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Post by Omwenga on Aug 1, 2014 19:14:56 GMT 3
President Obama in August will welcome leaders from across the African continent to the Nation’s Capital for a three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the first such event of its kind. This Summit, the largest event any U.S. President has held with African heads of state and government, will build on the President’s trip to Africa in the summer of 2013 and it will strengthen ties between the United States and one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing regions. I’ll be attending the Summit and will give periodic updates via my Twitter handle Omwenga. If you wish to see those updates, then do the necessary to follow me. Meanwhile, Conference Call Transcript Re US-Africa Leaders Summit, I cut and paste a transcript of a conference call that was held yesterday by senior White House staff covering a number of pertinent issues related to the Summit. |
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Post by b6k on Aug 2, 2014 7:18:40 GMT 3
A case of monkey see monkey do by Uncle Sam? Well, it turns out that he's not even getting that right! When the Chinese, Japanese or Europeans invited ("herded") African leaders to their capitals they had the courtesy to hold one on one sessions with all the leaders. The Japanese PM had 15 minute sessions (a quickee by any means) with each leader. Obama, incredibly has decided not to. The Chinese invited ALL African leaders even if only 48 turned up. Obama has left out the usual suspects (Mugabe, Al Bashir, & the Eritrean despot) while "essential contacts"  prevail for KE. Read on below how some believe Uncle Sam is bungling the inaugural African Heads of State Summit... Africa: U.S-Africa Summit - Obama Rules Out Meeting With Jonathan, Others 21 July 2014 , By Akinlolu Oluwamuyiwa, Source: Guardian UNITED States president, Mr. Barack Obama, has ruled out the traditional one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders, including Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, just as the US government prepares for an unprecedented meeting between the American leader and 50 African heads of state early next month in Washington DC. There has been a debate in the last few weeks within and outside US official circles on the diplomatic risks involved in the US bringing African presidents to the capital without according them the respects and courtesies of having a one-on-one meeting with their American counterpart. Even some African intellectuals abroad are worried that African leaders are being "herded" back and forth from China to Europe, instead of what they consider a dignified one-on-one meeting on basis of mutual respect. Some of the suggestions considered by the US government, according to sources, included having President Obama meet one-on-one with, at least, two top African leaders -- Jonathan and Jacob Zuma (of South Africa), or meet individually with heads of the regional groups like ECOWAS and also the leadership of the African Union. But the US government has now rejected any individual meeting of any kind, citing lack of time and unwillingness to meet some African leaders and not others. Instead, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced last week that President Obama will spend time with all the African presidents together during the US-Africa summit from August 4 to 7 in Washington DC. While African Ambassadors are yet to speak out on this, the decision has not gone down well with some US business network with interests in Africa and also some Washington DC policy wonks. Specifically, one of the leading American business groups on Africa, Corporate Council for Africa, CCA, based in the US capital has been trying unsuccessfully to ensure that Obama holds one-on-one meetings with African presidents just like the Chinese President did when a similar Africa summit was held in Beijing. Indeed in 2007, for instance, China hosted 48 African presidents and the Chinese President held individual meetings with them one by one. Policy wonks in Washington DC, based on foreign policy think-tanks, including the Brookings Institution, also proposed the idea of Obama meeting at least some of the African presidents. An article from the think-tank suggested that Obama should hold individual meetings with the leadership of Africa Union, AU and heads of the regional economic communities, which represent each of the five regions of Africa. According to CCA President, Stephen Hayes, when China hosted Africa leaders "nearly every African head of state flew to Beijing and met Chinese leadership one-on-one and dined at a state dinner in the Great Hall. No leader of Africa was uninvited and the Chinese entertained the leaders lavishly and made commitments towards the development of most of the countries attending. A $20 billion commitment of aid to Africa was made, and that has since been supplemented by another $10 billion." Besides the US government's decision not to entertain any of the African leaders for one-on-one bilateral sessions, leaders from Zimbabwe, Sudan and Eritrea have not been invited. Even though the US decision not to invite these three African presidents caused a little stir within the African Union Secretariat, the US government explained that it was not hosting the US-Africa summit on the basis of AU but on the basis of US relationships with each of the invited leaders and their countries. Speaking last week on the US government plans for the summit, and the decision that Obama will not hold individual meetings, US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said "trying to figure out what - to try to determine who the President should meet with among the 51 if he couldn't meet with all 51 is a very, very difficult decision, and I wouldn't want to make that decision." According to her, "I think we've come up with the best solution that we think will work, and that is having the President engage throughout the summit. And there will be lots of time for leaders to engage with the President." But she said categorically, "we've made the decision that there will not be one-on-one bilaterals between the President and the heads of state. There are 54 of them, and what the President plans to do is spend a tremendous amount of quality time during the three days of the summit." She disclosed that on the day of the actual leaders' summit on August 6th, the US President will be at that event for all three sessions. He will be also participating in other events during the prior two days, in addition to hosting a dinner at the White House for all the heads of state. The exclusion of personal meeting between Obama and Jonathan is particularly significant because the US president had concluded an African trip last year without a stop in Nigeria, causing some diplomatic tension in US-Nigeria relations. Then hopes were expressed that Obama would later invite Jonathan to the White House. But Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye said over the weekend that the decision of the US government not to hold one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders during the US-Africa summit is understandable as that may lead to a controversy if he met some leaders and left out others. Adefuye, however, argued that the more important consideration is for the US to come up with quality offers of trading and investment with Africa, conceding that indeed the "Americans are coming in late, but they can bring quality and that is our challenge to them." However, some American