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Iraq Study Group: U.S. Policy 'Not Working'
by Jackie Northam
A long-awaited report by the Iraq Study Group paints a bleak picture of the situation in Iraq. The 10-member, bipartisan panel says the situation in Iraq is "grave and deteriorating" and could provoke a slide into chaos. The report, handed to President Bush and Congress Wednesday morning, lays out 79 recommendations to try to pull Iraq back from the brink.
The opening line sets a sober, grim tone: "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq."
It describes those problems as enormous: Violence in Iraq, fed by an insurgency, militias and crime, is increasing in scope and lethality. The Iraqi military and security forces are ineffective and corrupt. About 2,900 U.S. soldiers are dead so far, with another 21,000 wounded. There's no sign the situation will change anytime soon.
The panel's co-chairman, James Baker, the Republican who once served as a U.S. secretary of state, makes it clear the Bush administration's handling of the war is not working.
"We do not recommend a 'stay the course' solution," Baker said Wednesday. "In our opinion, that approach is no longer viable. "
In its report, the study group lays out three key recommendations.
First, the United States must help Iraqis take responsibility for their own destiny.
Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, the Democrat from Indiana who serves as the other co-chairman of the group, says that the Bush administration must send a strong message to Iraqi leaders to make substantial progress on national reconciliation, security and improving daily lives of Iraqis.
"If the Iraqi government does not make substantial progress toward the achievement of milestones, the United States then should reduce its political, military or economic support for the Iraqi government," Hamilton said.
A second recommendation calls for a renewed, immediate push by the United States on the diplomatic front, including reviving Arab-Israeli peace talks and opening a dialogue with Iran and Syria.
The Bush administration has steadfastly refused to enter into talks with either country. Hamilton says both countries have enormous influence in the region and a lot of impact in Iraq.
"We will be criticized, I'm sure, for talking with our adversaries," Hamilton said. "But I do not see how you solve these problems without talking to them."
Hamilton and Baker are skeptical that Iran will come to the negotiating table. Baker holds out more hope for dealing with Syria's leaders.
"They could... be in a position to help us and might want to help us," he said. "But we're specific in the report. There must be 10 or 11 or 12 things... that we will be asking of Syria... We're talking about tough diplomacy."
And the study group also recommends that the United States make a fundamental change in its military operations by gradually shifting its troops from combat missions to training and advising the Iraqi army.
The commission suggests a five-fold increase in the number of U.S. troops embedded to train Iraqis. That would mean 20,000 U.S. trainers instead of the current 4,000. If all goes well, the report suggests, combat troops could begin leaving Iraq in early 2008.
Study group member Charles Robb -- the Democrat who served Virginia as a U.S. senator and governor -- says "embedding our forces at greater levels in the Iraqi military" will create "more capacity, more trust, more capability in the Iraqi forces."
Robb says a number of U.S. military officials agree that more trainers are needed.
The Pentagon, State Department and the National Security Council are due to release Iraq strategy reviews sometime in the next few weeks. President Bush has said he will look at all options before making any decision on Iraq.
Panel members on the Iraq Study Group said their plan didn't offer any guarantees, but that it would certainly improve the chances for success in Iraq.
PDP REMAINS THE PARTY TO BEAT: PDP 2007 CANDIDATE
WATCH OUT FOR DONALD DUKE, IBB, MIKE AKHIGBE, ABDULAHI ADAMU, PETER ODILI
As the quest for the leader of the most populous African nation heating up; multiple parties are seeking the presidency in 2007, one fact is remaining clear; the organized machinery of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to remain largely intact and infact will remain superior to any other organized party or political groups coming together for the 2007 political exercise. The question remains who will PDP select, come December as the party bearer, going into the 2007 polls. With more than 30 political parties seeking the office of the president, PDP stands a shoulder above all others as of today. The main opposition party still remains All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which is largely popular in the Northern states, with loyalist still enticed by religious and cultural sentiments in the predominately Muslim northern states. Efforts to nationalize the party has not been very successful, thou! gh 2007 could be a test of such efforts by ANPP. Other parties include the recently formed African Democratic Congress, Alliance for Democracy AD, Labour party and a host of other registered parties. More >>
FG earns N3.8tn from crude oil exports
By Oluyinka Akintunde
Published: Thursday, 9 Nov 2006
Nigeria is potentially African richest country and of course, one of the
world largest producer of crude oil. Nigeria, with her huge reserves of
mineral and agricultural richest and manpower should be enjoying some the
highest global living standards; however, corruption continues to pose a big
challenge to the nation. Ironically, available indicators, some of which
have been posted on this forum point, to some of the lowest living standards
in Africa, for a large majority of Nigerians 130 million people. And the
most recent indicator which was also posted on this forum last week show
that the situation is getting worse. Nigeria is said to be one of the
richest oil country in the world and the wealthiest in Africa. From the
article below, Nigeria earned N3.792tn in 8 months. No wonder why our
richest folks in Nigeria are either elected or appointed officials in the
government; and they always chase their own share of the oil proceeds. It
also explains why, to secure a political position in Nigeria is a "Do or
Die" task. Oil has proved to be a blessing and a curse for Nigeria and has
been especially damaging in certain region of our homeland. Most part of
the country, especially in the regions where this oil is produced remains
mired in poverty. Large areas have erratic electricity supplies and little
or no government services such as good water quality, few functioning
schools, healthcare centers, emergency response system, post offices, police station, etc. In Niger Delta region, oil continues to blight rather than
benefit the lives of most delta population. The decades of neglect and
deprivation, and the few prospects for fundamental change, have resulted in
increasing levels of violence between inproverished communities competing
for control of the oil riches and against oil company personal and property.
