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ASSESSMENTS

The Alarming Reality of Data Exploitation in Somaliland

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Who Really Owns Your Data? The Disturbing Truth About Somaliland’s Telecommunications.

In today’s digital economy, data is often referred to as the “new oil,” recognized not just for its economic value but also for its strategic significance. As Somaliland continues its quest for international recognition, it must first address a crucial issue: the ownership of its data. The realities of those who use telecommunications and banking services provided by companies affiliated with Somalia are alarming. It is time for the government and citizens to wake up to the consequences of rampant data exploitation.

When we deposit funds into services like ZAAD or e-Dahab, we are not merely engaging in a financial transaction. We are giving away pieces of our private lives—our spending habits, our communications, and our personal information—all of which wind up in the hands of companies whose primary operations are rooted in Mogadishu, not Hargeisa. Two major telecommunications firms operate in Somaliland: Somtel and Telesom, both linked to Somalia. The implications of using their services extend far beyond convenience; they put Somalilanders at risk by allowing their data to be siphoned off to a government that has openly expressed hostility toward Somaliland’s aspirations.

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Imagine this scenario: hundreds of thousands of Somalilanders are depositing money into their mobile accounts daily, with each transaction and phone call registered in databases managed far from their control. In a city like Hargeisa, if even half a million citizens each deposit a modest sum, this can easily aggregate to a billion dollars—a staggering figure. These telecommunications giants, profiting from this data flow, may also sell user information or track behaviors to create targeted advertisements. This allows them to manipulate the daily lives of Somalilanders, capitalizing on personal information to maintain their market dominance. Why, then, are we allowing such a situation to persist?

Our predicament is compounded further by the actual ownership of banks in Somaliland. Many banks here are owned by Mogadishu-based interests, and like telecommunications companies, they lack any genuine allegiance to Somaliland. When you engage with these financial institutions, you’re often inadvertently feeding information that the central government in Somalia can exploit, potentially undermining Somaliland’s security.

The absence of stringent regulations and a clear legal framework around data ownership makes us vulnerable to exploitation. Somaliland’s Protection of Personal Information Act is a step in the right direction, yet it does not explicitly define data ownership, leaving ambiguity and practical gaps for those who operate within our emerging digital economy.

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This situation endangers not just your data but your very sovereignty. Any time you use Somtel, Telesom, consider where your personal information goes and how it can be used against you. Security departments, government ministries, and everyday citizens habitually use these services without understanding the risks involved. Every phone call, every transaction, accumulates into a profile that could be misused at any time, either politically or financially.

If Somaliland is serious about gaining recognition on the world stage, the government must prioritize control over its data. Consider the implications of conducting routine governmental tasks, where sensitive information is transmitted through systems that are not under Somaliland’s direct control. If these services are fundamentally rooted in a reservation of power by Mogadishu, then Somaliland risks not just economic exploitation, but also potential sabotage during sensitive negotiations for autonomy or recognition.

The case for Somaliland’s internal data governance becomes clearer when it is said that telecommunications giants will not remain in business if Somaliland gains its legal recognition. The key to altering this narrative is addressing data sovereignty. As experience indicates, robust recognition from Western nations, including the United States and European Union, could transition our telecommunications sector to more reputable, international players who prioritize data security and consumer rights.

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The looming question is: what is preventing Somaliland from asserting its own frameworks around data ownership? Existing partnerships with companies from Mogadishu may be more of a hindrance than a help to the recognition process. While we continue to rely on these entities, we are inadvertently supporting a status quo that treats our aspirations as second-class desires.

Now is the time for the Somaliland government to take power back into its own hands. First, it must establish comprehensive policies on data ownership and privacy. Investments in local technological infrastructures can catalyze the emergence of secure, independent alternatives in telecommunications and banking—ones that bolster Somaliland’s economy while guaranteeing protection of individual data rights.

