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2004-07-09 Africa: Subsaharan

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-07-09 9:58:30 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Read Soyinka's book, The Open Sore of a Continent. Yes, Soyinka is a politician. I don't believe he wants to be a dictator at all.

Besides, I have another reason to like him. If you read the book, look up the story of Walter Ofonagoro. I had the misfortune of having him as my history instructor at Brooklyn College in 1975. Anyone who dislikes that man the way Soyinka does is all right in my book.

Posted by Eric Jablow 2004-07-09 12:52:44 AM|| 2004-07-09 12:52:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Nigeria devolving into chaos means further oil/energy price hikes, considering Nigeria is yet another OPEC exporting nation in turmoil.

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-07-09 1:09:21 AM|| 2004-07-09 1:09:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I hope they do find a way to peacefully dis-assmeble what was n artifical European divison and conglomeration of tribal areas. If they do not, then its will be tribal warfare - and more Muslims destroying and comitting mass murder in the name of Allah.

To get a taste, watch the movie "Tears of the Sun" (pretty good movie - Bruce Willis, Navy Seal, etc). Despite some of the technical inconsistencies (aircraf t armament, bomb effects, cell phone workign in the deep bush, and a few slips in how the Seals operate), it does show pretty well the tribal nature of things.

And more importantly it shows what happens when you combine that tribalism and racism with technology, automatic weapons, and despots.

I've seen some things of that sort with my own eyes. You wonder how people like the despot's henchmen even qualify as human beings after the kinds of butchery they commit.

God help the Nigerians - for if they do not come to their senses, there will be a bloodbath of historical proportions there.

Posted by OldSpook 2004-07-09 2:03:36 AM|| 2004-07-09 2:03:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Actually, a north south split in Nigeria would be good in the long term for oil availability. The south, mostly non Moslem, has the oil.

Posted by mhw 2004-07-09 10:03:45 AM|| 2004-07-09 10:03:45 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 First will come the chaos, then accusations and guilt-throwing from the international community at the West for post-imperial messes, then public opinion pressure for us to intervene and dole out money. Repeat 50 times in the next 5 years. All amidst a lot of dead people.

That should satisfy the international community-with its toxic guilt and anti-American trappings. This time, instead of doing the world's bidding and then getting chastised for it, and seeing scant number of other countries ever putting their lives where their mouths are, we should shrug like Atlas.

Posted by jules 187 2004-07-09 10:36:05 AM|| 2004-07-09 10:36:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 I sure hope my share of Sani Abacha's fortune is in the south...already there's been delays in transferring the funds to my bank account. This shit will probably require me to deposit more $ with my new Nigerian friends

Posted by Frank G 2004-07-09 10:43:20 AM|| 2004-07-09 10:43:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Did you say Sani Abacha, Frank?
HEY!!!! Those lousy bastards!!!!

Posted by tu3031 2004-07-09 12:35:08 PM|| 2004-07-09 12:35:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 mhw, you are correct in stating "The south, mostly non Moslem, has the oil." Which is one main reason why the Islamic ruled north of the nation would love to control the south.

It's always about the oil.

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-07-09 9:44:07 PM|| 2004-07-09 9:44:07 PM|| Front Page Top

11:49 Antiwar
11:45 Antiwar
16:37 Faisal
16:37 Faisal
14:57 Liberalhawk
14:57 Liberalhawk
14:52 11A5S
14:52 11A5S
14:44 Liberalhawk
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14:13 Liberalhawk
14:13 Liberalhawk
13:39 Faisal
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13:32 Faisal
13:32 Faisal
13:15 Faisal
13:15 Faisal
11:47 therien
11:47 therien
11:45 therien
11:45 therien
11:40 Antiwar
11:31 Antiwar