₦airaland Forum

justwise:
Is America  invading  Libya now? America refused to get involved untill the UN sactioned it. Is not America that started shelling innocent Libyans, its not America that used African mercenaries to slaughter his own pple. I ask again: What has the AU done when all these were going on?

Builder:
It is absolutely crazy for anyone to think the west are in libya to fight for democrazy or the rights of libyans,  the west in their corrupt wisedom are in libya for the obvious which is oil, in as much as i despise Ghadafi and his sons the west actions are reminiscense of iraq. Afterall, its it the west arming the rebels of libya with weapons of all sorts to sort out Gadafi, and when they fail to succeed David Cameron decided to join patnership with france et al at the UN to bomb God knows what.

Noam Chomsky said so himself in a recent BBC interview, In the quest for oil and power, the US and its allies will pull out the stops to prevent any really functioning democrazy from developing in the arab world

Its good to see the the rebels in Libya happy, i just hope their happiness last, before the NATO bombs starts crushing them, and God knows what will happen when the bombs eventualy stops,  the weapons supplied to the rebels by the west and suicide bombing then take over,   why the world is sooo forgetful about the happenings in iraq baffles me a great deal. Like a great mind once said, we live in a beautiful world but ugly souls press the button.

And with regards to the AU, i rest my case

PS. To understand more on what happened in iraq and libya, this film says it all     www.zeitgeistaddendum.com

Chyz*:
The AU has been very vocal in the Ivory Coast issue.I'm surprised you are even insinuating that they did/are doing nothing. The tragedy of what is going on in Ivory Coast is due to the interference of the EU and UN in the elections. I am shocked at your statement. You are Igbo as am I. You should be aware that the same thing the the "international community" a.k.a. western powers are doing in Ivory Coast and Libya is the same thing they did to us during the civil war which caused millions of us to die. You should be ashamed of yourself. Were the "rebels" helped then by the west? Please open your eyes.

cap28:
the argument about removing a tyrant does not wash with anyone who has an understanding of the US/UK's foreign policy in the middle east, africa and latin america. 

Up and down the middle east you have had US backed tyrants who have been very comfortably propped up by the US and britain, shall we have a look at them?

mubarak - propped up by US military aid to the tune of $1 billion dollars a year

ben ali - propped up by the french who even tried to keep him in office despite an uprising against him by the people, the french even went as far as shipping arms to help him crush the civillian uprising against him but it was so overwhelming for him that he fled.

the saudi royal family - one of the most brutal and murderous regimes in the middle east  - propped up with US arms for over 50 years, they even deployed troops to bahrain to crush the bahraini uprising - up till now no calls for military intervention or sanctions from the US/UK.

plus numerous african dictatorships who receive millions of dollars in military aid in order to keep them in office - including the nigerian govt.

Therefore the idea that Gadaffi is a dangerous tyrant who needs to be dislodged for brutalising his own people is quite frankly a sick joke.

America and britain create, impose and prop up these dicatators, the only time the dictators become a problem is when they stop following instructions from washington and london - then and only then do you start hearing calls for their removal.

Mobutu an american backed dictator was allowed to brutalise his people steal Zaire's vast wealth and open up Zaire for american, belgian and british mining companies to ra.pe repeatedly - how come no one called for his removal?

the late Omar Bongo of equatorial guinea ra.ped his country in collaboration with french oil companies elf for 42 yrs how come there was no massive outcry to get rid of him?

But along comes gadaffi who decides that he wont allow the west to dictate all the terms of engagement of oil and gas contracts now he becomes the terrible tyrant - by the way the desire to get rid of gadaffi by america and britain did not start today - google the various attempts by british intelligence to assassinate gadaffi and you will find out that this has been an ongoing vendetta against him and his regime- mainly for his countries vast oil reserves but also to consolidate the US's geopolitical control over the region.

I can assure you that britain and america have nothing good in store for libya, read britain's history regarding the middle east, read about how they got rid of mossadek of iran, read about how the americans backed another brutal dictator the shah of iran who collaborated with america to steal his country's resources like our nigerian leaders are currently doing then you will start to see the truth.

by the way can you tell me why america and britain are not calling for the bahraini and saudi govts monarchs to be prosecuted before the international criminal court for authorising the  shooting of unarmed protesters by saudi troops ? 

the hypocrisy, treachery, and pure evil of america and europe is so terrible its beyond human comprehension.

