FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL, NOT THIS TIME JONATHAN..

Icheoku says President Good(BAD)luck Jonathan has defied analysis and only himself and/or his wife Patience are possibly capable of grasping the workings of his inner mind. A president who has not deemed it fit just yet to fire a none performing Inspector General of Police Ringim over the scourge of Boko Haram but who did not waste time in showing the previous IGP Ogbonna Onovo the door out just because of prevalence of kidnappers. Now the same president, despite the advise of his political godfather Obasanjo, has obstinately removed fuel subsidy without even having the decency of keeping the fate with the Nigerian people whom he had promised an April date for the removal. Icheoku queries, how can the Nigerian people be expected to still trust a president who says one thing and does another? As for Icheoku, we were never sold his candidacy like many gullible Nigerians; so technically, we have no sleep to loose over his blatant failure to lead; especially his lack of will to do the heavy lifting necessary to move the country forward.

Removal of fuel subsidy now, despite the best of intentions, does not seem to be the appropriate thing to do at this moment of great tension in the land. As a popular Igbo proverb says, the puppy which the gods want to kill, he first make it mad; so it would seem that a man who is chasing rats while his house is on fire has some loose joints upstairs that needs tightening or tying together. A country already clinging on the cliff due to the murderous activities of Northern Nigerian Islamic Terrorist group Boko Haram, needs no further provocative gasoline being poured on it. But an aloof and somewhat timid President Jonathan seems too far gone in lalaland to appreciate the magnitude of the doodle he and the country is mired in, hence the craving for yet another tinder. It is not wise, it is not smart and it is not intelligent to remove at this time, fuel subsidy; and if it must, then as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu articulated, it must be in a piece meal fashion and not in one helluva-bang style as the present. The masses, whose 18000Naira minimum wage are yet to be paid timely and in full are now being tasked with additional burden of expenses across the board. It is inhuman, harsh and irreconcilable with the "breath of fresh air" promised them by the president. Even in the United States, a bastion of everything capitalism, there is so many subsidies to make it livable for the downtrodden including agricultural subsidy, fuel subsidy, education subsidy, health-care subsidy as well as social security subsidy; so Icheoku is at a loss when the Nigerian government of President Jonathan decided to say to Nigerian masses, "you are on your own" and squeezed their belt much more tighter with the current subsidy removal.

In summation, Icheoku says the most militating problem now in Nigeria is BOKO HARAM and the president's attention and effort should be 1000% devoted and focused like laser thereat and nothing more including the present distracting fuel subsidy question. Seek ye first the kingdom and the rest shall be added unto thee' - so says the Lord and Icheoku does not expect any less from the president regarding the menace Boko Haram in setting up his priorities. Thereafter, let Nigerians decide the question of fuel subsidy and the manner of implementing it whether by increment or in one fell swoop. However, Icheoku still maintains that the principal problem facing President Jonathan is that he was not prepared for the job he is currently saddled with; hence had no clue what he is doing or the road-map to get him to any meaningful destination. Like a plague afflicting Nigeria, President Jonathan is yet another one of those reluctant president who was plucked away from his natural habitat, the academia, his perfect natural fit and mentored against his will to the presidency. If resignation was in the dictionary of Nigerian politicians, may be Icheoku would have added its voice to the growing legion of people asking the president to consider the option of stepping aside; but no such thinking ever cross their minds, so there is no need throwing that lifeline at his doorsteps. The Federal government should therefore and urgently reverse itself on the question of fuel subsidy and if it must. may be at a later date and gradually implemented and not otherwise. 

MITT ROMNEY, A VULTURE CAPITALIST?

 Employees beware, Mitt Romney is going to take your jobs! Pictures don't lie and what a perfect coincidence this picture is that depicts Mitt Romney, despite the sign "Employees only..," still rushing in to get hold of your jobs? Records are kept for a reason and Mitt Romney's Bain Capital records are there for you to decide what manner of anti-workers president he is going to be. Were Icheoku an employee or a working class American of any sort, the name Mitt Romney as president would be sending jitters down our spine. The reason being Mitt Romney's hatred and disdain towards people who earn living wages. Such is his notoriety for firing workers that even his Republican colleagues have described him as a "VULTURE"; equating his brand of capitalism as "vulture capitalism." 

