REGIONAL DISCUSSIONS:

ole Nkarei wrote:Analysis awaits disclosure of Defence "Development" Budget lines. And will post as it is made available to me. But these are the comparative Budgets. Factor in population sizes to get a feel of the per capita implications.

In Kenya shillings. Billions. Rounded up to look sexier.

104 Billion.    Burundi
211 Billion.    Rwanda
427 Billion.     Uganda
760 Billion.     Ethiopia
945 Billion.     Tanzania
1600 Billion.   Kenya.


External / Donor budgetary support for Ethiopia and Burundi being verified..
Rwanda. 40% Uganda 20%. Tanzania 16%. Kenya 13%

Your views?



Ole Nkarei, what percentage is going to the Navy fund for new Toys. I dare say that this branch has been getting a raw deal in division of resources for a long time. is it because in the area there is no one with a naval fleet to speak of ? what about in 10-15  years when these countries will have the funds to buy toys of the shelves and be forced  to scramble for hand me downs. 

countersniper wrote:1600 billion  is 1.6 trillion Kenya shillings on defense?
hiyo ni pesa mingi sana
 sijui niseme  nini.
the entire Kenya budget is 1.7 trillion? did i get that right?

I think you got it wrong @ countersniper, these are the entire budgets for these countries, ON said above that he is awaiting the breakdown for defense in each of these countries and will post the same as soon as the details are available, at least this is what i understood. For Kenya i think i saw something like KES 78b for defense.

Olekoima wrote:ON and anybody else, they always say that Ethiopia is currently the biggest economy in this region. Why doesn't their budget bear testimony to this? It is still much smaller than Kenya's and also less than that of TZ too.


Ethiopia's GDP nominal is USD41.91Billion while Kenya's is USD41.12Billion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

But when we get to per ca-pita figures, considering Ethiopia has a population of 90 million while Kenya's is 41 million, the figures favor Kenya i.e Ksh 39,577 for Ethiopia &  Ksh 85,248 for Kenya, TZ is Ksh 52,195, UG Ksh 42,500. In essence even UG beats Ethiopia.However rate of economic growth in Ethiopia & Tz has been better than Kenya's in the past few years no wonder Ethiopia's overall GDP is getting better than Kenya's but bado wako mbali

countersniper wrote:from this link


http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/egypts-limited-military-options-stop-ethiopian-dam-project?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130613&utm_term=FreeReport&utm_content=title&elq=4c32e760395c44adb0d799d4fd437982


Egypt's Limited Military Options to Stop an Ethiopian Dam Project
Analysis
June 10, 2013 |

The Blue Nile in Guba, Ethiopia, during its diversion ceremony on May 28. (William Lloyd-George/AFP/Getty Images)
Summary
Ethiopia's initiation of a dam project on the Blue Nile has quickly drawn the ire of Egypt, which is critically dependent on it as a source of much of the country's freshwater needs. As Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said June 9 following Ethiopia's refusal to halt construction of the dam and ahead of his trip to Addis Ababa to discuss the project, Egypt will not give up a "single drop of water from the Nile." "No Nile, no Egypt," he said.
While Egypt has struggled to attract diplomatic intervention on its behalf to thwart Ethiopia's dam construction, tensions have reached the point where Egypt has suggested the use of force to keep the dam from potentially lowering the Nile's water levels downstream to unacceptable levels. There will be serious international pressure to keep the dispute over the dam in the realm of diplomacy, but there are also fairly significant constraints on the physical possibility of an Egyptian military solution.
Analysis
It varies depending on the dimensions of the dam, but dams can be and usually are very tough targets to destroy. In World War II the British proved that it could be done despite considerable difficulties and were the first to seriously develop the art of dam busting. The British used delayed-action bouncing bombs from Lancaster bombers, but fortunately for the Egyptians, advancements in weapons technology would enable them to target the Ethiopian dam in a less risky way. The best way for Egypt to knock out a standing dam is to use retarded and delayed-action bombs deployed from very low altitudes, or even better, delayed-action joint direct attack munitions deployed at medium altitude. The difficulty is that the bomb needs to be deployed at the very base of the dam, underwater, where the concussive effect and pressure wave is greatly amplified. Preferably more than one bomb would be deployed in this manner, and the force would be sufficient to breach the dam. 
To avoid the hassle of hitting a standing dam and creating major flooding downstream in Sudan and even potentially Egypt, Cairo would probably prefer to hit it while it is under construction. But it also has to be careful not to hit the dam too early, because then Ethiopia may not be fully deterred from restarting the project.
Distance is a major obstacle for the Egyptian military option. Ethiopia is simply too far from Egypt, and since Egypt has not invested in any sort of aerial refueling capability, it is beyond the combat radius of all Egyptian aircraft staging from Egyptian airfields. The only consolation for Egypt is that the dam is very close to the Sudanese border. Access to Sudanese airfields would place some of Egypt's air force within range. However, operating from Sudanese territory could be politically complicated and would have international repercussions for Sudan along with Egypt. Sudan's proximity to Ethiopia would also leave it vulnerable to direct military retaliation.
Another option is the insertion of special operations forces into Sudan. From there, the forces could move across the border and either harass the construction of the dam or attempt to sabotage the structure under the guise of militants. This would allow Khartoum to realistically pledge that it had no idea there were "militants" there. The harassment tactic by special operations forces or militants would likely only delay the project, not arrest construction.
Special operations forces teams would face their own series of obstacles in trying to destroy the dam. Dams are critical infrastructure and routinely protected relatively well in most countries by dedicated military units. Ethiopia would be no exception, especially with all the contention already surrounding the project. So Egyptian special operations forces would need luck and skill to gain access to the dam successfully. There is also the problem that a small team of ground forces, no matter how elite, would likely be physically unable to carry enough ordnance to critically damage or destroy the dam.
Egypt does have military options, but distance will heavily constrain its ability to project the full force of its military. Any option Cairo chooses to exercise will be risky at best and will also come with severe international consequences.