We call upon our leaders not only to support a strong legal framework for data ownership, but also to educate our populace on why this is crucial for our national security and sovereignty. If we do not act now to control our data, we risk perpetuating a cycle where foreign powers dictate our future while we remain oblivious to the forces operating just beyond our borders.

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ASSESSMENTS

Ex-FBI Director and ex-CIA Director are Under Investigation by Trump Justice Department

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The Trump Justice Department has opened investigations into former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan, examining possible false statements made to Congress concerning the intelligence community’s 2016 assessment of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe initiated the referral after releasing a review that sharply criticized the 2016 intelligence assessment. While Ratcliffe’s review does not dispute the central finding—that Russian President Vladimir Putin favored Trump over Hillary Clinton—it alleges that the process overseen by Brennan was flawed, describing it as “atypical and corrupt.” Brennan is specifically accused of “stifling analytic debate” by prematurely signaling consensus among intelligence agency heads.

Neither Comey nor Brennan have been formally approached by investigators yet. Brennan publicly denied knowledge of the specifics of the investigation and expressed confusion about its nature. Comey has previously faced scrutiny, including being questioned by the Secret Service regarding a political post on social media interpreted as hostile to Trump.

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The investigation is primarily focused on statements Comey and Brennan provided to Congress regarding the FBI’s 2016 investigation into Russian interference and the handling of allegations detailed in the Steele dossier. The dossier, funded by the Clinton campaign, asserted coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Brennan has consistently maintained he was against incorporating information from the dossier into official briefings to President Obama.

The FBI’s broader Russia investigation was subject to extensive scrutiny by Special Counsel John Durham, appointed by former Attorney General Bill Barr. Durham’s investigation concluded without identifying any wrongdoing in the broader handling of intelligence, though it led to the indictment of three individuals, including a former FBI lawyer for falsifying surveillance warrant information.

Trump, while asserting ignorance about the current investigation into Comey and Brennan, repeated his longstanding characterization of them as dishonest.

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The unfolding investigation raises significant political implications, reflecting Trump’s persistent focus on his critics and deepening concerns about potential politicization within the Justice Department. If the investigation proceeds beyond preliminary stages, it could become another flashpoint in an already polarized political landscape.

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Analysis

Countering the Threat: Hostile Information Campaigns Against Somaliland

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Somaliland stands at a critical juncture, achieving remarkable diplomatic strides on the global stage under the leadership of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro. However, this promising progress is increasingly threatened by orchestrated propaganda, misinformation, and fake news campaigns aimed at destabilizing the government, undermining diplomatic achievements, and inciting internal conflicts.

Hostile information campaigns have proven highly effective tools for adversaries, both state and non-state actors, seeking to erode public trust, ignite social tensions, and disrupt democratic processes. By spreading false narratives and inflammatory content, these adversaries intend to manipulate public perceptions, diminish government legitimacy, and create societal divisions that could lead to violence.

A particularly troubling aspect of these campaigns is the role played by diaspora influencers. Some members of the Somaliland diaspora, residing in Europe and North America, exploit their safe distance from direct repercussions to stoke conflicts within Somaliland.

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By providing financial support and disseminating radical messages, these influencers exacerbate tensions, often with greater radicalization and disregard for consequences than those residing within the region.

Germany’s recent investigation into Somali influencers involved in inciting violence during the Las Anod conflict of 2023 underscores the gravity of this threat. The case of one influencer, who openly claims participation in clan militias and piracy yet managed to reside in Germany despite his denied asylum claim, highlights significant loopholes in immigration and asylum systems.

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Such individuals not only perpetuate violence in their homeland but also pose security risks to their host countries by importing and perpetuating divisive conflicts.

Against this backdrop, Somaliland’s adversaries have intensified their disinformation campaigns, strategically targeting President Irro’s recent diplomatic successes with nations such as Djibouti, Kenya, the UAE, and Qatar. These campaigns are aimed at diminishing the government’s international standing and sowing panic among the population.