observers including journalists and policy analysts do not like the decision not to hold individuals meetings, pointing to how not only the Chinese, but the Europeans and the Japanese governments which had held such large Africa summits ensured that there were one-on-one meetings between their leaders and their African counterparts. In his press release, for instance, the CCA President noted that when Japan hosted a similar summit, " Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave each of the 46 African leaders a 15 minute meeting over a three-day period." The CCA leader is interpreting the refusal of Obama to give African leaders a one-on-one meeting as a break of protocol. Said he, "the White House has told African ambassadors and others that no African leader will be given a one-on-one meeting with President Obama during the August summit, a fact that has caused some African leaders to ask what is the utility of the trip. This breaks all protocol tradition as the Africans know it." Continuing, Hayes added that instead of a one-on-one meeting what the African presidents received was an invitation to "an interactive dialogue" with the American president on August 6. Querying that stance, he said "what, many ask, is an interactive dialogue? There will be a state dinner on the White House lawn for all presidents the evening before, but once the interactive dialogue is concluded the next day, so too is the summit. There is to be no final document, another break with protocol. No doubt Obama will shake the hand of each president, but there will be little substantive dialogue." According to the CCA President, "the African leaders have been asked to come to Washington for at least three days, with a Monday morning program focusing on civil society and an afternoon with Congress, organized by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, Chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Africa. Currently, the White House has asked various cabinet secretaries to host African heads of state for private dinners that evening. This, too, is a very different approach to diplomacy. Continuing he said "Cabinet secretaries and African government ministers rank below heads of state, of course, and protocol-sensitive heads of state may seriously question whether they should attend. Furthermore, who is hosted by the secretary of state or the secretary of defense will be noted by those hosted by less." The US-Africa summit opens on August 4 and continues until the 7th with several events and sessions in the US capital city including one that involves the wives of the African leaders meeting with Mrs. Michelle Obama. |
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Post by jakaswanga on Aug 2, 2014 14:35:55 GMT 3
A case of monkey see monkey do by Uncle Sam? Well, it turns out that he's not even getting that right! When the Chinese, Japanese or Europeans invited ("herded") African leaders to their capitals they had the courtesy to hold one on one sessions with all the leaders. The Japanese PM had 15 minute sessions (a quickee by any means) with each leader. Obama, incredibly has decided not to. The Chinese invited ALL African leaders even if only 48 turned up. Obama has left out the usual suspects (Mugabe, Al Bashir, & the Eritrean despot) while "essential contacts" prevail for KE. Read on below how some believe Uncle Sam is bungling the inaugural African Heads of State Summit... Africa: U.S-Africa Summit - Obama Rules Out Meeting With Jonathan, Others 21 July 2014 , By Akinlolu Oluwamuyiwa, Source: Guardian b6k, It is not a break of protocol. It is showing pure contempt to a lesser breed of ruler and humanity. Obama could catch Ebola for all they know! I think UK should not go to Washington into this pre-arranged snub. Not after even a simpleton like Cameron --watch him golfing with Russian oligarchs--- did not want a photo-op opportunity with honorable Muigai, while doing everything to defend British oil interests and gas prospects in Turkana Kenya and Indian Ocean. We can have our sisterly and brotherly relations with Rome without our Prezzo grovelling on his belly around Washinton, methinks.Just like I insisted Uhuru Kenyatta as President of Kenya has no business sitting in court like a pupil before a stern Japanese Judge in the Hague, humiliating his office –- which only yesterday he was insisting Raila should respect, so will I now insist the son of Jomo send apologies. He should find some local event to attend to, and let Sir William take the trip to the ritual humuliation of Africa in Washington. Ati Obama, an acomplice to palestinian extermination in Gaza, fails to invite Robert Mugabe!? John Kerry is kissing and making up to the Egyptian horror called Al-Sisi, and he wouldn't be seen in the vicinity of Robert Mugabe –-the conqueror of Ian Smith and his racist regime!? Hahaa! people who run Guantanamo torture camp do not fool me when they demonise Robert Mugabe. He he he! Uhuru Kenyatta! You really do not want to go to Washington if Obama, of kenyan heritage, wont be bothered to have a one on one with you. Tell him to screw himself. And you can explain to Kenyans why, and to Africa. Remember Zuma did not go to the EU-Africa summit, and intelligent commentary, both in Europe and Afrika, avoided the issue and preferred only the tabloid: phew! We do not know the protocol for 4 first-ladies! We are saved he aint coming! That was the day, when Kibaki could not be bothered to take a call from Gordon Brown, then premier of the UK. Kibaki, who was playing draughts with Michuki when the call came, reputedly said: I am taking tea, can't be disturbed. I recognise that proud old Makerere standard is a way too high for the USA Amherst war-criminal son of Jomo! Go Ouru go! To washington! it is a honour! to be paraded in Rome as a trophy by the emperor to amuse his crowds! |
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Post by Omwenga on Aug 2, 2014 21:50:45 GMT 3
A case of monkey see monkey do by Uncle Sam? Well, it turns out that he's not even getting that right! When the Chinese, Japanese or Europeans invited ("herded") African leaders to their capitals they had the courtesy to hold one on one sessions with all the leaders. The Japanese PM had 15 minute sessions (a quickee by any means) with each leader. Obama, incredibly has decided not to. The Chinese invited ALL African leaders even if only 48 turned up. Obama has left out the usual suspects (Mugabe, Al Bashir, & the Eritrean despot) while "essential contacts" prevail for KE. Read on below how some believe Uncle Sam is bungling the inaugural African Heads of State Summit... Africa: U.S-Africa Summit - Obama Rules Out Meeting With Jonathan, Others 21 July 2014 , By Akinlolu Oluwamuyiwa, Source: Guardian b6k, It is not a break of protocol. It is showing pure contempt to a lesser breed of ruler and humanity. Obama could catch Ebola for all they know! I think UK should not go to Washington into this pre-arranged snub. Not after even a simpleton like Cameron --watch him golfing with Russian oligarchs--- did not want a photo-op opportunity with honorable Muigai, while doing everything to defend British oil interests and gas prospects in Turkana Kenya and Indian Ocean. We can have our sisterly and brotherly relations with Rome without our Prezzo grovelling on his belly around Washinton, methinks.Just like I insisted Uhuru Kenyatta as President of Kenya has no business sitting in court like a pupil before a stern Japanese Judge in the Hague, humiliating his office –- which only yesterday he was insisting Raila should respect, so