Barack secretly spent $23 million in Kenya

[TheGodfather]

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=181405

An investigation by three Republican congressmen has revealed the Obama administration has secretly spent $23 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars in Kenya to fund a "Yes" vote on a constitutional referendum scheduled for Aug. 4 that would increase access to abortions in Kenya and establish legal status for Islamic law tribunals.

Meanwhile, trusted sources in Kenya tell WND that the White House has used Vice President Joseph Biden's trip to Kenya in June and the office of U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger to put out the message that passage of the referendum would enable the White House to open the floodgates to allow millions of dollars of additional U.S. government aid and private investment capital to flow into Kenya.

Last week, in response to inquiries from Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, admitted to spending more than $23 million of U.S. taxpayer money to influence voters in Kenya to pass the highly contentious constitution.

"Despite denials, the Obama administration's funding to support passage of the controversial Kenyan proposed constitution is clear," Jeff Sagnip, spokesman for Rep. Smith, told WND in an e-mail over the weekend. "It constitutes U.S. monetary interference in a sovereign nation's voting process. If passed the constitution would dramatically alter existing pro-life laws."

Sagnip pointed out that the proposed constitution would water down the existing abortion law. It would permit abortion when "in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law." That language, Sagnip said, is "obviously vague" and riddled with "blatant loopholes."

Islamic courts

The proposed constitution would also give legal status to what are known as "Kadhi Courts," constituting an Islamic judicial structure within the overall structure of the Kenyan legal structure, to resolve disputes between Muslims under Shariah, or Islamic law.

Critics have charged that the constitutional provision to codify Kadhi Courts would violate the separation of state and religion by allowing Islamic law to have official legal status.

WND previously reported that in the 2007 presidential campaign in Kenya, Raila Odinga – the presidential candidate of the Orange Democratic Party and a Luo tribesman like Obama's father –signed an undisclosed memorandum of understanding with radical Muslims in Kenya to expand Islamic law within the country in exchange for Muslim support of his candidacy.

As reported by Ecumenical News International in the U.K., many Kenyans believe the provision in the proposed referendum that would establish Kadhi courts is a fulfillment of the agreement Odinga made with Sheik Abdullah Abdi, the chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum.

U.S. taxpayers suppory "Yes" vote

According to Smith's office, the USAID inspector general had identified the following programs with direct ties to supporting the "Yes" vote the Obama administration had funded in Kenya:

Provincial Peace Forum, Eastern Providence: $97,633.33 to "gain buy-in for the new proposed constitution by educating the professional elites in Isiolo South Constituency about its benefits and getting their commitment to use their influence to ensure people register and vote 'Yes' at the referendum."


Central Organization of Trade Unions, Kenya (COTU): $91,106.66 to "marshal a coalition of pro-Constitution individuals, institutions, and organizations to drum up political support for the Proposed Constitution by organizing a public rally at the historic Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi."


Provincial Commissioner North Eastern Province: $99,220 for "one of a series of activities that aim to contribute to an 'overrepresentation' of the 'Yes' voters at the next referendum. Specifically, OTI will provide support to the office of the Provincial Commissioner (PC) in the form of transportation and fuel.


Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance (KMYA): $56,953.33 for "one of a series of activities that aim to contribute to an 'overrepresentation' of the 'Yes' voters at the next referendum. Specifically, OTI will provide support to Kenya Muslims Youth Alliance (KMYA) in the form of transportation and communications.


Provincial Peace Forum, Rift Valley Province: $94,193.33 to "build on previous activities in the North Rift as an entry point for a 'Yes' campaign on the constitution. Specifically, this activity will serve to gain buy-in for the new proposed constitution by getting the professional elites' commitment."


Inter community Peace Choir Organization: $38,600 for "one of a series of activities aimed at facilitating registration of approximately 20,000 in cosmopolitan areas occupied by IDPs for a 'Yes' vote at the next referendum."


North Rift Theatre Ambassadors: $37,773.33 for "one of a series of activities aimed at facilitating registration of approximately 20,000 in cosmopolitan areas of Uasin Gishu, namely Turbo, Maili Maili Nne-Chepkanaga, and Huruma divisions for a 'Yes' vote at the next referendum."


Amani Peoples Theatre: $41,400 for "one of a series of activities aimed at facilitating registration of approximately 20,000 in Kachiliba and Psigor Constituencies-North Pokot for a 'Yes' vote at the next referendum."


