Opinion: The Tories wants to weaponize foreign aid now?

The government department responsible for overseas aid is to be merged with the Foreign Office (FCO), the BBC understands. The move to combine the Department for International Development (DFID) and the FCO follows a review into UK aid spending by crossbench peer Lord Bew. Boris Johnson is expected to confirm the move, long mooted in Conservative circles, in the Commons later” (BBC.com – ‘International development and Foreign Office to merge’ 16.06.2020).

If your thinking the Little Britain is getting better on the world stage with the Tories in power. This sort of move is directly weaponizing foreign aid grants. Instead of having a separate department working on own terms to actually develop and make a difference. That is, if the ideal is to bring a change and making a difference.

This from the party that still clings on top the dreams and ideals of the greatness of the British Empire. An empire that is long gone and the powers of the United Kingdom has already dwindled. They will be even more weaken and lack soft powers internationally when they are finally left the European Union (EU).

The move is to replicate the Secretary of State in the United States. They are copying the mismanaged militarized state supported development schemes of the United States. That is not a good look. Especially, if the UK want to be serious actor on the world stage and look sincere in their motives. However this paradigm will be more of the political motivations at home and bring brownie points to the current leadership. Then actually make a change.

I don’t see any positive out of this, than they will make political moves instead of actually do what its supposed to do. We already knows there are strings to it and reasons for the development projects and aid. No money is free money, if you believe that. Then your lying to yourself and accepting money from someone. There will be something you need to do. If that is being accountable, prove the recites and that it actually was spent on intended projects. Hitting a set of goals and reach a set amount of people so the foreign donors can tell their tax-payers that it was worth giving this money away.

This is something we all know. If not … we are lying to ourselves and thinking the monies are giving away with naive intentions and can be used on ghosts without any fuzz. If it was so, then the donors would quit quickly and be hostile to continue the practice. There is a reason for certain measures and conditions for taking the aid and grants.

The DFID incorporated into the Foreign Office will only turn every move more political and the ambition of it will change. It will depend on whose in office and who is running the Foreign Office. That means the objectives will turn and will be what is benefiting foreign policy agenda. It will be more business oriented and towards the goals of the current leadership. Instead of being a supposed a long-term development tool in the world. It is not perfect, but at least have had some results and some positive use of its currency.

Now we can expect more political ambition behind the grants and the aid. It will be fitting with the additional pressure of the foreign office, instead of the concern of development or actually making a difference. Expect they will invest in a lot white elephants and waste as it fits the political agenda more than what is actually needed in the nation they are spending funds on.

That is my estimation of it. As well as they scrap a lot of projects, a lot of programs and participation as its not positive politically back-home. Even if it does something positive where these things are actually running day-to-day. Peace.

North Korea (DPRK): Clear Is Our Message to US (12.06.2020)

Maldives: Ministry of Tourism – Circular – COVID-19 Employees Returning Back to Resort for Work (03.06.2020)

Opinion: The US better clean in-house [before it tries to become the “world police” again]

The United States has as long as I can remember, always tried to show the world the way and how to morally act. It was integral part of our lives, the US would come out with statements, issue sanctions and do it from a plateau of moral superiority combined with the political integrity it needed.

However, with the diplomatic wordings, the spectrum of power and the ideals has dwindled for every year. Also, in the 2020 and so on, the realities of what’s happening back-home is going viral world-wide. The whole world can see footage, see the violations and breeches of the authorities towards its citizens. Combined with the rhetoric and usage of power from the White House. There is no difference between President Trump and any “Strong-Man or “Big-Man” elsewhere.

The US has been the military power and the biggest armed force since the World World II. It has run the world with their arms and their trade. However, the power is shifting and the greatness is about fall. Also, the wheels of its morals and deprivation is also getting clear. The political finesse and skills towards having friendly relations is also dying. These sort of men who leads the US right now. Only segregate the US from the world, the world is getting further away and not getting closer. Soon people are more into Nollywood and Bollywood, than into Hollywood.

Well, the United States is falling and failing. It’s a Banana Republic with a President who doesn’t know the laws nor his role in-charge. His a racists prick in power of a multicultural Republic, which he cannot bath in his narcissists virtues of self glory.

The US is become distant, but also showing the world its ugly side. The extra judicial killings, the police brutality, racial discrimination and the abuse of minorities. That is the reality the world sees. The world see the way law enforce arrest, tear-gas and oppress demonstrators. The way the media is hurt, arrested and silenced. This is all going viral, all the hurt and the killings. The names of the deceased is released and their stories of their fatalities are told. The violations of international law and human rights violations is clear.

The lack of free speech, ability to assemble and so fourth, which is even enshrined in the US Constitution isn’t respected by the Trump Administration. The Trump Administration is even wanting more violence, using more force and wants to shoot at the civilians. That is the sort of leadership that is there.

With this sort of management. The US Administration and US Government better not tell any other Nation how to take care of their own and react to their dissidents. Because, the US better clean up shop and live up to their own ideals. Before they address any other nation. This isn’t the land of free, home of the brave. This the land of oppress and waiting for their early grave.

So, before the US State Department ever consider writing a statement, raising issues on demos and riots elsewhere. Remember this last two weeks. Remember how you conducted itself and the sort of hurt you managed to put on your own. This is all to act strong in Office, but the authorities are really weak. When you cannot manage to listen and understand the grief, the anger and pain, which the public is carrying. If they wasn’t carrying it like that. They wouldn’t be on the streets voicing it out in this manner.