will I now insist the son of Jomo send apologies. He should find some local event to attend to, and let Sir William take the trip to the ritual humuliation of Africa in Washington. Ati Obama, an acomplice to palestinian extermination in Gaza, fails to invite Robert Mugabe!? John Kerry is kissing and making up to the Egyptian horror called Al-Sisi, and he wouldn't be seen in the vicinity of Robert Mugabe –-the conqueror of Ian Smith and his racist regime!? Hahaa! people who run Guantanamo torture camp do not fool me when they demonise Robert Mugabe. He he he! Uhuru Kenyatta! You really do not want to go to Washington if Obama, of kenyan heritage, wont be bothered to have a one on one with you. Tell him to screw himself. And you can explain to Kenyans why, and to Africa. Remember Zuma did not go to the EU-Africa summit, and intelligent commentary, both in Europe and Afrika, avoided the issue and preferred only the tabloid: phew! We do not know the protocol for 4 first-ladies! We are saved he aint coming! That was the day, when Kibaki could not be bothered to take a call from Gordon Brown, then premier of the UK. Kibaki, who was playing draughts with Michuki when the call came, reputedly said: I am taking tea, can't be disturbed. I recognise that proud old Makerere standard is a way too high for the USA Amherst war-criminal son of Jomo! Go Ouru go! To washington! it is a honour! to be paraded in Rome as a trophy by the emperor to amuse his crowds! and b6k I hear both of you. On a related note, I might have a chance to ask some of the panelists after the main event on the 5th; if you or any of our esteemed Jukwaists were to have the same chance, which panelist would you want to ask a question or two and what would that question or questions be? The panelists for these sessions will be, among others, President Barrack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary Kerry and Secretary Lew, Secretary Pritzker, Michael Bloomberg, CEOs GE’s Jeff Immelt, Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman, MasterCard’s Ajay Banga, Dangote Industries’ Alika Dangote, Heirs Holdings’ Tony Elumelu. Put another way, I would like to know what pressing questions we as Kenyans may want to ask these leaders. That being said and interestingly, I have always been cynical asking politicians questions even though I did have a kick asking former president Daniel Arap Moi a question during his last visit to the US as president. It was an interesting experience I have blogged about not so much about what the question was, but more so Moi's visible reaction and what followed or more precisely what did not follow after his instructions to one of the ministers on stage with him upon answering the question. |
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Post by mank on Aug 2, 2014 23:15:29 GMT 3
This is why I like Jukwaa. I get most of my news here. ... of course unless you count celebrity nonsense as news, in which case I cant avoid seeing it on Yahoo as soon as I open my browser ... "Rihana in a man's underwear, ... Just In Beaver at it again ... Michael Jackson did himself a favor by dying, if annual income tells it all ..., etc etc." And one more thing, I get my news with value added (or subtracted. Good stuff! A case of monkey see monkey do by Uncle Sam? Well, it turns out that he's not even getting that right! When the Chinese, Japanese or Europeans invited ("herded") African leaders to their capitals they had the courtesy to hold one on one sessions with all the leaders. The Japanese PM had 15 minute sessions (a quickee by any means) with each leader. Obama, incredibly has decided not to. The Chinese invited ALL African leaders even if only 48 turned up. Obama has left out the usual suspects (Mugabe, Al Bashir, & the Eritrean despot) while "essential contacts" prevail for KE. Read on below how some believe Uncle Sam is bungling the inaugural African Heads of State Summit... Africa: U.S-Africa Summit - Obama Rules Out Meeting With Jonathan, Others 21 July 2014 , By Akinlolu Oluwamuyiwa, Source: Guardian UNITED States president, Mr. Barack Obama, has ruled out the traditional one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders, including Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, just as the US government prepares for an unprecedented meeting between the American leader and 50 African heads of state early next month in Washington DC. There has been a debate in the last few weeks within and outside US official circles on the diplomatic risks involved in the US bringing African presidents to the capital without according them the respects and courtesies of having a one-on-one meeting with their American counterpart. Even some African intellectuals abroad are worried that African leaders are being "herded" back and forth from China to Europe, instead of what they consider a dignified one-on-one meeting on basis of mutual respect.Some of the suggestions considered by the US government, according to sources, included having President Obama meet one-on-one with, at least, two top African leaders -- Jonathan and Jacob Zuma (of South Africa), or meet individually with heads of the regional groups like ECOWAS and also the leadership of the African Union. But the US government has now rejected any individual meeting of any kind, citing lack of time and unwillingness to meet some African leaders and not others. Instead, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced last week that President Obama will spend time with all the African presidents together during the US-Africa summit from August 4 to 7 in Washington DC. While African Ambassadors are yet to speak out on this, the decision has not gone down well with some US business network with interests in Africa and also some Washington DC policy wonks. Specifically, one of the leading American business groups on Africa, Corporate Council for Africa, CCA, based in the US capital has been trying unsuccessfully to ensure that Obama holds one-on-one meetings with African presidents just like the Chinese President did when a similar Africa summit was held in Beijing. Indeed in 2007, for instance, China hosted 48 African presidents and the Chinese President held individual meetings with them one by one. Policy wonks in Washington DC, based on foreign policy think-tanks, including the Brookings Institution, also proposed the idea of Obama meeting at least some of the African presidents. An article from the think-tank suggested that Obama should hold individual meetings with the leadership of Africa Union, AU and heads of the regional economic communities, which represent each of the five regions of Africa. According to CCA President, Stephen Hayes, when China hosted Africa leaders "nearly every African head of state flew to Beijing and met Chinese leadership one-on-one and dined at a state dinner in the Great Hall. No leader of Africa was uninvited and the Chinese entertained the leaders lavishly and made commitments towards the development of most of the countries attending. A $20 billion commitment of aid to Africa was made, and that has since been supplemented by another $10 billion." Besides the US government's decision not to entertain any of the African leaders for one-on-one bilateral sessions, leaders from Zimbabwe, Sudan and Eritrea have not been invited. Even though the US decision not to invite these three African presidents caused a little stir within the African Union Secretariat, the US government explained that it was not hosting the US-Africa summit on the basis of AU but on the basis of US relationships