Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Ethiopia is unfazed by psychological games being played by President Mohammed Mursi (Morsi) of Egypt over the Nile. Ethiopia is currently in the process of constructing a viable hydroelectric dam in order to provide essential power. Therefore, Ethiopia caught Egypt on the hop last month when this nation began to divert the Blue Nile while providing information to Sudan about construction developments.

Ethiopia clearly needs to modernize the infrastructure of this nation in order to lift many people out of poverty and to support many areas of the economy. The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is also a sign of growing confidence within the body politic of Ethiopia. Mursi therefore should be very careful when he states that “all options are open.” After all, it is easy for events to spiral out of control and it doesn’t help a very complex region.

Mursi did comment that he wasn’t “calling for war” but then further complicated issues by also making it clear that Egypt could not afford to sit idly by while Ethiopia threatened to control the water flow. Clearly, the worry is that with Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood coming under greater scrutiny at home; then he may decide to play the nationalist card. Therefore, events remain unstable because a slippery slope may occur whereby tensions continue to increase.

Mursi stated that “Egypt’s water security cannot be violated at all…As president of the state I confirm to you that all options are open…If Egypt is the Nile’s gift, then the Nile is a gift to Egypt.”

“The lives of the Egyptians are connected around it… as one great people. If it diminishes by one drop then our blood is the alternative.”

Mursi clearly wants to maintain a colonial ruling which denies Ethiopia the right to control its own water. Obviously, no nation can be held back by the past when it is clear that Ethiopia wasn’t responsible for the ruling which favored Egypt and Sudan in the first place. In saying that, it is also incumbent on Ethiopia to be sensitive to the needs of other nations which rely greatly on the water resources emanating from this country. Ethiopia is therefore stipulating that the interrupted flow will only take place for a set period during the building of this important dam.

Tedros Adhanom, the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, replied by stating  that “Ethiopia cannot remain poor….It must utilize its resources to lift its people out of poverty.”

Also, other upstream nations are disillusioned by the shenanigans of a past colonial agreement which violates their respective rights to exploit the water that they are blessed with. Egypt should be careful because regional powers like Uganda would not standby and allow Cairo to bully the region. After all, just like events between Sudan and South Sudan; it is clear that regional black African states are not interested in “a colonial Arab straightjacket.”

Sudan which is beset by many internal issues appears to be on board because this nation understands that Ethiopia isn’t threatening regional stability. This in itself further isolates Egypt because Sudan is a major downstream nation.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/73769/Egypt/Politics-/Ethiopia-dismisses-Egyptian-psychological-warfare-.aspx

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Helmut Joachim Schmidt and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The Syrian Armed Forces have retaken Qusair near the border with Lebanon and clearly this successful military operation is hurting the enemies of this secular nation. After all, with NATO Turkey facing internal social and political issues – and with this major terrorist and military ratline being closed in Qusair – then clearly the situation looks more optimistic for the Syrian government. Therefore, major Western powers are responding by manipulating the mass media by raising the issue of chemical weapons and that allies of Syria must refrain from supporting the government of Bashar al-Assad.

Killing and kidnapping religious leaders: Silence when al-Qaeda groups took Raqqah

It is noticeable that two Christian bishops have been kidnapped by the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) but issues like this and killing pro-government Sunni clerics does not concern Gulf and Western powers. Also, when the Al Nusrah Front which is affiliated with al-Qaeda took Raqqah (Raqqa), alongside other terrorist groups like Ahrar al Sham Brigade; then did America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom tell al-Qaeda groups to pull out? More alarmingly, with thousands of American and British troops being killed in Iraq; then why are America and the United Kingdom supporting the al-Qaeda funding states of Qatar and Saudi Arabia? After all, this is a mockery and perversion against the soldiers of America and the United Kingdom who sacrificed their lives for nothing in Iraq.

The Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham Brigade and various Takfiri groups then set about turning Raqqah into a “year zero Islamist zone.” Captured soldiers and anyone deemed loyal to the government of Syria were openly executed in front of adults and children alike. Then summary justice of whipping people and putting women in the shadows followed. Yet did major NATO Western powers bat an eyelid and did the take-over of Raqqah by al-Qaeda affiliated groups concern Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Gulf? Likewise, did the mass media throughout the West and in the Gulf region launch a campaign to be used against al-Qaeda affiliated groups to pull-out of Raqqah?

Former Yugoslavia to Libya

It is worth recalling that major Western powers and Gulf petrodollars have been involved in the wars of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, former Yugoslavia and now against Syria. At the same time, Mali, India, Niger, Pakistan, (Pakistan destabilized itself by allying with Islamist forces in Afghanistan throughout the 1980s and 1990s) Tunisia (secular leader killed by terrorists) and other nations have felt the ripples of outside meddling. Also, the fiasco of Afghanistan throughout the 1980s and 1990s fueled anti-Shia and anti-modernity forces which continue to grip many parts of the world.

The former Yugoslavia and Libya were bombed from the sky by NATO powers while terrorist groups were given a free reign to kill at random on the ground. This applies to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and Libyan affiliated al-Qaeda terrorist groups which once had fought allied American and British troops in Iraq. Indeed, the rise of the KLA and FSA share many parallels in terms of the speed of their development and the ratlines now being used against Syria. After all, it is known that FSA members visited Albanian ruled Kosovo (Vast numbers of Orthodox Christians have been cleansed on the watch of Western powers) and Libya is a military, covert operative and mercenary play ground.

Libya and the former Yugoslavia were bombed from the sky whereby major NATO powers were free to kill and destroy the infrastructure at random. In the former Yugoslavia (by this time Serbia and Montenegro) it is clear that NATO forces did not want to fight the armed forces of Serbia openly. Therefore, NATO systematically bombed the infrastructure of Serbia and killed vast numbers of civilians. The ratio of civilian deaths to military troops is shockingly high but of course NATO powers were exonerated from breaking international law. Likewise, willfully targeting the infrastructure of Serbia and spreading untold fear against civilians in order for this nation to capitulate was deemed reasonable by elite nations. At the same time, KLA terrorist forces which committed mass atrocities, including killing people for organs, were given a free reign to kill Serbian Orthodox Christians and destroy Serbian Orthodox Churches.

Vivian Martin, International Action Center in New York, states that “From the onset of NATO’s aggression from March 24 to June 11, 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) flew over 35,000 combat missions over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Over 1,000 warplanes (among others F-15, F-16, F-117) and 206 helicopters were used in the air strikes. More than 20,000 laser or satellite-guided weapons were launched and over 79,000 tons of explosives were dropped, including 152 containers with 35,450 cluster bombs, thermo-visual and graphite bombs, which are prohibited under international conventions.”¹

“The NATO forces justified the bombing of civilian targets as either “mistakes” or essential to the destruction of Milosevic and the Yugoslav Army. However, these attacks were not made solely against military targets but against the Yugoslav population as a whole.”

“As a direct result of the bombings, thousands of civilians were killed and more than 6,000 sustained serious injuries. A large number of the injured will remain crippled for life. NATO bombings have burned amputated, wounded and disabled many civilians of all-ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Children make made up 30% of all casualties as well as 40% of the total number injured. In addition, approximately 300,000 children have suffered severe psychological traumas and will require continuos medical surveillance and treatment. Children have been victims of the sprinkle cluster bombs, with delayed effects, and will continue to be victimized until all parks, play-fields and open areas have been made safe from the remaining unexploded bombs scattered throughout Yugoslavia.”

In Libya major NATO powers would once more bomb from the sky while anti-Gaddafi forces would execute their prisoners after torture. Many videos highlight that anti-Gaddafi forces which were allies of America, France, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and others; also systematically tortured and killed black Africans based on their skin color. Indeed, sometimes black Africans were put in prisons that resembled zoos and then forced to beg for mercy while being treated like animals. Of course, massacres took place on all sides but how does this exonerate the barbarity of what happened in Libya based on the meddling of outside nations?

