I just came back from Nigeria . I traversed the length and breadth of the nation a bit in my three-week stay. Something is different about the country compared to when I visited last year.... The people are more desperate... Hunger has increased astronomically.... The gap between the haves and have-nots has further widened... You feel impunity in the air... You see police collecting bribes openly like we have not seen since the Shagari era in 1983... There are more law enforcement agents on the roads now, yet the crime rate has not abated... You see VIO , Road Safety, State Law enforcers, the Police, everywhere mounting illegal roadblocks... I heard things from those close to the seat of power about those who hold the reins of power, and I weep for Nigeria - it is beyond disheartening... Projects are being abandoned because a significant portion has been given as bribes to government officials like governors and ministers, including major monarchs - they all collect money for projects...
Warmongers are about to escalate the crisis in the Middle East . These people appear clueless about the cost of war. The U.S. Congress will not fund another war, including politicians on both sides. There is opposition to another war anywhere. They want to use brute force to compel Congress to act - they have amassed over 50,000 troops in the Middle East... They are miscalculating, thinking they can go in and come out quickly... they are underestimating their opponent again... The lesson of the last six weeks is not enough. This is another Afghanistan in the making - trillions was spent fighting the Taliban for almost 20 years, only for the Taliban to return the government they have propped up in just a few days of war... They pray (not sure, which god - not the God of the Bible I read, who under grace abhor wars) about going to fight a needless war; they are sending other people's children to go and die, while their own are safe under the protection of the state. Over 7,000 A...