Opinion: The GOP is clearly compromised!

The honorable man of California Devin Nunes, who has done his best efforts to thwart the investigation and also following the paradigm of the White House. Has stacked the deck and settled. That is seen with the first page of the new report coming from the House Permanent Select Committee on Investigations – Russia Investigation. Because it is rare that a report starts with conclusions. That is just a showing world that the GOP is addicted to the power of Trump and his allies.

Because the pro-longed investigation in the House, has not used their subpoena powers, neither had all the witnesses to show-up. Neither has the Conclusion fitted the narrative and the assessments made by the Intelligence Community, which was totally different the Nunes led Committee. We now officially, can say that the GOP is compromised. It is traded its patriotic belief in their own state to Kremlin somehow. Because they cannot finish an investigation, neither follow protocol or trying to do anything that pushes the United States into cold waters of Russia. Putin must be laughing that he has made the ruling party, the majority party of the US so weak and foolish.

Donald J. Trump and his business ventures, his associates and all parts of Campaign has nearly been known for their connections, it would be hard to find someone who hasn’t had a connection to Russia somehow. Who hasn’t had a trip, had a study, had venture or even gotten funds from Russian Oligarchs. It is like a plot in the open with big neon-lights, but everyone trying to look the other way. All the secrets, all the meetings and even the lack of actions after. Shows the ability of this administration to be compromised.

The patriotic act would be stand for the nation, reveal it all and show the disgraceful foreign actors, who works for the betterment of Russia and not the United States. However, that is pipe-dream. The possibility of Trump doing that, is as narrow as it can be. More likely he will shut down the FBI, fire Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller and try to bury the indictments. That would be final nail in the coffin.

When the House Committee stops the investigations now, we can wonder if the purge of the Department of Justice will continue. Even if the Attorney General Jeff Sessions will stay or be sacked too. At this point, the obstruction of justice, the interference and misuse of power will come to the max. All because of the Manchurian Candidate and his needs to keep cool, even though he is as uncool as can be.

If Devin Nunes and his Committee was wise, they would have covered all angels, but they didn’t. They haven’t taken everyone involved. They haven’t even followed all leads, they haven’t followed the money and neither covered the tracks. It is forged work and no matter what the report says. When you have the conclusion on the first page. The rest will forged to fit that narrative, unless you think the public stupid. Which apparently, the GOP thinks.

The GOP is at least at this point far from patriotic, it is compromised, it is a kompromat, it has been blackmailed and the Kremlin must have damaging evidence. If not, why would they be so eager to stop it? Why could they so easily control it and make sure they never offend the Don Putin?

Because they never do, they never can and doesn’t have the ability, because they are a kompromat of the Kremlin. Putin must be laughing and thinking, how could he be so lucky. He got them by balls and they cannot do anything about it. Peace.

Opinion: The EU is too late to the Party, when they are now asking for Electoral Reforms in Uganda!

It feels deliberate, that Eduardo Kukan dropped a statement on the 8th March 2018 as the General Election in Uganda was in February 2016. That is two years after, this is the Follow-Up Mission to the Electoral Observation Mission, that is long finished and didn’t deliver anything of significance. The whole thing ended up being a charade and mockery of the principals the EU is supposed to stand for. The rigging, the spending and buying votes, the inside deals and pre-ticked ballots should all say that the re-election to a fifth official term and unofficially 7th shouldn’t be legitimized by any entity. This is the same fellas that left Kololo, because the President’s stance on the ICC. Like they didn’t know?

So, we are in March 2018 and its two years and a month since the entered the port and all of the containers are left, all produce is eaten, all parts of the products is sold, stolen or gone. Therefore, there is very little to regard about the process. Very little the EU can do, because they are beholden to the man they validated. They validated the Supreme Court ruling, they validated the Mbabazi petition, they accepted the stolen votes from Besigye and the obvious lies of the Kiggundu Electoral Commission in favor of Museveni.