Modern day Libya is nothing more than a failed state whereby Sufi shrines are attacked and the minority Christian community resides in fear. Various militias control several parts of major cities and terrorism emanating from this failed state continues to worry Algeria, Mali, Niger, Tunisia and Syria. Therefore, the new free Libya is a hotbed of instability, terrorism, Takfiri hatred and lawlessness. Also, Libya is a conduit in the flow of terrorists from North Africa to Syria alongside supplying military arms and covert operatives which manipulate the failed structures of this country.

UK, US and France condemn Qusair but Fine for Allies to Sponsor Sectarianism, Terrorism and Sedition

France is clearly riled by the loss of the international terrorist and ratline base in Qusair because once more President Hollande is using the specter of chemical weapons. Ironically, the UN finding under Carla Del Ponte firmly points the finger at forces being supported by major NATO powers and Gulf nations. Also, in Iraq and Turkey it is clear that al-Qaeda affiliated groups have been found with chemicals. Of course, this matters not because it is fine for al-Qaeda and the FSA to behead, kill minorities, kidnap Christian bishops, kill pro-government Sunni clerics, deliberately kill journalists and train little children to behead captured Syrian soldiers. In the world of President Obama, President Hollande and Prime Minister Cameron all the above equates to “freedom” and “democracy.”

American with its usual hypocrisy called on Hezbollah and Iran to pull fighters out of Syria. Of course, the same America isn’t stopping Qatar and Saudi Arabia from funding Sunni militant jihadists which not only hate the Alawites, Christians and Shia – but given their Takfiri mindset, then killing Sunni Muslim clerics is also fine. Qusair is also within easy reach of Lebanon and clearly Shia villages on both sides of the border have been attacked by various Takfiri and terrorist groups. Indeed, instead of condemning Hezbollah it is clear that this political movement stood by for a long time while their co-religionists were being persecuted. It is also essential to note that Christians are not worried about Hezbollah and the same applies to all faith groups because this movement supports the mosaic of Lebanon and Syria respectively. Yet, Takfiri groups want to destroy all and sundry and to crush Syrian civilization just like the Taliban wants to destroy the mosaic of Afghanistan and eradicate all traces of past cultures like Buddhism.

Chemical Issue

In the last few weeks it is clear that al-Qaeda groups and various affiliates are trying to use chemicals. The Long War Journal states “The Iraqi military announced today that it arrested five members of an al Qaeda cell that was seeking to manufacture chemical weapons, including sarin nerve gas, and plotting to conduct attacks within Iraq, Europe, and North America.”

“The Defense Ministry announced that it arrested the five members of the al Qaeda in Iraq cell and raided two factories in Baghdad that were used to research and manufacture the deadly chemical agents. The arrests were made with the help of undisclosed foreign intelligence services.”

In another article by The Long War Journal which provides information from several Turkish media groups. It is stated that “On May 30, the Turkish media reported that 12 individuals from the al Qaeda-linked Al Nusrah Front had been captured in antiterror operations in Adana, along with a total of two kilos (4, 5 lb) of sarin gas. Five of the 12 suspects were later released; the interrogation of the other seven is ongoing.”

“According to another daily, Radikal, however, the suspects said that they planned to take the materials back to the conflict areas in Syria.”

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “Human rights investigators from the United Nations (UN) have taken medical testimonies from Syrians which clearly imply that terrorists in Syria have used chemicals against the people of this nation. This applies to sarin nerve gas therefore will the enemies of Syria bomb and agitate against the so-called Free Syrian Army (supported by outside nations and agencies like the CIA)? Of course, individuals like John Kerry (US) and William Hague (UK) will try to squirm their way out like usual and a future “false flag” is sure to be raised. Despite this, it is clear that the “chemical issue” is “dead and buried” because at worse the side of Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington have been involved in using sarin gas. Of course, with America using Agent Orange against Vietnam and dropping this agent on Cambodia and Laos despite not even being at war with Cambodia and Loas – then clearly the information released by the UN human rights investigators isn’t shocking.”

Also, the independent commission of inquiry which was set up by the UN according to Carla Del Ponte can’t find any incriminating evidence against the government of Syria. Therefore, Del Ponte comments that “investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated.”

“This was use on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities.”

All the above information is mocking America, France, the United Kingdom and their allies throughout the Middle East. The same also applies to the mass media in the West and Gulf region which have raised countless false flags and distorted events on the ground. Laurent Fabius, the Foreign Minister of France, clearly doesn’t like to read about al-Qaeda being caught in Iraq and Turkey with chemicals. Likewise, he desires to ignore the UN independent commission which points the finger at the side of so-called opposition forces.

Fabius reported to France 24 “that his government was certain Syria’s army had used chemical weapons during the bloody civil conflict, in particular the deadly nerve agent sarin.”

“Asked if chemical weapons had also been used by the opposition, Fabius said he was not certain, but that documented reports of the use chemical weapons for now only reliably pointed a finger at Assad.”

In other words Fabius like William Hague of the United Kingdom are claiming that the security agencies of Iraq and Turkey are lying and the same applies to international agents which helped Iraq. Similarly, Fabius is rejecting the independent UN commission which reports that it is the side backed by major Western and Gulf powers which appear to have used chemicals. Of course, with the FSA and various al-Qaeda affiliates suffering setbacks on the ground then more false flags must be used against Syria in order to stem the time which is favoring the Syrian government. In other words, the so-called Western and Gulf sponsored revolution can’t succeed without major military support to vast numbers of international terrorists, mercenaries and covert operatives.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/06/iraq_breaks_up_al_qa.php#ixzz2VPfCodc0

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/05/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE94409Z20130505 　

http://rt.com/news/un-syria-rebels-chemical-weapons-854/　

http://www.france24.com/en/20130605-syria-rebels-weapons-qusair-france-laurent-fabius-diplomacy-russia-assad

http://www.iacenter.org/warcrime/25_civil.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22789455

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2013/05/06/syria-and-un-investigators-concrete-suspicions-that-fsa-islamists-used-sarin-gas/

http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2013/05/on_may_30_the_turkish.php#ixzz2VPgQxrfY

http://www.agentorangerecord.com/agent_orange_history/in_cambodia_laos/ US and Agent Orange

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Nigeria and Syria are both on the frontline in the war of civilization because multi-religious states face the wrath of radical Sunni Islamist terrorists which support the Takfiri way of thinking. In other words, everyone outside of their draconian version of Islamist thinking is deemed to be subhuman and open to either economic dhimmitude or outright murder. However, for the Obama administration it appears that Islamists need protection therefore Nigeria was sternly rebuked by America for fighting back against religious fanatics. Syria, of course, knows full well the hypocrisy of America, France, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, which are assisting terrorist and sectarian forces against secular Syria. It is worth pointing out that nobody expects much from major Gulf powers apart from spreading hatred based on their petrodollars. Yet it is galling when Washington and others keep on supporting sinister forces which aim to destroy different civilizations based on Salafi and Takfiri hatred.

Boko Haram in Nigeria is a very militant Islamist organization which beheads Christian pastors, blows up Christian churches during religious services, attacks Muslim mosques which are deemed un-pure and commits many other types of barbarity. Indeed, just like radical Takfiri and Salafi Islamists in Syria, Boko Haram thinks nothing of killing Sunni Muslim clerics because militant Islamist forces in both nations hate all notions of religious pluralism. Despite this, the Obama administration is lambasting the government of Nigeria while supporting the terrorist ratlines against secular Syria.

