WHEN WOULD WE START TO THANK OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE

It’s May 27th and it’s Memorial Day in the US; a holiday to celebrate military veterans who have have served, are serving or have fallen in service. Sure it sounds like any other holiday, but it holds a lot more meaning...

The military in my country; Nigeria, no doubt, serve under very horrible and deprived conditions. These harsh environment and ingratitude from those they serve have made them violent, angry, unfriendly and oppressors of those they are supposed to protect. This is the sad reality! On the other hand, I don’t know so much about the US military, but I have had a few experiences that have been eye opening. I’ll share two experiences quickly...

First, I was onboard a domestic flight in the US and I had a US army officer seated a few rows in from of me. I noticed that more than 90% of the passengers who boarded after me kept saying to the officer, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!” some even went as far as shaking his hand as they said “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!”. I have noticed such complements several other times since then, but this one time stood out because it felt like everyone who said “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!” was told to do so, but I am certain they weren’t. Second, I walked into a store wearing this US navy t-shirt I bought at a boutique. After picking up the things I wanted and went to pay at the counter, the sales representative asked me “ARE YOU MILITARY?” I said NO. And she went on “I THOUGHT YOU WERE MILITARY CAUSE OF YOUR T-SHIRT, I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU A DISCOUNT”. Wow! These are very little things right? I bet they are some of the very little secrets that keep the morale of the US military boosted, promotes love for country, encourages effective, efficient and friendly serve to civilians and country. 

What if we did a little more to show our Nigerian military that we appreciate their service? What if every organization (private and public) had some independent plan for honoring the women and men who serve? What if we the citizens did a little more to show that we do appreciate their courage and sacrifice on our behalf? I think we would have a military we can be proud about. 

We ought to celebrate our military everyday, not only on January 15th. To all the officers, rank and file of the Nigerian Military (Army, Navy and Air Force), THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE EVEN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES!

#myrandomweeklythoughts

IG: @dr_mykk

FALSE FLAG OR NOT, TURKEY IS ON FIRE!

 

The dawn of Saturday, July 16, 2016, may have been another beautiful morning for you, but it certainly wasn't for Turkey; the government had been compromised, the military had left the barracks, what seems to be the military counterpart of a revolution had occurred, there had been a military coup!

The coup which, according to report, began at 21:30 on the eve of July 16, was believed to have been staged by a faction of the Turkish army. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been on a vacation within the country when the coup plotters struck blocking two major bridges in Istanbul and seizing the Turkish Parliament in the Turkish capital - Ankara. By dawn, the Turkish government reported that the coup had failed and the government was fully in control.

Whatever the 'triggers' of the coup; attempts by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to transform the state into an Islamic brotherhood state, or pressures and reactions from Kurdish insurgency and terrorist attacks, Turkish democracy has been badly challenged, and that has serious implications. Again, although some skeptics have argued that the incident of Friday night wasn't a real military coup, but a false flag; alluding to the fact that no government official was captured prior to the coup, the President was also not captured, and infact the time of the coup was suggestive, whatever the case, there has been a coup - fake or real, with real consequences unfortunately.

If President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had only intended to use the coup as a means of strengthening his grip of government; making the coup a false flag, unfortunately that  trick would only succeed for a very short time, and if it was actually a failed coup, it is most likely that, not too long from now, there would be another attempt, and another, if there are no visible changes in the Turkish domestic and foreign policies in the months and years ahead.

 

For whatever it is worth, the recent and unfortunate incident in Turkey sends a message to governments across the globe; there is always a limit to injurious policies, and when 'the people' are pressured to the limits, they surely would respond in a revolution (civilian response) or a coup d'etat (military response). Democracy would only make sense as long as government is responsible to 'the people', including the armed forces.

At least 200 people have died, more than 1,100 wounded and 6,000 arrested over the coup attempt. The Turkish coup has also, since, been condemned domestically and internationally by NATO, the EU, and ME! 😊 

Erdoğan has been Turkish President since 2003, and leads an Islamist cabinet. He has also faced increasing pressures owing to the Kurdish insurgency in the south-east, and a series of ISIS terrorist attacks.

RESCUE OPERATION ONE BY ONE!

 

Unfortunately mixed feelings have trailed the 'rescue' of two of the missing Chiboks school girls earlier this week. The girls were rescued 'one by one'; with Amina Ali preceding the other (who's identity is not released at the time of publishing this post).

Bravo to our military for the rumored progress so far in the 'war against terrorism'; but as we know, it is not over until the enemy is defeated... More bravo for the 'rescue' of these two girls (Amina with one child, and maybe the other with one or two children when her identity is released), and even more impressive is the 'welcome home offer' of a full education scholarship and the promise of a better life by the FG (or maybe I should help Mr. President to be more specific and say by his administration)...

 

My worry, however, is that in this 'Rescue Operation One and One', the military has not satisfactorily spelt out the 'rescue procedure'. Don't miss my point: we agree that Sambisa and environs have been under military siege in the last few months, we also understand that over 200 school girls were abducted. So my point: if the military operations in the Northeast over the last few months is the 'rescue procedure' that led to this release, how come only two are rescued (and at different times); and if the rescue is by 'operation within an operation', then it is important we are aware of the 'rescue procedure', so we can expect the other girls to be rescued in this 'Rescue Operation One by One'...

Whatever the case, Nigeria must survive! *wink*