According to them, Mitt Romney is not a job creator but a corporate raider who drives joy in taking over distressed companies and making a mince-meat out of their employees by handing them pink-slips in hundreds of thousands. Describing Mitt Romney, they said, "Like a vulture, he hunted for vulnerable companies. He took them over, loaded them with debt and collected whopping fees. He cut costs and cut jobs, and picked at the remains." In other words, they said Mitt Romney is involved in "vulture capitalism." 

Icheoku now adds, to before warned is to avoid being harmed America; so you have been put on notice what awaits every average-Joe and Jane American who works for a living under a Mitt Romney's "presidency" - your job is over. Mitt Romney will take your company apart and with it goes your job. Peradventure only an insane person sees an approaching freight train and not run for his dear life. So Mitt Romney is not good for your job security, if you still love your job, SAY NO TO MITT ROMNEY. 

MITT ROMNEY IS A MORMON, A CULTIST?

 Icheoku does not have any beef with this sign or the innocent child-victim made to hold a sign he neither wrote nor is able to read or comprehend. However, the words "Mormons rocks" seems to stoke religious bigotry and the last time Icheoku checked, the Southern Baptist Christians declared Mormon a CULT and who wants to be held under a spell of a cultic president? Definitely not Icheoku nor any other sane American. America is still a Christian country and cannot and should not be subjugated under a president who is not a Christian, quoting the Southern Baptists who declared Mormon a cult. Therefore, say no to a Cult, reject Mitt Romney for president. America could use Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry or even Rick Santorum who are all Christians so why settle for a non-Christian Mormon, Icheoku may ask? Just say NO to a CULT, say No to MITT ROMNEY. 1/13/12

IMAM ABUBAKAR SHEKAU, THE FACE OF NIGERIAN BOKO HARAM?

At last, the notorious Northern Nigerian Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram has unmasked their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau? Now the Nigerian security agencies have a face to track down and Icheoku hopes they will saturate the media in Nigeria with this terrorist image to help track him down and bring him to justice. What a sorry commentary that a group of mass murderers are killing innocent Nigerians and in Nigeria for so long without being brought to justice. President Good(BAD)luck Jonathan, please do something or at least shake up your security apparatus that more competent hands can come in and take care of business. This BOKO HARAM debacle is a national disgrace; especially lasting this long without any solution in the offing.

BOKO HARAM NOW RUNNING NIGERIA - PRESIDENT JONATHAN?

According to Nigeria President Good(Bad) luck Jonathan, the dreaded Northern Nigeria Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, has infiltrated every aspect of the Nigerian government from the executive to the judiciary to the legislature and the security agencies? In the president's own words, "some of them (BK) are in the executive arm of government, some of them are in the parliamentary/legislative arm of government, while some of them are even in the judiciary. "Some are also in the armed forces, the police and other security agencies." 

To this Icheoku asks, Mr President how then are you planning to take care of BK since the last time you said that their days are numbered; or are you going to dissolve your government just to get rid of its sleeper-cell Boko Haram members and sympathizers? Icheoku says Boko Haram must be the greatest of all the Goliaths starring down at President Jonathan, who seems now totally lost at sea on how to decisively deal Boko Haram the long-promised death-blow. But hey what does anyone expect of a president who was never prepared for the job - the onerous challenge which governing Nigeria is; moreso when he lacks the required backbone necessary to push and shove forward a citizenry with donkey-like obstinacy. Poor Jonathan, my heart bleeds for you and your lack of preparedness for the job. Icheoku asks, Mr President, have you considered throwing in the towel lately; it is always an option? 

WE ARE BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY, HELLO 2012.

To our fans and friends alike, we are glad to be back following a two weeks holidays, spent travelling abroad. Hope you had a nice holiday yourselves as we did. Our promise to you in 2012 is to continue to earn your readership by continually improving on our performance. Happy new year to you all and please welcome back; we are Icheoku and we are rested and ready for 2012. 1/9/12

OUR FREEDOM-THEMED HOLIDAY MESSAGE, BE THAT ONE !

Our Lord Jesus Christ self-exampled that you are guaranteed as much freedom as you are prepared to pay for,  hence he sacrificed himself to purchase mankind's eternal salvation. So as you continue to cower in fear of your fellow human-being, who peradventure, happens to be in a temporal authority over you today; and like a cry-baby, looking for someone to bell the cat for you, just remember that the slave-master thrives on intimidation; and until you rise up and say ENOUGH, he will continue to hound you down with his cudgel into slavish submission. 

