Iraq which had been occupied by Daesh militants since May.

But paradoxically, the joyous victory against the terrorist group and its self-declared caliphate, which has brought misery to millions and condemnation from around the globe, wasn't as joyously met by some commentators and policy experts in Washington, who treated the victory as if it was a lump of Christmas coal.


In his recent article for Washington-based foreign affairs magazine The National Interest, Cato Institute expert Christopher Preble wrote that "the recapture of Ramadi is certainly good news, and may signal a shift on the ground that will allow the Iraqi government to press on against other [Daesh] strongholds, including Fallujah and Mosul."
This is certainly what the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi intends to see happen, recently vowing that "2016 will be the year of the big and final victory, when Daesh's presence in Iraq will be terminated."

Unfortunately, Preble notes, "if you listen closely, however, you might notice a tinge of disappointment among some here in Washington."

"Few will be as blunt as James Poulos in The Week, who focused on 'The Bad News about ISIS's Defeat in Ramadi,' but the Iraqi government's apparent success challenges some of the hawks' most deeply held beliefs about US foreign policy."

The heart of the matter, the journalist argues, is that US interventionists' "worldview hinges on the argument that Iraqis and others in the region can't be trusted to take ownership of their security. Thus, the need for more US troops in both Iraq and Syria. According to some, many more US troops are required." Now, "the Iraqi government's clear progress over the past few months seriously challenges the claim that the US military is the only force capable of containing and ultimately defeating [Daesh]."


America's presence in Iraq, ostensibly aimed at ensuring security, hasn't been without an element of coercion, the journalist admits. Moreover, "unsurprisingly, relations between Washington and Baghdad have been consistently rocky," from US pressures to restructure the country's political system and the economy, to Washington's vain and unconvincing attempts to promote a Sunni-Shia reconciliation, to its effort to secure an agreement allowing US troops to remain in the country after 2011.
"The pattern of resistance, confrontation and defiance," Preble suggests, "calls into question the many claims that an extended US military presence would have altered Iraqi politics and forestalled the rise of [Daesh] in the first place."

Therefore, the journalist suggests, "it's well past time" for Iraq to prove that it is capable of defending itself. Moreover, "officials in the Obama administration, much as they might like to push back against their many critics, should not make this out as an American victory. While US support helped, it is the Iraqis who deserve the credit for the hard fighting on the ground. And it is the Iraqis who will likewise be chiefly responsible for removing the rest of the [Daesh] cancer from their territory."


Friday, January 1, 2016

Top 9 Things Nigerians Expect From President Buhari In 2016


The previous year was thoroughly eventful- although it ended on a rather somber note for many Nigerians as fuel scarcity yet lingers, the Naira continuously drops in value in the international market, bombs are still being detonated by Boko Haram, while protests are becoming a regularity.

As Nigerians enter the New Year with hope for their general state of being to get better, here is a list of 10 things most citizens expect from the Federal Government in 2016.

Defeat Boko Haram completely, not technically.

2016 And Those That Will Bring The Change

Today is the first of 2016, a year that is pregnant with promises and hope, with Nigerians wishing that the much talked about change would begin to reflect in their socio-economic lives. In this piece, JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH takes a look at key personalities that would drive the much expected change.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day”, says Edith Lovejoy Pierce. Or is it the words of Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom, another great mind, that “every New Year brings new expectations, new enthusiasms and new experiences”? These two sayings aptly describe the expectations and hope of every Nigerian in this New Year.

Oil Cartel Blackmailing Buhari’s Government – Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said that oil cartel and their cronies who are resistant to change are out to blackmail and sabotage government efforts at addressing the perennial fuel scarcity.
In his New Year message to Nigerians, Oyegun said it was heartwarming that the government is winning the war on insurgency and corruption, assuring Nigerians that the party will fulfill its pre-election promises.

Buhari's Body Language: Dasuki & Kanu WILL Go To Jail & 3 Other Lessons From Buhari’s 1st Media Chat.

