Opinion: Ten Hag should regret that he left Ajax

The Manchester United Manager, Erik Ten Hag are clearly struggling to grasp his new club and the challenge, which is ahead of him. The job he has is massive and the others has failed before him. Ever since Alex Ferguson retired, no one has able to contain or build a team at the club. That’s why he won’t have the time or the ability to build much confidence before his saga at the club is over.

Ten Hag has only had two Premier League matches. One home and one Away. Both has ended in disaster. One a loss to Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 at Old Trafford and today losing 4-0 to Brentford away at Brentford (Gtech) Community Stadium. Certainly the 1-6 in goal difference and zero points is a horrific start of the season. None of these matches was against title contenders or any sort of team that is expected to get to Euro League or anything. No, these are teams that expected to avoid relegation and that’s about it.

The Dutch Manger who has been successful in the Eredivisie. That’s why he built himself a name with FC Utrecht and Ajax. The latter is where he won titles and also did well as reach Semi-Finals in the Champions League, and the Quarter-Finals in the Euro League. So, it’s not like he doesn’t have a track-record and done an amazing job in Ajax. That has been obvious and this is why so many of players was sold to bigger clubs.

However, now where he resides it’s different. Whatever results he had in pre-Season doesn’t matter. The cups or so called titles in practice matches are pointless. The Premier League and the results are the ones that matters the most. The ability to reach Champions League and be a title contender. The Manchester United club isn’t supposed to look this awful.

There is so much expectation and history, which haunts the club. That’s why anybody following Ferguson has fallen off. The club has had Moyes, Mourinho, Solskjær and Rangnick. All of them has been there and later crashed. The club has just hired them and later sacked them. While keeping plenty of players and stars on their pay-roll. This has further made the rot evident and clear.

There big names and supposed wonder-boys who was supposed to shine. However, it hasn’t materialized in years. The people from the academy haven’t brought things up to speed as well. There is no signs of redemption and so much lost time. Hack work and few signings from each who has been there. Now it seems like there is no vision or attitude of how the club wants to be run. They are either trying to get the ones to sell the most T-Shirts or Merchandise, but not the characters that build a functioning team.

Ten Hag has not only very little to no time. The sort of results at Brentford isn’t taken lightly. Neither is the loss to Brighton at home. These sorts of things has to be flukes. It is a reason why OGS was fazed out. Now the Dutch Manager has to revive and build a team. A team that he got no time to build. The results just has to appear and there will be “borrowed” time to fix it or adjust. He just got to find the tools and get the players to follow his paradigm shift. Because, what the world is seeing right now isn’t working.

These days… I wouldn’t feel bad or feel like he betrayed his new club. If Ten Hag said he missed Ajax. That was his wonder years and where he had success. Now his come to place and a league he has no time to grow into. Manchester United is an unforgiving place and a club with huge expectations. These results cannot be prolonged and sooner or later he has to show PlayStation football against an opponent. Because, what we are seeing right now isn’t doing him any good.

Ten Hag era will end in tears. It is just starting and this is looking grim. Peace.

Kenya: Evangelical Alliance of Kenya – A Call to all Kenyans to Uphold Peace (13.08.2022)

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Association of Journalist – A Nation on the Brink (13.08.2022)

Opinion: “Be Frugal” isn’t a government intervention…

The President and his team making a statement of sorts… when they are claiming that “Be Frugal” is a short-term intervention of the state. That is really foolishness and inaction at its best. This is putting all the weight on the citizen and the population itself. They just have to be careful with every single shilling and the state will in the short-term not give you anything or any sort of substantial relief. That’s really the point here…

The state that is filled with nepotism and cronyism. A state so filled with government entities and ministries, huge budgets and salaries. A state that is overspending over capacity on bloated government structures, districts, counties and cities, which are not even able to absorbed in the budgets. That sort of government is telling it’s citizens to be frugal.

The high ranking officials and ministers are complaining about old vehicles. They are getting the state to pay for newest models and custom made to VIP treatment. While citizens are told to be frugal. A State House and an Office of President who is eating large every day. A President with over 130 Presidential Advisors and a cabinet around 80. Not in putting the amount of MPs who are the on the state payroll. In combination with the RDCs and everyone else who is directly appointed in combination with the elected officials both in local government and state level. This whole government is made to be a cash-cow and that’s before civil servants are even paid. The bureaucrats, the teachers, nurses or anyone else holding offices in a government entity. They are part of the play, but the politicians and their appointments are the expensive ones.