Remember the saying that you get what you pay for and there is no free lunch anywhere in the world. If you want something so badly, then go get it, freedom included. If in doubt ask Nelson Mandela of South Africa what the price for freedom is all about. Martin Luther King Jr also bargained hard for minority freedom in America likewise so many world famous freedom fighters of this world. Myammar's Aung Sui Kyuu is also one such heroine who took it severally and in all forms including years of isolated house arrest in order to get it; and surely the country formerly known as Burma has progressed enough in allowing freedom for the people as to earn a recent visit by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Icheoku says such would not have been possible but for the selfless sacrifice of Aung, who by her unwavering resolve has earned freedom for her Burmese people. 

Mohamed Bouazizi purchased freedom for Tunisians by a selfless sacrifice of self-immolation, which led hundreds of thousands of Tunisians to claim it. Who could have previously imagined in their widest dream that an ordinary street vendor or hawker of wares named Bouaziz, was capable of bringing down the government of dictator Ben Ali of Tunisia? So as you ponder quiveringly about what difference you could make to effect change in the society, always look unto the Mr Bouazizi of Tunisia of this world to see what it takes to bring about a desired and desirable change - simply a will to make a difference. Following Mr Bouazizi's inspired Tunisian peoples lead, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians bought their freedom from Hosni Murbarak; which was copied in Libya and Yemen while the struggle continues today in Syria. Icheoku knows and believes that someday very soon, the Syrian people shall be free of Bashir Assad's shackles and so would all other freedom loving peoples of the world, currently living in tepid fear of a Lord of the Manor in their land. Even the Russians are now no longer intimidated by their petite spy-chief Vladimir Putin as they took to the streets to tell Putin that Russia is not his ordinary third world country where the dictates of just one man holds sway. 

Hopefully those two men, Medvedev and Putin, trading offices or places in Kremlin and toying with the people of mother Russia shall read the handwriting on the wall before a tornado of the peoples revolution sweeps them both into the abys of history. It has happened before in Russia with the Bolskevik revolution so the chances of it happening again is not too remote. Icheoku calls on Vladimir Putin to respect the top-ranking status of Russia among the comity of nations and just do the right thing for and by the people of Russia. Putin, a recycled leader of Russia, is not such a flattering name for him to possess; and should therefore avoid it at whatever cost to his ego. Better still, what did Vladimir Putin forgot inside of Kremlin president's office that he wants to now go get. Icheoku just finds it too hard to understand that Vladimir Putin thinks he is the it in Russia and the only thing good for mother Russia. Before Putin were so many leaders and long after old age or even death shall conscript him and force him out, there will still be several leaders to guide and pilot the affairs in Russia. 

It is usually not going to be easy but broken bones mend. As is usually the case, most always, you will survive to become a greater being, more than you were when they took you captive. And assuming the worse comes to worst, everyone dies and only once; so what if you pay the ultimate sacrifice for what you believe? As you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the expectant arrival of the new year 2012, please ask yourself how can you help tame or stop the oppressor holding you down today and stop waiting for another Jesus Christ to do it for you. One more thing, Times Magazine was coy in naming a faceless protester as its person of the year 2011 since Tunisia's Mohamed Bouazizi aptly qualified as such person of the year; the fact that his selfless act which triggered the Arab Spring revolution took place in late 2010, nothwithstanding. Therefore by the powers conferred upon Icheoku by our many visitors and admirers, as well as critics for good measure, Icheoku hereby names Arab Spring revolutionary, Mohamed Bouazizi of Tunisia, as Icheoku's person of the year 2011. He deserves a statute erected in his honor in Tunis's city center as well as have a national holiday declared and observed in his honor. Mohamed Bouazizi was made of a sterner stuff and by his selfless act, have triggered the transformation of the political landscape of the Arab world and have thus transmuted into a legend.

It is being an awesome ride so far, especially this year 2011 and we hope to continue to strive to earn your visits to Icheoku.com. in the new year and many years to come. We appreciate you dearly, inclusive our critics who sometimes are so damn brutal with their acerbic comments. But hey, out of the furnace comes the steel, so keep the darts coming. Happy Holidays and see you in the new year. Off to vacation!

