The recent activities of STTEP
International Ltd in Nigeria have given rise to a multitude of comments from some in the media, much of it aimed at
trying to discredit both the Nigerian Army (NA) and STTEP and create as much
controversy as possible. The term "objectivity" does not appear to be
applicable to these journalists.
Apart from spewing disinformation, they appear to have a need to proclaim their
great understanding of African politics, military strategy and operations—despite
usually getting it very wrong.
The comments and
"observations" some in the media made on STTEP's involvement in
Nigeria bordered on the ridiculous but these comments are important to feed the
perceptions they need to create and force a continuation of their false
narrative.
Of course, the media's version of the
history of Executive Outcomes (EO) was also dug up and rehashed and likewise
became a focus of their attention. (I was—and still am—amazed that some
journalists still believe they know more about EO than I do and now it appears
they know more about STTEP than I do).
In the days of EO, some of the
journalists who led the media assault were paid intelligence agents of
disinformation. I exposed several of them in my book in 2007.
I have been reliably informed that some
of those who escaped my book are still around and writing. So it came as no
great surprise to me that some of these are the same journalists who jumped on
the Nigeria bandwagon. After all, they were part of the same group that
ferociously attacked EO for helping African governments. Instead, they prefer writing
about the chaos, suffering, murder and mayhem these terror groups bring. This
is, after all, how they make their living—and then they refer to us as
"mercenaries".
One only has to look at what is written
and by who to determine their agendas, where their narrative is heading and
sometimes who their shadow paymasters are.
Some of them are highly agitated that I
did not give them exclusive interviews especially after my six-part interview
with SOFREP (http://sofrep.com). Others are calling for my/STTEP's
immediate arrest and prosecution for assisting a legitimate African government
that is under attack by the terrorist group known as Boko Haram. I learnt
during the EO days that giving an interview to some journalists only seemed to disrupt
the false narrative they were spinning. When reality did not match their agendas,
it was immediately discarded and replaced with their agendas.
Some journalists have written offering to
assist me in reducing the "criminality of our actions". It appears
that if South Africans are called on to assist an African government fight terrorism
it is considered to be "criminal". When South Africans are contracted
by a foreign PMC, then it is no longer criminal!
Problem in point: STTEP is not a South
African company...
What is particularly upsetting to them
is that an African-managed and staffed company can be successful in Africa.
This goes against everything they stand for. Instead, they appear to think
assistance to the NA should have come from a foreign PMC, little knowing that
foreign armies and PMCs have spent considerable time in Nigeria where
"window-dressing training" has been the order of the day. But look
through the window, and the room is empty.
Then there are the famous Internet trolls
who allege that STTEP used "exactly the same tactics" that they spoke
about to someone a while ago.
Others claim that what STTEP achieved in
Nigeria was "pure luck"—much as the media claimed about EO in Angola,
Sierra Leone and Indonesia. I would love to see them achieve what STTEP's
training team achieved in 3 months—under exceptionally difficult and trying
conditions.
Others allege that I, in person, do not
do enough to condemn South Africa's politics to African governments for fear we
will not get or lose contracts.
I do not need to discuss South Africa's
politics with African governments—they discuss it with me. I, on the other
hand, do not join in as I am a South African and regardless of what our
government does or does not do, I do not hang out our dirty washing in public,
nor am I in any position to change it. I am a militarist, not a politician. I
leave political decisions and solutions to the politicians and only offer
advice when they ask for it.
Some trolls have even expressed their
disgust that STTEP has not taken up arms against the SA government! I choose to
live in South Africa. Despite its challenges and problems, I remain
patriotically South African and African—and will never take up arms against any
legitimate government, least of all my own.
Others harp on the fact that STTEP uses
"former black communist terrorists". They certainly know how to
display their ignorance. STTEP will use and continue to use the right man for
the job, regardless of his colour or his past political beliefs. Despite the fact
that our black employees outnumbered us "palefaces" we are still
regarded as "racists"—and geriatric ones at that.
Given all of the above, I am proud of
what my "geriatric", "racist", "mercenary" group
of trainers achieved in a very short space of time—and I am especially proud
that the unit they established performed so well in action. I am equally proud
that my training team and leader group were able to add value to the NA's fight
against terrorism.
I suppose that is what upsets the
desk-borne strategists and tacticians so much as it disrupts their false
narrative...
Whenever the media embark on their
agenda-driven reporting on myself and the men of STTEP, I am reminded of Hunter
S Thompson's view of journalism, especially as he was a journalist:
"Journalism
is not a profession or a trade. It is a cheap catch-all for fuck-offs and
misfits—a false doorway to the backside of life, a filthy piss-ridden little
hole nailed off by the building inspector, but just deep enough for a wino to
curl up from the sidewalk and masturbate like a chimp in a zoo-cage."
(Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing
in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream)