Finally, the president has spoken. For two hours, President Muhammadu Buhari sat down with four Nigerian journalists on Wednesday in his first presidential media chat. Traditionally, media chats have a way of defining Nigerians’ perception of their presidents, even after the expiration of their tenure. Ask Goodluck Jonathan and he would have wished he never said “stealing is not corruption” at one of his chats.
So what impressions has Buhari left us with? What about him did we not know, that we now do? Four of them below:

I Never Received N500m Personal Gift From Atiku Abubakar- Gov Bindow


Adamawa State Governor, Muhammed Bindow has denied receiving N500m gift from former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Bindow while making clarification on the matter on Wednesday explained that the said money was donated by Atiku to facilitate the 2015 governorship and State Assembly elections campaign of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
He said, “Contrary to the allegation which has gone viral in the social media; I didn’t receive the sum of N500 million from the former vice president as a personal gift.

'They Forced Us To Pray Before Raping Us, To Them We Were Animals' ISIS Rape Survivor Reveals


An ISIS rape survivor has revealed the terrible fate she suffered at the hands of the ruthless terrorist organization. Nadia Murad Basee Taha, 21, from the Northern Iraqi town of Sinjar was captured in her home and sold as a sex slave to ISIS militants who considered her as an infidel and did whatever they wished with her body. Speaking at Cairo University in Egypt, she told students:

I Use 5, Not 6 Vehicles In My Convoy – Lai Mohammed.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed yesterday said there are five vehicles in his convoy, not six as reported by Daily Trust on Monday. A statement by his press secretary, Joseph Mutah, said the minister he moves around in a convoy of five vehicles if moving with his aides and four without his aides. He said though the report highlighted the cut in the cost of governance under Buhari administration, but there a misrepresentation of fact on his motorcade. Daily Trust reported that it saw the minister using six vehicles, four of which were Toyota Land cruiser SUVs and two Hilux vans in his convoy. But the statement said “the fact is that if the minister moves with his aides, who occupy one vehicle, he has a three- vehicle convoy plus two pilot vehicles. If he is without his aides, he has a two-vehicle convoy plus the two pilot vehicles. The minister’s back-up vehicle is also used by the security details. ” Daily Trust.

Thursday, December 31, 2015

South African king sentenced to 12yrs in prison for cruelty towards his subjects



South African king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has been sentenced to 12-years in prison for arson, kidnap and assault of his subjects. King Dalindyebo handed himself over to the Mthatha Correctional Center in Eastern Cape province minutes before midnight on Wednesday, December 30, after failing in an 11th-hour bid to evade incarceration by seeking a retrial or a presidential pardon.

Photos: Car burst into flames on 3rd mainland bridge


A car suddenly burst into flames while it was being driven on Third mainland bridge. Passersby tried but couldn't put out the fire. See what happened to the car after the cut.

US Military Nervous As Iran TestsMissiles Near Western Warships

Nervousness in the US military leadership: Iran has conducted a missile test not far from US warships. The Americans speak of a provocation. However, Iran had warned all ships to stay away from the region in the Persian Gulf.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristina Young/Released)


Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Lai Mohammed Must Explain Latest Bomb Attacks – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described Sunday and Monday’s Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Adamawa states as disheartening and an indictment on the All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government, saying that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed must explain to Nigerians how the same Boko Haram he said had been “technically defeated” could carry out such daring and deadly attacks.

Fani-Kayode Telling Lies To Protect Jonathan —Fashakin


A former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, has accused a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of spreading lies in the media in a bid to defend the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Fashakin, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, said this on Tuesday in a Facebook post while reacting to Fani-Kayode’s open letter to Buhari.
Fani-Kayode had accused Buhari of victimising Jonathan even as he maintained that Jonathan bought weapons to fight Boko Haram.

Melaye Tears PDP Constitution At APC Rally

The Chairman of the Senate ad hoc Committee on Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, on Tuesday, tore the Peoples Democratic Party membership card of the immediate past commissioner representing Cross River State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Paul Adah.
Melaye also tore the party’s constitution as the former NDDC commissioner joined the ranks of eminent PDP stalwarts that have defected to the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Fani-Kayode Urges Support For Government's Anti- Terror Campaign


The former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Wednesday called for increased support for government’s ongoing campaign against terrorism.
Fani-Kayode said irrespective of the differences, it was important to seek collective efforts on the insurgency, stressing that the fight against terror should not be politicized.
The ex-minister spoke on Channels TV Sunrise Programme monitored by our correspondent in Abuja.

