I bless the rains
I bless the rains
An Africa thread
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
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Re: I bless the rains
Wow. https://www.ft.com/content/7724bc6e-c9b ... 9fb7d6163e
Zimbabwe’s army seized control of the country on Wednesday, saying it was removing “criminals” around Robert Mugabe and holding the president for his own safety.
A spokesman said on state television that Mr Mugabe and his family were being held in a “safe and secure place” while soldiers carried out the operation in Harare, which followed a day of high tension between the army’s commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, and Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
Re: I bless the rains
It's just a push from the left and a shove from the right. Where is my copy of Luttwak's book, anyway? I hope I didn't leave it lying around for someone named Chiwenga to find.
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Nothing you can say is as important as the existence of a functioning marketplace of ideas, go set yourself on fire. - JasonL
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Re: I bless the rains
On the same topic, I know some Afrikaaners who are now US citizens and to a (wo)man they all have the same attitude: Africa is a lost cause. Quit sending them money and let it burn.
Yeah but how can you tell at a glance which junk a raccoon is packing? Also, gay raccoons? - Hugh Akston
Nothing you can say is as important as the existence of a functioning marketplace of ideas, go set yourself on fire. - JasonL
Nothing you can say is as important as the existence of a functioning marketplace of ideas, go set yourself on fire. - JasonL
Re: I bless the rains
I am loathe to throw in the towel on a whole continent. But a period of disengagement while we analyze the consequences of past efforts, to be used in establishing protocols and metrics going forward, would certainly be in order.
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Re: I bless the rains
What's sad is this might actually be an improvement.nicole wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 07:17Wow. https://www.ft.com/content/7724bc6e-c9b ... 9fb7d6163e
Zimbabwe’s army seized control of the country on Wednesday, saying it was removing “criminals” around Robert Mugabe and holding the president for his own safety.
A spokesman said on state television that Mr Mugabe and his family were being held in a “safe and secure place” while soldiers carried out the operation in Harare, which followed a day of high tension between the army’s commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, and Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF.
- D.A. Ridgely
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Re: I bless the rains
So, would this be an even better place to start reciting Kipling?
- the innominate one
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Re: I bless the rains
I don't know, I've never Kipled.
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Re: I bless the rains
Well, I think it will be an improvement over what Grace Mugabe would have been, at least.Painboy wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 13:58What's sad is this might actually be an improvement.nicole wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 07:17Wow. https://www.ft.com/content/7724bc6e-c9b ... 9fb7d6163e
Zimbabwe’s army seized control of the country on Wednesday, saying it was removing “criminals” around Robert Mugabe and holding the president for his own safety.
A spokesman said on state television that Mr Mugabe and his family were being held in a “safe and secure place” while soldiers carried out the operation in Harare, which followed a day of high tension between the army’s commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, and Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
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Re: I bless the rains
You guys know that Africa is generally doing pretty good right now, right? You've actually paid attention to reputable foreign news coverage about the region, correct?
Re: I bless the rains
No I did not. Last I heard Boko Haram was still raping it's way across the north and AIDS and hyperinflation were ravaging the south.Fin Fang Foom wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 14:45You guys know that Africa is generally doing pretty good right now, right? You've actually paid attention to reputable foreign news coverage about the region, correct?
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Re: I bless the rains
There's some nasty shit going on in places like Mexico and Guatemala, and cities right here in the continental US that haven't had clean safe drinking water for years now, but I wouldn't write off the entire North American continent over that. How many different individual countries are there in Africa, anyway -- fifty-something, I think?Warren wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 15:26No I did not. Last I heard Boko Haram was still raping it's way across the north and AIDS and hyperinflation were ravaging the south.Fin Fang Foom wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 14:45You guys know that Africa is generally doing pretty good right now, right? You've actually paid attention to reputable foreign news coverage about the region, correct?
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Re: I bless the rains
Explain "pretty good."Fin Fang Foom wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 14:45You guys know that Africa is generally doing pretty good right now, right? You've actually paid attention to reputable foreign news coverage about the region, correct?
Overall there has been growth across the continent but there are others like South Africa and Zimbabwe that have been mired in stagnation and misrule for at least a decade, squandering the resources they had at one time. The growth that has taken place is nice to see but even 8% of little is still little. Additionally, number of countries also rely on oil exports for that growth and a price shock could wipe out much of their gains.