Blazing99:
The Libyan Situation
- People protest against Ghadaffi's rule,
- Protesters were armed and seen as rebels
- Ghadaffi attacks them
- They come out with their full weapons and declare war on Ghadaffi and start dominating cities
- Ghadaffi tries to take the Libyan cities back by fighting the rebels
- Ghadaffi is successfully taking back his cities, killing rebels with civilian casualties(happens in every war)
- UN/US/EU create propaganda that Ghadaffi is a madman ready to massacre his own people, they freeze his funds
- US/EU think they must act in their bid to democratize the whole world, now push to impose a no-fly zone in Libya, shooting down any aircraft that flies in Libya.

To me, this issue is a Libyan own and should be solved by the Libyans. The outside world really has no business in this. They say Ghadafi is murdering his people but how many people have died? Less than a 1000. There is civil war in Libya and these things happen. Why can't the western world just give sanctions if they think the government is handling issues wrongly? Rather they put themselves in the war. This would further create a worser scenario in Libya. If Ghadaffi's war against the rebels is costs about 1000 deaths expect hundreds of thousands if US/EU/UN intervenes.

They said Saddam was a madman with weapons of mass destruction. But we were not hearing killing or bombings in Iraq. Only for the US to invade to turn their land to that of terror costing over half a million lives.

LET THE WORLD LEARN FROM IRAQ

aguiyi:
Libya is far better than 75% of other african nations yet her people would not see the americanization or is it recolonization that is imminent  

Kobojunkie:
I understand why the U.S has refused to step in front of this. It is the U.N that has instituted this NO-FLY zone now, not the U.S. Let us please not confuse the two.
I get that the U.N is hesitant in this case since it has to tread lightly where Arabs are involved, however, people, all over the nation have been calling for a NO-Fly zone for weeks now. And I am glad the U.N has finally obliged them.

For you however to now PRETEND this is mainly about OIL is you not being entirely fair. For you to even attempt to suggest that Ghaddaffi was telling the truth when he invited, monitored and directed the media to exactly where he would have them be, is another sign that you have probably weaved yourself and your take already on a situation still unfolding right before our eyes.
I am sorry but I refuse at this point to engage you any further as it has become a bit clear to me where you may be going with this and I believe there are other debates more worthy of my time than this one with you.

aguiyi:
^^^ it forbids the use of flight as such flight will be brought down i.e, air crafts are not permitted to fly around that territory (demilitarization)

tpiah!:
what does a no flight zone entail.

Beaf:
^
It is the very people who sold Nigeria to the likes of Shell, of course!
Ndu chucks represents people who don't give a crap about where the oil is coming from, how much is drilled and by who. It was all about "don't read the bloody document, just sign and pick up the brown envelope."

That is how Nigeria operated for so long.

pleep:
This documentary is quite long. but it is a MUST SEE. it will open your eyes about state of our world

.http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/end-of-poverty/#

If you take the time to watch it, please leave comments. this is a very important issue.

Description
Global poverty did not just happen. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals and forced labor.

Today, the problem persists because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies – in other words, wealthy countries taking advantage of poor, developing countries.

Renowned actor and activist, Martin Sheen, narrates The End of Poverty, a feature-length documentary directed by award-winning director, Philippe Diaz, which explains how today’s financial crisis is a direct consequence of these unchallenged policies that have lasted centuries.

Consider that 20% of the planet’s population uses 80% of its resources and consumes 30% more than the planet can regenerate.

At this rate, to maintain our lifestyle means more and more people will sink below the poverty line. Filmed in the slums of Africa and the barrios of Latin America, The End of Poverty features expert insights from: Nobel prize winners in Economics, Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz; acclaimed authors Susan George, Eric Toussaint, John Perkins, Chalmers Johnson; university professors William Easterly and Michael Watts; government ministers such as Bolivia’s Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera and the leaders of social movements in Brazil, Venezuela, Kenya and Tanzania.