Indeed, when the leader of Myanmar visited America it was noticeable that Obama raised the anti-Muslim attacks in this country but negated the fact that many Christian factions belonging to different organizations have been fighting in this country for over 50 years. It once more appears that attacking mainly Christian ethnic groups in Myanmar doesn’t enter the radar despite many bombing and military attacks in 2013. Therefore, America’s pro-Islamist and sectarian policies in Syria whereby opposition forces are allowed to cleanse Christians, kill pro-government Sunni clerics, kidnap Christian bishops, destroy Shia holy places, behead Alawites, and so forth; is starting to follow a similar path.

It must be remembered that Afghanistan (1980s and 1990s), Iraq and Libya all had more secular forces running the country prior to major Gulf and Western powers supporting the rule of Islamic Sharia law. Likewise, if the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist terrorist forces defeat the Syrian government then yet another secular state will be crushed on the whims of Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh, Washington and other Gulf states. Indeed, when mainly Christian black African elites within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) rose up against Islamization and Arabization in 1983 after the leader of Sudan introduced Islamic Sharia law; the SPLA was mainly shunned by Washington in this period.

Therefore, when John Kerry, the current United States Secretary of State, condemned Nigeria; it would appear that America values the human rights of Islamist terrorists over Nigerian nationals which oppose and are being attacked by the brutal policies of Boko Haram. Indeed, the current government of Nigeria offered a compromise towards this terrorist organization. However, this was rebuked and instead Boko Haram just attacked citizens like normal within areas that they operate.

John Kerry stated that “We are … deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.” This same rhetoric is used against the government of Syria. Luckily for Nigeria, America is not involved in supporting terrorist networks against Nigeria unlike the ratlines of the CIA in assisting terrorism and sectarianism against the Bashar al-Assad government. Of course, the nations of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom share similar policies towards the government of Syria. Yet how do you deal with Takfiri Islamists, Salafi Islamists, al-Qaeda and Boko Haram when they gladly behead and kill Christians and Muslims alike?

Also, where did Boko Haram obtain its funding from and why are Gulf versions of militant Islam spreading in Nigeria against mainstream Muslim forces? In Syria it is clear that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are involved in the chains of spreading sectarianism and militant Islam against indigenous Islam in Syria. This reality means that Alawites (Syria), Christians, the Druze (Syria), Shia, Traditional Beliefs (Nigeria) and mainstream Sunni Islam are all involved in a civilizational war against the brutal forces of militant Islam.

John Kerry also stated “We urge Nigeria’s security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response, and respect human rights and the rule of law.” It is noticeable that the same America and the United Kingdom don’t stop trading with Saudi Arabia despite not one single Christian church being allowed and where apostates to the Christian faith (or any non-Muslim faith) face the death penalty. Likewise, if America is so concerned about human rights then why is this nation supporting Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, in their destabilization of Syria by any means possible? Therefore, it seems that Islamist militants in Syria are free to kill Muslims and Christians alike – including untold barbarity whereby even training children to behead Syrian soldiers is tolerated – because at no point are anti-Syrian nations willing to put restrictions on the actions of the forces they support and control.

Last year when 39 Christians were slaughtered during Easter by Boko Haram the United States once more made a very apologist statement. Johnnie Carson, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, commented that “I want to take this opportunity to stress one key point and that is that religion is not driving extremist violence” in Nigeria. However, poor Christians are not going around beheading people in Nigeria because they want a Christian law state. Likewise, mainstream and indigenous Islamic leaders support the unitary state of Nigeria and many Muslims in the Nigerian army – just like the majority of the armed forces of Syria are Muslim – are dying because they want to preserve the unity of their respective nations and both armed forces are protecting all faith groups irrespective of religion. This in itself is evidence that Islamist militants deem all other non-Muslims and Muslims to be infidels in accordance with their Takfiri, Salafi and other Islamist mindsets.

Similarly, America now wants to put pressure on Nigeria by raising the issue of human rights against the Boko Haram organization which beheads the followers of Christ, blows up Christian churches during services, attacks Sunni Muslim clerics deemed moderate and other barbaric acts. Ironically, in Myanmar many mainly Christian ethnic groups that have fought central forces have been abandoned for over 60 years. It would appear that Gulf petrodollars are not at stake and killing Christians hardly raises any eyebrows in Washington and London. Also, many mainly Christian led ethnic groups in Myanmar have not been involved in beheading people while praising their God; therefore, they are too moderate and democratic to be concerned about.

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “Under the watch of President Obama and willing political fools in France and the United Kingdom the influence of al-Qaeda is spreading and the same applies to Salafi Islamist political forces. Therefore, the entire Levant, North Africa and parts of West Africa have become caught up in the terrorist, sectarian and Islamist agenda of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This means that America and the United Kingdom have become willing partners in the Islamist agenda of the Gulf while France is caught in the middle because political elites in Paris want to protect Algeria, Mali and Tunisia from the threat of militant Islam. Yet, when it comes to Syria the nation of France is doing the opposite by supporting the whims of Gulf powers, America, Turkey and the United Kingdom. France should rethink this policy because in history this nation favored more secular forces in the Middle East unlike America and the United Kingdom which always sided with conservative feudal monarchs and despotic leaders.”

Nigeria and Syria are on the frontline in fighting Islamist terrorist forces which seek to destroy indigenous Christianity, Islam and Traditional Beliefs (Nigeria). In Libya, Mali and Somalia many Sufi shrines have been attacked by Islamist militant forces. Likewise, in Somalia the al-Shabaab hunts down all converts to Christianity because of their Islamist inquisition and the usual way of killing is beheading slowly while praising Allah. Recently the minority Christian community in Libya is also under attack.

Raymond Ibrahim comments that “….what about the “human rights” of the victims of jihadi terror? In 2011, when Egypt’s Christians protested the constant attacks on their churches and the Egyptian military responded by massacring them at Maspero, including by running them over with armored vehicles, the White House then said nothing about “human rights,” declaring instead that “now is a time for restraint on all sides” — as if Egypt’s beleaguered and unarmed Christian minority needed to “restrain” itself against the nation’s military.”  Indeed, while the Muslim Brotherhood led leadership in Egypt continues with its anti-Christian deeds and the judiciary gives a rubber stamp to violence against the minority Coptic Christian community; the United States responds by supporting the economy and providing more military weapons.

However, the government of Nigeria and Syria support religious pluralism and want to maintain the unity of the state based on protecting all faith groups and people of no faith. Despite this, major Western powers, Gulf nations and Turkey are siding with the FSA and various Islamist forces which want to crush religious diversity in Syria. Now it appears that the Nigerian government is being attacked for fighting back against Islamist terrorists which seek to ignite a Christian and Muslim war. Therefore, why is America implementing such policies and the same applies to nations like the United Kingdom? After all, the governments of Nigeria and Syria are fighting against forces which support “Islamist Year Zero” and crushing all notions of religious diversity.

http://www.aina.org/news/20130603150853.htm

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Hiroshi Saito and Joachim de Villiers

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Japan is to expand its mission in the role of peacekeeping in South Sudan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also thinking about not only expanding the territory covered by the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) but also the number of personnel on the ground, Therefore, the mission from June will apply to the entire state of Central Equatoria and in adjacent neighborhoods in Equatoria.

This comes at a time of frayed relations between the Khartoum government of Sudan and the South Sudan government based in Juba. Currently, you have approximately 350 troops from the GSDF in South Sudan. The core of their work is focused on infrastructure development therefore many of the serving GSDF are engineers.

GSDF troops entered South Sudan in 2011 and despite initial concerns related to the delicate relationship between Sudan and South Sudan; the GSDF continues to do valuable work. Many of the GSDF are engineers and clearly their expertise is most welcome in South Sudan.

