Boko haram
Hillary Clinton Secrete Hacked Documents
CONSERVATIVE ATTACK
THE RNC
ATTACKED SECRETARY CLINTON FOR DECLINING TO DESIGNATE BOKO HARAM AS A FOREIGN
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION DURING HER TENURE
RNC: “As
Head Of State, Clinton Could Have Boxed In Terrorist Group Boko Haram Before
They Unleashed Their ‘Chilling Brutality’ On The Region.” [RNC, 4/8/15]
RNC:
“According To A Report In The Daily Beast, Clinton's State Department ‘Fought
Hard’ Against Putting Boko Haram On The Foreign Terrorist Organization List,
Which Officials Now Say ‘May Have Hampered’ The Ability To Confront The Group.”
[RNC, 4/8/15]
RNC On
Terrorist Designation Of Boko Haram: “As One Former U.S. Senior Official Said,
‘The One Thing [Clinton] Could Have Done, The One Tool She Had At Her Disposal,
She Didn't Use. And Nobody Can Say She Wasn't Urged To Do It. It's Gross
Hypocrisy.’” [RNC, 4/8/15]
CLINTON DEFENSE
MORE
THAN TWENTY AFRICAN STUDIES SCHOLARS WROTE TO SECRETARY CLINTON IN MAY 2012 AND
URGED THE STATE DEPARTMENT NOT TO DESIGNATE BOKO HARAM AS A FOREIGN TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION…
Daily Beast: “In 2012, More Than 20
Prominent U.S. Academics In African Studies Wrote To Clinton, Urging Her To Not
To Label Bok Haram As A Foreign Terrorist Organization.” [Daily Beast, 5/7/14]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “As Scholars With A Special
Interest In Nigeria And Broad Expertise On African Politics, We Are Writing To
Urge That You Not Designate Boko Haram A Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).”
[Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
…CLAIMING
THAT SUCH A DESIGNATION WOULD EMBOLDEN BOKO HARAM AND LIMIT THE TOOLS THE STATE
DEPARTMENT COULD USE AGAINST THEM
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would
Internationalize Boko Haram, Legitimize Abuses By Nigeria’s Security Services,
Limit The State Department’s Latitude In Shaping A Long Term Strategy.” “We
are acutely aware of the horrific violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, including
attacks on both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, whether government officials
or civilian targets. We share your concerns about the impact of extremist
violence on Nigeria’s democratic progress and security in general. However an
FTO designation would internationalize Boko Haram, legitimize abuses by
Nigeria’s security services, limit the State Department’s latitude in shaping a
long term strategy, and undermine the U.S. Government’s ability to receive
effective independent analysis from the region.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation
Would…Undermine The U.S. Government’s Ability To Receive Effective Independent
Analysis From The Region.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would
Potentially Shift [Boko Haram’s] Posture Towards The US And…Undermine The
Nigerian Government’s Ability To Address The Problem Through Law Enforcement
And Thereby Improve Rule Of Law.” “An FTO designation would
internationalize Boko Haram’s standing and enhance its status among radical
organizations elsewhere. Boko Haram’s recent tactics, including the use of
suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices, raise questions about their
foreign links. The network’s focus has been overwhelmingly domestic, despite an
August 2011 attack on the United Nations office in Abuja. Rhetorically, some of
Boko Haram’s critique of northern underdevelopment and elite corruption is
within the realm of mainstream political discourse. But there are clear
indications that their tactics and targets have turned most Nigerians against
them, including local populations in the north. An FTO designation would
potentially shift the organization’s posture towards the US and validate the
more radical factions’ analysis of outsider influence in Nigeria. It would also
undermine the Nigerian government’s ability to address the problem through law
enforcement and thereby improve rule of law.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation [Of Boko
Haram] Would Give Disproportionate Attention To Counter-Terrorism In Our
Bilateral Relations, And Increase The Risk That The US Becomes Linked…To Abuses
By The [Nigerian] Security Services.” “An FTO designation would give
disproportionate attention to counter-terrorism in our bilateral relations, and
increase the risk that the US becomes linked – whether in reality or perception
– to abuses by the security services. An FTO designation would effectively
endorse excessive use of force at a time when the rule of law in Nigeria hangs
in the balance. There is already evidence that abuses by Nigeria’s security
services have facilitated radical recruitment. This was made unequivocally
clear in 2009 following the extrajudicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf, which was
broadcast across the internet. That incident was immediately followed by Boko
Haram’s radicalization, splintering, and increased propensity for large scale
violence. Moreover, the routine use of the military for domestic law
enforcement is a cause for alarm in a country with a deep history of military
rule, and where formal declarations of states of emergency have historically
led to broader political instability.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “Accurately Understanding And
Properly Addressing The Issue Of Boko Haram Will Require A Diplomatic,
Developmental, And Demilitarized Framework.” “Accurately understanding and
properly addressing the issue of Boko Haram will require a diplomatic,
developmental, and demilitarized framework. The State Department and its
civilian developmental partners must be in the lead.” [Letter To Secretary
Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “We Believe That An FTO
Designation For Boko Haram Would Limit American Policy Options To Those Least
Likely To Work, And Would Undermine The Domestic Political Conditions Necessary
In Nigeria For An Enduring Solution.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
…AS WELL
AS LIMIT THE WORK THAT COULD BE DONE BY NGOS TO MITIGATE THE TERRORIST GROUP’S
BRUTALITY
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “If Economic Development Is To
Play A Role In Alleviating Tensions In Northern Nigeria, We Should Not Hamper
Access By USAID Or Private NGOs In Providing Aid And Assistance In The Region.”
