Burkina Faso repel terrorist double attack during Festive periods.

At least 11 soldiers were killed in Burkina Faso on Wednesday as Burkinabes were mourning dozens of victims who had died in double attacks targeting the country's north a day earlier.

There was worldwide condemnation after Tuesday's attacks, the worst assault in the country for five years, in which at least 35 civilians, mostly women, and seven soldiers were killed in Arbinda town and at a military base in the volatile Soum province. According to the army, 80 assailants also died in gunfire exchanges.

Your Key To Success:10 HABITS YOU MUST DROP AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY

Your Key To Success in the Civilian world after your transition: This post give you 10  HABITS YOU MUST DROP AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY

Whether you are retiring after meritorious service, or you were dishonourably discharged, YES! there are good habits you will learn in the military which will be discussed next week however there are many bad stuffs you need to unlearn.

Don't try this to your junior staff in the civilian hood

1.       Abusive words: Asshole! Mudda-fuckka! Whore! Fish! These are abusive words familiar with the USA and UK military, in Africa military these words are common =ya father! Ya  mother! Puck ya mother! Bloody civilian! Whatever the words maybe, you have spent a reasonable number of years that abuse you and teach you to abuse others from your first induction to your retirement your environment breed hurtful words that can make a civilian breakdown after leaving the military. Unlearn it sir! It won’t do you any good if you bring that habit into the civilian world, you will hurt fellow workers in your new found job, you might hurt your wife or kids, you will hurt strangers you meet at a mall. Maybe we should do it this way; whatever happens in the military stays in the military.

2.      Smoking: Yes that’s obvious; it’s dangerous to your health! It’s dangerous to the people around you.

 It’s amazing that the military of most countries ban and discourage smoking when you are just entering the military but later on from nowhere, you pick up the habit of smoking, some soldiers testified its boredom at front-line, some justify it as weather conditions, they went through at different postings!

So you are smoking secretly right. Well you are outside of the military now and this freedom should not turn you into a god of smokes. Quit now! You will thank me later.

TOP 20 REASONS YOU SHOULD JOIN THE MILITARY! (MUST READ)

You! Yes you! Yes you!

Last week article on top 8 reasons why you should join the military shocked some of our readers,8 reasons military is not for you!

They don’t expect to see something like that on a military theme blog , however that’s the reality, but trust me,  there are more reasons that encourage you to join than otherwise.

1. Its Compulsory

 

 You can’t escape this as long as you fit into the criteria for mandatory military service in your country, Congratulations!!!

2. Tax Exemption

Well! It depends on your country but virtually most countries of the world does not tax it military,
Their blood and service is enough to pay the tax! Imagine that benefits, no deductions from your salary

 

3. Serve /Defend your Country

After a terrorist attack, external aggression or a natural disaster then you begin to feel an urge in you that you can make a difference, probably you are seeing things in the military you want to change.

Signing up for the military is the best option for you. You have got the enemies make them pay for trespassing on your fathers or motherland as the case maybe.
You will be regarded as heroes at the end of the day dead or alive you are regarded as a hero for fighting. As US army General Patton once said that = the Military engineer fixing a wire on a pole does the same job with a combatant. Even if you join the military as a cook, medic or combatant, you forever remain a hero. There is a sense of pride that you derive after a battle and being cheered back home by the citizens of your county thank you for your service.
            Veterans are respectfully treated in the USA and UK, People raise funds and organize events to celebrate war vets unfortunately in Nigeria  the case is otherwise! I am not discouraging you if you are a Nigerian reading this.

4. Get Fit

 

You want to look like Van Dame or get fit like Tom Hardy, badass like Chuck Norris, stealth like a Ninja,

Entrance to any military institution in the world requires gruesome basic military training that will push you beyond your limits, you’ll develop cardiovascular and muscular strength that you didn’t know you were capable of having, get bullied psychologically and motivated by the craziest drill instructors you have ever seen on earth.
Martial arts! You will learn for free!
Bushido, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Jiujutsu, Ninjutsu are popular martial arts that most military of the world is inculcating in its training program. Imagine the benefit of this, you are a soldier even without a gun, after retirement an idiot breaks into your home you teach him a serious lesson.
If you are in Combatant unit = Being fit is a criteria to go back to Daddy and Mommy after combat.