It is produced by Cinema Libre Studio in collaboration with the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. Can we really end poverty within our current economic system? Think again.

PapaBrowne:
The only solution to Nigeria's infrastructure problems is private sector financing!! When the private sector finances the construction of a road, that road has to be tolled. Nigerians love everything to be free but we end up paying much more eventually. Just an example: It costs more to convey a container from Lagos to Abuja than to ship the same container from Shanghai to Lagos. If we had good infrastructure, that would not be the case.
I would rather pay thousands in tolls for a good road than spend hours trying to navigate through that pit called Ore-Benin express road.

The problems Lekki Epe Express tolling is facing today is a testament to the very socialist mindset of the average Nigeria which is even more prevalent in the south west. I pray this works out. In fact Governance as a whole should be privatized while the Government should focus on policy design and regulation!!

omo9ja1:
Nice trend, I hope a good person will win, if possible I want to see all these men forming a solid Nigeria Gej,Buhari and Ribadu what about that, but because of selfish interest in the heart of Nigerian leaders it will never happen,in own openion I want PDP to go and have a fresh air, Gej have tried but we need fast and speedy change in Nigeria, we don't want business as usuall politicians to rule ours again.

cold:
^^Mr know it all,i dare say when it comes to issues bordering on International Relations and America's hegemony and foriegn policy you knowledge in this area would fit into the back of an envelope & is nowhere comparable to mine so don't even go there.
At no point have i praised the actions or comments of the West because anyone with a brain the size of an apple would know better than to take their concerns for 'us' seriously.My point is you're blinded by your pariochial thoughts & in the process denigrated the actions of folks who want nothing but to live as comfy as those who rule them.And do not mistake my stand as 'love' for the libyans,i know better than to think in that direction unlike your deep love for Gadaffi.

cap28:
She's right, i went there on holiday 3 years ago, its a tiny strip of land carved out of Senegal with beautiful beaches however none of the tourist spots are owned by indigenous gambian people, just british and lebanese people.

There is very little development outside the tourist areas, a lot of the young men and women are unemployed and hang around the tourist joints preying on western tourists.

Yahaya Jammeh has been in power for almost 20 years and has done nothing for his people other than open the country up to foreign predatory businesses, therefore he is not qualified to stand in judgement against anyone and definitely not Gadaffi.

Kobojunkie:
Libyans are calling for a No Fly Zone so Ghaddafi does not go back to bombing them again by air.

cap28:
DeeJay, when you get a chance listen to american historian, webster tarpley's analysis of what's happening in Libya:

http://tarpley.net/world-crisis-radio/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Tarpley

johnie:
Truth be told, the days of USA's overwhelming superpower influence are quickly coming to an end.

Kingdoms/empires and nations will rise and fall. T[b]he years of their influnce wane with one significant world event or the other.[/b]

Remember the Persians, Romans (Pax Romana), British empire (on which the sun never used to set)?

After the second world, the British empire gradually crumbled and the influence of America rose.

The disgrace of US is Somalia, blind invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and routing in Vietnam are all blood trails left behind by a fatally wounded giant.

Military invasion of Libya might be the final deathblow to American bigmanism a la law of unintended consequences.

Depsite the attraction of oil, invasion of Libya would be ill advised and I think the Yanks know that.

cap28:
It never ceases to amaze me how these african leaders continue to show how desperate they are to be accepted by their white masters - this high school dropout who gained power through a military coup and has been in office for almost 20 years now thinks he is qualified to criticise Gadaffi.

What has Yahahya Jammeh done for his people other than hand Gambia over to lebanese and british business men to make money while leaving his people to wallow in poverty, i don't blame him.

cap28:
WAKE UP!!!! AMERICA COULDNT GIVE A F.U.CK ABOUT THE LIBYAN PEOPLE THEY ONLY WANT TO GO IN AND SEIZE CONTROL OF THE OIL WELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!



I REPEAT THE WEST COULDNT GIVE TWO FU.CKS ABOUT THE LIBYAN PEOPLE THEY ONLY WANT THEIR OIL. 