with each of the invited leaders and their countries. Speaking last week on the US government plans for the summit, and the decision that Obama will not hold individual meetings, US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said "trying to figure out what - to try to determine who the President should meet with among the 51 if he couldn't meet with all 51 is a very, very difficult decision, and I wouldn't want to make that decision." According to her, "I think we've come up with the best solution that we think will work, and that is having the President engage throughout the summit. And there will be lots of time for leaders to engage with the President." But she said categorically, "we've made the decision that there will not be one-on-one bilaterals between the President and the heads of state. There are 54 of them, and what the President plans to do is spend a tremendous amount of quality time during the three days of the summit." She disclosed that on the day of the actual leaders' summit on August 6th, the US President will be at that event for all three sessions. He will be also participating in other events during the prior two days, in addition to hosting a dinner at the White House for all the heads of state. The exclusion of personal meeting between Obama and Jonathan is particularly significant because the US president had concluded an African trip last year without a stop in Nigeria, causing some diplomatic tension in US-Nigeria relations. Then hopes were expressed that Obama would later invite Jonathan to the White House. But Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye said over the weekend that the decision of the US government not to hold one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders during the US-Africa summit is understandable as that may lead to a controversy if he met some leaders and left out others. Adefuye, however, argued that the more important consideration is for the US to come up with quality offers of trading and investment with Africa, conceding that indeed the "Americans are coming in late, but they can bring quality and that is our challenge to them." However, some American observers including journalists and policy analysts do not like the decision not to hold individuals meetings, pointing to how not only the Chinese, but the Europeans and the Japanese governments which had held such large Africa summits ensured that there were one-on-one meetings between their leaders and their African counterparts. In his press release, for instance, the CCA President noted that when Japan hosted a similar summit, " Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave each of the 46 African leaders a 15 minute meeting over a three-day period." The CCA leader is interpreting the refusal of Obama to give African leaders a one-on-one meeting as a break of protocol. Said he, "the White House has told African ambassadors and others that no African leader will be given a one-on-one meeting with President Obama during the August summit, a fact that has caused some African leaders to ask what is the utility of the trip. This breaks all protocol tradition as the Africans know it." Continuing, Hayes added that instead of a one-on-one meeting what the African presidents received was an invitation to "an interactive dialogue" with the American president on August 6. Querying that stance, he said "what, many ask, is an interactive dialogue? There will be a state dinner on the White House lawn for all presidents the evening before, but once the interactive dialogue is concluded the next day, so too is the summit. There is to be no final document, another break with protocol. No doubt Obama will shake the hand of each president, but there will be little substantive dialogue." According to the CCA President, "the African leaders have been asked to come to Washington for at least three days, with a Monday morning program focusing on civil society and an afternoon with Congress, organized by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, Chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Africa. Currently, the White House has asked various cabinet secretaries to host African heads of state for private dinners that evening. This, too, is a very different approach to diplomacy. Continuing he said "Cabinet secretaries and African government ministers rank below heads of state, of course, and protocol-sensitive heads of state may seriously question whether they should attend. Furthermore, who is hosted by the secretary of state or the secretary of defense will be noted by those hosted by less." The US-Africa summit opens on August 4 and continues until the 7th with several events and sessions in the US capital city including one that involves the wives of the African leaders meeting with Mrs. Michelle Obama. My friend, B6K, let's take another look at the issue! It is not "A case of monkey see monkey do." It is a game in progress ... like Chess. The difference is that in this case the game pieces have an optional voice ... they can play a game within the game. but of course they have to overstand the game first, or they cant play theirs within it. Ok, let me say that a little differently. There actually are a number of games going on here. The fist is of course the supremacy-of-the-world game. We've not had to play that one in a serious way since the crumble of Union of Soviets o'....you could finish that for me (you could say I am a little lazy, but the fact is that I wonder whether we can still be sure of that fall, with Puttin putting it in to the world as he is). Don't get lost in these meanders ... we are still talking about the games on course here. U Es of A has been telling the word when to jump, when to sit ... and when to take your pill. Then comes this creep of the evil world. We thought we banished the communist world ... Lo! Of course you can't lead the world, if the world is not following. So the battle is not just about "who is big" .. but also "who among the candidates is the world choosing. U Ass of A (I am sure I spelt that wrong ... ) can't lead if no one follows. The Chiney man on the other hand has been holding carrots all over (wooing followers), especially to "Original Habitat of Man" where incidentally carrots from outside mean everything regardless of the fact that more carrots can be raised there than needed all world over. Of course the other game, the financial one, is on course. A me Amigo Jakaswanga (with a big head) would probably be delighted to take that subject up (assuming he's chemically charged) - its a whole different game that one (the real supreme game) ... I DON'T THINK WE'D BE PLAYING ANY OF OTHER GAMES IF THAT WAS NOT ON COURSE! So amigo B6K, monkey see monkey do? No! It is "Chiney man played that piece, Ua S of A got play this in reaction." As the African son (from Kogelo) moves the chess piece, poor he, his team is opposed ... not for anything about the game strategy really ... you really want me to go further on this one? From day one all they ever wanted was to discredit him as the head of team Ua As (ha, I will check the spelling later ...I just can't be sure I put it right). They are now suing him for leading the national team. The point in that aspect is that that's a whole game by itself, but its being played with the main game ... and the player in the big game is shackled in ways to this mini game. Back to the main game: so China held a meeting of African states. US is doing the same now .. with a nuance! Game time! Its a battle for supremacy. Whoever gets the worlds following is