WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2010-02-25 Time: 12:00:01 Posted By: News Poster
“Nigeria has received increased attention by the U.S. media following the Christmas Day attempted terrorist attack. While it appears that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, played a significant role in Abdulmutallab’s recruitment and radicalization, we should not dismiss the possibility that certain conditions in Nigeria played some role too, however small. I expect we will discuss this at today’s hearing, as well as Nigeria’s inclusion on the new TSA list of 14 countries from which travelers will receive additional security screening.
“But today’s hearing is about far more. The US-Nigeria relationship covers a wide range of important issues and strategic interests. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous in the world. It is home to Africa’s largest Muslim population as well as an estimated 250 different ethnic groups. It is Africa’s second largest economy and a major global supplier of oil. And as a current member of the UN Security Council, a major contributor to global peacekeeping and the host of ECOWAS headquarters, Nigeria has been a leader in regional and, increasingly, global affairs.
“For all these reasons, Nigeria’s recent political paralysis has been cause for great international concern. Since November, President Yar’Adua has reportedly been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. His prolonged absence and failure to appoint an interim leader for months created a constitutional crisis. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s role in key regional matters has been diminished. This has been perhaps no more evident than with the continuing crisis in neighboring Niger.
“Earlier this month, the National Assembly voted to make Vice President Goodluck Jonathan the acting president, but much uncertainty still remains. Nigeria will likely be in a state of transition for the foreseeable future particularly as Nigeria moves closer to general elections scheduled for 2011. Sorting out the many political challenges that face Nigeria, while still respecting the constitution, will take time, patience and leadership. A successful transition for Nigeria must address the historic tensions and corruption that pervade much of the country’s political system.
“Last month, sectarian violence broke out once again in central Nigeria and hundreds of people were massacred. This is not the first time we have seen this type of fighting and yet disturbingly, there have been no police investigations, despite a government pledge. A cycle of retribution will likely continue until there is some effort to achieve accountability. Furthermore, the discriminatory policies carried out by Nigeria’s security forces against certain groups – many of them Muslim – has the potential to fuel extremism. Indeed, in the northeast of Nigeria, the extremist group Boko Haram has already sought to exploit such tensions.
“At the same time, in the south of Nigeria, the crisis continues in the oil-rich Delta region. For the last thirty years, local communities in the Niger Delta have been marginalized politically and economically. Over time, frustration and endemic poverty have given rise to several armed groups pursuing increasingly criminal ends. The trade in stolen oil from the Delta’s vast pipelines, known as ‘bunkering,’ has become a lucrative industry and created a complex war economy.
“I have tried over recent years to focus on Nigeria’s domestic climate as it has serious implications for our strategic partnership as well as for Nigeria’s role as a key actor on the global stage. The Obama administration has rightly reaffirmed the importance of our bilateral relationship with Nigeria and I look forward to hearing today how we can ensure that we have the resources, the diplomatic presence and the strategic vision to actively engage with and support Nigeria’s transitional leadership. At the center of this effort will be working with Nigerians at the federal, state and local level to address the country’s many political and economic challenges, as well as working together to address the many regional and global challenges of mutual concern.”
Original date published: 23 February 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201002230852.html?viewall=1