Japanese engineering units in past UN peacekeeping operations have worked distinctively in order to help the respective host nations. Valuable experience gained from Cambodia, East Timor and Haiti means that Japan’s involvement is most welcome in South Sudan. Also, given the economic clout of Japan and its global standing; then South Sudan was more than pleased when Japan decided to provide support to the newly created nation state way back in 2011.

In a past article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “In the past the Khartoum Arab-Islamic dominated regime was responsible for millions of Africans being killed in southern Sudan. At the same time, the brutal Khartoum regime turned against African Muslims in Darfur.  The leadership in South Sudan is greatly influenced by the binding force of Christianity but all southern Sudanese are pulling together in political circles irrespective of religion. Animism also remains strong in South Sudan and this new nation state is multi-religious and multi-ethnic.”

Sadly, while it appeared that political elites in Khartoum and Juba had resolved many long standing issues in order to prevent open hostility. It once more appears that relations are going pear shaped. At the same time, it is clear that both nation states have major internal issues related to poverty, religious issues, ethnic tensions and corruption within the body politic of Sudan and South Sudan.

Tensions are once more on the rise between Sudan and South Sudan. The BBC reports that the “Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has threatened to close “forever” an oil pipeline that carries oil from South Sudan to Sudan’s Red Sea coast.”

President Omar al-Bashir also stated that “I now give our brothers in South Sudan a last, last warning that we will shut down the oil pipeline forever if they give any support to the traitors in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.”

The Information Minister of South Sudan, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, countered by making it clear that the President of South Sudan “has said several times that we don’t support any rebels in Sudan….We agreed that there is a new environment of dialogue, we don’t want to go back to square one….There are channels to discuss this, we don’t think that you should go on a public forum and say all these things.” 

The government of Japan certainly needs to remain vigilant while at the same time helping the people of South Sudan.

Lee Jay Walker provided guidance to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22680858

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Irrespective if people support the Syrian government or are against the political leaders of this nation, it is abundantly clear that past interventions lead to chaos and failed states. Either political elites in Gulf nations, America, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom enjoy mass instability and cleansing religious minorities; or the agenda is to create weak failed states in order to protect the feudal monarchies of the Gulf and Israel. If not, then nothing makes sense and this also applies to Western nations being anti-Christian in the Middle East and in other parts of the world.

It is known that the most powerful religious leader in Saudi Arabia desires that all Christian churches are to be destroyed throughout the region. Of course, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia supporting Sunni Salafi fanatics and terrorists against the government of Syria; then this could be part of the anti-Christian crusade installed by feudal monarchs and religious elites in Saudi Arabia.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Asheikh from Saudi Arabia stated that it was “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region.” This distinguished Islamist cleric who is a close friend of the ruling elites in Saudi Arabia, voiced this opinion to the visiting delegation from Kuwait. It appears that he wants Kuwait to follow the anti-Christian and anti-non-Muslim religious line of Saudi Arabia which refuses to allow one single Buddhist temple, Christian church, Hindu temple and so forth. Therefore, when one militant fanatic desires to burn the Koran (something that Islamists do all the time during their terrorist attacks and destroying Shia mosques) in America the American administration and mass media speaks out; however, having strong relations with Islamist states which hate all other religions is obviously not a concern.

It is clear that Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser was a threat to the elites throughout the Gulf and in major Western nations. Likewise, Saddam Hussein was an ally of the Sunni Gulf dominated monarchies and powerful Western nations during the Iran-Iraq war. Yet the Kuwait question destroyed this unity. Of course, when Saddam Hussein was busy killing the Shia in Iraq and fighting against Iran then this was welcomed. Likewise, when Kurds were gassed in Iraq then this also could be brushed under the carpet. However, to enter a feudal undemocratic state called Kuwait was something else. Therefore, a well orchestrated media campaign was paid to increase many lies about the nation of Kuwait and with regards to many alleged massacres which later turned out to be clear fabrications. Despite this, the United States and United Kingdom will protect anti-Christian Gulf monarchies to the hilt because of energy factors, geopolitics and other important areas.

Over forty years ago the usual nations intervened in Afghanistan by supporting the most “year zero Islamists” on the face of the planet. Not only did America, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and other nations, support Islamist sectarians and terrorists – but they even gave military training, assistance and helped to co-ordinate future terrorist groups. Osama bin Laden was once a friendly ally of major Gulf nations, America, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Of course, September 11 brought this home to America but for the people of Afghanistan, North-Western Pakistan and India ruled Kashmir; then Islamist militancy is continuing to destroy all forms of moderation and helping to cleanse religious minorities. Women also have bore a terrible price and while Islamists may ban alcohol it is clear that selling and taking heroin isn’t deemed un-Islamic. Therefore, you now have a major drug problem in Afghanistan and Pakistan but despite all the chaos it is now the turn to destroy multi-religious and secular Syria.

Even while Afghanistan continues to burn in a spiral of Islamist hatred, enormous indoctrination, forcing women into the shadows and being unable to crush Taliban forces; the next venture had begun against Iraq. The Kuwait debacle highlighted the reality that while approximately 3 to 4 million black Africans were killed in Sudan based on the policies of Arabization and Islamization; then this could be tolerated, but invading a wealthy Gulf state was a different matter. Simply put, just like in East Timor whereby approximately one third of the population was killed by central forces in Indonesia – it is apparent that Christians (Sudan and East Timor) and Animists (Sudan) just don’t count because the US and UK kept on supplying weapons to Indonesia. America also welcomed the introduction of Islamic Sharia law in Sudan under the leadership of President Jaafar Nimeiri in 1983 just like Washington helped this legal framework to take power in Afghanistan, Iraq and most recently Libya.

Clearly, the anti-Muslim rhetoric aimed at America doesn’t hold much weight apart from opposing moderate forces in the Muslim world based on the objectives of Saudi Arabia and other major Gulf nations.  Therefore, the only forces to suffer at the hands of America’s foreign policy in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cyprus (invasion by Turkey), Kosovo, Libya, Iraq and now in Syria – are Christians, secular forces and mainstream Islam which became attacked by Sunni Islamic jihadists, Salafi militants and a plethora of terrorist groups. These Islamist groups think nothing about killing Shia Muslims, minority Muslim groups like the Alawites, Sunni Muslim clerics which support religious diversity and non-Muslims. In this sense, the political elites in Washington and London have installed compliant Muslim dominated governments in Bosnia and Kosovo – while doing nothing when Orthodox Christians were cleansed by Turkey after this nation invaded Northern Cyprus. Meanwhile, secular forces within the state institutions of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have all been vanquished by the implementation of Islamic Sharia law once ruling elites were overthrown in the three above nations. Given this reality, it appears that America and the United Kingdom are implementing a pro-Saudi Arabia and Gulf Islamist agenda which is anti-Christian, anti-secular and anti-mainstream Islam because they always side with conservative and reactionary Islamist forces. The upshot being that approximately 50% of Christians fled Iraq and vast numbers of Christians have fled Kosovo; this happened on the watch of America and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, in Egypt the Coptic Christians are now facing a growing Islamist menace but once more America and the United Kingdom keep on supplying more funds to the Muslim Brotherhood led government.

In Kosovo the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was implicated in killing people for organs and other massacres. Similarly, in Syria you have video evidence of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and various Islamist groups teaching children to behead Syrian soldiers, cutting open Syrian soldiers and eating organs, killing Sunni Muslim clerics which support the government and a host of other brutal deeds including beheading many Alawites and Shia Muslims. Yet, it appears that all the above – and kidnapping Christian bishops – means zilch to America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. After all, the more massacres are committed by the FSA and various Islamist terrorist groups then the more they obtain funds in order to destroy Syria. It must be stated that Syria, just like Egypt under Nasser, is a proud and free nation which refuses to bow down to international domination. Therefore, the secular government of Syria is deemed to be a threat to Western powers, Gulf powers and treacherous Turkey because these collective forces saw an opportunity to destroy the last major secular and independent nation in the Arabic speaking world.

