Podcasts about angolans

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

The last days before the Great Hunt.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.“Can the scorpion ever stop being a scorpion? “"Do we get our legally permitted weaponry back?" The bishop still held my hand."Sure. If it makes you feel better.""I would like to meet your people then," he gave my paw one last shake then released me. "Shall we go?""I will have someone take you to your car. I want to briefly meet with the President, of Havenstone, then I'll join you in the garage. We'll drive over to JIKIT and I'll make the introductions. Good enough?""That is acceptable," he nodded."What about you two?" I regarded the nun and the Swiss Super-soldier. The nun remained vigilant, and silent. The Swiss' eyes flickered to his boss before settling back on me."It is what I volunteered for," he stated firmly."Okay. Please never say I didn't give you a chance to take the sane way out. Also, Bishop Nicolö, circumstances have conspired to up my prospective wedding date to January 1st.""That will be more difficult. Why the change?" he remained grim."We are having twins. By March, this will be very visible.""That is, unfortunate," he shook his head."You have no idea," and then a brainstorm. "And I am curious about resurrecting the Order of the Dragon, the Societas Draconistarum." Technically that meant 'Society of the Dragonists' which was more appropriate than the literal Ordo Draconis."Precisely how do you plan to recreate a crusading Christian Order which was the purview of the Hungarian monarchs?" he didn't sound the least skeptical, just curious."I have billions of euros to fund such a thing," I winked. "Of far greater critical importance, I know where I can find the supernatural guidance and spiritual imperative for such an organization.""You are going to produce a dragon?" his eyes grew larger even as he fought down his fear. Good man. He was adaptive. He'd need to be."I never said such a thing. That would make me sound crazy," I smiled broadly. "Besides, when I say 'dragon', you think 'devil' and that's way too pedestrian for where we are going.""I am not a moral relativist.""Neither am I. I'm out to save lives and nurture the drive in the human spirit to reach for freedom, love and liberty. As you might imagine, I'm pretty freaking outnumbered.""I think you are crazy," he re-evaluated things."I just might be. In all honesty, you should back out now. Take your two compadres back to 25 East 39th Street (the Holy See's Permanent Observer Offices to the UN in NYC) and report 'Mission Failure'. You'll most likely live longer," I reasoned."I am not afraid to die," Sister Rafaela Sophia finally voiced an opinion."That's idiotic," I scoffed before the bishop could reprimand her for opening her mouth. "You should be.""My soul is in God's hands," she set her jaw."Does he talk to you?" I countered."His message is clear.""Not what I asked. I asked if he specifically directed you to toss your life fruitlessly away as an object lesson for the reckless, or careless?""This is uncalled for," Nicolö intervened."Nope. I bet you a phone call to my Brother to physically restore your bishopric that there are four people in this room who have murdered in cold blood," I kept eye contact with the nun, "and she's the odd one out. Right Juanita?""Yes, Ishara," Juanita slipped up. Her spycraft, like mine, needed work."You were in the military?" the bishop asked my bodyguard."Was? I am. Right now," she related. "I will be until I die."That earned me looks from the three Catholics."She is loyal," Nicolö nodded slightly toward her, referring to Juanita's declaration."Huh? To me? Nope. She's loyal to my office, which we shan't get into right now. Back to you, Sister Rafaela Sophia. Are you out to be a martyr, or has some saint, or angel, given you a directive the other two seem to be unaware of which causes you to devalue your life?""I am devoted to the One True God, Christ, our Savior," and Juanita snorted, "and the Virgin Mary," the nun stated firmly. "I don't hear voices in my head.""Juanita, that was rude. Apologize to our guest," I kept looking forward."No." Well, fuck you too."Gun," I commanded. I held out my left hand."What? No. I will not give you one of my guns," she resisted."Juanita, give me your primary weapon, or I will ask Pamela to beat you up the moment I depart for the Great Hunt. After yesterday's stunt, you know she will," I threatened. Fair, I was not. She drew a Glock-20 and handed it to me. I went through the routine, dropped the magazine then ejected the round before opening the door.Oh look, there were four SD chicks outside, ready to escort my visitors downstairs. I didn't even need to waste a phone call. It wasn't like the conference room wasn't being monitored."Excuse me," I took a half step out the door then hurled all three items down the hall. Looking back at Juanita. "Go fetch.""Fuck you," she snapped."And insulting her faith was as degrading to both her faith and her as me doing this to you is degrading to you right now," I lectured her. "It is important to her, therefore it is important to me because she is my guest in the same way it is important to me that I let my bodyguard do her job without being a total asshole all the time. Now go get your God-damn weapon," I barked. Off she went. I left the door open."Now Sister Rafaela Sophia, the point of all this is: I don't give a crap if you are willing to die for God. In fact, that makes you less than worthless to me and the team. I want to know if you are willing to put other motherfuckers in the ground so that Bishop Nicolá, or Mathias, might get to keep doing their jobs.""Murder is a sin," she declared."Go home," I sighed while shaking my head."She answers to me, the Church and God, not you, Mr. Nyilas," the bishop stepped forward."Then you can go home too," I shrugged. "I'm not asking for remorseless killers. I'm asking for people willing to kill to get the hard work done and best of all, for people who know the difference.""Everyone on JIKIT is a professional soldier, or killer?" he asked."No, but the ones who aren't don't carry guns and know to get down when things get funky," I bantered."I vouch for her," he insisted. Juanita came running back into the room."Cool beans. I don't know you either.""You apparently know my service history," he volleyed."Yeah. Ten years a foreigner in the service of France, then you went straight into a university which turns out Jesuits," I riposted."What turned your life around?" he evaded. That was okay. I'd gotten what I wanted. I was willing to bet he had read every bit of public information about me and it was rumored the heavy Catholic membership in the FBI had its benefits to the Church as well. Not so much as to give them insight into JIKIT, but,"Someone risked their life for me. It's been pretty much downhill from there," I confessed. It was the truth. After Katrina gave me the life line on Day Two, it had all spiraled to the revelation of my heritage, Dad's death, Summer Camp, the Hamptons, Romania and Aya's kidnapping."A person, a soldier, died saving my life," the bishop empathized. "Her story is similar. She seeks redemption. She is not suicidal. I am staking both our lives on it."Did he mean him and Mathias, or him and me? I wasn't certain. Still, it was good enough for now. I'd gotten a look at their emotional make up, even the relatively quiet Swiss."Very well," I agreed. "I have to go see the President about my new job description. I'll catch up with you at your car." To the SD team leader, "Take them to the garage. I will join the group of you very soon.""Yes Ishara," she nodded. I exited the room, Juanita in tow. Two SD entered. I was gone before the Papal team left. Upstairs we went, with one last chore to discharge. I had to check on Ms. French to be absolutely freaking sure it was Shawnee, because anyone else would spell disaster.{8:30 am, Monday, September 8th. Last day}A Room full of asistants:Well, there it was, the office of the Executive Director to the President, and not 'Executive Assistant', because this was Katrina's final 'fuck you, no, just her final 'fuck you' before the Great Hunt got underway. I shouldn't assume things, dang it!Anyway, according to the gray-haired matron running gatekeeper to the Office of the President, this was where I was supposed to show up. I shot Juanita a worried look. She glanced my way and shrugged, momentarily willing to not give me shit about the past 24 hours because where I was situated would determine how easily she could do her job.In we went. In the suite were three desks, the 'big' desk situated at the far end of the office space and two far more modest ones on either side of the entryway. The room expanded beyond the chokepoint formed by the two closest desks into a cluttered area. The walls were cluttered with inset bookshelves and portraits of women. Facing one another were a loveseat on my left with bookend plush chairs in an 'L' facing and a full sofa on the right. There were end tables at the ends of the sofa and the corners between the loveseat and each chair.As the door opened, I hadn't knock as this was my office, or so it seemed, the occupants, who had all been sitting in quiet conversation in the central section, began reacting. Oh look ~ Constanza! I nearly had a heart attack before I realized there were three other Amazons also in the room. Sadly, none were behind the 'big desk', so I couldn't tell who was in charge. Two of the other three choices weren't too much better. First off,"Ishara," Marilynn Saint John stood to greet me. I'd last seen her when I'd dedicated her grandmother's (Hayden's) spirit to the halls of my ancestors, not hers, after forcing the political crisis leading to Hayden's suicide ~ her taking herself to the cliffs and in doing so, destroying the Amazon Cult of Blood Purity. Marilynne was clearly still bitter with me. Umm, I could still incite passion in women I hadn't slept with, yet, woot?"Cáel," the senior-most and only friendly face in the room spoke next. Thank goodness it was Beyoncé Vincennes, Head of House Hanwasuit and House Ishara ally."Cáel Ishara," the third individual was deferential which I wasn't sure how to take as the last time I'd encountered her, yeah, things hadn't gone well either."Beyoncé," I started off with a smile. From there, I had to figure out, ah, Beyoncé's eyes flickered to Constanza then Sabia. I knew Marilynn, with her young age, had the least seniority, "Constanza, Sabia, Marilynn. How's tricks?"Glum faces by everyone except Beyoncé. I didn't ask about Sabia's particular well-being. It had been months since I'd beaten her into the mats of the Full-blooded gym. She'd attacked Yasmin, the Brazilian Hottie and my Brazilian Jujutsu sparring buddy, and I'd retaliated by ambushed her when she turned her back on us. Besides, she'd been giving me shit before I even could see straight.Constanza was minus her left eye because of her dire insult to me. If she wasn't capable of working, she wouldn't be here. If she appreciated my 'mercy' in sparing her life ~ her insult was worthy of her death ~ Constanza hid it well. I hadn't spared her expecting a change of heart. I hadn't felt words alone warranted anyone's death. I was a big boy and could take a few insults. House Ishara, as represented by me, could care less. These days, my sisters would be less understanding despite them knowing my heart."Constanza Landau of House Jaya and Marilynn Saint John of House Anahit are Assistants to President Shawnee French," Beyoncé eased things along, "so will be working closely with us, at least for the short term. Sabia Noel of House Guabancex, who I now think you know as well, has joined you as the other 'Assistant' to the 'Executive Director to the President', (that would make me an 'adept', but adept at what?), and since two of the three Regents are unfamiliar with the workings of Havenstone proper, Shawnee has asked me to perform in that role."Beyoncé was, or had been, Havenstone HQ's CFO (Chief Financial Officer). From what I was quickly piecing together, she would essentially be making all the day-to-day decisions concerning the running of Havenstone (how the Host made the majority of its money) until the Regents got up to speed.Only Buffy had actual experience with the New York office and, from what she had told me, solely within Executive Services. While ES knew 'who' did what inside Havenstone, they weren't aware precisely how those Amazons got their jobs done. That would have been an impossible task. Katrina could do it, but she knew it was beyond the ability of most of us 'mere mortals'. Since we were currently at war, the Host needed Katrina completely focused on her duties as Chief Spy-mistress, not baby-sitting the adults.Shawnee indeed had much gravitas among the other House Heads. Not only had she risen up to lead a First House, she had performed heroically during the final days of the last Secret War. Afterwards she had moved into the realm of Amazon jurisprudence and mediation. Until yesterday, she had lived in a House Arinniti freehold in Minnesota's Great Lakes region thus her desire for the 'Training Wheels' period.The Regency would not rule through telecommunication (the upper echelons feared being eavesdropped upon beyond the standard Amazon (read: paranoid) levels) and Havenstone: New York was the center best situated for the current war-fighting operations, so here she lived. I was sure a team from Executive Services was buying, outfitting/spy-proofing and fortifying a dwelling suitable for the President of a Fortune 500 company. Hayden's home would remain the domicile of Sydney thus Marilynn.The same rigmarole would be done for Rhada and Buffy (though I imaged Buffy would bitch endlessly). Publically, they were VP's of a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars and they had to present the public trappings of such leaders.Why did the Amazons do this ~ unmask their leadership to public exposure? Legal-simple: they could request and expect all levels of public and private security for their executives who happened to also be important officials of the Host. Certainly not all executives at Havenstone were officeholders, House Heads, or House Apprentices, but the high level of competence which permitted one often led to the other.Beyonce:As an example: Beyoncé wasn't the most 'bad-ass' lethal chick in House Hanwasuit. As she was preparing to be casted, her intelligence, creativity and diligence at her future craft, finances, was noted by the Host and the members of her House. In due time her name was circulated as Apprentice and the elders approved. When her elder cousin, the prior House Head, took herself to the cliffs, Beyoncé assumed the top spot. Beyoncé wasn't even one of that woman's three daughters.Mirroring her advancement in her House was her advancement in Havenstone's Accounting, Acquisitions and Banking Divisions until she was appointed CFO Havenstone HQ ~ the supreme financial authority inside Havenstone, though the individual regional branches had a greater degree of autonomy than you might normally expect from a 21st century conglomerate, or a Bronze Age autocracy.I had to constantly remind myself, despite the near-constant feuding, Amazons exhibited a phenomenally higher level of trust than I'd ever found in any other society I'd ever witnessed, or read about, before. Though technically Beyoncé could have gone to President Hayden to enforce her decisions ~ or now the Regency ~ she was far more diplomatic in her approach in dealing with the other 'continental' CEO's and CFO's.That meant she had to wrangle the aspirations and resources from:North America (including Latin America, the 'Canadian Arctic' and the North Pacific Ocean),South America (includes both the South Atlantic and South Pacific as far as Samoa),Europe (mostly Central Europe these days plus Antarctica, the 'Russian' Arctic and the North Atlantic),Africa (mostly West-central Africa),India (the subcontinent plus the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean) and,Southeast Asia (which includes Australia)All of which suggested Havenstone hadn't redrawn the Amazons' geographic demarcations since the late 19th century. As an example, an East African venture, say in Tanzania, was as likely to be under the purview of Havenstone: India (due to its control over the Indian Ocean) as Havenstone: Africa (which traditionally had no East Coast holdings due to their constant struggles versus the Arabic slave trade).Returning to Beyoncé: initially she had held the proper 'conservative' (aka man-hating) mindset. My behavior during that first Board Meeting began to change her opinion of me and the New Directive. After the Archery Range incident, Beyoncé became a vocal proponent of the New Directive and faced challenges within her ranks. House Heads do not have to accept challenges and Beyoncé didn't, reasoning with her detractors they had no alternatives save the 'Old Ways' which spelled doom for the Amazon Race.Bing-bang-boom ~ I became the Head of a resurrected House Ishara by the Will of the Ancestors and Beyoncé was vindicated. Not necessarily in the New Directive, but in her support of me thus the rebirth of a sister First House. The purge following High Priestess' Hayden's death was her ultimate absolution. The Ancestors and Destiny had spoken and shown Beyoncé had been piloting House Hanwasuit along the proper course all along.Back to my current circumstances:Oh, why was I Assistant to the Executive Director to the President? It gave me direct access to the finances of Havenstone which was a critical leg of the war-fighting stool ~ people, morale, money and equipment. As Chief Diplomat, I helped with all four of those in varying degrees, allied troops, allied victories, allied bank accounts and allied armaments.The Great Khan, my spiritual 'Blood-Brother', was ramping up his logistic support for my Amazons in Africa, Asia and the Americas. We were 'Allies in the Struggle' and he wasn't going to wait for the Condottieri to begin coordinating with the Seven Pillars to declare them to be his enemies. They were already fighting the Amazons and 9 Clans, his allies, so their fates were sealed.In Japan, my Amazons provided small yet highly effective strike groups which the Ninja families furnished all the support services for. Everything from food to bullets to medical attention as needed. Without reservation, we shared their death-grapple with the Seven Pillars.From the dispatches I was getting back from my family members and envoys in Japan, we were making serious diplomatic inroads with the Ninja. Once again, it was the Amazons shocking capacity for violence as well as their fanaticism, professionalism and proficiency which all impressed our hosts and terrified our enemies, and this from people of a philosophical mindset which had them historically battling samurai.The Black Lotus were running around like rhesus monkeys on crack cocaine unleashed in a China Shop and given RPG's. While the Amazons couldn't help them in China, Indochina & Thailand ~ the Khanate could and was. The Amazons were of more help in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Black Lotus and Amazons were going everywhere on the offensive against the Seven Pillars while the normal tight cohesion and iron-clad confidence, traits which made the 7P's so dangerous ~ were shaken by their horrendous losses in the 'Homeland' aka Mainland China.Less we forget, the 'military intelligence' wing of their organization had been decimated by the Khanate's Anthrax attack due to members of the Earth & Sky sacrificing themselves by being injected with the toxin then allowing themselves to be captured, which always ended in torture and death.Furthermore, the People's Republic of China, while having a scary 18% of the population either captured, imprisoned, dead, or displaced due to the Khanate invasion, that had come with the loss of 63% of their landmass (they had lost all of Nei Mongol, Ningxia & Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regions, Qinghai and Gansu as well as 90% of Yunnan, 80% of Sichuan and 20% of Shaanxi provinces) to the Khanate and the 'abomination' that was a free Tibet.Then came the Russian 'stab in the back' which entailed the loss of another 10% of their people falling under foreign dominion as well as losing 8% of their most industrialized territory, Manchuria (Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces ~ the Nei Mongol portion of 'Manchuria' was in the Khanate's greedy clutches, from the viewpoint of a Seven P's warrior).Don't get me wrong, they weren't about to throw in the towel. If anything, they were becoming more dedicated to trying harder, digging deep into their knowledge of every atrocity, inhumanity and perversion now deemed necessary to re-chart history back onto its 'correct' path. It was this willingness to act in an even greater sociopathic manner which was being used against them. After all, the 7P's had plenty of proxy allies, who were starting to get really nervous about what their paymasters were now asking them to do,We Amazons were getting some extra special help too. The Booth-gan (Do not call them Thuggee ~ the confederate 9 Clan member based out of India though long since ensconced within various Hindi enclaves across the Globe) had created an all-female group of ultra-fanatical Kali-devotees ~ a gift for the upcoming battle fomented by the Will of the Goddess herself.While Aya was our Queen and the Regency would rule until she wished to assume command of the Amazon People, the nuts-and-bolts of the Host's activities were handled by Saint Marie as Golden Mare (our Minister of War) (technically she held the top spot due to our State of War, though no Golden Mare had ever exercised such authority over a Queen (and she definitely believed Aya was our Queen)), Katrina (as Minister of Intelligence and Security), Beyoncé (as Havenstone (the multinational corporation) ~ our Treasurer/Economic Tsarina) and me (our Foreign Minister).Saint Marie had decided to forgo a public face in order to better facilitate her moving around to various battle fronts and holding clandestine meetings with her junior regional commanders. Her Havenstone corporate title was 'Chief of Security Training and Certification'. As an extra level of deception, the head of Security Services wasn't even a Director-level position, instead being folded into the duties of the Office of the President.To my current circumstances ~ I had been given Constanza's house name which could only mean she wasn't currently assigned to the Security Detail; a fact that couldn't have made her bad attitude any better. Marilynn had completely lost her way as an Amazon when I first met her, burying her pain and confusion in endless partying and intoxicants. I believed only her grandmother's status as High Priestess kept her from the severest of reprimands, or death. I didn't even know what Marilynn's caste was. Sabia,"While I'm sure you are both far more qualified than I, precisely how did you two get these jobs?" I had to ask my two non-coworkers. Constanza glowered. Marilynn flinched."I have an in depth knowledge of Havenstone security procedures and resources," Constanza replied."Shawnee requested me," was Marilynn's comeback. "I also have intimate knowledge of the City of New York and its environs.""Actually, Buffy Ishara recommended you both to Shawnee," Beyoncé corrected their misconceptions. I knew the score. I'd be working intimately with the tight community around the President (Shawnee) and Vice Presidents (Buffy & Rhada). Buffy wanted me to be surrounded by women who hated my guts, so I wouldn't end up boinking them. It rarely worked that way. All too often ladies who hated my still-beating heart ended up punishing me with sex. I wasn't sure why that happened, but it did."Beyoncé, didn't the Chief Diplomat of the Host have her own office? I'm pretty sure Troika had one before her unfortunate collision with Saint Marie," I felt entitled to inquire."Do you feel you've earned that office space?" she riposted."Oh, fuck no!" I waved my hands one over the other to accentuate my denial. "I was just wondering where I could stick Juanita while I'm hanging around, here.""She has the desk right outside the door, Cáel," Beyoncé smiled knowingly. "So there is no way you can sneak past her.""Oh," I grunted. "Buffy again?""No. Pamela Pile put in that particular request.""Oh, Sweet Mother of God, now she is conspiring against me too?""Yes. Some of us realize the greatest hazard to your health is yourself, Ishara," Beyoncé chided me. "We'd like to keep you around, so we listen to those charged with that nigh impossible task.""Is she going to be hanging around the office often?" Constanza asked, either myself, Juanita, or Beyoncé; I wasn't sure. She = Pamela."Please, Constanza," I attempted to intervene, "don't make Pamela kill you. It will upset Mona." Constanza's scowl was accentuated by the eyepatch covering her ruined left socket, the one Pamela had carved out when Constanza had insulted me and House Ishara on our first day of rebirth. I didn't tell Juanita this, because Juanita might just shoot Constanza over the insult before Pamela got a chance to finish the job.The tension was palatable."Mona and I have talked, about Romania, and other things," Constanza grudgingly allowed. It took me a second to realize there was a hidden meaning to what she said. Mona was part of my personal Security Detail bodyguard unit. If she felt Constanza, the woman who had raised her after her birth-mother had died, was a threat to me, she'd feel duty-bound to snuff Constanza first. Amazons were hard-ass bitches alright and I think Mona had made that clear."I hope things can improve between us," I offered to Constanza. "Beyoncé, I just stopped in to say 'hey'. I'm off to JIKIT and I've got three of the Pope's people waiting on me in the garage so,""Vice President Varma requested a moment of your time," Beyoncé smirked. "She is in 2604.""Who?""Vice President Rhada Varma, a moment of your time, alone?" she clarified."Sure thing," I backed out of the office. Once I had some space, I turned to Juanita. "Give me three minutes then bust in and say, I don't know, a tsunami is about to overwhelm the city, or something. Otherwise, I won't get out for at least an hour and I think I've put the Bishop and his people through enough delays as it is.""Are you actually asking me to stop you from having an in-office liaison?" she studied me intently as we walked in the direction of Rhada's office."Yes. It's not likely to happen often, believe me.""Oh, I do, in that you won't ask me to do it often," she grumbled. I'd deal with Juanita's morale problem later. Right now, I had to gird my loins so they wouldn't do anything else with Rhada. I had work to do, damn it!Rhada was sitting at her desk, working on something, stylus raised up so she could chew on the end. Her hair was pulled back in a half-ponytail, the type that captured the rear half of the hair in a ponytail while leaving the front and bangs free to flow down. Rhada's blouse was white & billowy and, as I was soon to discover, her pants were ultra-tight and contour hugging."Mr. Nyilas," she greeted me. "I would like a moment of your time," she relayed what I already knew. She was more than a tad nervous to boot."Vice President Varma," I started off."When in private you may call me Rhada," she interrupted."Rhada, you look more ravishing than ever."That got up her and coming around her desk, which revealed her ultra-tight pants with no sign of her wearing underwear. Yikes! My cock was preparing to do what a cock was meant to do and I just didn't have the time, Really!"Do you have any time?" she let her bosom heave."Not today, ugh," I groaned. See, Rhada took the stylus and dragged it down her chin, throat and in between her bountiful mounds.All of which exposed the top of her black bra."Are you sure, Master?" she enticed me by turning around and then leaning over her desk, point that ass in my direction. My mouth began salivating and my groin ached. I found myself quick-stepping to her and giving those buttocks two firm slaps, one on each cheek."No, damn it, though I'm going to make you pay for this when I get back," I rumbled."Master will make me wait?" she taunted me."That will cost you even more," I growled. "I have business which simply won't wait and here is my captive teasing me with the treasures of her flesh. Bad, war captive," I spanked her yet again, hard. "Bad!" and I spanked her a fourth time. With each beating, Rhada gasped in pain and then exhaled in pleasure."If I've been bad, Master must be extra harsh with me when he returns in triumph from the Great Hunt," she gloated. Rhada had gotten what she wanted, which was another affirmation of my lust for her and our 'game'. I could provide her the release she so desperately craved while allowing her the safety of remaining in the Amazon fold. It was a perfect pairing, for her.I had other problems, such as all the other baby mamas in my life plus the extra-marital affairs I was contemplating. I still took the moments we had to snuggle with Rhada, her grinding that tush into my rod while I held both her arms tightly to her side while raining kisses down onto her neck and head."Sir! A giant tsunami is approaching the city!" Juanita exploded through the door."What?" I coughed. I had a face full of hair."Huh?" Rhada pushed up and away from me. I let her go."Right now," Juanita insisted. She really needed to stop taking me so seriously when I gave her such advice."Really?" from Rhada. She shot me a curious look so I shrugged. What else was I supposed to do with such a flimsy lie forcing our separation? At least I got out of there on time?{9:50 am, Monday, September 8th ~ Last day}(JKIT HQ)"Is this a common occurrence?" Sister Rafaela Sophia whispered to the closest woman, who happened to be Wiesława, the Polish Amazon. Since she hadn't arrived with us from Havenstone, the nun might have assumed she was with the 'Americans', or British."What?" Wiesława responded evenly."Weapons combat, they look real," the nun clarified."They are real. We always practice with real weapons.""Really?""Of course," Wiesława smiled at her. "We believe a few cuts and scrapes now will save lives when the true tests come.""Oh, you are with, Havenstone?" Rafaela clued in."Yes. I am Wiesława of House Živa. I am currently assigned to Unit L, Cáel's unit within JIKIT," she offered her hand to shake. Despite being a full-blooded Amazon from a freehold, her 'human' skills were progressing nicely. The nun shook it."I am Sister Rafaela Sophia of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is a Roman Catholic Religious Order." Pause. "Do you hate Catholics too?""Yes. We have lived beside your people for many centuries and found your clergy to be much more dangerous than your pagan predecessors. Still, Cáel thinks you can be relied on and he's proven we can trust outsider women, which I was raised to believe was unlikely, and outsider men, which was basically anathema, so I'm willing to set aside my prejudices and judge you as an individual," the Pole imparted."Outsider men?" Rafaela mumbled."Well, yes," Wiesława smirked. "You are a nun, right?""Yes.""So you set aside the World of Men to live mostly among women, right?""Not entirely," the nun chose her words carefully. "We still rely on priests for religious rights and of course obey the life teachings of Christ and follow the leadership of his Holiness, the Pope, a man.""No one is perfect," the Amazon bantered back."Do you know the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ?" Rafaela ventured into dangerous waters."Yes. He was the semi-historical Son of your supposed One True God. We are not monotheists. We are Polytheists. Živa is my House's matron Goddess. It is also the name of the first woman to lead the House, her birth name surrendered to Destiny so all the daughters who came afterwards would be equals.""Oh, is Mr. Nyilas also pagan?" she inquired."I am unsure. From what I have been told, he has commended the spirit of his fallen father to your Jesus in a sacred ceremony then, in the presence of your Trinity and the Goddess Ishara, brought in new members to his House. I suspect he may be both," Wiesława reasoned. "Why don't you ask him?""Because he's fighting for his life?" Rafaela looked my way.See, the entire time their discussion had been going on, I had been sparring in a spare room at JIKIT HQ with Estere Abed, the Hashashin assassin (rather redundant ~ like saying the Sahara Desert). I had two tomahawks while she had a scimitar and curved dagger. While we sparred using the furniture as obstacles, Agent-86 was briefing me on various World events to get my input.Addison Stuart (CIA) and Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke (MI-6) were having a chat with Bishop Nicolé de Santis, verifying for themselves he was worth adding to the team. Juanita was having a similar discussion with Rikki Martin (US State Department) concerning my earlier encounter with the Papal team. Nicolé's buddy, Wachtmeister Mathias Bosshart of the Swiss Guard, was getting acquainted with the other security personnel.In comparison, those two had it easy. Both men were in their elements. Nicolé was a spook who pretended to be a diplomat for the Pope and was well acquainted with terms like 'deniable assets', 'plausible deniability' and your direct superior referring to requests concerning your identity/diplomatic status by saying 'I never heard of him and if I had, I have no idea what he was doing when you caught him doing what I don't know what he was doing', or something like that.Mathias was in the company of military-security specialists, brother professionals who were introducing him to his 'sister' professionals. Our Homeland Security gang were almost entirely former military by now. They got along with our JSOC folks and both had gained a limited acceptance with the Amazon security contingent.They bonded over the fact they were forced to work with really shady characters ~ the 9 Clans menagerie ~ who didn't always appreciate JIKIT operational security. Without going into particulars, the Wachtmeister was given the impression the abnormal was the norm and if you didn't think there was a 'down-side' to being able to carry your personally favorite bang-bang (the SG 552-2P Commando in his case) with some serious attachments (read: grenade launcher) around in downtown Manhattan, you probably didn't belong on this team.Back in the room,"He's not fighting for his life," Estere laughed. "He is fighting for mine.""Right," I responded sarcastically. We went through a flurry of exchanges, ending up with me kicking a chair at her. Estere stepped over it, colliding with me.I blocked her dagger, disarmed her scimitar and,"You are dead," she panted down at me, smiling. I was on my back, her straddling me. She had a belt-knife to my throat. I hadn't see her draw it. The scimitar 'disarm' had been a distraction."Woot!" I exhaled."But you're dead," Sister Rafaela misunderstood my good humor."He survived a minute and thirty-four seconds more today than his previous record," Estere responded. She slithered off of me, doing my arousal no good whatsoever, then offered me a hand up."And that's better?""He's a rank amateur with a few months on the job. I've been training to kill people for nearly two decades," Estere smiled. "Care to have a go?""With him, or you?""Either," Estere offered."I don't have a knife, or any hand weapons," she stated."We'll need to remedy that," Wiesława stated. "You should at least carry a knife.""Really? Why?""It is a nearly universal tool," I verbally stepped up. "Even if you are disarmed, you should be able to find one relatively easily, people are less likely to miss a stolen knife than a purloined gun, and a concealed blade could come in handy.""Do you train in knife-work?" Rafaela eye-balled me."Absolutely. It is part of my culture," I grinned."Okay. Can we spar, hand-to-hand?""Sure," I nodded. I put my tomahawks in their harnesses then put my harnesses aside. Estere gave me a wink before giving us the fighting space."So," Rafaela began to circle, "are you Christian?""By your definition, or mine?""By the definition of the Catholic Church."Oh cool, she went for a Savate stance. This was going to get ugly.My "no," was followed by her kick and my block, lunge and grapple. She wasn't nearly as good as Felix. I had her down and in a choke hold within fifteen seconds.Perhaps she thought I'd take it easy on her. She tapped out. I released her, retreated and flowed back to my boxing stance. It took her a moment to realize this was 'practice', not 'an interview'. She hadn't failed in anyone's eyes. We were both doing this to get better."See, I really, truly believe I have talked to supernatural entities ~ some who are considered divinities," I continued. This time she was more careful, trading jabs and blocks with me. "They don't claim to be the One True God. I believe in such a thing, but I also believe having been given the Message, Humanity has been left to muddle things out for ourselves."Whoops, she popped me one."The Woman-Thing this morning?""Yep," I evaded another flurry. She got cocky and I landed three blows, dropping her to the ground. I didn't help her up. Instead, I withdrew and let her get back up on her own before deciding if she wanted to continue. She did."I believe I've seen dragons and ghosts. I have felt legions of my ancestors give me quiet encouragement when I needed it. I know the dead have been brought back to life," I came at her. This time we both went for body blows, knees, elbows and fists. She was not SD-caliber and she needed to be. I grappled and she was forced to tap out again. After she regained her feet, she held up a hand for a pause."Do you believe any of that?" she addressed Estere."I am an adherent of Ismaili Islam yet nothing Cáel has encountered is contrary to my belief system. The Universe is a complex place and the Divine Light is often seen through a fractured lenses," she counseled the nun."Among the escapees were lawyer Francisco Luemba, Catholic Priest Raul Tati, economist Belchior Lanso Tati and former policeman Benjamin Fuca who are serving jail sentences of between three and six years each for supposed links to the rebel group FLEC (Frente para a Libertaé'o do Enclave de Cabinda), which carried out the attack on the Togolese football team at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in January, 2010," Agent-86 read off yet another bit of global minutia."We need to get to them," I half turned. Sister Rafaela punched me in the gut and I folded up."Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry.""Okay," I mumbled. I had to keep with the plan. "Those men. We need to contact our Coils people in Kinshasa and the Warden of the Mountain Ways ('she' was the Amazon Host's leader of Africa ~ in the ancient times, the mountain ways had been the routes of southern vulnerability for the Amazon tribe thus the name).""Okay," both Agent-86 and Estere answered."Why?" 86 added."The Coils and the Host have had a serious problem with no nation in Africa giving them even back room recognition so we are going to take over our own country, Cabinda. It's been struggling to be free of Angola since 1975 and, by latest estimates, we've got strike elements of over 2,000 Amazons ready and waiting next door in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.""So you are going to go to war with Angola?" Estere frowned. "Don't we have enough enemies?""Au contraire," I grinned wickedly. "The resistance movement is genuine," I ticked off my points, "they have tons of offshore oil, and after we set off some spectacular explosions in the two main Angolan ports which are just down the coast, we allow global panic to bully the UN into intervening before the Angolan military launch an effective counter-offensive ~ considering the Angolan Armed Forces (I'd been reading up on a ton of CIA & MI-6 briefings) will most likely involve attrition warfare since they can't beat us in a stand-up fight.""They, the Angolans, have no overland access, they are separated by 60 kilometers of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo over some sad ass roads Plus the Congo River itself which is freaking huge by the time it gets that close to the Atlantic, Cabinda rests on the Atlantic Ocean by the way. No bridges. The Angolan Navy is anemic. Let me think."I began pacing."Hmm, they have no paratroopers though they have some Special Forces, we will need to hit as many of them in the barracks as we can. Their last invasion was from the north, overland, from the Republic of the Congo, in 1975, not likely to happen this time, though I may have my 'Brother' weasel up a battalion of Indian paratroopers to act as convincing peacekeepers after the initial take over.""Perhaps we can recruit some Vietnamese. I'm sure they'll love fighting in someone else's jungle for a change. We'll need some of 'our' guys to seize the port of Soyo, it is on the wrong side of the river, but has the major refinery the Cabindans will need. Since the entire surrounding province are the same ethnic make-up as the Cabindans, we'll have to take that too.""Man-o-man, I bet by the time this is over they'll really wish they'd given little Cabinda independence back in 1975. As for their other refinery, it is in their capital, Luanda, a few big explosions there too will get the markets jittery. Check that ~ the complete and utter destruction of their major petroleum facility will create a stampede for Peace," I continued. I walked over as our resident computer intelligence genius worked his magic."Blowing things up, you mean killing people," the nun blanched."Yes. This is what I do," I spared her a sympathetic glance. "I've got a madman roaming around in my head who provides me truly epic military advice which normally, but not always, means blowing shit up and killing folks. Welcome to the team," then as the data appeared, "Holy Shit! Did they build their oil refinery in the midst of their ghetto?" I was staggered. The refinery in Soyo was isolated from the town so it could be easily (and safely) seized. It was the one in Luanda which was the 'Holy Shit' site."It looks that way," Agent-86 agreed nonplussed. "Hmm, yeah, here is the port facility then your neighborhood of shoddily constructed one- and two-story dwellings between the refinery and the inland storage tanks, the perimeter barrier appears to be a chain link fence. I'd hate to be their Chief of Security.""Oh yeah," I choked. Estere slipped around to get a look."Whoops," she snorted."What are these people thinking?" I continued. "The whole shebang is exposed to the northern quarter of the city. The storage tanks have residential dwellings on all four sides with numerous side streets. Two teams with RPGs and four rounds apiece, Holy Crap. Sorry Sister.""But I want to save lives," she sputtered."Limiting the collateral damage could be pretty tough," Estere frowned. She toggled throw a series of maps to multiple pictures."Oh, look (dripping sarcasm); they light up the refinery at night. You can sit off the coast in a speed boat under cover of darkness and attack from there," she noted."Damn. Those are a lot of lights," Agent-86 agreed."24-7 operation," I suspected."We will need some experts," the government agent nodded."Or we are going to kill a fuck-load of innocent people. Not just the workers, but can you imagine a fire spreading to those neighborhoods? Shit," I muttered."You can't seriously be contemplating doing something like this," the nun sputtered. "It is inhumane. Think of the families, the children.""Lady, yes I am. Do you have any idea what the Human Rights record of the Angolan Army in Cabinda is? It is truly horrific and in case you missed it, one of the guys in dire need of rescuing by me, due to him being a huge rebel leader who has managed to escape, is also a Catholic priest. He's going to be part of the new government we are going to install once we kill a few hundred Angolans ~ mostly soldiers (more like well over a thousand).""We are going to kill a few hundred so a few hundred thousand can live free, democratic lives without worrying about the local police and political establishment torturing and murdering them. It is all part of the plan.""I think I need to talk with the Bishop.""Hang on. Let me finish," I forestalled her. "He'll get briefed along with everyone else. After all, it is a majority Roman Catholic country as is Angola, so I'm sure your guy can be of immense help.""The people you are putting at risk don't deserve this," she protested."They never do," I nodded in agreement with her. "It rarely stops terrible crap from happening to them though."I felt sorry for the Sister. She thought the Bishop was going to put a stop to this. Poor girl; he was going to do the exact opposite. See, the two competing forces at play here were a communistic kleptocracy (currently ruling Angola) and Catholic liberation theology united with a Cabindan national identity dating back to 1885. At stake was 900,000 barrels a day of petroleum. That was a bunch of funding for somebody. Last I checked, the state run energy conglomerate had misplaced $32 billion, in just three years.Mind you, the Coils of the Serpent and the Amazon Host didn't want to help the People of Cabinda out of the goodness of their hearts either. They wanted cover for the importation of weapons and other war-fighting material so they could kill the Condottieri in Africa. If the rebel leaders-turned-legitimate government didn't play ball well, the Coils were in the 'assassinating people' business and somewhere along the line the survivors would figure out keeping 'us' happy kept them alive. Problem solved.It was Bishop Nicolé de Santis' job to facilitate that understanding. If certain people with Vatican credentials explained the 'facts of life' to the new regime a lot more lives could be saved, Catholic lives. In turn, he could work to make sure the new group in power wasn't nearly as corrupt as the gang we were tossing out. Better education and quality of life, improved infrastructure & security and a nice shiny cathedral, or two.We, as in JIKIT and our component members, didn't want to rule the country and dominate the people's lives. We needed the ports and the airfields with a blind eye turned to our skullduggery. Sure, there would be future considerations. Amazons and Coil members would be fighting and dying for these people's freedom ~ public recognition definitely not required. No; the Amazons wanted to be left alone in their deep jungle homes which was an isolation they basically already had. This was a future chit which said 'don't come looking'.The Coils? Let's just say in the future Cabinda would have embassies around the globe and if occasionally they wanted someone to slip through under diplomatic cover ~ they were good for it. And if the Cabindans ever needed help in the future they knew they had friends in dark places who were now invested in Cabinda's survival. It was a win-win-win, unless you were an Angolan big-wig, or one of their foot-soldier currently serving in Cabinda. Amazons weren't big on taking prisoners, or even giving the opposition the option of giving up.For me, it wasn't lunch yet and here I was plotting to overthrow yet another government in yet another country ~ though in only two, small provinces this time. Thank the Goddess I had the rest of the week