That’s why the message in the rising inflation, rising prices on basic commodities and food. The government answer to that: “Be Frugal”. Seriously, that’s it? That’s all you can do? Save some money you either have or don’t have. Wash yourself with less soap, buy less bread and don’t even think using your car. Cars and vehicles are only for the VIPs and the ones who has salaries that actually counts. They have also budgeted pay for air-time and phone-bills, so they don’t have to worry about use of data. Heck, these folks don’t have to worry about Yaka or paying the electric bills either. It is just prefixed and they are well-off because of their office.

Be Frugal”.

That’s all you got? When people don’t have money or currency worth a damn? It is not like the people had much to begin with, but now even less. Their currency or money is less valued as the prices are going up. The salaries are stagnate and the expenses are just going up. You cannot stop the ordinary expenses, it costs to live and it’s like the President and government doesn’t understand that.

The message is just insulting. This is the Cassava Republic and the Republic that is mirrored in the image of the President. It is what his created and his minions are proud of his messaging. However, it is flawed and it isn’t helping. It isn’t even helping himself, as his sitting on the pedestal watching down on people. The poverty is real, even if the President and his kind is “living” in a middle-income country. Peace.

Sierra Leone: Human Rights Commission – Press Statement on recent Incitement and Violent Protest (12.08.2022)

Opinion: No one should have TS/SCI documents in their home, yet Trump did…

Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) is classified national intelligence information concerning or derived from intelligence sources, methods or analytical processes, which is required to be handled within formal access control systems established by the DNI. The SCI control system structure is the system of procedural protective mechanisms used to regulate or guide each program established by the DNI as SCI” ((U) Intelligence Community Authorized Classification and Control Markings – Register and Manual, 2012).

The ones that are downplaying the severity of the revelation that former President Donald J. Trump took not only “Secret”, “Top Secret” and “Classified” documents to his Mar-A-Lago home after ending his term. The former President in addition took the ones classified as TS/SCI.

All of this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. No Head of State or Commander-in-Chief has done this. There been instances where there been whistleblowers who has released highly classified documents and been targets of the Republic afterwards. This being Edward Snowden, Reality Winner or anyone else who has in the recent years done that. They breached the trust of the state and their security clearances by doing this.

Even back in 2008, the former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales story says it all really:

In sum, our investigation concluded that Gonzales mishandled classified materials regarding two highly sensitive compartmented programs. We found that Gonzales took his classified handwritten notes home and stored them there for an indeterminate period of time. The notes contained operational aspects and other information about the NSA surveillance program that is classified at the TS/SCI level. By regulation, such material must be stored in a Sensitive Compartmented Storage Facility (SCIF). At the time he took these materials home, Gonzales did not have a SCIF at his house. Although Gonzales did have a safe at his residence at this time, we found that he did not use it to store the notes. We also found that Gonzales improperly stored other highly classified documents about the two compartmented programs in a safe at the Department that was not located in a SCIF. Several employees in the OAG had access to the safe where Gonzales stored the documents even though they lacked the necessary security clearances for this information. We concluded that Gonzales’s mishandling of both the notes and the other classified documents violated Department security requirements and procedures” (Office of the Inspector General – Special Report – ‘Report of Investigation Regarding Allegations of Mishandling of Classified Documents by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ September 2008)

So with that in mind, the TS/SCI especially, which is the highest levels of secrecy and national intelligence. The sort of documents that shouldn’t be anyone’s home. The sort of documents that contain secrets of national defence or otherwise security programs, which shouldn’t be easily accessed. That sort of documents was what former President Trump had in his home. The sort of document that should only be stored in a Sensitive Compartmented Storage Facility (SCIF) and Mar-A-Lago is far from that.

The former Attorney General Gonzales mishandled documents too and took them home. What was striking about Gonzales was that he wasn’t charged after that and was shielded for prosecution. While the media at the time was hit the Espionage Act, if they published or discussed the matters. Which is ironic, as the public should know about the actions of their Attorney General and his activities.