the leader. Incidentally the leader, whoever that be, needs the "dark continent." That's what it is a ll about. The nuance in strategy is simply a reflection of Gog and Maggog's individual strategic calculations for the win. China is wooing Africa country by country ... and it has made headways. US wants Africa lump sum, and given the internal strains, there is no appetite for multiple games within Africa in the man in whose veins flow raw Afrikan blood! Africa must be bargained for lump sum! That's my take. So here is the question: how does Afrika play? ... that's the question for the panel, you good friend Omwenga! Does Kafira realize that it can lead this game by choosing how to follow? So how play, do you Afrika heads of states intend to play? I sure hope you have a big head! ... then I read this: And that's who we call intellectuals! Being herded? By whom, for what, why they??? Our intellectuals don't have big heads. That is why we don't move. Amigo Jakaswanga, I differ! Ouru should go to this meeting ... and he should stay there stone face! Laugh with other delegates, but put business face on with the host. Then when the son of the man from Kogelo visits home (I anticipate in 2015) Ouru can take him to task! That's how to snap leadership in this game of followers, I think. "One don't win if he don't play" .. and part of your game is in choosing how to play, rather than complaining about the style by which you are invited to play. If the champion gets to keep the belt, we know some losers already ... Zimbabwe, Eriterea and Sud. Deciding not to join is deciding to join these in the losers camp, should the champion retain the belt. |
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Post by b6k on Aug 3, 2014 8:14:40 GMT 3
Jakaswanga, Uhuru has little option but to go. A couple of days ago I saw State House Spokesman (Esipisu??) hold a press conference live on KBC where he was quite excited about this trip. If he's excited, his boss must be elated. First of all, it will take the sting out of the ICC indictment. After all, (tick tock, tick tock...) October isn't very far off. Also related to the ICC question if he decides not to go, however nobel his reasons may be, you can bet the CORD fraternity will take opportunity of that and bleat day in day out that Uhuru couldn't secure a visa because he's an ICC indictee! So on this one he has to bite the bullet and go to the US whether he will be on the furthest point from emperor Barry in any group photo. Even strongman M7 has blinked and shelved his anti-gay bill to forestall any embarrassment (much like Mugabe had from gays in the UK around the time everything started going pear shaped for the conqueror of Ian Smith) during his visit to New Rome. As to American double standards, it's the order of the day when you effectively police the globe unchallenged. Palestinian babies are being wantonly killed under circumstances the UN has called war crimes by weapons and ammunition supplied to Israel by Uncle Sam. The death toll at 1,300 or so matches KE PEV official figures. Don't hold your breath to see any American or Netanyahu hauled off to The Hague over the deaths of a few Ay-rabs...
Omwenga, are you for real asking Jukwaaists to chime in and provide you with tough questions to ask the eminent panel? Will you give credit to said Jukwaaists, your constituents, if you use their material to shine in front of Bill Clinton et al? I have an old shoe that would like to meet John Kerry's leathery face, much like the shoe that almost met Dubyah's face when he went to Iraq. Something tells me Kerry isn't as limber as Dubyah & said shoe is bound to successfully meet said face if the shoe is lobbed well with salaams from the third world...
Mank, I absolutely agree with you that this is part of a game of chess. You might recall I've once referred to a book by Zbigniew Brezinzki, "The Grand Chessboard" which dealt with Eurasia. Uncle Sam has always engaged with Africa. However, his ideas of engagement are still stuck in the 20th century. Africa is seen as an economic backwater and the only way he deems fit to engage with it is militarily & as a source for exotic microbes that can one day be weaponized (eg. Ebola). Just look at how fast he set up AFRICOM. What the Chinese (Kung-fu to some), the Japanese, & the Euros have opened his eyes to is that one can engage Africa economically. In this respect he has come late to this game. As Fidel Castro educated us on OO's thread, BRICS amounts to half of the globe's human population. With South African economic influence in the southern portion of the continent and the dragon's (read China's) growing influence in the entire continent, it's a no brainer as to where Africa will end up if Uncle Sam doesn't up his game...
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Post by Omwenga on Aug 3, 2014 15:49:11 GMT 3
This is why I like Jukwaa. I get most of my news here. ... of course unless you count celebrity nonsense as news, in which case I cant avoid seeing it on Yahoo as soon as I open my browser ... "Rihana in a man's underwear, ... Just In Beaver at it again ... Michael Jackson did himself a favor by dying, if annual income tells it all ..., etc etc." And one more thing, I get my news with value added (or subtracted. Good stuff! A case of monkey see monkey do by Uncle Sam? Well, it turns out that he's not even getting that right! When the Chinese, Japanese or Europeans invited ("herded") African leaders to their capitals they had the courtesy to hold one on one sessions with all the leaders. The Japanese PM had 15 minute sessions (a quickee by any means) with each leader. Obama, incredibly has decided not to. The Chinese invited ALL African leaders even if only 48 turned up. Obama has left out the usual suspects (Mugabe, Al Bashir, & the Eritrean despot) while "essential contacts" prevail for KE. Read on below how some believe Uncle Sam is bungling the inaugural African Heads of State Summit... Africa: U.S-Africa Summit - Obama Rules Out Meeting With Jonathan, Others 21 July 2014 , By Akinlolu Oluwamuyiwa, Source: Guardian UNITED States president, Mr. Barack Obama, has ruled out the traditional one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders, including Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and South Africa's Jacob Zuma, just as the US government prepares for an unprecedented meeting between the American leader and 50 African heads of state early next month in Washington DC. There has been a debate in the last few weeks within and outside US official circles on the diplomatic risks involved in the US bringing African presidents to the capital without according them the respects and courtesies of having a one-on-one meeting with their American counterpart. Even some African intellectuals abroad are worried that African leaders are being "herded" back and forth from China to Europe, instead of what they consider a dignified one-on-one meeting on basis of mutual respect.Some of the suggestions considered by the US government, according to sources, included having President Obama meet one-on-one with, at least, two top African leaders -- Jonathan and Jacob Zuma (of South Africa), or meet individually with heads of the regional groups like ECOWAS and also the leadership of the African Union. But the US government has now rejected any individual meeting of any kind, citing lack of time and unwillingness to meet some African leaders and not others. Instead, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced last week that President Obama will spend time with all the African