5. It’s a Family Job

The Current COAS of Nigeria Army was a son of a ww2 Vet

 

You may come from a family of military men, military blood flow through your vein and you want to continue the baton passed to you by your parent who once served in the military.

Following in the footsteps of a family member and even surpass their records can instill a great sense of pride, so signup today, an advantage is that your(ex-service men) family members will be able to advice on the pros and cons of serving in the military. Actually my father is an ex-service man in the Nigeria Army and I have a brother as a Police officer in Nigeria Police force  How glorious is it to see a dude whose Great grandfathers fought in the Westphalia war, grandfather fought in a colonial war, father fought in ww1 or ww2 and then you?

Ethiopia the only African territory that repel colonial powers.

The people of Ethiopia have fought several battles and wars to preserve the dignity and the territorial integrity of their nation throughout its long history. In the 1870s and 1880s, Ethiopia successfully defeated Khedive Ismail Pasha of Egypt, who sought to bring the Nile River basin under his rule, the invading Mahdist army of Sudan and the Italians trying to turn the country into an Italian protectorate under the leadership of Emperor Yohannes IV (1837-1889).

The importance of Adwa

But the Battle of Adwa fought on 1 March 1896 holds a special place in Ethiopian History. By repelling the Italians, Ethiopia, led by Emperor Menelik II, defeated one of Europe’s major powers in an age of relentless European expansion into Africa. This victory changed the country’s destiny and transformed the consciousness of Ethiopians and people of African descent all over the world as a symbol of resistance to colonialism. Thanks to their heroic resistance, Ethiopians managed to remain the only independent African country of that time, which is why they cherish the victory of Adwa for the generations to come. As we celebrate this important part of Ethiopia’s modern history, we should also seize this opportunity to investigate many aspects of that famous chapter, and numerous revelations probably still await us as many aspects of the battle are still not well researched.

Historical Context

It is important to remind the current generation of the historical background of Adwa, the preparation for the battle, its aftermath and the various consequences of the battle, at the local, regional and international levels. In the late 19th century, the opening of Suez Canal in 1896 coupled with the Scramble for Africa by European powers increased the strategic importance of Ethiopia as several European Powers (notably France, Italy and Great Britain) sought influence in the area. Ethiopia was a country with a long history of civil war, but at the same time, it also had its share of resistance against foreign aggression. Egyptians, Sudanese, Ottoman Turks, and Portuguese had all tried and failed to dominate Ethiopia. Emperor Tewodros and Yohannes IV both died to protect the safety and security of their land and peoples.

Nigeria Army University call interested applicants for the position of NAUB vice-Chancellor

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE POSITION OF VICE – CHANCELLOR

The Governing Council of the Nigerian Army University Biu hereby announces the vacancy of the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University.

In accordance with the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act No. 11 of 1993 as amended; the Governing Council invites applications from interested and suitably qualified candidates with experience in University administration for the post.

RESPONSIBILITIESThe Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive and the Academic Head of the University. He/She is the Chairman of the Senate and Congregation and member of the Governing Council.  The Vice-Chancellor shall among other duties:

1. Promote research, teaching and high standard of academic excellence;
2. Be responsible to Council for the maintenance of peace, law and order in the University;
3. Be competent at all times to advise the Council on all matters affecting the policy, finance and administration of the University;
4. Regulate the admission of students, subject to the guidelines and procedures approved by the Senate and other statutory bodies;
5. Be responsible for staff and students’ discipline and welfare in the University.