The EU should have pushed for the reforms in 1995-1996 if they we’re serious. While the President still looked like he cared a little bit and was a donor-friendly guy, now he despise anyone questioning him and his authority. He is always right, and the rest of you is wrong or can be bought. That is President Museveni now. They could have had a short in 2000-2001, even 2005-2006. Even as the term-limits was deposed at the time. When the true reality was that Museveni had no place of really retiring and spend time with his cows. The EU could have pushed for reforms in 2010-2011, even as the Walk to Work demonstrations (W2W) and the Activists 4 Change (A4C) who both challenged the Presidency. Clearly, the EU could have done more as an outside entity, if they cared about the Electoral Reforms.

So now, that the last election went through, the syncopates, the technocrats and cronies of Museveni is elected, appointed as advisors and whatnot. The EU is asking and begging for changes, since suddenly now is the time. Like Museveni would care about the plight of the Follow-Up Mission in 2018, when he just gotten his carrot in December 2017, the Life Presidency. Did the EU miss that charade? Did they sleep in Brussels and eating Belgian waffles? That is how it seems to me.

That the President that has centralized most of the power around him and his State House would now care about the EU, is to say bluntly naive. That the EU comes with recommendations now will not be listened too. Unless, they are dropping bunch of external funds and juicing the rabbit a little bit. Because Museveni is eating, his cronies is too and there is nothing you can tell him.

So when the EU stated this on the 8th of March 2018, its not hard to understand, why it is like this: “ The EU EFM has been heartened to find that the recommendations of the EU EOM have been disseminated across several institutions of State and that many interlocutors were familiar with the content of the recommendations. While there has been virtually no progress on implementation of the recommendations to date, awareness of proposals, and the grounds thereof, is a crucial first step in the achievement of the recommendations. Similarly, there is widespread awareness of the directives of the Supreme Court” (Eduardo Kukan – ‘EU Election Follow-up Mission to Uganda urges Authorities to take positive steps to improve electoral process’ 08.03.2018).

Like did you think the man, that has been running since a coup in 1986 would give in and change to a more democratic structure, the one who house-arrest his biggest threat without any jurisdiction or right by laws? Do you think the man who has all the state coffers, has all the bidders at his feet, will finally give way to your advice? Do you think the man who has used the guns to silence opposition and does it will kind of acronyms too.

I hate to say it to you Kukan, but your late to the party. The party-goers have left, they have their whiskey, their Waragin, their vodka and their Nile Brew, but are not interested in your anecdotes. They would have mattered some time ago, when the fire was burning, when Usher and Radio & Weasel was banging on the stereo. But now, the party has died down, the only left is the straws and the memories of the late night charade.

Kukan, you should have acted swiftly, you should have cared about the implications, but your entity and others validated Museveni. Just like you have done in the past. You let him of the hook and this here, will be a stain, but not something that covers the obvious. The theft of February 2016. That you accepted and did for selfish reasons beyond me.

You could have, you should have, but you never did. Peace.

Communique of the Summit of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCS) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) – (03.03.2018)

Is the UAE using DP World Ports Deals to get diplomatic leverage now?

The Dubai based port and container company, that has catched a lot of flack within this week. Both with their devious deal, that the Federal Republic of Somalia dismissed, after Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World went into a co-venture over the Berbera Port. If that isn’t enough internal and diplomatic squabble, nothing is. As the United Arab Emirates are even trying influence more politicians over deal on the Horn of Africa. As they have already had the power to get a 30 year deal in Somaliland.

However, that deal has been under fire and people have wondered if the Mogadishu government has accepted it or done so with a favor. Since, this is still a government facility and important hub. That other nations like Ethiopia would like to have their stake in. Secondly, DP World has already another agreement on the horn in the port of Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT). That deal was done in 2006 and got binned by the government of Djibouti late February. So, the 30 year deal in Djibouti has already gone south and if the UAE government business want to interfere on the horn, they still have leverage in Somaliland. Where similar deal was made and the same concession of the port. Therefore, in the similar time-span and leadership, you can wonder if the Somaliland leadership signed similar agreement as the Djibouti counterparts, who has now canceled it there.

As that is happening, there is news of building and operating a Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the agreements and the plans between Kabila’s government and DP World is appearing. Where the state will generate development and roads into the interior from the port, so the state can ensure the port that gets the containers and exports into the DRC. This is a big deal with amazing amount of funds going both to the Kabila cronies and the spending from DP World to upgrade the port there.

