The Worst Political Moments of 2013

The Death of Marat - Jacques-Louis David (Dramatised)

2013 was a heavy year: it was plagued with storms, bloodshed and political turmoil.
Without further ado, please find below the most unfavourable political events of this year.

Worst Political Moments of 2013

The African upheaval

In Mali, Ansar al-Dine (supported by AQIM) hijacked the MNLA's cause prompting Operation Serval; in CAR, Séléka (a predominantly Muslim rebel group) deposed President Bozizé in a coup and henceforth threw the country into a bloody chaos; in Nigeria, Boko Haram stepped up its terrorist activities and even crossed into Cameroon, Niger and reportedly into CAR. In Kenya, Al-Shabaab attacked the Westgate Mall signalling its evolution from a domestic terrorist group to a transnational terrorist organisation; in DR Congo, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, an Islamic rebel group with ties to Al-Shabaab) secured mining activities for their Sponsor State to finance terrorist operations.
In Niger, the MUJAO carried out suicide bombings against "the enemies of Islam in Niger" (a military camp and a French-run uranium mine); in Chad, there was a failed coup that, if successful, it would've benefited the Islamists there; in Tanzania, radical Islamists have started to attack the Kuffar and non-Muslims with acid, in Zanzibar. In Mozambique, a sudden disruption woke up the memories of the civil war and menaced the country's economic and social development - external forces have interests in hampering Mozambique's progress.
Yet the world's attention was diverted to the events in Egypt and Syria mostly; because Heaven forbid the media to admit Islam is waging a war against Christianity and, by proxy, against western values. But if the "poor" Africans were starving to death with flies landing on their lips and skin, they would've been all over it.

The EU-Israel Crisis

Last July, the EU issued guidelines barring the 28 member states from cooperating with Israeli entities in Samaria & Judea, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem.

The EU, as a political body, can't bring itself to create jobs for Europeans; it pays the salaries of people, in Gaza, who haven't been working for 6 years; it revealed its utter incompetence in dealing with the Egyptian and Syrian crises; it faces a real Jihadist threat within its borders and a dramatic change in its demographic make-up; it has dangerous asylum policies (that render its borders porous)...and yet it is more preoccupied with printing directives that (in their mind) will hurt Israel.
When Israel responded assertively, the Europeans explained the guidelines were not binding. This begs the question: if they're not binding, then why issue them at all - which government were you trying to appease; the usual suspects?

The British Face-off

PM Cameron wanted the British Parliament support a military strike against Syria, last summer - or so he claimed. However, his own party stabbed him for having pushed the same-sex marriage bill without consulting the people and in spite of the Tories' position on the matter.

The American Show-down
The Snowden-File was embarrassing (not so much for the information he thinks he leaked but) because it exposed the fragility in the American vetting process in certain national security sectors. It made it seem like America has an open flank.

The Republican party's role in the Government Shutdown was beyond pitiable; because it wasn't based on political strategy but on the obsession to bring down a president elected twice by the American electorate. Furthermore, the GOP - with its lack of vision (and blindness) - incurred the risk of going from Grand Old Party to Grand Obsolete Party.

The Celebration over the Iranian Nuclear Deal

It was awkward to watch Catherine Ashton celebrating the fraudulent deal with kisses and hugs (and a nod to the Iranian FM), knowing very well that she wants to topple the Ayatollahs. The sceptics were right: according to Lignet, an IAEA official has already admitted that "he has deep concerns about his organization's ability to thoroughly monitor Iran's actions under the interim Geneva accord." - without which the deal is practically null and void.
Iran pretended that it was allowing the West to slow down its nuclear programme. The West pretended that it was falling for the Iranian fraud.  A good dose of pretension can be beneficial but an overdose is pernicious. Who'll pay the price in the end?

South African Government's incompetence

South Africa hired a fake sign language interpreter who didn't even have security clearance to stand next to heads of state. Instead of admitting they were wrong and incompetent, the Minister of Disability said "I don't think South Africa as a country would put at risk anybody's security, especially those of heads of state." and "In terms of security clearance that is in a process, we are requesting to check his vetting." Typical communist language.
Note that Minister didn't say "We are checking his vetting process" instead she said "we are requesting to check" thus suggesting that now that the harm is done and no political leader was actually assassinated, why bother? In Mozambique, in the communist era, when they told you "Estamos a estudar" (We are studying the matter) it was the same as saying "forget about it". The ANC is an incompetent party, an incompetent government, and now that Nelson Mandela disincarnated all gloves are off.

2013 was a tough year. We wonder what else 2014 will bring?