That’s what’s happening today and President Trump can say that the documents was already “declassified”. However that is just hearsay at this point, because why did he take them home and store them? Why if they weren’t important… why did he keep them and have it in his home? That doesn’t make sense.

Secondly, there is a process and legalise to how documents of these manner get classified and declassified. It isn’t just a blink of an eye and that a President Orders to be so. No, when it comes to National Security and Secrets that is deemed by the Director of National Intelligence(DNA) and National Security Agency (NSA). All of these has procedures and means to have oversight of the documents, as well as the Department of Defence (DoD) and Central Intelligence Authority (CIA). So, it isn’t an easy escape or way of getting it.

The third aspect is that with every level of secrecy a person needs a clearance and needs to be designated to work with it. It isn’t like free entry and everyone allowed to read or store. That’s why what Trump did is very dangerous. That from the same man who had issues that Hillary Clinton had a private Email-Server in her home while serving as U.S. Secretary of State. This was investigated and the authorities didn’t find any direct illegal by it, but it shouldn’t have happened. However, as bad as that was… the way the former President took documents has to be answered for.

As Trump did take documents, which are designed to be within a SCIF facility and be contained in a secure location. When he has taken such documents to Mar-A-Lago his clearly not caring about National Security or the National Secrets. He believes his obliged and approved to keep onto it. Others would have served time like Reality Winner. Hell, would be in exile like Edward Snowden. So, who does Trump think he is?

Just to read that someone takes TS/SCI home and doesn’t store those things correctly. That sound send chills down your spine. That the FBI did take so much documents and had such a list of things that Trump kept in his home, says a lot about what he did. This is a deliberate act and not just a random act. Especially, when the documents are so visibly stamped and regulated as is. It just shows how reckless and how his acting…

If he thinks he can double down with “declassified” or “copies” or whatever excuses. That will not stick. Because, you as a former Head of State should know better. It should also be a bad omen when the Department of Justice is investigating him under the Espionage Act. That is signalling that he could have “sold” or used the document as leverage with foreign entities. This is also seditious and treasonous, if proven so.

Trump has a lot to answer too. Not only this investigation. We know there was three statutes, which was the reason for the FBI “raid” of Mar-A-Lago. He has several of other cases built against him and he should be worried. The proof and evidence of the level of document kept in Mar-A-Lago only shows what his willing to do.

The ones trusting this man is clearly not seeing the whole picture. A man who is willing to endanger and breach national security for his own interests. While acting like a victim, when he did it himself and tried to keep these things as long as he could. That’s why the FBI needed a warrant and “raid” his home.

He did something very obviously “illegal” and that should have consequences. While Gonzales didn’t pay a price. He took less documents, but I wonder if anyone want to shield Trump now? Does he have friends or associates willing to trade national intelligence and national security over saving their messiah?

Time will tell.. but it shows how Trump acts and doesn’t care about “rule of law”. Peace.

South Sudan: National Salvation Front/Army (NAS) – Response to the Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan (12.08.2022)

Philippines: President Marcos Jr. – All sugar isn’t sweet…

This week has been terrible for the President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. who has been caught into a web of scandal. This is involving the second office his holding, which is as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. That Marcos Jr. decided to be both the Head of State and the Minister of Agriculture has already backfired. Because, his now parts of or given powers to someone underneath him, which happens to be the Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture.

This week has proven that the President shouldn’t hold two offices at the same time, but would be better to have appointed a trusted a fellow to run it. Since, the mismanagement has come this quickly. It didn’t take longer to a scandal rocking him and now the turns of trying to shift the blames start.

We know today that the Undersecretary has resigned and apologised for the Sugar Order Volume 4, but the investigation is just launched. Therefore, the whole entirety will unfold. The signatures and the whole deal. As it started to it finished. We can really wonder what went down between the release of the Sugar Order Vol. 4 and the Meeting which the President presided over. That was only 8 days between and something has to be said there. They don’t just order 300,000 metric tons of sugar on a whim. There is some sort of planning, before execution and making the measures in the Sugar Regulatory Administration.