Libya in the post-Gaddafi period is nothing more than a failed state whereby various militias control parts of the country. Recent terrorist attacks in Algeria, Mali and Niger all have a connection linking the failed state of Libya. At the same time the CIA, MI6 and other security intelligence networks have been involved in sending military arms to terrorists in Syria via Bosnia, Libya, Croatia, Kosovo and other routes. Note, that the US and UK all supported anti-Serb forces in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo; meanwhile, the ruling elites in Libya now rely on London and Washington for economic support.

In another Modern Tokyo Times article about Libya it was stated that “The ‘bomb democracy’ Western and Gulf policy in Libya brought about the massacres of black Africans, killing of Gaddafi loyalists and created a “new society” based on disorder which is currently ongoing. Indeed, the chaos which is engulfing Libya is now destabilizing Northern Mali and creating problems for Tunisia. This destabilization is based on vast quantities of military hardware being available and more dangerously the Salafi ideology is spreading because of money from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.”

“Turning back to Libya and Northern Mali then currently Salafist organizations are intent on destroying all Islamic thought patterns outside of their “blinkered monoculture,” which thrives on hatred and fear. Indeed, in Syria video evidence survives which makes it clear that the Western and Islamist “marriage of convenience” is now spreading this dangerous ideology within this country. Therefore, mainstream Islam and religious minorities have much to fear in Syria. However, like usual political leaders in London, Paris and Washington will support any form of barbarity providing it meets their geopolitical ambitions.”

The nation of Syria welcomed the fleeing Palestinians and took in over one million refugees from Iraq irrespective if the refugees were Christian, Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim or whatever. Syria is a multi-religious nation and secular based. Also, it is abundantly clear that no evidence can be provided which shows massacres by the government of Syria before outside nations sponsored sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against this nation. Therefore, the armed forces of Syria are doing their upmost to protect the people of Syria and preserve the independence of this nation. After all, which side is kidnapping Christian bishops, kidnapping UN personnel, killing Sunni Muslim clerics, beheading Alawites, butchering the Shia, murdering journalists and so forth? Despite this, major Western and Gulf powers alongside Turkey are intent on destroying the fabric of Syrian society and these nations care little about creating another failed state – after all, look at the track record of Afghanistan, Kosovo, Libya and Iraq.

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Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In the United Kingdom it is clear that nobody is concerned about converts to Buddhism and Hinduism being involved in killing people in the name of God, Gods or the Buddha. Indeed, within the Islamic faith it is clear that the Alawites, Alevi, Ahmadiyya, Shia, and a plethora of other sects, are not involved in inciting religious hatred in the United Kingdom. The same also obviously applies to mainstream Sunni Muslim religious leaders. However, you have a problem within radical Sunni Islamic circles which deem all and sundry to be infidels. After all, in Syria several Sunni Muslim clerics have been killed by Sunni jihadists because they didn’t follow their draconian version of Islam.

Turning to the security agencies of the United Kingdom then it appears that too many are very naive and that some members are ignoring certain laws which are meant to protect British nationals. Michael Adebolajo, a religious fanatic, was held by the Kenyan police near the border with Somalia because he tried to join the al-Shabaab. Yet, instead of having a system which imprisons British nationals who go abroad to kill in the name of Islam; it appears that the United Kingdom welcomes them back with open arms by flaunting the 2006 Terrorism Act providing the circumstances fit. Not only this, but MI5 deems this to be a great opportunity to obtain a possible informer whereby they will pay tax payers money on a person who supports mass hatred.

Now, if you don’t understand the mindset of al-Shabaab this is all and well. However, clearly the security services of the United Kingdom and the political elites do. Therefore, despite the al-Shabaab in Somalia killing every convert to Christianity that they can find and destroying Sufi Islamic shrines; it appears to matter little. The al-Shabaab not only behead Muslim converts to Christianity while praising Allah but they also support stoning women to death and chopping hands off for minor crimes. This reality is being glossed over too much and the same applies to Islamist nations which have good relations with the British government.

For example, in Saudi Arabia not one single non-Muslim holy place is allowed. Apostates from Islam to Christianity or other non-Muslim faiths face the death penalty in this country. The same applies to other nations which implement Islamic Sharia law to the full. It appears absurd that in the modern world that you still have some nations which support killing non-Muslim men for the act of marrying a Muslim female. However, in several Islamist states the act of love between a non-Muslim male and Muslim female is deemed unethical according to Islamic Sharia law and punishable by death. Of course, in many majority Muslim nations this doesn’t apply because of cultural factors, different political systems and based on different thought patterns within the Islamic world. Despite this, it is clear that the British government is allowing extremist nations, organizations, Islamist charities and other Islamist groups to spread their hatred within the United Kingdom. This is detrimental to all British nationals irrespective of faith but clearly these “Islamist taps” are not being switched off.

It must be stated that even within the prison system of the United Kingdom that many moderate Muslims and non-Muslims have been converted to radical Sunni Islam inside the institutions of this country. If Islamist militancy can thrive so openly within universities and prison services then clearly something is amiss. Likewise, it is ironic that the Christian faith is thriving in Nigeria despite the threat of Islamist militancy in northern Nigeria; but in the United Kingdom the indigenous faith is in clear decline and this vacuum is being filled on the fringes by Islamists. Without a shadow of a doubt both individuals involved in the murder of the innocent British soldier would still be outside the clutches of Islamic militancy – if they (or their parents) had never entered the United Kingdom. If this isn’t a sad indictment of what is happening in Britain then what is?

It is also ironic that Prime Minister David Cameron, the Foreign Minister William Hague and one of the killers of the innocent British soldier Lee Rigby all share one common theme. They all support anti-Syrian government forces which are involved in many beheadings, terrorist acts, killing Alawites, persecuting Christians, killing Sunni Muslim clerics which support the government and other brutal acts of barbarity. Therefore, David Cameron and William Hague are focused on supporting the dark forces of terrorism and sectarianism at government level against the government of Syria. Meanwhile one of the Islamists involved in the brutal murder of Lee Rigby was canvassing on the streets of England to fight against the Syrian government.

Of course, the two Islamists involved in the sickening murder of Lee Rigby reside in a world which is far from reality. Likewise, the majority of the media coverage about Syria resides in a distorted world therefore this will have suited their warped minds. After all, in Syria it is abundantly clear that militant Sunni Islamists are beheading, persecuting and destroying the fabric of Syrian society. Despite this, the term “rebels” and other nice labels are spread around the media. At the same time, countless brutal massacres by the side which the British government supports in Syria are usually overlooked – or the articles manipulate darker angles – or provide anti-Syrian government coverage on the same page in order to dilute.

The two individuals involved in the brutal murder of Lee Rigby clearly have been brainwashed. After all, every day Muslims are killing Muslims in many nations and this currently applies to Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and others. Ahmadiyya Muslims for example are persecuted in Indonesia and Pakistan by fellow Muslims but they are not persecuted by the British government. Likewise, many Shia are slaughtered in several nations by Sunni Islamist militants and currently Sufi shrines are threatened by Sunni Islamist militants in Libya, Mali and Somalia. Therefore, the two brainwashed Islamists clearly reside in cloud cuckoo land but this didn’t stop the security agencies in the UK from being interested in employing one of the fanatics.