Those 2000 lb bombs would have to be delivered with the accuracy of a championship winning snooker bank shot. Perfect wind,speed,altitude and air pressure-impossible. The only other realistic option is equally beyond the capacity of Cairo.
The tactical battlefield nuke of 0.01 to 5 kt is a small man portable device intended to neutralise or destroy strategic targets,bridges,chokepoints,harbours etc etc.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Atomic_Demolition_Munition
Latest versions are very clean without the radioactive fallout of earlier models. Very serious people think they've been used in false flag terror attacks like Bali/Pakistan Marriott/al Khobar bombing and I'm inclined to agree judging from the tell tale blast holes.
Read this for a recent use of battlefield nukes.

http://www.jimstonefreelance.com/itsofficial.html wrote:After analysis, it had become clear, Syria had come under attack by Israel using, not just nuclear weapons, but an American nuclear bunker buster bomb, one of several supplied to Israel to use against Iran, one of the last acts of the Bush/Cheney administration.

Btw,countersniper,what do you think Johnnie Brit would have done? Would he have gone caveman like Jean Claude in Cote de Ivoire or anywhere else in his W African fiefdom and if so how would things have unfolded?

Olekoima wrote:Is it Tanzania's turn now? Why is there so much election violence in Africa these days?:-

http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/election-violence-in-tanzania-5465831

Interloper wrote:Who are these guys? Responding to Al kebaab attack on UN compound on 19th.

ole Nkarei wrote:

Interloper wrote:Who are these guys? Responding to Al kebaab attack on UN compound on 19th.

Four different elements in "Uniform", none KDF, buddy!   Most prominent are the 'first responders' UPDF (attacked Compound in cross proximity to the main UPDF Base in Crazy Town), two BDU of the SFG chaps (these guys don't see to have common uniforms for their "Armed' Forces, yet) and the last of the civilian unarmed contractors(in blue kevlar Helmets & Body Vests) running security-liaison for the UN-offices in Crazy Town.

Bona?

The AMISOM bases in Taabto were attacked using RPGs by Alshabab fighters last night.
Taabto residents said that they heard deafening sounds during the attacks followed by gunfire battles.
The casualties resulting from the attacks have not yet been confirmed as for now.
However Alshabab has claimed responsibility for the attacks as it was posted in Alshabab's website.
Alshabab attacks frequently foreign peace keeping troops from Kenya and Sierra leon in the lower Juba region of Somalia.

Preszy Kagame, Uhuru, Museveni wrote:"JOINT COMMUNIQUE BY H.E UHURU KENYATA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF

KENYA AFTER AN OFFICIAL WORKING VISIT TO HIS COUNTERPART, H.E YOWERIKAGUTA MUSEVENI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA ON 24TH- 25TH JUNE2013 AT STATE HOUSE, ENTEBBE.