President Joe Biden begins his much-anticipated first visit to Africa, specifically Angola Monday. The president is expected to stop in the island nation of Cape Verde, another former Portuguese colony. The White House says the president's trip will focus on strengthening regional security, growing economic opportunities, and improving technological and scientific relations. Florindo Chivucute, the executive director of Friends of Angola, tells VOA's James Butty, many people are excited about Biden's visit and hope that whatever investments accruing from the visit would benefit ordinary Angolans.

I interview Dr. Torkil Færø, the author of the most recent (and, in my opinion, approachable and actionable) book on heart rate variability, The Pulse Cure. He's a Norwegian doctor with over 100,000 patient consults under his belt, one of the top Biohackers in his country, an "octo-glot" (a word I just invented for someone who speaks 8 languages), and he's on an expert consultant for our new flagship program, Anakainōsis.HRV may seem nerdy and complicated, but one thing is guaranteed when you start self-quantifying it; unexpected edifying findings. You'll quickly learn some surprising things about how the way you eat, drink, sleep, exercise, socialize, or work impacts the state of your autonomic nervous system and with it, your energy reserves, health, and - ultimately - your longevity. Whether you've just heard of HRV or you're well-acquainted with it, this book will guide you to the health transformation that awaits when start measuring what's now so easy and affordable to measure.0:51 About Dr. Torkil4:55 Life lessons from his time serving as a doctor in wartorn Angola11:47 What did the Angolans have that we lack in the developed Western world?13:20 Jedi mind trick for stress15:25 Memento mori lifehack18:13 My mindblowing flowstate experience with HRV training23:00 HRV: The pragmatic Biohacker's metric22:36 Unexpected edifying findings24:30 Breathwork a surprisingly potent Biohack30:37 "No free will" DISPROVEN by breathwork34:23 The best HRV wearable - with NO subscription service!38:38 Wearables vs HRV smartphone camera apps40:12 "Toxic comparison" to others51:38 Exercise beats the hell out of therapy for mental health?56:13 Inflammaging - is HRV training the cure?1:01:31 Biofeedback devices: Continuous glucose monitors vs HRV wearables1:06:09 The biohacker is pragmatic not puritanical1:10:25 The greatest challenge of the avaricious: slowing down1:13:09 The booze question1:18:07 The nicotine question: a case of bio-individuality1:23:05 About the new Anakainōsis programRead book review

I interview Dr. Torkil Færø, the author of the most recent (and, in my opinion, approachable and actionable) book on heart rate variability, The Pulse Cure. He's a Norwegian doctor with over 100,000 patient consults under his belt, one of the top Biohackers in his country, an "octo-glot" (a word I just invented for someone who speaks 8 languages), and he's on an expert consultant for our new flagship program, Anakainōsis.HRV may seem nerdy and complicated, but one thing is guaranteed when you start self-quantifying it; unexpected edifying findings. You'll quickly learn some surprising things about how the way you eat, drink, sleep, exercise, socialize, or work impacts the state of your autonomic nervous system and with it, your energy reserves, health, and - ultimately - your longevity. Whether you've just heard of HRV or you're well-acquainted with it, this book will guide you to the health transformation that awaits when start measuring what's now so easy and affordable to measure.0:51 About Dr. Torkil4:55 Life lessons from his time serving as a doctor in wartorn Angola11:47 What did the Angolans have that we lack in the developed Western world?13:20 Jedi mind trick for stress15:25 Memento mori lifehack18:13 My mindblowing flowstate experience with HRV training23:00 HRV: The pragmatic Biohacker's metric22:36 Unexpected edifying findings24:30 Breathwork a surprisingly potent Biohack30:37 "No free will" DISPROVEN by breathwork34:23 The best HRV wearable - with NO subscription service!38:38 Wearables vs HRV smartphone camera apps40:12 "Toxic comparison" to others51:38 Exercise beats the hell out of therapy for mental health?56:13 Inflammaging - is HRV training the cure?1:01:31 Biofeedback devices: Continuous glucose monitors vs HRV wearables1:06:09 The biohacker is pragmatic not puritanical1:10:25 The greatest challenge of the avaricious: slowing down1:13:09 The booze question1:18:07 The nicotine question: a case of bio-individuality1:23:05 About the new Anakainōsis programRead book review

词汇提示1.prosthetic 假设2.handicapped 残疾的3.amputee 截肢者4.pervasive 无所不在的5.hazardous 危险的6.refugees 难民7.casualties 伤员原文Diana,Princess Of Wales: 'A Modern Tragedy And Its Consequences' (2)As the Red Cross have expressed it:"Each victim who survives, will incur lifetime expenses for surgery and prosthetic care totaling between 2,000 and 3,000."That is an intolerable load for a handicapped person in a poor country.That is something to which the world should urgently turn its conscience.In Angola, one in every 334 members of the population is an amputee!Angola has the highest rate of amputees in the world.How can countries which manufacture and trade in these weapons square their conscience with such human devastation?My third main experience was to see what has been done, slowly and perilously, to get these mines out of the earth.In the Kuito and Huambo region I spent a morning with small team from Halo Trust, which is training Angolans to work on the pervasive minefields and supervising their work.I speak of "our team" because men of the Mines Advisory group - or, in this instance, the Halo Trust -who volunteer for this hazardous work are usually former members of our own Services.I take this opportunity to pay my tribute to the work these men do on our behalf- the perils they encounter are not just confined to mines.Two members of the Mines Advisory Group team in Cambodia, Chris Howes and Houn Horth, were kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge a year ago and their fate is uncertain.We can only pray for their safe return.Much ingenuity has gone into making some of these mines.Many are designed to trap an unwary de-miner.Whenever such tricky mines appear, the de-miner will call in one of the supervising team, who will then take over.That is what keeps their lives perpetually at risk.It might be less hazardous, I reflected, after my visit to Angola, if some of the technical skills used in making mines had been applied to better methods of removing them.Many of these mines are relatively cheap- they can be bought for 5 apiece, or less.Tracing them, lifting them, and disposing of them, costs far more – sometimes as much as a hundred times more.Angola,is full of refugees returning after a long war.They present another aspect of this tragedy.The refugee turns towards home, often ignorant of conditions in his homeland.He knows of mines, but homeward bound, eagerness to complete the journey gets the better of him.Or he finds mines on what was once his land, and attempts to clear them.There were many examples of that in Angola.These mines inflict most of their casualties on people who are trying to meet the elementary needs of life.They strike the wife, or the grandmother, gathering firewood for cooking - They ambush the child sent to collect water for the family.I was impressed to see the work being done by many of the world's agencies on"Mine Awareness."If children can be taught at school, if adults can be helped to learn what to do, and what not to do in regions that have been mined, then lives can be saved and injuries reduced.翻译威尔士王妃戴安娜:“一场现代悲剧及其后果”(2)正如红十字会所说:“每一位幸存的受害者，都将终身承担总计2000到3000美元的手术和假肢护理费用。”这对一个贫穷国家的残疾人来说是难以忍受的负担。这是世界迫切需要反省的问题。在安哥拉，每334个人中就有一个是截肢者!安哥拉是世界上截肢率最高的国家。制造和交易这些武器的国家怎么能以这样的人类毁灭来问心无愧呢?我的第三个主要经历是，看看人们已经做了些什么，缓慢而危险地把这些地雷从地球上挖出来。在奎托和万博地区，我与Halo Trust的一个小团队度过了一个上午，该团队正在培训安哥拉人在无处不在的雷区工作并监督他们的工作。我之所以说“我们的团队”，是因为自愿从事这项危险工作的地雷咨询小组的成员- -或者在这个例子中是Halo信托基金的成员- -通常是我们自己部队的前成员。我借此机会向这些人代表我们所做的工作表示敬意——他们所遇到的危险不仅仅局限于矿山。柬埔寨地雷咨询小组的两名成员克里斯·豪斯和霍恩·霍斯一年前被红色高棉绑架，他们的命运尚不确定。我们只能祈祷他们平安归来。制造这些地雷需要很大的匠心。很多都是用来诱捕不小心的排雷人员的。每当出现这种棘手的地雷时，排雷人员将叫来一个监督小组，然后由他接管。这就是让他们的生命永远处于危险之中的原因。在我访问安哥拉之后，我想，如果把制造地雷所用的一些技术技能应用于更好的排除地雷的方法，危险可能会小一些。这些矿中有许多相对便宜——每片5英镑或更低就能买到。追踪、打捞和处理垃圾的成本要高得多，有时甚至要高出100倍。安哥拉到处都是经过长期战争返回的难民。他们展现了这场悲剧的另一面。难民返乡，往往不了解家乡的情况。他知道我的故事，但在回家的路上，他对完成旅程的渴望胜过了他。或者他在曾经属于自己的土地上发现了地雷，并试图清除它们。在安哥拉有很多这样的例子。这些地雷造成的伤亡大多数是在努力满足基本生活需要的人身上。他们袭击收集柴火做饭的妻子或祖母——他们伏击被派去为家庭取水的孩子。看到世界上许多机构在“地雷意识”方面所做的工作，我印象深刻。如果能够在学校教育儿童，如果能够帮助成年人学习在被地雷埋设的地区该做什么、不该做什么，那么就可以挽救生命，减少伤害。

As Walloon Pierre Minuit stared into the dark eyes of those twenty-two displaced Angolans, huddled together along de Heere Wegh, alongside that fledgling "construction project" of sorts at the Island's southern tip, his refugee heart wrestled with the dutiful commitment that he had made to his employer. Because this Walloon, whose family had been in exile his entire life, had never enslaved anyone. And so, this life-long refugee and stalwart servant of God was going to need to dig deep -- into his own soul, in order to arrive at a reckoning -- one that would not only square him with the people before him -- but most ultimately with his God. And the Company, believe it or not, would actually assist him with that, when they beat the Plymouth Pilgrims to the punch by sending the first ordained minister to Manhattan. But the particular one they chose to send is no Protestant pacifist. No. Jonas Michaelius is every bit the fighting Flemish fanatic that his father was before him. And with his arrival, this wild Island is about to get a little bit wilder. Episode 10 - Minister. Climb aboard.