Sincerely,

Facilitator, Icheoku.com

STOP PRESS, FEBRUARY 2ND IS OJUKWU'S INTERMENT?

The peoples General and Hero numero uno, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu will be interred to mother-earth on February 2nd, 2012. Please mark your calendar accordingly and if you cannot make it to Nigeria to participate in one of a kind send-off of a worthy son of Igboland, mark that day as the day the struggle begins anew. Like Martin Luther King, Ojukwu had a dream for a wonderland called Biafra, but genocidal Yakubu Gowon sabotaged the effort. Long live Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as he did not die but merely transited and now have transmuted into a LEGENDARY HERO. So long Ikemba, Dikedioranman of Igbo people world-wide; we shall miss your masculine presence in Igboland, oh defender of the people.

KIM JONG-IL OF NORTH KOREA IS DEAD!

 

Icheoku says 2011 will go down in history as the year which dealt many dictators world over, most fatal blows. Ben Ali of Tunisia, Moummar Gaddafi of Libya, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and now Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, a member of the infamous Axis of Evil; alongside Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Ahmanejadi of Iran. 

Icheoku says the six blocs of US, Russia, China, South Korea, Japan and the European Union should use the window provided by the death of the former reclusive leader to try and resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis; and in as much as no one's death is joyous, Kim Jong-Il departure may be what North Korea needs at this time to free itself of the shackles of so many decades. North Korea's neighbor to the south of the demilitarized zone, South Korea, will also breathe a sigh of relief that the ever present threat of a nuclear nightmare is now over, at least for the moment. 

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, died on December 17, 2011 of "physical and mental exhaustion. He was 69years old. Hopefully there will not be a succession showdown between his heir apparent and the old generals who constitute the old guard of the late leader. Icheoku says may his communist soul rest in peace. Before Icheoku forgets, that brings to two, comrades of Russia's Vladimir Putin who had died this year, the other one being Moummar Gaddafi of Libya.

CHILE EBOE-OSUJI WINS ICC JUDGESHIP, CONGRATULATIONS.

Icheoku congratulates Nigerian Chile Eboe-Osuji on his election victory to a nine-year term as justice of the International Criminal Court. What a prideful moment for all well-intentioned Nigerians, who believe in the infallibility of merit and urge that same yardstick should be the controlling indicia for affairs in motherland; and in order to truly move the country forward. Once again congratulations Justice Eboe-Osuji and Icheoku prays the latest judge-entrant to the ICC shall approach his adjudication with fervor and fairness, irrespective of the transgressor appearing before his panel. 

Also Icheoku cannot wait for the day to come when a leader of another part of the world, not Africa, is brought before The Hague's office of the ICC to face accountability. Admitted that some African leaders deserve the shackles in which they are marched to The Hague, but some other Western, Latin American as well as Asian leaders deserve being ferried to the ICC for such crimes as running their economies aground, pseudo-despotism and for other acts of aggression towards members of their populace and/or external aggression of other weaker countries. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander and despotic Africans alone, should not be the only scapegoats justifying the existence of the ICC.

BRITAIN NOW A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY - DAVID CAMERON?

Icheoku says if the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had his way, the country formerly known as Britain or Great Britain will become known as "Christian Republic of Britain." A man desperately trying too hard to reassert himself both in Britain and Euro, following the blunder that was his British attempted veto of European Union fiscal rescue plan for the struggling Euro currency. In search of something big to do or say in order to get himself back up and running, David Cameron, declared "We are a Christian country. And we should not be afraid to say so." So make way Islamic Republic of Iran, as Britain has now emerged as the latest theology based government country in the world. 

Politicians, what would they not say or do when trapped in a corner by either policy or politics of the moment. Icheoku says it is a denial of fact for the British Prime Minister to so assert, not taking into cognizance that Britain is now a mixed-religious country and the days of Great Britain Christianity dominance is long since gone. Icheoku would bet the Prime Minister, Mitt Romney's $10,000, that Christianity might not be the predominant or majority religion in Britain today. Moreso majority of younger generation White people all over the world do not go to church any longer, whereas other religions have and continues to advance their follower-ship upwardly. It is also an absurdity of phraseology and/or errant play with words for someone to declare himself "a committed Christian" and at the same time inform that he is only a "vaguely practicing Christian?" 