“Once the State Department makes an FTO designation and that entity is
added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list managed by the Treasury
Department, it is illegal for U.S. citizens to have any interactions with that
entity unless they apply for a license…Lack of information about the criteria
for being listed makes it impossible to be removed and encourages selective
enforcement. This cumbersome and arbitrary process has made it impossible for
some humanitarian organizations to operate in the neediest areas of Africa. If
economic development is to play a role in alleviating tensions in northern
Nigeria, we should not hamper access by USAID or private NGOs in providing aid
and assistance in the region.” [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “Should Boko Haram Be Designated
An FTO Through This Regime, It Would Be Illegal For Nongovernmental
Organizations To Interact With Members Of Boko Haram – Even If The Purpose Of
Such Contact Was To Persuade Them To Renounce Violence.” [Letter To
Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
African
Studies Scholars Letter To Secretary Clinton: “An FTO Designation Would
Effectively Criminalize Broad Categories Of Research.” “An FTO designation
would prevent independent scholarly inquiry about Boko Haram, and increase
suspicion in the future about researchers with no governmental ties. Public
policy benefits from dialogue with public scholars, and an FTO designation
would effectively criminalize broad categories of research.” [Letter To
Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
THESE
CLAIMS WERE ECHOED BY U.S. AND NIGERIAN OFFICIALS
Assistant
Secretary Of State For African Affairs Carson: “There Was A Concern That
Putting Boko Haram On The Foreign Terrorist List Would In Fact Raise Its
Profile, Give It Greater Publicity, Give It Greater Credibility, Help In Its
Recruitment…Drive More Assistance In Its Direction.” “Inside the Clinton
State Department, the most vocal official opposing designating Boko Haram was
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, who served in
that position from 2009 to 2013. Several officials said that the Nigerian
government was opposed to the designation and Carson was focused on preserving
the relationship between Washington and Abuja. Carson defended the decision to
avoid naming Boko Haram a terrorist organization in a Wednesday phone call with
reporters. ‘There was a concern that putting Boko Haram on the foreign
terrorist list would in fact raise its profile, give it greater publicity, give
it greater credibility, help in its recruitment, and also probably drive more
assistance in its direction,’ he said.” [Daily Beast, 5/7/14]
Nigerian
Ambassador To The U.S. Adebowale Adefuye: “The Current Well-Intentioned Efforts By A Few Members Of Congress To
Classify The Boko Haram As A Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Actually Risk
Deepening And Entrenching The Boko Haram Movement, Thereby Endangering More
Lives.” “Our government is working hard to defeat the motley band of
criminals popularly known as Boko Haram, a group that is likely to try to
capitalize on the recent wave of unrest. In order to effectively combat Boko
Haram, we need American help to be complementary — not contradictory — to our
own efforts. The current well-intentioned efforts by a few members of Congress
to classify the Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) actually
risk deepening and entrenching the Boko Haram movement, thereby endangering
more lives.” [Nigerian Ambassador Adefuye, The Hill, 9/20/12]
Nigerian
Ambassador To The U.S. Adebowale Adefuye: An FTO Designation For Boko Haram
Risked “Stymieing Desperately Needed Humanitarian And Commercial Activity.”
“Contrary to providing substantive tools for defeating Boko Haram, a FTO
designation, with its implications on all financial flows, risks stymieing
desperately needed humanitarian and commercial activity. Ironically, aid
destined for northern Nigeria, where poverty and lack of opportunity creates
fertile soil for Boko Haram’s recruitment, is the most likely to be hindered.