THE PERSONApplicants for the position of Vice-Chancellor, Nigerian Army University Biu must be distinguished scholars with outstanding academic and administrative records. He/she must be a proven manager of human and material resources.  Specifically, the person must; –

1. Have spent not less than fifteen (15) years in the University system with at least seven (7) years experience as Professor with the ability to provide academic and administrative leadership for the University;
2. Have a good understanding of the vision and mission of the University. Hence, a vision statement not exceeding 1000 words is required;
3. Be able to attract research grants and complementary funds from Local and International Agencies, and further uplift the academic status of the University;
4. Possess personal integrity in the management of funds and be able to deploy financial resources as appropriate in the context of the University’s strategic plan;
5. Demonstrate interpersonal and team building skills, possess the ability to build bridges between staff, students and members of the University Community and other stakeholders;
6. Have demonstrable abilities to establish; and maintain partnerships with Local, International, Government Agencies and Organization;
7. Be an individual who, judging from his/her track records, is likely to command the respect as well as the loyalty of the members of staff and University Community;
8. Be able to demonstrate the ability to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled and talented staff (Teaching and Non-teaching);
9. Be able to exhibit entrepreneurial drive and ability to attract extra statutory funds and mobilize other resources for the development of the University;
10. Have excellent written and spoken communication skills;
11. Be in position to ensure the enforcement of the University’s laws and regulations;
12. Be information and technology proficient and be committed to the development of ICT into the University programmes and services;
13. Be of excellent physical and mental health;
14. Not be more than Sixty-five (65) years of age.

Applicants who have served or are currently serving in any Military Institution will have an added advantage.

TENURE AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICEThe Vice-Chancellor shall hold the office for a single, non-renewable term of Five (5) years.  The remuneration and conditions of service for the post shall be as applicable in Federal Universities.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONInterested candidates are required to submit thirty (30) copies of their application and curriculum vitae under confidential cover in sealed envelopes marked “Post of Vice Chancellor” at the top left corner of the envelope directly to “The Registrar, Nigerian Army University Biu, P. M. B. 1500 Biu, Borno State, not later than six (6) weeks from the day of this advertisement. The candidate’s vision statement for the University during his/her tenure if appointed should be attached to the application. The application must include academic and professional qualifications, birth certificate or declaration of age, list of publication, verifiable evidence of work experience and curriculum vitae that include the following among other information:

1. Full name (Surname, First name, Middle name);
2. Post applied for;
3. Place and state of birth;
4. State of Origin;
5. Nationality;
6. Permanent Home Address;
7. Correspondence address (if different from permanent address);
8. Mobile phone number;
9. E-mail address;
10. Marital Status;
11. Number and ages of children (if any);
12. Educational Institutions attended with dates;
13. Academic qualifications obtained with dates;
14. Professional qualification(s) obtained with dates;
15. Work experience including full details;
16. Community service(s) and research experience;
17. Full details of teaching and research experience;
18. List of publications and dates where applicable;
19. Honours/Awards;
20. Extra-Curricular Activities;
21. Names and addresses of three (3) referees one of whom must be from the last or current place of employment.

All referees should be asked to send their independent reports to the Registrar with full details of the applicant and the post applied for, not later than the closing date of this advertisement.

SS IBRAHIM

Brig GenRegistrar/Secretary to Council

Site: NAUB

8 Reasons you should not Join the Military.

You! yes you! Yes you!

Before ever signing up for a life changing destiny, consider the reason why you shouldn't join.
Don't be surprised, you find this out on a military blog, its an ugly fact but shouldn't deter you if you have good reasons signing up .
Please note that this article exempt those under mandatory military service program
In their repective countries.

If you have these reasons then you are very wrong

The following is a list of reasons to NOT  join the military:

1. To Get Rich

The military is not a career you can choose if you want a fast rich scheme, especially when you are to sign up as a non-commission officer, even commission officer still need to attain certain ranks to get a bit of comfort with wealth.Actually, it depends on your own country system and economy, Most African countries where unemployment rage, it's a common thing to see people get into the military as a bail  out system,

The military is not the occupation you want if getting rich is your ultimate goal.

Check your country payment scheme for its military and calculate yearly, you will discover its not something worth it if you are a money monger.

However, take note you have high chance of savings when you are on tour, but it remain the same that if you want to get rich don't try it or else you will get involve in shit! bribery and corruption or even steal the military money and asset itself- try that and you die big time.

2. To Kill Someone

 

Maybe you have probably watched too much of action movies or play too much video games,if you are blood thirsty, rather join a terrorist group than the military itself.