What an oxymoron irony of active and passive interplay of ideology. If this add and remove equivocated positions of the British Prime Minister on his Christian faith, makes sense to anyone, that one is certainly not Icheoku; as it is simply illogical for a matter to be both hot and cold at the same time as Prime Minister David Cameron implied by his assertion. However Icheoku agrees with the Prime Minister that virtually all Christians the world over have lingering doubts about certain highly improbable biblical accounts as well as stifling theological issues. So to state it another way, the Prime Minister is not alone in his doubting Thomas state. 

Icheoku adds, since according to the Prime Minister, "moral neutrality or passive tolerance just isn't going to cut it any more," may be it is about time for Britain to emulate those Islamic countries of the Middle East and Asia and formally declare Britain, The Christian Republic of Great Britain and replace their constitution with the Bible? Or better still make it Her Majesty's Christian country? How about that Mr Christian Country, Prime Minister David Cameron for your thoughts? Also it is equally noteworthy that the Prime Minister now equates the Bible with William Shakespeare's works that one wonders if this Prime Minister truly have faith which is the rudimentary requirement for Christianity.

NEWT GINGRICH, PALESTINE EXISTED WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT?

 

Icheoku says pictures don't lie as Mr Blow-hot, verbal bomb-thrower, Newt Gingrich, once cavorted with the "enemy" - the now, according to him, fictitious Palestine people? According to Professor Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, a Nobel Laureate, "History matters, records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future." So America, especially the fanatical right wing Christian fundamentalists Republicans propelling the current surge of Newt Gingrich, please think twice about your irrational support for the philanderer. Icheoku says if Palestine is a figment of Newt's imagination, who did PLO Leader Yasser Arafat, pictured with then Speaker Newt Gingrich, represent and why did Newt embrace him so warmly if not as a representative of his now none existent Palestinian people? What a phony, wife-cheating, obese and too old to be president, this son of Georgia is; and who would just lie about everything simply to cover up his past and attempt to fool everyone that there is a difference between six and half a dozen - yet he is a historian who is not guided by his own lengthy and shameless history? Icheoku says what a shameless Pharisee, this NEWT is; he sure needs to be neutered, politically that is.

NEWT OR MITT, REPUBLICAN PARTY'S HOUSE OF CARDS?

The current crop of Republican Party's presidential candidate wanna-bes fortifies a popular Igbo people of Nigeria's aphorism about two knives found in the household of a wretched person - the one sharp knife has no handle while the other one that has handle is not sharp. And so it is that among the current jostling candidates of the Republican party, have emerged two front runners - one that is possibly electable but cannot and would not be nominated by the party fanatics and the other one, the most likely to be nominated who is conversely not electable. 

Now the dilemma, a Catch 22 scenario; that shows either way, the Republican Party loses the presidential election come 2012. Icheoku says, salute and welcome, President Barack Hussein Obama 2012 second term! But isn't it hypocritical that the Republican Party, supposedly a party of family values, is even gravitating towards a man who trades in his old wives as would used cars? Thrice married and twice divorced, with numerous adulterous relationships in between; yet those Republican Christians seem not to have qualms with that or is it a case of George Orwellian Animal Farm or a "special" Republican whose sins are forgiven? icheoku says, it appears the Lord Jesus Christ had the Republicans in mind when he preached about the Pharisees. What a huge joke, Mr Gingrich's soaring lead is; but hopefully it is going to peter-off soon. Or does Republicans need a Divine intervention to help them stop NEWT's insurgence?

CHINESE NAVY PREPARES FOR WAR - PRESIDENT HU JINTAO

 Icheoku says finally what a welcome relief to learn that the Chinese is now ready to stall their economic progress and possibly depopulate their over-crowded cities. China had ridden undisturbed for too long, thus finding time to grow their economy and feed their stupendous 1.6 billion population. 

The threatened war, a third world war may be, will be a nice welcome relief to the sputtering world economies that will greatly benefit replacing what will be depleted and rebuilding what will be destroyed. China has more enemies than the West, especially within Asia, so the alignment of forces will stack heavily against them leading to their eventual defeat and final partition into several manageable countries. Therefore, Icheoku says may the Chinese government fast-track their war effort and let the showdown begin NOW. 