Reliable sources indicate these efforts are systematically coordinated by anti-Somaliland factions intent on disrupting the nation’s peaceful and progressive trajectory.

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In response to this growing menace, the Somaliland government must proactively engage in diplomatic channels, officially informing host countries of these harmful activities perpetrated by diaspora influencers. Diplomatic outreach could involve providing concrete evidence of incitement and collaboration in destabilizing activities, urging host countries to uphold accountability and prevent misuse of asylum privileges.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Information in Somaliland must spearhead a comprehensive strategy to counteract misinformation by promoting media literacy. Integrating media and information literacy into the national curriculum is imperative. Schools should equip students with critical thinking skills enabling them to discern and challenge disinformation. Well-trained educators must be empowered to guide students through analyzing and evaluating the credibility of various media sources.

Robust public communication strategies, transparent dissemination of accurate information, and rapid responses to fake news can bolster the public’s resilience against disinformation. The government should actively utilize both traditional media and digital platforms to quickly counter misinformation and reinforce public confidence.

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Ultimately, Somaliland’s long-term stability and diplomatic success will rely on effectively addressing these hostile information campaigns. A proactive, multifaceted approach that combines diplomatic engagement, media literacy education, and effective strategic communication can shield Somaliland from the damaging effects of propaganda and fake news, ensuring the nation’s continued growth and international recognition.

How Misinformation Is Threatening Somaliland’s Stability

Somaliland’s Information War Is a Threat to National Security

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Somaliland’s Ministry of Information: A Crisis of Competence Threatening National Security

Combat the Infodemic: Strategies to Prevent the Spread of Misinformation

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ASSESSMENTS

Somalia’s Secret Plot to Annex Sanaag Sparks Crisis as Puntland Targets Former Speaker

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Puntland moves against Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril amid separatist push in Sanaag, accusing Mogadishu of fueling conflict to break Somaliland’s territorial integrity.

Secret WARYATV sources reveal Somalia’s covert support for Sanaag separatists, triggering Puntland’s move to revoke immunity from ex-Speaker Jibril, risking major conflict over Somaliland’s resource-rich eastern region.

Sanaag in Turmoil: Puntland and Mogadishu’s Secret Tug-of-War Threatens Somaliland’s Territorial Unity

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A secretive power struggle is unfolding over the strategically crucial Sanaag region, pushing Somaliland and Puntland toward a potentially explosive conflict. Puntland’s parliament is set to revoke immunity from its former Speaker, Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, accusing him of sedition for spearheading efforts to detach Sanaag and merge it with the newly formed SSC-Khaatumo administration.

Jibril’s bold appearance in military attire at a meeting with clan elders in Ceelbuh underscores the seriousness of Sanaag’s separatist ambitions. Despite Puntland’s heavy security crackdown, separatists defiantly claim a constitutional right to self-determination, exposing deep grievances rooted in historical neglect and political marginalization.

Secret sources have revealed exclusively to WARYATV that Somalia’s federal government is clandestinely fueling this separatist momentum, aiming to annex Sanaag from Somaliland—a charge Mogadishu vehemently denies. Yet, Puntland sees Villa Somalia’s hidden hand clearly, believing federal backing emboldens separatists seeking to redraw territorial lines at Puntland’s expense.

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Losing Sanaag would dramatically weaken Somaliland’s strategic and economic standing, stripping it of vital access to Red Sea routes and lucrative mineral deposits. Somaliland, already battling with SSC-Khaatumo administration, faces existential threats as Sanaag’s allegiance shifts.

This crisis underscores the explosive intersection of local grievances, regional rivalry, and federal interference. With Puntland deploying troops and separatists digging in their heels, the stage is set for a conflict that could redefine power dynamics across eastern Somaliland—unless urgent diplomacy prevails.