This is actually one of the biggest reasons why guys want to join the military, although it’s a bit misguided.

Though you might want to seek revenge for your folks or countrymen and women that died in a terrorist attack, just make sure you draw a clear distinction between that feeling and wanting to kill. Honestly speaking you must be prepared to take a life, but not something you just love, even this reason if revealed at a selection board can make them check you psychologically or even not take you in.

If you want to join to know what it’s like to kill, you’ve watched too many movies, and real soldiers are going to laugh in your face.

3. Try it

.

Joining the military is a huge life decision, and not one that should be taken lightly.

Whether or not you plan on signing up for one of the combat-related jobs, you will be signing away your youthful years. God help you if you are raised stubborn or spoilt, your first 1 year in the force will be hell on earth for you with a serious psychological breakdown. You know back at home as a civilian you can  complain about everything, a nagging mother, a critic father, annoying elder siblings, stupid educational or water system- in the military you these are your closest neighbors in the form of Officers who are not even  up to your age ordering you  to clean up the toilet with your tooth brush.

All your mode of dressing, where to go and what not to do will be dictated to you. All your civil rights are in the dustbin. You should get ready to sleep in underground cells and get court-martialed for mistakes you will ever imagine it’s worth it or not.

 However you do not need experience to try it out, the choice is yours!

4. To Impress a Girl (or a Guy)

I hope you understand

Your girlfriend or your boyfriend, the truth is that when you finally get there after going on tour for a long period the guy or lady has forgotten you and move on with life, Although there are exceptions

 

5. Location / residence

The the notion that you can choose a place to be selected differ from country to country and mostly there is nothing like that, you will be posted far from your family, relocate a lot of times. If your country is among the world super powers like the USA or Britain get ready for a lot of travel especially when you are in combat roles.

The military place its members any place it wants.

From urban to rural, safe to most dangerous places, be ready to go anywhere

It takes years of serving and moving up in rank until you get any say where you can live.

6. Physical and emotional abuse

Every service ad won’t show the level of abuse you will receive when you get there, additionally the rank structure in the military is a one-way road Advance countries still respect you as human when you join and may take a senior officer to court when he step on boundaries too much However, there are a lot of times when you are expected to take verbal and/or physical punishment. On top of that, you are not allowed to give your side of the story. It goes thus= Rule no 1.Your superior is always right!

Rule no 2.If you think you are right check rule number 1 again

stay on your head 2hrs!!!!!!

.

are you kidding me!!

7. If you don’t like exercise

who brought me here!

It should go without saying that the the military is going to demand that you run, push, pull, sit-up, and climb on a regular basis.

While some jobs demand more than others like the special force, every member of your country armed forces is expected to pass physical fitness tests.

7. You will not kill and you won’t be in harm way.

Some dude they can get smart and sign up  or get posted for non-combat-role , actually, not everybody gets that luck, you may have some religious reasons which prevent you from killing, fine don’t consider joining because there are times the enemy will bring the war to you. The 9/11 attack of USA pentagon, some soldiers that died during the attack were not in combat-related role. If your base gets under attack you have no choice than to do the needful.

8. Country Policy

Sometimes your country can declare war on the enemy you don’t hate or get involved in a war that you feel its stupid, you can hate your president or lawmakers, but if you don’t want to execute their proposition, don’t you try signing up because anything can come up in this world we are living in. The lawmakers can go crazy; the president might assume a dictator and you might be ordered to commit genocide!!!

Conclusion

Actually, there are plenty of good reason to join the military, this write up are for those with misconceptions about what military life is.

Click on the link below to check the reason why you want to join the military.
https://afomicworld.blogspot.com/2018/01/reasons-people-join-army.html?m=1

The soldiers killed in Black hawk accident finally identified

The Minnesota National Guard released the names of three soldiers killed in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash on Thursday.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr., 28; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles P. Nord, 30; and Sgt. Kort M. Plantenberg, 28, all died in the helicopter crash approximately 16 miles southwest of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

All three soldiers were assigned to Company C, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, which is based in St. Cloud.

