Salim Lone

Spokesman Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga 2005-2018. Comms Director UN under Kofi Annan. Published NY Times, Guardian, WaPo, NY Review of Books, FT, Nation

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

A NAME AMERICANS WILL HEAR OFTEN: ADAM HAMAWI
The United States just "elected" to the House of Representatives for the Princeton area Dr Adam Hamawi, who will soon be one of Congress's most authentic and courageous voices. A charismatic figure of Egyptian origin, he openly codemned Israel for its murderous destruction of Gaza, where he had regularly travelled to perform surgeries on the critically wounded Palestinians the last 2 years.
Army surgeon Adam Hamawy wins crowded New Jersey primary in 12th Congressional District
https://t.co/mumuFO0Q3O

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

For Ted Turner, the UN was the only durable force for peace https://t.co/j2g5bPF95O
“Ted Turner believed that part of the reason America had so many problems was because his fellow Americans were so ill-informed,” wrote former CNN journalist Lisa Napoli. He befriended Soviet leaders, Cuban president Fidel Castro and even defended the repressive conduct and killings in Tiananmen Square. The great Turner had, like many other remarkable people, loads of inexplicable contradictions.

Ted Turner said it was vital to always keep in mind the views of the other side if we want to create peace. Too many in the media now ensure the opposite: suppressing the views of the other side to win the argument. In fact some try to tar the other side with hate. I do believe that the way media reports these days is one of the principal causes for the anger and hatred in societies.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

@SimekhaJME Apologies Simekha. This post was intended to expose the inhumanity of the US president, captured in his own words.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

IRAN IN SPOT AS PRESIDENT TRUMP THREATENS ALL OUT VIOLENT WAR
We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning. Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today. They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Trump threatens Iran leaders: ‘Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today’ https://t.co/Lnwn3HxO86

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

@tanjil_rashid_ @NewStatesman @TomMcTague An astonishing article by The New Statesman's Culture Editor. Its indispensable background on MODERN day Iran and a must read to understand the the country's ongoing resistance to the Israeli-American war despite the most awful destruction wreaked on it.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

Museveni’s even greater mass killings (and over a million Acholis in concentration camps) were ignored because Museveni had become the principal African instrument for their “war on terror” policies. https://t.co/O3wfnWswa5

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

MAMDANI CALLED TRUMP TO CRITICIZE HIM ON VENEZUELA, saying it violated international law. That takes a lot of courage! The Democratic leadership has not condemned it. Neither has the US media. France's Macron and Germany's Merz condemned Maduro. Merz said “Maduro has led his country into ruin” while Macron wrote that the Venezuelan people could “only rejoice” at the end of Mr. Maduro’s dictatorship.' https://t.co/5G7m7QnBip

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

EAST AFRICA PROVIDES YET ANOTHER AMERICAN LEADER.(More my FB pg)
Following in Barack Obama’s footsteps, Zohran Mamdani is now the best known young political leader across the globe. Emerging literally out of the blue, his astonishing election, at 34, as New York City’s mayor is almost surreal. This new role for the rising progressive gives him instant global relevance. It also provides yet another dramatic illustration of the growing revolt of American voters fed up with a rapidly deteriorating status quo in which tens of millions are rapidly seeing a curtailment of essential services even as the country’s wealth is being plundered by the super-rich under both the Republican and Democratic parties.
https://t.co/0gDSxxaMRh

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

Salim Lone: My 45 years with Raila Odinga https://t.co/YanYDYq5pK
The central fact of Raila’s political life, and indeed Kenya’s, is that despite “losing” every election, he retained his soaring popularity over a period of 28 years as opposition leader - a position in which was never challenged. None of our presidents has commanded such respect and affection nationally, despite the vast patronage that they dispense. See full text my FB pg.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

RAILA WAS NOT AN ENIGMA WAS THOSE WHO KNEW HIM. My hour long NTV interview this morning.

[NTV Kenya @ntvkenya]

Salim Lone: Kenya will never be the same without Raila.

#FixingTheNationNTV @Nationfmke @ericlatiff @mariambishar @officialjmbugua

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

While all our presidents curtailed our freedoms and rights to entrench their power and wealth, Raila's vast popular following allowed him, without ever holding power, to enlarge democracy and inclusion for the struggling masses and the marginalized communities that languished in the farthest corners of this great land.

[Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC @ahmednasirlaw]

Hon Raila was the most consequential politician in Kenya in the past three decades. He will be missed at many levels. At the political scene, he left few enemies, some allies and many orphans. To Mama Ida and the kids...poleni. A political giant has rested.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

Excerpts from NYT: "Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who served as prime minister;
He played a pivotal role in championing multiparty democracy in the 1990s, after multiple spells in detention without trial.
He was a leader both inside government and as the main opposition leader.
His death leaves a void in Kenyan politics, given his role as the principal challenger to successive governments." https://t.co/OH5jTVhO8G

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

As those who knew him will remember him - with a huge smile and an even bigger heart. Behind him is his close protector for years, Maurice Ogeta.https://t.co/8rlS7EtfaT

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

Former Kenyan premier Raila Odinga, a key figure in African politics, dies at 80
While all our presidents curtailed our freedoms and rights to entrench their power and wealth, Raila's vast popular following allowed him, without ever holding power, to enlarge democracy and inclusion for the struggling masses and the marginalized communities that languished in the farthest corners of this great land.
https://t.co/ZFJmSSn1B7

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

railRaila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, dies in Kerala
Raila was taking his morning walk in Kerala when he suffered cardiac arrest.

https://t.co/hzJIGGVsjI

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

PREPARING FOR MUHOOZI AS UGANDA PRESIDENT
Wall Street Journal's candid profile of Muhoozi on its front page makes it clear that for better or worse, it looks like he will succeed his father as Uganda’s President. More my FB page.
https://t.co/ocozMydGvY via @WSJ

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

@UNHumanRights Thank you Mr Volker for your very clear statements on the situation in Gaza. And thank you all 19 August 19 colleagues and all UN humanitarian staff who toil in situations infinitely more brutal than what the world witnessed on that Baghdad Day.

[Salim Lone @salimlone]

@ArundaLaw @RobertAlai @RailaOdinga My health definitely improved while how and with Baba and so many other compatriots, Arunda!