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ASSESSMENTS

Somalia Walks Tightrope as Egypt Readies Attack on Ethiopia’s Nile Dam

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With Egypt finalizing plans to strike Ethiopia’s GERD dam, Somalia tries to balance neutrality against growing regional pressure from both Cairo and Addis Ababa.

Somalia faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act, enhancing ties with Egypt while avoiding angering Ethiopia amid Cairo’s imminent plans to militarily target Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Somalia at the Crossroads: Balancing Egypt’s Military Ambitions and Ethiopian Pressure over the Nile.

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As Egypt reportedly finalizes preparations to militarily target Ethiopia’s controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Somalia is precariously walking a diplomatic tightrope. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi signals deepening ties with Cairo, including military cooperation and plans to enhance Red Sea security—yet it risks alienating Ethiopia, Somalia’s powerful neighbor and key regional player.

Egypt views Somalia as crucial in its strategy to counter Ethiopia’s growing influence along the Red Sea, especially after Ethiopia secured long-term naval access in Somaliland’s strategic port of Berbera—a move Mogadishu condemned as violating its sovereignty. Cairo’s shipment of armored vehicles and artillery to Somalia and the acceleration of bilateral defense pacts underline its urgency to build an anti-Ethiopian regional alliance.

Yet, despite these overtures, Mogadishu insists on maintaining neutrality. Hassan Sheikh has declined Ethiopian invitations related to the GERD project, signaling cautious detachment, but diplomatic neutrality grows harder to sustain. Ethiopian sources view Egyptian arms transfers as “destabilizing,” while Somali officials privately express anxiety about openly aligning with Cairo—fearing repercussions for vital aid, trade, and regional security.

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Analysts stress Somalia must navigate carefully. Overt siding with Egypt or Ethiopia would endanger significant developmental and security benefits provided by both nations. With Ethiopia supplying scholarships and military training, and Egypt promising infrastructure investments and peacekeeping troops, the stakes are exceedingly high.

Somalia’s Parliament will closely question Hassan Sheikh on this delicate balancing act, especially as international negotiations on the Nile resume. Meanwhile, Cairo’s impending military confrontation with Addis Ababa could further polarize the Horn, forcing Somalia into an uncomfortable position of taking sides.

In the weeks ahead, Somalia’s diplomacy faces its greatest test. The decisions made now will shape not only Mogadishu’s future relationships with Egypt and Ethiopia but also the broader stability and power dynamics of the entire region.

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Africa

West Africa’s Coup Crisis: Five Hard Lessons Every Defender of Democracy Must Know

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West Africa’s Coup Wave: Five Shocking Truths Behind the Military Takeovers Fueling Democracy’s Collapse. 

How contagion, civilian support, weak international response, learned tactics, and foreign alliances are reshaping Africa’s political landscape.

Five key lessons from recent West African coups reveal why military takeovers are spreading, gaining public backing, and outlasting expectations—threatening democratic progress across the region.

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Five years after Malian soldiers toppled President Keïta, West Africa and parts of the continent face an alarming resurgence of military coups. From Mali to Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Chad, Guinea, and Gabon, the pattern is clear: coups are no longer isolated incidents but part of a spreading contagion threatening democratic governance.

The first truth is contagion itself. Successful takeovers embolden others, especially when coup leaders quickly consolidate control and avoid chaos. Potential plotters watch closely—if consequences are harsh, coups falter; if they succeed, copycats emerge.

Second, civilian support is pivotal. Masses cheering soldiers reflect deep dissatisfaction with civilian regimes, giving military rulers public legitimacy that shields them from opposition and international pressure. This support has been visible in Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

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Third, international responses often fail to deter. Weak, delayed sanctions and symbolic suspensions send mixed signals that coups carry few lasting costs. While Niger saw some pushback, countries like Chad and Gabon faced muted international pressure, enabling entrenched military rule.

Fourth, coup leaders learn from one another. They observe and adopt tactics to entrench authority—often using elections as facades to legitimize military regimes while maintaining absolute control. This strategy has extended average junta rule from weeks to nearly 1,000 days in this latest wave.