The meeting between the two presidents was attended by ministers and other Dignitariesfrom both countries.The talks were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. The two Heads of State noted thepositive developments in the region including the election of President Uhuru Kenyattathrough a free, fair and peaceful election.The presidents discussed issues pertaining to infrastructure development, Energy, tradefacilitation and East Africa cooperation.They noted that non-tariff barriers including movement of labour continue to hinder intra-EAC trade and full implementation of the Common Market noted the delays in the clearingof goods at Mombasa port, and Malaba and agreed to take immediate measures to improvemanagement of the Port and expedite clearance by URA at Malaba border points.The two Presidents of Uganda and Kenya agreed to
•
Implement a programme for Uganda to collect customs duties before goods arereleased from Mombasa port. For goods destined for warehousing in Ugandaimporters would continue to execute the general bond security.
•
Jointly develop the Kapchorwa-Swam-Kitale road;
•
Explore the possibility of Kenya investing in quality chemicals industry whichmanufactures aids and malaria drugs.
•
Coordinate joint disarmament of cattle rustlers on both sides of the border andencourage other countries in the region to complement these efforts.
•
Furthermore, the Presidents agreed to establish a mechanism for mutual recognitionof quality standards within EAC framework and other internationally recognizedstandards in which Kenya and Uganda are members.
•
Establish a joint permanent commission for regular consultations.His Excellency Paul Kagame joined the meeting and the three held Trilateral talks.The three Heads of State of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda agreed as follows:


RAILWAYS.  Agreed to revamp the existing railway network and also construct new standard gauge railway line and extend it to Rwanda, including joint mobilization of resources


OIL PIPELINES. Develop an oil pipelines for finished products from Eldoret to Kampala and extend to Rwanda Develop a crude oil pipeline from Uganda to Kenya link to South Sudan.


REFINERY.  Explore the possibility of EAC partner states to invest in the oil Refinery to be constructed
 
ELECTRICITY.   To enhance electricity generation and distribution by exploring and utilizing the resources within each partner state, including exploring other alternatives sources like renewable energy, nuclear and geothermal.


CUSTOMS TERRTORY.  To strengthen the single customs territory and implement all the provisions therein where taxes will be collected at the entry points like Mombasa, Mpondwe, Oluhura


FAST TRACK POLITICAL FEDERATION.  By setting up a committee that will draft an EAC political federation framework that will be considered and discussed by all relevant parties.


EAC E-IDENTITY CARDS.  The e-identity cards have already been introduced in the Kenya and Rwanda, and Uganda should follow suit. This will ease the movement of persons and services.


EAC SINGLE TOURIST VISA.  Fast track the establishment of EAC single tourist visas to facilitate the tourist industry inthe region


DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.  Distribute responsibilities as follows:


A) Republic of Uganda- will spearhead the issues of railway development and political federation


B) Republic of Kenya – will spearhead – issues of electricity generation and distribution and oil pipe development


C) Republic of Rwanda – will spearhead the issues of customs, the single tourist visa, and EAC e-identity card


MOBILISATION OF RESOURCES.  Committees will be instituted chaired by respective partner state and the chairs will be responsible for coordination of mobilization of the necessary resources.


FOLLOW UP AND MONITORING. To meet every two months to review progress of implementation of the above decisions.The 1st meeting will be held in Nairobi, Kenya in august 2013 and subsequent meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2013


.H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, H.E President Paul Kagame thanked their host President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda for the warm and cordial hospitality extended to them and their delegation during their stay.

Daniel Somers - rtd. USARMY- Gunner / THT Unit Iraq wrote:

""I am sorry that it has come to this.......

 
....The fact is, for as long as I can remember my motivation for getting up every day has been so that you would not have to bury me. As things have continued to get worse, it has become clear that this alone is not a sufficient reason to carry on. The fact is, I am not getting better, I am not going to get better, and I will most certainly deteriorate further as time goes on. From a logical standpoint, it is better to simply end things quickly and let any repercussions from that play out in the short term than to drag things out into the long term.


You will perhaps be sad for a time, but over time you will forget and begin to carry on. Far better that than to inflict my growing misery upon you for years and decades to come, dragging you down with me. It is because I love you that I cannot do this to you. You will come to see that it is a far better thing as one day after another passes during which you do not have to worry about me or even give me a second thought. You will find that your world is better without me in it.


I really have been trying to hang on, for more than a decade now. Each day has been a testament to the extent to which I cared, suffering unspeakable horror as quietly as possible so that you could feel as though I was still here for you. In truth, I was nothing more than a prop, filling space so that my absence would not be noted. In truth, I have already been absent for a long, long time.