The troops had returned from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait in May, according to their service records. From there, they provided aerial medical evacuation in support of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Rogers enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on June 5, 2009, as a field artillery specialist before becoming a warrant officer in 2013.

Nord enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on Aug. 24, 2007, as an M1 armor crewman. He became a warrant officer in 2016. Nord leaves behind his wife, Kaley, two-year-old daughter, Lydia, and a child they have been expecting.

Plantenberg enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on March 1, 2016, as an aircraft electrician. He was a member of the Minnesota Guard biathlon team and competed in the Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships in 2018.

Plantenberg was preparing to start the state’s warrant officer program in March and then later attend flight school.

All three soldiers were born and raised in Minnesota.

The crash that took their lives occurred in a farm field in the central part of the state during a routine maintenance test flight, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on the evening of the crash.

“As a veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard, my heart breaks for the families, the friends and the fellow soldiers,” Walz said. “The coming days will be dark and difficult. The state of Minnesota stands ready to assist the families of our fallen heroes.”

The crash is currently under investigation by a team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Anytime an accident results in a loss of life — either on the ground or in the air — Army Combat Readiness Center teams are dispatched to investigate, said Col. Shawn Manke, commander of the state’s Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.

An emergency call was issued not long after the crew departed a Guard facility near St. Cloud Regional Airport at about 2 p.m. Thursday. The wreckage was found two hours later by first responders.

“Our Minnesota National Guard family is devastated by the deaths of these soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. “Our priority right now is ensuring that our families are taken care of."

Jensen said during a press conference Saturday that he cannot yet say which pilot was flying at the time of the mishap. The investigation will determine what exactly went wrong, but officials stressed during the press conference that the flight itself was not out of the ordinary.

“It was a routine maintenance flight that is conducted almost daily,” Jensen noted.

The last catastrophic helicopter accident for the Minnesota National Guard occurred in 1993, Jensen said. During that mishap, two aircraft collided at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minnesota, and five Guardsmen were killed.

All UH-60 Black Hawks belonging to the Minnesota National Guard have been grounded during the opening phase of the investigation, but are expected to begin flying again soon, according to Jensen.

 source: Armytimes USA

Nigeria Defence Academy 72 RC form is out.

The Nigeria defence academy had release the notification form for interested applicants into the 72Regular Combatant Course

Newspaper  Notification

Admitted candidates will undergo academic and military training as Officer Cadets for a duration of four years for the Nigerian Air Force cadets and the Nigerian Navy and a duration of five years for the Nigerian Army cadets. Following the successful completion of academic and military training, grandaunts will bag an honors degree in a core discipline as well as earn a Presidential Commission into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The NDA screening test, which would be organized as Phase 1 of the NDA Entrance Exam (Post-UTME) screening will hold on [Saturday 16,May 2019] at stipulated centers across the country. To be eligible for this exam, you must have registered for Jamb 2020.

Candidates seeking admission into the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Sciences, and Military Science and Interdisciplinary Studies must score a minimum of 180 while those seeking admission into the Faculty of Engineering must score a minimum of 210 before the Armed Forces Selection Board (AFSB) can invite them for interview and possibly admit them into NDA.

NDA 72ND REGULAR COURSE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The NDA admission process for the various undergraduate degree program are available on the NDA website/portal. This information is also available on the JAMB website and Brochure. Information regarding degree courses, examination centers, check NDA application status, and eligibility can be accessed on the NDA website or Application portal. It is worthy of note that a working knowledge of Arabic, French, and Mandarin will be an added advantage for applicants.

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION INTO THE NIGERIAN DEFENSE ACADEMY;

1. Candidates must have sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and passed the examination by attaining the minimum national standard as determined by JAMB in English Language, Mathematics, and any other two subjects related to the proposed course of study. It is mandatory that the course applied for on JAMB and NDA portal be the same.
2. Candidates must have a minimum of Five O’ Level Credits at GCE or SSCE(NECO, WAEC, NABTEB). This must be in English Language, Mathematics, and any other three subjects relevant to the intended course of study at no more than two sittings.
3. Candidates must be between 17 and 21 years of age at entry
4. Male candidates must be at least 1.68 meters tall while female candidates must be at least 1.65meters tall
5. Candidates must be physically and medically fit and must be of good moral character
6. Candidates must be single without any legal obligation to support any child or other individuals
7. Candidates must present a Certificate of Indigeneship from their Local Government Area or State Government.

