TM

Tm

That is the propaganda Iran is selling to its people back home. Both the U.S. and Iraqi authorities have stated that there has been no record of casualty [killed or injured] yet. The Pentagon reported that the ballistic missiles fell on the fringes of the base.

Iran is trying to walk a balance: it has to boast it took out tens of 'terrorist' Americans so that the anger and calls for revenge at home may be assuaged, and also that the regime may not lose credence in the eye of its people—and the world. It also carefully made sure the missiles landed on the fringes of the base so as to avoid American casualty and, of course, a sure disproportionate retaliation from America.

Iran has also reported that it has effected a 'conclusive hit' on America and warns that if the U.S. retaliated, bigger hits would come her way. This, right here, is de-escalatory rhetoric.

TM

(Reuters) - Iran will not give the black box of the crashed Ukrainian airliner to planemaker Boeing, the head of Tehran's civil aviation organization was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Ali Abedzadeh also said it was not clear which country Iran would send the box to so that its data could be analyzed, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashed earlier on Wednesday, killing all 176 people aboard shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1Z71C7

bayelsaowei:
kindly provide classified info on what you just wrote...

If you'd been living in a cave the whole time the aforesaid was unfolding, would you blame me?

kelvindj98:

Stop d lies. No one was killed in the Embassy attack/protest. The tension was deescalated without any casualty. It's like you don't know how impenetrable that embassy is.
Only one American died in a separate attack that took place earlier. And that was a result of direct conflict between US soldiers and Iraqi rebels.
State facts when you want to engage political discuss or no one will take you seriously.

I won't engage you. "Iraqi rebels" you said. Who has been financing and controlling Hezbollah, Houthis and other rebel groups to attack Saudi [Wahabi], Israeli and American interests in the region? In Nigeria, who is the patron of the non-violent IMN [Shi'ite]?

What do you think is the crux of the whole talk about Iran proxy wars?

Be guided.

P.S.: Fox news is reporting that Iran is refusing to handover the two blackboxes from the crashed Ukrainian airplane that went down in Iran. It is suspected that Iranian air defence forces downed the civilian plane.

You guys need to stop taking the sympathy too far. Iran is not without blood on its hands [just like the U.S.].

There is a whole lot of home-politics being played in the reactions to this issue. No one is talking about the fact that Qassem Soleimani directed the attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq that killed a number of Americans. No one is talking about the fact that the rebels his IRGC sponsors attacked a Saudi oil facility with rockets few weeks ago.

And most importantly, under the U.S. law, Qassem Soleimani was the leader of a 'terrorist organization'—the U.S. had gazzetted the IRGC as a terrorist organisation few months ago. So, legally [as far as the U.S. is concerned], the killing of Qassem is just like that of al Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.

Fortunately if the reports of 'no-casualty' are true, then it means Iran has adeptly navigated this murky waters: it has fired directly on a U.S. base—enough to assuage the rage within Iran and to keep its national pride. And most importantly, it has made sure there are no casualties on the American side—just enough to not incite the U.S. into retaliation.

My reply to a group on Facebook few hours before this 'rocket incident':

We shouldn't get this all muddled up. The U.S. has [just as does Iran] the right to place whatever tag as its interests dictate; of course, and it would be strictly their business. We aren't bound to see through their lenses.

Every country that had power, in some absolute form, has abused it at some point: Russia [Georgia], Britain [Falkland], Germany [Poland], Japan [China], China [Tibet]...the list is indeed endless. Who amongst these countries has the moral standing to call the U.S. to order? We would never get a fair determination, all we can do as citizens of the world is to sue for peace.

At the rate China is going, before the close of this century, it would surpass the U.S. [or have parity with it] as the dominant world power. Have you asked yourself what it would feel like, seeing what has become of the Uighur situation? C'mon!

And also, we would fall into the same pit which we are trying to cover if we lost sight of the fact that this is basically a situation involving two mutually-belligerent countries.

You must have believed that the U.S. fights for a fair and just cause—as against barefacedly seeking its interests—to be this disappointed.

P.S.: Gentlemen, let's not forget: this is between two mutually-belligerent nations.

Simplyleo:
So ebonyi is the only state from our south east that Buhari allowed to pay this minimum wage?

It is getting more obvious that tyrant Buhari hates we igbos with passion.

Is it because we preffered our southern athifku to come save us?

.

You are a despicable layabout but, unfortunately, you have no one to say it to your face! Nairaland took a plunge [and never recovered] because of people like you.