My body has become nothing but a cage, a source of pain and constant problems. The illness I have has caused me pain that not even the strongest medicines could dull, and there is no cure. All day, every day a screaming agony in every nerve ending in my body. It is nothing short of torture. My mind is a wasteland, filled with visions of incredible horror, unceasing depression, and crippling anxiety, even with all of the medications the doctors dare give. Simple things that everyone else takes for granted are nearly impossible for me. I cannot laugh or cry. I can barely leave the house. I derive no pleasure from any activity. Everything simply comes down to passing time until I can sleep again. Now, to sleep forever seems to be the most merciful thing.


You must not blame yourself. The simple truth is this: During my first deployment, I was made to participate in things, the enormity of which is hard to describe. War crimes, crimes against humanity. Though I did not participate willingly, and made what I thought was my best effort to stop these events, there are some things that a person simply cannot come back from. I take some pride in that, actually, as to move on in life after being part of such a thing would be the mark of a sociopath in my mind. These things go far beyond what most are even aware of.


To force me to do these things and then participate in the ensuing cover-up is more than any government has the right to demand. Then, the same government has turned around and abandoned me. They offer no help, and actively block the pursuit of gaining outside help via their corrupt agents at the DEA. Any blame rests with them.
 
Beyond that, there are the host of physical illnesses that have struck me down again and again, for which they also offer no help. There might be some progress by now if they had not spent nearly twenty years denying the illness that I and so many others were exposed to. Further complicating matters is the repeated and severe brain injuries to which I was subjected, which they also seem to be expending no effort into understanding. What is known is that each of these should have been cause enough for immediate medical attention, which was not rendered.


Lastly, the DEA enters the picture again as they have now managed to create such a culture of fear in the medical community that doctors are too scared to even take the necessary steps to control the symptoms. All under the guise of a completely manufactured “overprescribing epidemic,” which stands in stark relief to all of the legitimate research, which shows the opposite to be true. Perhaps, with the right medication at the right doses, I could have bought a couple of decent years, but even that is too much to ask from a regime built upon the idea that suffering is noble and relief is just for the weak.
However, when the challenges facing a person are already so great that all but the weakest would give up, these extra factors are enough to push a person over the edge.
Is it any wonder then that the latest figures show 22 veterans killing themselves each day? That is more veterans than children killed at Sandy Hook, every single day. Where are the huge policy initiatives? Why isn’t the president standing with those families at the state of the union? Perhaps because we were not killed by a single lunatic, but rather by his own system of dehumanization, neglect, and indifference.
It leaves us to where all we have to look forward to is constant pain, misery, poverty, and dishonor. I assure you that, when the numbers do finally drop, it will merely be because those who were pushed the farthest are all already dead.


And for what? Bush’s religious lunacy? Cheney’s ever growing fortune and that of his corporate friends? Is this what we destroy lives for?
Since then, I have tried everything to fill the void. I tried to move into a position of greater power and influence to try and right some of the wrongs. I deployed again, where I put a huge emphasis on saving lives. The fact of the matter, though, is that any new lives saved do not replace those who were murdered. It is an exercise in futility.


Then, I pursued replacing destruction with creation. For a time this provided a distraction, but it could not last. The fact is that any kind of ordinary life is an insult to those who died at my hand. How can I possibly go around like everyone else while the widows and orphans I created continue to struggle? If they could see me sitting here in suburbia, in my comfortable home working on some music project they would be outraged, and rightfully so.
I thought perhaps I could make some headway with this film project, maybe even directly appealing to those I had wronged and exposing a greater truth, but that is also now being taken away from me. I fear that, just as with everything else that requires the involvement of people who cannot understand by virtue of never having been there, it is going to fall apart as careers get in the way.
 
The last thought that has occurred to me is one of some kind of final mission. It is true that I have found that I am capable of finding some kind of reprieve by doing things that are worthwhile on the scale of life and death. While it is a nice thought to consider doing some good with my skills, experience, and killer instinct, the truth is that it isn’t realistic. First, there are the logistics of financing and equipping my own operation, then there is the near certainty of a grisly death, international incidents, and being branded a terrorist in the media that would follow. What is really stopping me, though, is that I simply am too sick to be effective in the field anymore. That, too, has been taken from me.