Further requirements can be seen on the official website or the newspaper column above.

Useful links:

NDA application website

Start training yourself for the militarycommon-medical-conditions-that ruin your chance of getting into the military

A typical replica of what NDA afsb look like.

You don't know all about NDA

Getting admission without a godfather is possible

NDA anthem

NIGERIAN ARMY TROOPS SUBDUE BOKO HARAM CRIMINALS RESCUE AN OCTOGENARIAN AND OTHER INNOCENT CITIZENS

*PRESS RELEASE*

In their reinvigorated  drive to end the insurgency in the North East, Nigerian Army troops have continued to sustain the tempo of the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in the North East with a view to decimating and destroying the remnant Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) criminals across the Operation LAFIYA DOLE Theatre. In one of the numerous operations conducted across the Theatre today, 16 November 2019, troops of 26 Task Force Brigade embarked on a Clearance Patrol to Dalu Village within the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State following credible intelligence report on the presence of some of the criminal insurgents in that area. Fortunately, the report was confirmed as the troops soon established contact with the marauding terrorists and effectively subdued them with their superior fire power during the ensuing fire fight. Subsequently, the troops proceeded to thorough clear the Village of the presence of the criminal  insurgents. The clearance operation yielded good dividends as the troops found and rescued an octogenarian, 3 women and 4 children hitherto held captives by the criminal insurgents. The rescued victims were promptly evacuated and children among them were equally administered with Polio Vaccination by a Nigerian  Army medical team. Interestingly, no causality was recorded by own troops during the commando operations. However, many of the Boko Haram criminal elements were observed to have fled in disarray towards the summit of Mandara Mountains with gunshot wounds.

The troops’ resilience and doggedness are unwavering as further exploitation to complete the annihilation of the insurgents is being sustained in the mountainous environment.   

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai wishes to reassure the general public of the resolve of the Nigerian Army to continue to execute our constitutional mandate professionally and responsively for a better secured Nigeria. He also thanks all well-meaning Nigerians for their continued support, goodwill and understanding towards officers and men of the Nigerian Army as they sustain the conduct of various operations and routine exercises nationwide. 

Source: N.A Facebook handle.

The Army is prepared to move Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his family to a safe location if necessary

The US Army is prepared to move Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his family to a secure location on a military base if it's deemed necessary, US officials told The Wall Street Journal.

Vindman has been the target of public criticism, including from President Donald Trump, over his central role in the escalating impeachment inquiry. The president, without evidence, has sought to discredit Vindman's testimony by accusing him of being a "Never Trumper."

If it's determined that Vindman or his family is in physical danger, they will be moved to a safe location, the officials told The Journal.

An Army spokeswoman, Col. Kathy Turner, told Insider in a statement that the Army "is providing supportive assistance to help Lt. Col. Vindman with the public attention."

"As a matter of practice, the Army would neither confirm nor deny any safety or security measures taken on behalf of an individual; however, as we would with any Soldier, the Army will work with civilian authorities to ensure that he and his family are properly protected," Turner added.

Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, is a key figure in the impeachment inquiry. The active-duty Army officer and Iraq War combat veteran was on a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is at the center of the investigation.

During the call, Trump urged Zelensky to launch investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as into a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 US election."I was concerned by the call. What I heard was inappropriate," Vindman said in public testimony on Tuesday, adding that "it is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent."

Republican lawmakers on the panel sought to discredit Vindman in multiple ways, including by zeroing in on the fact that he wore his military uniformand by implying that he has dual loyalty to Ukraine. Vindman came to the US from Ukraine as a refugee when he was a child and the country was still part of the Soviet Union.

Some Democrats on the panel touched on safety concerns in their questioning of Vindman, particularly given the attacks he's faced.

At the beginning of his testimony, Vindman sent an emotional message to his father, applauding his choice to bring the family to the US decades ago. He told his father not to worry, adding,"I will be fine for telling the truth."