I spit on you!

I am in full support of a country pursuing what advances her interests. The U.S. designated the IRGC, the elite arm of the Iranian military, as a terrorist organisation and that made it easy to take its commander out on foreign soil—it rid the whole process of most diplomatic and legal bottlenecks. So if Iran did same, in the advancement of her interest, then it is perfectly okay by me.

However, I'll urge Iran not to confront the U.S. headlong. If retaliation became unavoidable, then it could use asymmetric warfare and attrition.

Peace, whilst capacity is being built, is still the best option for the world.

"War is extreme violence" - General Charles Honner [Commander of the USAF component in the Gulf War].

There are no winners in a war!

All thanks to the morons that put us on the world's terror map! How can a hungry and impoverished man consistently misplace his priority this much. The north needs basic welfare and practical education far more than religion right now!

There is immense wisdom in self-preservation. You should never enter a fight for reasons that are not beyond the need to impress on the minds of onlookers.

Iran should not play into the hands of Israel which has been itching, for years, to have a legitimate reason to strike at pre-determined targets on Iranian soil. Americans will die but the Iranian homeland will be set decades back.

However, we would be wrong to think Iran isn't culpable too. Iran has for long mentored and funded irregular groups to attack American and Isreali interests on foreign soil. Iran-backed groups have consistently targeted U.S. military bases; they have killed a number of U.S. servicemen; they have targeted oil installations in Saudi Arabia; they have attacked U.S. embassy offices and a host of other actions.

America and Iran have been on a belligerent note for decades now. If Iran had the capacity, they'd probably be doing worse.

Bottomline: it's better to be the stronger guy in a duel. And if you be the weaker guy, it would be unwise to have a go at something you have no chance of subduing. Life isn't a circus.

TM

I respect the resilience of the Iranian people but, truth be told, Iran is no match for the U.S. war machine—the most capable the world has seen.

Inasmuch as we would naturally want to align with the 'bullied', we have to admit that Qasem Soleimani had blood [American, Syrian, Iraqi...even Iranian] on his hands. He who lives by the sword shall die by it.

There are many ways to kill a fly. Wisdom is primary; there is no shame in putting self-preservation higher on the scale. Iran should use some wisdom and not play into the hands of people who want a scene to enjoy.

IgboSomalia:


Says Shukuka typing from his mother's hut in Abakaliki where he's eating leftover akpu with grass soup.

Better go and shut down Abia where they are accepting kerosene as bride price.

You and the folks that liked your foolish comment are clearly lost. I think the mods should do something about lowlife schlubs like you who have made Nairaland a mess which intellectuals avoid.

Even if we would delve into your idiocy, is the commercial bike industry the exclusive preserve of the Igbos? So you don't know that probably a million Lagosians would lose their subsistence. How many Lagosians would be able to arrive at offices and business places ON TIME if these bike-hailing companies are put out of business—how many would be able to keep their current jobs!

Should we revert to the era where the 'okada/keke' industry was populated by unlicensed individuals; an era where criminality had so much incentives?

I am not surprised this doomed system birthed people like you. How can one wake every blessed day to do this sort of mess over and over again. It has to be what you live for. It has to be your life.

The only way the government has appeared to be 'winning' this war is due to its tactic of making sure that news about BH/ISWAP forays and activities are suppressed. No more, no less. People are dying on a daily basis. BH and ISWAP have now returned to their agelong method of singling out Christian villages and individuals for annihilation.

Anybody, be it a 'colonel' or whatever, that tells you that there are no local governments under the control of BH/ISWAP—even after the governor has indirectly said it—is simply fooling you.

Extremism is a big problem in the world. Mo'Salah was obviously enjoying the holidays but some extremist would rather read unnecessary meanings into a simple photograph. Does Salah not have millions of Christian fans all over the world? Would it be out of place if he regarded and congratulated them on a festival they hold dear? Does it mean he subscribes to Christmas?

The misguided extremists should please take it a notch higher and tell Salah to quit Liverpool because it's a majorly Christian club [in a Christian city and a Christian country].
Idiocy!

What did you expect? It unfortunately got messy and the likes of Garba and Femi danced in the mess.

The administration was obviously arm-twisted. All it would have taken was for a congressman to raise it on the floor and get the congress to blacklist Nigeria. Then the U.S. would halt the delivery of our SuperTucano light-attack aircrafts [that we've paid for]; Pakistan, as a key U.S. ally, would also be moved to block the delivery of what would be our most advance jet since inception [the JF17 thunder] and stop the supply of parts for the already-delivered Super Mushshak trainer aircrafts.

