STEVE PIECZENIK TALKS

Boko Haram: Who, What, Where, Why?

[1] What does Boko Haram [BH] mean?

“Western Education Is Sinful” in Hausa,  Nigerian Northeast dialect.

[2] What’s the history?

Islamist military group founded in northeastern Nigeria involving killing over 10,000 people since 2002,  located in a variety of northern Nigerian societal institutions-- Christian churches; police stations; United Nations; and government installations. They have achieved public notoriety since the kidnapping of the 300 school girls.

Their Strategic goal:  to impose Sharia law throughout Nigeria.  They are occasionally referred to as the “Nigerian Taliban”.  

Since 2009,  BH had become extremely militant after the death of their founder/leader, Mohammed Yusuf.  Their new leader is named Abukar Shekau.

[3] Whom does BH really represent?

Like most intra-national or trans-national terrorist groups,  BH represents far greater political interest groups than just an implementer of terror.  The tragedy of Nigeria is that for the most part,  it has not been a unified government or nation.   Nigeria is a oil rich nation which provides the USA with about 43 % of our oil requirements.

As you know by now,  oil = corruption + political divisiveness  between the haves/have nots.

This is no different in the sad case of Nigeria.  The north of Nigeria which the BH primarily terrorize is bereft of any of the benefits accrued from an exceedingly lucrative oil business located primarily in the SOUTH OF NIGERIA or in the NIGER DELTA.   Most of the so-called ‘responsible politicians’ from the North/East of Nigeria use the BH to put political pressure on the nominal head of Nigeria,  President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Unfortunately for the innocent 300 kidnapped girls,  the President Goodluck is neither “Good” in his job ; nor is he “LUCKY”.  Therefore,  the lack of any response to the girls’ kidnapping was neither a surprise nor unexpected.  Fueling the present political impasse between the Muslim and Christian factions of Nigeria is the fact that Goodluck is seeking re-election literally over the ‘dead bodies’ of BH.

The northern politicians are using this episode with the 300 girls to apply more pressure on “Goodluck” to increase both the CASH FLOWS and POLITICAL PATRONAGE FROM THE NIGER DELTA which also has its own terrorist group called “Alahii Muiahid Dokubo-Asari”.

[4] What do I think will happen next? 

  BH terrorism has been confined geographically to the northeastern states of Nigeria:  Borno; Adamawa; and Yobe.  They have the ability to attack ‘soft targets’ in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city; or in Niger.  They are capable yet have limited their attacks on other countries like Chad or Cameroon.   American special forces have entered into the fray as well as Israel, France, and other countries.

For the most part,  BH has achieved their goal—WORLDWIDE PUBLICITY for their cause and embarrassment of President Goodluck not! Jonathan.  If BH were to carry out their stated threats dramatized on the video that went viral they will have lost any leverage that they had gained in mocking and marginalizing the Nigerian President and his inevitable, eventual concession on greater cash and political distribution to the politicians of the Northeast of Nigeria.

  The ‘Game of Terrorism’ will have been played out successfully by BH when they receive the PAYMENT from an “AUSTRALIAN INTERMEDIARY” and then the girls will be released.   As for BH,  their credibility will rise as a terrorist group which will then translate into greater political power for the northeast of Nigeria and greater distribution of wealth from the Niger delta.

  Remember: terrorism is not a ‘strategy’ contrary to the inane words and actions of our American leaders and their sycophants,  it is merely an ‘economic/political weapon’ used effectively---almost 98% success rate all over the world—to REALIGN ASYMMETRY of POWER AND WEALTH.  Unfortunately,  the true combatants of terrorism are rarely soldiers but innocent victims who are helpless.

 

Just ask the families of the 3000 innocent Americans who died in the World Trade Center what they had done to George Bush Jr , Cheney, Condi, or Rumsfeld??! !  Now,  you get the idea,  no one creates a “War On Terror”,  unless you are GREEDY,  INCOMPETENT or COWARDLY.   You don’t need to go to Africa to see the barbarism of terror,  we have it right here in America!!  Hell,  we even built a museum to our own American terrorism!
  What do you want to do about that problem…. American Citizens?