PDP Vice Chairmen Back Buhari's Anti- Graft War


The National Vice Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption war.
The party chiefs have also dissociated themselves from some prominent members indicted in the $2.1 billion arms scandal perpetrated under the last administration.
A number of PDP leading lights, including the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, are standing trial for their alleged roles in the scandal.
At a meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, the vice chairmen agreed that the country’s economic growth could be stunted if corruption is not eradicated.

The Ottoman Empire Strikes Back

This comment was selected by Mod KL  from the  post “Foreign Policy Diary – Turkey Seeks to Become New Ottoman Empire”. The moderator believes it gives an additional brief overview of Turkey’s real ambitions. It reveals more pieces of the puzzle, regarding Turkey’s true  intentions by projecting its power well beyond its borders – yet again.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

NLC Hails Oshiomhole Over Payment Of December Salary, Urges Others Governors To Emulate Him


The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Edo State has hailed the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for paying civil servants in the state December salary.
The union described the state as lucky, unlike some other states in the country where they spent the Christmas without salary.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Emmanuel Ademokun, in a statement, described Oshiomhole’s seven years reign as a huge success, pointing out that the governor’s efforts in blocking leakages in the ministries had yielded fruit.

Expect Real Change In 2016 – Anyaoku Assures Nigerians

Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has called on Nigerians to expect the change they voted for in 2016.
Anyaoku gave this assurance in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the pervading insecurity in the country would be brought under control.
He also expressed hope that corruption which had remained the greatest bane to national development would be effectively tackled.
“The infrastructural deficit in power supply, transportation including roads, education and health will receive attention.

US Opts To Buy Nigeria’s Crude, Says Kachikwu

Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu has raised Nigerians’ hope about the dwindling oil revenue, with the news that the United States will now buy some crude from Nigeria.
“Post the President’s visit, there has been an overture from them to say they want to buy limited quantity of Nigerian oil to support the market. We are still ongoing on that,” he said.
Kachikwu allayed fears over the return of the U.S. to oil export, stressing that the country’s sale of oil does not foreclose its tendency to buy crude at the same time.
According to him, the volume of oil that the US intends to do is little and it is for her internal consumption.

Ekweremadu: My Re-Emergence As Deputy Senate President, Act Of God


•Saraki extols his virtues
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has described his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as a man who has the interest of Nigeria at heart.
This is even as Ekweremadu described his re-emergence as senator and Senate deputy president as an act of God.
Saraki stated this on Sunday, at a civic reception in Mpu, Ekweremadu’s hometown, shortly after a special thanksgiving service, where he rededicated himself to the service of Nigeria and mankind.
Speaking on behalf of the Senate, Saraki described Ekweremadu as a man who every Nigerian politician should look forward to working with.

6 Essential SEO Strategies to Incorporate in 2016

SEO is truly vital on the off chance that you are into web promoting. Many who maintain their organizations online don't know how to utilize this apparatus and the individuals who are educated, additionally falter now and again in executing their SEO services to get sought results.  Famous web indexes like Google use complex calculations and various positioning components in deciding the most pertinent sites for specific pursuit terms. The hardest part is to make content for your site to improve its rankings. For this you need to basically depend on expert SEO services.

Here are a few ways you can adopt as your  your SEO techniques for 2016:
Continue after the jump break.

How Pirated Biafra Radio Chief Kanu Was Arrested In Lagos, By DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has given details of how its men apprehended the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Nnamdi Kanu at the federal High Court in Abuja today Sahara Reporters Media
The DSS said but for the tenacity of its men, Kanu, who lodged in a Lagos hotel under a fictitious name, would have escaped arrest.

Muhammed Hassan Loses 5 Ribs To Boko Haram


The Senator representing Yobe South Senatorial District, Muhammed Hassan, has revealed how he was attacked by Boko Haram, which resulted into five of‎ his ribs being broken during electioneering in Yobe State. The Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, while speaking in an interview, added that his closest confidant was killed during the attack on his convoy by Boko Haram.

'Newly Awakened' Russian Navy Has Pentagon Shaking in Its Boots

In the fight against Daesh in Syria, Russia has demonstrated its state-of-the-art naval prowess. According to a new Pentagon report, the proven effectiveness of the Kremlin’s fleet has Washington worried.

In October, the Russian military launched 18 Kalibr-M cruise missiles from warships stationed in the Caspian Sea. Travelling over 1,500 miles, these projectiles struck terrorist targets in Syria, destroying key components of Daesh, also known as ISIL/the Islamic State.