Next time another Nation acts out and answer with violence towards the dissidents. United States of America do yourself a favour and listen to the advice of Jules from ‘Pulp Fiction’: “Shut the fuck up, fat man!”. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Statement Issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (01.06.2020)

Somalia: Ambassador Francisco Madeira Statement in the UN security Council Briefing on 21st May 2020 (25.05.2020)

Opinion: US-China relations sours even more…

It is like the United States own failures is used as an option to hurt Chinese Business interests. This is not only the sanctions and stopping of Huawei trading in the United States. The US has sanctioned 24 entities yesterday for their connections to the Chinese Military. Also on the same day, the US Commerce did also put sanctions on 9 companies connected to the oppression of Uighur in Xinjiang province.

That means the US has put their mission and blocks certain companies. Also ensures that these corporations or entities less traction in International trading. Just as the US Department of Commerce put it: “The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced it will add 24 governmental and commercial organizations to the Entity List for engaging in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The entities, based in China, Hong Kong, and the Cayman Islands, represent a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for military end-use in China” (Commerce.gov, 22.05.2020).

Also, the other piece from them state this: “These nine parties are complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). This action will supplement BIS’s first tranche of Entity List designations in October 2019 involving 28 parties engaged in the XUAR repression campaign in Xinjiang” (Commerce.gov, 22.05.2020).

Yes, the actions of China and Chinese government in concern to the Uighur people is outrageous and morally wrong. No question in my mind. The activity and the destruction of them as a minority is wrong. However, in my mind, this is using them as en excuse for US selfish reasons. This is insincere. Because, its not like the US will open the arms for immigrants fleeing similar situations elsewhere. The US is building walls and closing its borders for asylum seekers fleeing situations like the Uighurs. So, the US is using this an argument, but not a legit one from this administration.

This administration cannot even make good lies. They are so open on their motives. This is direct trade-war and efforts as a scapegoat in the midst of the tragic COVID-19 Pandemic. The US needs a scapegoat and righteously so is it fitting to blame Beijing and China. Instead of looking at own inaction and lack of concern to what happen.

The US has also already put tariffs on Chinese production and products already. Therefore, this is a continuation. However, by every step and every action. The US is losing leverage and they are also paying the price. They need to go elsewhere for trading similar things. If not pay more, as they are stopping certain parts of imports from there.

The Chinese are doing their wrongs too. Nevertheless, the Foreign Affairs wrote this yesterday, which state it perfectly: We urge the US side to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, follow the trend of the times, view China and China-US relations in an objective and rational way, immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, harming China’s interests or undermining China-US relations, and work with China to bring bilateral relations back onto the right track” (Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on May 22, 2020).

This here says it all. Yes, the relations is based on both parties gives and takes. However, right now, the reality is that the one aiming and hitting one party. Is the US whose shooting down and tracing their targeted companies or entities. Just like last years tariffs and such, which has also slowed things down. The US is doing this and the Chinese has retaliated. This will continue. Just like the Chinese banned certain journalists and media houses within the Republic. That is all natural in the sense of the relations between them.

This is all hostile. There is not function or care. The US President says everything is China’s fault. While he hasn’t carried water for happen within his own borders. Therefore, that isn’t a fair assessment. It is an easy victimhood in this pandemic. Yes, the origin was from China. They didn’t do enough and do it correctly. Still, the US didn’t care about the warning signs either or did what they should have done. That is the 20/20 hindsight, which deems both parties wrong in the sense of acting in accordingly to the danger of COVID-19.

However, this is about the trade war. Where for every step the US is attacking and targeting companies of Chinese origin. They have to release proof of these allegations now. Especially, the list of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Where the Commerce Secretary says these companies are connected with this. If so, I would like to see proof and leaked documentation of sensitive intelligence. To actually prove the allegations. If not, the US is just using their power and means to kick the Chinese. Because, it is useful to have an enemy in this troubling time.

The Chinese is far from perfect and their reign within the One-Party state isn’t peaceful nor democratically anything to aspire too. Nevertheless, the US isn’t that great on this either. Especially, the way Trump Administration is just another epitome of baroque king-pin from the Big-Apple and Trump tower in New York. That is why these measures has to be explained to be believable.

The US cannot con the world anymore. They could in the past, but not now. This US-China Trade-War is only proving what sort of hostile force it is. Instead of finding diplomatic measures or even doing the hard work of talks between the parties. It is easier to sanction and block someone, than actually do the work. That is how it seems. They are using excuses and arguments of legit reasons to do something. But, a very important but, they are not proving the reasons for doing so.

If these companies are what they claim. Prove it and show it. Unless, they hare having a smokescreen and another visionary moment similar to the Iraqi WMDs in the early 2000s. Well, I’m looking forward to see that.

Until then, this is a propaganda victory for the Trump Administration with no hold in reality. Since, they are just blocking someone without any proof. They could say whatever and argue for it. Still, a man like me wants reasons for it.

Unless, they are just finding fitting measures to pressure Beijing, but that is not something they can do too long. Because, Washington D.C. doesn’t have that much leverage. Since, for every step they do. There is less of a reason for the Chinese to serve or even work in association with the US anyway. Peace.

SADC: Communique of the Extraordinary Organ Troika Plus Republic of Mozambique Summit of Heads of State and Government – Harare -Zimbabwe, 19 May 2020 (19.05.2020)

Tanzania: Travel Advisory No. 3 of 18th May, 2020 (18.05.2020)

RDC: Claudel Andre Lubaya – Recrudescense de l’Insecurite sur le Territoire National – Ma declaration (16.05.2020)