Misguidiance! If you're not comfortable with a law, then lobby for its amendment via prescribed channels. But under no circumstance should the law/courts be despised!

omenka:
PDP, the unabashedly demonic enterprise, has its mind make up as per its immutable policy to treat their most loyal base, the South East, as shabbily as possible.

Notwithstanding, I couldn't care less how badly they get treated. They deserve every bit of the party's scorn for being so blindly loyal even to the point of kicking Ojukwu to the curb in preference for an Aboki in pdp.

I hope they dont even smell the VP's ticket this time. Perhaps that would become the straw that breaks the whale's back.

Nonsense.

What is it with you and this nauseating fixation with anything Igbo or east? C'mon, it seems you are the one getting obsessive about it now. I have observed you for a long time. Your point is never complete until you find a space to wriggle in [directly or by implication] 'Igbo' or 'east'.

"Omenka"

What is it with you and this nauseating fixation with anything Igbo or east? C'mon, it seems you are the one getting obsessive about it now. I have observed you for a long time. Your point is never complete until you find a space to wriggle in [directly or by implication] 'Igbo' or 'east'.

If we don't rate ourselves and our institutions high, what serious country would?

CLOWNS!

While I commend the initiative of Aliko Dangote over the birth of this idea, I have to say that these so-called governors [aside Sanwo-olu, on account of being the resident one] are a big letdown [I wouldn't say 'embarrassment' because we are shameless in this part of the world].

Even the federal government keeps making a lot of noise on this project [even though it was initiated before this administration came on board] and keeps selling the narrative that it is the silver bullet against the ills in the petroleum sector.

Certainly the complex is big, BUT it isn't even the biggest engineering project ever birthed on Nigerian soil; it clearly isn't as audacious, in size and importance, as the Ajaokuta steel complex that was built just around a decade after we came out of a costly civil war. By any definition, the standard of governance in Nigeria has consistently dropped!

If these guys [the FG and SGs] are oblivious to the fact that there remains a lot to be done aside trying to latch onto the coattails of Dangote and share in his applause, I'll volunteer a list for them:

- Ajaokuta; that distillation tower came from a country that didn't mess with its 'Ajaokuta'.
- Aviation; China runs more than 13 government-owned airlines.
- Security; it's as if we have recognized the right of Boko Haram/ISWAP to roam freely in our sahelian territories.
- Education; we are still a nation of seriously ignorant folks.
- Health; the president himself does not even trust the country he leads. After five years on seat, he wouldn't even treat a headache here.

What an unfortunate country. Some rogues have perfected the move to RE-COAT an utterly unimpressive legislative building with an amount that is almost the size of our education budget and our streets and squares are not brimming with citizens with bloodshot eyes and dizzying rage. God forbid!

TM

This kind of BH/ISWAP face-off has been long coming on the horizon. BH/ISWAP fighters will, in their characteristic manner, scour for foodstuffs and livestock. It is a considerable part of their mainstay. This will inevitably bring them in conflict with both farmers and nomadic herders. And while the Pullo herders are armed with small arms and assault rifles, BH/ISWAP are armed with bigger calibre guns and vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft guns [AAA]. It would always be an overmatch.

Unfortunately, these happenings only highlight the extent of security precariousness that Nigeria is enmeshed in. The Sahel areas are replete with warring ethnic militias and jihadi groups, the subregion is awash in arms, and Nigeria will always be attractive to these vicious groups. The porosity of our northern borders will be our fall.

We better wake up.

GENEGIRIA:
Your analysis is skewed to achieve a twisted and baseless outcomes. The fact that Nigeria has a population of 200 million and Ghana has a population of 30 million doesn’t necessarily give nigeria any economic advantage. Have you heard of purchasing power? It’s all about purchasing power, the ability to buy. When you have a population of 100 million very poor people, it doesn’t translate to a big market. Now, Ghana with its 30 million population is Nigeria’s biggest export market. But nigeria is not Ghana’s biggest export market. So how dies this balance out?

It means while Nigeria depends on money it makes from selling goods in Ghana, Ghana dies not depend on goods it exports to Nigeria. So who has the advantage here?

No bro I am being straight-up open with you.