presidents together during the US-Africa summit from August 4 to 7 in Washington DC. While African Ambassadors are yet to speak out on this, the decision has not gone down well with some US business network with interests in Africa and also some Washington DC policy wonks. Specifically, one of the leading American business groups on Africa, Corporate Council for Africa, CCA, based in the US capital has been trying unsuccessfully to ensure that Obama holds one-on-one meetings with African presidents just like the Chinese President did when a similar Africa summit was held in Beijing. Indeed in 2007, for instance, China hosted 48 African presidents and the Chinese President held individual meetings with them one by one. Policy wonks in Washington DC, based on foreign policy think-tanks, including the Brookings Institution, also proposed the idea of Obama meeting at least some of the African presidents. An article from the think-tank suggested that Obama should hold individual meetings with the leadership of Africa Union, AU and heads of the regional economic communities, which represent each of the five regions of Africa. According to CCA President, Stephen Hayes, when China hosted Africa leaders "nearly every African head of state flew to Beijing and met Chinese leadership one-on-one and dined at a state dinner in the Great Hall. No leader of Africa was uninvited and the Chinese entertained the leaders lavishly and made commitments towards the development of most of the countries attending. A $20 billion commitment of aid to Africa was made, and that has since been supplemented by another $10 billion." Besides the US government's decision not to entertain any of the African leaders for one-on-one bilateral sessions, leaders from Zimbabwe, Sudan and Eritrea have not been invited. Even though the US decision not to invite these three African presidents caused a little stir within the African Union Secretariat, the US government explained that it was not hosting the US-Africa summit on the basis of AU but on the basis of US relationships with each of the invited leaders and their countries. Speaking last week on the US government plans for the summit, and the decision that Obama will not hold individual meetings, US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said "trying to figure out what - to try to determine who the President should meet with among the 51 if he couldn't meet with all 51 is a very, very difficult decision, and I wouldn't want to make that decision." According to her, "I think we've come up with the best solution that we think will work, and that is having the President engage throughout the summit. And there will be lots of time for leaders to engage with the President." But she said categorically, "we've made the decision that there will not be one-on-one bilaterals between the President and the heads of state. There are 54 of them, and what the President plans to do is spend a tremendous amount of quality time during the three days of the summit." She disclosed that on the day of the actual leaders' summit on August 6th, the US President will be at that event for all three sessions. He will be also participating in other events during the prior two days, in addition to hosting a dinner at the White House for all the heads of state. The exclusion of personal meeting between Obama and Jonathan is particularly significant because the US president had concluded an African trip last year without a stop in Nigeria, causing some diplomatic tension in US-Nigeria relations. Then hopes were expressed that Obama would later invite Jonathan to the White House. But Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye said over the weekend that the decision of the US government not to hold one-on-one meetings with any of the African leaders during the US-Africa summit is understandable as that may lead to a controversy if he met some leaders and left out others. Adefuye, however, argued that the more important consideration is for the US to come up with quality offers of trading and investment with Africa, conceding that indeed the "Americans are coming in late, but they can bring quality and that is our challenge to them." However, some American observers including journalists and policy analysts do not like the decision not to hold individuals meetings, pointing to how not only the Chinese, but the Europeans and the Japanese governments which had held such large Africa summits ensured that there were one-on-one meetings between their leaders and their African counterparts. In his press release, for instance, the CCA President noted that when Japan hosted a similar summit, " Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave each of the 46 African leaders a 15 minute meeting over a three-day period." The CCA leader is interpreting the refusal of Obama to give African leaders a one-on-one meeting as a break of protocol. Said he, "the White House has told African ambassadors and others that no African leader will be given a one-on-one meeting with President Obama during the August summit, a fact that has caused some African leaders to ask what is the utility of the trip. This breaks all protocol tradition as the Africans know it." Continuing, Hayes added that instead of a one-on-one meeting what the African presidents received was an invitation to "an interactive dialogue" with the American president on August 6. Querying that stance, he said "what, many ask, is an interactive dialogue? There will be a state dinner on the White House lawn for all presidents the evening before, but once the interactive dialogue is concluded the next day, so too is the summit. There is to be no final document, another break with protocol. No doubt Obama will shake the hand of each president, but there will be little substantive dialogue." According to the CCA President, "the African leaders have been asked to come to Washington for at least three days, with a Monday morning program focusing on civil society and an afternoon with Congress, organized by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, Chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Africa. Currently, the White House has asked various cabinet secretaries to host African heads of state for private dinners that evening. This, too, is a very different approach to diplomacy. Continuing he said "Cabinet secretaries and African government ministers rank below heads of state, of course, and protocol-sensitive heads of state may seriously question whether they should attend. Furthermore, who is hosted by the secretary of state or the secretary of defense will be noted by those hosted by less." The US-Africa summit opens on August 4 and continues until the 7th with several events and sessions in the US capital city including one that involves the wives of the African leaders meeting with Mrs. Michelle Obama. My friend, B6K, let's take another look at the issue! It is not "A case of monkey see monkey do." It is a game in progress ... like Chess. The difference is that in this case the game pieces have an optional voice ... they can play a game within the game. but of course they have to overstand the game first, or they cant play theirs within it. Ok, let me say that a little differently. There actually are a number of games going on here. The fist is of course the supremacy-of-the-world game. We've not had to play that one in a serious way since the crumble of Union of Soviets o'....you could finish that for me (you could say I am a little lazy, but the fact is that I wonder whether we can still be sure of that