US DOS: From State of Denial to
State of Delusion on Nigeria’s
Imminent Religious War
How the State Department distorts reality and
recreates truth in its own image in far more
ominous extrapolations of the Wizard of Oz in US
foreign policy.
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs:
I think the success of the Nigerian elections are
primarily of importance to the Nigerian people, but
they also send a very strong signal across Africa.
Nigeria is one of the two most important countries
in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the most populous
country in Africa with 150 million people. It’s also
the second largest Muslim country in Africa after
Egypt.
QUESTION: Might you be soft-pedaling the
violence a little bit? I’m reading some wire
material today about perhaps 500 people killed
and Christian churches set afire... Might you be
looking through rose-colored glasses at this sort
of thing?
Assistant Secretary Carson:
Absolutely not. But let me first say we deplore the
violence that occurred particularly after the
conclusion of the presidential elections a week
and a half ago. – April 28, 2011
“The April 2011 general elections in Nigeria were the
most successful since its return to multiparty
democracy in 1999… But, the elections were not
perfect – post-election riots in several northern cities
left hundreds dead, and work remains to be done to
ensure more peaceful and improved votes in the
future.
“Security issues remain a central concern in
Nigeria. A loosely organized group known as
Boko Haram has carried out attacks on
Nigerian and international interests, and
attempts to exploit the legitimate
grievances of northern populations to
garner recruits and public sympathy.”
“Boko Haram is not monolithic or homogenous
and is composed of several groups that remain
primarily focused on discrediting the Nigerian
government. As Boko Haram is focused
primarily on local Nigerian issues and actors,
they respond principally to political and security
developments within Nigeria.”
•
The Nigerian government must effectively engage communities
vulnerable to extremist violence by addressing the underlying
political and socio-economic problems in the North.
•
The government must also promote respect for human rights by its
security forces, whose heavy handed tactics and extrajudicial killings
reinforce the belief that Abuja is insensitive to the concerns of
the North.
•
The appointment of credible northerners to lead the government
response to northern grievances would be an important and
tangible step toward reversing that perception.
“It is important to note that religion is not the primary driver
behind extremist violence in Nigeria.”
- Testimony by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, Bureau
of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Subcommittee on African Affairs
March 29, 2012
Nigeria has a 50/50 Muslim/ Christian split
Only one dozen of 36 states introduced Islamic law
in violation of the constitution. Each one of the 12
states has oppressed minority Christian populations.
Conclusion: US’ top diplomat on Africa was wrong Nigeria is not a “Muslim country.”
He is more concerned by improving the “vote” than
the hundreds of Christians killed
He is more concerned about appeasing the
aggressors and unconcerned with the victims
We are ready to train your people in weapons, and
give you whatever support we can in men, arms
and munitions to enable you to defend our people
in Nigeria. You are not alone in this test. The hearts
of Mujahideen are in pain over your troubles and
desire to help you as much as possible, in the
Islamic Maghreb, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Palestine, Chechnya
-
statement by al-Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM), February 2010
• Is the US advocating on behalf of an unjust power
domination arrangement entered into by the British?
• Is the US against the democratic aspirations of the
people who have clamored for freedom for years?
• Is US supporting the dominators over the
dominated? Is the US ignoring the victims
and cuddling the victimizer?
• As US democratized Iraq leading to the
erosion of the Christian population so is US
policy on Nigeria likely to condone the
extinction of Christianity in northern Nigeria
• This is a repeat of what the Brits did in
subjugating Christians to Islamic domination
• 400 houses plus $40 million project
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Britain did not conquer the Caliphate but agreed to an
alliance with them
The minorities were not conquered by the Caliphate but were
bundled under them
Britain did not technically grant independence but merely
ceded power to a neocolonial surrogate – the caliphate/north
In 1999 Nigeria did not technically get genuine democracy.
The north merely ceded power temporarily to a southern
“trustee.”
Nigeria’s Arab Spring was in Jan 2010 and in 2011 the
“Muslim brotherhood” did not win
Former US ambassador to Nigeria:
“The elections have polarized Nigeria and resulted in
likely underreported bloodshed in the northern parts of
the country… the North’s perceived marginalization
from national politics could potentially radicalize an
Islamic population that already views the United States
as a partisan supporter of southern Christian president
Goodluck Jonathan…”
- Op ed International Herald Tribune, May 2, 2011
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The following are random samples of causes of
religious violence in Nigeria:
A. Miss World Beauty Pageant
B. Classroom test
C. Danish Cartoons
D. Lunar eclipse
E. 911 attacks in US
F. The Palestinian Intifada
Ambassador Campbell was wrong. Earth to
Campbell: The north has been radicalized against
the US and the west before now. And the north has
marginalized the rest of Nigeria for long.
The position of the U.S. government consistently has been that
the conflicts in Nigeria are not predominantly sectarian in
nature. This position is problematic, given Nigeria‘s religious, social,
and political framework, the sectarian nature of the April 2011 postelection violence, and the rise of Boko Haram. This stance also is in
stark contrast to the perspectives of a number of prominent Nigerian
Christian leaders, who believe that Boko Haram has a significant
sectarian dimension to it, and in particular, seeks to eradicate
Christian communities in central and northern Nigeria. This chasm
in perspective is a serious concern.
Understanding this perspective, addressing religious
tension, and recognizing the religious dynamics of the
various political, social, and ethnic conflicts is important to
engaging effectively with Nigeria.
- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF),
2012 Annual Report
The three Concentric Layers of Persecution
Street
State
Sect
Islam
In 2001 after 911 there were attacks in
Nigeria too. Also on 911 2011.
 OBL’s driver was in Nigeria – 1st WTC
bomb trial court records in NY
 ABC news reported that a global terror
financier lives in Jos
 OBL t-shirts & posters abound in the north
 OBL called for overthrow of government
in Nigeria
 13 containers of arms from Iran shipped
into Nigeria illegally confiscated in 2010
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Is it better to over-estimate a security threat or to
underestimate?
USAID gives money to 2 Muslim states to support
Quranic madrasas. Should we throw more money?
Is there method to the madness – is the DOS
engaging in strategic disinformation while silently
working on counter terror?
If missionaries are pulling out of Plateau which has
the longest US ties than any northern state, does it
make sense for US to open a consulate in the state
with the longest history of hostility to the West?
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The imposition of Islamic Sharia on Nigeria
The abolition of Democracy
The elimination of Christians in the north
The removal of the government or
“the reason for this act is none other than
that our creator has commanded us to war
against any person that refused to accept or
acknowledge Islam after we have invited him
to the faith.” – Abu Shekau (Boko Haram)