The decision by the US administration to place Nigeria on the list of 15 countries it believes sponsor terrorism around the world is most irresponsible.
The basis of the decision is that a 23-year-old Nigerian was allegedly trained in Yemen by Al Qaeda to blow up a US bound air craft. There is no evidence that the Nigerian authorities or even private organizations in Nigeria played a part in the alleged terrorist attack.
Clearly the US is demonstrating that its so-called war on terror is nothing more than a smokescreen behind which it schemes to achieve its foreign policy objectives of strangling countries opposed to its attempt to play God.
The insight recalls that three years ago, the Nigerian President rejected US proposals to establish military bases in West Africa to protect its assumed interest in West African oil.
Nigeria rightly declared that it would use its resources and influence to prevent the establishment of US military bases in West Africa. We ask, is Nigeria being punished for the bold stand it took against US imperialist designs in West Africa?
That the US is uncomfortable with Nigeria is not surprising. Nigeria has consistently opposed the atrocities being committed against the Palestinia people by the Zionist empire with the assistance of the US. It is significant that the countries on the list are mostly those who have opted for an independent path to development. How can Cuba be on any list of countries sponsoring terrorism when it has been at the fore front of the genuine attempt at curbing terrorism on the international scene?
In the case of Iran, the US is only manifesting its opposition to the development of the country�s nuclear potential for peaceful purposes and its strident opposition Zionism. The placing of these countries on the list of those sponsoring terrorism can only hurt the United States itself because it exposes the lie about its commitment to the fight against international terrorism.
The Obama administration needs to learn the important lessons of the Bush years � the more the US tries to impose its will on the world, the more it is hated. This is a particularly irresponsible move and it will surely hurt Uncle Sam.
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