Finally, many coup governments have pivoted away from traditional Western allies, deepening ties with Russia and forming blocs like the Alliance of Sahel States, asserting sovereignty while entrenching authoritarianism.

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Together, these lessons reveal a grim reality: treating coups as disconnected events ignores the powerful dynamics sustaining and spreading military rule. The global community must confront this networked threat decisively or risk watching democracy erode further across West Africa.

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ASSESSMENTS

Kenya’s Gen Z Risks Death Protesting Crushing Economy and Police Brutality

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Young Kenyans defy deadly crackdowns and economic despair, determined to oust President Ruto amid rising unemployment and government repression.

Facing joblessness and police violence, Kenya’s youth take to the streets again a year after anti-tax protests left 60 dead. With a looming protest ban, activists vow to keep fighting until government changes.

Kenya’s Gen Z: Fighting for Survival Amid Economic Despair and State Repression

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Growing Outrage in Kenya Over Abductions of Government Critics

Kenya’s youth are at a breaking point. One year after deadly anti-tax protests left more than 60 young demonstrators dead, a new wave of defiance has erupted on the streets of Nairobi. Gen Z and millennials, burdened by soaring unemployment, sky-high living costs, and a government that dismisses their plight, are risking everything — even their lives — to demand change.

The grim reality is stark: Kenya’s youth unemployment rate hovers near 67%, with most working informally under precarious conditions. President William Ruto, elected in 2022 as the champion of the “hustler” class, is now widely seen as “Zakayo,” a greedy tax collector indifferent to everyday struggles. The promises of prosperity have given way to crackdowns and police brutality, with security forces killing at least 19 protesters in recent demonstrations.

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Young activists like Wilson, who wrote his own obituary on social media before joining the protests, embody a generation that sees little hope within the current system. Their chants — “Ruto must go” and “End police brutality now” — resonate deeply with a public exhausted by economic hardship and state violence.

Despite the government’s attempts to quash dissent by branding protests as terrorism and drafting laws to ban demonstrations near key institutions, the protests show no signs of fading. Instead, they reflect a widening rift between a disconnected elite and a restless youth demanding political and economic justice.

While recent adjustments in tax policy indicate some government responsiveness, experts warn that without significant job creation and income growth, public frustration will continue to boil over. Kenya’s social fabric risks tearing further if the administration fails to heed the voices of its youngest citizens.

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In this volatile moment, Kenya’s Gen Z is not just protesting taxes or policies — they are fighting for their very survival and dignity, sending a clear message that the status quo is no longer acceptable. The stakes are high, and the government’s response in the coming months will shape the country’s future stability.

Kenya in Chaos: Police Open Fire on Protesters Storming Parliament

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ASSESSMENTS

A Critique of the Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Administration and the Halane Enigma

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The current state of Somalia under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is not merely a period of governance; it is, by many accounts, a nadir in the nation’s tumultuous history. Far from leading a sovereign state, President Mohamud presides over what has, tragically, devolved into a personal enterprise, a “company” seemingly owned by him and his family, with credible independent reports even linking his administration to collaboration with the very terrorists, Al-Shabab, that plague the nation.

This is an administration widely perceived as the worst in the world, a stark betrayal of the Somali people’s aspirations for peace, security, and self-determination.

The core of this systemic failure lies within the fortified walls of Halane, the so-called “forbidden fortress of Somalia’s foreign minders.” This enclave, rather than fostering genuine state-building, has morphed into a self-perpetuating, colonial-like outpost, sustained by the apathy of generations of Somalis who have known no government truly worthy of their name.

