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Gems, Warlords and Mercenaries: Russia’s Playbook in Central African Republic https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/world/russia-diamonds-africa-prigozhin.html?smid=tw-share
Russian Mercenaries Are Driving War Crimes in Central African Republic, U.N. Says https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/world/asia/russia-mercenaries-central-african-republic.html?smid=tw-share
26 June 1960: #Madagascar was granted independence by France; visit by French Premier Michel Debre celebrating independence with first President Philibert Tsirinana https://youtu.be/6DQ3LC7iJsY via @YouTube
#SowetoUprising: a car overturned by rioters wit a mans body pinned underneath on 16 June 1976; the official death toll on 25 june 1976 was 176 killed (two whites) and 1,139 injured(22 policemen) and 1,128 arrested #YouthDay2021
#SowetoUprising: 'armed' policemen firing on rioters during protests outside Johannesburg #SouthAfrica that began as demonstrations against teaching of Afrikaans in schools and turned into riots on 16 June 1976 during which hundreds were killed #YouthDay2021
Selous Scout, and former SAS, Captain Chris Schollenberg receiving the Grand Cross of Valor, #Rhodesia highest award, on 16 June 1978 #RhodesianBushWar
16/23 June 1985- " We can no longer allow our armed activities to be determined solely by the risk of civilian casualties": the ANC Kabwe Conference in #Zambia
16 June 1993: #Nigeria attempt to return to civilian rule ended in farce when military ruler Ibrahim Babangida suspended the result of the presidential election
16 June 1979- The End of the Generals: the execution of Ignatius Acheampong by @AdeyinkaMakinde #Ghana http://adeyinkamakinde.blogspot.com/2020/06/june-16th-1979-execution-of-general.html
16 June 1979: former #Ghana head of state Ignatius Acheampong was @executedtoday by firing squad http://www.executedtoday.com/2010/06/16/1979-ignatius-kutu-acheampong-former-dictator-of-ghana/
15 June 1986: in the aftermath of the Gaborone raid by South African recces, at a rally in Salisbury, Robert Mugabe called for formation of an African military force to overthrow the #SouthAfrica government
15 June 1977- Goch Street Shooting: two ANC/MK guerrillas killed two white men while fleeing the police in Johannesburg #SouthAfrica; Solomon Mahlangu would swing from the gallows in Pretoria on 6 April 1979 for the murders
14 June 1993: a referendum in #Malawi rejected the one-party state of Hastings Banda, ending the near three decade rule of one of last post-colonial strongmen
2 June 1997: Nigerian Troops of ECOMOG battle putschists of Johnny Paul Koroma and RUF rebels, who invited Foday Sankoh to Freetown to join the AFRC junta the day before, in Sierra Leone #SierraLeoneCivilWar https://youtu.be/knpxnNb9JQw via @YouTube
25 May 1997: a putsch by rebel soldiers sprung Major Johnny Paul Koroma from prison and toppled the elected #SierraLeone government of Ahmed Kabbah #SierraLeoneCIvilWar
12 June 1979- "We've got a bloody awful few months ahead of us. A hell of a lot more people are going to die": after news of US President Carter refusal to lift trade sanctions, COMOPS Supremo General Peter Walls interview in Salisbury #Rhodesia #RhodesianBushWar
13 June 1964- Simba Rebellion: ANC Congolese troops led by Army Chief General Joseph Mobutu attacked and defeated the Simbas at Kamaniola south of Bukavu on #Rwanda border #SimbaRevolt
13 June 1994-"The town has been cleared and is under our control": Gitarama, the interim government capital southwest of Kigali #Rwanda, was captured by RPA rebel troops #kwibuka27
12 June 1986- "The choice is between war and a dishonorable, fearful peace": the #SouthAfrica government declared a nation-wide State of Emergency; over 1,000 people were arrested the first day
11 June 1976: the Trial of 13 mercenaries who fought for FNLA on charges of high treason began in Luanda #Angola http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/11/newsid_2510000/2510947.stm
Operation SCEPTIC: June 1980 saw the arrival of the Ratel-90, with the turret and gun from the Eland 90; the Ratel had much better range and could carry double the ammo #SouthAfricanBorderWar
Operation SCEPTIC: Soviet 23 mm and 14.5 mm AA guns used in a ground support role could penetrate the thin-skinned Ratels and accounted for most of the 13 South African KIA at Smokeshell; SWAPO lost 267 killed on 10 June 1980 #SouthAfricanBorderWar
9 June 1983: ANC guerrillas, the Moroka Three, went to the gallows in Pretoria #SouthAfrica, @executedtoday for high treason and the murder of four Black policemen http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/06/09/1983-moroka-three-anc-mk-south-africa/
9-11 June 1986: in a second round of mayhem at the squatter camps near Cape Town #SouthAfrica, a pitched battle between state-supported witdoekies and UDF-aligned comrades left 25 dead and 30,000 homeless
Operation SCEPTIC: the 151 vehicles of 61 Mech battle group left Umuthiya base, refueled at Eenhana and then crossed the cut-line into #Angola for the 50 km march to a TB at Mulemba on 9 June 1980 #SouthAfricanBorderWar
Mixed Algiers patrol, French police in kepis and Moslem auxiliaries on 8 June 1962; the security forces were bing integrated in advance of independence #AlgeriaWar
7 June 1978: at the @SalvArmyIHQ Usher Institute near Figtree southwest of Bulawayo #Rhodesia, ZIPRA guerrillas killed two missionaries and wounded two others #RhodesianBushWar
7 June 1979- "I will do everything within my power to prevail in this situation": US President Jimmy Carter,defying the US Sentate, refused to lift trade sanctions on #Rhodesia #RhodesianBushWar
#BurkinaFaso was supposed to be a success story for US military assistance. Instead, it became a casualty of America’s war on terror and is buckling under an insurgency and humanitarian crisis while its army is carrying out extrajudicial killings (thread) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/magazine/burkina-faso-terrorism-united-states.html
I listened to a song by Don Clarke mainly out of curiosity. A long time Kristofferson fan, the title reminded me of Blame it on the Stones. After grabbing the headset, I pressed PLAY. Catchy title/catchy tune, all good. I wanted to know more so headed over to his channel.