fall, with Puttin putting it in to the world as he is). Don't get lost in these meanders ... we are still talking about the games on course here. U Es of A has been telling the word when to jump, when to sit ... and when to take your pill. Then comes this creep of the evil world. We thought we banished the communist world ... Lo! Of course you can't lead the world, if the world is not following. So the battle is not just about "who is big" .. but also "who among the candidates is the world choosing. U Ass of A (I am sure I spelt that wrong ... ) can't lead if no one follows. The Chiney man on the other hand has been holding carrots all over (wooing followers), especially to "Original Habitat of Man" where incidentally carrots from outside mean everything regardless of the fact that more carrots can be raised there than needed all world over. Of course the other game, the financial one, is on course. A me Amigo Jakaswanga (with a big head) would probably be delighted to take that subject up (assuming he's chemically charged) - its a whole different game that one (the real supreme game) ... I DON'T THINK WE'D BE PLAYING ANY OF OTHER GAMES IF THAT WAS NOT ON COURSE! So amigo B6K, monkey see monkey do? No! It is "Chiney man played that piece, Ua S of A got play this in reaction." As the African son (from Kogelo) moves the chess piece, poor he, his team is opposed ... not for anything about the game strategy really ... you really want me to go further on this one? From day one all they ever wanted was to discredit him as the head of team Ua As (ha, I will check the spelling later ...I just can't be sure I put it right). They are now suing him for leading the national team. The point in that aspect is that that's a whole game by itself, but its being played with the main game ... and the player in the big game is shackled in ways to this mini game. Back to the main game: so China held a meeting of African states. US is doing the same now .. with a nuance! Game time! Its a battle for supremacy. Whoever gets the worlds following is the leader. Incidentally the leader, whoever that be, needs the "dark continent." That's what it is a ll about. The nuance in strategy is simply a reflection of Gog and Maggog's individual strategic calculations for the win. China is wooing Africa country by country ... and it has made headways. US wants Africa lump sum, and given the internal strains, there is no appetite for multiple games within Africa in the man in whose veins flow raw Afrikan blood! Africa must be bargained for lump sum! That's my take. So here is the question: how does Afrika play? ... that's the question for the panel, you good friend Omwenga! Does Kafira realize that it can lead this game by choosing how to follow? So how play, do you Afrika heads of states intend to play? I sure hope you have a big head! ... then I read this: And that's who we call intellectuals! Being herded? By whom, for what, why they??? Our intellectuals don't have big heads. That is why we don't move. Amigo Jakaswanga, I differ! Ouru should go to this meeting ... and he should stay there stone face! Laugh with other delegates, but put business face on with the host. Then when the son of the man from Kogelo visits home (I anticipate in 2015) Ouru can take him to task! That's how to snap leadership in this game of followers, I think. "One don't win if he don't play" .. and part of your game is in choosing how to play, rather than complaining about the style by which you are invited to play. If the champion gets to keep the belt, we know some losers already ... Zimbabwe, Eriterea and Sud. Deciding not to join is deciding to join these in the losers camp, should the champion retain the belt. I like watching cold war documentaries the other day I watched one about the Cuban revolution and how even as Castro was being used as a pawn in a major stakes game between the US and Russia, Castro leveraged his position to equally manipulate Russia into not only fully accepting him not just as a pawn but one who could lead other like minded to look to China as the better model of communism to follow, which would undermine Russia's own interests. In the same vein, African leaders must not only individually find ways to make their respective countries more than simply pawns to be used in these game between and among the "trip-powers," namely, China, US and Russia, they by so doing could easily make Africa as a whole a force to reckon in global affairs. One would hope that's the message these leaders coming to Washington will drill to the Americans. |
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Post by Omwenga on Aug 3, 2014 15:55:03 GMT 3
Omwenga, are you for real asking Jukwaaists to chime in and provide you with tough questions to ask the eminent panel? Will you give credit to said Jukwaaists, your constituents, if you use their material to shine in front of Bill Clinton et al?
This is interesting because the thought never crossed my mind that I was to use the questions solicited to "shine in front of Bill Clinton et all." I think you'll agree I am quite capable of doing that on my own. Rather, the reason I asked for others questions is to gauge what issues people deem more pressing. Btw, one doesn't "shine" by asking a question, they do by answering one, if they do at all. |
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Post by jakaswanga on Aug 3, 2014 21:40:01 GMT 3
Omwenga, are you for real asking Jukwaaists to chime in and provide you with tough questions to ask the eminent panel? Will you give credit to said Jukwaaists, your constituents, if you use their material to shine in front of Bill Clinton et al?
This is interesting because the thought never crossed my mind that I was to use the questions solicited to "shine in front of Bill Clinton et all." I think you'll agree I am quite capable of doing that on my own. Rather, the reason I asked for others questions is to gauge what issues people deem more pressing. Btw, one doesn't "shine" by asking a question, they do by answering one, if they do at all. , here, go shine on my behalf with this. Does Obama, as a professor of Law and a Harvard alumni, and Clinton, a Yale alumni –-two of the USA's best institutions of :-Senlightentment, endorse and give their support to the torture memos written by Dr. John Yoo, which formed the basis of the Guantanamo torture campus? And would they recommend this robust approach to African prezzos currently besieged by terrorism, like Jonathan of Nigeria and Boko Haram; Uhuru of Kenya and Al-shabaab; M7 and LRA … AL Sisi and MB? Etc etc!? –-and ask Human Rights watch to shut up  !? And would they comment on the opinion, that the torture memos are actually a break with the renaissance thinking, and a repudiation of its intellectual legacy of humanism? That Gitmo is a throw back to the medieval ages of skull-splitting interrogations? www.salon.com/2008/04/02/yoo_2/ |
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Post by Omwenga on Aug 4, 2014 13:47:57 GMT 3
Oyominto, here, go shine on my behalf with this.
Does Obama, as a professor of Law and a Harvard alumni, and Clinton, a Yale alumni –-two of the USA's best institutions of :-Senlightentment, endorse and give their support to the torture memos written by Dr. John Yoo, which formed the basis of the Guantanamo torture campus? And would they recommend this robust approach to African prezzos currently besieged by terrorism, like Jonathan of Nigeria and Boko Haram; Uhuru of Kenya and Al-shabaab; M7 and LRA … AL Sisi and MB? Etc etc!? –-and ask Human Rights watch to shut up !?