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A small, entrenched group, often referred to as the “Halane Mafia,” has, for two decades, completely hijacked the Somali administration. This clique, inherently against the very notion of Somalia becoming a secure, functioning, and independent country, actively resists the transfer of real power to Somali hands. Their grip is so absolute that it extends to denying Somalis even opportunities within their own land, as shockingly exemplified by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) job advertisement for a Programme Support Officer in Mogadishu, explicitly stating: “Candidates must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment”—a blatant prohibition on Somali nationals from a role meant to support their own nation.

This is not capacity building; this is colonial perpetuation, where “failed Western actors” continue to preach development while ensuring continued dependence on foreign consultants and unreliable aid, now abandoning Somalis to their fate.

The consequences of this entrenched dysfunction are dire and far-reaching. Innocent Somalis are routinely mistreated in their own country, and hope, once a flicker, is rapidly fading. This ministerial failure is palpable, and the frustration simmers beneath the surface of a populace that increasingly sees no difference between the foreign-controlled Halane and the supposedly sovereign Villa Somalia. The clarion call, “Out with Halane,” grows louder by the day, reflecting a deep-seated yearning for genuine Somali leadership.

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In this context of profound domestic instability and international manipulation, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s alleged intent to invade and wage war on Somaliland, purportedly due to dissatisfaction with its security situation, is not just a dangerous escalation but a grotesque irony.

To seek conflict with a stable, self-governing entity like Somaliland, while his own administration is embroiled in accusations of corruption, collaboration with terrorists, and being controlled by a foreign-backed cabal, speaks volumes about the priorities and capabilities of his leadership.

The security situation in Somaliland, in stark contrast to the chaos he presides over, is a testament to its own resilience and self-governance. This proposed aggression is a desperate diversion, a dangerous gamble by a leader whose legitimacy and effectiveness are crumbling under the weight of his own administration’s failures.

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The long-term implications of this sustained misgovernance and external interference are catastrophic for Somalia’s future, threatening to condemn generations to perpetual instability and foreign subjugation.

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ASSESSMENTS

Trump’s B-2 Deal: U.S. Might Arm Israel for Nuclear Doomsday Fight

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New bill would authorize Trump to supply Israel with stealth B-2 bombers and 30,000-pound bunker busters to crush Iran’s nuclear revival.

Trump-era legislation could arm Israel with America’s deadliest weapons — B-2 stealth bombers and bunker busters — to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities if Tehran resumes uranium enrichment.

Trump’s Bunker Bomb Diplomacy: Iran’s Nuclear Dream Faces Stealth Nightmare

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A war doctrine once whispered behind Pentagon doors is now blazing into public policy: the arming of Israel with America’s most devastating non-nuclear tools—B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker busters. A bold, controversial bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler could empower President Trump to transfer these elite weapons if Iran dares restart its nuclear program.

The implications are colossal. The United States has never shared custody of the B-2 Spirit, a flying ghost capable of penetrating the most fortified airspace on earth. Coupled with bunker busters that burrow 200 feet underground before detonation, these machines are designed for one mission: annihilate deep nuclear bunkers like Iran’s Fordow site.

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The U.S. recently used this lethal combo in its surprise attack on Iran’s top three nuclear facilities—an assault Trump declared had “totally obliterated” Tehran’s capabilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency disputes that claim. Its chief Rafael Grossi admits “severe damage,” but warns Iran retains enough infrastructure to reboot uranium enrichment “in a matter of months.”

This new bill is not symbolic. It’s pre-positioning for a second strike—a green light to transfer war-fighting hardware that even NATO allies haven’t touched. Israel has the F-35s, but not the payload to eliminate underground fortresses. This legislation closes that gap, while signaling to Iran: rebuild and Israel will finish what America started.

Meanwhile, the Houthis launched another missile at Israel. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for B-2s to hit Yemen again. The war theater is expanding, and Trump’s playbook is no longer about deterring enemies—it’s about vaporizing them before they can strike.

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Whether deterrence or provocation, one thing is clear: the era of “strategic ambiguity” is over. Trump’s allies want Israel to carry the hammer of judgment across the Middle East.

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