Musings From Abroad

“I like acting like no one has me captured.” Why McCain fenced off Trump even in death

Published

6 years ago

August 26, 2018

It’s no longer news that late Senator John McCain does not want incumbent President Donald Trump anywhere near his burial rites.

The deep resentment goes way back and SlamReportsAfrica drives down memory lane to relieve what may have prompted the quarrel that lingered till McCain’s death.

New York Times provides some insight.

When Senator John McCain of Arizona returned to Washington with a fresh scar from brain surgery, it was widely seen as a dramatic effort to help Republicans overturn Obamacare.

President Trump had criticized Mr. McCain in the past and derided his military service, saying in 2015 of the former Vietnam prisoner of war, “I like people who weren’t captured.”

But in late July 2017, Mr. Trump welcomed him back to Washington. “So great that John McCain is coming back to vote. Brave – American hero! Thank you John,” he said.

Little did Mr. Trump know that the Arizona senator would help drive the stake through legislation that sought to realize the Republicans’ seven-year dream of finally dismantling Obamacare, handing the president an embarrassing legislative setback.

He was joined in his vote by two fellow Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, and 48 Democrats who defeated the slimmed-down repeal bill early Friday.

Mr. McCain left his intentions secret until the end, then cast his vote in a dramatic fashion, walking to the middle of the floor, holding his arm out and then giving a thumbs-down.

Audible gasps and muffled applause could be heard on the Senate floor. Outside a crowd of opponents of the Republican plan roared. The Republican senator offered a short explanation of his vote.

McCain leaving the Capitol asked why he voted NO: “I thought it was the right thing to do.”

After the vote, his office released a statement that he still wanted to see a repeal of Obamacare, while saying that the proposed legislation did nothing to offer more affordable health care to Americans. He called for a new legislative effort, with input from Democrats and Republicans.

The turn of events was the latest in the tumultuous relationship between the president and the Arizona senator, who has also been a thorn in Mr. Trump’s side by pushing for an aggressive stance toward Russia and on other foreign policy issues. After Thursday night’s vote, President Trump criticized the three Republicans who voted against the health care bill in a late-night tweet.

“3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!”

On Twitter, defenders of Obamacare saw Mr. McCain’s vote as sweet retribution for Mr. Trump’s past disparagement of him.

McCain to Trump tonight: “I like acting like no one has me captured.”

The late Senator had taken great pride in the role he played in the course of America’s intervention in Vietnam. Military service, he believed, was the ultimate price to pay in defense of one’s country, and could hardly comprehend why an American leader would make light of it.

By fencing off Trump, McCain may have wished that the incumbent President earned no political capital from his demise.

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Musings From Abroad

France, Nigeria sign agriculture, infrastructure deals

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Two agreements to improve food security and infrastructure development have been struck between France and Nigeria, while Nigerian lenders, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank, have expanded their operations into France.

The agreements were signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris, according to Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who said on Friday that the agreements included a 300 million euro investment plan to support the development of human capital, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure throughout Nigeria.

A letter of intent was signed by French Economy Minister Antoine Armand and Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun to enable the investments. Onanuga added in a statement that both countries have promised to simplify trade and investment procedures.

“The two countries committed to forge a strategic relationship in project implementation and enhance mutual trade and cross border services by removing fiscal barriers while protecting labour rights,” a joint statement said.

Zenith Bank opened its doors in Paris in addition to the government-level accords, and UBA is expected to follow after reaching an agreement with French authorities to start business in Paris, according to Onanuga.

Nigeria is the fourth-largest trading partner of France in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and the top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria Exports to France was US$4.26 Billion during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Musings From Abroad

Chad terminates defence cooperation with France

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

France’s influence in Sub-Saharan Africa has suffered a fresh setback as the government of Chad says that it has terminated its defence cooperation agreement with France, potentially leading to the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African nation.

After more than 60 years of independence, Chad, a crucial Western partner in the war against Islamic terrorists in the area, said in a statement that it wants to completely establish its sovereignty.

It stated that it would be allowed to reinterpret its strategic alliances as a result of the 2019 revision to the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

Although Chad has always worked closely with the military forces of Western countries, in recent years it has become more close to Russia.

After being forced to withdraw its soldiers from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso due to military coups, the decision represents yet another blow to France’s colonial and historic position in West and Central Africa.

Since then, the military juntas have looked to Russia, which has been developing stronger connections with Chad’s president Mahamat Deby and has mercenaries stationed throughout the Sahel area, a group of nations that stretches from the northwest to the northeast shores of Africa.

“Under the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition,” the statement said.

The French foreign ministry is yet to officially comment on the development.

Although a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week submitted a report with recommendations on how France could scale back its military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast, where it has stationed thousands of troops for decades, there were no signs that Paris had been informed in advance of the decision.

Approximately 1,000 French soldiers and combat aircraft are presently stationed in Chad.

In a further setback for France, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated Thursday in an interview with French state television that French troops should not be stationed in his nation.

He stated that Paris would be the first to know, but he did not specify whether or when French forces would be ordered to depart. There are about 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal.

The decision to terminate the country’s defence relationship with France should not in any way jeopardise the two nations’ cordial ties, according to a statement from Chad’s foreign ministry.