It may be a harbinger of the end of the world in 2012 according to the Mayan calender. What a bombast by Chinese President Hu Jintao as if anybody really cares what the Chinese thinks about dominating the Asia Pacific. Fortunately, wars are now won by smart bombs and technological prowess and not necessarily the size of the army. If war breaks out, that will be the end of China as it is presently configured, as it will certainly go the way of the old Soviet Union following its routing. May be the billions of trapped people will finally breathe air of freedom especially the Tibetans and the Uighurs.

DRONE IN IRANIAN CUSTODY, FORCEFUL ACTION NEEDED.

Icheoku says atimes like the present calls for a cowboy's shoot first and ask questions later kind of reaction to the increasing taunting by Tehran of the United States of America. 

A President Ronald Reagan or Bush would have issued an ultimatum to the Iranian regime to return the plane within 48hours or face damaging air-strikes as the mullahs in Tehran only understands such show and use of force. Whatever Iran thinks they can do and which they did not do during their eight year war with Iraq, they should do now. 

Icheoku calls on the United States to take all steps necessary to either have the drone returned or have it remotely destroyed or even target it in a massive bombardment of Iran. Enough of the Iranian brazen sticking of their fingers in our face, dating back to the seventies hostage taking. If China could return a US plane and Pakistan too, who then is Iran not to follow suit. Icheoku says the reason many of us are not in politics is that we do not have the patience for lengthy negotiations, especially when we are convinced we are on the right path. 

As far as Icheoku is concerned, this drone incident is enough to send in the First Airborne and Marines to go clean house in Iran and let the world implode if that is what it will take to forever cut the Iranians to size. ENOUGH of this their unearned and unmerited sense of importance; afterall which war have they won lately or better still, what have Tehran done lately that they should be running their mouth in this way. Icheoku says to Washington, just get back the damn drone from those mullahs NOW and at any cost.

IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA, TOO RISKY.

Do you know that ADULTERY is a death-penalty offense in Iran and that APOSTASY is also a death-penalty offense in Saudi Arabia for which you will suffer the fate of this man? Be thankful for your freedom, those of you who are not confined in both enclaves, especially the Elliot Spitzers and Arnold Schwarzeneggers of this world; and should we add former President Clinton, except that those possibly mullahs do not consider polishing the knob sexual enough to qualify as adulterous.

IRAN MUST RETURN THE DRONE NOW OR RISK WAR!

Icheoku says the Iranians should have no option but to return their illegally acquired United States of America drone plane forthwith and they should be made to understand the ramifications of holding out on this. It is called the Chinese example and this is the only meaningful option available to Tehran; which Icheoku expects the State Department, through its Iranian liaison, to drum it into their mullahs' ears. In April 2, 2001, the Chinese navy pilot brushed into the wing of a United States reconnaissance navy plane forcing it to land in China. The American government then under President George Walker Bush demanded forcefully that China return that plane. After an initial blustering bluff, the Chinese, weighing the implication of a United States face-off, returned the plane piggy-backed by a Russian Tupolav cargo plane to America. That is what Icheoku expects of the latest Iranian hold-over of the RQ-170 Sentinel drone operated by the CIA and nothing more. 

Also it does not matter how the Iranians got possession of the plane - whether they shot it down, jammed its communications which forced it down or even found it as a treasure trove lying somewhere in the vast Iranian desert following a malfunction; it is incumbent on them to return it forthwith and any contrary position taken by Tehran should be considered an act of war. Icheoku says enough of this recurring Iranian petulant nuisance; if they want to martyr themselves so be it; but the United States must respond forcefully this time around to yet another one of their many provocations. In response to the Iranian position that "No one returns the symbol of aggression to the party that sought secret and vital intelligence related to the national security of a country,"  Icheoku says that the Chinese had previously returned a downed US plane and so did Pakistan similarly return a damaged US helicopter used during operation kill Osama Bin Laden in Abotabad, Pakistan. Now if Iran is looking to save face, they can reference China and Pakistan as precedent and return our drone before they pay a heavy price for it. Except of course and as some school of thought posits, the found drone is a Greek gift Trojan horse made available to Iran as part payment on the gathering storm of an almost now inevitable confrontation between it and the United States? But what does anyone really know about the ways of the intelligence service, especially the United States Central Intelligence Agency; otherwise, why was the drone not rigged to self-destruct upon malfunction?