Thus, I am left with basically nothing. Too trapped in a war to be at peace, too damaged to be at war. Abandoned by those who would take the easy route, and a liability to those who stick it out-and thus deserve better. So you see, not only am I better off dead, but the world is better without me in it
This is what brought me to my actual final mission. Not suicide, but a mercy killing. I know how to kill, and I know how to do it so that there is no pain whatsoever. It was quick, and I did not suffer. And above all, now I am free. I feel no more pain. I have no more nightmares or flashbacks or hallucinations. I am no longer constantly depressed or afraid or worried.


I am free.


I ask that you be happy for me for that. It is perhaps the best break I could have hoped for. Please accept this and be glad for me.
 
Daniel Somers

elsewhere ole Nkarei wrote:...all the while Sammy fudges about their tail-end of it desperate to use Kenya as bulwark against the Chinese & BRICS egress in the Centre of Africa!...

Olekoima wrote:ON,
I' am indeed equally elated by the positive developments taking place. It is as if the heads of state have been following discussions here at TEA. Bravo.
Interesting, you have traced me to my other handle at JF. Those fellows over there are fond of bashing Kenya/Kenyans. Outraged, i joined in to rescue motherland.

United Republic of Tanzania was opposed to candidature of Federal Republic Somalia ,Sudan, Ethiopia ,Congo & Southern Sudan to join the East Africa Community & yet Tanzania sabotages nearly everthing about the East Africa Community from Common Customs Union , Common Currency to free movement of labour. Its time Kenya Uganda & Rwanda stop treating Tanzania like a "baby" & give them an ultimatum ; if Tanzania want to quit the union let them quit. Tanzanians must not be allowed to take the whole community at ransom... The plans to Decentralize Community institutions from Arusha to other central regions like Kisumu must go ahead. EAC must be expanded &new members must be admitted as well not withstanding Tanzania's opposition...

mchoraji wrote:

United Republic of Tanzania was opposed to candidature of Federal Republic Somalia ,Sudan, Ethiopia ,Congo & Southern Sudan to join the East Africa Community & yet Tanzania sabotages nearly everthing about the East Africa Community from Common Customs Union , Common Currency to free movement of labour. Its time Kenya Uganda & Rwanda stop treating Tanzania like a "baby" & give them an ultimatum ; if Tanzania want to quit the union let them quit. Tanzanians must not be allowed to take the whole community at ransom... The plans to Decentralize Community institutions from Arusha to other central regions like Kisumu must go ahead. EAC must be expanded &new members must be admitted as well not withstanding Tanzania's opposition...

Spartan wrote:""the day you find mke wako with a guy's hand around her waist and you don't feel a thing, kiss goodbye to your marriage/relationship""

Mchoraji wrote:what did Kenya do to TZ? How can everyone from the leadership to wananchi have this phobia about majirani who aren't guilty of most things wanaaminiwa wanaweza fanya.

proud kenyan wrote:a picture of where kenyana is headed
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East-Africa-s-future-The-pull-of-the-north-/-/2558/1898914/-/item/0/-/nofx6qz/-/index.html

Al-Muhaji wrote:    "Spokesman for the army said that any muhajir who leaves Somalia without permission from [Godane] is considered an apostate."
    "You [Godane] have not met for years, even once, with all the muhajireen to speak with them and check their situation directly with no mediation."
    "You [Godane] arrest some of the muhajireen without any charges and you do not tell their families or brothers about their whereabouts or conditions. You ban any visits for them and reject trying them in front of a public court."
    "You [Godane] took a secret decision not to receive the muhajireen coming from abroad, whether individuals or families, but you did not declare this decision … and they would travel and suffer the difficulties of emigration, only to end up either not participating in jihad or in the prisons of the infidels."
    "You arrested some of the muhajireen, accusing them of following the apostates. In spite of the decision of the secret court that proved their innocence, they are still treated like criminals. You have banished some to the lands of infidels while you are hunting down the others."

Kobooz wrote:Isn't this a little too provocative?
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000087195&story_title=ugandan-police-attack-kenyan-administration-police-officers-at-migingo-island&pageNo=2

Cycoh 'DUDUS' wrote:

Kobooz wrote:Isn't this a little too provocative?
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000087195&story_title=ugandan-police-attack-kenyan-administration-police-officers-at-migingo-island&pageNo=2

Now, these are the kind of scenarios which usually make me sick. Should I stick my fingers into this one or should I be a mere spectator? Someone ought to help me understand this one. In the middle of Intergration manenos, Trade-talks, shared projects, Friendly heads of states to the local Mwananchi? Get well soon people. Damn!! Lemme just hope that there are no Guerilla remnants in the Ugandan Police force. Very sad.