In Syria before outside nations supported sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against the government and people of this nation; the “light of Islam” was felt warmly in this country. This applies to the various different Christian sects which have a plethora of churches and institutions throughout this land. Likewise, in Lebanon and Syria you will find many Armenians because their ancestors fled the brutality of the 1915 genocide committed by the Turks. Many Armenians found new homes within mainly Muslim Syria and multi-confessional Lebanon. In more recent times, vast numbers of Christians have fled Iraq because of terrorism and once more Jordan and Syria opened their doors based on humanity. However, today you have al-Qaeda, Islamist sectarians, America, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Kingdom all on the same side against secular Syria. Therefore, the “light of Levant Islam” is now being threatened by the meddling of outside nations. This reality means that the UK and other governments are enabling Islamists to spread their dangerous tentacles. At the same time, many Islamists have left the United Kingdom in order to kill mainstream Muslims and Christians in Syria.

The madness of the political elites is even confirmed by the Home Secretary. In the Daily Telegraph it reports that “Prevent was set up under the Labour government in 2005 after the London bombings of July 7. After the last general election, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, commissioned a review because she regarded it as highly flawed, and was critical of the higher education sector’s “complacency” in dealing with the Islamists on campus. She later admitted that Prevent had handed taxpayers’ money to hard-line Muslim groups that promote extremist views.”

“One senior counter-terrorism source said: “Would a university allow someone to speak on campus if they were advocating the best way to be a paedophile or an armed robber? No, they would not. But they allow speakers who advocate terrorism.”

Sadly, it appears that in the United Kingdom that anything is possible because elites are in denial mode. Therefore, is anyone surprised that MI5 and successive British governments have got it wrong? The same can be said about supporting various terrorist groups in Syria which have even trained children to behead captured Syrian soldiers. Given this reality, the barbarity of what happened to Lee Rigby is a common feature of what is happening to anyone deemed to be pro-Syrian government in Syria. It is time to switch the “Islamist terrorist clock off” wherever it is because this brutal mindset hates all and sundry – irrespective if they butcher Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths and no faith.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/editors-choice/editors-picks/10080958/Woolwich-attack-soldiers-killer-in-dock-on-terror-link-three-years-ago.html

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Pierre Leblanc and Joachim de Villiers

Modern Tokyo Times

President Hollande of France is gradually implementing the second stage of supporting the nation of Mali. This applies to reducing the armed forces of France in the knowledge that Islamists have been forced back to the margins. At the same time, France played a major part in obtaining enormous funds for Mali and helped to push the United Nations (UN) to provide a very adequate peacekeeping force. Also, it is clear that a contingency of French troops will remain until the job is completed.

Therefore, Malians witnessed many military vehicles pulling out of a base near the capital of this nation. Apparently they left the base on the outskirts of Bamako and headed for the Ivory Coast. This follows on from some French troops leaving in April and it is believed that by September the forces will be dwindled down to 2,000 soldiers from the height of 4,000.

The role of France throughout the region remains clear because French Special Forces helped Niger to quell a hostage crisis. Events in Niger will be watched closely and the same applies to other regional nations. After all, Islamists are known for hit and run tactics after they flee a major military offensive.

It must be remembered that while you have genuine issues related to certain ethnic groups, notably the Tuareg; the Islamist terrorist threat was all too real. Islamist forces, just like in Somalia, began to attack traditional indigenous Islam by destroying Sufi shrines and notable black African Islamic architecture in Timbuktu. This destruction took place alongside brutal Islamic Sharia law punishments by individuals not fit to apply any code of law given their brutality.

France took a very responsible position towards the crisis in Mali despite being hypocritical when it comes to Syria. However, in Mali this nation responded quickly because Islamists had threatened to move further south in order to control the country. If France had not intervened alongside other nations which participated in the early period, notably Chad before pulling forces out; then one can only imagine the bloodletting and carnage which would have befallen Mali.

During a powerful donors conference to obtain economic support for the nation of Mali the BBC mentioned past issues related to international support that went pear-shaped. Modern Tokyo Times counted this by stating that “In the BBC article they are relating Mali to similar donor support which happened in Afghanistan and Somalia. However, this is not valid in many ways, after all the vast majority of people in Mali share similar values of pluralism and religious tolerance. Also, unlike in Afghanistan and Somalia the French led forces were welcomed with open arms by the overwhelming majority of Mali people. This reality means that providing the Islamists can be crushed then economic support can genuinely make a difference providing “the heart of the government is sincere.”

The BBC also comments about the support given by France to the people of Mali. This applies to stating that “Within weeks of launching their offensive, French and Malian soldiers, backed by fighter jets and helicopters, forced the rebels out of urban areas. However, some fighters retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they have launched isolated attacks.”

“The BBC’s Alex Duval Smith in Bamako says the French intervention has been immensely popular, and most Malians have dreaded the beginning of the withdrawal.”

Islamists will continue to pose a threat to parts of Mali and it is always dangerous to predict the long-term reality of any conflict. However, it is clear that France and the people of Mali must be pleased by the impact of international forces in quelling the Islamist threat in the short-term. Despite this, recent events in Niger and the current failed state of Libya means that many serious issues remain throughout the region. Therefore, it is clear that France will continue to play a powerful role within Mali and regionally for the foreseeable future.

Lee Jay Walker gave guidance to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22664484

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Paul Joseph Nzeribe and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Nigeria is currently using helicopter gunships and fighter jets against the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram. At the same time, President Goodluck Jonathan is leaving a channel open by providing an amnesty for members of Boko Haram. Given the mass complexity of Nigeria in relationship to religion and ethnicity then clearly the Islamist threat is putting enormous strains on the people of north-eastern Nigeria, which is the epicenter of the crisis. Therefore, the current military offensive by the armed forces of Nigeria is being watched carefully because of the delicate situation.

Since the emergence of Boko Haram several thousands of people have been brutally murdered by a terrorist group which thinks nothing about attacking Christian churches and Muslim mosques. Islamist militants desire to rule the country by implementing Islamic Sharia law in its entirety. This reality means that indigenous Islam is also threatened because mainstream Muslim leaders are vehemently opposed to Gulf inspired Islamism, which is extremely alien to the usual way of life in Nigeria.

All Nigerians are deeply concerned about corruption, income disparity and the blatant abuse of natural resources which have been squandered in the past. Therefore, the Islamist leaders of the insurgency can easily manipulate disenfranchised Muslims to join Boko Haram. Christians and other faith and non-faith individuals also face the same issues related to poverty, corruption and income disparity. However, while ethnic disputes break out from time to time it is clear that only Boko Haram and the Islamist movement is a threat to the central nation state.

Overtures of a genuine amnesty have been flatly rejected by the leadership of Boko Haram. More problematic for the political leaders of Nigeria is that the term “amnesty” is worrying many religious figures. After all, countless massacres by Boko Haram have been beyond the pale and granting amnesty to terrorists and religious militants seems too weak. Despite this, it is clear that President Goodluck needs to quell the crisis and if he doesn’t look at all possible angles then he will be failing the people of Nigeria.

The president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Nigeria, Dr. Moshood Fashola, is skeptical about the amnesty. He comments that the “Amnesty presupposes that the one you grant amnesty to is ready to show remorse for his actions and is ready for peace…[and] to stop all this carnage…there is no such situation.”

Of course, it is clear that Islamists are anti-Ahmadiyya Muslim in other nations like Pakistan and Indonesia. Therefore, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is worried about Islamist militancy because they know that their community will suffer if the Boko Haram terrorist movement spreads.

Julius Babatunde Adelakun of Oyo, a retired Christian bishop, commented that it is “like granting amnesty to terrorists, it is unthinkable.” The Archbishop of Ibadan, Felix Alaba Job, shares similar logic. He states that Boko Haram are “…vandals of human souls and bodies” in reference to the murder of so many civilians by this terrorist organization.