Since the writings notes of the 21st February 2018 Council of Ministers said about it:

The 5 texts on the Construction of the Banana Deep Water Port (the Proclamation of Harmonization of Views on the Contract Clauses of the Collaboration Agreement and the Shareholders’ Pact) and the Collective Agreement on Delegation of Service Public: the draft decree approving the Banana Deep Water Port Construction Agreement, the Muanda-Banana Estate Industrial Estate Decree and the Shareholder Corporation’s Shareholder Agreement. Banana Deep Water Port), the Council decided to visualize the project at its next meeting prior to any final decision on it” (COMPTE RENDU DE LA 8 ème REUNION ORDINAIRE DU CONSEIL DES MINISTRES, 21.02.2018).

Therefore, the DRC Government is planning to finalize an agreement with DP World, who has already had questionable agreements in Somaliland and Djibouti. This is not also to extend the arm of the company, but also give the UAE more involvement on the continent. As they have already ports agreement in Senegal and Somaliland, as they lost the one in Djibouti. Therefore, this would be possible now in the DRC.

We can now, see the diplomatic arm and business goes hand in hand, this through the port and UAE are using means of giant sums of infrastructure building, to get the government happy and ready to sign over their port control to the company, who happens to be state-run. This gives Dubai more power and also more control over the container business and handling of goods in these countries. As well, as the questionable dealings, are gaining the political elites, but not giving back to the community as a whole.

We can just wonder if this is a useful tool for Dubai and UAE to gain more political leverage in and around on the African continent, clearly it is working and getting reactions. We have to see if the Federal Government of Somalia, will do more than just canceling and dismissing the tripart agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World. Just have to see how this can affect the relationship between FSG, Somaliland and DP World. Also, if the DP World really making itself ready to takeover the Banana Port. They are clearly, making influences and throwing money around to gain important infrastructures, like the ports. So, they can have leverage when concerning political games like in the Qatar Crisis. Peace.

EU’s Draft Withdrawal Agreement solves the Irish problem with borders and trade like today!

The European Union or parts of it the European Commission has made their draft agreement on the withdrawal of United Kingdom as a Member State within the Union. This draft document will say many things, but I will focus on the ones that I see fitting and important. Therefore, this will not be the whole picture, but outtakes. That is see as significant for Europeans and the British as well. Since this will affect the realities of the citizens on the continent, as well as the boundaries it creates.

This document is significant, because it says what the EU expects of it all and puts everything into play. It set standards of what the European Commission and their technocrats wants to ensure. This is so the liabilities and the stakeholders of the Union, will know every single step and manners they perceive as important, which also should matter to the United Kingdom. Because they are the ones that is initially leaving, but it is just the matter of how. With time haven’t become clearer from their part, but more foggy as the shadow-games of the Tories Government isn’t supplying the world with clear communication of what they want or see as their future on the outside.

What is the most important piece of it is the ways the EU are cooperating with the will of the Republic of Ireland and the relationship it needs with Northern Ireland and the UK. Clearly stated in the draft is the provisions, that is clear, that the EU is not set for a hard-Brexit in this concern, as the Irish will have a special conditions and provisions, ensuring that the state of affairs stays as today. They are ensuring that the EU Draft is not in violation of the Good Friday Agreement, which shows the maturity of the EU in this sense. Now people should just worry if the UK government want to alter or change it for their own personal gain or not. Since, this is leaving the Irish problem settled and made sure they get what is needed comparing to old agreements between all parties involved.

“NOTING that Union law has provided a supporting framework to the provisions on Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity of the 1998 Agreement; UNDERLINING that part or all of this Protocol may cease to apply should a future agreement between the Union and the United Kingdom be agreed which addresses the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, including by avoiding a hard border and protecting the 1998 Agreement in all its dimensions” (EU, P: 99, 2018).

“The United Kingdom and Ireland may continue to make arrangements between themselves relating to the movement of persons between their territories (the “Common Travel Area”), while fully respecting the rights of natural persons conferred by Union law” (…) “A common regulatory area comprising the Union and the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland is hereby established. The common regulatory area shall constitute an area without internal borders in which the free movement of goods is ensured and North-South cooperation protected in accordance with this Chapter” (EU, P: 100, 2018).