DO YOU BLAME THEM?
Other Nigerians are busy chasing government or political positions at all cost in their efforts to partake of the oil wealth which
will be used to enrich themselves instead of making lives comfortable for
all Nigerians. More >>
ANAC ADVOCATES USAGE OF "NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES" INSTEAD OF
TERM "NIGERIAN DIASPORA"
ANAC Board and Stake Holders Unanimously Approve a Bill to drop usage of the phrase “Nigerians in Diaspora”, instead it adopted the term "Nigerian
International Community".
The Board of Trustees and Stake Holders of All Nigerian American Congress
{ANAC} met on Thursday Nov 2nd to discuss several proposals on first
reading. Among the bills discussed was the proposal to drop the usage of the
phrase “Nigerians in the Diaspora” in favor of “Nigerian International
Community”. The proposal was passed with a unanimous vote, and was adopted
as it reflects the true present position of millions of Nigerians Abroad.
The resolution will now be forwarded to the entire house of delegates in all
State Chapters accross the United States and chapters in existence outside
the United States as required by the ANAC constitution. However, with a
resolution passed by a unanimous vote by the Upper House of Trustees and
Stakeholders, it will take a joint session of all the State Chapter
Delegates and majority two third vote of the Trustees to overturn such a
resolution. The resolution is now circulated to the State Chapters houses of
delegates. More >>
IDEAS ARE CAPITAL, THE REST IS JUST MONEY
Philip Emeagwali, Baltimore, Maryland USA
I once believed that capital was another word for money, the accumulated wealth of a country or its people. Surely, I thought, wealth is determined by the money or property in one's possession. Then I saw a Deutsche Bank advertisement in the Wall Street Journal that proclaimed: "Ideas are capital. The rest is just money."
I was struck by the simplicity of such an eloquent and forceful idea. I started imagining what such power meant for Africa. The potential for progress and poverty alleviation in Africa relies on capital generated from the power within our minds, not from our ability to pick minerals from the ground or seek debt relief and foreign assistance.
If ideas are capital, why is Africa investing more on things than on information, and more on the military than on education? Suddenly, I realized what this idea could mean for Africa. If the pen is mightier than the sword, why does a general earn more than the work of a hundred writers combined? If ideas are indeed capital, then Africa should stem its brain drain and promote the African Renaissance, which will lead to the rebirth of the continent. After all, a renaissance is a rebirth of ideas. And knowledge and ideas are the engines that drive economic growth. More >>
Niger Delta Impacted by 1.5 Million Tons of Oil Spill, Among Five Most Polluted Spots on Earth
Vanguard (Lagos)
October 31, 2006
Posted to the web October 31, 2006
Hector Igbikiowubo With Agency Report
THE Niger Delta has been impacted by 1.5 million tons of crude oil spill over the last 50 years threatening rare species including primate fish, turtles, bird and damaging crops while destroying the livelihood of many of the 20 million people living there and fuelling the upsurge in violence.
Experts have also listed the Niger Delta among the five most polluted spots on the face of the earth with dire consequences for the health of inhabitants of the area.
This was disclosed by a panel of independent experts who travelled to the increasingly tense and lawless region.