The number of massacres and genocides seemed to have calmed down in most of the countries which is great but a number of the governments are still fragile and a crisis away from coming undone.
Is it better than the post colonial-decades? Certainly. Are things "pretty good" now? Not sure about that. Maybe in another decade or two. But it is nice to see some positive trends in recent years.
Re: I bless the rains
Africa is way too big to generalize about as doing well or poorly. Lots of places in sub saharan Africa are doing quite well these days. Kenya for sure.
- Fin Fang Foom
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Re: I bless the rains
Yes, Africa is complex. A land of contrasts, if you will. There appeared to be a quick descent into soon mongering upthread, whereas Africa now more warranted.
Re: I bless the rains
Can you point me to Africa's five biggest success stories?
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Re: I bless the rains
This looks like a classic "We're here to protect the King from evil counselors" coup. Readers of Shakespeare know this one well.nicole wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 07:17Wow. https://www.ft.com/content/7724bc6e-c9b ... 9fb7d6163e
Zimbabwe’s army seized control of the country on Wednesday, saying it was removing “criminals” around Robert Mugabe and holding the president for his own safety.
A spokesman said on state television that Mr Mugabe and his family were being held in a “safe and secure place” while soldiers carried out the operation in Harare, which followed a day of high tension between the army’s commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, and Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF.
After a decent interval, it is usually followed by "Our beloved _______ fell out of a window/ate the wrong mushrooms/was playing with his guns and is no longer with us."
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Re: I bless the rains
The thetan known as Robert Mugabe as ascended to the next level of OT and discarded his body.
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Re: I bless the rains
Botswana. Ghana. Namibia. Gabon. Zambia. And even places like South Africa have massive swaths of land that are essentially global middle class. It's like saying "five neighborhoods in Chicago are hugely unsafe; time to write the whole city off as a shithole and let it collapse."
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Re: I bless the rains
I don't know anything about Namibia, Gabon, or Zambia. Botswana I thought of as a "good by Africa standards" place, and I'm frankly surprised to see Ghana on the list.Shem wrote: ↑15 Nov 2017, 21:49Botswana. Ghana. Namibia. Gabon. Zambia. And even places like South Africa have massive swaths of land that are essentially global middle class. It's like saying "five neighborhoods in Chicago are hugely unsafe; time to write the whole city off as a shithole and let it collapse."
*reads Wikipedia*
It sounds like Botswana is doing quite well and on the right track.
Ghana sounds like it's doing okay at the moment but there's this:
It's also worth noting that both countries rely heavily on export of natural resources. Not necessarily a problem if the proceeds are invested wisely.According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index of 2013, out of 177 countries, Ghana ranked 63rd with Cuba and Saudi Arabia.
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Re: I bless the rains
africa is a big fucking place.
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Re: I bless the rains
Interessant
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11 ... ting-coup/The general behind Zimbabwe’s coup may have sought Chinese approval days before the army launched its takeover of Robert Mugabe’s government, it emerged on Wednesday.
Mr Mugabe remained under house arrest, still president of Zimbabwe if in name alone, a prisoner of once slavishly loyal generals who now hold the country’s fate in their hands.
As the former British colony faced a deeply uncertain future under military tutelage, a trip to Beijing by Gen Constantine Chiwenga, the head of the armed forces, last week has reignited concerns about rising Chinese influence in Africa.
The general held high-level meetings with officials from the Defence Ministry, and visited a school to observe a Shaolin Kung Fu class.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
Re: I bless the rains
Ah, so that's what White Rose is up to in 2017.nicole wrote: ↑16 Nov 2017, 12:20Interessant
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11 ... ting-coup/The general behind Zimbabwe’s coup may have sought Chinese approval days before the army launched its takeover of Robert Mugabe’s government, it emerged on Wednesday.
Mr Mugabe remained under house arrest, still president of Zimbabwe if in name alone, a prisoner of once slavishly loyal generals who now hold the country’s fate in their hands.
As the former British colony faced a deeply uncertain future under military tutelage, a trip to Beijing by Gen Constantine Chiwenga, the head of the armed forces, last week has reignited concerns about rising Chinese influence in Africa.
The general held high-level meetings with officials from the Defence Ministry, and visited a school to observe a Shaolin Kung Fu class.
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