In this jam-packed episode of Adams Archive, we plunge headfirst into a whirlwind of controversy, unearthing the stories that are setting the stage in both politics and pop culture. We kick things off with a deep dive into the indictment of former President Donald Trump, scrutinizing the charges and dissecting the bias in his legal predicament. Then we pivot, bringing you some startling footage of Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis amidst a smear campaign that has tongues wagging. Next, we delve into the world of religion and free speech, highlighting a disturbing incident where a young Wisconsin preacher finds himself at odds with the law for spreading his beliefs at a drag event. We question the direction our society is heading in, where the lines of freedom of speech seem blurred. Then, hold onto your seats as we navigate the murky waters of celebrity scandal. We examine the explosive allegations of sexual harassment against pop icon Lizzo. From there, we venture into the world of tech and social media, where Meta is shaking things up in Canada. The climax of our narrative? An intriguing exploration into the familial history of Justin Trudeau, and the striking evidence suggesting his lineage might trace back to the infamous Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. All Links: https://linktr.ee/theaustinjadams Substack: https://austinadams.substack.com Merch: Https://antielite.club ----more---- Full Transcription:  Adams Archive.   Hello, you beautiful people and welcome to the Adams Archive. My name is Austin Adams, and thank you so much for listening. Today. On today's episode, we are going to be discussing the recent indictment of Donald Trump. The former president of the United States has now been indicted over the January 6th. Insurrection. So we'll look at those charges, who the judge is, which is, it happens to be an Obama appointed judge who has a history of going after people and giving longer sentences that are related to January 6th. So we'll discuss that. Then we will look at Trump's response to all of this. Moving after that, we'll look at his some of the videos that he put out, which is pretty hilarious of him and Ron DeSantis that is going on this smear campaign. And then we will move over into the Devin Archer interview that was conducted by Tucker Carlson. Following up on that conversation. And after that there was a Wisconsin preacher, a young man who was arrested after. Preaching the Lord's word at a drag event on his sidewalk. So pretty infuriating when you watch this video. I, I remember seeing this stuff in Canada, and I never would've thought it would've come to the United States. You know, we, we always talk about the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion and all of these things that, that we supposedly have written down on documents that should not be imposed upon. And here we are. Next up, we'll get into some little fun, fun and disgusting pop culture with Lizzo getting sued for sexual harassment by several of her former dancers, and then also some sexual accusations made to her. Involving bananas, so I'm sorry to do that to your ears. After that we'll also get into the recent hearing in or recent judgment in Canada regarding meta Facebook and Instagram no longer allowing for news to be posted in Canada, which happens to come on the same day as Justin Trudeau and his wife. Separating after 18 years of marriage. And that leading us into a conversation about Justin Trudeau, his family history, and whether or not he actually happens to be the son of once Dictator Fidel Castro. Hmm. And there's actually some, you know, there's a striking resemblance, which is one thing. There's some videos by Joe Rogan where they talk about it. But it's one thing for the resemblance, it's another thing with all of the corroborated evidence that we will go through. So stick around for that. The longer you're here. The deeper we get. All right. First thing I need you to do is head over to the sub stack, Austin Adams dot sub stack.com. Go ahead and sign up for the Sub Stack Companion for the podcast. All of the clips, articles, links, everything will be on there that we discussed today. Then you will also check out the original sub stack that I put from the last episode about the silent weapons for quiet wars, which we'll be having the part two come out. On Friday early morning I believe, or Saturday for you. So make sure that you're subscribed to the podcast. You follow me on YouTube 'cause you can actually walk through the documents with me. You'll be able to see what I'm looking at on this episode today as well. And leave a five. Star review. Guys, I can't stress that enough. I is the single way that you can give back to me for all of the time, effort, and energy that goes into this. It is now 10 30 at night. I just put my kids to bed putting together this episode for you. So I hope you appreciate it. And what you can do to show that appreciation is just by going and pressing a button. And I, I ask you every episode, and it truly means a lot to me. Just to be having these conversations and that you're listening. But the next step is just kind of giving back by pressing that little tiny button. That's all you have to do for me. And then every time that you hear this, when you listen to the episodes next week and moving forward, you'll always just know that you already did it. You'll feel good inside. It's a little bit of good karma for you. So head over. Leave a five star review. Join the sub stack, Austin Adams dot sub stack.com and let's jump. The Adams archive. Alright, episode number 80, I believe. Pretty wild that we've been here together for 80 episodes from the Red Pill Revolution podcast. Now to the Adams Archive. I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. So, 80 episodes kind of a landmark and can't. I can't wait to keep this going and, and getting up to a hundred. So on the very first article of today's episode, we're going to be discussing President Donald Trump has been indicted for his involvement in the conspiracy of January 6th. Now, if I've, I've actually done several deep dives into this conversation. I did a deep dive into the CIA's responsibility and who Ray Epps was. So we'll get into maybe some of that conversation today, but let's jump into what this indictment looks like. Like, and then I'll give my opinion on it and what I think is actually going on, because I think it's pretty cut and dry. I think we know that by now. One thing that I did see DC Draino point out was that the type of indictment that we have here, the charges that we have Maybe I can pull up the tweet to get the specifics, but it does not allow them to disqualify him from running for president as a result of these these indictments. So that was a, a big distinction here that that was very relieving to see was that the indictments that we have here are fluff. They're nothing that's not gonna stop him from running for the presidential candidacy in 2024 against Joe Biden and hopefully not against Joe Biden. Hopefully against. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. If I was a perfect world, and you know, I've already given my thoughts on that in some of the past episodes, but. Trump has been indicted for obviously political additional political weaponization of our Department of Justice, and you've probably heard that over and over and over again because this is the fourth indictment that has been going on during the last, I don't know, three to four months of, of Donald Trump. Meanwhile, and, and we, again, we talked about this laps last at some point, but it's so crazy to me that a single time in history, we have both the current president. The last president being indicted on federal charges of corruption conspiracy. I don't know if there's ever been another period of time where that's been happening and it just shows you, it just, it just clues you into what I've talked about all along, which is that the government is just a mafiaa of. Slick haired mafiosos who are there to siphon money out of a pool of your taxes in any which way that they can for their own profitability. Right? Everybody throws money, throws money into a big pile in the middle of of the room, and I. All these politicians are looking to do is siphon money from that in, in through different deals that they're doing with, you know, maybe Ukrainian energy companies and maybe Chinese bio labs. And eventually their goal is just to see what, what they can pull out of your tax money by sending a bunch of money to a Ukraine bio lab and then having that same company pay them off to come speak at some event with 12 people at it for $40 million later. Right. It's, it's just so crazy to see how, how much of a. Comparison there is between our government even taking those taxes from people the same way that the Mexican drug cartels go to business owners and say, Hey, if you don't give us 25% of your profits, we're going to maliciously and violently shut you down, which is what they do with taxes. They tell you that if you don't pay us taxes, we're gonna throw you in jail and throw away the key. It's like, Maybe likely not, but if you're Wesley Snipes, they might make an example of you. Right. So it's pretty crazy to see how we actually have two simultaneous presidents, the sitting president and the previous president. I. Both being charged with criminal criminal offenses simultaneously, which is wild. So here's the article. This is coming from Atlas News. One of my favorite, most trusted news sources, which covers news around the world. Not sponsored or anything by them, but just really like the work that they do. It's a lot of like wartime news. So they're, they're covering the current kta in Niger, there's some fine lines that you have to walk in that I saw. I saw a response to Atlas News where somebody commented back to them regarding the kta in, in Niger, and they said one, one letter away from getting banned by Instagram with like a sweating emoji. And the response from Atlas News was like, I can't tell you how many times I proofread this article. Alright, this article says Donald Trump indicted on electoral interference and conspiracy charges. Former United States President Donald Trump has been federally indicted on charges in relation to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Charges include, so it breaks down all four charges for you conspiracy to defraud the United States. By using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defend the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government. So let's break down each one of these charges. Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. Did knowingly combine conspire, confederate and agree with co-conspirators, known and unknown to the grand jury, to corruptly, obstruct, and impede an official proceeding that is the certification of the electoral vote, and then obstruction of an official proceeding attempted to and did corruptly obstruct and impede an official proceeding that is the certification of the electoral vote like this so vague, attempted to. Corruptly, obstruct and impede an official proceeding. Like what are you even talking about? What does that even mean? And the last one being conspiracy against rights. Did knowingly combine conspire confederate and agree to co-conspirators known and unknown to the grand jury to injure a press, threaten and intimidate one or more persons in the free exercise and enjoyment of their a right. Privilege secured to them by the Constitution and Laws in violation of Title 18, the United States Code Section 2 41 of the United States. That is the right to vote and to have one's vote counted, which is funny because none of this actually came to fruition. They say that, oh, he did impede and interfere with this. It's like, no, what did he specifically do? Right? He called for a protest. If anything, you should be charging the F B I with conspiracy to. Have election interference. You know, maybe for what they did against Hunter Biden's laptop, by going to all the tech companies preemptively and telling them not to run the story or to actively stifle free speech. Maybe it's for implanting people like Ray Epps to go out there and say, let's go into the Capitol, into the Capitol. M maybe one of the many, many things that we've seen, including the F B I, you know, weaponizing itself against the documents at Mar-a-Lago against. I mean, all of these things add up over time and, but, but, you know, let's go after the one guy who's running for president and, and against the person that we installed as the president of the United States in this Banana Republic. I can't help but think of the, the brand Banana Republic when I, when I say that, but it is so true, right? It's like, what is even the definition of Banana Republic, we hear it, you know, being utilized in this sense over and over again, right? And it's like, you kind of get the sense of it, but the Banana Republic is the first thing that comes up is actually the brand. Right? Of course. But let's see what the, the actual definition of a Banana Republic is for you. It's like an installed government that a third world country that weaponizes itself against people. But a Banana Republic is a politically and economically unstable country that with an econ economy dependent solely on the export of natural resources. The term originated in 1904 to describe Honduras in Costa Rica under economic exploitation by US corporations such as the United Fruit Company. Typically a Banana Republic has a society of extremely stratified social classes, usually a large impoverished working class and a ruling class. Plutocracy composed of the business, political and military elites. Such exploitation is enabled by collusion between the state and favored economic monopolies in which the profit derived from the private exploitation of public lands is private property while the debts incurred, therefore are the financial responsibility of the public treasury. So there you go. That is the actual definition that has nothing to do with tight, skinny jeans, in case you were curious. Alright, now it says that there was six co-conspirators. But it does not name them. But it says that they are an attorney who is willing to spread knowingly false claims and pursue strategies that the defendant's 2020 reelection campaign attorneys would not. Hmm. Is that one Rudy Giuliani. Co-conspirator. Two. An attorney who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice President's ceremonial role overseeing certification proceedings to obstruct the certification of the presidential election co-conspirator. Three. An attorney whose unfounded claims of election fraud the defendant publicly acknowledged to others sounded crazy. Nonetheless, the defendant embraced and publicly amplified co-conspirator three's disinformation. Co-conspirator four is a Justice Department official who worked on civil matters, who with the defendant, attempted to use the Justice Department to open sham election crime investigations. Oh, could you imagine and influence state legislators? With knowingly false claims of election fraud. And then number five is an attorney who assisted in devising and attempting to implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to abstain or obstruct the certification proceedings. And then the last one being a political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceedings. So there you go. Those are the charges, and those are the co-conspirators, which I guess we'll find out who they actually are here in the following weeks, but, Like I said, we all know that the F b I was the one who actually caused this insurrection, even if you want to call it that. We know it wasn't that from the footage that we saw. Right. We know it was more of a glorified museum tour as you see the police walking through the hallways with them and letting them through the doors. As you see them politely speaking with authorities as they're walking through you know, walking through the building, it's pretty wild to see how much they can make it. And I think this was their plan all along. I think this was absolutely the plan of the F B I to in, in to plant the seed of this insurrection back all the way in 2020. And to cause them to have the ability to go after Donald Trump four years later, so he cannot rerun. Now, obviously, as we talked about, I don't believe that's the case with these charges and we'll see. Maybe I can get up DC drain o's post about this and I believe it was on Twitter, so maybe I can pull it up and, and see that the differentiation or x I guess they call it now. But let's see if we can pull it up. It says Pence implicitly admits, so that's something we should look at too, is Mike Pence, what Mike Pence actually said, which was like the craziest, most stupid thing in America. Pretty wild, but let's see if we can find this first. So DC Draino said, wow, he tweets a lot. This isn't a swing of the miss friendly reminder that Adam Schiff is one of 25 congressmen us, or history to be censored. Let's see. The feds and Jack now know Trump is going to win in the landslide. The proof is in the polls that came from Trump's nephew is the Twitter account. I am not seeing it here. Hmm, maybe it was on Instagram, but I do recall him posting something. Oh, here we go. Okay, so it says President Trump has been indicted on four federal counts, conspiracy to defraud the US conspiracy. Let's go ahead and pull this actually up for you guys. Conspiracy to defraud the US conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding conspiracy against rights. It is very important to note that he was not charged with seditious. Conspiracy or insurrection, those two charges, if convicted by a leftist DC jury, would prohibit him from running in 2024 dc. Dino said, these charges are desperate acts from a desperate regime trying to do everything they can to stop a man that will hold them accountable in 2025. Agreed. Right. So good to know that that's actually not gonna stop him from running. And it just continues the narrative that they're weaponizing the actual federal government. So let's see. Donald Trump's responses to this, and he's posted lots and lots of videos about this, but let's read his actual, let's read Donald Trump's response to this. Indictment. It says, this is nothing more than the latest corrupt charter or chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden crime family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 election in which President Trump is the undisputed front runner in leading by substantial margins. But, Why did they wait two and a half years to bring these fake charges right in the middle of President Trump's winning campaign for 2024? Why was it announced the day after the big crooked Joe Biden scandal broke out from the halls of Congress? The answer is election interference. Donald Trump says The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union. Another authoritarian, dictor, or dictator role dictator role regimes. President Trump has always followed the law and the constitution, but with advice from many highly accomplished attorneys. These un-American witch hunts will fail and President Trump will be a reelected to the White House so he can save our country. From the abuse, incompetence and corruption that is running through the veins of our country at levels never seen before. Three years ago, we had strong borders, energy, independence, no inflation, and a great economy. Today we have a nation in decline. President Trump will not be the turd. By disgraceful and unprecedented political targeting. Alright, and Donald Trump said from his account also, why are they putting out another fake indictment the day after crook, Joe Biden scandal, one of the biggest in American history, broke out in the tall in the halls of Congress, a nationwide decline. Interesting. Another tweet that or truth that came from him was, I hear that deranged Jack Smith, nor did they interfere with the presidential election of 2024, will be putting out a yet another fake indictment of your favorite President me at 5:00 PM Why didn't they do this two and a half years ago? Why did they wait so long? Because they wanted to put it right in the middle of my campaign prosecutorial misconduct. Interesting. Alright, so then he goes on, let's see if there's any other tweets here. So he has some videos that we can watch. But I don't know the value of those other than what we've already discussed here. But he did post some funny things about Ron DeSantis and. Here he says thank you to everyone. I have never had so much support on anything before this unprecedented indictment of a former highly successful president. He says, in the leading candidate by far in the, both the Republican Party and the 2024 general election has awoken the world to the corruption scandal and failure that has taken place in the United States for the past three years. America is a nation in decline, but we will make it great again, greater than ever before. I love you all and. Just video after video that he posted. Here's a, let's see if there's anything to this one. 10 minutes of Democrats denying election results. That's a real thing that what I'm scared about in 2020, but rightly, because I think he's an illegitimate president that didn't really win. So how do you, you know, fight against that in 2020? You are absolutely right. He's an illegitimate president in my mind. Would you be my vice presidential candidate? But folks, look, I absolutely agree. Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016. He lost the election and he was put in the office. This was Jimmy Carter, Russia's affair. Trump knows he's an illegitimate president. The president elect, although legally elected is not legitimate. I don't see this president elect as a legitimate president. You said you believe that Russia's interference altered the outcome of the election. I don't. Hmm. So just 10 minutes of Democrats denying election results, and now they're indicting him for, you know, whatever it is, words he said that they're saying should go to jail for right over and over and over again. We see them trying these things and over and over and over again, we see them fail. I. And it's more about the, because when you can get a headline, the headline is 80% of the, the, the purpose. Like it's like 80% of the value is in just putting that subconscious framework out there for you, right? There's something called neurolinguistic programming, and when you can put something in front of somebody, Over and over and over and over again. Eventually people start to believe you, whether it's about the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, whether it's about election interference, whether it's about an insurrection, insurrection, insurrection, right? It doesn't matter whether what you're saying is truth or not, it matters more so that you say it. Over and over again consistently enough to where it drops into the subconscious of the human psyche. So when they're putting these headlines out there and they're doing these fake bullshit Indic indictments that are going to go absolutely nowhere, the purpose isn't for him to go to jail. In any of these cases, Donald Trump will not go to jail. But what will happen and what they know will happen is that by putting out these headlines and having this negativity surrounding his campaign, there's going to be a sub. Conscious reaction from the general public, even if there's no merit to it, right? If you just say, you know, the sky's green, the sky's green, the sky's green, the sky's green over and over and over and over and over and over again. The children, when they're in the 10th grade, eventually they might look up and see a hue of blue that they start to vividly look at as green. So it's, it's not as much about what happens as it is about the headline itself. He was on Sean Hannity recently, the lots and lots of different discussions that he posted from True Social. But I will save you, you can head over to his True Social account and check those out yourself. Now in the midst of all of this Donald Trump indictments the day before Devin Archer. So I just wonder if they have like a portfolio of bullshit that they're just sitting on, which, you know, if you watched like the House of Cards, they kind of alluded to that. Right. They have like a black file on everybody that no matter what happens, they can just push out some sort of. Negative campaigns surrounding an individual at any given time and, and it just makes you wonder whether or not they've been sitting on this for something like the Deon Archer situation to come out while simultaneously, while a business partner of Hunter Biden comes out to a select committee hearing and. Just tells them everything, tells them the, the inappropriate conversations that he had with business people in, in Ukraine and China comes out and, you know, talks about where the money came from, that they were getting all of that simultaneously, you just so happened to have the next day that this comes out, you happen to have the president or former president of the United States get indicted. So he went on to Deon Archer being the former prison former. Business Associate of Hunter Biden from Rosemont Seneca, who also sat on the board of the Ukrainian biotech company and Energy Company, Bura came out and spoke out against him. Now, the reason that Devon Archer did this was because of a lot of people have. Kind of concluded was because there's a text message that Marjorie Taylor Greene came out with in a tweet recently, like yesterday or the day before that showed that there was a feud back and forth between Hunter Biden and Deon Archer, and what a stupid combination of names between. Archer and Hunter. But anyways the fact that there, the, what what was happening was Deon Archer had the Department of Justice allegedly weaponized against him to throw him in jail. He was, I believe, convicted and sentenced to a year in jail as a result, which he still has not served. So my hypothesis is, which he was claiming that. Directly to Hunter, that it was Hunter's fault and his association with his family. That was the result of him having to get this one year sentencing for whatever associations that he had as a result of that. So there's a, a, a thought here that the reason that Devin Archer is going to the select Committee hearings and, and in doing all of this, was because he was either mad or getting some sort of deal surrounding his sentencing. So here's the article from the Post-Millennial talking about Deon Archer. Admitting to Tucker Carlson on the phone, or Deon Archer admits to Tucker Carlson. The phone calls from Joe Biden were an absolute abuse of power. I. And here is the article. It says in the new episode of Tucker on Twitter, Tucker Carlson sat down with former Hunter Biden's business partner Devin Archer, to discuss the Biden family's corrupt overseas business dealings. Archer, who testified before Congress on Monday in a closed door meeting told Carlson of the more than 20 phone calls during business meetings that Hunter Biden would put his father on speakerphone, and it was an absolute. Abuse of soft power and here is some of the interview that we will look at and listen to together if it, you know, Plays quickly enough for you. But we'll read the article while it's loading. It says the power to have that access in that conversation. It's not in a scheduled conference call and it's part of your family. That's like the pinnacle of power in dc. Archer said, Archer said he could definitely say that at these business meetings where Biden was put on the phone. He knew there were business associates. I don't know if it was an orchestrated call in or not. It certainly was powerful though, because you know, if you're sitting with a foreign business person and you hear the Vice President's voice, that's prized enough. I mean, that's pretty impactful stuff for anybody. When asked what Hunter Biden brought to the table in skills, Archer said at the end of the day, he, you know, he had a career in Washington. He graduated from Yale Law School and had a very big network in DC and brought that know-how and understanding of DC and ultimately the Biden. Brand, that Biden brand bullshit drives me nuts. There's absolutely no, there's no brand behind a vice president. It's not a brand. It's, it's, it's an assumption of power. It's an assumption that if I give you this thing, you will give me whatever it is that I want back. Right? You will, you will in, in the case of the. Bio or of the energy company, Barisma. What they wanted was to leverage Joe Biden and they did it successfully, allegedly, to stop the prosecution of their company in Ukraine. So you are not so it's not a brand, there's no brand behind Joe Biden. The only brand he has is falling asleep while he is talking, not being able to finish a sentence, and also sniffing small children, right? So, so here's the video. Let's go ahead and watch it and see what they had in their conversation. Hunter Biden in a bunch of different businesses. What were the skill, the specific skills that he brought to clients? Well, at the end of the day, he, you know, he had a career in Washington. Yeah. Graduated Yale Law School and had a very big network in, in DC and brought that knowhow and understanding of DC and ultimately the Biden brand, the know-how. So as far as I could tell, he wasn't. Doing legal work? Correct? I mean, he wasn't in the council's office at Barisma, right? No. No. So the, the network and the Biden brand sounds like the, the kind of key component of Absolutely. Yeah. What he was bringing. Yep. Do you think that he would have been in those businesses not having a business background without his father being in a government position? It's hard to speculate in in those regards. I mean, yeah, I think when we initially met and and he talked about his advisory business, his business that needed to transition from lobbying to advisory and the interest in private equity, it seemed. You know, it seems like a new and interesting network for us to expand our business. Whether he could have, you know, been in that position. It's, it's hard for me to speculate, right. But obviously the brand of Biden, you know, adds a lot of power when New York Dad's Vice President for sure. And there was a time maybe 10 years ago when private equity, maybe like AI now was just one of those terms people were throwing out, I'm in private equity, right? But the mechanics, having done it, coming from a business background yourself are. Kind of complex, are they not? Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. No, it's a complex business. Takes years of training, but again, they're the initial idea around the business that they were gonna provide, you know, the government insight and an additional network to raise capital and then, you know, deal with regulatory issues that you might have at the corporate level. Right. Regulatory issues. Exactly. Okay, so that would be more his area, right? That would be his space. Right. But did he have a, a sophisticated understanding of regulation, do you think? I think that he led a team that had had a, had a sophisticated, okay. Because I lived in Washington a long time around a lot of regulation. Also a very complex area. Absolutely. Absolutely. I think there's, you know, you gotta be an expert in knowing the guy. And he was the guy that was the expert in knowing the guy. He was an expert in knowing the guy. Right. And who was the guy he knew? Well, he knew a lot of people, Joe Biden. Yeah. But obviously there was some familiar, you know, some, his brother, his father yeah. Some of his, his father's siblings. So he, he knew a lot of people. And, and obviously I know you're pointing to, you know, the father being the key relationship. Well, no, I, I'm just trying to get a sense of Washington's not a money town. Right. You know, people don't, aren't in business in Washington for the most part. Right. And most people don't have business skills that I've noticed in 30 years of living there. So really the business of Washington is, is selling access. That's what it looked like to me. Yes. Not just Hunter Biden, but like, yeah, no, do I think that's, I mean, I think that's the, one of the like core misconceptions. I mean, it seems like when I, you know, understanding a regulatory environment means selling access at the end of the day. Yeah. That's how I interpret it. And I think that's how most people on, you know, in Wall Street, whether they admit it or not interpret it. Yeah. So we're gonna, we've got a complex business that intersects with government. We need a guy who knows a guy, right? How do I, you know, deal with getting a guy a visa that needs to come over for a business deal, right? Call our lobbyist that knows the guy in d h s or used to work in D H Ss or you know, in customs border patrol or the people at the embassy and state, they, they might be able to help. So they're very like tactical elements that are regulatory and compliance and governance that you have to go through. And you gotta know the guy that right, worked at the old agency that now has the lobbying firm that can go back to the agency and. You know, get, get things put to the front of the line. So the reason I'm asking this is because it is not to give the Bidens a pass hardly. Right? But when people say, well, there's some question about whether Hunter was trading on his father's name, I. If you live in Washington, like that's the whole city right there. Right? Right. I think you, you know the answer to that at the end of the day. Right. So anyone, he had the best advantage to do that because of where he was. And you know, we thought that when we went into business, this was a great opportunity for us. So I get it. And you're not the only one who did that. Right. There were a lot of lot. Well, what's crazy too is it's like, it's not selling access, it's selling influence. It's, it's if, if you're the guy who can call the guy and get the guy to get a visa and skirt around, what would normally be the proper channels of communication and steps to take to have something accomplished, but you know, you can call somebody to have something done that is not normally allowed. If that person that you're calling to have something done with is. The president or the vice president of the United States and happens to be your father there, there should be some level of removed access from the children being able to pedal their father's influence as the vice president or president of the United States. It's right. It's like it's not selling a brand. It's not selling, it's not selling access. It's selling decision making and influencing. The very decision making of the person who was put into office by the, the general public. Right? It's, it's, it's has nothing to do with access. It has everything to do with decision making. So when you have a vice president of the United States, le they're, and they're not even levy levying their own power. They're levying the power of the United States that was bestowed upon them by the public. By you and I, by our tax dollars, by our alleged 81 million votes. Right? So, so that's, that's the infuriating part about this and, and, and where it even gets even deeper and darker and more murky waters is the 10% to the big guy. Right? Maybe, maybe it's Maybe Hunter Biden should be in jail. Right? Maybe, maybe. It's hard to, to define how Joe Biden played a part in this, but if that 10% to the big guy, if all of the influence who's of everybody, if you had to say there's a statistical likelihood of the connections that Hunter Biden has, who would the big guy be? Who do you think that would be? Would it be, you know, the guy that was in his contacts list as Petto Pete, his father, Joe Biden, the president of the United States. And God, it seems like such a dystopian weird thing that Joe Biden is actually the president in, in this simulation theory, right? I've said this several times, you know? This simulation must just be a comedy because the fact that we have Joe Biden as the president and we have this like sleeping old man cabinet of, of politicians running our entire country, and this interwoven fabric of oligarchy and, and. Elitist families who pedal the the, the money, like have all of the, the corporate and, and personal power in the world to drive change for everybody involved. Right. And then meanwhile, we have a man who can't even stay awake while he talks to other presidents from other countries. When it was like, who was it? The president of Israel, who he was speaking with, where he. Couldn't even finish a whole sentence. Like it's, it's so crazy to me that we've gotten to this point in reality and it just is proof of the simulation theory. To me, Biden is not the only son of a famous government official who's done this right at all. But I just wonder, like when you hear people say, well, it's kind of an open question, right? About why they hired Hunter Biden. Like, that's pretty disingenuous. No. Right. I think at the end of it, so. When you look at the whole, there, there are people that maybe were, you know, sons or relatives or brother-in-laws of other high ranking officials, but I think what we ran into and with, with what Hunter ran into was like almost like an Icarus issue. So he got a little, it was too close to the sun. Right. It was too good to be true. And the connections were, were too close in the scrutiny. Too much. Yes. And it ended up destroying, you know, he, it left the wake of a lot of dis, you know, a lot of destruction in businesses over a number of years. You know, so how many it's been reported, and you have said that there were occasions when Joe Biden would call in with clients present on a speaker phone. Right. How, how many times do you think that happened? I mean, over a 10 year partnership? I would you know, the number I'm going with is 20. That's probably the, the, the amount that I, so a lot kind of record. Yeah, a lot you could say. So Joe Biden, who's very much a product of Washington, of course, must have known that he was calling in to effectively a business meeting that his son was having. He must have understood that, that that was kind of what his son was selling. Well, that's, I mean, it's hard for me to speculate on that, but like, I guess my que, just to keep it to the facts, Tucker Joe Biden, then the city Vice President. Knew that there were hunter's business in the row there it in your face. Yeah, I think I can, I could definitively say at particular dinners or meetings. He knew there were business associates and he, you know, we, or if I was there, I was a business associate too. Yeah. So I think or if, you know, any of the other colleagues from the DC office or the New York office were there. So, yeah, at times there were from the, you know, to be, you know, completely clear on the calls. I don't know if it was an orchestrated call in or not. It certainly was powerful though, because, you know, if you're sitting with a foreign business person and you hear the Vice president's voice, that's prize enough. I mean, that's, that's, that's pretty impactful stuff for anyone in the world. It's, it's been reported and I know that it is true that the hunter and his brother were very close to their dad. Absolutely. Which I. They were also very close to Bo's, his other son's wife. If you recall that you know, hunter Biden actually took on his brother's ex widowed wife after Bo died, turned her into his girlfriend and sexual partner entering the very same vicinity of, of flesh that his brother did. Pretty disgusting stuff happening in this family. I think it's great. Yep. I've got a lot of kids. I'm very close to 'em. Talk to 'em every day. Yeah. Never called them on speaker during a business meeting. That's weird. Yeah. You've got a lot of kids, you're close to them. Do you call them on speaker during business meetings? I. Do I call, I mean, yeah. What is that? A grown man calling his dad on a speaker phone for sure. During a business meeting. Right. And to be clear, sometimes it was the call was coming in and the speaker would go on. Yeah. Yeah. So it was, it's just the presence. You have to be, I mean, you're, you, you understand DC right? So the power to have that. Access in that conversation, and it's not in a scheduled conference call and it's a part of your family that's, that's like the pinnacle of of power in DC a hundred. So he was selling power, right. There you go. If you wanna go watch it Tucker on Twitter is obviously on Twitter and you can see the entire interview there. Alright, moving on. There was, and I wanna make sure this is the exact video that I was looking at. Yeah, it's, this is an absolutely infuriating, infuriating. So let me give you my synopsis of this. First, there was some young men who were sitting out there preaching the Lord's word, reading from a Bible, nonetheless, from a public sidewalk in the United States of America during a drag show. Speaking the, the, the words of the Bible, and they came up and arrested one of these guys while he was speaking from the Bible. We saw this in Canada, right in the dystopian socialist world. That is Canada, just in Trudeau's socialist, communist stomping grounds. But now it's happening in the United States. This video, if this doesn't infuriate you, I don't know what will. This is against everything that we stand for in the United States of America. Here we go. Here you go. I'll walk you through what we're looking at here. So there's some police officers. I see him speaking from the Bible and he's trying to rip out the microphone from his hand. Right? And these guys are probably 22 or so. Absolutely doing the right thing. 22 years old, sitting out there on a sidewalk with a big speaker speaking out against this like drag some type of parade or something that's going on while they're on a public sidewalk. There's absolutely, you're right, you have the freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want in the public forum. You can protest, you can do whatever you want as long as you're not saying fire or calling for violence. Right? And he's sitting there ripping a microphone from his hand. These police officers should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. They should be removed from their positions of power. Their, their family and friends should dis be disgusted by them, and he is ripping stuff out of their hands as one police officer is I. This is, well, how come there's no amplification? What's this? So here we go. Start this over for you guys. You'll be consumed by one another. So here he is talking about it. Hey, what are doing? Grabs the microphone out of his hand. What is the problem? Vacation? Whatcha doing? What's wrong with it? What are doing? I, he didn't give him any warning. He grabbed the money. Oh, this is the same one that we had. Yeah, that was in there. It was not out here. What are the wrong, what are you doing? Let go you guys. Morning. They said we can have, they said we can speak out here on the sidewalk freely. You can speak, but there's no amplified devices. Nobody told us that there's no amplified devices. Is that, is that in the constitution? How come there's no amplification? This, Hey, you guys pushing him. They're grabbing his arm from behind. Three police officers grabbing this young man right to be out here engaging in speech. Sirens. He has everything and they put him in handcuffs speech. There's cars driving by with their radios playing. That's amplified sound. People are standing out here with radios. That's amplified sound. The ordinance has to do with a decibel gauge. You don't just get to pick and choose which amplification you like and which you don't. That's selective enforcement of the law. That's discrimination on the basis of speech. That's what you all just did. Content-based, discrimination based on speech, and they detained this young man in handcuffs for speaking words from the Bible on a public sidewalk. This is unbelievable in the United States of America where we have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and meanwhile this. Coward of a police officer takes it into his own hands to stop this, this atrocious act of saying the Lord's word on a public forum. Right? And then they use the bullshit tactic of saying that it's because of the amplification. Like, oh, oh, is it, is it, and it has nothing to do with you wanting to tuck your dick between your legs and pretend to be a woman with your what, what is it called? Whatever that fetish is of dressing up as a woman that these drag guys do. You know, I, I'm sure this police officer just loved being on the side of the street where he gets to look at all these men talking their dick between their legs and then go and arrest some young nice man for reading from the Bible. I. That that is one of the most infuriating things that I've seen in a very long time. So it says, A Christian protesting a pride event over the weekend in Watertown, Wisconsin, was handcuffed and detained by police in the video that went viral. Several members of the Christian group Warriors for Christ were Evangel evangelizing at the city's annual pride in the park on Saturday, an event. Organizers advertised as family friendly. In the video, Marcus Schroeder is reading from the Bible in a Into a Microphone when officers surround him and grab his microphone and speaker as his group questions. The officers, they handcuff Schroeder and explain that he was being arrested for violating a sound ordinance. About noise amplification. Jason Storms, a fellow member of the Evangelical Ministry who filmed the encounter and shared it on Twitter, told the Republic Sentinel that police had also arrested three other young people from the group who were prey and talking to attendees on orders from city leaders. The police per orders from city leaders arrived. Or arrested several young people. Three were arrested earlier in the day while inside the park praying and talking to attendees, and then released with warnings. Yeah, because you had no fundamental legal basis for detaining them. You cowered. Storms alleged the officers were violating the right to free speech correctly as Schroeder was preaching on a sidewalk across from the public event. He told the outlet that the young man was charged with unlawful use of sound amplification and resisting arrest. Or resisting arrest. Yeah. Okay. However, the Christian youth who were arrested said they didn't regret their actions. Of course, and you shouldn't. It was worth it. It's actually an honor to be counted worthy, to stand with the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and been arrested for the sake of spreading Christ in his kingdom. If the police wanted to try and set an example for others or anything like that, the only thing I've seen is actually the exact opposite, where more and more people are seeing the severity of what's going on and being called to more action. Good. Absolutely. Good. Alright, so here comes the most disgusting part of this episode, which has to do with Lizzo. But first I need you to hit the subscribe button, leave a five star review, and head over to the ck. You get everything that we're talking about here. I'll include the YouTube videos, some of the breakdown of clips, the articles that we're discussing here, all of that on the sub stack, Austin Adams dot sub stack.com. Go check it out right now.  Alright.  Lizzo was sued by former dancers for sexual harassment in creating a hostile work inve environment. So it says, while on tour with the singer, three women alleged that they were pressured at a strip club and weight shamed. So when you have the single fattest. Most obese artist in the history of popularity in the United States of America and probably the world next to maybe Jba the Hutt. She's now fat shaming her own dancers. I, I, I don't know yet, without reading this article, whether or not it was, they weren't fat enough or they weren't skinny enough, but I guess we'll find out. So it says that Lizzo has been sued by three former dancers for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. N B C News reports The lawsuit viewed by Pitchfork was filed Tuesday or today in Los Angeles Superior Court and also named Liz O's Big Girl, big touring production company in Dance. Captain Charlene Quigley, the dancers. Are suing for damages over emotional distress distress, including unpaid wages, loss of earnings, and attorney fees. Pitchfork has reached out to Liz O's, representatives and Quigley for comment. The three dancers behind the lawsuit all began working with Lizzo in 2021. Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams were hired around the Amazon Reality Series. Watch Out for the Big Girls. A third Noelle Rodriguez was hired after appearing in the 2021 Rumors video. The lawsuit also described an incident that took place at a post show after party in Amsterdam earlier this year, where Lizzo allegedly pressured Davis to touch the breasts of a nude performer with Goding chants. The lawsuit also claimed Lizzo Wass encouraged answers to. Catch dildos launched from the performer's, vaginas and eat bananas, protruding from the performer's vaginas. So that's where the secondary article comes in, which says, Lizzo forced fat dancers to eat bananas from hooker's, vaginas, bombshell lawsuit alleges. Hmm. I like to eat, eat, eat bananas from vaginas. Maybe you know that song if you're a parent and if you don't it's probably just a little weird. But I happen to be a parent. I like to oat, oat, oat. Bananas from prostitute vaginas. Three former dancers from Lizzo are suing the rotund rapper for alleged fat shaming them and forcing them to endure sexually depraved behaviors and participate in disturbing sex acts. Plaintiff's Ariana Davis, crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez claim the 44 page lawsuit that Lizzo and her team. We're responsible for a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, assault, racial and religious harassment, disability discrimination, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and false imprisonment. What Lizzo herself pressured plaintiffs and all her employees to attend outings were new to the in sexuality were a focal point in disregarded any apprehensions from plaintiffs the suit reads. This work environment would shock the conscious of anybody as it did for the plaintiffs. In one disturbing account, the plaintiffs alleged that while at Lizzo the special tour in Amsterdam in February, 2023, the purported performer invited them out for a night on the town. Which ended with them visiting the infamous Red Light district, known for sex shops and clubs and sex theaters featuring full nudity. At that point, things quickly got out of hand. The lawsuit states Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the new performers, catching dildos launched from their vaginas and eating bananas, protruding from the performers, vaginas the lawsuit states adding that Lizzo allegedly pressured and goaded Davis into touching one of the new performers breasts. The plaintiff's claimed that a monthly. Later, Lizzo 35, deceived them once again. Oh no, you deceived me. After all of that, they had no expectation that they would ever be deceived again. Deceived them into attending a n show, therefore robbing them from the choice not to participate. Davis also claimed in the lawsuit that at one point she had no choice but to soil herself on stage during an excruciating re-audition, fearing the repercussions of re excusing herself to go to the bathroom. What, excuse me if I have to shit myself for any employer, I'm out, whether you're Lizzo, Elvis, the Lord himself. If that's your requirements for occupation, then sorry. I'm not your guy. Not your guy. I, I enjoy bathrooms and honestly, I enjoy bidets Japanese bidets from the depths of, you know Kyoko Japan. Maybe that's a little bit more my style than, you know, soiling myself on stage at a Lizzo concert. Davis also alleged that Lizzo was recently had a meltdown over disparaging comments about her excessive weight on Twitter. Fat shamed her in a meeting while asking Davis why she seemed less committed and less bubbly and vivacious. In professional dance, a dancer's weight gain is often seemed as the dancer getting lazy or worse off as a performer of the suit reads, Lizzo and the choreograph choreographer's questions, choreographer's questions about Mrs. Davis' commitment to the tour were then thinly veiled concerns about Mrs. Davis weight gain. The plaintiff's attorneys Ron, like, what did you expect? You hired a bunch of fat girls to dance behind you because you're fat. You wanted to make yourself feel better, and now all of a sudden they're getting fatter. Like, but what do you think got them there? You thought they were just at a point and they were done like, oh, this is it. This is all I'm eating. This is exactly the weight I'm gonna maintain. Like prob probably not. In a professional dance, a dancer's weight gain is often seen as the dancer getting lazy or worse off as a performer. The plaintiff's attorneys, Ron Zaro, called out Liz's hypocrisy in the blistering statement, which said the stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything. Lizzo stands for publicly. Well privately, she weight shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal, but absolutely demoralizing. Davison Williamson. Were among the 13 contestants of the Emmy winning Lizzo. Watch out for the big girls, which debuted an Amazon last year. I will include the entire 'cause I know you really want to read it. The entire lawsuit on my ck which I'm looking at right now, I will download this and have this for you 'cause I know. Just know you want to read it and I would read it for you. But I don't know if that's the best use of our time here. So I will include that on the sub stack. Alright, next up. Justin Trudeau and his wife's Sophie Trudeau are getting divorced after 18 years of marriage. Alright, and so, I, I couldn't imagine anybody actually wanting to be engaged or, or married to that man. So it, it's not a surprise to me, but 18 years of marriage is a pretty long time to event, you know, just suddenly get into a divorce. So this article comes from Reuters and it says that Justin and Sophie Trudeau separate after 18 years of marriage. I. It goes on to say August 2nd today, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, said on Wednesday that they were separating an unexpected announcement that appeared to mark the end of the couple's 18 year high profile marriage. The couple had talked, frankly, in the past about difficulties in the relationship and in recent years where even seen less often together in public, there was actually some sort of allegations against Justin Trudeau with underage girls. I believe they had talked frankly. Allegedly they've talked frankly in the past about difficulties in the relationship and in recent years where I've seen less often together. Trudeau 51, it looks pretty good for 51. That's about the only positive quality this man has. But he looks pretty good for 51. And Sophie, Greg Gore, Trudeau I wonder if he's had a lot of the you know, Hollywood. Wine as one would say, we're married in May of 2005 and have three children together, age 15, 14, and nine. While that's super unfortunate, if you get divorced at that time, like that's such a crucial critical time for your children and to have a, so he had a child when he was 42. It's kind of late on their anniversary in 2020. He described her as my rock, my partner, and my best friend. Yeah, sounds like it. For Trudeau, there was also a painful historical parallels. His father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, separated from his wife Margaret in 1977, which were just about to get into when he were in a second. The development is also one of the biggest personal crisis of Trudeau since he became Prime Minister in 2015, especially since he often stresses the importance of family life. The couple made the announcement that week after Trudeau unveiled a massive cabinet shuffle and a bid to boost the fortunes of his liberal party, which is trailing in the polls. AIDS said AIDS said that he also determined to lead the liberal into the next election liberals into the next elections, which must be held by October, 2025. Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate the Canadian Broadcasting Corp at Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. One of Trudeau's closest allies with brief members of the cabinet later on Wednesday. Wow. Yeah, he looks pretty good for 51. She doesn't look too bad for 48, but you know, he's definitely drinking something. Maybe it has to do with the internal saturated blood of who knows, people underage. I joke. Kind of. Alright, so here's where it gets fun. Justin Trudeau, A lot of people seem to think that while being born in Ottawa, which is a considerable distance from Havana, that his mother, Margaret Trudeau visited Cuba nine months exactly before Justin was born. And there are photos of her mingling with Fidel Castro. On the right of this photo is Pierre Trudeau. His father, allegedly, his father and his wife. Castro, which I don't know about you, but if anybody touched my wife like this while I was standing in the room with them, we would be having a problem. And I'm not somebody who's like, you know, super possessive, but this looks like a little bit more like if anybody's fucking in these. In this picture, it looks like the two people on the left, like the dictator with a cigar in his mouth, and the younger woman, they're not the businessman 10 feet away from them. So there's this whole narrative. Now, if you go actually look at some of these pictures that I'm about to show you, or you go look them up yourself, you'll see that there is a substantial amount of evidence physically and historically around the idea that Justin Trudeau is actually the son of Fidel Castro. Lots of it, and many, many people have thought of this. So there's actually a video that will come up here that talks about Jo Joe Rogan. So let me give you the name of the account. This is coming from D O M L U C R E on Twitter, and he does some really good stuff, big following does some great deep dives into different topics. But this is the account that I will be following as I walk you through this discussion. And he says, according to Canadian and the to Canadian, the globe, and male, Pierre Trudeau and his wife Margaret, crossed paths with Fidel Castro. For the first time in 1970, the Globe reports and during friendship between the arc arch Liberal Pierre Trudeau and the Marxist revolutionary, Fidel Castro was formed. Now the article that is being put here, In front of us says Castro in Trudeau, a famous but also fraught friendship. And this comes from 2016. And it says Robert Wright teaches history as the, the writer. It says, just days ago when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his official visit to Havana, the rumor mill was a buzz with the aspersion that Fidel Castro was somehow snubbed. Had somehow snubbed him by refusing a private meeting. Now with Fidel Castro's death, we may surmise that the official Cuban line was true, that his health was so precarious as to preclude even the short whatever this word is. Tati. I don't know what the hell that is. Certainly Mr. Joe himself gave no indication that he had been affronted. Yeah, maybe he wanted to see his dad before he died. It says fact checkers love refuting. The allegations that the Trudeaus were in Havana nine months just before Justin was born. There are certain truths that they just refuse to confront during the same period that Judo went on a Caribbean vacation on April to April 12th, 1971 to an unidentified island. And this is a snippet of a newspaper article. Which says Barbados Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife, or it says in Bridgetown, Barbados, prime Minister Trudeau and his wife left here Monday by chartered plane on a quick side trip to an unidentified nearby island. They arrived here Thursday on a brief second honeymoon and have reportedly been staying at a private residence on the island's posh West Coast. Heavy security measures have been in the fact since their arrival and the local press was asked to respect the newlyweds desire for. Privacy. There were also stories on trips to numerous Caribbean islands. While Cuba was not on the official itinerary, it seems unfathomable. Unfathomable that they would tour adjacent islands and choose not to visit their close Buddy Castro in Havana Wall in the area. He spoke also at Trudeau's funeral. Interesting. And there's an article that came from a website that shows the actual discussion that Fidel had to Pierre Trudeau, which says Fidel bids farewell to Pierre Trudeau. The 3rd of October, 2000 Cuban president Fidel Castro arrived in Montreal to attend the state funeral of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Fidel was asked by the family to serve as the honorary pallbearer. Wow. Alongside us former president Jimmy Carter Fidel arrived at the church, was greeted by shouts of Viva Fidel and Viva Cuba. I had come from Cuba at this time. He said of profound sadness of the Canadian people to pay my respects to the unforgettable memory of Pierre Trudeau, a WorldCast, a world class statesman for whom I had personal bonds with. His wife may be a friendship born of feelings of sincere admiration. I always considered him to be a serious political leader and with real concerns for the problems of the world. In the third world, a rational politician who made a trans transcendent contribution to modern Canadian history, a righteous and courageous man. I. Who encouraged in difficult circumstances, relations between his country and Cuba goes on and on and on. After Cuba Cuban Communist dictator, Fidel Castro's death was reported. Trudeau stated he was mourning his death and among other positive statements called Castro, a remarkable leader outrage erupted and many mocked him with Trudeau hashtag Trudeau eulogies on Twitter. And here is the video. It is been 14 years since the Cuban Missile Crisis, but with the present situation in Angola, prime Minister Trudeau's visit to Cuba this week was regarded as a bit dicey politically. His entourage thought the trip came off very well. They were very impressed by a certain quality of Premier Castro's, and it's a familiar word, charisma. 16 years ago, Pierre Trudeau tried to paddle a canoe from Miami to Havana, but he was turned back by American authorities. This time he made it and was royally welcomed, die hours before his arrival. Cubans by the tens of thousands lined the streets. Such enthusiasm was sustained for the three day visit and was clearly orchestrated by Premier Castro himself. It was his way of expressing gratitude to Canada for continued trade throughout the blockade with relations between Cuba and the United States going sour again because of Angola, premier Castro was eager to strengthen the Canadian Cuban connection. At a rally in the south coastal city of San Fuegos, not even a five hour wait under a blazing sun could diminish the enthusiasm of 25,000 sugar cane workers who chanted long-lived friendship between Cuba and Canada. The charismatic presence of Dr. Castro is always a drawing card for Cubans, but adding a fluently Spanish speaking leader like Trudeau made it an event. Few wanted to miss. Brotherhood and independence were the impressions both leaders wanted to convey to the world. Informal talks at an island Hideaway intensified their respect for each other and their mutual enjoyment of skin diving. Added to the rapport, the controversial skin diving. His wife was debated and Premier Castro defended his position that a Canadian reception. He pointed out that much of his country's population is of African extraction, and so a call for solidarity from Angolans to help defend their country against South African Invaders justified his support. We cannot do anything. Than to help the Ang people. Alright, so there you go. Just some legitimacy to what we're discussing here. It says, on January 1st, 1971, Margaret Trudeau described Fidel Castro as the sexiest man she's ever met, and claims that Prince Charles Ld down the front of her dress in her autobiography Beyond Reason Margaret was famed in the 1970s for her risque before marrying Trudeau. And here it says, prime ministerial mothers usually dwell as the far fringes of the spotlight. Stephen Harper's mother, who this is just reading an excerpt from her autobiography it says, I use my mother as an obvious example because she's the person closest to me worried about the stock market these days. Harper said at the time, Margaret Trudeau, by contras

