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In the fearful months and years following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, Western democracies faced an unenviable dilemma. Their citizens demanded protection from an enemy that recognised no borders, wore no uniforms and deliberately targeted civilians.
The War of Independence followed on from the unsuccessful Easter Rising in 1916. While the Rising had little support from the Irish population, the British crackdown hardened public opinion against British rule. Subsequent events such as the Conscription Crisis helped Sinn Féin, an Irish nationalist party, to a landslide victory in the 1918 general election. Establishing their own parliament, Dáil Éireann, they declared independence while the Irish Republican Army (IRA) fought a guerrilla campaign across the island.
For decades, we were instructed to nod politely at global summits while elites proclaimed that the rule of law is universal. Except, like a discount gym membership, universality apparently comes with fine print, blackout dates, and VIP exemptions reserved exclusively for nations backed by Western firepower.
The performance requires a villain. Africa has been performing that role for free, and at some cost to itself for considerably longer than it should have.
But wars are not graded like Olympic gymnastics. There are no medals for technical execution if the end result leaves your opponent intact, emboldened, or—worse—adapted.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 