That’s why I have made this time of what has dripped out so far…

On the 15th July 2022 Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez on behalf of the President sent out a Memorandum giving Undersecretary of Agriculture, Leocardio S. Sebastian vast power within the Department of Agriculture. Not only the as the Chief of Staff of the Department, but many other powers invested in him. That Memorandum was from the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President and gave the Undersecretary his clear role.

1st August 2022:

NEWS UPDATE: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presides a meeting as the secretary of the Department of Agriculture to discuss the course of actions that the department will take for the sugar and coconut industry” (PTVph, 01.08.2022).

9th August 2022:

The Sugar Regulatory Administration published Sugar Order Volume 4: “Second Sugar Import Program for Crop Year 2021-2022, which states the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. The sugar was supposed to designated partly half of it to industrial users and the other half to the traders.

11th August 2022:

Undersecretary of Agriculture Leocardio S. Sebastian sends his resignation letter to President Marcos Jr. and apologises for the Sugar Order Volume 4. While also resigning from the post, which he only was appointed to in July.

12th August 2022:

“Heads are going to roll” following an investigation over the supposed “unauthorized” signing of a document directing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles emphasized on Thursday. “An investigation is ongoing to determine whether any act that would cause the President to lose trust and confidence in his officials can be found or if there is malice or negligence involved. In such a case, if such findings are made, then the only determination left will be how many heads are going to roll,” Cruz-Angeles said in a press briefing. Angeles described as “illegal” Sugar Order No. 4 issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which supposedly directs the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. “The Chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board is President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. As such, the chairman sets the date of any meetings or convening of the Sugar Regulatory Board and its agenda. No such meeting was authorized by the President or such a resolution likewise, was not authorized,” said Cruz-Angeles” (Alaine Allanigue – ‘Heads to roll over ‘unauthorized’ importation of 300,000 MT of sugar’ 12.08.2022, Philippine Information Agency – PIA).

We don’t know yet the whole scope of this, but the things are twisted together. There are missing pieces and more has to be unleashed on the masses. This here sugar scandal came early. It was only barely month after the Executive Secretary wrote the memorandum giving the Undersecretary vast powers to the Sugar purchase or imports was in order. That is saying something and the President has also signed on the Sugar Order Vol. 4. So, he had to knew and cannot act totally oblivious. The man cannot be that docile and not know what is going on in his department. That is something I have a hard time to believe.

Time will tell, but what we do know is that all sugar isn’t sweet. Certainly Marcos Jr. should be more careful ahead and he should reconsider the ability to both be the head of state and a secretary over a Department. Yes, he wants to do so show that he cares and priorities the sector. However, it would be better to craft legislation and policy changes as President. Than trying to control this, as well, as being the President. That seems to much to ask…

The investigation will now buy everyone time, but the truth will come out. This happen in such a short window and early in the administration. So, it is not like everyone has settled in or gotten used to the new offices. Therefore, this should be brief and quick. As parts of the paperwork is already online. The President can also be implicated, because he sat in the meeting on the 1st August and on the 9th August the Sugar Order Vol. 4 was published. An inquiry will even dig deeper and things tend to connect together. Peace.

Sierra Leone: Chozen Generation Sierra Leone – CSGL International Youth Day Message – Beyond the Symptoms: Addressing the Underlying causes of Youth Violence in Sierra Leone (12.08.2022)

A look into the Preliminary Reports from the EOMs of EAC & AU-COMESA to the 9th August General Elections in Kenya

The 9th August 2022 Kenyan elections most of the time how an election should be operated and run. Yes, there was faults at play and the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) did some wrong moves and that’s why certain parts of the polls was postponed. However, we will see that IEBC and Chairman Wafula Chebukati is vindicated and the people should be proud. The Kenyan people with their resilience and ability to trust the process says something.

The East African Community (EAC) released their preliminary report yesterday. I will first go through their vital quotes and points. Before I will go through the African Union (AU) -Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which was also released yesterday. These will hopefully come with interesting findings and possibly also show the strength of the system. As people are still awaiting the finalization of results and declaration of winner.

The quotes from the EAC:

The Mission takes note of the remarkable improvements made by the IEBC in regard to transparency, preparations, and management of the 2022 Kenya General elections. However, much more needs to be done for better outcomes in The Mission recommends also that in future, there should be better communication between the IEBC and the various stakeholders” (EAC, 11.08.2022).