This is episode 111, in cricket the number is known as Nelson, it's unlucky for the batting side, and players are expected to stand on one leg as the bowler launches his ball. It's perhaps symbolic that we get to episode 111 at precisely the moment that the South Africans agree to peace after 23 years of fighting over South West Africa. Within a few months the country will officially be known as Namibia, and soon all SADF troops will have been withdrawn. I was working as a journalist starting in 1987 and had the honour to attend the tripartite signing ceremony in Brazzaville in the Congo, an experience that was strange, weird, otherworldly. The Cubans, South Africans and Angolans signed the Accord, observed by the Americans and the Russians, afterwards everyone drank vodka and mampoer The Russians brought the Vodka, and threw away the bottle caps, the South Africans brought the Mampoer and did the same. Chester Crocker had managed the impossible, but as he told people afterwards, the Cubans and the South Africans were like two scorpions in a bottle — both sides circling each other but not prepared to strike the killer blow. More about this peace in a moment, but first the fallout from the terrible MiG-23 attack on Calueque Dam that killed 11 8SAI troops on 27th June 1988. We ended last episode hearing how the MiGs had easily overcome the South African anti-aircraft defences, and damaged the Calueque Dam wall, hitting it with six 250 kilogramme bombs. As the recriminations and finger pointing followed the blowing up of the Buffel near the dam that led to the deaths of so many young South Africans, Commandant Mike Muller of 61 Mech had a challenge. His tanks and Ratels were stuck on the north side of the Kunene River, the earth ramp that had been built up to the Dam wall to allow the tanks to cross had been destroyed. But just before midnight on Monday June 27 1988, Muller was ordered to withdraw all his forces from Angola. Commandant Jan Hougaard was also ordered to pull all his 32 Battalion units back to South West. That was a surprise. Suddenly, it was over. This 23 year war that had started in Ovamboland, ended with the announcement that a peace agreement had been signed. Sixteen days later on an island in New York harbour, South Africa, Angola and Cuba agreed on the terms of peace, with both the Cubans and the South Africans withdrawing troops from the region.