This part of the agreement will hurt the Brexiteers, who want a full breakout of the EU, this will give leeway to a lot of speculations, as the ERG inside the Tories will not accept this sort of arrangement. Even if this is positive news for the EU friendly parts of the Kingdom. However, this should be seen as a victory for Dublin, as well as Belfast. Even if the DUP might not be in favour and they are vital to London these days.

This leaves and follows the agreement made not too long ago and pursuits the same arrangements as today, concerning the needs of Dublin and Belfast. We will see if this will backfire for Theresa May and her unknown project, as the inner-party of Tories is conflicted with itself and the costs of the Brexit. Clearly, the state is unsure and not bringing certainties, the EU on the other hand is showing the steps and has no issues flaunting it. While the Tories has tried to keep this inside the party and not letting anyone now. Therefore, trying to damage control, instead of deciding how to negotiate.

This is showing that the EU want to respect the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish problem of the Brexit and handling it with maturity, however, will do Tories answer with the same or are they stuck with DUP and ERG who wants to make the Brexit even harder. With strong borders and no CTA and specialized Customs Union for the Irish. Time will tell, but this was a breath of fresh air. Peace.

Reference:

European Commission Draft Withdrawal Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (28.02.2018)

Opinion: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s roles in the White House is toxic nepotism!

In nepotism, when a doctor is appointed to do the job of an engineer, and an engineer is appointed to do the job of a lawyer, you know there’s bound to be failure in the system”ETC Wanyanwu

There is a reason why government officials are not supposed to hire family members, that is because of the problem of firing and also of making sure to get officials that actually know their craft. The reason I say this is the prolonged charade in the White House. Where Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and his wife, daughter of the President, Ivanka Trump. Continues with their entitled titles and positions inside the White House. Not because they have education or any public work practice, but they are just inheriting the bloodline of President Donald J. Trump.

Therefore, this is a real issue, the ones believing that these two would be the progressive, the ones making this presidency better. Must soon see the light, because the morning dew isn’t coming, we are still walking in darkness. We can question why they are still there getting sensitive and classified information, as Ivanka is a senior political advisor and Jared Kushner is also that. That means they have the opportunity even without clearance to get that. White House should be the place of protocol and of safety standards when concerning information from all sources. This following the orders and the codes of the Security Organizations that aides and gives the clearances to the staff at the White House. Seemingly, these two family members are struggling to get it. As the time goes by, its been 13 months and still nothing. Kushner and Ivanka has both altered their information and their forms to show the investigators what they were involved in and also what sort of business arrangement they had before their time in the White House. That is why Kushner alone has changed his disclosure dozens of times.

So, even with that at mind and stake, they don’t have proper clearances and are related. The White House gives them opportunities to meet high-ranking individuals and also gets directly involved in government affairs. They will for whatever reasons be there, because the father and stepfather needs them there. Someone he can trust, that will tell it like it is and defend him. Not because of his record, but because of their relation. The others might be there for career or because of ideology, these two will be there for familiar reasons. That is why these cannot be fired and that is a dangerous path.

It should have been clear from the first day of Presidency, it should have been since they were parts of the Transition Team of the President. However, the nepotism and the grand Trumpian ways of things. They can scheme and misuse the state, while the others can be scrutinized, even Billy Bush can be fired for laughing at the comments made by Trump years earlier for “grabbing somebody by the pussy”. While the President are walking scotch-free. We know there are double standard in the United States. The Trump family is above what ordinary people are, the state has sanctioned that, as they are not obligated to get secret, confidential documents, but because of the relation and their position, they are getting it.

We know the relationship are out of whack, when this becomes the sort of answers Ivanka can give to reporters: “Asked by NBC News if she believes the accusers, Trump replied, “I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter, if she believes the accusers of her father, when he’s affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it. I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters.” “I believe my father. I know my father. So, I think I have that right, as a daughter, to believe my father,” the senior White House adviser continued in the interview, which aired Monday morning after she represented the United States delegation at the Winter Olympics in South Korea during the closing ceremonies” (Vazquez, 2018).