Currently you have a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. However, the worry for the military is that Boko Haram may try to melt away and move to other parts of northern Nigeria – or move into regional nations which share a border with Nigeria. In this sense, it is essential that the military attack against Boko Haram makes quick inroads and causes disarray within this terrorist movement. If not, then hit and run tactics will become a reality and Boko Haram may try to spread discord to areas which have previously escaped bloodshed.

Militant groups are nothing new to Nigeria but Boko Haram is different because they want to usurp the nation state. The nature of the Boko Haram movement also means that fear is endemic therefore in such a climate the security forces are bound to overreact. This is what Boko Haram hopes for because they want to create a wedge between Christians and Muslims and to create divisions within the Muslim faith based on their draconian thought patterns.

http://www.americamagazine.org/issue/nigeria-new-fighting-amnesty-plan-boko-haram-provokes-outrage

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Boutros Hussein and Walter Sebastian

Modern Tokyo Times

The country of Mali needs urgent economic input into the nation in order to start the process of restructuring areas plagued by international jihadists, to develop the infrastructure and to strengthen the central state. At a major conference to raise awareness and to obtain international funding the European Union announced that they will pledge an initial 520 million Euros ($673 million dollars). However, in time collective international support should provide much more economic assistance given the need to stabilize this nation.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, stated that this funding would help Mali to become “stable, democratic and prosperous.” It is widely reported that the government of Mali is hoping to obtain over 4 billion Euros given the severity of the crisis. This funding is needed for a plethora of important things which equally applies to developing the infrastructure and providing resources to strengthen all major institutions including the armed forces of this nation. After all, the threat from international jihadists which desire to crush indigenous Islam and turn this country into a Gulf paranoid Sharia state is all too real. Therefore, Mali is facing a war of civilization whereby traditional Mali Islam is threatened by alien and draconian versions of Islam which emanate from the Gulf region.

According to the BBC this funding is related to “rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organizing presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north, and stimulating the economy.”

Of course this economic support from the European Union is extremely welcomed by the Mali government and people of this nation. Yet, it is essential that donors listen to the leaders of Mali and to people on the ground because sometimes foreign assistance can be based on lofty ideals. Therefore, while elections are essential in the long-term it shouldn’t be fostered on Mali until the situation is more secure given the military threat from international jihadists.

In the BBC article they are relating Mali to similar donor support which happened in Afghanistan and Somalia. However, this is not valid in many ways, after all the vast majority of people in Mali share similar values of pluralism and religious tolerance. Also, unlike in Afghanistan and Somalia the French led forces were welcomed with open arms by the overwhelming majority of Mali people. This reality means that providing the Islamists can be crushed then economic support can genuinely make a difference providing “the heart of the government is sincere.”

President Dioncounda Traore who is the interim leader stated that “I think that’s a good start…Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, in a week or in a month, it is clear that the international community, the European Union, will inject a lot more than that.”

The President of the European Commission commented that “the principal actors in this transition are the Malians themselves and their government.”

Given the severity of the crisis in Mali then officials from this country are working around the clock in order to prepare for the future of this nation. This reality can be seen by the Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali. It is hoped that this difficult and complex plan will be rewarded by genuine international support in order to galvanize Mali and put this nation on the right path to prosperity. Of course the road will be hard and difficult but providing the political leadership in Mali remains vibrant and the international community is sincere; then hopefully Mali will set a positive precedent whereby international economic support provides “a new tomorrow” instead of a “false dawn.”

Lee Jay Walker provided assistance to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22535265  

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Joachim de Villiers and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is meant to be retired but despite this he remains to be a thorn in the side of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Over the last few years it is abundantly clear that Tutu believes that the ANC is betraying their roots. Therefore, his latest outburst against the ruling party in South Africa is nothing new despite the severity of Tutu’s comments against the ANC.

In the Mail and Guardian newspaper which is published in South Africa the respected Archbishop Tutu doesn’t pull any punches. Instead, he openly makes it clear that he would no longer vote for the ANC despite his firm support for this political organization in the past. He comments in this media group that “…one can point to so many instances of corruption, of unaccountability. Seeing how standards have dropped is so galling because it seems to give ammunition to those who would say: “We warned you that once you had a black majority government you would see a steady decline in standards.”

Archbishop Tutu continues by stating that “I’m not a card-carrying member of any political party. I have over the years voted for the ANC, but I would very sadly not be able to vote for them after the way things have gone.”

The comments above are aimed at many areas but this notably applies to the gap between the poor and rich, corruption, supporting authoritarian governments and bending over backwards towards China. Archbishop Tutu states that “a lot of people in the textile industry have been thrown out of work because the country has been flooded with cheap Chinese goods. But what has been even more distressing for me is how our country has seemed to kowtow to Beijing.”

In fairness to the government of South Africa it must be stated that Archbishop Tutu does have lofty noble ideals which are far from reality. After all, every single major democratic country in the world will have dealings with Saudi Arabia which is the most repressive nation in the world. This applies to Saudi women facing being whipped if not covered up from head to toe; no non-Muslim places of worship; legalized child marriage of young girls to old men under Islamic Sharia law; controlling the movement of women based on passport ownership and other draconian realities – and so much more. Therefore, it could well be that Archbishop Tutu is too idealistic yet despite this he does make fair points about corruption, the growing gap between rich and poor and other important internal issues.

AP reported two years ago that Archbishop Tutu stated that “South Africans will pray for the downfall of the ANC like they did with the apartheid government…Mubarak had a large majority. Gaddafi had a large majority. Watch out. I am warning you. Watch out…People were opposed to injustice and oppression and people believe that we South Africans would be on the side of those who are oppressed. Tibet is being oppressed.” 

Desmond Tutu is highly respected in South Africa and internationally because this Christian leader speaks from the heart. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are the “old guard” but despite their age and issues related to the health of Nelson Mandela – their respective words on important issues are taken seriously. Therefore, the ANC should take a good look in the mirror and focus on areas related to social inequality and other areas raised by Archbishop Tutu. Of course, you will have areas which are more complex for political parties when they are in power. Despite this, it would be folly to sideline this elder statesman because he clearly connects with the people of South Africa.

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-05-17-00-where-did-our-future-go-asks-tutu Desmond Tutu

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22478916

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Walter Sebastian and Pierre Leblanc

Modern Tokyo Times

The international community is responding to events in Mali and this can be seen by the promised 12,600 United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force which is planned from July. In a short-period of time France and regional African nations have contributed to forcing Islamist militants from much of their strongholds throughout the north of the country. Therefore, it is hoped that the new peacekeeping force named MINUSMA (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) will continue with the progress once their mandate starts.

It is also essential that the international community provides major economic support whereby business investments, developing the infrastructure and other related areas are given a proper boost. At the same time, great attention must be given to centralization processes and strengthening all major institutions related to education, law, the political system and other vital areas. Of course, the ethnic make-up of Mali is very diverse and the same applies to lifestyle therefore areas of alienation need to be addressed in order to embody the spirit of “One people, one goal, one faith.”

Al-Qaeda and other Islamist forces threatened to turn Mali into a nightmare Taliban styled Islamist state whereby indigenous African Islam would be supplanted by draconian Islamic versions emanating from the Gulf region. Amputations for petty crimes and the destruction of ancient African Islamic architecture, holy places and the indigenous way of life were all threatened by draconian Islamists. France therefore stepped in once Islamist forces began to move further south and clearly international troops were welcomed with open arms by the people of Mali because the threat was very real.