When asked why he told his father not to worry, Vindman said: "This is America. This is the country I've served and defended, that all of my brothers have served, and here, right matters." Vindman received a standing ovation.

Source:business insider

Nigeria army rescue hostages again.

Eight hostages held by Boko Haram insurgents in Gwoza area of Borno state in the restive northeast Nigeria have been rescued, the army spokesman Aminu Iliyasu said Sunday.

In a statement reaching Xinhua in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, Iliyasu said troops subdued Boko Haram terrorists in an encounter and rescued eight villagers including four children held captives by the insurgents.

A poster supporting the N.A

The coordinating army spokesperson said the rescued victims were evacuated while the children among them were equally administered with Polio vaccination by a Nigerian army medical team.

He added that no causality was recorded by the army troops during the commando operations.

According to him, many of the Boko Haram criminal elements fled in disarray toward the summit of Mandara Mountains with gunshot wounds.

“The troops’ resilience and doggedness are unwavering as further exploitation to complete the annihilation of the insurgents is being sustained in the mountainous environment,” he said.

Iliyasu said the army continued to sustain the tempo of the counter-insurgency operations in the northeast with a view to decimating and destroying the remnant of “Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) criminals”.

Source: Nigeria Army

International Criminal Court may investigate UK military for the first time over 'war crimes cover-up'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it may investigate the British military for the first time after allegations that war crimes had been committed, it has been reported.

A BBC Panorama programme claims that killings of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq have been covered up by the state.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) responded that the allegations are unsubstantiated.

Leaked documents allegedly contain evidence implicating British troops in killing children and the torture of civilians.

The recent BBC/Sunday Times investigation said it had obtained new evidence from inside the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), which investigated alleged war crimes committed by British soldiers in Iraq, and Operation Northmoor, which investigated alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

The Government closed IHAT and Operation Northmoor in 2017, after Phil Shiner, a solicitor who had taken more than 1,000 cases to IHAT, was struck off from practising law amid allegations that he had paid people in Iraq to find clients.

But some former IHAT and Operation Northmoor investigators said Mr Shiner's actions were used as an excuse to close down the inquiries.

All cases investigated by IHAT and Operation Northmoor were assessed by the independent Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA), which decided not to prosecute.

The ICC said it has taken the accusations "very seriously", according to the BBC and said it would independently assess the BBC's findings. It would "begin a landmark case if it believed the Government was shielding soldiers from prosecution," the corporation reported on Monday morning.

The year-long investigation claims to have found evidence of murders by an SAS soldier, as well as deaths in custody, beatings, torture and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch.

A senior SAS commander was referred to prosecutors for attempting to pervert the course of justice, the investigation claims.

Writing exclusively in the Telegraph, General the Lord Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009 said his “heart sank” when he heard of the alleged wrongdoing, saying: “here we go again”.

“It is always easy to make allegations, bit it is very difficult to disprove them,” he wrote.

“Are these the repetition of previous discredited allegations?

“No one is above the law [and] when a credible allegation of wrongdoing is made then it absolutely must be investigated,” the former head of the army said, “but the vast majority of British soldiers are not thugs and murderers”.

Solicitor Hilary Meredith, Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs at the University of Chester, represented several soldiers investigated by IHAT, and provided evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry which led to its closure.

“The so-called detectives continuing this financially motivated witch hunt against British troops have no credibility whatsoever.”

Ms Meredith said the investigators were not detectives at all, but civilian investigators employed by recruitment firm Red Snapper, a company that a Parliamentary Inquiry into IHAT heard had “turned up on family doorsteps and at barracks’ gates demanding information or threatening arrest, when they had no legal authority to do so.

“Soldiers who left military service many years ago, and had settled into civilian life were subjected to bully-boy tactics by investigators posing as detectives and falsely accused of unlawful killing.

“The real scandal in all of this is the untold anguish it will cause our brave - and entirely innocent - servicemen and women.”

An MoD spokesperson said “The UK has at all times complied fully with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) requests for information about its legal processes in respect of alleged war crimes and sees no justification for any further interventions by the ICC.”

Source: telegraph U.K