Dangerous opportunists would seek to fill this development vacuum and portray
the U.S. effort as retaliation against Muslims in Nigeria’s north.” [Nigerian
Ambassador Adefuye, The Hill, 9/20/12]
ONE OF
THE SIGNERS OF THE LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON URGING AGAINST AN TERRORIST
DESIGNATION OF BOKO HARAM WAS FORMER BUSH AMBASSADOR JOHN CAMPBELL
Council On
Foreign Relations Scholar John Campbell Signed A Letter To Secretary Clinton
Urging The State Department Not To Designate Boko Haram As A Foreign Terrorist
Organization. [Letter To Secretary Clinton, 5/21/12]
Council On
Foreign Relations Senior Fellow For Africa Policy Studies John Campbell Served
As A Political Counselor In Nigeria Under George H.W. Bush And The Ambassador
To Nigeria Under George W. Bush. “John Campbell is the Ralph Bunche senior
fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in
New York. Rowman & Littlefield published his book, Nigeria: Dancing on the
Brink. The second edition was published in June 2013. He writes the blog
‘Africa in Transition’ and edits the Nigeria Security Tracker. From 1975 to
2007, Ambassador Campbell served as a U.S. Department of State Foreign Service
officer. He served twice in Nigeria, as political counselor from 1988 to 1990,
and as ambassador from 2004 to 2007. Ambassador Campbell's additional overseas
postings include Lyon, Paris, Geneva, and Pretoria. He also served as deputy
assistant secretary for human resources, dean of the Foreign Service
Institute's School of Language Studies, and director of the Office of UN
Political Affairs.” [Council on Foreign Relations, accessed 4/9/15]
OTHERS ARGUED THAT DESIGNATING BOKO HARAM A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WOULD NOT HAVE MATERIALLY HELPED NIGERIAN SECURITY
FORCES…
Daily
Beast: “Had Clinton Designated Boko Haram As A Foreign Terrorist
Organization, That Wouldn’t Have Authorized Any Increased Assistance To The
Nigerian Security Forces.” “Had Clinton designated Boko Haram as a foreign
terrorist organization, that wouldn’t have authorized any increased assistance
to the Nigerian security forces; such assistance is complicated by the Leahy
Law, a provision that prevents the U.S. from giving weapons to foreign military
and police units guilty of human rights violations.” [Daily Beast, 5/7/14]
Daily
Beast: “Despite The State Department’s Refusal To Put Boko Haram On The
Terrorism List, There Were Several Other Efforts To Work With The Nigerian
Government On Countering The Extremist Group, Mainly Through Diplomatic And
Military Intelligence Channels.” “Not everyone agrees that Clinton’s
failure to act had significant negative effects. A former senior U.S.
counterterrorism official told The Daily Beast that despite the State
Department’s refusal to put Boko Haram on the terrorism list, there were
several other efforts to work with the Nigerian government on countering the
extremist group, mainly through diplomatic and military intelligence channels.
‘Designation is an important tool, it’s not the only tool,’ this official said.
‘There are a lot of other things you can do in counterterrorism that doesn’t
require a designation.’” [Daily Beast, 5/7/14]
…AND
THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO WORK AGAINST BOKO HARAM DESPITE THE LACK
OF DESIGNATION
Daily
Beast: “Three Boko Haram-Related Individuals Were Personally Sanctioned
During Clinton’s Time At State.” “Not everyone agrees that Clinton’s
failure to act had significant negative effects. A former senior U.S.
counterterrorism official told The Daily Beast that despite the State
Department’s refusal to put Boko Haram on the terrorism list, there were
several other efforts to work with the Nigerian government on countering the
extremist group, mainly through diplomatic and military intelligence channels…‘The
utility was limited, the symbolism was perhaps significant, but the more
important issue was how we were dealing with the Nigerians,’ this official
said, noting that three Boko Haram-related individuals were personally
sanctioned during Clinton’s time at State.” [Daily Beast, 5/7/14]
·
State
Department: Under Secretary Clinton, The State Department Designated As
Global Terrorists “The Most Visible Leader” Of Boko Haram, As Well As Two
Others Who “Have Ties To Boko Haram And Have Close Links To Al-Qa’ida In The
Islamic Maghreb.” “The Department of State designated Abubakar Shekau,
Abubakar Adam Kambar, and Khalid al-Barnawi as Specially Designated Global
Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. Shekau is the most
visible leader of the Nigeria-based militant group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna
Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, commonly referred to as Boko Haram. Khalid al-Barnawi
and Abubakar Adam Kambar have ties to Boko Haram and have close links to
al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.”
[State Department, 6/21/12]
A FACT
CHECKER ASSERTED THAT THE U.S. WORKED WITH NIGERIA ON COUNTERING BOKO HARAM AND
THAT AN FTO DESIGNATION WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED BOKO HARAM’S MASS KIDNAPPING
Washington
Post Fact Checker: Discussions Between The U.S. And Nigeria Over Sanctioning
Boko Haram “Was A Step-By-Step Diplomatic Process. It Was Made Clear That
Formal Designation Of The Group Could Come Later.” “In other words, it was
a step-by-step diplomatic process. It was made clear that formal designation of
the group could come later — and it did, the very next year. But in the
meantime, the State Department hoped it could use the threat of designation —
and the pressure from Congress — to induce better behavior by the Nigerian
military and a more serious approach to the threat by the Nigerian government.
By contrast, officials feared that going immediately to a designation would
forfeit that potential leverage and upset the Nigerian government.” [Fact
Checker, Washington Post, 5/19/14]
Washington
Post Fact Checker On Boko Haram: “There
Is No Evidence That An FTO Designation Any Sooner Would Have Prevented The
Kidnapping Of The Girls.” “Given the facts at hand, it was not an
unreasonable solution — and the process by which the decision was made was
fair-minded and thorough. Officials on both sides of the debate argued their
case, and, as is often the case, a compromise was reached. Moreover, there is
no evidence that an FTO designation any sooner would have prevented the
kidnapping of the girls.” [Fact Checker, Washington Post, 5/19/14]
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