When we left off last episode, the Cubans and Angolans were gearing up to face another invasion by 61 Mech and 4SAI, Operation Excite as it was to become known. But for once, the Cubans had decided that they'd seize the initiative and were about to launch a two pronged assault towards the South Africans from Xangongo. Just a quick recap, 61 Mech had arrived in the eastern theatre with a tank squadron, four more motorised infantry companies from 32 Battalion, including their anti-tank troop in four Ratel 90s and four more ZT3s, 3 motorised companies from 101 Battalion in Casspirs, one motorised company each from 1 parachute, 202 and 701 Battalions who were in Buffels. The SADF artillery support was also significant, a battery each of G-5s, G-2s, Valkiri rocket launchers and 120mm mortars. This was task force Zulu under command of Colonel Michael Delport. The South Africans had built an approach ramp up to Calueque Dam which allowed the Olifants and the Ratels to cross over for the invasion. Ostensibly the plan was to flush out the SAM-6 missile stations which were based around Techipa then hit them with artillery, but also to push the Cubans back from the dam which provided water and power to Ovamboland. It was a key point in the war. On the 23 June 1988, reconnaissance units reported a heavy Cuban artillery bombardment ahead of the dust cloud, it appeared an attack force was heading south and was eventually spotted on the 24th by members of 32 Battalion. Reccies also spotted Cuban columns moving southwards from Techipa towards Calueque, with this stop-start advance the technique preferred by the Russians. Bombard, move, dig in, bombard, move, dig in. There appeared to be a two-pronged assault under way. It was to be a furious battle, one which ended when MiG-23s bombed Calueque Dam, killing 11 8SAI soldiers - the worst single incident for the SADF in the entire 23 year war.

We left off last week hearing that the Cuban 50th Division had been moved towards the SWA Border, a clear message to Pretoria that Fidel Castro was no longer going to tolerate the losses that he and FAPLA had endured in southern Angola. All this as the South Africans, Cubans, Angolans, Americans and Russians were negotiating the future of Namibia. Time was running out. And in particular for a small group of men, a platoon if you like, that was going to take the brunt of a MiG bombing raid close to the Calueque Dam, just across the cutline. ‘Sent to deal with this threat was Commandant Jan Hougaard who by how had discovered that the biggest threat seemed to lie around the small town of Techipa around 50kilometers inside Angola. Besides thousands of Cuban soldiers, it had also begun to spout radio antennas and what appeared to be anti-aircraft positions. Because the South Africans were stretched so thinly, the SADF top brass could only send 500 soldiers for a planned assault on the town, all 32 Battalion men. Then the idea was a second conventional force would be setup and moved to Ruacana for a much larger incursion. On the 30 May and 1 June, operational instructions for Operation Hilti were released to the officers who'd be planning South Africa's invasion. The op was to be enamed Operation Prone later - development of a conventional and counterinsurgency plan for north-west South-West Africa and south-western Angola. The instructions called for a sub-phase called Operation Excite to regain military control of south-west Angola by August 1988.

This is episode 108, it's the 23rd June 1988 and the south Africans, Cubans, Angolans, Americans and Russians had gathered in Cairo for negotiations over the future of Namibia and the Cubans were seething. American Secretary of State for African Affairs Chester Crocker opened up the meeting by presenting the Cubans and Angolans with Pretoria's comprehensive proposals. The South Africans made themselves scarce during the presentation, Defence minister Magnus Malan and Foreign Minister Pik Botha were joined by chief of the Defence Force Jannie Geldenhuys as they headed off to the British Commonwealth War Cemetery at Heliopolis to lay a wreath to the fallen South Africans. They had flowers from home, so took a bowl of Proteas from the first class lounge of the Boeing 747 that had brought the delegation to Cairo. Then they headed back to the Hyatt el Salaam hotel, site of the conference. The Cuban delegation led by Jorge Kaspaars Risquet was infuriated by Pretoria's suggestion that Havana move its soldiers out of southern Angola in seven months. They were even further incensed by the suggestion that UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi be brought into a transition government within six weeks. Risquet said if this was the case, then the system of apartheid had to be added to the agenda and negotiated at the same time. Pik Botha, never one to stand back, suggested that Risquet's own Cuban government be also placed on the agenda for its human right abuses, and Chester Crocker like all good referees, called an early break so that all sides could calm down. No-one mingled that night. The South Africans were now convinced that their rooms were bugged so they marched off to the bottom of the garden and huddled behind a giant colourful umbrella. Meanwhile, Crocker met with the Russian representative Vladilen Vlasev summoned the Cubans and the Angolans to a late night chat behind their own colourful umbrella in a separate corner of the Cairo Hyatt garden. Miraculously, the Russian intervention led to the Cubans and Angolans managing to find a few common ideas with the South Africans, although they still differed on virtually every point. Still, the talks hadn't completely broken down and all sides agreed to take the documents home with them to try and find a way to get a consensus before the next meeting. Less than a month later, on 4th May, a Cuban company attacked a members of 101 Battalion inside southern Angola. The battalion was reconnoitring territory 50 kilometers inside Angola near the Cunene River and was ambushed by a Cuban platoon. Lance Corporal Hendrik Jacobus Venter was killed and Private Johan Papenfus was lsited missing. This had hardly happened to the South Africans in 23 years of fighting, things were changing. Papenfus was duly wheeled out in Havana, a prisoner of war, now being treated for serious wounds to his leg.

More than two decades of conflict in Ovamboland and southern Angola had worn down South African military domination - tactical superiority was no longer certain. The initial approach which had been innovative and inspirational, fast, seat of the pants and smart, had slumped into attritional raging bull blow for blow brutality. It was March 1988, time for one last push by the SADF against their FAPLA enemy and their Cuban and Russian allies. As you heard last episode, Commandant Gerhard Louw and most experienced officers of the Border War thought the overall plan to attack the Tumpo Triangle for the third time was a bad idea. Jan Breytenbach called it truly misguided. Cuban president Fidel Castro had made it very clear that he wanted the East bank of the Cuito River held at all costs. As long as the Cubans, Angolans and Russians held the bridgehead, it meant the SADF could not attack the town directly. Not that this was the South African's aim - at least not their official aim. The plan was merely to seize the east bank, cross over to the West side, blow up the bridge which would put an end to FAPLAs assaults on the UNITA held towns of Mavinga and Jamba. However, the Angolans thought that Cuito Cuanavale was the main target and so did many South African troops fighting against FAPLA. I mean, there was the strategic town right in front of them, do you seriously think that had the Angolan army broken and run, that the SADF would have stopped across the Cuito River? So with that small diversion as a way of introduction, we rejoin Commandant Gerhard Louw and his ou-manne. IT's Four pm on Tuesday 22nd March 1988, and the attackers were heading towards FAPLAs well defended positions on the east bank of the Cuito River 32 Battalion and Groot Karoo Regiment troops were joined by UNITAs 4th Regular Battalion on the western slope of the Chambinga High ground sweeping the area and trying to blunt any FAPLA reconnaissance from moving east of the Amhara Lipanda flatlands. UNITA spent a lot of time lifting mines, but it wasn't enough, more than 15 000 landmines awaited the SADF and this was going to lead to a lot of trouble for the Olifant tanks. Laid in layers, the Cubans had doubled up the fields of death by laying anti-tank mines along with 130mm shells, when these detonated, the effect would be biblical.

The Third Battle of the Tumpo Triangle was about to begin - the date - 23rd March 1988. The weary 61 Mechanised battalion had withdrawn, the men exhausted after 4 months of shifting about and fighting FAPLA, while their equipment was in worse shape. By 13th March the tattered 20 Brigade of which 61 Mech was part had arrived back at Rundu across the Kunene River and for the third and final attack on the Triangle, Pat McLoughlin had returned command to Colonel Paul Fouche. IF you remember last episode, he'd been sent back to the Republic to try and drum up another Brigade which he'd found difficult. So he'd turned to the ou-manne - the campers or the Citizen Force as it was known. Fresh troops were brought in from South Africa, mostly from 82 Mechanised Brigade and this would be the first time since 1984 that the Citizen Force would furnish most of the troops of the upcoming Operation Packer. When you hear the makeshift formation you'll understand that this operation was not going to be easy for any commander, however motivated the men were. The reality was these were soldiers who were part-timers, they may have been excellent as National Servicemen, but now they were back in civvie street, mentally they had to now contend with wives and children far away, they were accountants and teachers. Helping Fouche put together a viable force was commandant Gerhard Louw, the tank and armoured car instructor at the South African Battle School based at Lohatla in the northern Cape. The haphazard nature of Pretoria's tactical planning and strategic understanding of how the fight a mobile war with tanks and infantry in thick bush was going to upend another group of tough South African soldiers. The Generals who were now interfering in all decisions, along with Cabinet members, were a hindrance to the officers on the ground, at least according to their accounts. The West Bank of the Cuito River was bristling with artillery of all kinds, massed in places to provide truly phenomenal fire-power. There were batteries of the D-30 122mm guns, M-46 or 130mm heavy artillery, BM-21 122mm rockets, and BM-14 140mm multiple rocket launchers. Protecting these from the Recces and SADF forward Artillery observers, A battalion of 36 Brigade was stationed between the Cuito and Cuanavale Rivers to protect the Angolan artillery from the Recces and SADF forward Artillery observers, while another battalion from 36 Brigade had moved west of the Cuito River. Russian advisors were making a big difference by now, along with the Cubans. They were adding a great deal of skill to FAPLAs basic fighting capacity. They'd shown the Angolans how to survive being hit by an anti-tank mine by leaving the hatches of their armoured personnel carriers open. Battening down the hatches meant that the blast wave inside the vehicle had no-where to go and flattened those inside. “If you leave it open, you might get away with concussion and perhaps some shrapnel wounds…” wrote translator Igor Zhdarkin. They had taken to brewing rice vodka and the Russians said afterwards they'd listen to the Voice of Moscow, Voice of America, BBC and the South African Broadcasting Corporation - the SABC. They spent a lot of time drinking, as Russian advisor Vyacheslav Barabulya explains in the book Bush War published in 2007. They were experiencing daily bombardments by the SADF artillery and said that they'd managed to tap into the almost 100 percent proof alcohol used in the Pechora anti-aircraft system.

Last episode we heard about the failed first battle of the Tumpo Triangle, officially known as Tumpo one which took place on February 25th 1988. You know that things aren't going well when battles are numbered, and there would be three attempts at overrunning FAPLA in its defensive positions east of the Cuito River, outside Cuito Cuanavale. Still, some good news had filtered in a few days after the audacious attack on SWAPO facilities in Lubango. This was a town that lies nearly 300 kilometers north of the cutline, in the Angolan highlands, a jump off point for FAPLA as it sent its soldiers into the fighting in the south east, along the South West African border. A bomb had exploded at Oshikati First National Bank in Ovamboland on the 19th February, killing 20 people, wounding six. The South Africans wanted revenge, and decided to target SWAPOS training base at Lubango. Planning for the raid began immediately after the blast, and continued all the way through until the next morning, led by Colonel John Church of the SA Air Force. The Mirages were refuelled while the men were briefed, and at 08h00 they took off from Ondangwa, heading north west towards Lubango. Major Norman Minne led this attack flying F1AZ 218. It had the most accurate navigation system, errors were less than a mile at way points. As they flew low level from the southeast, the compact warning receiver or CRWS began picking up signals from the Soviet Barlock search radar - they had been spotted. Minne descended lower and lower, only a few feet off the deck by this stage, but his navigation system was spot on so he folded his map confident he'd find the target. Back on the eastern front, outside Cuito Cuanavale, Colonel Pat McLoughlin had decided to launch the next assault on the Tumpo Triangle at night. Unlike the first attempt to take Tumpo, this time 61 Mech's Mike Muller planned to use the northern route through the Chambinga high Ground, then down the tricky Heartbreak hill steep drop into the Anhara Lipanda - and then to charge directly at FAPLA positions. The night of February 29th was chosen, with the battle set to continue into Tuesday 1st March if necessary. While the final plans were being checked and double checked, on the other side of the River, the Cubans had sent combat engineers to re-mine the route in the north, and these men ran into a reconnaissance patrol - either it was the South Africans or UNITA. The SADF didn't report this anywhere, so it was probably UNITA. Their patrol apparently turned and fled into the darkness, and FAPLA engineers laid another 150 mines - there were now 15 000 in total across this part of eastern Cuito Cuanavale. But now the Angolans were almost certain the next attack was going to come from the north East. The SADF did not know that the Angolans knew with almost 100 certainty the direction of the next South African attack.

It was D-Day for the next attack across the open ground east of the Tumpo Triangle, just outside Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola. The town was now regarded as a moral prerequisite rather than strategic necessity, Luanda's position here was no surrender, while in Pretoria, the political leadership knew that they could not take the town. This would have prompted an escalation which the National Party could not afford at this moment in their history. The South African economy was weakening, and the public support for this long war in Angola had ebbed significantly. As you've heard, the Cubans and Angolans with the Russian advisors were dug in and ready to the east of Cuito Cuanavale, dozens of tanks, thousands of men, covered by Su-22 and MiG fighter jets and ground support aircraft, M-46 heavy artillery ranged and ready, the terrifying Zu-23 anti-aircraft guns horizontal, ready to pound the Ratels. Mike Muller's 61 Mech was going to launch itself into this flatland on 25th February 1988, a direct assault on a heavily fortified position with fewer men. Not what the military handbook says - as we all know. If you do not have the element of surprise, then you need 3 to 1 odds in your favour, however poorly trained you believe the other side may be. The Angolans by now were not as poorly trained as the SADF liked to think. FAPLA been fighting the South Africans since 1975 and had learned a great deal over the past 13 years.

The South Africans were attacking FAPLA's 59 Brigade, but had run into an ambush - Cubans operating Soviet tanks had laid up waiting for 4SAI to cut across their hull down positions. These were the T55s of the 3rd Battalion — the commanders and the gunners were Cuban, while the drivers were Angolan. As the SADF had found out earlier on the 14th February 1988, Cubans were also operating as spotters. Mike Muller of 61 Mech was now trying to capture a Cuban, but the last he'd seen had been shot down right in front of him, while trying to surrender, by UNITA troops who's blood was up. When we left off last, it was afternoon - and the SADF had just won a victory over 59 Brigade and 3rd Battalion - the Angolans and their Cuban allies were in full retreat towards the Tumpo Triangle, that y junction in the road south east of Cuito Cuanavale, and just north of the Tumpo River. This retreat was a rout in many ways, with FAPLA officers only managing to halt the retreating 59th Brigade 120 kilometers north east of Cuito Cuanavale. 21 and 25 Brigades were also pulling back along with the 3rd tank Battalion. They left behind 14 destroyed T55s, eight armoured cars, one BM-21 Stalin Organ, one mobile radar guided SAM13 missile system, and seven ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns. 400 FAPLA were dead, hundreds more wounded so far on the battle on Valentines' Day. Meanwhile, what was called a sideshow had been underway far to the north west of this battle ground. To coincide with the big attack by 4SAI and 61 Mech against 59 Brigade on Sunday 14 February 1988, Deon Ferreira wanted 32 Battalion to strike the Menongue Airbase. This was to hamper the Angolans as they dispatched their attack helicopters and ground support MiGs - and the plans had been under way since the 6th February . It may have been a sideshow, but it was extremely daring - a one-off event in the entire Border War in terms of its conventional style plan. The idea was to launch from a small stream called the Cuma, which was 20 kilometers south east of Menongue. One Friday 19th February, four Mirage F1AZs took off from Grootfontein in Northern SWA, their target was a FAPLA convoy expected to pass through Cuartir, 40 kilometers east of Menongue. The last plane out that day was flown by Major Ed Every, known to all at the base as Never Ready because he often forgot things - like his gloves, maps, or flight documents - but on this day he forgot nothing.

When we left off last episode it was the end of Operation Moduler, and Cuban Leader Fidel Castro had begun to consider a negotiated solution to the Namibian and Angolan war. There was a side-show planned before the next major op in Angola. The SADF top brass had finally decided to try and cut off the logistics route west of Cuito Cuanavale through to Menongue. This was also a period in the war where the generals began to get more and more involved in the tactical decisions. Some of the upcoming battles were going to involve the SADF forces creeping ahead, similar to the fighting in World War One. FAPLA had not folded and run, commanders on the ground said that the enemy had often fought with a degree of determination that drew grudging respect from the South Africans. It's time to consider Jan Hougaard's Marauders and an approach that perhaps in hindsight, was about two months too late but better late than never. The commandant had been sent back to Rundu in late October to put together a secret mission to head west of Cuito Cuanavale, where the road runs east west but the rivers run north south. That means there's quite a few points that are strategic because they're bridges or drifts, at least five places where a motivated and well structured team of saboteurs or attackers could cause mayhem. Convoys of vehicles were arriving in Cuito virtually daily, some with 300 or more trucks, tankers and support machines, bringing supplies and equipment. Each convoy that made the trip safely from Menongue 200 km to the west was greeted by cheers, and each was a knife in the back of the SADF morale. He had to begin destabilising FAPLAs routes by early December, so he turned to 120 men from 101 Battalion made up of soldiers from Ovamboland. The mobile rocket Launcher battery was shifted from Hartslief to Hougaard. He scouted around Fort Buffalo, 32 Battalion's headquarters, and managed to pull together a special support company with 81mm mortars, jeep mounted 106 mm anti-tank guns and Milan anti-tank missiles. The Angolans had been forced to recruit more troops and rush them south, many had not been trained properly and the calibre of fighting man on FAPLAs side had dropped. But offsetting this was a far cleverer approach to fighting the South Africans. FAPLA had already shown some steel in previous confrontations, they had deployed their mechanised units in a more mobile fashion, moving them around the battlefield. The Cubans and Russian advisors were more hands on as well.