If Islamists had taken control of Mali then the entire region would have suffered greatly. Islamists would have firstly sucked the life out of indigenous African Islam in this country and then turned the clock back to “year zero.” After this, terrorist bases and other brutal realities would have engulfed the Mali people and clearly much bloodletting would have ensued. However, France galvanized regional nations to partake in safeguarding Mali from a brutal foe.

Another essential area is that nations with expertise in the military field must train elite forces within the army of Mali. This applies to the entire spectrum and obviously the military needs to modernize in terms of arms, logistics, coordination and other vital areas. In the meantime, it is essential that France maintains a military presence in Mali until everything is put into place.

The BBC comments about MINUSMA by stating that “The 12,600-strong force is intended to incorporate some 6,000 West African soldiers already in the country.”

“The resolution was proposed by France, which intervened militarily in January to drive out Islamist militants from Mali’s northern desert region.”

“The UN force is to deploy at the beginning of July before planned nationwide elections.”

“A French force of 1,000 soldiers will remain, in case they are needed to fight the al-Qaeda-linked groups.”

It is hoped that MINUSMA will provide a genuine breathing space for Mali and that international nations will focus on the economic arena and other important areas. Mali is blessed with a rich culture therefore it was essential that the international community intervened. In the long-term it is hoped that the international community will focus on a whole array of areas in order to help the people of Mali.

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22296705

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Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In Kosovo and Iraq under the watch of America, the United Kingdom, and other allies, the Christian communities suffered greatly. At no point was their suffering addressed properly and because the Christians of Iraq had no militia to protect them, then over half of the Christian population fled. Likewise, the Orthodox Christian population in Kosovo plummeted alongside the destruction of churches, monasteries and many things connected with the indigenous faith. The same scenario is now happening in nations which are being supported by major Western powers and of course Northern Cyprus is another “cleansed” Christian area. Indeed, Northern Cyprus connects the past with the present anti-Christian policies of Washington, London and other nations which appease Islamist forces.

In Egypt the indigenous Christian faith is once more facing another bleak future because of ongoing Islamization. Despite this, and the fact that secular forces face being crushed by the current government of Egypt; the United States, the European Union and Gulf nations are all working together in order to help the Muslim Brotherhood survive financially. Simply put, Christian blood isn’t “only cheap” it doesn’t even enter the radar to any significant degree. Therefore, apartheid Sharia Islamic law is threatening to engulf Egyptian society. Also, the indigenous Christians don’t fit the false history of the Middle East because it was their land which was colonized by invading Islamic armies. This colonialism is forgotten and the same applies to many areas of the Middle East whereby the indigenous Christian faith struggled for survival because of jizya policies, slavery, dhimmitude and enormous discrimination within Islamic Sharia law.

Alarmingly, in the modern world you still have several Islamic Sharia law states which support killing apostates and killing non-Muslim males for merely marrying a Muslim woman. Therefore, while old men in Saudi Arabia can marry young 8 and 9 year old girls legally under Islamic Sharia law; the hatred within this apartheid legal system can be seen by the fact that non-Muslim males face the death penalty for an act of love in several Islamist nations. Of course, if Christian law supported the same barbarity in the modern world then the media would cover this from head to toe.  Instead, in Saudi Arabia women must cover-up from head to toe and non-Muslims must stay in the shadows without any holy places to visit.

The latest clash between Coptic Christians and Muslims took place after a Muslim woman named Rana el-Shazali is believed to have converted to Christianity. It appears that a normal romantic relationship is deemed to be a threat to the Muslim community because the reaction was violence and intimidation. While in the West the term “Islamophobia” is being manipulated in order to crush genuine debate. It is noticeable that the same people who cry “Islamophobia” say little about Islamic Sharia law having “a real legal phobia” against atheists, Christians, minority Muslim groups like the Ahmadiyya, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is, Sikhs, and all non-Muslim faiths.

Anti-Christian attacks have taken place in the Beni Suef province where the romance began to flourish in the town of Wasta. AP comments that “Muslims have attacked churches there and forced Christians to close their shops for nearly eight days last month and members of the Christian man’s family have been arrested, including his mother and father, after a prosecutor accused them of collaborating in hiding the woman. The woman’s family issued an ultimatum for the church to bring her back early this month, but when it didn’t, violence erupted anew.”

“On Friday, ultraconservative Salafis distributed flyers accusing the church of “proselytizing Christianity,” according to a copy of the flyer posted on a social networking site. It called on residents to rally inside a mosque located meters (yards) from the church to “rescue a Muslim soul and bring her back from the deviant path.”

Somehow, the Salafists and Muslim Brotherhood are so concerned about this “one Muslim soul” because it threatens their apartheid worldview whereby non-Muslims are unequal in law. Of course, the Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t mind taking money from major Western nations but equality is out of the question.

The Investigative Project on Terrorism highlights the naivety and duplicity of important institutions in America because James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, commented in 2011 that the Muslim Brotherhood is “largely secular” and that this organization “eschewed violence.”

In the same article it was stated that “Some Islamists, such as Wagdy Ghoneim, who enjoyed close relations with the Council on American Islamic Relations while he lived in the United States, have issued calls for genocide against the Copts.”

“The day Egyptians — and I don’t even mean the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafis, regular Egyptians — feel that you are against them, you will be wiped off the face of the earth. I’m warning you now: do not play with fire!” Ghoneim said in a Gatestone Institute report. “I want to remind you that Egypt is a Muslim country…. if you don’t like the Muslim Sharia, you have eight countries that have a Cross on their flag [in Europe], so go to them. However, if you want to stay here in Egypt with us, know your place and be respectful.”

In the New York Times it was stated by Roger Cohen that “Perhaps the most radical change in U.S. foreign policy under President Obama has occurred here in Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood, long shunned as a collection of dangerous Islamist extremists, is now the de facto object of American support….. Not only that: Ultraconservative Salafist politicians, who make the Brotherhood seem like moderate pragmatists, are now regular visitors to the U.S. Embassy and, on the theory that it is better to have them inside the tent than out, they are able to visit the United States to learn how things work in the land of Jeffersonian democracy.”

Modern Tokyo Times meanwhile commented about the recent visit of John Kerry to Egypt by stating that “The only conclusion to come from Kerry’s trip is that you have no unity and that now it is Islamists which welcome Washington in Egypt. After all, important moderate leaders within the National Salvation Front refused to meet Kerry in person – because they seek “a real broad church” within the government of Egypt – and not the chains of a “theocracy.”

In another article published on the Investigative Project on Terrorism it was stated that “In Egypt, the Obama administration is asserting a moral equivalency between actions by government forces and the Coptic Christian minority, said Shea, director of Hudson’s Center for Religious Freedom. She noted that the State Department failed to forcefully condemn the Egyptian government for sending tanks and bullets after Copts protested the burning of their churches in October 2011.”

“The massacre left 24 Copts dead and 272 injured.”

“The U.S government put out a response condemning it and asking for both sides to refrain from further violence,” Shea said. “Sam Tadros said in NRO at the time that I should tell the military to stand down and tell the Copts to stop dying.”

Gulf petrodollars are spreading militant Islam which hates not only non-Muslim faiths but also religious diversity within the Muslim faith. In Egypt it is clear that the Muslim Brotherhood hopes to usurp power at the expense of pluralism. Therefore, this movement is backing up the “theocratic dream” by manipulating many dark forces including ruling by fear and spreading sectarianism. Given this reality, then why did President Obama openly celebrate when Hosni Mubarak fell but the same leader refrains from tackling anti-Christian forces within the corridors of powers in Egypt?

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3877/opposition-leader-obama-administration-downplayed

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3959/hudson-panel-us-ignoring-increasing-christian

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/director-of-national-intelligence-james-clapper-muslim-brotherhood-largely-secular/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com