Generally, the situation was calm, peaceful, and orderly. Most polling stations opened on time, but there were a few which opened late for various reasons including late setting up of the station, late arrival of polling materials or polling However, we were pleased to note that the time lost was compensated by late closure of polls in the concerned polling stations. It is recommended that; the IEBC should take corrective measures to ensure that these deficiencies do not recur in future elections” (EAC, 11.08.2022).

The mission noted with concern the complaints made by young people that political parties did not provide them adequate space and opportunity for them to participate as candidates in the elections. We consider this a serious matter which needs attention and In the same vein, we call upon the political actors and government to ensure that the two-thirds gender rule is observed to the letter and spirit” (EAC, 11.08.2022).

The EAC Election Observation Mission is satisfied that the way the 2022 Kenya General election was conducted on the polling day, the people of Kenya were given the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice, freely. We hope the subsequent processes will respect, uphold and reflect the will of the people of Kenya in the 2022 General Elections” (EAC, 11.08.2022).

The quotes from the AU-COMESA:

The AU-COMESA EOM noted that despite the relatively high youth population (18-35), there was low youth registration in the 2022 elections. Only 39.84% (8,812,790) of the total registered voters were youth, a decline of 5.17% from the 2017 figures. Stakeholders consulted by the Mission attributed the low youth participation to the general conception that the votes do not count in elections, lack of trust and confidence in the political system, and the youth’s unemployment and poverty in particular face in Kenya today” (AU-COMESA, 11.08.2022).

Although stakeholders had initial concerns about the risk posed by the lack of mobile network coverage in 1,111 polling stations, the IEBC put in place measures such as using satellite phones to facilitate the transmission of results. The Mission noted that within 24 hours of the close of polling, over 95% of the polling stations had transmitted presidential results forms (form 34A) to the National Tallying Centre” (AU-COMESA, 11.08.2022).

While the campaigns were largely peaceful and issue-based, hate speeches, misuse of state resources, non-adherence to campaign schedules, violence, and use of criminal gangs were observed. The misuse of state resources created an unlevel playfield, especially for smaller political players. Likewise, the non-adherence to campaign schedules caused clashes among supporters” (AU-COMESA, 11.08.2022).

The joint AU-COMESA Election Observation Mission commends the authorities and people of Kenya for their efforts toward holding successful elections and deepening democratic rule, which is a prerequisite for sustainable socio-economic development in the country. While the process is still ongoing and the results management process is underway, the Mission urges the candidates and their supporters to continue upholding the Peace Pledge and to desist from any action that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process. It encourages all stakeholders to continue with efforts toward building a peaceful and inclusive society. It further encouraged political tolerance and peace cultivation among citizens” (AU-COMESA, 11.08.2022).

My two cents:

Well, here we are and the general basis of it all is positive and that’s because the general outcome has been good. The way and the manner of the General Elections of Kenya in 2022 can be stated as genuine. That’s why these two Preliminary Reports says it too.

It is striking that both reports are worried about the lack of youth involvement and participation in the elections. These sorts of reports should be listened too, as the youth is the future and the ones to inherit the Republic. That’s why these warnings needs to be addressed somehow.

There are some details that needs to be handled and it has. Like the reports addressed the hate-speech during the campaigns, but we know the authorities has even looked into some of that. So, most of the things are positive and for a reason. The reports proves that and it’s so good. Yes, there was delays and some technical difficulties. There was some voters who wasn’t registered or able to vote. However, the grand schemes of things are good. There shouldn’t be any faults, but they are not tarnishing the whole picture.

Reading these two reports doesn’t change my views on the 9th August 2022 General Elections. Everything seems on the up-and-up. The IEBC and the authorities can feel solid about it. Even with the faults and the postponements too.

IEBC Chairman Chebukati is a victor in this one. After the 2017 elections he has saved face and shown some professionalism. Though, he still has to answer to the procurement of ballot to Mombasa, which wasn’t prepared and ready for the polls. That will also linger on him this time.

Nevertheless, the people should be proud and it seems all credible to me. The process has been sincere and honest. The next few days will show the declaration and the finalization of it. We just have to wait and see what the will of the people has in store. Peace.