We're wrapping up Operation Moduler this episode and throwing forward to the next assault on Cuito Cuanavale which was to fixate the South African political leadership at a time when the Cold War was melting away. This was to have a direct effect on the satellite wars such as those in Angola. Assessing this stage of the conflict it all appeared to be in South Africa's favour - on the surface. Combat Groups Alpha, Bravo and Charlie had fought running battles against FAPLAs 21/25 Brigade, 66 Brigade and 59th Brigade for weeks pushing them back to close to where they'd started the own Operation October. Instead of overcoming UNITA at Mavinga and taking their HQ at Jumba, FAPLA had been defeated. Between July and 18th November 1987 FAPLA had lost 1 059 dead, more than 2000 wounded, 61 tanks were blown up along with 84 armoured cars and 20 artillery pieces. Some have suggested that if 4SAI and the tank squadron of 12 Olifants from the start of Moduler, they would have overrun the Angolans with ease. That is I'm afraid, an incorrect assessment for two main reasons. The first was the SA Air Force did not control the air war. The Angolans did. And anyone who understands modern warfare knows that those who control the air, particularly these days of missiles and drones, controls the battle. Russia has failed to take complete control of the airspace over Ukraine since their invasion in February 2022 - and has paid the price for that failure. Unlike the UN and American force that overran Iraq in Desert Storm after decimating and completely destroying the Iraqi air Force and bludeoning it's anti-aircraft system into dust. The war was lost from then on for Saddam Hussein whatever his Revolutionary Guard thought. Secondly, the SADF was attacking entrenched defensive positions without the advantage of the element of surprise and numerically weaker. Tactical college interns at military school will tell you that's not a blueprint for success. Even if 4SAI and the tanks had arrived earlier, they would still have had to face MiGs that were spending more time over the ground forces than the Mirages. Perhaps the SADF would have managed to overcome FAPLAs 21 and 25 Brigade, but then they would face four more Brigades. Two east of Cuito and two others in reserve. And if you check the facts, 59 Brigade fought well and in fact, deflected an Olifant attack on the days before 16th November 1987. By now Cuba's Fidel Castro had lost over 10 000 and some say closer to 20 000 troops as casualties of this never ending war across the Atlantic from his small island nation. Initially, he had supported the war, sending his men and women in to fight. It's not well known, but Cuban women for example made up most of the anti-aircraft battery crews around some of the towns of Angola. He began to think about negotiating a solution rather than fighting to the death against the SADF, and sent his diplomats to the United Nations along with Angolan MPLA officials to contact the South African mission in New York. Castro was wanting out of Angola.

FAPLAs 21 and 25 Brigades were manoeuvring around the western edge of the 1370 meter high Viposto high ground which lay south of the Hube and Chambinga Rivers before dawn on the 16th November 1987- and those rivers flowed in an almost direct east to west direction. That meant the Angolan Brigades were now squeezed between the high ground and the river, heading towards the Hube's source. Their plan was to circle around the east side of the source, then head back westerly along the right bank of the river, eventually reaching the strategic Chambinga River bridge - and then escaping back towards Cuito Cuanavale. At 06h00 the 21 and 25 Brigades were refuelling before the next quick push for the headwaters of the Hube, with the Russian advisors team leader Lieutenant colonel Anatoly Artiomenko standing on the top of his troop carrier. The SADF's Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Battle groups were thundering north, trying to cut them off on the east side - the right - of the Viposto high ground. During the night of the 15th, SADF Recces and spotters were on the move ahead of the advancing Battle Groups and despite the Angolans determination to co-ordinate their next moves, the next few hours were going to be grim. And Battle Group Charlie wasn't hard to spot - FAPLA recon teams heard them miles away because the commander Leon Marais had decided to breach a large minefield using the Ploffadder explosives - fired from a rocket they landed on the minefield in a long strand, detonating loudly and also detonating mines. They did not always work and this time, they worked well enough to signal Charlie's presence to advancing FAPLA Brigades. Because both sides had driven into the same area at night, the South Africans had further compounded their own lack of quick quiet action by firing mortar shell illuminating flares before dawn. They gave their positions away in both cases long before FAPLA actually spotted their forward Ratels and Buffels. The South Africans were also traveling very slowly as the commanders fretted about the exact location of the minefields, even despite having maps they'd seized in the attacks on the 16 Brigade two weeks earlier. Lieutenant Koos Breytenbach was the SADF forward artillery observer at strategic Bridge and he became known as the Murderer of the Chambinga after what happened next. He was extremely accurate in his distance measurements and timing, bringing down constant G-5 shells, rockets and 120mm mortars on the Angolans crossing the bridge. **This episode has been re-edited to include comments from Paul Gladwin who kindly provided a more accurate rendition of a casevac that led to an Honoris Crux for Sergeant Labuschagne.

FAPLAs 21 and 25 Brigades were manoeuvring around the western edge of the 1370 meter high Viposto high ground which lay south of the Hube and Chambinga Rivers before dawn on the 16th November 1987- and those rivers flowed in an almost direct east to west direction. That meant the Angolan Brigades were now squeezed between the high ground and the river, heading towards the Hube's source. Their plan was to circle around the east side of the source, then head back westerly along the right bank of the river, eventually reaching the strategic Chambinga River bridge - and then escaping back towards Cuito Cuanavale. At 06h00 the 21 and 25 Brigades were refuelling before the next quick push for the headwaters of the Hube, with the Russian advisors team leader Lieutenant colonel Anatoly Artiomenko standing on the top of his troop carrier. The SADF's Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Battle groups were thundering north, trying to cut them off on the east side - the right - of the Viposto high ground. During the night of the 15th, SADF Recces and spotters were on the move ahead of the advancing Battle Groups and despite the Angolans determination to co-ordinate their next moves, the next few hours were going to be grim. And Battle Group Charlie wasn't hard to spot - FAPLA recon teams heard them miles away because the commander Leon Marais had decided to breach a large minefield using the Ploffadder explosives - fired from a rocket they landed on the minefield in a long strand, detonating loudly and also detonating mines. They did not always work and this time, they worked well enough to signal Charlie's presence to advancing FAPLA Brigades. Because both sides had driven into the same area at night, the South Africans had further compounded their own lack of quick quiet action by firing mortar shell illuminating flares before dawn. They gave their positions away in both cases long before FAPLA actually spotted their forward Ratels and Buffels. The South Africans were also traveling very slowly as the commanders fretted about the exact location of the minefields, even despite having maps they'd seized in the attacks on the 16 Brigade two weeks earlier. Lieutenant Koos Breytenbach was the SADF forward artillery observer at strategic Bridge and he became known as the Murderer of the Chambinga after what happened next. He was extremely accurate in his distance measurements and timing, bringing down constant G-5 shells, rockets and 120mm mortars on the Angolans crossing the bridge.

We're into the final phase of Operation Moduler in November 1987, and the SADF was lining up FAPLAs 16 Brigade after giving them a bloody nose on the 9th. Combat Group Bravo was going to draw FAPLAs attention between the Mianei and Vimpula Rivers, south east of Cuito Cuanavale, but that was a diversion. 59 Brigade was based here, and moving slowly in a northerly direction to support 16 Brigade almost due east of the town. The are a series of short rivers that rise to the north, east and south of Cuito Cuanavale, most flow west and join the Quito River - and it was along these rivers that most of the next phase of Operation Modular would be fought. The Recces spotted T54/55 tanks heading towards the source of the Hube River and the South African commander Commandant Deon Ferreira was weighing up neutralising these heavy weapons before continuing with the attack on 16h Brigade. The South Africans were still not fully aware of what 59 Brigade was doing, although they had a better idea about 16 Brigade. During the night of the 10th, the SADF pulled of a switcheroo, moving Combat Group Alpha to the south of 16th Brigade, combat Group Charlie was now slightly north. Early on the morning of the 11th, Combat Group Alpha was in position and began to fire their Ratel 90 guns along with the Ratel 81 mortars towards FAPLA trenches. The G-5s also began to pepper 16 Brigade along with the Multiple Rocket launchers, the Valkiris. ON the same day, the Angolans were celebrating their independence but as the Russian advisors met with their African colleagues for muted festivities, Mirages flew overhead, and began to bomb the Angolan positions. “Something quite unimaginable is happening now …” wrote Russian translator Igor Zhdarkin, “The Angolan troops are almost completely demoralised the brigades are on average at 45 percent strength. For every 10 or 15 shells launched by the enemy the Angolans are able to send only one…” The SADFs rate of fire was wearing FAPLA down while the Recces and artillery spotters were passing on information constantly and then picked up 59th Brigade's shifting position. The Russians reported that the Angolans had spotted what they called “their buffalo” - that was 32 Battalion and the advisors reported that “the Angolans fear the South Africans like fire…”. As both sides picked up their pieces, an incredible casualty evacuation was about to take place. 32's Piet Van Zyl realised that one of the Battalion's troops was missing - and was told that the infantryman was last seen lying dead in a FAPLA trench 800m away.

It's early morning November 9th 1987 and the SADF was advancing towards FAPLAs 16th Brigade based at the source of the Chambinga River. The Angolan brigade had received orders to shift eastwards, and the units were about to move when the SADF launched their attack. The first sign of the impending assault was an artillery bombardment and SAAF bombing raid on the eve of the assault. Commandant Deon Ferreira was OC of Task Force 10 as it was known although the main battle plans had been drawn up by Roland de Vries, his 2 IC. It was a plan that was based on the principles of fluid operations, with the South African mobility exploited to the full. De Vries had also decided that one of the main aims was to destabilise the enemies logistics and communications, disrupting their plans and likely counter attack. Robbie Hartslief's Combat Group Bravo unleashed on 59th Brigade to the south, creating a diversion. But when his units overran the position, the south African commander was surprised to find the brigade's positions were empty, it had already withdrawn north towards the 16th Brigade. The Angolans counter attacked with tanks, and Bravo retreated, Hartslief's actions had confused the enemy and he didn't want to continue a needless fight against FAPLA which was using heavy weapons, including the T54 and 55s. The Soviet advisors thought they had won a victory and began exchanging congratulations. Little did they know that the main SADF assault was going to take place further north close to the source of the Chambinga River. That's where Commandant Deon MArais led Combat Group Charlie towards 16th Brigade, although the going was slow, hampered by the thick bush around the river. By 06h57 on the morning of 9th November, Recces posted near the 16th Brigade radio to say that could hear FAPLAs tank engines start up - moments later a G-5 bombardment hit one of FAPLAs ammunition dumps, which exploded. Marais' Charlie Group approached in close formation, with 4 SAIs two mechanised infantry companies of Ratel 20s on both sides in the front, and an armoured car squadron of Ratel 90s as well as a platoon of 32 Battalion troops between them. Piet van Zyl's company of 32 infantrymen were all black, led by four white officers. “We moved 30 km west from the lagoon, riding on Ratels,” said van Zyl quoted by author Fred Bridgeland. “We passed the tank squadron and its support Ratels under the command of major Andre Retief of 4SAI, That man really knew how to look after his troops…” Retief had brought a refrigerated canteen truck all the way from South Africa, and van Zyl organised a raid on the truck when 4SAI was looking the other way - liberating two cases of ice cold beer. “Man that was nectar from heaven” said van Zyl. The Angolans still believed that the SADF was attacking 59 Brigade further south, but that all changed just after 7.30 when 16 Brigade comms reports that South African tanks appeared to be about to overrun their positions.

Colonel Deon Ferreira was putting the final touches together for the next phase of Operation Moduler, in late October 1987. The South Africans had reorganised themselves into three combat groups for the upcoming push against FAPLA north of the Lomba River. Combat Group Alpha was initially led by Kobus Smit of 61 Mech, but he was about to be rotated out to be replaced by Commandant Mike Muller, it was basically 61 Mech minus a mechanised infantry group, Combat Group Bravo led by Robbie Hartslief, two motorised infantry companies from 32 Battalion and 101 Battalion each, as well as 32s anti-tank squadron and support company, with a mechanised infantry company seconded from 61 Mech. Combat Group Charlie was headed up by Leon Marais and comprised of 4SAI infantry, a tank squadron of Olifants, plus a motorised company from 32 Battalion. Along side these was 20 Artillery regiment under Colonel Jean Lausberg. Sierra Battery retained their G-5 Guns and turned their 120mm mortars over to Romeo battery. So this regiment had two G-5 batteries, one Valkiri MRL Battery, along with a 120mm mortar battery and a troop of G-6s. That meant there were 3000 South African soldiers in this brigade - and no reinforcements. The artillery was going to be based south east of the Mianei river, which itself is south east of Cuito Cuanavale. From now on Cuito Cuanavale would be in range, along with its crucial airstrip. But the Angolans had withdrawn their MiGs and attack helicopters from the town, aware that the SADF long-range G-5s and G-6 could strike their expensive machines. Colonel Ferreira based himself at the tactical HQ near Mavinga leaving Roland de Vries back in Rundu to draw up the main plan for the assault on Cuito Cuanavale. After a day or so, De Vries and Colonel Fred Oelschig and Jean Lausberg flew to Mavinga to discuss the plan with UNITAs Jonas Savimbi. FAPLAs forces were arraigned in an arc mainly to the south east of Cuito Cuanavale. 16 Brigade was at the source of the Chambinga River - the furthest north of the Angolan brigades, while 66 Brigade was close to the main road bridge over the river. This was one of the key points that the SAAF had been hitting, it was the only route FAPLA Brigades further south could use to escape. 59 Brigade was below the 16th Brigade, while to their west, at the confluence of the Cuito and Mianei Rivers, an infantry battalion of the 66 Brigade was waiting. Nearby was an infantry battalion of the 25th Brigade, at the source of the Mianei River. Further towards the Cuito River, 21 Brigade based behind the 25th Brigade, and 21 was also arraigned along the Mianei River. Then the Russians claimed the SADF fired chemical weapons...

FAPLA had taken a battering at the Battle of the Lomba River on 3rd October 1987 - the SADF had crushed 47 Brigade, and they had also dealt t21 Brigade a serious blow earlier as you've heard. Operation Modular had led to a mauling - and the Angolans began withdrawing northwards. The South Africans had been victorious despite being hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, the Ratels had somehow defeated the T54s and T55s. The cabinet was delighted back in Pretoria - but now faced a serious question that had not been fully addressed before the Lomba bloodletting. Now what? FAPLA was withdrawing but they weren't defeated. Furthermore, FAPLA's logistic centre at Cuito Cuanavale was untouched and operating. The bridge the Recces had destroyed was up and running once more. IT was almost immediately that folks like the chief of the SADF Jannie Geldenhuys knew consolidation of the gains was crucial, along with preventing the enemy from regrouping. By now, the political leadership had decided that they'd throw everything they could at this invasion into Angola - they'd gone too far to pull back. They'd grabbed a Tiger by the tail, and couldn't let go. For the Angolans, it was a bitter defeat, and the end of FAPLAs Operation Saludando a Octobre, Salute to October, their grand offensive of four main Brigades which were supposed to seize Mavinga from UNITA then push on to UNITAS HQ at Jamba - and destroy the rebel movement once and for all. Not this time. Russian advisors who were part of the FAPLA Brigades on the Lomba, and based in Cuito, confirmed just how badly the Angolan army had been mauled. Igor Anatoliyevich Zhdarkin was on the ground in Cuito when the battered 21st and 47th Brigades staggered back into the town. “There on the Lomba, misfortune had befallen them…” he wrote in his journal “…They had been battered with shells from the rapid firing guns of the South Africans.” On the ground, 20 SA Brigade was joined by 4 SAI Battalion, a fully mechanised unit with extra G-5 batteries, four self propelled G6 guns - although one broke down and most important, a squadron of 13 Olifant tanks. Because these were to play such a significant role in the upcoming battles, I'll spend a few minutes talking about their production.

FAPLA had taken a battering at the Battle of the Lomba River on 3rd October 1987 - the SADF had crushed 47 Brigade, and they had also dealt t21 Brigade a serious blow earlier as you've heard. Operation Modular had led to a mauling - and the Angolans began withdrawing northwards. The South Africans had been victorious despite being hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, the Ratels had somehow defeated the T54s and T55s. The cabinet was delighted back in Pretoria - but now faced a serious question that had not been fully addressed before the Lomba bloodletting. Now what? FAPLA was withdrawing but they weren't defeated. Furthermore, FAPLA's logistic centre at Cuito Cuanavale was untouched and operating. The bridge the Recces had destroyed was up and running once more. IT was almost immediately that folks like the chief of the SADF Jannie Geldenhuys knew consolidation of the gains was crucial, along with preventing the enemy from regrouping. By now, the political leadership had decided that they'd throw everything they could at this invasion into Angola - they'd gone too far to pull back. They'd grabbed a Tiger by the tail, and couldn't let go. For the Angolans, it was a bitter defeat, and the end of FAPLAs Operation Saludando a Octobre, Salute to October, their grand offensive of four main Brigades which were supposed to seize Mavinga from UNITA then push on to UNITAS HQ at Jamba - and destroy the rebel movement once and for all. Not this time. Russian advisors who were part of the FAPLA Brigades on the Lomba, and based in Cuito, confirmed just how badly the Angolan army had been mauled. Igor Anatoliyevich Zhdarkin was on the ground in Cuito when the battered 21st and 47th Brigades staggered back into the town. “There on the Lomba, misfortune had befallen them…” he wrote in his journal “…They had been battered with shells from the rapid firing guns of the South Africans.” On the ground, 20 SA Brigade was joined by 4 SAI Battalion, a fully mechanised unit with extra G-5 batteries, four self propelled G6 guns - although one broke down and most important, a squadron of 13 Olifant tanks. Because these were to play such a significant role in the upcoming battles, I'll spend a few minutes talking about their production.

The first phase of Operation Modular has begun. 32 Battalion, the Recces and UNITA are facing 8 FAPLA Brigades in southern Angola, four of these have advanced towards Mavinga. As you hear last episode, FAPLas 21 and 47 Brigade of about 3000 men were on their way to the Lomba River, north west of Mavinga. Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Kat Liebenberg had written in his report before August 1987 that a physical attack on Menongue by the SADF would probably solve the problem of the FAPLA attack. But he also wrote that because of the SA Army's manpower shortage, this was not feasible. To buttress Unita then, the initial group of 80 special force soldiers had been deployed along with anti-tank weapons to form tank hunting teams. This largely failed because the Angolans always deployed company's of men as screens around their precious tanks. Colonel Jock Harris who was OC of 32 Battalion was writing furious notes about what he called the foolish proposals being adopted by Defence force top brass. At one minute to midnight on 19th August, the SADF began fighting back with heavier stuff - firing a ripple of 96 Valkiri rockets at the FAPLA forces who were occupying a place called the Catado Woods. 32 Battalion's Harris had seen enough of this war, along with Jan Breytenbach who was now advising UNITA, to know a full-scale mechanised assault by an enemy when he saw one. After the slow going of early August, FAPLA suddenly surged and the lead elements reached the Lomba River in early September. The scene was set for the Operation Modular showdown.

The first phase of Operation Modular has begun. 32 Battalion, the Recces and UNITA are facing 8 FAPLA Brigades in southern Angola, four of these have advanced towards Mavinga. As you hear last episode, FAPLas 21 and 47 Brigade of about 3000 men were on their way to the Lomba River, north west of Mavinga. Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Kat Liebenberg had written in his report before August 1987 that a physical attack on Menongue by the SADF would probably solve the problem of the FAPLA attack. But he also wrote that because of the SA Army's manpower shortage, this was not feasible. To buttress Unita then, the initial group of 80 special force soldiers had been deployed along with anti-tank weapons to form tank hunting teams. This largely failed because the Angolans always deployed company's of men as screens around their precious tanks. Colonel Jock Harris who was OC of 32 Battalion was writing furious notes about what he called the foolish proposals being adopted by Defence force top brass. At one minute to midnight on 19th August, the SADF began fighting back with heavier stuff - firing a ripple of 96 Valkiri rockets at the FAPLA forces who were occupying a place called the Catado Woods. 32 Battalion's Harris had seen enough of this war, along with Jan Breytenbach who was now advising UNITA, to know a full-scale mechanised assault by an enemy when he saw one. After the slow going of early August, FAPLA suddenly surged and the lead elements reached the Lomba River in early September. The scene was set for the Operation Modular showdown.

The SADF was now facing a crisis as the MPLA government in Angola was growing increasingly determined to crush UNITA in the south east. The Apartheid government was also facing an internal uprising and new organisations had been developed to deal with these. In this episode we hear about Colonel Piet Muller who commanded Sector 20 in SWA. He had considered the threat posed by FAPLA which was now attacking UNITA head-on at Mavinga and the Angolan rebel movement led by Jonas Savimbi was wilting. Muller had a plan involving a Brigade-sized force and a three pronged attack. First he thought that FAPLA should be hit behind the lines so to speak, by ignoring their advance east of the Cuito River and focus on the West, hitting the Cubans and Russian support at Menongue. That would halt the supply of heavy weapons streaming eastwards. This implied something else. Quito Cuanavale needed to be attacked and subdued, even further north west because it was the fulcrum, a point through which everything heading towards UNITA was now moving. It was a strategic target that was also juicy. And third, was to create some kind of direct head-on clash further east of the Quito River at some point after the supply lines had bee cut, which would give the Angolans a bloody nose. Colonel Jock Harris who commanded 32 Battalion thought this an excellent idea. It conformed to SADF tactical doctrine, using the mechanised brigades, punching first, using the troops directly to take on the Cubans and FAPLA driving their armoured vehicles and tanks towards UNITA forces. We are moving inexorably towards the battle for Quito Cuanavale, and this period has been debated particularly hotly by military historians so I'm going to tread very carefully indeed. I also have some excellent source material from the Russians - so unlike some of the other battles, I'll be able to tell you what was going on day to day from both sides. One of the Russians is Vyacheslave Aleksandrovich Mityaev, who was in Angola between 1986 and 1989, advising FAPLA reconnaissance units. He was stationed in the 6th Military district in Manongue and Quito Cuanavale and had a great deal of experience facing 32 Battalion, the Recces and 61 Mech.

