£28m air defence system - just what the doctor ordered?

[ngong]

ati "amezidi" that was another conc book if the teacher did explain the storo i would never have giched it. anyway, those guyz of TZ will be stupid to buy it there are bila any enemies in the first place.

Ame: Swali
Zidi: Jibu
Ame: Jibu
Zidi: Swali
Ame: Swali-Jibu
Zidi:la, Jibu-Swali

that book convinced that the write must have been a pysco

[slaggard]

Besides African goverments being run by idiots i feel the west enjoys their presence. I mean it doesnt make sense for you to give debt relief then on the other hand offer such an expnsive and unnecessary project. This is a plot by the wealthy nation and it is so funny that Tanzania may not have a choice but sign the contract. In this case the nation will fall in greater debt and fail to attend the most important issues at hand.
It amazes me that in the USA nobody can lead you even bread with bad credit. We know african countries default their loans but the west keeps on pumping millions especially to unstable nations in the name of aid. Guys if i bacame president i am financing no loan...they put sanctions...i promote black market.

[mainframe]

www.sshhh.org..intelligent_beauty.can i be your min. of defence? nd show these people how its done..

[mylo]

we shouldnt blame the gava of TZ they are just trying to please the western union thinking that maybe something would come up (from the western union)that would salvage the poor nation economy what they dont understand is "kula na kulipa ndio mtindo.... "then they will buy it and never put it in action thats really messed up!!! :7

[MercedesK]

Maintenance of security is one of the most expensive things on government lists and yet it is funny how very little of the investment is actually used in the end. The american govt. devotes a handsome amount of money into its military to build and maintain the next generation state of art security systems but it really does not use these things. The bombing of afghanistan was in essence a good excuse for the money that the goverment has constantly pumped into the military campaign. If you think about it, all that bombing of kabul and kandahar was a waste. The goal is STILL not accomplished. Where is Osama Bin Laden? Talk about Public Relations and Politically Correct Imagery. Same as the British, and the Russians, and the Kenyans.

The main effect of such highly sophisticated security systems is not in the actual usage but in the psychological implications it will have both on the local populations and on would-be intruders. September 11th was a good proof that American Security Foolproofness has been more of a myth than a reality.

Perhaps the Tanzanian goverment hopes to achieve the same effect that has by far sustained american and british supremacy...the myth of the superpower. By buying the same security systems used by the former the govt. hopes to by the psychological impact that it will have....its neighbors will realize that Tanzania is now securely protected. Dont you dare attack us unless you have British missiles....that is the general message.

Is it worth it? Surprisingly it might be worth it. The psychological effect is worth the war that will never be fought with these white elephant systems. Just the same way one dare attack Pakistan of Iraq for fear of the unknown...having anthrax spores scatter in your air and destroy your population.

If the Tanzanian govt. can figure out ways of manipulating the psyche in less expensive ways then that spending will not be necessary....the US hasnt figured it out yet either so...

[Muramati]

MerecedesK,

Is the Tanzanian assumption that Kenya, or its Western and Southern neighbours will just sit back and do nothing? If it is, they must be really daft.

All this act will do (if succesful) is to trigger a mini arms race while increasing poverty on the continent.

M

[ciru]

our govts must be crazy. When u see that u know that part of that £28 million is going into the president's pocket, some to the Defence Ministry, some to Internal Affairs etc.... and 25% of Tzian kids continue to die.

BTW when i went to Arusha I was surprised that pple seem much poorer over there than in Kenya: more primary school dropouts, poor health facilities, :( Africa is gong to hell in a handbasket is how I see it!

[Thinker]

I am led to believe that Tanzania has EIGHT aircraft. Eight. What they need that system for I really wonder. Even if it reports 350 F-16s headed straight for them what are they going to do about it? Better to reamin ignorant!

:-)
Try http://geocities.com/roomthinker

[isso]

Caught some interesting debate about this in the British Parliament yesterday when Clare Short the Overseas Minister was questioned about the ethical policies that the British allegedly operate being totally ignored by BAe for the purpose of making their sales targets...Although she categorically states she's against the proposed deal...I wonder if they'll be able to stop BAe from going ahead with the deal with Tz. Blair was asked at PM's Question time how his government can justify creating UK jobs in the defence industry at the cost of one of the poorest countries in the world...

As for what Tz will do with it, it will be interesting to find out if the 8 jets they have can even take off....

[waweru]

And to make matters worse, the much vaunted air defence system is already OBSOLETE!!!!