And would they comment on the opinion, that the torture memos are actually a break with the renaissance thinking, and a repudiation of its intellectual legacy of humanism? That Gitmo is a throw back to the medieval ages of skull-splitting interrogations?
www.salon.com/2008/04/02/yoo_2/
, Thanks for your suggested questions. Two things I may note, though: First, torture or otherwise the treatment and existence of Gitmo is an issue more apt for American journalists but not at this event even in the context you suggest, namely, whether African leaders plagued with terrorism should use the tactics to combat terrorism in their own countries. Second, both Obama and Clinton have extensively spoken and taken actions on this issue that's already a matter of public record. Obama, for example, opposed water-boarding and run on a promise to close Gitmo which as many other things he has found out, are easier said than done. Even as Obama is opposed to torture as applied by Dick Cheney (Bush as always was clueless and only did what Cheney told him), the position his administration as taken as to Mr. John Yoo is the correct one analytically and politically. The main event is tomorrow but today I am planning to attend Civil Society (governance), security and AGOA related events. [/b][/quote][/quote] |
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Post by podp on Aug 4, 2014 17:28:30 GMT 3
this man Disembe was told off for the blog below and he posted the rebuttal too www.facebook.com/ddisembe?fref=tsFrom Africa, these are the official PRESIDENTIAL speakers at the US-Africa Summit: • His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda • His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal • Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa • His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania • His Excellency Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia. You will note that President Kagame and President Kikwete are East African Presidents. Kenya is in East Africa. In East Africa, we currently chair both EAC and IGAD, yet 'our' President isn't listed among leaders who will address this auspicious gathering. Not only is this a diplomatic slap on our faces, it is hard blow. That tells you something about our diplomacy, or how our neighbours are relating with us and the world. Our diplomacy may not be as 'powerful' as DAILY NATION and Capital FM puts it, afterall, thanks to Onyango Oloo's party of big dreams and small people. President Kagame will not pitch for Kenya. President Kikwete will not pitch for Kenya. Both Tanzania and Rwanda are enjoying a flourishing tourism industry. They too have Chinese and Russians. The image of their countries is not one where opposition is Al shabaab and Al Shabaab is opposition. Or where referendum will scare away tourists. Tunisia just had a revolution, a referendum and an election. Yet Tunisia is growing. According to a Facebook post by our man, he is set to address some gathering organised by Kenya Private Sector Alliance. Ni kama ile ya kawaida ya Safari Park Hotel. He is also set to meet World Bank President (loans tena?) and IBM and Cocacola. Remember, IBM folks were here accompanied by Jendayi Frazer. You remember Frazer? Coca cola lol! Diplomatically, we are a lightweight. We are doing bad. We must make demands on this regime. See, we are now being grouped with South Sudan and Somalia! In jokes, we can even be stretched to Syria! Kenyan newspapers have tried to box President Obama into meeting our man for showbiz. I hear Linus Kaikai is in DC for 'live coverage'. Ni sawa pia. But you first have your diplomacy right before you retain a PR machine and a standby 'national media'. Even Edward Bernays, father of modern propaganda, will tell you so. Remember this meeting is coming after a disastrous DC Smithsonian Festival where 'our' artists refused to showcase kenya's tourism offerings because of no pay. As Rwanda and Tanzania increasingly become the world's image of East Africa, Kenya's place in the world is threatened than never before, first by cunning neighbours cheering us into world pariah status, second by a world that has no place for cold war mentality. A world that's no longer East or West, just North and South. Had Raila Odinga been the president today, or even Kalonzo Musyoka, I have no doubt in my mind we would be among the listed speakers! We spend our country's diplomatic capital on personal challenges, then leave national challenges to KEPSA and Daily Nation. This is our main undoing! Anyway, countries are led by leaders they deserve, those they choose, or are chosen on their behalf. We dream of a CORD government to avoid vitu kama hizi. Kenya shouldn't play second fiddle to any country in East Africa. The biggest economy. The biggest democracy. Halafu shida yetu ni viongozi hawatoshi. Hutoshi na hamtoshi. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - REFERENDUM TENA NA TENA |
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Post by podp on Aug 4, 2014 18:07:21 GMT 3
 [/dit. U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit “Investing in the Next Generation” Background and Public Schedule President Obama will welcome leaders from across the African continent to Washington, D.C., for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit taking place August 4-6. Building on the progress made since the President’s trip to Africa last summer, this Summit will strengthen ties between the United States and African nations on individual and regional levels. At its core, the Summit is about fostering stronger ties between the United States and Africa and serves as a demonstration of our deep partnership with and commitment to the region. The U.S. shares a strong interest in and commitment to working with Kenya on the many important issues that will be discussed at the Summit, including security, trade and investment, renewal of the Agricultural Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and Power Africa. The schedule below features several of these common interests area to be discussed during the first day of the Summit. August 4th Public Schedule– Kenya local time 3:30pm-7:00pm Civil Society Forum Participation by Secretary John Kerry and U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden. Live Stream Locations: www.state.gov | video.state.gov/live. 4:00pm-10:00pm African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum (closed Press) 7:15pm – 9:00pm Power Africa Luncheon – His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta will provide remarks. Co-Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa. Live Stream Locations: www.state.gov | video.state.gov/live. 7:30pm-9:00pm Investing in Women, Peace and Prosperity (Open Press) Link: www.dvidshub.net/unit/USDOS#.U86J1PldWSp (Video on Demand) 9:15pm – 10:45pm Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate (Open Press) Live Stream Locations: www.state.gov | video.state.gov/live. 9:15pm-20:45pm Combating Wildlife Trafficking (Open Press) Link: www.dvidshub.net/unit/USDOS#.U86J1PldWSp (Video on demand) |
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Post by jakaswanga on Aug 4, 2014 21:10:03 GMT 3
I rest my case Omwenga. I can only ask Obama and Clinton questions on the interpretation of civilisation in relation to power.
The relations between Africa and the USA are answered by the geo-political analyses of b6k's friend Zbigniew Brzeziński and chewed down by the likes of Jendayi Frazier. I do not see neither Obama nor Clinton adding to those.
For chit chat and bon-hommie, I already saw Obama in South Africa field questions from around the continental youth. And I would fall asleep in a repeat.
NB: you know the medical association of the USA wrote to Obama's white house last year on the force-feeding of inmates at Gitmo? then there was the 250 footnote hodge-podge AG Holden came up with when fellow Harvard alumni challenged Barrack on his drone executions? --Obama as John Michuki!
Questions of civilisation, that is the only beef I can cut with POTUS, the leader of civilisation! otherwise it is bar talk! --have you ever caught Michelle faking orgasms on you, sir? and you, bill, you looking forward to a new stint at the white house? this time getting smoked without threats of impeachment!?
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prevail for KE.
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