The experts who were representatives of World Wildlife Foundation (WW) UK, the World Conservation Union and representatives from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation drew the conclusion in a report they compiled. More >>
HOW CORRUPT LEADERS INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA- NUHU RIBADU
From George Oji in Abuja, 01.20.2006
Chairman of the Econo-mic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam
Nuhu Ribadu yesterday took a swipe at the military regime that governed the
country between 1985 and 1998 and accused the leadership of that period of
institutionalizing corruption in the body politics of the country.
Ribadu said General Ibrahim Babangida, late Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen.
Abdulsalami Abubakar who governed the country for those 13 years made
corruption the guiding principle for running the affairs of the country. More >>
Airliner With 104 Aboard Crashes in Nigeria
By BASHIR ADIGUN
AP
ABUJA, Nigeria (Oct. 29) - A Nigerian airliner reportedly carrying 104
people crashed Sunday shortly after takeoff from the airport in Abuja during
a storm and at least six people survived, Nigerian media reported.
The airline had 104 passengers and crew members on board when it went down
near the airport in the capital, state radio reported. The report cited
Rowland Iyayi, head of the National Air Space Management Agency, as saying
no survivors had been found, but privately owned Channels Television said at
least six people survived the crash. More >>
Nigeria needs diaspora funds to stimulate economy
Okonjo-Iweala
By Yinka Kolawole
Friday, October, 2006
FORMER Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that Nigeria needs to attract remittances from Nigerians in diaspora to stimulate the national economy on the path of sustenable growth.
The World Bank estimated that total remittance flows to developing countries in 2005 amounted to about $167 billion. Africa alone received about $7.7 billion in 2004 with Nigeria accounting for nearly half.
Okonjo-Iweala, who is currently the Managing Director/Chief executive of NOI Global Consulting, stated this in Lagos, Tuesday, while speaking on Energizing Economic Transformation through Venture Capital at a workshop on Venture Capital and private equity financing organised by A.S. Consulting and Gemstone Capital. More >>
AMERICAN ANTI-TERRORISM HAS CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD
European initial passive and recent military build up is not helping neither.
By Michele Alliot-Marie
French Defense Minister, New York, USA October, 2006
A little bit more than five years ago, the New York bomb attacks shook the American and international public opinions.
Since then, places that are as distant from one another as Madrid, London, Rabat, Istanbul, Bali, Karachi, Sharm al-Sheikh, were the victims of such attacks. More >>
ANAC LEADERS CALLS FOR MORE REVIEW OF "THE MANIFESTO"
As the Nigerian government releases Diaspora report.
Leaders of the All Nigerian American congress (ANAC) met over the weekend in the United States to discuss the step forward on the prepared manifesto by a group formed from within ANAC and other leaders within the regional Nigerian groups in the International communities, consisting of the Zumunta the diaspora organization that represents the North east, North west and North central regions of Nigeria in the international communities, the Omo Egbe Yoruba that represents the South western region, the World Igbo Congress that represents the five eastern states of Nigeria and the South South Niger Delta Consortium which represents all the six south south regions states of Nigeria in the international community. The document which is titled "The Manifesto, a road map to Nigerian Development" is a fifty more pages of practical solution and steps to revitalize the social economic fabric of the Nigerian society and push forward toward full na! tional economic advancement. The documents takes the view that the solutions are primarily moral social with economic strains and then subsequently political. Speaking at the session the leadership group which consisted mainly of the upper house delegates and chairmen of the different state chapters affirmed the document and praised the principal authors of the document. This was a well thought true and clearly articulated document. The principal authors of the document are Dshaik Izuchukwu, Chairman of the California chapter, Bright Aregs the Vice President of the House of Delegates, Akeem Bello the Chairman of the North Carolina State Chapter, and the Virginia State trustee and current Chairman of the Upper house Dan E. Austin M.D. The leadership group voted with little opposition to make the document more available to the Nigerian International community and the entire peoples of Nigeria. ANAC will be sending this document out to all Nigerians groups! in the international community and largely to the Nigerian press. More >>
What Fela Would Have Sung In Times Like This:
13th October
By Charles Okogene,Senior Correspondent, Lagos
On Sunday, October 15, Afrobeat music creator and one of the best musicians
to come out of the Black race, Olufela Anikulapo-Kuti, would have clocked 66
years if he had been alive.
He would have invited friends, fans, followers and family members to join
him in celebrating the milestone. More >>
Business in Africa: You are welcome
Sub-Saharan Africa is still a hard place to do business. But a report from
the World Bank shows that things are starting to change, says Fortune's Cait
Murphy.
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Out of Africa, the headline news is usually related to
the legendary four horsemen of the Apocalypse - pestilence, war, famine and
death. No question, these horsemen run rampant on the continent; but there
is another story worth hearing too. More >>
NIGERIANS SOUTH SOUTH LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN USA FORMS A FRONT TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH SOUTH NIGER DELTA CAUSES.