Christian Community Services: $37,466.67 for "one of a series of activities aimed at facilitating registration of approximately 20,000 in the three Constituencies of Turkana South, Central, and North for a 'Yes' vote at the next referendum."


Pokot Outreach Ministries: $38,133.34 for "one of a series of activities aimed at facilitating registration of approximately 20,000 additional voters in the entire Constituency of Kapenguria for a 'Yes' vote at the next referendum."

"By funding NGOs (non-governmental organizations) with obtaining 'yes' votes, the administration has crossed the line," Smith said last week in a statement. "Directly supporting efforts to register 'yes' voters and 'get out the yes vote' means the U.S. government is running a political campaign in Kenya. U.S. taxpayer funds should not be used to support one side or the other."

The Standard in Kenya reported Kenyan Higher Education Minister William Ruto, who is leading the "Red" team opposing the Kenyan constitutional referendum, has accused Ambassador Ranneberger of crossing the "no-go-zone for foreign diplomats."

In defending his actions, Ranneberger argued he was operating within his diplomatic orbit, but "more so because the U.S. is a friend of Kenya and is pro-reform," according to the report published by the Standard.

"Ranneberger maintained he was a friend of Kenya and would therefore not shy away from pointing out the lies being propagated by the 'No' team," the Standard wrote.

"Separated by a few kilometers from another meeting, where Ruto was selling his views against the draft, the envoy promised to continue helping the push for reforms," the paper said. "The American ambassador again pointed out Obama was interested in ensuring the country embraces reforms to pave way for better governance, improved livelihood for citizens."

Obama's links to Odinga

The Obama administration's funding of Kenyan internal politics appears to follow a pattern then-Sen. Obama first set on his 2006 Senate-funded visit to Kenya.

During that trip in 2006, Obama campaigned so openly for Odinga that Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua went on Kenyan television on behalf of Kenyan President Kibaki to object that Obama was meddling inappropriately in Kenyan politics, as WND reported.

WND reported in 2008 that Obama raised almost $1 million for Odinga during the run-up to Kenya's 2007 presidential election.

Also as WND previously reported, Odinga called for protests over alleged voter fraud during the December 2007 Kenyan presidential election, with the resulting protest violence leaving an estimated 1,000 members of the dominant Kiduyu tribe in Kenya dead and an estimated 500,000 displaced from their homes.

In a horrifying incident following the election, at least 50 people, including women and children, were killed when an angry mob forced Kiduyu Christians into an Assembly of God church in the village of Eldoret, about 185 miles northwest of Nairobi. The mob set fire to the church, hacking with machetes any of the Christians who attempted to escape the flames.

In the final days of the New Hampshire Democratic primary, after the post-election violence in Kenya, Obama told reporters he continued to remain in contact with Odinga by telephone.

Obama did not object to Odinga's continued push to share the head of state with President Mwai Kibaki despite Odinga's electoral defeat.

Instead, Obama worked with former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to end the violence by creating for Odinga the position of prime minister – a position not defined in the Kenyan constitution – so Odinga could become co-head of state with Kibaki.

As recently as May, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, was in Kenya to investigate the possibility of bringing criminal charges against both Kibaki and Odinga for their roles in the post-election violence.

[gunderwood]

$23M in Kenya? Did he buy the whole country or something?

[zephyp]

Say it aint so...maybe thats why they tore that little statue of him down...he didnt give enough...

[OakRidgeStars]

$23M in Kenya? Did he buy the whole country or something?

[SgtBill]

$23M in Kenya? Did he buy the whole country or something?

NO WE DID to help out his birthplace and with no repayment or intrest to pay. It is a secret just like he is.
Bill

[totes6]

23 million is but a drop in the bucket.

Check this out
http://www.usaid.gov/wbg/pr_June_2_2010_1.html

75 million to help build infrastructure for the Palestinians on the West Bank. But wait didn't we just condemn Israel for building there???? And now we are building there. Hmmmm.




I want to know why all this money is flowing out of the US when we have such big problems at home.

[VBshooter]

Because Obama doesn;t like America and is doing his best to destroy it. What better way than bankrupt it? His idea of change is screwing chosen American people through their wallets and redistributing their wealth to the lazy and useless of the world.

[gunderwood]

Because Obama doesn;t like America and is doing his best to destroy it. What better way than bankrupt it? His idea of change is screwing chosen American people through their wallets and redistributing their wealth to the lazy and useless of the world.