1) You talked about purchasing power; but it is on record [on record, I repeat] that Ghana's GDP per capita and Nigeria's GDP per capita are are in the same $2,200+ bracket. So what this means is that an average Ghanaian and an average Nigerian have roughly the same purchasing power index. Now, going by this, Nigeria has an overwhelming advantage because whilst Ghana presents a paltry 30m people with a GDP per capita of $2,200+, Nigeria brings to the table a whooping 198m people with a GDP per capita within the same bracket! If you were a business man, what market would you choose!

2) let me also correct an impression. Per capita basis does not do justice to the story. China, an economic super-powerhouse, has a GDP per capita that is less than a fifth of those of a handful of countries in Europe—like Lithuania, Switzerland, Luxembourg etc., does it mean that these countries are more economically viable than China?

2.b.) Listen, there are a couple of African countries with a GDP per capita bigger than that of China. Oh yes! Does that mean they come close to China in economic might? C'mon, don't be ridiculous! Volume matters and that is what Nigeria has going for it.

3) You pointed out, critically, that there is no balance in the trade, and as such it has to be untrue. Let me tell you this, it happens every time! The value of goods that Nigeria imports from the US is not the same as that which it exports to the US. This is basic economics. The advantage is with Nigeria; Nigeria sells more to Ghana than what it buys from Ghana. Nigeria has the balance of trade [with Ghana] surplus on its side—this is basic bro.

Let's bin all this sentimentalism and face facts alone.

GENEGIRIA:
What do you mean by Ghana depends on Nigeria than nigeria depends on Ghana? Import and export is a free exchange of goods and services. Now let me ask you, if Ghana does not import from Nigeria, can it import from elsewhere? The answer is a resounding yes. Ghana does not need to import anything from Nigeria because it can import those same items from any part of the world. It is as simple as that.

What this tells me is that Ghana's far more important to Nigeria than most Nigerians would want to accept. Trade is what keeps the world economy running. In today’s world. The country importing, has more leverage than the exporting country. Which means Ghana has advantage over Nigeria in their trade relationship. It is as simple as that.

I respect your willingness to contribute. However, you wilfully forgot that countries make their import calculus based on where they can get a comparative advantage. Ghana imports heavily from Nigeria [$2.4bn as per the data] because it is cheaper, obviously, for her to do so—no country is a Father Christmas. If she imported same articles from, let's say, South Africa, she would obviously be paying more for less because the distance alone is enough to make it more expensive compared to the ones that come from 'next-door' Nigeria.

And you should also know that if Ghana decided to not buy from Nigeria, there are ready buyers willing to buy these articles. Some years ago the US drastically cut the quantity of crude oil it buys from Nigeria, and almost immediately India stepped up and took the place of the US. It is now that the US is gradually upping the quantity of the same Nigerian oil it drastically cut. It is a very simple thing.

Finally, if you want to be sincere to yourself, there is NO WAY a Nigeria of 198m people and $400bn GDP would need a Ghana of 30m people and $50bn+ more than Ghana needs it. It is a statistical impossibility.

It's no denigration, it is fact.

P.S.: as per the $2.4bn, it means Nigeria has become Ghana's largest import-trade partner, just after China with $3.5bn+.

I see a lot of people do not understand this piece of information. The gist is that Ghana, in the last three months, has become the biggest IMPORTER of Nigerian products. The value of the goods it bought FROM Nigeria was quoted as roughly $2.4bn.

If this is true, it only shows that Ghana depends far much more on Nigeria than Nigeria depends on it. The interesting aspect of this news is that it is reported that more than 97% of the goods that Ghana bought from Nigeria were non-petroleum articles. This is also a positive for Nigeria.

The relationship between any two African countries should be that of mutual respect, two-way productivity and shared brotherhood.

Now, we need to invest heavily in power, metallurgy, electronics and functional education/research. It is about time we made our companies competitive enough to break the South African hegemony in choice sectors.

This regime has a clear aversion for laid down procedure. I mean, most of these issues are very simple and straightforward ones. For example, what is special about Magu or what qualities do the other guys that have overstayed their statutory time have which can not be found in a country of 198 million people? Or does this regime simply break the law for the fun of it?

I just want everyone to note that without the law [an efficacious one] there would NEVER be a nation; there would be nothing like 'national security' without a nation in the first place. Where does this regime draw its power and authority? Would Buhari be able to order even a Dog around as President without the enablement of the law? Can a creature have overarching superiority over the creator? C'mon!

The folks cheering this regime on are really lost, they need our prayers.

P.S.: we need to take the issue of mental health serious in this country.