Leaders of the troubled South South region of Nigeria and their state organizations primarily Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo States and Cross River states consisting the South South region presently residing in the United States have come together to form a front called the South South Niger Delta Consortium (SSNDC). In a press release yesterday, the group affirmed its commitment to structural development demands for the South South Niger delta region of Nigeria, and the lack of national leadership from the South South region since the existence of Nigeria as a country. The group was speaking through the head of its Executive council, one Bright Aregs a doctor of Aeronautical engineering presently employed with Boeing Corp. USA, from their Los Angeles, office. More >>
Beyonce and other Stars Rock Nigeria
By Peter Bakare
October, 2006 Abuja, Nigeria
It was a move that was as surprising as it was touching. But Beyonce Knowles, the star act at the First THISDAY Music Festival, which ended early this morning had mastered her craft and left the crowd enthralled. Following her introduction Saturday night, she had danced for a while then paused. "I am nervous. I don't know how to begin this but I hope you people will help me by singing along," she said as the crowd waited. The ecstatic members of the audience, most of who had anticipated that Beyonce was about to render one of her popular songs were dazed when she began, in her uniquely sonorous voice, to sing a familar tune: "Arise O Compatriots..." More >>
Hip-Hop and R&B Artists Release "The Green October".
By Harry Baba
(Washington, D.C.USA) --- What happens when a group of Hip-Hop and R&B artists of Nigerian descent get together to showcase their talent? Well, the result is The Green October Project Volume I, a compilation album jam-packed with solid Hip-Hop beats, catchy R&B and Reggae dance hooks topped with traditional Afro rhythms giving each song a unique edge. More >>
HOLLYWOOD’S ANGIE RUIZ AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AFRICAN “SHINE for SHINA” FUNDRAISER. WASHINGTON D.C.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Washington, D.C:
Join host Kenyan International performer Anna Mwalagho and Hollywood’s Angie Ruiz on Saturday October 28th 2006 from 7pm to 1am as SHINA INC celebrates their 3rd annual fundraising banquet. Attracting more than 300 people yearly, this black tie event is a platform that celebrates Africa through cultural arts while raising funds for the impoverished women and orphans in remote East African communities. This year’s theme is “There is no insignificant job and no unimportant life”. This event will be held at the Washington Times Arbor Ballroom at 3600 New York Avenue, Washington DC 20002 from 7pm to 1am. More >>
Africa: Out-of-the-Box Thinking in an In-the-Box World
BY Philip Emeagwali
DATE : Sunday, 01 October 2006
I once believed that capital was another word for money, the accumulated wealth of a country or its people. Surely, I thought, wealth is determined by the money or property in one's possession. Then I saw a Deutsche Bank advertisement in the Wall Street Journal that proclaimed: "Ideas are capital. The rest is just money."
I was struck by the simplicity of such an eloquent and forceful idea. I started imagining what such power meant for Africa. The potential for progress and poverty alleviation in Africa relies on capital generated from the power within our minds, not from our ability to pick minerals from the ground or seek debt relief and foreign assistance. More >>
EFCC ALLEGES GRAFT IN 33 STATES - THE DRAMA CONTINUES
EFCC Alleges Graft In 33 States
28th September
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Snr Correspondent, Abuja
To Prosecute 15 Governors as Nnamani Bars Ribadu From Naming Highest
Treasury Looter
Thirty three state governments may eventually be charged to court by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption,
misappropriation of funds and brazen theft from the public purse.
Those of Kebbi, Yobe, Gombe States were not mentioned in the pack. EFCC
Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, told the Senate on Wednesday that investigation of
public officers began with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was absolved by
the American FBI and CIA. More >>
The Stroke of Midnight - By Phil Tam-Al Alalibo
BY Tam-Al Alalibo
DATE : Friday, 22 September 2006
Make no mistakes about it; what we have on our hands is a tribe of greedy,
monstrous and avaricious politicians marking the time to the stroke of
midnight on May 29, 2007 when their term expires. Before then, however, they
must have their fill, they must embezzle to the hilt; they must loot, spend
and loot again. They must buy cars for their girlfriends and countless
streams of mistresses; they must buy mansions and planes, businesses and
companies to cushion their retirement. And he who does not partake in this
frenzy must be a paramount fool and suffer the painful repercussion of being
a pauper. More >>
All Nigerian American Congress (ANAC) was invited to join the Nigerian delegation on behalf of Nigerian diaspora at the United Nations on going summit in New York.