GOING IN ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS IS A COVER AND A LIE:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/lead-f26.shtml

Kobojunkie:
They also simply don't care? You mean the many other times America intervened, and people like you immediately declared them invaders and enemies, in those they cared?? WOW !!!

PS. America was in Sudan, only that was more a humanitarian mission. I believe the country learnt from Somalia that it is better to stay clear of the local issues, and focus instead of helping the refugees. But then again, I would not expect you to admit that since it seems America is ALWAYS evil to you, no matter what it does. 

cap28:
After reading some of the posts on here i am now convinced that there is a marked difference between how black people who were born and raised in america view racism from the way black people who came to the US as adults view racism.

You have to have lived through it to understand it and unfortunately many nigerians who came to the west as full grown adults do not understand what its like to live in an environment where being black is regarded as a mark of inferiority.

This is why some posters on here are saying things like: "whats the big deal", "why cant you move on" whereas blacks who were born and raised in an environment in which they have constantly been told that they are less than, automatically take offence to these pictures.

I have spent a lot of time researching and reading about the experience of african americans and i understand why african americans/ black people born and raised in america are upset.   

Being black in america is synonymous with inferiority - there are some nigerians who are in complete denial about this but you can not run away from the truth.  Black people in america have it ingrained in them from the cradle to the grave that there is something wrong with them because they are black, furthermore dark skin (especially on women is regarded as unattractive)  the western media has placed on a pedestal the beauty of the white woman and has degraded the beauty of the black woman, this is evident in those pictures that Beyonce took in which the make up artiststs darken her skin in such a way that it looks as if the darkness of her skin is blotting out her beauty, in other words being very dark skinned makes it impossible for people to actually tell whether you are beautiful or not - this is what the white fashion and beauty industry thinks of dark skin.

Were Fela's dancers and singers not mostly dark skinned? were they not exquisitely beautiful? did any of them look like that caricature that Beyonce displayed in that magazine?

If you look at the way Fela's dancers/singers decorated their faces you can tell that this was done with the utmost care and attention, their faces were like works of art, contrast that with the cartoonish sambo like distortions on beyonce and you will see that the whites are merely using beyonce as a way to further push their insidious campaign that dark skin is not beautiful.

In the old days white entertainers would put boot polish on their faces and pretend to be black people - they would speak and act like braindead buffoons because this is how they wanted the world to perceive black people, as a result "black face" became synonymous with  the words: clown, buffoon, sambo, simpleton and fool. It therefore beggars beleif that Beyonce and her handlers would go as far as using this sort of imagery  to portray an african person.

Does it mean that beyonce and her handlers are so devoid of self respect and basic human dignity that they would be willing to not only demean themselves for a quick buck but also disregard the suffering and abuse meted out to their ancestors who fought for years to rise above those kind of hateful images and be treated as equals in a nation built on the sweat of their ancestors?

cap28:
America has never intervened in any conflict anywhere in the world on the grounds of humanitarianism - it was only in Somalia because it had been promised trillions of dollars worth of oil concessions by a former Somalian dictator Siad Barre, it tried to regain control of the country from rival warlords and failed, after their failed expeditions they resorted to using proxies to fight on their behalf. 

This whole thing about humanitarian intervention in Libya is  a sham - all the americans want to do here is go in and a[b]nnex the areas of Libya in which the oil is located.[/b]

AjanleKoko:
Do these 'reasons' of yours make Nigerians lesser mortals than your white neighbours?
Why would any Nigerian want to go hiking around the world. Nigerians hike everyday just to get to work and back.
Also, enough exotic/rustic scenery in Nigeria itself. We want to see SKYSCRAPERS, SHOPPING MALLS, THEME PARKS, etc. Any problem with that?

notjustok:
@deejay20

Human beings see things differently and so profer solutions based on how they see things, the indians might be succesfull in Nigeria but remember they had to leave there own country which is india a Nigerian can decide to relocate to india and set up his own company and be succesfull, na person wey dey wear shoe know where e dey pain am,  read inbtw the linessss we all have different destiny,

buskay
it takes about 5yrs or more am not really sure but it takes a longer period of time compared to when u file withing the US the estimated time according to USCIS is 5months,