So there you have the troubling instance, that the family relations as the White House Senior Advisor and daughter, she cannot address this in way that would seem proper. Ivanka has to defend and also act as a victim. Also, defending him in a way that seem to be typical of her father. To believe the ones who are accused and not think of the victims, the ones who has been assaulted and attacked by womanizers. Trump, the President is one, that is known and his tales of infidelity goes back over decades. Therefore, Donald Trump is a typical one and the accuser are not believed because it is not verified in courts. They are put to the side and for now its just allegations, instead of evidence of the misconduct. Even as the porn-star Stormy Daniels and former playboy model Karen McDougal, who both had affairs with Trump and proves how little loyalty he has to wife Melanie Trump. Still, Ivanka will profess and say her father is good and doesn’t do that kind of stuff. Because that is what he tells her. That is why

However, we know it becomes foolish levels of diplomacy, when the shoe-seller and fashion designer is the main person in Germany and also in a delegation recently to South Korea. In both instances there should be someone more qualified from the United States to do these duties. Someone, who has had some knowledge and expertise to actually affirm the stances of the Republic. Instead, the President is sending Ivanka to South Korea. Thinking she could muster something sensational, the only good thing, is that in the delegation there were experts on the nations in question.

Like the South Korean News Agency said: “The U.S. delegation included National Security Council (NSC) director for Korea Allison Hooker. The North Koreans included Choe Kang-il, a senior North Korean diplomat handling affairs with the United States. Hooker was seen accompanying Ivanka Trump at the airport. A U.S. embassy official said that all the delegates, including the NSC director, seem to be leaving on the same day. On Sunday, Kim Yong-chol, the high-ranking official leading the North Korean delegation, which is here until Tuesday, told South Korean President Moon Jae-in that Pyongyang has “enough” willingness to begin dialogue with Washington, according to Seoul’s presidential office” (Yonhap News Agency, 2018).

So it doesn’t seem to be any discussion or anything profound made by Ivanka in South Korea, only that she was there, watching the closing ceremony at the Olympics and had a meeting with the President of South Korea. This just seem typical, that the Trump’s can take credit for something, when they have really done very little. Most likely the meetings on the borders between the South and North Korea, had much more effect and made the combined teams in the Olympics possible. Not because of a sudden traveling daughter of the US President. It is just nepotism to give her any credit for what happen or didn’t happen.

That is the whole problem of having Ivanka and Jared in the White House. They are just family members, with extra titles, but not expertise. If they had sent Hooker to have meetings as a diplomat, it would have made sense. Because of her knowledge and her position within the United Nations. However, she wasn’t made important by the President and neither in the press. That shows that all eyes was on Ivanka and her actions.

This can be a downfall and also be negative route for the White House, that they have to carry water for the Trump family, instead of actually serving the Republic and its institutions. That the self-serving and the narcissistic President isn’t enough, it is also his closest relatives. Who are all under the roof, creating problems for the conduct of the security of information and for the confidentiality of the state. They can suddenly misuse the power and authority, even if they don’t have it and the President can sanction it with recklessness because he trust his family members.

That is the problem and that is why this Presidency is toxic just by this decision alone. He might not know it or even in his tiny mind understand it. But everyone around him should know it. That the family matters should be left outside of the office, not inside. The White House isn’t a golf-club, it is the epicenter of government and where the executive orders come from. Peace.

Reference:

Vazquez, Maegan – ‘Ivanka Trump: ‘Inappropriate’ to ask her about father’s accusers’ (26.02.2018) link:https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/26/politics/ivanka-donald-trump-sexual-misconduct-accusers/index.html

Yonhap News Agency – ‘(LEAD) Ivanka Trump says visit to S. Korea was wonderful, hopes to come back soon’ (26.02.2018) link: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/02/26/0200000000AEN20180226001651315.html

AMISOM: AU Special Representative condemns yesterday’s terror attack on innocent civillians in Mogadishu (25.02.2018)

South Sudan: “Re- Suspected Case of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Against Some Members of the Ghana FPU Contigent with UNMISS – South Sudan” (25.02.2018)

South Sudan: Equatorian Leaders in the Diaspora applauds the stand of the Oppostion Groups at the recent Peace Talks in Addis Ababa (22.02.2018)

Burundi: Communique du Gouvernement a la suite du Rapport du Bureau Des Nations Unies pour la Coordination des Affaires Humanitaires Concernant le Plan de Response Humanitaire pour le Burundi 2018 (21.02.2018)