Chief Temitope Ajayi the ANAC President House of Delegates represented All Nigerian American Congress in the event. Speaking at the ANAC leadership session yesterday, Chief (Ms) Ajayi the energetic personality, revealed her report to the Upper House delegates, Trustees and Executive Stakeholders meeting. ANAC has really been there for the Nigerian International Community and we must continue in light of the recognition that we are the true champions of the Nigerian International community. More >>
Abubakar loses bid for stay in U.S. suit by Enahoro, others
THE six-year-old bid by some Nigerians to make former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, answer charges of human rights abuses in the United States (U.S.), has reached a decisive point.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Chicago, yesterday ordered that the trial must continue. More >>
Nokia, Motorola to Establish Plants in Nigeria
By Efem Nkanga, Chinedu Eze and Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja
• MTN slashes airtime rates
In furtherance of Federal Government’s efforts to encourage technology transfer through increased local content in the telecommunications sector, leading mobile phone manufacturers, Nokia and Motorola, will soon establish plants for the manufacturing and assembling of mobile phone handsets and other accessories in Nigeria.
Preceding that, however, is MTN, Nigeria’s leading, GSM operator’s yesterday major airtime rate cut for its subscribers. More >>
Nigeria tops migrant remittances in sub-Saharan Africa
By Femi Makinde
Published: Wednesday, 20 Sep 2006
The United Nations has ranked Nigeria as the country with the largest remittances of migrants in the sub-Saharan Africa.
Sudan was ranked second while South Africa was rated third. More >>
Transcorp a cloak for financial crimes by Nigerian government leaders
Standing before the Senate Committee on the Capital Market, last week, Madam Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, the director-general of the Nigerian Stock Exchange who is now more popularly known as the chairman of Transcorp, finally told us what we had always known: President Olusegun Obasanjo, indeed, owns a chunk of Transcorp. But even in answering the Senate committee's questions, this lady still spoke as if Nigerians are dunces and so gullible.
There are two points she made which clearly show that those who rule over Nigeria today still believe that there are different sets of rules for different citizens. She stated she did not believe that Obasanjo committed any crime, because he announced his intentions to acquire the stocks beforehand and, secondly, that he had sold off the shares and therefore divested his interests in the company. More >>
The presidency, the senate, and N2 trillion oil funds
The evidence is mounting for the Nigerian International community to see that the answer to Nigeria's problem may actually be a true change of guard. There is enough blame and mismanagement to go around. There is got to be a better way forward. Please continue to read here.
CORRUPT POLITICIANS WOULD NOT SUCCEED ME, SAYS OBJ
Read more here
A REVOLUTION IN NIGERIAN HEALTHCARE
SATURDAY AUGUST 19TH, 10:00AM
ATLANTA AIRPORT WESTIN HOTEL, ATLANTA GEORGIA
Read Here
JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE BAKASSI EXPURGATION AND OSTRACISATION TREATY
Click Here
NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY 2007; NOMINATIONS START IN ANAC ATLANTA SUMMIT: AUGUST 18-19TH, 2006 click here
Apply for Delegate here
ANAC Chairman and Sec. General Leads ANAC Contigent to Diaspora Day in ABUJA, NIGERIA - Click Here
| US Congresswoman Barbara Lee and ANAC presents award to Nigeria’s Maurice Iwu, INEC Chairman
US Congresswoman Barbara Lee, of the 9th Congressional District of California working in conjunction with All Nigerian American Congress [ANAC] recently granted a congressional award to Nigeria’s Professor Maurice Iwu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Click Here for Press Release
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| The private tour with some Top NNPC Personals at Dow Chemical Plant Company
Dr .E. Ayoola,Mr Jaiye Ojo, Dr Onaolapo Soleye Director NNPC,Mr Sunday Jaiyesimi, Dr Ayo Balogun. Special Advisor to the Minister for Petroleum, Dr MojisolaSodeinde ,Prof A. O Adebulugbe Special Advisor to the President,Chief Temitope Ajayi President ANAC (HOD) , Hon Senetor Rufus Spiff, Alhaji Ja afaru Aliyu Paki .....
Click Here for Press Release
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PRESS RELEASE
May 15, 2006
In an unprecedented display of electoral knowledge and lecture series, the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) lead by Professor Maurice Iwu has concluded its tour of US cities. Unperturbed by the daunting task of trying to erase the shadows of the 2003 elections, Professor Maurice Iwu, INEC chairman assured Nigerians and ...
Click Here for the rest
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