The SADF was now facing a crisis as the MPLA government in Angola was growing increasingly determined to crush UNITA in the south east. The Apartheid government was also facing an internal uprising and new organisations had been developed to deal with these. In this episode we hear about Colonel Piet Muller who commanded Sector 20 in SWA. He had considered the threat posed by FAPLA which was now attacking UNITA head-on at Mavinga and the Angolan rebel movement led by Jonas Savimbi was wilting. Muller had a plan involving a Brigade-sized force and a three pronged attack. First he thought that FAPLA should be hit behind the lines so to speak, by ignoring their advance east of the Cuito River and focus on the West, hitting the Cubans and Russian support at Menongue. That would halt the supply of heavy weapons streaming eastwards. This implied something else. Quito Cuanavale needed to be attacked and subdued, even further north west because it was the fulcrum, a point through which everything heading towards UNITA was now moving. It was a strategic target that was also juicy. And third, was to create some kind of direct head-on clash further east of the Quito River at some point after the supply lines had bee cut, which would give the Angolans a bloody nose. Colonel Jock Harris who commanded 32 Battalion thought this an excellent idea. It conformed to SADF tactical doctrine, using the mechanised brigades, punching first, using the troops directly to take on the Cubans and FAPLA driving their armoured vehicles and tanks towards UNITA forces. We are moving inexorably towards the battle for Quito Cuanavale, and this period has been debated particularly hotly by military historians so I'm going to tread very carefully indeed. I also have some excellent source material from the Russians - so unlike some of the other battles, I'll be able to tell you what was going on day to day from both sides. One of the Russians is Vyacheslave Aleksandrovich Mityaev, who was in Angola between 1986 and 1989, advising FAPLA reconnaissance units. He was stationed in the 6th Military district in Manongue and Quito Cuanavale and had a great deal of experience facing 32 Battalion, the Recces and 61 Mech.

By mid-1985 air traffic between Lubango on the Atlantic coast and Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola had grown exponentially. Since the railway line running east had been rendered useless by UNITA, the MPLA was relying heavily on transport planes to get their logistics to the front. Daily flights of the Soviet Antonovs could be seen carrying troops and material to Menongue in support of the MPLA's war effort. This turned into a veritable flood of planes by late August when the MPLA launched their offensive against UNITA. As you heard last episode, the Russians and Cubans had tired of being forced into defensive positions by the South Africans and UNITA and had decided to launch a two pronged as part of Operation Second Congress. The initial thrust began to the east into the Cazombo salient, while a second thrust turned south east. The SA Air Force was then called in to help ferry UNITA troops as well as their own material in something that the South Africans called Operation Magneto. SA Air Force Mobile Air Operations Teams or MOATs were based at Cago Couthino and Cazombo and they guided the Hercules and Pumas in at night. That was to avoid being shot down by the MiGs which operated only during the day. It was thought that the final phase of the battle for South Africa had begun, at least that's how the hawks inside cabinet regarded this part of the Border War. The Recces moved into Angola in support of UNITA and their mission was to shoot down Antonov and other MPLA transport aircraft using captured Russian SA-9 missile systems. The Angolans were flying aggressive missions daily, resupplying FAPLA on the ground and conducting casevacs. The Mi-25 gunship helicopters, provided flushing fire, air-to-ground support, firing their 57mm rockets at possible UNITA targets, and sometimes, using their cannons. Watching these flights were the Recces and members of 32 Battalion seconded to UNITA. The SADF was monitoring the Angolan army radio and picked up that many of the helicopter flights were used to ferry the all-important Soviet and Cuban advisors around the battle zones. The Angolan push called Second Congress now presented an opportunity for some score settling – Pretoria had always regarded the Soviet presence as a perversion, warning the Russians that playing around in South Africa's back yard would have consquences.

By mid-1985 air traffic between Lubango on the Atlantic coast and Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola had grown exponentially. Since the railway line running east had been rendered useless by UNITA, the MPLA was relying heavily on transport planes to get their logistics to the front. Daily flights of the Soviet Antonovs could be seen carrying troops and material to Menongue in support of the MPLA's war effort. This turned into a veritable flood of planes by late August when the MPLA launched their offensive against UNITA. As you heard last episode, the Russians and Cubans had tired of being forced into defensive positions by the South Africans and UNITA and had decided to launch a two pronged as part of Operation Second Congress. The initial thrust began to the east into the Cazombo salient, while a second thrust turned south east. The SA Air Force was then called in to help ferry UNITA troops as well as their own material in something that the South Africans called Operation Magneto. SA Air Force Mobile Air Operations Teams or MOATs were based at Cago Couthino and Cazombo and they guided the Hercules and Pumas in at night. That was to avoid being shot down by the MiGs which operated only during the day. It was thought that the final phase of the battle for South Africa had begun, at least that's how the hawks inside cabinet regarded this part of the Border War. The Recces moved into Angola in support of UNITA and their mission was to shoot down Antonov and other MPLA transport aircraft using captured Russian SA-9 missile systems. The Angolans were flying aggressive missions daily, resupplying FAPLA on the ground and conducting casevacs. The Mi-25 gunship helicopters, provided flushing fire, air-to-ground support, firing their 57mm rockets at possible UNITA targets, and sometimes, using their cannons. Watching these flights were the Recces and members of 32 Battalion seconded to UNITA. The SADF was monitoring the Angolan army radio and picked up that many of the helicopter flights were used to ferry the all-important Soviet and Cuban advisors around the battle zones. The Angolan push called Second Congress now presented an opportunity for some score settling – Pretoria had always regarded the Soviet presence as a perversion, warning the Russians that playing around in South Africa's back yard would have consquences.

This is episode 75 and we're covering events in 1984 where various issues had arisen. The South Africans and the Angolans had been jointly patrolling southern Angola in what was supposed to be the preamble to peace in Namibia. But the Joint Monitoring process had failed by July 1984 with SWAPO continuing to occupy the southern region of Angola, and the South Africans continuing to supply UNITA. This JMC process was always doomed some say, but at the start there were signs that FAPLA and the SADF could work together. Unfortunately for the many hundreds who were still to die, that good faith faded away rapidly and there was no chance of a proper cease fire. While the JMC continued operating in name, on the ground things were going from bad to worse. Eventually the whole exercise would be terminated in mid-1985, but before we get there it's important to focus on special operations of 1984. You heard how the SADF special forces, specifically the Recces, had been tasked with disrupting Angolan maritime resources and last episode we covered what happened during Operation Bouganvilia earlier in 1984. The next op was called Nobilis where seaborne operators were going to try and and blow up the ASO 2 Missile boats the Angolan navy had secured from the Russians. Earlier in the war, the SA Navy was somewhat scathing of the Angolan capacity, but everything changed when the OSA 2 missile boats arrived in 1982. They added a new and more deadly dimension to Luanda's capacity. By late 1983 there were six of these vessels deployed to ports like Soyo, Lobito and Mocamedes and Luanda. Eventually, 4 Recce was given the project to sink three OSA missile boats inside Luanda harbour during the dark moon period at the end of July 1984. It was important to allow UNITA to claim the attack, so the mines were going to be attached to these ships at only 1 to 1.5 meters below the surface. The South Africans used sophisticated underwater breathing systems allowing them to approach much deeper, so they hoped the shallow attachment of the mines would convince the Russians and the Angolans that it was the rebel movement and not the SA special Forces.

This is episode 75 and we're covering events in 1984 where various issues had arisen. The South Africans and the Angolans had been jointly patrolling southern Angola in what was supposed to be the preamble to peace in Namibia. But the Joint Monitoring process had failed by July 1984 with SWAPO continuing to occupy the southern region of Angola, and the South Africans continuing to supply UNITA. This JMC process was always doomed some say, but at the start there were signs that FAPLA and the SADF could work together. Unfortunately for the many hundreds who were still to die, that good faith faded away rapidly and there was no chance of a proper cease fire. While the JMC continued operating in name, on the ground things were going from bad to worse. Eventually the whole exercise would be terminated in mid-1985, but before we get there it's important to focus on special operations of 1984. You heard how the SADF special forces, specifically the Recces, had been tasked with disrupting Angolan maritime resources and last episode we covered what happened during Operation Bouganvilia earlier in 1984. The next op was called Nobilis where seaborne operators were going to try and and blow up the ASO 2 Missile boats the Angolan navy had secured from the Russians. Earlier in the war, the SA Navy was somewhat scathing of the Angolan capacity, but everything changed when the OSA 2 missile boats arrived in 1982. They added a new and more deadly dimension to Luanda's capacity. By late 1983 there were six of these vessels deployed to ports like Soyo, Lobito and Mocamedes and Luanda. Eventually, 4 Recce was given the project to sink three OSA missile boats inside Luanda harbour during the dark moon period at the end of July 1984. It was important to allow UNITA to claim the attack, so the mines were going to be attached to these ships at only 1 to 1.5 meters below the surface. The South Africans used sophisticated underwater breathing systems allowing them to approach much deeper, so they hoped the shallow attachment of the mines would convince the Russians and the Angolans that it was the rebel movement and not the SA special Forces.

We just finished hearing about Operation Askari, and a quick note. I said that the Eland armoured would no longer be used for cross -border operations after Askari, but that's incorrect. A listener who was on board an Eland much later in 1987 explained how he was part of an operation called Firewood, where the Eland was used to head across the cutline once more. Apologies for that, and thanks Ian for the correction. FAPLA and the SADF were conducting patrols together as part of the Joint Monitoring Commission or JMC setup after the signing of the Lusaka Agreement in February 1984 – a precursor to a full cease fire. The reality was neither the South Africans nor the Angolans were going to adhere to the agreement terms Pretoria continued to support UNITA, while FAPLA after an intial period of seemingly trying to impose discipline on SWAPO, gave up and allowed their PLAN fighters to continue infiltrating Ovambao. SWAPO mortared the JMC joint patrols a number of times and firefights had developed through March so I'm sure some of the Angolan soldiers were feeling just a tad schizophrenic. Still, the main JMC officials – both the South Africans and the Angolans – gave the impression to each that they were attempting to make this whole cease-fire known as the Lusaka Agreement work. While the SADF and FAPLA were trying to find themselves, the Recces hadn't stopped special operations. In early 1984 and despite discussing land-based cease-fires, the SADF continued to focus on seaborne ops. Their specops operators, the Special Forces were instructed to investigate the destruction of the main water plant supplying the Angolan capital Luanda. This facility was on the south bank of the Bengo River at Quifangonda - Operation Bouganvilia was born.

We just finished hearing about Operation Askari, and a quick note. I said that the Eland armoured would no longer be used for cross -border operations after Askari, but that's incorrect. A listener who was on board an Eland much later in 1987 explained how he was part of an operation called Firewood, where the Eland was used to head across the cutline once more. Apologies for that, and thanks Ian for the correction. FAPLA and the SADF were conducting patrols together as part of the Joint Monitoring Commission or JMC setup after the signing of the Lusaka Agreement in February 1984 – a precursor to a full cease fire. The reality was neither the South Africans nor the Angolans were going to adhere to the agreement terms Pretoria continued to support UNITA, while FAPLA after an intial period of seemingly trying to impose discipline on SWAPO, gave up and allowed their PLAN fighters to continue infiltrating Ovambao. SWAPO mortared the JMC joint patrols a number of times and firefights had developed through March so I'm sure some of the Angolan soldiers were feeling just a tad schizophrenic. Still, the main JMC officials – both the South Africans and the Angolans – gave the impression to each that they were attempting to make this whole cease-fire known as the Lusaka Agreement work. While the SADF and FAPLA were trying to find themselves, the Recces hadn't stopped special operations. In early 1984 and despite discussing land-based cease-fires, the SADF continued to focus on seaborne ops. Their specops operators, the Special Forces were instructed to investigate the destruction of the main water plant supplying the Angolan capital Luanda. This facility was on the south bank of the Bengo River at Quifangonda - Operation Bouganvilia was born.

Operation Askari has ended but not the recriminations. While on the surface the SADF gave off a great deal of positive propaganda, the loss of 21 men and equipment including three Ratels, and the haphazard manner in which the planning had taken place, was a sign that all was not well. The morale of the Citizen Force units was unacceptable said the permanent force officers – and they were right. 61 Mech operation archives have a document which named Battle Group Delta otherwise known as Victor as “the worst battle group in 82 Mechanised Brigade”. The armoured squadron had performed well, but in the eyes of seasoned officers, the rest of the personnel had not. And yet, we also know that the planning for Askari did not follow the comprehensive blueprints of previous ops - battle group Victor had been sent into Cuvelai understrength – sent into a well defended position without superior firepower and without the element of surprise. Pretoria had rushed in where angels feared to tread. Despite the debriefings which were not a happy process for the SADF, there was a silver lining. The Angolans were now in a spot of bother. SWAPOs campaigns into Ovamboland had prompted the SADF invasion, now FAPLAs units needed to recover from the battering they'd taken over the past two months. Cassinga was now the southern point of SWAPO action, and the political commissars were negative about trying to head into Ovamboland for the usual summer invasion. International pressure was also being increased on both the Angolans and the South Africans. By 1984 the American domestic backing for the concept of Constructive Engagement of Pretoria was waning. It is rather ironic then, that at this precise moment, the Angolan government was also pressurizing SWAPO to find a solution. In December 1983 South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha had sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, offering to withdraw all troops from Angola for 30 days.

Operation Askari has ended but not the recriminations. While on the surface the SADF gave off a great deal of positive propaganda, the loss of 21 men and equipment including three Ratels, and the haphazard manner in which the planning had taken place, was a sign that all was not well. The morale of the Citizen Force units was unacceptable said the permanent force officers – and they were right. 61 Mech operation archives have a document which named Battle Group Delta otherwise known as Victor as “the worst battle group in 82 Mechanised Brigade”. The armoured squadron had performed well, but in the eyes of seasoned officers, the rest of the personnel had not. And yet, we also know that the planning for Askari did not follow the comprehensive blueprints of previous ops - battle group Victor had been sent into Cuvelai understrength – sent into a well defended position without superior firepower and without the element of surprise. Pretoria had rushed in where angels feared to tread. Despite the debriefings which were not a happy process for the SADF, there was a silver lining. The Angolans were now in a spot of bother. SWAPOs campaigns into Ovamboland had prompted the SADF invasion, now FAPLAs units needed to recover from the battering they'd taken over the past two months. Cassinga was now the southern point of SWAPO action, and the political commissars were negative about trying to head into Ovamboland for the usual summer invasion. International pressure was also being increased on both the Angolans and the South Africans. By 1984 the American domestic backing for the concept of Constructive Engagement of Pretoria was waning. It is rather ironic then, that at this precise moment, the Angolan government was also pressurizing SWAPO to find a solution. In December 1983 South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha had sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, offering to withdraw all troops from Angola for 30 days.

The Battle of Cuvelai two was a blood letting of note, with FAPLAs 11th Brigade now bottled up in the town, with the SADF Task Force Victor and X-Ray on their doorstep. 32 Battalion had pulled off a bloodless takeover of Techumutete during the last days of 1983, which at the time was regarded as a momentous achievement. However, they'd also doomed some of the Angolans and South Africans because one of the key aims outlined by General Greyling before the start of Operation Askari was to try and force FAPLA units to retreat to take control of the towns like Cuvelai and Cahama. By shutting off their escape route out of Cuvelai, the South Africans had actually created a situation where the Angolans now were going to fight to the death. The premise back at Oshakati was that the Angolans would shatter and run when the mechanized battalions rolled up to their front door but as you know by now, that plan had backfired. The more experienced soldiers fighting in Cuvelai on the SADF side were also extremely upset about the rather haphazard approach to intelligence gathering and tactics. This was now a conventional battle, no longer the flashy fast moving mobile surprise attacks that the SADF had honed – this was bludgeoning frontal assaults. It was on the 3rd January 1984 that one of the hidden SA-9 Strela missiles hit the tail of an Impala jet flown by Captain Joe van den Berg, the senior pilot from Ondangwa. His target had been the Firecan radar-guided 57mm AAA site east of Cuvelai, but during the pull-out after bomb release, he spotted the missile approaching. I explained that the SA-9 was unusual in that it could fire on approaching aircraft, and this missile blew up behind and under the tail section, completely removing the starboard tailplane and elevator.

The Battle of Cuvelai two was a blood letting of note, with FAPLAs 11th Brigade now bottled up in the town, with the SADF Task Force Victor and X-Ray on their doorstep. 32 Battalion had pulled off a bloodless takeover of Techumutete during the last days of 1983, which at the time was regarded as a momentous achievement. However, they'd also doomed some of the Angolans and South Africans because one of the key aims outlined by General Greyling before the start of Operation Askari was to try and force FAPLA units to retreat to take control of the towns like Cuvelai and Cahama. By shutting off their escape route out of Cuvelai, the South Africans had actually created a situation where the Angolans now were going to fight to the death. The premise back at Oshakati was that the Angolans would shatter and run when the mechanized battalions rolled up to their front door but as you know by now, that plan had backfired. The more experienced soldiers fighting in Cuvelai on the SADF side were also extremely upset about the rather haphazard approach to intelligence gathering and tactics. This was now a conventional battle, no longer the flashy fast moving mobile surprise attacks that the SADF had honed – this was bludgeoning frontal assaults. It was on the 3rd January 1984 that one of the hidden SA-9 Strela missiles hit the tail of an Impala jet flown by Captain Joe van den Berg, the senior pilot from Ondangwa. His target had been the Firecan radar-guided 57mm AAA site east of Cuvelai, but during the pull-out after bomb release, he spotted the missile approaching. I explained that the SA-9 was unusual in that it could fire on approaching aircraft, and this missile blew up behind and under the tail section, completely removing the starboard tailplane and elevator.

It's the first days of January 1984 and Operation Askari has hit a few hiccups. Task Force Victor failed to take Cuvelai in the first Battle for the town at the end of December as you heard last episode and Combat Team one had been mauled. Both Combat Team 1 and 2 retreated two kilometers north west of the town then turned and headed south west where they bivouacked about 17 kilometers away from the Cuvelai, deciding what to do next. Some members of the Task Force began to talk about heading back to the border, and if their vehicles ran out of fuel, they openly spoke about abandoning them and walking to the cutline. At least one Captain involved in this discussion decided to ignore his NCOs comments according to veterans of the battle. The muddled manner in which the first attack on Cuvelai had been carried out was plain for all to see. Some later suggested the thick vegetation had created navigational challenges, which was true. No officer in his right mind at this point would have accepted a renewed attack along the same route – FAPLA was ready and waiting and this would have been a silly tactic. Unfortunately, this muddling was going to continue through into the Battle for Cuvelai part II. After regrouping, SADF headquarters had radio'd Task Force Victor commander Piet Greyling and told him to turn his men around and renew the assault. He had other ideas. Many of the troops had been mentally battered and some point blank refused. The SADF was an organization that in some ways reflected the style of warfare conducted by the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War. When ordered to press home a full frontal attack against a heavily armed enemy in an entrenched and well defended position, they refused, it's better to live to fight another day they said, like their ancestors. Just because the politicians were in a rush to show some kind of advantage over the Angolans, it didn't mean having to throw your life away they said. Greyling was in an invidious position. The intelligence he'd received concerning the first attack was substandard to put it mildly. Recces had not realized how many T54/55s tanks ha been sent to the border, and the South Africans had miscalculated when it came to attacking positions protected by the feared 23mm and 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns. At this point the SADF needed a scape goat so General Georg Meiring relieved Greyling of his command and sent him home. Commandant Ep Van Lill was sent to replace Greyling and Sector 10 commander and Operation Askari OC Brigadier Joep Joubert and General Georg Meiring who was Chief of SWA Territorial Force both briefed Van Lill before he flew in to join Task Force Victor. But he did have some good news, Combat Group Delta was going to detach from 61 Mechanised Battalion and join Task Force Victor.

It's the first days of January 1984 and Operation Askari has hit a few hiccups. Task Force Victor failed to take Cuvelai in the first Battle for the town at the end of December as you heard last episode and Combat Team one had been mauled. Both Combat Team 1 and 2 retreated two kilometers north west of the town then turned and headed south west where they bivouacked about 17 kilometers away from the Cuvelai, deciding what to do next. Some members of the Task Force began to talk about heading back to the border, and if their vehicles ran out of fuel, they openly spoke about abandoning them and walking to the cutline. At least one Captain involved in this discussion decided to ignore his NCOs comments according to veterans of the battle. The muddled manner in which the first attack on Cuvelai had been carried out was plain for all to see. Some later suggested the thick vegetation had created navigational challenges, which was true. No officer in his right mind at this point would have accepted a renewed attack along the same route – FAPLA was ready and waiting and this would have been a silly tactic. Unfortunately, this muddling was going to continue through into the Battle for Cuvelai part II. After regrouping, SADF headquarters had radio'd Task Force Victor commander Piet Greyling and told him to turn his men around and renew the assault. He had other ideas. Many of the troops had been mentally battered and some point blank refused. The SADF was an organization that in some ways reflected the style of warfare conducted by the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War. When ordered to press home a full frontal attack against a heavily armed enemy in an entrenched and well defended position, they refused, it's better to live to fight another day they said, like their ancestors. Just because the politicians were in a rush to show some kind of advantage over the Angolans, it didn't mean having to throw your life away they said. Greyling was in an invidious position. The intelligence he'd received concerning the first attack was substandard to put it mildly. Recces had not realized how many T54/55s tanks ha been sent to the border, and the South Africans had miscalculated when it came to attacking positions protected by the feared 23mm and 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns. At this point the SADF needed a scape goat so General Georg Meiring relieved Greyling of his command and sent him home. Commandant Ep Van Lill was sent to replace Greyling and Sector 10 commander and Operation Askari OC Brigadier Joep Joubert and General Georg Meiring who was Chief of SWA Territorial Force both briefed Van Lill before he flew in to join Task Force Victor. But he did have some good news, Combat Group Delta was going to detach from 61 Mechanised Battalion and join Task Force Victor.

Angolan President João Lourenço has been sworn in for a second five-year term, vowing to be the president for all Angolans after his MPLA party's disputed win in last month's election. Kenya's new President William Ruto has lifted the fuel subsidy, sending petrol prices to a record high. And a young Nigerian content creator is determined that living with multiple disabilities will not hold him back from becoming a YouTube influencer.

By November 1983 the SADF was prepping for the significant operation called Askari, and the Air Force was playing its part. The original plan was for the op to start on the 9th November but political negotiations had led to a postponement to the 9th December. Meanwhile, the SA Air Force had sent up their remotely piloted vehicle or RPV– in Xangongo under Major Jinx Botes. The aim was to monitor the Cahama area initially as part of a sub-Askari operation called Fox . The RPV was code-named Gharra and was trying to detect the location of SA-8 missile systems sent to the South by the Angolans – courtesy of the Russians. It proved a rather hit and miss process, these were early days in the use of what we now know as drones. Time to take a closer look at Operation Askari which was broken into four phases. First, the Special Forces would recce deep into Angola, then the SA Air Force would bomb the Typhoon and Volcano base near Lubango. Phase 2 would see offensive reconnaissance around Cahama, Mulondo and Cuvelai and the SADF estimated this could take as long as two months, starting at least a week after phase 1 had kicked off. The main aim was to cut off SWAPO and FAPLAs communication and logistics lines, and to demoralize the SWAPO sections leading to their withdrawal north. However, the SADF missed a crucial bit of information when assessing their options in phase two – they presumed both FAPLA and SWAPO morale was low, but that was not the case. It was higher than it had been for years. SWAPO's PLAN armed wing had been withdrawn into Angola for retraining. And These fighters were briefed about the new heavy weapons sent by the Russian sponsors - including T54/55 tanks – as well as the new missile systems. Demoralizing them this time was not going to be as easy as in 1981. Phase three which was to begin after the invasion was to reinforce the gaps supposedly created by Askari west of the Cunene River, through Quiteve, Mupa, Vinticette and then to Ionde. The last phase was to reinforce the empty bases once SWAPO and FAPLA left, and thus stop this year's incursions into SWA.