This level of USAID has been flowing out of the US for decades. It is staple of American foreign policy to purchase our friends. This is particularly important when pursuing a empire based defensive strategy (read the reprint of The People's Pottage which covers this an predicted it as there is nothing new here). Some are purchased with USAID, others with weapons, others with loans, etc. A great deal of the world tolerates us because we give them stuff. Quit giving them stuff and you will find out what the really think of us. I'm not sure it really matters what they think in most cases, but I care because it is a huge some of money and there return on investment isn't there.

23 million is but a drop in the bucket.

Check this out
http://www.usaid.gov/wbg/pr_June_2_2010_1.html

75 million to help build infrastructure for the Palestinians on the West Bank. But wait didn't we just condemn Israel for building there???? And now we are building there. Hmmmm.




I want to know why all this money is flowing out of the US when we have such big problems at home.

/sarcasm

[Diomed]

While recognizing that anything from WND requires a healthy dose of salt...

An investigation by three Republican congressmen has revealed the Obama administration has secretly spent $23 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars in Kenya to fund a "Yes" vote on a constitutional referendum scheduled for Aug. 4 that would increase access to abortions in Kenya and establish legal status for Islamic law tribunals.

Doesn't that seem a little counterproductive? Once the latter initiative is in place, the former won't be for long.

[zephyp]

This level of USAID has been flowing out of the US for decades. It is staple of American foreign policy to purchase our friends.

Yup. This isnt just an obama initiative. We give billions upon billions to foreign countries and have done so for years...only alot isnt just to our "friends."

During 2000-2008 more than $300M was given to Keyna under foreign grants and credits alone.

Here's a link from census.gov with 3 spreadsheets. Take a moment to peruse them and see just how much we give every year away...

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ ... n_aid.html

[VBshooter]

Disgusting ain't it.?.. Sadly I don;t think we'll ever be able to rein this sort of behavior in and stop it. If we stopped giving money away like boobie prizes at a carnival we;d have enough money to fix all the crap the politicians have screwed up over the last couple hundred years and have a buttload left over to sit on and save like the y should be doing now. They seem to spend it just because it's there and if n t they will spend it anyway... We;ve all been a bit too apathetic to the Guvments bad habits and now we gotta pay the price ....and not just literally

[zephyp]

@Spence - yup, hence my tirade about voting...something we definitely need to do but it just aint the answer...

[KaosDad]

DK - thanks (I think) for sharing that link. I knew we were handing out cash but I had no idea of the magnitude of the problem.

[VBshooter]

It;s Catch 22 for sure ,, Damned if we do and damned if we don't

[ProShooter]

We're just paying Kenya for the community organizer that they exported to us.

[gunderwood]

If I read and added that right, in 2007 we gave approximately $42B in aid and another $22.5B in grants/loans which is practically the same thing. Not like anyone is going to repay those loans.

$64.5B in 2007!

That is just over $200 for every man, woman and child in the entire country! Every year!

[zephyp]

$64.5B...wow...assuming there are around 130 million tax payers thats about $500 per taxpayer just for foreign aid...now thats enough to tick off a monk...

[VBshooter]

THat and it;s time the rest of the developed world start antying up a much bigger share while we reduce ours, Taking that kind of money from the taxpayers and throwing it out the window is beyond reprehension,its the same as embezzlement IMHO. If we ever stop throwing the $$ around , we truly will be the richest country on earth,, but for now, thanks to a group of elected theives we remain the largest debtor, while the world laughs at us behind our backs ,, Very sad indeed!

[KaosDad]

I have seen apathy, and I have seen APATHY, but this takes the cake!!!! I posted the following to the local community forum:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.census.gov/compendia/stat...reign_aid.html

In 2007 your gubment sent $64.5 BILLION over seas in "Aid, grants and loans." Loans that will probably never be repaid. And the trend in giving your cash away is going UP.

In the mean time the U.S. sinks deeper & deeper in debt and jobs continue to vanish. Note, folks, this is not an "Obama thing", nor is it a "GOP thing." These are funds approved by Dems & Pubs alike over decades.

This should be among your top five issues in the upcoming elections. I encourage all of us to walk up to each & every candidate and ask them why our tax dollars are going over seas. What is the ROI? How can we afford to give away cash when people in this community are struggling with finances?

Sickening.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respondes? Comments? ZERO!!!!!!

Paaaaathetic.

[TheGodfather]

this is not an "Obama thing"

I agree that the constant giving of cash all around the world is something almost all politicians are guilty of; however, Obama secretly giving 23 million to help pass a pro Islamic constitution in Kenya IS an Obama thing.