Flipping through YouTube, something caught my eye – the Disclaimer underneath his video. Reading it made me smile – But in a sad sort of way.
I knew a man who knew everything
An old friend once told me that people bond & grow attached to each other for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is what he called “shared reality“.
He explained (as only Ben could) that this “shared reality” simply meant “shared truth” or “agreement”. A fact is only a fact because one or more individuals agree that it is real or true. We develop a level of liking for people when we discover that one or some of their views, ideas or opinions mirrors our own.
It’s easy to like people who we relate to & feel the same as. Developing a level of liking for the “others” – people who do not share our values, ways & ideas – is far trickier. We have to resort to talking & listening to them. Chances are, there will be something about that person that we can like, respect or find amusing. That one precious thing is all it takes for liking or affinity to grow, & suddenly they seem more like us.
Communication
Communication is the key but only when it is honest, from the heart & unfiltered. Forgive the cliché, but it does seem to be getting harder to talk to each other – Harder by the moment.
In this world gone mad, people (other than Thys) seem to filter what they say. Actually, Howard & Paul are non-filterers too, & I like them just fine. In fact, most people I enjoy could be described as straight talkers. They could also be described much differently by other people who don’t hear them. I feel safe around people who speak their mind because I do not have to interpret what they tell me. There are not too many of them about.
Filters
Most of us are extremely careful about what we say & how we say it, most of the time. Consider how many times you have edited something on a text or read & re-read a post.
I am not suggesting that we should all forget our manners & start chucking rocks at each other. I do believe that communicating is a lot more complicated than it should be. It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when a simple apology could totally erase an impulsive or misunderstood comment. Now, we hear daily that someone is being ostracised for saying, doing or phrasing something incorrectly.
Bounce, Boom, Balance
Communication exists to bounce ideas as well as to share them. Who wasn’t taught that people learn less with their mouths open than with their ears open? If people cannot express their emotions, passions, thoughts, anger, confusion & fleeting gripes & grumbles as & when they pop up, then how are we ever going to understand each other?
If we cannot express freely then we have little chance of finding something to like in other people.
Tolerance – An ugly word
Globalisation is bringing THEM ever closer to us. The world is getting smaller. If we hope to move from tolerating to liking & respecting others then we must free up our communication. That wall we knocked down means plenty less if we allow it to be replaced it with a myriad of fences. More so when those fences are tongues tied with barbed wire & tolerance is deemed desirable. Can anybody seriously aspire to be tolerated?
Blame it on the Whites – a song by Don Clarke
Back to the Don Clarke ditty. The disclaimer beneath his posted video reads –
“Before this song is misinterpreted, let me issue a DISCLAIMER by way of an EXPLANATION, without prejudice…..”
If you want to read the rest, you can visit his channel yourself. He is a talented songwriter & musician so subscribe while you are there.
Here’s the tune. As Don Clarke felt the need to say:
It’s reconciliatory. It’s a simple as that! NO NEED TO PANIC!
Many thanks to whoever wrote this fine piece. It illustrates perfectly an understanding of why it is often better NOT to follow the herd simply to attain a sense of social security. Being LIKED for the wrong reasons is ultimately more suffocating than standing up to the cold winds of disdain, because, more often than not, those cold winds turn out to be a refreshing liberating breeze.
Many thanks to whoever wrote this fine piece. It illustrates perfectly an understanding of why it is often better NOT to follow the herd simply to attain a sense of social security. Being LIKED for the wrong reasons is ultimately more suffocating than standing up to the cold winds of disdain, because, more often than not, those cold winds turn out to be a refreshing liberating breeze.
– Don Clarke
Hi Don. Many thanks for your kind comment & for sharing your charm & talent.
– Donna