By November 1983 the SADF was prepping for the significant operation called Askari, and the Air Force was playing its part. The original plan was for the op to start on the 9th November but political negotiations had led to a postponement to the 9th December. Meanwhile, the SA Air Force had sent up their remotely piloted vehicle or RPV– in Xangongo under Major Jinx Botes. The aim was to monitor the Cahama area initially as part of a sub-Askari operation called Fox . The RPV was code-named Gharra and was trying to detect the location of SA-8 missile systems sent to the South by the Angolans – courtesy of the Russians. It proved a rather hit and miss process, these were early days in the use of what we now know as drones. Time to take a closer look at Operation Askari which was broken into four phases. First, the Special Forces would recce deep into Angola, then the SA Air Force would bomb the Typhoon and Volcano base near Lubango. Phase 2 would see offensive reconnaissance around Cahama, Mulondo and Cuvelai and the SADF estimated this could take as long as two months, starting at least a week after phase 1 had kicked off. The main aim was to cut off SWAPO and FAPLAs communication and logistics lines, and to demoralize the SWAPO sections leading to their withdrawal north. However, the SADF missed a crucial bit of information when assessing their options in phase two – they presumed both FAPLA and SWAPO morale was low, but that was not the case. It was higher than it had been for years. SWAPO's PLAN armed wing had been withdrawn into Angola for retraining. And These fighters were briefed about the new heavy weapons sent by the Russian sponsors - including T54/55 tanks – as well as the new missile systems. Demoralizing them this time was not going to be as easy as in 1981. Phase three which was to begin after the invasion was to reinforce the gaps supposedly created by Askari west of the Cunene River, through Quiteve, Mupa, Vinticette and then to Ionde. The last phase was to reinforce the empty bases once SWAPO and FAPLA left, and thus stop this year's incursions into SWA.

Experts say Angolans await the next move by opposition UNITA, who have until September 8 to legally challenge the announced MPLA victory in the 2022 elections or risk an official MPLA victory declaration by the electoral commission. For more VOA's James Butty spoke with Journalist, Mario Paiva.

By April 1983, SADF intelligence picked up that SWAPO had begun improving its military position in Angola and that their armed wing PLAN had managed a major incursion into Ovamboland. Then things went very quiet and intelligence reports suggested there seemed to be a link between SWAPOs special Unit being withdrawn, the signs of a large incursion into SWA which was to follow in 1984. At the same time, the SADF Chief of Staff Operations in Pretoria noted that the build-up going on across the border was biggest ever and had ordered a series of counter measures including Operation Meebos which we heard about last episode. While the politicians fretted about the global impact, on the ground top SADF officers were calling for another urgent invasion of Angola. As the discussions raged, it was clear that something needed to be done and that something would lead to one of the most significant actions of the Border War called Operation Askari. This was going to be different from previous conventional ops, because this time FAPLA, the Cubans and SWAPO were going to be respond more aggressively than during previous ops. And the SADF would face two far more serious challenges, the Soviet T54/55 tank and new radar controlled missile systems. The SADF and Jonas Savimbi's UNITA had planned an operation together to destroy FAPLA headquarters in Cangamba – a small town in central Angola. UNITA's initial assaults had been repulsed and they asked for assistance in overcoming a strong FAPLA contingent in the town. Unfortunately, there was a big problem following this success. The Angolans called on the Soviets to step up their weapon deliveries including the all-important T54/55s, and the Cubans increased the number of troops in Angola by 5 000 bringing the total number to 25000.

By April 1983, SADF intelligence picked up that SWAPO had begun improving its military position in Angola and that their armed wing PLAN had managed a major incursion into Ovamboland. Then things went very quiet and intelligence reports suggested there seemed to be a link between SWAPOs special Unit being withdrawn, the signs of a large incursion into SWA which was to follow in 1984. At the same time, the SADF Chief of Staff Operations in Pretoria noted that the build-up going on across the border was biggest ever and had ordered a series of counter measures including Operation Meebos which we heard about last episode. While the politicians fretted about the global impact, on the ground top SADF officers were calling for another urgent invasion of Angola. As the discussions raged, it was clear that something needed to be done and that something would lead to one of the most significant actions of the Border War called Operation Askari. This was going to be different from previous conventional ops, because this time FAPLA, the Cubans and SWAPO were going to be respond more aggressively than during previous ops. And the SADF would face two far more serious challenges, the Soviet T54/55 tank and new radar controlled missile systems. The SADF and Jonas Savimbi's UNITA had planned an operation together to destroy FAPLA headquarters in Cangamba – a small town in central Angola. UNITA's initial assaults had been repulsed and they asked for assistance in overcoming a strong FAPLA contingent in the town. Unfortunately, there was a big problem following this success. The Angolans called on the Soviets to step up their weapon deliveries including the all-important T54/55s, and the Cubans increased the number of troops in Angola by 5 000 bringing the total number to 25000.

China forgives debt to 17 countries with non-interest-bearing loans. Who and how much exactly is not disclosed. Emmanuel Macron is in Algeria, trying to smooth over on his "history" gaffe and making sure France can buy gas from this major provider. Counting in Angola's election. Young voters will make their will felt. Angolans living abroad were able to vote for the first time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angolans vote for president in tightest ever race +++ Impact of Anglophone Cameroon lockdowns on residents +++ Guinea's political crisis worsens +++Kenyan community gives safe haven to endangered rhinos

We're back in 1982 after a hiatus covering the seaborne operations and an update from the SA Air Force which had had a busy May as you heard in Episode 64. Things on the ground in SWA showed that SWAPO was almost fully recovered from the hammering they took during Operation Protea – their own Operation had killed three farmers and 8 security force personnel. 32 Battalion continued to carry out a number of projects – and in particular the long-term Operation Spiderweb hearts and minds initiative in the Kavango which I spoke about last episode. A number of other ops were planned to take place back to back and code named Operation Meebos which had actually started in March, aimed at the area around Xangona-Humbe-Ongiva. The aim of Operation Meebos was to keep FAPLA out of the two main southern Angolan towns Xangongo and Ongiva which had been seized during Operation Protea– in an area the Angolans called the Fifty Military Region. It's ironic that the biggest loss in the upcoming op was actually caused by a SWAPO team armed with AA guns.

We're back in 1982 after a hiatus covering the seaborne operations and an update from the SA Air Force which had had a busy May as you heard in Episode 64. Things on the ground in SWA showed that SWAPO was almost fully recovered from the hammering they took during Operation Protea – their own Operation had killed three farmers and 8 security force personnel. 32 Battalion continued to carry out a number of projects – and in particular the long-term Operation Spiderweb hearts and minds initiative in the Kavango which I spoke about last episode. A number of other ops were planned to take place back to back and code named Operation Meebos which had actually started in March, aimed at the area around Xangona-Humbe-Ongiva. The aim of Operation Meebos was to keep FAPLA out of the two main southern Angolan towns Xangongo and Ongiva which had been seized during Operation Protea– in an area the Angolans called the Fifty Military Region. It's ironic that the biggest loss in the upcoming op was actually caused by a SWAPO team armed with AA guns.

Eradication of Polio in Africa takes a step back as a new case is reported in Mozambique; Officially the second this year. Angola legislates to allow opinion polls ahead of elections, however, it forbids their publication. We find out what Angolans think about this. Also in the pod: The army in South Sudan tells me they are ready to deploy to the Abyei region in an attempt to quell deadly ethnic clashes there And a 22-year-old Eritrean cyclist wins a stage victory at Italy's top cycling competition.

Twenty years ago, one of the longest, most brutal and deadliest wars of the last century ended in Angola. In 27 years, this conflict left nearly 1 million people dead and displaced 4 million. It has also left the country in ruins: In 2002, 60 percent of Angolans did not have access to drinking water and 30 percent of children died before the age of five. Has the West African country recovered from these dark years? We find out in this report by Clément Bonnerot, Dombaxi Sebastiao, Evan Claver and Juliette Dubois.

Operation Protea was had wrapped up by 2nd September 1981 – Battle Group 10 had reverted to being 61 Mech, while Battle Group 20 was disbanded. As the SADF began to debrief, it was clear that this operation had been a tactical success, and operationally there was much to satisfy the purists who'd dreamed up the new mobile warfare doctrine. The final figure once all the counting was complete was 831 enemy killed, 25 taken prisoner whereas the SADF lost 10 men and 64 wounded. Around 4000 tonnes of military hardware was captured. So it all appeared a major victory for South Africans, except for one infinitely more important area. Strategy. FAPLA was now going to go on the offensive against the SADF whereas before they were responding mainly to UNITA further east. Much more important was the future role of the Cubans and the Russians. Partly because of the embarrassingly high number of casualties from both nations during Protea, Moscow could no longer tip-toe around the fact that it was fighting directly alongside the Angolans. The Cubans were now flying MiGs whereas previously mostly East Germans had been roped in to work with the Angolan Air Force. The Russians were on the ground in Ongiva, and died there. So, what of the future? Well, the documents captured during the operation were going to be very useful in the next few months. It was learned that SWAPOs main command and logistics bases were at Bambi and Chitequera east of Cassinga and Techamutete. This meant another quick raid was being planned to push further north. Operation Daisy would see a much smaller battle group heading 300 kilometers inside Angola, the furthest the SADF would ever advance after Savannah.

Operation Protea was had wrapped up by 2nd September 1981 – Battle Group 10 had reverted to being 61 Mech, while Battle Group 20 was disbanded. As the SADF began to debrief, it was clear that this operation had been a tactical success, and operationally there was much to satisfy the purists who'd dreamed up the new mobile warfare doctrine. The final figure once all the counting was complete was 831 enemy killed, 25 taken prisoner whereas the SADF lost 10 men and 64 wounded. Around 4000 tonnes of military hardware was captured. So it all appeared a major victory for South Africans, except for one infinitely more important area. Strategy. FAPLA was now going to go on the offensive against the SADF whereas before they were responding mainly to UNITA further east. Much more important was the future role of the Cubans and the Russians. Partly because of the embarrassingly high number of casualties from both nations during Protea, Moscow could no longer tip-toe around the fact that it was fighting directly alongside the Angolans. The Cubans were now flying MiGs whereas previously mostly East Germans had been roped in to work with the Angolan Air Force. The Russians were on the ground in Ongiva, and died there. So, what of the future? Well, the documents captured during the operation were going to be very useful in the next few months. It was learned that SWAPOs main command and logistics bases were at Bambi and Chitequera east of Cassinga and Techamutete. This meant another quick raid was being planned to push further north. Operation Daisy would see a much smaller battle group heading 300 kilometers inside Angola, the furthest the SADF would ever advance after Savannah.

Last episode we heard how the South Africans had travelled overnight to reach the first target planned for Operation Protea, Xangongo. So we'll return to the next moves later in this podcast, but we need to delve into what had happened in the air war first. There was an interesting moment – and a first for the Air Force on 20th August 1981. That was four days before the attack proper. Pilot Rynier Keet was strapped into the cockpit of a Mirage III at Ondangwa runway – the wingman of a section led by Commandant Mac van der Merwe. They were standby for a ground attack and had their underwing rocket pods attached which mean the Mirage's were totally unsuitable for any air defence activity. At about 09h45 South Africa radar picked up fast-jet traffic on the Angoland side of the border heading straight for Ondangwa. It looked like an Angolan Air Force attack of some sort. The Mirage pair scrambled and were given an interception vector. The high-speed Mirages closed in on the Angolans head-to-head. As they approached 40 nautical miles to impact the South Africans were about to jettison their rocket pods to reduce drag and improve their chances against the MiGs when suddenly, the Angolan's turned 180 degrees. Waiting for the SADF and deployed around Xangongo was FAPLA's 19th Brigade. The brigade headquarters and two infantry companies were actually with an anti-aircraft battalion at Peu-Peu with the infantry basically protection companies as well as a mobile reserve for the brigade. The major strategic objective was the bridge over the Cunene River – the Xangongo Bridge – and there were two infantry battalions and a company of Military police guarding that structure. A tank company of ten T-34/85 tanks were also available to serve as a mobile reserve along with an armoured car company of ten more BTR troop carriers. There were two anti-tank battalions and an artillery company waiting for the SADF.

Last episode we heard how the South Africans had travelled overnight to reach the first target planned for Operation Protea, Xangongo. So we'll return to the next moves later in this podcast, but we need to delve into what had happened in the air war first. There was an interesting moment – and a first for the Air Force on 20th August 1981. That was four days before the attack proper. Pilot Rynier Keet was strapped into the cockpit of a Mirage III at Ondangwa runway – the wingman of a section led by Commandant Mac van der Merwe. They were standby for a ground attack and had their underwing rocket pods attached which mean the Mirage's were totally unsuitable for any air defence activity. At about 09h45 South Africa radar picked up fast-jet traffic on the Angoland side of the border heading straight for Ondangwa. It looked like an Angolan Air Force attack of some sort. The Mirage pair scrambled and were given an interception vector. The high-speed Mirages closed in on the Angolans head-to-head. As they approached 40 nautical miles to impact the South Africans were about to jettison their rocket pods to reduce drag and improve their chances against the MiGs when suddenly, the Angolan's turned 180 degrees. Waiting for the SADF and deployed around Xangongo was FAPLA's 19th Brigade. The brigade headquarters and two infantry companies were actually with an anti-aircraft battalion at Peu-Peu with the infantry basically protection companies as well as a mobile reserve for the brigade. The major strategic objective was the bridge over the Cunene River – the Xangongo Bridge – and there were two infantry battalions and a company of Military police guarding that structure. A tank company of ten T-34/85 tanks were also available to serve as a mobile reserve along with an armoured car company of ten more BTR troop carriers. There were two anti-tank battalions and an artillery company waiting for the SADF.

Abbas is joined by Musical Artist, Doesntmatteritsok, and they chat about rappers versus comedians, the Netflix Kanye West documentary, how the name got formed, growing up in Ontario as an Angolan, hip-hop and name brands, making his own clothes, Jack Harlow music, trying to talk to models, the fashion designer Virgil Abloh, and who Angolans have a rivalry with. GET TICKETS!! www.abbaswahab.com Support @  www.patreon.com/theimmigrantsection More Abbas YouTube / Instagram More Doesntmatteritsok Instagram / Spotify The Immigrant Section is a weekly show where guests join Abbas Wahab, Sudanese-Canadian Standup Comedian, to talk about funny cultural similarities/differences, current events, and sometimes more. It's raw and unfiltered, for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Guest: Alex Boyd, reporter for the Toronto Star The excitement in getting a COVID-19 vaccine is something almost 85 per cent of Canadians can relate to and for most of us, the opportunity came and went months ago. But in Angola, a country in southwestern Africa, that moment is only just coming for many people. Like most low-income countries, Angola has struggled to get the vaccine. When the first Canadian shipment of vaccines arrived there last November, 85 per cent of Angolans hadn't even had a first shot yet. Star reporter Alex Boyd was on the ground as vaccines rolled out at last and spoke both to those working around the clock to get vaccines into arms and with those who waited in endless lines to get that one shot. Alex's reporting was made possible by funding from the R. James Travers Corresponding Fellowship, an award that honours the legacy of Canadian journalist Jim Travers. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alex Boyd, Matthew Hearn and Sean Pattendon

On Today's Episode, we have the incredible Miguel Monteiro who is an international Kizomba and Semba Instructor, dancer, and performer.   He started dancing Kizomba and Semba in 1997 and started teaching in 2009.   In this episode we talk about:   Childhood – 1:00 The Importance of music in his childhood – 2:00 The melting pot of Portugal – 3:50 Growing up / Capoeira – 5:30 Angolans in Portugal – 12:30 How has Portugal Changed – 14:35 Learning Salsa – 18:20 How has Kizomba Changed – 20:00 Kizomba vs Semba – 21:09 Beginner Stage in Salsa – 25:10 Ginga – 26:30 Meeting his Dance Partner – 27:10 Teaching Kizomba / Learning How to Teach – 28:10 Teaching Advice - 30:55 Caucasians Teaching Kizomba – 34:25 Cultural Appropriation VS Cultural Appreciation – 36:20 Imposter Syndrome – 41:10 Master Pechu – 44:25 Life of a full time Dancer – 47:30 What is required to become a Professional Dancer – 49:50 Lessons Learned – 51:40 What Makes for a Good Follow – 53:30 Urban Kiz / Fusion – 55:20 How to improve your connection – 1:01:00 Musicality – 1:02:55 One Tip – 1:06:21       ** Social Media ** https://www.instagram.com/miguelesusana/?hl=en https://miguelesusana.com/wp/ https://www.facebook.com/miguelesusana https://www.youtube.com/c/MigueleSusana/videos https://www.instagram.com/coachmiguelmonteiro/         #Salsa #Bachata #Kizomba #Podcast #BrazilianZouk #Dance #Tarraxinha #Zouk #Passada #RetroZouk #Ginga #Bolero #Forro #Lamba #LambaZouk #Afro #Latin #African #CapeVerde #Caribbean #Pachanga #Lambada #Dance #Dancers     2LF Links   _______________________________________________   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tw0LeftFeet Instagram: tw0_left_feet Website: https://2leftfeet.blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2171874589599779/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoLeftFeetPodcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/two-left-feet-podcast/id1454425997 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bQSnwKDmHbDQdgnZ0OrC3 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Twoleftfeet Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR109vJ4Pbl146Ok1u5vSuA Anchor: https://anchor.fm/twoleftfeetpodcast

On February 11, 2021 historian Ric Murphy told fascinating story of the arrival of the first Africans in Virginia in 1619. Based on his book, "Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia," author Ric Murphy will discuss how in 1619, a group of thirty-two African men, women, and children arrived on the shores of Virginia. He will explore how and why they had been kidnapped in the royal city of Kabasa, Angola, and forced aboard the Spanish slave ship San Juan Bautista. He will discuss how the ship was attacked by privateers and how the captives were taken by the English to their New World colony in Virginia. He will also share how this group of Angolans were shrouded in controversy because of colonialism, treason, piracy, kidnapping, enslavement, and English law, and their present-day legacy. Ric Murphy is a historian, scholar, lecturer, and award-winning author exploring the rich contributions made by African Americans in United States history. His latest book is "Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia." The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

On this episode of Black Beat Podcast, Mimi Abdulai, President of the Angolan Community Organization of Oregon(ACOO) illuminates the work of the nonprofit organization, whose main focus is to build solidarity and friendship between Angolan immigrants and the diverse Portland communities where they reside. The organization's work centers around raising awareness and preserving the cultural and humanitarian purposes of Angola through education and outreach geared towards understanding and uniting with the Black community as a whole.

The 27 year-long Angolan civil war was also an international crossroads of the Cold War as well as a regional resource war, involving Cuba, the Soviet Union, Zaire, South Africa, and the U.S. When it was over, Namibia was independent, apartheid had fallen, Angola was a nation, and the Soviet Union had ceased to exist. Through music, interviews, and historical radio clips, producer Ned Sublette, author of Cuba and Its Music, tells the story of Cuba's massive commitment in Africa, from the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and the subsequent independence of Congo, to the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. We'll talk to guest scholar Piero Gleijeses, foreign policy specialist at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and author of Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington, and Africa 1959-1976 and the forthcoming Visions of Freedom, and to Marissa Moorman, author of the forthcoming Tuning in to Nation: Radio, State Power, and the Cold War in Angola, 1933-2002, who will share with us rare archival recordings. We'll talk to Cuban trovador Tony Pinelli, who traveled in a brigada artística playing music for Cuban soldiers and for Angolans, and to Angolan composer, instrument builder, and musicologist Victor Gama, who traveled in remote areas of the interior recording music. And from Cuba, Angola, Zaire, and Portugal, we'll hear some of the music that accompanied the struggle. Produced by Ned Sublette. [APWW #653] [Originally aired 2012]

At what point is there too much diversity in your collection? Or at what point do you need more diversity? Tonight, I bring on two of my very best friends in the hobby; Alans Stevens of Origins Reptile and Terry Burwell of TB Snakes. We get into some collection talk, as well as off-topic species discussions (Retics, Angolans, Mourning Geckos, Rhino Rats, etc).

An interaction with Pedrito Paulo Sampaio, the founder of PAC-Angolan Platform in Canada on the forth coming program for the 45th independent celebration of the republic of Angola tagged "past, present and the future of Angola". This program conceived by his organization which is slated for November 07, 2020, at 10:00 AM (Toronto), 4:00 PM (Angola) via zoom, is open to the general public to participate especially Angolans at home and in diaspora. Topics to be discussed include but not limited to the field of health, agriculture, technology, education amongst others. Experts in these field have been invited to participate . To be part of the discuss, please use the following access ID: 824 0832 7217. We look forward to your participation as we use this medium to move Angola forward. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fernando-mendes1/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fernando-mendes1/support

This week we have on my food friend, Terry Burwell. Terry keeps a lot of different species, but we'll be digging into Annulated Tree Boas, Angolans, and Diamonds with this episode!

When I view history I always view it From the lens that if I were that wicked one how would I proceed to making sure men die without God. Before you history buffs at me, Angolans who were originally kidnapped by Portuguese colonial forces, were then ordered on the slave ship San Juan Bautista, which set sail for Veracruz in the colony of New Spain. Then as it approached its destination, the ship was attacked by two privateer ships, the White Lion and the Treasurer. the White Lion was the ship that carried the slaves to Virginia. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brooknomsworld/message

It's a destination few have heard of, São Tomé and Príncipe. Two tiny islands off Equatorial West Africa where the descendants of escaped slaves and shipwrecked Angolans think the pace of life in the four-street capital is too hectic.Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Travel Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They'll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides.World Nomads is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers, traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling.The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It's everything for the adventurous, independent traveler.

Angolans yesterday voted in elections that will mark the end of President José Eduardo dos Santos's rule. The veteran leader steps down after nearly four decades in power. Counting is currently underway with results expected to be finalised tomorrow. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Angolan an anti-corruption activist and investigative journalist, Rafael Marques de Morais

Professional actor, writer, director, and documentary filmmaker, https://www.xido.org/ (Jeremy Xido), initially set out to do research for a documentary film about Chinese railway construction workers in http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13036732 (Angola). What he ended up with was a film about native Angolans entrenched in the musical form known as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_metal (death metal).   Among the topics covered in my conversation with Xido we discuss the rather circuitous route he took to finding his film, the delicate balance in the working relationship of the first world filmmaker and his developing world subjects, and how a familial and friend support group can be critical to the success of your documentary life.   Ways to Break into the TV and Film Industry In this week's show, I wanted to talk about how the documentary filmmaker can break into the film/tv industry, which is how many #doclifers do, in fact, make their livings. (I, myself, would count myself among this number.) For this segment, I share with you some of the different ways in which you can break into the industry.   Film Trailer Watch the trailer for the magnificent http://deathmetalangola.com/ (Death Metal Angola): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZJ55Gc_nsI   Subscribehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-documentary-life/id1112679868 (Apple) | https://open.spotify.com/show/0wYlYHJzyk3Y7fHzDDwvmp (Spotify) | https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/thedocumentarylife/the-documentary-life (Stitcher) |  Rate and ReviewIf you have found value in this podcast please leave a review so it can become more visible to others. Simply click the https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/documentary-life-filmmaking-documentary-films-documentary/id1112679868?mt=2 (link) and then click on the Ratings and Reviews tab to make your entry. Thank you for your support!